Xing Chen's head tilted slightly, with Theresis's long blade pressed against his ear.
It was a good thing he had learned a few evasion moves from the Assassins, allowing him to dodge that attack.
"A quick reaction," Theresis said flatly to Xing Chen, retracting his long blade. "You're not afraid?"
"Theresis, you're not a reckless person..."
"I don't need your evaluation."
"Alright, actually, I talked a lot with Xiao Te, and I believe you wouldn't hurt someone without reason. Otherwise, if your blade went down any further, it could cut off half my body," Xing Chen said, turning his gaze to a smiling Theresa nearby. "If you truly had murderous intent, Xiao Te would have intervened."
Theresis stared at Xing Chen, making no comment on his statement.
Then, he turned to Theresa, said, "Welcome back, the royal court meeting is ready," and left without looking back.
"Is your brother always like this?" Xing Chen elbowed Theresa's waist, asking.
"He doesn't talk much, but he's not like some other Lords of the royal court." Theresa scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Let's go, let's go meet those old folks."
"What about Xing Chen then? Dukare won't allow an outsider to attend a meeting between the Lords of the royal court." Lama Lien put her hand on Xing Chen's shoulder, startling him.
"Don't worry about him. At worst, a few of us will just beat him up."
...Holy King's Western Cathedral.
The Royal Court Army of the Military Commission had already sealed off an entire area, and even the Sarkaz were not allowed to move freely.
The Grand Dukes' spies were on high alert due to this unusual activity, and intelligence personnel from the Military Commission and Victoria's spies engaged in a fierce struggle in the area.
A Sarkaz sentry, seeing several figures with an oppressive aura approaching, instinctively drew his weapon.
"Here, the spy we caught." Theresa handed the rope to the sentry and prepared to bypass him to enter the sealed area.
"Stop, inspection... By my ancestors, Your Highness--"
Before he could finish, Lama Lien sealed his voice with a spell.
"Shh--" Lama Lien made a shushing gesture.
The sentry looked at the banshee's face and nodded solemnly.
Immediately after, the Wendigo, Revenant, and Cyclops passed by in succession. The sentry had never imagined seeing so many royal court members gathered together in his life.
However, one figure did not appear in his sight.
Theresa used the power of her crown to erase Xing Chen's presence from the eyes of ordinary Sarkaz.
On the cathedral steps, several Lords of the royal court who supported the Military Commission looked out at Theresa. Such a small trick was not worth mentioning to them.
"She brought that person with her again," the Blood Demon Grand Duke said with a hint of disgust.
"That's not an evil spirit, Dukare," Theresis said, looking at the person beside his sister. "He doesn't have that kind of arrogance."
"Speaking of which, Her Highness is not young anymore; she might even have someone she likes."
As the teacher of the older and younger Theresa and Bozdcasti, Nieci Lei regarded the three as his own children.
Patriot and the older and younger Theresa were similar in age and had long since married and had children.
"Nieci Lei, what do you mean?"
Dukare was a typical bloodline supremacist. Although the older and younger Theresa were also mixed-bloods, at least their strength had earned his recognition.
Now another outsider had appeared, and was even with the Demon King. The King of Sarkaz would not allow the pollution of foreign blood.
"Dukare, it's not your business, don't ask." Theresis stared at Xing Chen for a while longer, finally returning his gaze to Theresa.
The Demon King's figure drew closer and closer, and finally, the two sides met on the long staircase.
Xing Chen stood beside Theresa, trying his best to appear strong as he met the gaze of several of the Sarkaz's top powerhouses, who had lived for an unknown amount of time.
Well, actually, it was a confrontation with Dukare alone.
The Shapeshifter was a fun-loving person, Theresis was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and Nieci Lei was more like a kind old grandfather.
The Sin Eater were more interested in Theresa's resurrection than in Xing Chen.
It's not out of the question that they also harbored a hint of curiosity about the Demon King's reproduction with an outsider.
After a standoff, neither side gained an advantage.
At this moment, Theresa pulled Xing Chen forward a step, while simultaneously making her crown appear on her head.
"Everyone, I'm back."
"Welcome back, Your Highness Theresa," Nieci Lei secretly pulled Dukare closer to himself. "And Lama Lien, Bozdcasti, and..."
"I come on behalf of the Cyclops," Ling Shi bowed to Nieci Lei. "King of the Rot Eaters, the Cyclops of the North have no royal court. I merely represent my people to observe this royal court meeting."
"Hmph, hmph," Tin Man puffed on his pipe. "I'm just here to reunite with another old fellow, so I won't say much."
While his gaze was focused on the younger generation, Tin Man's actual attention was on the figure above.
The Revenant who ignites flames, the elder among the Revenants, his words might carry more weight than his own.
"Theresa, you've changed."
"Because I've seen many sights you've never imagined, brother." Theresa pulled Xing Chen closer, making him stand tightly beside her. "Last time I failed; this time, I've decided to adopt new methods."
"He gave you the idea?"
"Xing Chen only offers suggestions, but I make the final decision, brother." Theresa's gaze was firm and resolute. "I have never given up on my ideals, but we should stand together now."
"The last person to do that led to your death."
"I have never regretted trusting someone, brother. That was my mistake; I failed to correctly understand the environment Kazdel was in," Xiao Te's grip tightened, and Xing Chen had already lost feeling in his palm. "The Military Commission represents the most widespread views of the Sarkaz; my death was the best way to resolve the conflict."
If Babel truly fought to the death with the Military Commission, the one that would ultimately perish would be Babel, sustained by its grand ideals.
The Military Commission could continuously replenish its strength through the current hatred of the Sarkaz, while once members who adhered to Babel's future ideals were lost, it would be extremely difficult to replenish them.
The Seer and Theresis had made a deal, exchanging Theresa's life for the continuation of Babel's ideals. For her, it couldn't even be called a betrayal.
"It seems you've prepared yourself mentally."
"That's right, I've not only prepared myself mentally, but I've also brought new weapons and plans for us." Theresa projected Rhine Lab's anti-ship nuclear missile into the air. "This time, we will completely shatter the shackles for the Sarkaz."
Theresis nodded, and the Lords of the royal court from above parted to either side, clearing a path for Theresa and Xing Chen.