Chapter 5: True Feelings, False Intentions

In the night-shrouded harbor, a silent battle was brewing. With the enemy bearing down on him, Mels found it agonizingly difficult to make a decision! Should he strike first, or hope for a miracle? Both choices were agonizing for Mels!

He knew that whether he launched an attack first or was discovered by the enemy, his scouting mission would fail. The only result would be failure and tipping off the enemy! However, Mels could at least confirm one thing: this Statue of Liberty hid way too many secrets!

"Meow..." Suddenly, a green-eyed, short-haired black cat appeared before Mels and the black-clad man!

"So it was you, little troublemaker. No wonder I sensed a presence approaching!" The sudden appearance of the kitten made the black-clad man, less than three meters from Mels, call off his search. He turned to leave with a smile! Only when the black-clad man's figure had completely vanished did the hearts of Mels and his two companions, which had been lodged in their throats, finally settle back into place. They finally let out the breaths they'd been holding!

"Brother Mels, why are there so many skilled fighters here?" Finding a hidden spot among piled cargo, the three gathered together. Akafir was the first to speak.

"Who knows? There's definitely something fishy here! But from now on, we must be even more careful. Otherwise, we might not be so lucky next time! Bagina, Akafir, we'll split up three ways now. Bagina, you take the stern. Watch for any hidden sentries and secure our escape route!

Akafir, you go to the bow. Monitor everyone entering or leaving this ship. If you spot any suspicious individuals, tail them! I'll go into the cabins to see what I can dig up. No matter what happens, avoid using force if at all possible, or our invisibility magic will wear off! Also, we'll meet back here in one hour. Understood?" Mels said while observing the ship.

Although Bagina didn't want to be assigned 'logistics' duty, she understood this wasn't the time for throwing a fit. So she nodded in agreement. Once they were sure the coast was clear, they quickly left their spot and headed to their respective assigned locations!

We'll leave Bagina and Akafir's stories for later. Mels first headed into the cabins. When Mels carefully made his way down the spiral stairs, he suddenly realized he had made a big mistake! Although he had invisibility magic that could block the enemy's visual search, his inability to use his Qi made his footsteps unusually heavy! On the dirt outside, his footsteps couldn't be heard, but now, stepping onto the wooden floor, the floorboards creaked with every step!

This way, not only would any martial arts master notice, even ordinary crew members would be alerted! Fortunately, no one was around at the moment; otherwise, the noise just now would have been enough to expose him!

Weighing the pros and cons, Mels decisively decided to channel his Qi, instantly dispelling his own invisibility spell! Magic and Qi were indeed difficult to combine. Even a Magic Knight like Bagina couldn't launch a Qi attack while using an auxiliary magic like invisibility! The reason Mels had reminded everyone earlier to avoid fighting was to maintain the invisibility magic. However, now he had no choice but to dispel his own magic!

Nevertheless, losing his invisibility was a net gain for Mels. At least now, Mels could walk without making a sound and could focus his Qi in his ears, relying on hearing and sensation to determine which cabins were occupied and which were not!

As he moved through the ship, Mels was surprised to discover during his continuous exploration that although the Statue of Liberty had tight security on the outside, there were almost no armed guards inside. The crew hadn't even boarded yet! Compared to the ships at other berths preparing to depart tomorrow, this place was eerily quiet!

However, despite the immense pressure of the situation, Mels remained fearless! To avenge his foster father, he wouldn't hesitate to give his life, so a little pressure was nothing!

After about half an hour, Mels finally reached the bottom of the cabins. This was the lowest part of the entire ship and also the kitchen. Although Mels didn't particularly want to enter here, out of habit, he opened the door and casually glanced inside.

"Like anyone would be here?" Recalling that even the captain's room had been empty earlier, Mels said mockingly. But before the words had even left his mouth, a faint, fragmented sound reached his ears!

Mels froze for a moment, then gently closed the door. After entering the kitchen, Mels condensed his powerful Qi, suppressed his aura as much as possible, and quietly approached a small door inside the kitchen that looked like a storage room. At this moment, Mels was absolutely certain that the sound he heard came from behind this door and that it was definitely made by a person.

Unlike Mels and the others who were nervously searching the Statue of Liberty, Xiu Lante was not, as the spy had said, on his way to Feijinando. Instead, he was anxiously waiting outside Duke Bolt's study in the royal capital of the Relkes Empire.

At this moment, Xiu Lante had completely lost his usual refined, scholarly air. His face was a mask of confusion and anxiety! Although Xiu Lante had requested an audience with Duke Bolt multiple times, the guards outside the study still mechanically informed him that the Duke was currently tied up in a meeting with several important ministers! Thus, Xiu Lante could only wait, stuck in a long, tedious wait!

After the rebellion plot by the Left and Right Prime Ministers and others was suppressed, Bolt had redistributed power within the Relkes Empire at an astonishing speed. Taking advantage of the emperor's temporary inability to react, he quickly placed his trusted aides in various key positions! During his negotiations with the Commercial Cities Alliance, Xiu Lante gradually discovered that the mastermind behind this chaos didn't seem to be the Left and Right Prime Ministers, but rather a figure with greater power and more sophisticated political skills! Of course, there was only one such person in Relkes...

Although Xiu Lante did not approve of the political tactics Duke Bolt employed, he also understood that in power struggles, it was a matter of life and death. From a self-preservation perspective, Duke Bolt's actions were understandable.

However, the news Xiu Lante received a few days ago greatly shocked him, even prompting him to rush back to the royal capital without stopping for days. His purpose was to confirm the doubts in his heart with Bolt! But...

The study door finally opened. Several newly prominent and important ministers of the Relkes court filed out. When they saw Xiu Lante, they respectfully saluted and then left under the escort of the guards.

Although still anxious, Xiu Lante knew he must still observe proper etiquette. After being announced by the guard, the door to Bolt's study finally opened for him.

Instead of rushing in immediately as he might have, Xiu Lante now entered calmly. Stepping into Bolt's study, he saw the increasingly aged Bolt hunched over his desk, writing something with a brush.

"Xiu Lante, have you finished handling the matters with the Commercial Cities Alliance? Are you planning to report the course of events to His Majesty the Emperor tomorrow?" Bolt said without looking up.

"Your Grace, you can rest assured about that. I know what I should say and what I shouldn't," Xiu Lante replied.

After hearing his words, Duke Bolt seemed to understand the implication in Xiu Lante's tone. He put down the document in his hand, slowly looked up, and said to Xiu Lante with a smile, "I trust you to handle affairs! Over all these years, without you, there would be no Duke Bolt today. Although I know you don't like my methods, there's no other way! I..."

"Your Grace need not explain to your subordinate. As long as it is Your Grace's instruction, your subordinate will certainly do his utmost to complete it!" Xiu Lante seemed to have no desire to engage in this kind of 'unproductive' and meaningless conversation with Duke Bolt.

"Hmm, in that case, why have you come here today? Has something happened in the south again?" Having been with Xiu Lante for over thirty years, Bolt naturally understood that this brother-like subordinate of his wouldn't come without a purpose. "Your Grace, nothing has happened in the south, but something major has occurred further south!" Xiu Lante said.

While saying this, Xiu Lante kept his eyes fixed on Duke Bolt, as if trying to find some clues from his changing expressions!

Just as Xiu Lante expected, Bolt pretended to know nothing, asking with a confused expression, "What exactly is this matter you speak of? If it's not a problem with the Commercial Cities Alliance, then where could the problem be?"

"I'm saying that over ten days ago, a major incident occurred in the royal capital of Feijinando! Over a thousand black-clad men attacked the capital and killed important ministers! Originally, this had nothing to do with us, but now I've discovered..." Xiu Lante trailed off, hesitating.

Looking at Xiu Lante's expression, Bolt suddenly stopped all movement. The two stared at each other in silence for a long moment. Finally, Bolt couldn't bear the stare-down any longer and was the first to avert his gaze, saying, "I knew I couldn't hide this from you, but I didn't expect you to find out so quickly! Originally, I thought my arrangements were beyond the borders, so you wouldn't pay attention, but... sigh, actually, I didn't want to deceive you, it's just that..."

Before Bolt could finish, Xiu Lante suddenly rushed forward two steps and said loudly, "It's just that Your Grace feels his power isn't great enough yet, and wants even greater authority, to become someone equal to the emperor!"

"Outrageous!" Faced with Xiu Lante's accusation, Bolt suddenly became furious out of shame!

However, after saying this, he seemed to realize his words were too harsh, making it impossible to continue the conversation! The study returned to its earlier deathly silence.

After a long while, Xiu Lante was the first to step back two paces. He bowed to Bolt and said, "Your subordinate was impudent!"

"Sigh, Xiu Lante, oh Xiu Lante, why do you always treat me as an outsider! Actually, I'm not doing this entirely for myself! The Relkes Empire possesses the strongest power on the entire continent, but every emperor has been mediocre! Not only are they unambitious, they even consistently use soft diplomatic policies with other countries!

If Relkes could unify the continent, then there wouldn't be so many conflicts on the continent, nor would places like the Chaotic Country appear. People's lives would gradually improve, and a prosperous nation with peaceful people would become a reality! I do indeed desire greater power now, but this isn't entirely for myself either! Xiu Lante, can you really not understand?" Bolt said to Xiu Lante in a softened tone.

After listening to Bolt's words, Xiu Lante remained silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke, "Your Grace, you've changed, truly changed! If you had said these words in the past, I would have been filled with fervor, willing to shed my blood on the battlefield for your ideals! But now, what you think about is merely personal gain. You are just a man willing to hand over his body and soul to the devil for the sake of ambition!" Xiu Lante's words turned Duke Bolt's face ashen, but Xiu Lante seemed to have no intention of stopping.

Fearlessly facing Bolt, he spoke loudly again, "Unifying the continent might indeed make people's lives better, but what about before that? Tens of thousands... no, millions of soldiers will have their blood flow like rivers. Hundreds of millions of people will be displaced, losing their originally beautiful homes! Countless children will become orphans in the war. Have you thought about all this?"

"That's why I'm using a method of gradual internal division. The reason I bribed those assassins and formed a special force is to minimize the people's suffering! Is such an approach also wrong?" Bolt said loudly.

"Then attacking the Blue Whirlwind, a thief organization far in the Chaotic Country, is also for this purpose? Could they possibly become an obstacle to your goal of unification and reaching the peak of power?" Xiu Lante suddenly said.

"This is... this is..." Bolt suddenly couldn't continue his line of thought, because he knew that no matter what he said, Xiu Lante would not forgive him for targeting someone who had opposed him twenty years ago, nor forgive such a despicable act!

"Your Grace, before coming here today, I had thought my intelligence might be inaccurate. I also thought you might have acted on a momentary impulse. But now it seems... Your Grace, you need not explain to me. Actually, I know, I understand everything. Ever since Lady You'er left, I understood it all!

Being able to serve you has been my greatest honor. But Xiu Lante is truly tired, so tired he doesn't even want to lift a sword anymore. Your Grace, please grant Xiu Lante a piece of land, even if it's remote. I just want to leave here and live a quiet life! Now I have one last task unfinished. Once I help those children achieve their goal, I will leave your sight!"

After hearing Xiu Lante's words, Bolt suddenly slumped powerlessly into his soft chair. At this moment, Bolt knew Xiu Lante had made up his mind to leave. From his eyes, a resolute determination was clearly evident.

"Xiu Lante wishes Your Grace early success in obtaining everything you dream of. If Your Grace wishes to kill Xiu Lante, please come and do it yourself. I will absolutely not fight back. However, from now on, after I leave your mansion, I will fight for my survival!" Xiu Lante suddenly bowed to Bolt, then turned and walked toward the study door!

At this moment, the distance between Xiu Lante and Bolt was only three to five meters. After breaking with a peerless master, completely exposing his back to the other was an action that spoke volumes about Xiu Lante's current state of mind!

Just as he said, if Bolt wanted to kill him, acting now would absolutely not allow Xiu Lante to walk out of the study alive! However, Bolt did not move. At this moment, his mind was filled only with memories of the over thirty years Xiu Lante had followed by his side.

The starry sky outside the study was exceptionally beautiful. After stepping out of the study and quietly closing the door behind him, Xiu Lante suddenly felt an immense lightness all over his body. The decision that should have been made over twenty years ago, now finally completed, brought an indescribable comfort and refreshment, making every pore in his body feel the freshness of the air!

Xiu Lante, hailed as the most outstanding Dragon Knight Captain in the history of the Relkes Empire, a man who had served for over twenty years with only a few granted lands, without a wife or lover, quietly left the royal capital of Relkes! Legends about him never ceased, but in official history, the day of his disappearance was recorded as April 27th, year 3003 of the Kaxiu Continent calendar.

Mels quietly approached the storage room door, leaning in to carefully listen to the fragments of conversation coming from inside. Although he couldn't determine exactly who they were, from the tones of their conversation, Mels could confirm there was one man and one woman inside.

"Do we really have to do this? Has the Sky-Shattering Plan begun its operation?" the woman's voice asked hesitantly.

"Correct. Your work here ends tomorrow! After this ship sets sail tomorrow, you will sail directly to the Sacred Continent. The mobile guard unit is already waiting for you halfway. You just need to deliver the Divine Crystals collected over these years directly to the Council of Elders. You don't need to concern yourself with anything else!" a gloomy male voice said in a commanding tone.

"But... but we haven't found the sixth non-fixed Summoned Beast to activate the Sky-Shattering Artifact yet! If we destroy the Kaxiu Continent now, won't all our previous efforts be in vain?" The woman seemed to disagree with the man's approach.

"Don't worry about that. All you need to do is complete your own task! Also, I can tell you that the sixth Summoned Beast is already under our surveillance. Barring any accidents, the special forces will arrive in a few days to bring it back to the Sacred Continent! And we need to leave here before the plan is launched, otherwise... heh heh, I believe you know the consequences!" the man said smugly.

From these few simple exchanges, Mels guessed this man was definitely the woman's superior. As for what the "Sky-Shattering Plan" to destroy the continent they mentioned was, he had no way of knowing.

"But... but isn't this too cruel? Moreover, this continent has provided us with endless energy. Is destroying it just like that..." The woman seemed to want to argue further, but before she could finish, she was rudely interrupted by the man!

“Enough! Have you been bewitched by these experimental subjects after living here for a few years? They are merely experimental subjects—not a branch of our humanity! The Alliance’s Supreme Council’s decision is final and unchangeable! Six months remain. During this time, your successor will retrieve all remaining comrades on the continent. I’ll overlook what you said today—but if it happens again, I’ll show you no mercy. Is that clear?” the man demanded sternly.

“Yes… yes!” the woman replied, seemingly aware of her own helplessness—or perhaps intimidated by the man’s authority.

Yet their conversation pierced Mels’s heart like a needle. *Experimental subjects*—how chillingly familiar those three words were! He had heard them more than once from those enigmatic, powerful figures!

Even without seeing the two speakers inside the warehouse, Mels was now certain they must be allies of those mysterious individuals.

Just as Mels lost himself in thought, footsteps echoed from within the warehouse—one of them seemed about to exit. If Mels failed to find cover outside the door, he would surely be discovered.

Fortunately, this was the kitchen—cluttered with odds and ends. Within seconds, Mels had hidden behind a stack of wooden crates, peering through the gaps at the warehouse door.

As the door swung open, a man in his fifties emerged—dressed as a merchant from the Caxiu Continent, holding a candle. When Mels saw him, his earlier assumption wavered. After all, the mysterious figures he’d encountered before wore bizarre attire, whereas this man looked no different from himself.

*Perhaps they’re referring to another kind of so-called experimental subjects*, Mels speculated.

But he quickly dismissed the idea: *No—aside from those mysterious individuals, no one else could possibly possess the power to obliterate an entire continent!* If they deployed the same weapon used on Frank Island… Just recalling his experiences there years ago sent chills down his spine and broke him out in a cold sweat!

As Mels relived those memories, the man had already vanished down the corridor. At that very moment, Mels’s ears caught another set of footsteps—heading straight toward this abandoned kitchen.

Moments later, a man in his thirties, dressed as a sailor, cautiously entered the kitchen. After confirming the area was empty, he strode into the warehouse where the man and woman had been secretly conversing.

Certain no one else was nearby, Mels edged closer to eavesdrop. He heard the man say, “Miss, haven’t you decided yet?”

“I cannot betray my homeland—or the Alliance!” the woman cried, hysterical.

“This isn’t betrayal—it’s salvation! We raised the banner against the Alliance and rallied countless like-minded comrades to correct our homeland’s errors and overthrow the corrupt Council of Elders! We are humans—not gods. We must neither create nor exterminate any species! As long as this final batch of Divine Crystals remains out of the Council’s hands, the Sky-Shattering Plan will lack sufficient energy and cannot be activated in the short term! Do you truly wish to watch these pitiful, ignorant humans slaughtered mercilessly by those butchers on the Council?” the man retorted sharply.

“No—the Council of Elders might never deploy the Sky-Shattering Plan! As long as… as long as I return to the Sacred Continent, I’ll tell every citizen what I’ve witnessed here. With the people’s power, we can force the Council to halt its destruction of the Caxiu Continent!” the woman clung desperately to hope, like a drowning person grasping at straws.

In truth, Mels could easily imagine how those in power would deal with a woman so naively idealistic. Perhaps the moment she set foot back on the continent, she’d be arrested on fabricated charges—denied even the chance to speak—and survival itself would be unlikely.

Sure enough, the man echoed Mels’s thoughts: “Miss, you’re far too naive! How many of our comrades have escaped imprisonment? How many shared your views—only to be exiled from their homelands? Though Camus claimed he’d speak for you, I’m certain a report on you already lies on the Council of Elders’ desk! The instant you step onto your homeland’s soil, the military police will seize you. You won’t regain freedom until you’ve undergone ideological re-education!”

“Miss—we aren’t native to this planet. Everything we do is to return to our beautiful homeland! But the Council of Elders has changed. They’ve lost Lord Mafa’s courage and conviction. All they seek is domination here—to become the world’s true creators!” the man continued, pressing his argument.

After a long silence, the woman whispered weakly, “Let me think… just a little longer…”

“Very well. Then I trust you’ll ultimately make the right choice,” the man replied, preparing to leave.

Mels had already slipped out of the kitchen ahead of time, racing toward the deck, his mind in turmoil! At that moment, he couldn’t quite grasp his own thoughts—but one overarching realization had crystallized: These humans, whom he’d always assumed belonged to some shadowy organization, were in fact the “gods” he’d prayed to—the “creators” who had forged all of humanity!

Just as Mels stumbled out of the Statue of Liberty’s cabin, Xiu Lante was returning to his residence to pack a few simple belongings—preparing to flee the capital as soon as possible.

Though Xiu Lante had always loathed political intrigue, he knew the darkest corners of this world lay where officials operated. Bolt might be momentarily restrained by years of sentiment—but once his mind cleared, Xiu Lante understood all too well what choice he’d make. For Bolt knew Xiu Lante had learned far too much—far more than he should have. And given Bolt’s calculating nature, he would never allow anyone capable of undermining his grand designs to remain alive!

Unfortunately, though Xiu Lante knew Bolt would inevitably pursue him, he hadn’t expected the pursuit to come so swiftly—or so suddenly.

Gently placing his well-worn clothes into a leather trunk, he finally lifted the portrait of Duchess You’er with reverent care. At that moment, a jarring sound pierced the air—the unmistakable rasp of a weapon being drawn—the herald of death itself!

Years of frontline combat had honed Xiu Lante’s senses to recognize the sound of a drawn blade even in sleep. Hearing it now, his face paled—despondency and defiance warring within him.

“Wait for me outside—I’ll be out shortly,” Xiu Lante murmured softly, carefully wrapping the portrait in silk and placing it inside the trunk.

“Knight-Captain Xiu Lante, Duke Bolt commands your immediate return to the ducal mansion. He has urgent matters to discuss with you!” A calm, steady voice came from outside. From that tone alone, Xiu Lante knew it must be one of Duke Bolt’s elite guards—the four strongest besides himself: Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning!

*So he’s truly decided to kill me.* Knowing who had come, Xiu Lante suddenly felt all pressure lift from his heart. Perhaps minutes earlier, he’d still harbored a flicker of guilt toward Bolt—but now, he was utterly unburdened.

Gently unfastening the Dragon-Slaying Sword—worn at his waist for over twenty years, carried through countless life-and-death battles—he affectionately stroked its scabbard. This sword held too many memories; it was the peerless blade Bolt himself had gifted him years ago—capable of slicing through metal like butter. Yet today, Xiu Lante placed it deliberately on the desk—and left it there forever.

Withdrawing his gaze, Xiu Lante retrieved from beneath the bed an iron sword—unadorned by gold or silver, its scabbard wrapped in a crimson silk ribbon. Then, he strode outside. This iron sword—whose hilt Duke You’er himself had crafted for him in childhood—would now accompany Xiu Lante as he forged yet another legend! With this blade in hand, Xiu Lante feared nothing.

In the moonlit courtyard, the four warriors—Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning—stood poised at the four corners, awaiting Xiu Lante’s emergence. Their stance told him instantly they specialized in coordinated assault—and together, their combat prowess rivaled—or even surpassed—his own.

“I won’t return—you know that well enough. I’m leaving today to avoid plunging the capital into chaos. So let our battle be decided solely by the iron swords in our hands. Agreed?” Xiu Lante made it clear he would not summon his beast.

Naturally, this was precisely what the four guards hoped for. After all, the top-tier Phoenix bonded to the Dragon Knight-Captain far outclassed their own summoned beasts! Since Xiu Lante had proposed it himself, they had no grounds to object.

“Agreed. We, too, wish to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Duke Bolt instructed us to convey that, should Lord Xiu Lante choose to return, he will act as if nothing occurred—and grant any demand you make,” the lead guard, Wind, stated calmly.

Hearing Wind’s words, Xiu Lante offered only a faint, knowing smile. “My demand is something Duke Bolt can never fulfill. Come—today marks the first battle Xiu Lante fights purely for his own survival!”