Subterranean Skyfire Avenue. Zeus Jewelry Shop.
Lan Jue looked at the man in front of her, surprised.
He immediately understood why Xiuxiu was so anxious to call him back.
Zeus' amazons glared at the newcomer with unfriendly eyes, especially Mika. Her beautiful eyes looked like they were about to spit fire, and the murderous aura around her was thick with killing intent. If she didn't control it, it could explode at any moment.
"Zeus." The newcomer bowed respectfully to Zeus.
"What are you doing here?" Lan Jue's voice was cold and hard.
Zeus's four Amazons returned to his side. Xiu Xiu moved a chair and placed it behind Lan Jue.
Lan Jue took a seat. Lin Guo-guo handed her a warm towel. Lan Jue smiled, wiped her hands, and turned her attention back to the newcomer.
"I'm here to ask for your help. Only you can save Her Majesty." The newcomer's voice was urgent.
"Help?
Are you kidding me?
Haven't you harmed us enough?
We've been merciful enough not to seek revenge, and now you're here to ask for help?
Believe it or not, I'll turn you to ash! "Mika hissed.
This newcomer was none other than the Moonfiend Pirates of the Shattered Starfields. Gao Yong, the man who'd lured Lan Jue and Zeus's four Amazons to Moonfiend.
A Level 9 Arcanist who specialized in Gravity Control.
The leader of the Moonfiend Pirates.
Gao Yong's voice was bitter. "Her Majesty had no choice!
In truth, she didn't want to do it.
But Her Majesty's sister is in their hands. She had no choice but to obey. "
Mika opened his mouth to say something, but Lan Jue raised a hand.
Only then did she suppress her anger.
She didn't say anything more.
The Pontiff's ambush on Moonfiend had been for her.
She had implicated Lan Jue in order to protect her. Naturally, Lan Jue hated the Moonfiend Empress to the bone.
Lan Jue said lightly, "Tell me, what's going on?"
Gao Yong smiled wryly. "Zeus, you should know that Her Majesty the Empress is a member of the Pontiff's Citadel. She was a Morning Angel trained by the Pontiff's Citadel.
It was only because he didn't like that place that he snuck out and ended up in the Shattered Starfields.
She became the Moonfiend Empress.
But the Pontiff's Citadel never planned on letting her go. They've been looking for her, and now they've found her. "
"I don't know how the Pontiff's Citadel learned of your relationship with the Empress, or how they set this trap.
However, I knew that Her Majesty had always been threatened by them.
Not long ago, the Pontiff's Citadel had sent two Archangels to take the Empress away.
On the surface, Her Majesty Empress seemed to have left calmly, but before she left, she left a letter for me to give to you, so I came to ask for your help.
Only you have the ability to save Her Majesty the Empress! "
Gao Yong pulled out a red envelope from his pocket.
Paper envelopes like this were a rarity in modern society.
Kerr stepped forward to take the letter.
She returned to Lan Jue's side and handed it to him.
Lan Jue took the letter, tore open the seal, and pulled out the envelope.
Inside was a single piece of paper, and a few words.
"I'm sorry, Zeus.
When I schemed against you, it was like a knife cutting into my heart.
If there's one thing I've loved in my life, it's you.
I don't ask for your forgiveness. I just want you to know that I had no choice.
Finally, be careful of the Pontiff's Citadel.
They're a bunch of sanctimonious bastards.
They're worse than the Dark Citadel! "
Signed: Little Yue.
There wasn't a single request for help, and the handwriting was a bit sloppy.
Lan Jue's brows furrowed as she read the letter. She put it away and turned to Gao Yong. "You can go now."
"Then our Empress …" Gao Yong's voice was urgent.
"Our boss says you can go," Mika snapped. "Don't you understand human language?"
Gao Yong froze, but his voice was firm. "Without Her Majesty to lead Moonfiend, it's starting to destabilize.
Ever since Her Majesty led us, the Moonfiend Pirates, to rule the Shattered Starfields, we've become self-sufficient. We rarely go out to pillage.
If Her Majesty doesn't return soon, it won't be long before the Shattered Starfields reverts to its former state of chaos. The Shattered Starfields will become a paradise for the fallen, a world of slaughter and destruction.
Zeus, you've killed so many pirates, you wouldn't want to see that happen.
I beg you, save our Empress.
As long as she comes back, we're willing to pay any price. "
Lan Jue's voice was placid. "Go. I'll think about it."
Gao Yong opened his mouth to say something else, but Mika's aura pushed him out.
Closing the door behind him, Mika's anger was unabated. "Once wasn't enough?
They want to do it again?
Do they really think we're idiots?
Boss, you can't be soft-hearted!
I don't think the Moonfiend Empress is anything good. "
Lan Jue shook his head. "No, I've never told any of you.
It was thanks to Little Yue that we escaped the Pontiff's trap.
If she hadn't given me a warning with her eyes, we'd have fallen right into their trap.
Everything I told you was to confuse the Pontiff's people, so they wouldn't do anything to Little Yue. "
Mika was still unconvinced. "Boss, don't fall for that Demoness."
Lan Jue chuckled. "Even if someone were to fall for a Demoness, it'd be you!"
Mika's face reddened. "Then what do we do?
Do you really want to save her?
This is the Pontiff's Citadel.
The Pontiff's Citadel is a cut above the Dark Citadel. That guy was right about one thing. The Pontiff's Citadel is a bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites.
You can't risk it! "
Lan Jue sighed. "Even if I wanted to save her, I wouldn't be able to. There's no way I could take on so many people on my own.
His victory over Michael the last time had been largely due to luck.
Don't worry, I won't put myself in danger. "
Mika breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good.
Boss, do you want some water?
I'll pour you a glass! "
Lin Guo-guo giggled. "Boss, let me give you a shoulder massage."
Kerr joined in with a grin.
"Boss.
I'll give you a leg massage? "
The hair on Lan Jue's body stood on end.
"What are you guys doing?
If you're unaccountably solicitous, you're up to no good! "
Xiu Xiu smiled. "We're not doing anything. We just saw you've been working hard these past few days, so we're here to serve you!"
Lan Jue chuckled. "Alright, you think I don't know what you're up to?
If there's anything you want, just say it. "
Mika nodded. "Boss, look.
Isn't it time for us to remodel our mechas?
And Zeus One, Two, and Three should be upgraded as well.
It's been years.
I didn't tell you before because we needed to keep the shop running. But now that we've got a lot of power gems coming in, we're more than flush with cash.
Business has been good lately, so maybe we should upgrade our equipment.
You told us to use some power gems last time, and we already have some ideas. "
Lan Jue laughed. "Oh, that's it!
No problem, you guys go do it.
Do you think I won't let you? "
Mika said excitedly, "Then we'll do it.
Kerr has already started on the blueprints.
What about your Thor?
Do you want to upgrade it too? "
Lan Jue said, "Don't worry about Thor, I'll upgrade it myself.
Just take care of your own.
Remember, you have to upgrade your mechas yourself.
You can't rely on anyone else. That's the only way you can familiarize yourself with the mecha, and get closer to it.
A top-notch pilot must make the mech an extension of their own body, and not treat it as a tool.
Even metal has feelings. The better you treat it, the greater the reward it will give you. "
The four women immediately stopped smiling and nodded seriously.
Then the fire of excitement in their eyes reignited.
They were young, and had spent the last few years with Lan Jue. They were happy with their lives, but Lan Jue's depression had affected them.
Lan Jue had been busy lately, but she'd regained her vigor. It made them happy, and gave them motivation to improve themselves.
Especially after witnessing Skyfire Avenue's strength, witnessing Paragons break through to Paragon, and witnessing the Star Alliance and the Four Divine Monarchs in the god battles. They felt a sense of urgency.
They didn't want to be left too far behind by Lan Jue. How could they help their boss?
Back in his quarters, Lan Jue lay on his bed. His eyes were closed, and his mind was racing. Could he really ignore the Moonfiend Empress?
If that was the case, then why would he bring back Mika, Lin Guo-guo, and Kerr? Besides Xiu Xiu, Zeus's Four Maids?
It looked like he needed to sort out his thoughts. This trip to the Western League was a must.
Taking advantage of the school's absence wasn't a bad idea.
However, he had to make some preparations in advance.
… …
The crimson claws were upon her in a flash. Zhou Qianlin didn't even have time to think about dodging. Her reflexes were quick, though. On her right wrist, a silver bracelet appeared. The hollow metal orb emitted a dazzling blue light. The light coalesced into a three-meter tall humanoid water elemental that stood in front of her.
It was the Neptune's Pearl.
It was the treasure Lan Jue had given her to protect her.
During her training, Zhou Qianlin had never used it. It was precisely because she had it that Lan Jue felt at ease letting her participate in the battle against the pirates.
In the face of Granny Bess's sudden attack, Zhou Qianlin's first reaction was to activate the Neptune's Pearl.
"Pfft!"
The crimson claws sank into the water elemental's body. Before it could do anything, the elemental froze in place. Then, a horrifying scene unfolded. The water elemental turned dark red, and a faint fragrance wafted from it.
The crimson claws, magnified five times, burst out from behind the water elemental and clawed at Zhou Qianlin.
Zhou Qianlin had nowhere to run, and her face paled.
The water elemental summoned by the Neptune's Pearl had attack power comparable to an Eighth Level Talent, and defense comparable to a Third Level Talent.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be so valuable.
Her Neptune's Pearl was of the highest quality!
However, Granny Bessie's blood-red claws were too weak to withstand a single blow. They didn't even manage to put up any resistance before they were torn apart.
Even the water elemental seemed to be assimilated by Granny Bess's power.
What kind of terrifying power was this?
Qianlin closed her eyes and tried to communicate with the Soulcaller gem. She was shocked to find that the gem, which had worked so well a hundred times, had failed.
A huge blood-red claw grabbed her body, and a bone-piercing chill instantly spread throughout her body, as if even her bone marrow was frozen.