“Princess Wu Yi?”
Vagang’s nomination was entirely within expectations, both reasonable and logical.
“Unfortunately, Princess Wu Yi has made it clear that she absolutely does not wish to become the next God-King, and she’s been missing for ten years. No one knows where she is.”
Vagang shifted the topic. “Since Princess Wu Yi isn’t here, we can only look for someone else.”
“Who?”
“In the West Sea of Borneo, there is a man named Sam Bellamy. Although he is a Pirate, he acts with kindness, does not kill, and refrains from indulgence. Recently, he even received some of the Legacy of Ancient Deities.”
Vagang revealed the true candidate, and only then did the black-robed man behind him breathe a sigh of relief, withdrawing his dagger.
Darlina was momentarily stunned when she heard Vagang’s chosen name.
Although she had never liked Vagang as a political rival, she had always acknowledged his strength and rationality.
Until he spoke that name.
“Black Sam? You actually want to make a Pirate the object of our Faith… Vagang, I don’t want to question your sanity at the Debate Tournament, but have you lost your mind? That man is a Pirate who kills without batting an eye!”
“Sam is different from other Pirates. Lord Sam is compassionate and gentle, and the Pirates under his command are all just Refugees he took in. Besides, everyone has heard of Lord Sam’s Band of Righteous Thieves… They do not kill; they only rob the rich to support their Refugees, redistributing wealth out of necessity.” Vagang spoke without a hint of shame.
“A Pirate who doesn’t kill—do you even believe that yourself? That’s just an image Sam Bellamy has crafted for himself.”
“The Band of Righteous Thieves is renowned far and wide. You should trust that Lord Sam has only good intentions for this land.”
“Renowned? Vagang, where has your rationality gone? You should know exactly what kind of person Black Sam is! He claims he doesn’t kill, but in reality, it’s just that he never leaves any witnesses! With no witnesses, of course no one knows!”
“Please don’t slander Lord Sam. He can prove himself.”
“Slander? I’ve seen him! I’ve seen him kill with my own eyes! Do you know how many people have disappeared on the West Sea coast over the past ten years? Where do you think they’ve gone?!”
The arena had originally been a place for calm debate, but the moment Sam Bellamy’s name was mentioned, the entire venue erupted in chaos.
The Seekers of the Divine and the Self-Deified factions split into two camps, shouting at each other, while the audience below looked ready to roll up their sleeves and join the fray.
Someone was the first to shout: “Get the Pirate out!”
Immediately, the crowd echoed in a deafening wave.
The black-robed man’s face grew ugly. He was Sam’s Messenger. He had thought that after so many years of cultivating the “righteous thief” image, Lord Sam’s reputation would be deeply rooted in people’s hearts.
He never expected such fierce protest from the people.
The people here, having once been deceived by the gods, were wary—apparently not as foolish as he had expected.
“Vagang, think of something, convince them quickly!” The black-robed man gripped his dagger tightly once more, secretly aiming it at Vagang’s back.
But Vagang showed not the slightest hint of worry.
On the contrary.
He was smiling, utterly at ease and delighted.
“All right, it seems no one wants a Pirate leader as our Faith.”
He raised his hand, pressing down for silence, and looked toward Darlina with a smile full of anticipation.
Darlina met his gaze from afar, suddenly realizing that all of this seemed to be within Vagang’s calculations from the very beginning.
“We need a new Faith, and that Faith cannot be a Pirate. But if no one becomes our Faith, sooner or later it will be the Pirates.” Vagang’s gaze grew increasingly fervent.
“What are you saying?” The black-robed man gritted his teeth, dagger poised to strike.
“So,” Vagang bent down, “Miss Darlina, I sincerely invite you—
Are you willing to become our Faith? Are you willing to teach everyone, to teach each person how to walk out of hardship, how to carve out a new world from chaos… to become the Light for all of us?”
Darlina was stunned.
So this was Vagang’s true goal. The Pirates thought they were using Vagang, but in reality, they were merely Vagang’s Chess Pieces.
A tool to stir up emotions and force her hand.
“I…”
Before Darlina could refuse, a flash of cold steel shattered the calm of the arena.
Vagang stood unmoved as blood flowed from his chest.
In the final moments of his life, he gazed at Darlina with a gentle smile.
In his eyes was an expectation so heavy that Darlina could not refuse.
As his opponent, Vagang understood and respected Darlina more than anyone. From beginning to end, he had always firmly believed that the Light of Salvation for four hundred million people could only be this young lady before him.
At last, he had won.
With his own life as the final blow, he had won.
“Thud—”
His sturdy body collapsed, falling onto the debate table. Blood spilled over the edge, dripping steadily onto the floor.
He died utterly content, without pain, a gratified smile at his lips.
After all, as one of the four hundred million, ever since the God-King fell, he had lived in torment worse than death. Only eternal rest could bring peace to his incurable soul.
Darlina reached out, opened her mouth, but could not speak.
“Vagang, you… that’s cheating!”
Darlina clenched her fists. She had always prided herself on her rationality, but now her emotions were so tangled she could not think, only feeling an unprecedented heaviness in her chest.
The Debate Tournament came to an abrupt halt as blades suddenly flashed all around.
Pirates who had long hidden among the commoners rushed the arena, charging at Darlina.
Just as Vagang had said: if a new Faith did not emerge soon, then Faith would inevitably turn to the Pirates.
So they had to kill Darlina.
They could not let her ascend as the new god.
Darlina even forgot to resist. She was still lost in thought, unsure whether she should accept Vagang’s invitation.
The burden was too heavy. She didn’t believe she could do it, nor did she believe anyone in this world could shoulder such responsibility.
Power at the highest level corrupts even the noblest, for it is an instinct engraved at the core of all life. Which creature that rises to the top of the food chain does not rely on selfishness and cruelty? Power strips away the disguise of civilization.
“I…”
She looked in confusion at Vagang’s corpse. His gentle expression seemed to be encouraging her.
The Pirates were already clashing with the Guards. These Pirates were all elite, handpicked, and for some reason, each one possessed extraordinary strength and agility.
The Guards were sent flying ten meters with a single punch.
They simply could not withstand the Pirates’ assault.
“Lady Darlina! Run! Hurry, run!”
Darlina snapped back to her senses a little. She looked at the Pirate Assassins closing in from all sides, wanting to escape, but unable to find a way out.
At that moment, she felt like that helpless little girl again, not knowing where to go, not knowing who she was supposed to be, with nowhere left to run.
“Bang—”
A figure flashed into the encirclement.
A graceful silhouette in ghostly pink, carrying her signature smoky fragrance, fought with wild, decisive moves—every gesture exuding unrestrained boldness.
At sea, there aren’t so many tricks. Whoever has the hardest fists is captain.
“Boom—”
The two exchanged direct blows. The woman’s arm glowed with magical energy, and with a single punch, she shattered the enhanced Pirate’s arm into seven or eight pieces, sending him crashing into the wall like a cannonball.
Darlina stared dumbfounded at that back.
A long-lost sense of safety.
Nowhere in this world felt safer than by her side.
Wu Yi spoke.
She spoke as if in everyday conversation, her tone calm:
“Darlina, just stand there. I want to see who dares lay a finger on you.”