A moment later, Franlot had a very bad premonition.
“Hey! Miss Teres! I can see you’ve fully mastered this stage of the alchemy course, so perhaps we can move on to the next stage of study~”
The young man’s words made the “Demon Eye Sage” pause for a brief moment, then she nodded, no longer looking at the young lady up ahead who seemed to radiate a brilliant glow that instinctively made people want to follow her.
If it were any other time, she truly would have wanted to watch.
To see just what made this noble young lady, who held such a high opinion of humans and also believed in them, so extraordinary.
But Teres’s rationality far outweighed her emotions.
Compared to curiosity, knowledge that she could record, observe, and practice was far more worthy of her attention and time.
Phew… Seeing her attitude, Franlot subconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed acceptable for now. His knowledge of chemistry and physics was still enough to keep her by his side.
As for Xue’er, that girl had no interest in anything besides killing, so she showed no reaction to the young lady’s speech, or even to the survival of humanity itself.
She simply stood there expressionless, her gaze coldly fixed on the big monk named Lian Jieti.
From the look of it, she didn’t accept his superiority and wanted to charge at him for another fight.
Of course, Franlot also felt somewhat unwilling to give up on this Guide.
If Ileya hadn’t appeared, he would have already recruited this expert into his party, and even used his status as a Follower of the “Eight-Faced Bodhisattva” to recruit some others.
But… just like the several times before, his plans, or rather things that should have come together naturally…
The moment Ileya appeared, they would shatter like flowers in a mirror or the moon’s reflection on water!
Almost every single time was like this…
And all he could do each time was rage helplessly, just like now.
At this moment, Franlot even felt that he was completely just this woman’s backdrop, a foil to the one standing before him!
She radiated dazzling light, while he was like dust in the mud.
Thinking of this, he subconsciously looked up at the young lady ahead, who was merely standing on a table yet seemed to stand at the center of a stage, praised, admired, and worshipped by everyone around her…
Golden sunlight streamed in through the guild’s still-open doors, seeming to coat the young lady’s entire body in a layer of radiant splendor.
Even…
It made the bronze statue behind her, representing the Golden Apple Adventure Group, lose its luster in that moment.
“Can I… really win?”
Franlot muttered to himself subconsciously, but from his despairing self-talk, drowned out by cheers and acclaim, one could tell.
This “Destined Protagonist” had no confidence at all.
Maybe… I should just stop competing.
After all, I only suffered some humiliation… There’s no need to waste my second life on this…
Buzz!!
The moment such a thought just appeared in Franlot’s mind… the very next second,
Something inside his head seemed to vibrate violently!
The retreating intent and fear in his heart seemed to be completely erased by an eraser in that instant!
The most terrifying part was that such an abrupt change happened without Franlot himself even realizing it.
He only froze for a single second before blazing flames ignited in his eyes!
They were flames of hatred, unwillingness, anger, and fighting spirit!
Why shouldn’t he compete? He was the Destined Protagonist, he was a Transmigrator, he was destined to burst onto the scene and crush the entire era as a peerless prodigy!
“The humiliations of the past… shall be repaid a thousandfold in the future!”
He muttered under his breath, then turned and gestured for Xue’er and Teres to leave the hall overflowing with cheers and fervor.
But just as he turned around, he failed to notice that the young lady at the center of everyone’s attention was watching his retreating figure from the corner of her eye.
This guy’s mental fortitude… is actually that firm?
Ileya raised an eyebrow slightly.
Could it be that she had misjudged him? Or… had this Franlot been playing the fool all along?
Could it be that the previous times… he was holding back?
Ileya raised an eyebrow slightly. Though she harbored these suspicions, she also trusted her own judgment.
Although this guy was a Transmigrator, his age and experiences before transmigration should have been no more than that of an ordinary young man.
The reason she had accumulated so many “Hidden Wounds” on him before, and why she gave this speech today that stirred so many emotions…
Besides seizing the opportunity… it was to make him see her standing high above, while he groveled in the dust.
This was equivalent to making all the “Hidden Wounds” she had planted erupt completely at this moment.
To shatter Franlot’s self-esteem as a Transmigrator and his confidence as the Fated One into pieces!
To make him doubt his own abilities and convictions.
Compared to capturing him, beating him up, or even crippling him,
Ileya’s move was far more vicious.
But… this time, it seemed she had miscalculated.
Just moments ago, Franlot had clearly shown a look of despair, like a frozen lake surface that had already begun to crack.
All it would take was one misstep from the person standing on the lake, and the entire seemingly sturdy and thick ice layer would shatter into pieces!
And at that point, the young lady’s goal would have been achieved.
Franlot wouldn’t die, the Destined Protagonist wouldn’t change, but would instead become a plaything in her hands, incapable of posing any threat to her.
At that point, at least this storyline would be under her control.
But… just when Franlot was about to be completely suppressed by her, even unable to lift his head ever again…
This guy’s mental fortitude seemed to have abruptly… revived at full health.
This… made Ileya feel quite astonished, and it also gave her the idea that he was playing the fool.
However… such a thought only flashed through the young lady’s mind.
This was not the time to dwell on such matters.
Amid the crowd’s cheers, Ileya nimbly leaped down from the tabletop.
“Now then, Master Lian Jieti, and all the other warriors willing to fight for humanity, please follow me to the residence I have prepared for all of you.”
“Auspicious Joy. Such a virtuous act, female lay practitioner, will surely be blessed by the Bodhisattva and earn great merit.”
Lian Jieti bowed to Ileya as he spoke, and the mercenaries around them who were ready to contribute to this war also bowed in gratitude to the young lady.
And so, more than two hundred warriors willing to participate in this war, including Lian Jieti, were arranged by Ileya in a secluded estate outside the Marquis Castle.
Most of them were Sub-Bronze Rank, or even just Brass Rank soldiers and mercenaries.
Only forty-seven were Wild Transcendents, and most of them were below Third Rank.
Of course, the symbolic significance of this operation far outweighed its practical significance. Ileya’s reputation underwent a complete reversal after this speech!
In taverns, some Bards had composed poems about the young lady’s speech at the Mercenary Guild, spreading it widely to the accompaniment of stringed instruments!
Every time, it stirred the blood of those who listened!
Within a few days, Ileya’s title of “Pearl of the Eastern Capital” had steadily overtaken and suppressed the “Bloodblossom Demon.”
Add to that the fact that The Hive had begun organizing efforts to help newcomers find lodging, set up tents, and distribute food during this period…
Gradually, Ileya had actually become a figure of faith in some people’s hearts.
Wherever this young lady was, it seemed… everything would get better.
…
Meanwhile, outside the Royal Capital’s walls.
The armies conscripted by lords and nobles from various regions stood in formations that weren’t particularly neat beneath the towering city walls.
Countless colorful banners fluttered in the wind.
They were the standards of each noble’s contribution, their coat of arms or regional flags.
The Army-Breaking King stood atop the city wall, looking down at the vast army below.
Including the camp followers and laborers, there were hundreds of thousands of troops.
Even his majestic but slightly cloudy eyes, weathered by the erosion of time, burst forth with a hint of spirited radiance like a prime-aged male lion.
He slowly drew the ornate longsword at his waist, the blade that represented the Royal Family’s dignity.
He pointed it forward into the distance.
“The glory of humanity is being trampled upon! The territories carved out by my ancestor, the Heroic King, are being ruthlessly plundered by Foreign Races! My people are struggling and screaming under a terrifying Shadow!”
The old king’s voice was sonorous, seeming to reach the ears of every soldier below.
“They are desecrating the majesty of the Royal Family, despising the greatness of the Human Kingdom!”
“And we! Will prove to these vile, petty Foreign Races that humanity… cannot be bullied!!”
“For humanity! For the Kingdom!!”
“For His Majesty the King!!” Following the chorus of nobles, the soldiers behind them erupted in thunderous cries like crashing waves!
And at this moment, unlike the vigorous Army-Breaking King pointing his sword at the frontier,
The First Prince, Crown Prince Karon, stood at the side and slightly behind his father, his hands trembling with excitement.
In this moment, he seemed to stand in his father’s position, holding the royal sword and commanding a myriad of troops!
This was what a true king should do!
The fierce wind on the city wall made the prince’s cape flutter loudly behind him.
As countless thoughts surged through his mind, the old king ahead finally proclaimed that single word in a loud voice.
“Advance!!”
Watching the military formations begin to move in orderly fashion, the heat in Karon’s heart did not subside.
His father had always held great expectations for him, and he had performed well enough himself.
On the surface, in the hearts of the vast majority of nobles and ministers, Karon was undoubtedly an excellent and qualified crown prince.
But… that was all.
Sometimes, Karon would hear people behind his back saying that although he had the bearing of a king, he was too mediocre and had no particularly outstanding qualities.
They would also compare him to Oz of the Eastern Capital, citing examples of how the latter governed the surrounding regions, cleared out Bandits, and stabilized the state and pacified the people…
While he, Karon, merely followed his daily routine within the Royal Capital.
These people didn’t stop to think that while his father the King was still alive, how could he overstep his authority…
But hearing such things too many times would inevitably breed disgust and antipathy toward this “someone else’s child.”
Especially for the proud First Prince Karon, who absolutely did not believe he was inferior to Oz!
He also felt that Oz’s so-called “Number One of the Young Generation” title was completely undeserved!
That was the reason he harbored such hatred for Oz and targeted him so persistently in private.
And this time was undoubtedly a great opportunity!
An opportunity to prove to everyone that he, the Crown Prince, was not mediocre!
He would use his own strength to completely defeat Oz!
Make his father look at him with new eyes! And make those gossiping bastards shut their mouths for good!