Chapter 53: “I too was eagerly looking forward to meeting you.”

Chapter 53: “I too was eagerly looking forward to meeting you.”

Hearing the president describe “a partner whose body was never seen, only the voice heard,” the first thought that flashed through Fei’s mind was—

Damn! Could the Black Moon boss be equipped with some kind of villain system?!

Gathering usable people, placing their own agents in centers of power, strategically releasing monsters, seizing world treasures, turning the world into a toy.

And the final reward for her would be ascending to Earth with a world turned into a game.

Fei vividly remembered that the game “Gods and Demons Continent” had been a global sensation upon its release.

Every day, at least two-thirds of the global population logged into this phenomenal game, generating an explosively high revenue.

Even as a player and power-leveler, she made a fortune by discovering hidden potion recipes and god-level items in the game, almost achieving financial freedom in her twenties.

How much must the real operators behind the game have earned?

On Earth, financial freedom meant living life in 'god mode.'

That truly was better than 'becoming a deity'. No, considering the fate of the Divine Master and the small world in this other world, achieving financial freedom on Earth was indeed more exhilarating than becoming a god.

But could it be that the Black Moon went through all that trouble just to become the richest on Earth? Fei was somewhat skeptical.

If that was the case, wouldn't it be a bit... tragic for the small world?

"Fei."

Just then, a breeze brushed past Fei’s ear.

She paused, as since her return from the North, the small world had not spoken a single word to her.

This was the first time.

The golden heart inside Fei pulsated, and due to their connection, the small world could vaguely sense her mood.

Had she just thought of It?

“Fei... I just want to apologize. I indeed didn’t consider your feelings back then, my habitual condescension towards humans led me to make a mistake.”

“I implored you for help without asking for your choice, I’m sorry, Fei.”

The girl remained silent.

She was only a few steps away from the president, who continued to talk about the Black Moon boss. If she responded to the small world now, it would be immediately noticeable.

So she calmed down, quietly listening to the president’s narration.

This secret conversation continued until sunset.

Little elves brought the old man a cup of frothy fruit wine, while a sweet-smelling corn juice floated onto Fei’s table.

After speaking continuously, the aged president’s lips were dry; he drank two large cups of fruit wine before turning to look at the girl opposite him, “After hearing so much, what are your thoughts?”

Fei rubbed her temples.

She gleaned two key pieces of information from the president's words:

1# The organization known as Black Moon had been researching the 'Festival' for many years, trying to extract mysterious information from the recorded texts of Earth.

They had succeeded and made a mad decision. Feyman I was their first attempt — to become an emperor and subjugate the world.

However, their attempt failed, as more capable individuals with conflicting ideologies rose against them.

Feyman I didn’t stay in power for long before he was ousted and forced into exile.

But it must be said that the people of Black Moon were remarkable; they didn’t give up. Instead, after realizing that becoming a king was the wrong and failed path, they shifted their focus to the higher-level Divine Masters.

“They are a group of real madmen,” said the president, who had once been invited by Black Moon due to his unique and formidable power, “Before them, no one had thought of obtaining power from the deities.”

It turned out, these madmen succeeded.

They widely proclaimed the sin of desire across the continent, blaming all of Feyman’s wrongdoings on the bewitching witches.

Leveraging the chaos of war, they incited new massacres in various regions, spreading the infamy of witches like a plague.

Fei knew the rest of the story: the Divine Master, enraged, descended divine punishment but was strangled by the witch and shattered into pieces.

From there, Black Moon truly began their journey to steal the world.

2# The current head of Black Moon is indeed Feyman’s biological son, who has a secretive “partner.”

“That child was cunning from a young age. I saw that kind of expression on a child’s face for the first time. Every night, though he was alone in his room, two different voices could be heard talking, very strange,” the president said solemnly, “Now, seeing the scandal in the royal family, I am glad about my decision back then.”

“They let you go?” Fei asked, puzzled.

“Of course not,” the president scoffed, “That child said, either obey or die.”

The president, who refused, faced a widespread hunt by Black Moon. Fortunately, the great battle between the Divine Master and the witch distracted them. He was rescued by elves while fleeing and realized he couldn’t rely solely on himself; he had to prepare for the future.

Thus, today’s continent-wide Mercenary Association was formed.

“This is what I know,” the president handed the empty cup to an elf and gently wiped the dust off its wings.

He looked up at Fei through the water screen, “Now, what about you? Why are you so determined to learn everything about Black Moon that you would even dismantle one of my largest branches?”

“To do the same thing as you,” Fei looked straight through the water screen. The aged president inexplicably saw unwavering determination in a young girl.

“But as I said, some things can’t be achieved by just a few people,” the president “hmphed,” as if mocking the young girl’s overestimation of her abilities.

"Although I don't know where exactly the boss is hidden in the royal family, it must be a very important position. Despite your unparalleled talent, I fear you won't even be able to breach the royal gates."

The royal family?

So it was there, hidden in that place.

Then everything indeed made sense.

"Thank you for your advice and warning," Faye lifted her hand to her hat brim, "but I'm not alone. You have your people, and I have mine. We're all striving for the same goal, aren't we?"

She bowed to the head of the Mercenaries' Association, "Regardless, thank you for your generosity. Then, I hope to see you again."

Having said that, the girl turned neatly and headed towards the door without hesitation.

The elder raised his eyebrows in surprise, having thought the girl came to persuade him to join her with his formidable association.

But it seemed she was only there to gather some information?

“Hey!”

As Faye reached for the doorknob, the leader's voice came from behind.

“What exactly are you trying to do?” he finally couldn’t help but ask.

The girl slowly released her grip on the door and turned back with a radiant smile, “I want to restore the world to its original state, I aim to achieve the one and only true ending.”

She wished to prevent all people in this world from falling into despair and darkness, to avert the tragic fate that seemed inevitable.

Be it the game system or the "Festival" held by the Black Moon, neither belonged to this world originally. The solution was simple — expel them from this world.

The leader appeared confused, “Eh-chee...easy? What's that?”

Elves flew over to rub his head, and he chuckled heartily, “You just can't keep up with young people these days, can you?”

The elves chirped around him, “From the abyss! From the abyss!”

“Smells good! Smells good! Elves like it!”

“Despite being a witch from the abyss, the very kind you should despise,” the leader looked meaningfully at the little creatures, “you seem to like her now, don't you?”

The first injured elf baby wobbled to the edge of the water screen, and with a ‘whoosh’ like breaking through a thin film, flew out and hovered where Faye had just stood, inhaling deeply.

“The scent of light! So fragrant, so fragrant!”

The chairman waved his hand to remove the disguised water screen prop, revealing the truth...

A witch beloved by the light, a situation that should have been impossible, was now a reality before his eyes.

"If it really is so, if it's her, maybe it's worth a try, right? Do you all think the same?"

The fairies twirled and danced, their wings shedding sparkles like a galaxy of stars.

They were the purest beings, born from the essence of all things, representing the will of all vegetation, mountains, and rivers.

"Alright," the chairman turned his gaze towards the door, "Let's give it a try. We've prepared for so long; it can't all be for naught. That girl, Fiya Ro, was it? Let's see where her 'some people' are."

*

Armed with the information she needed, Fiya hastily set off for Nuzy City.

Wyatt's castle was the same as before, but this time, there was no lonely young mistress in the garden.

"How could you prepare such a bright yellow for me?" Hilary held a porcelain cup haughtily, "I'm attending a ceremony, not playing social butterfly. And these hollow cuts and floral patterns, Wyatt doesn't need such complex styles to show off his new-rich vulgarity."

The maid bowed her head and quickly removed the prepared dress.

Fiya was led in by a servant just as Hilary was fussing over her twenty-third ceremonial dress.

"Do I really only have dresses in pink and loud yellow and green?" she lamented.

The young mistress tossed aside the intricate collar lace and turned to see her best friend.

"Fiya! Thank heavens, you've finally come!" Her delight was a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor. The servants sneakily glanced at the young girl standing at the door.

Upon her arrival, the young mistress's tone became much softer.

Finally, Hilary dismissed all the servants to attend to their tasks and excitedly led Fiya into the three-story Wyatt family's dress room.

Before dinner, they settled on two simple black dresses, avoiding overly complicated designs or large floral adornments, favoring ease of movement and a subtle, mysterious look.

"It seems staying at the academy for so long has made other colors feel odd," Hilary resignedly remarked.

Fiya wasn't particular about her attire; as long as it was practical for action, it was fine.

Now aware that the owner of Black Moon was hidden within the royal circle, she was filled with anticipation for this journey.

"By the way," Fiya inquired during dinner, glancing at the lengthy table set for two.

She remembered Hilary was striving for the Earl's title, wasn't she?

"Don't get me started," the young mistress waved dismissively, her face flushing red at some memory.

She asked the nearby servant to leave before whispering, "Ever since that last... um, surprise attack by my cousin, father has been reluctant to leave the house. He's unaware of the Witch Academy. When Instructor Salira took me away, she left a fake admission letter, so he thinks I'm studying at a secret school."

After two years at the academy, Hilary had transformed dramatically. Her magical power, like thriving bean sprouts, refreshed her father, the Earl of Wyatt's, perceptions daily.

"Sometimes when I practice in the garden, father secretly watches from his bedroom window," Hilary said with a hint of bitterness. She was slowly changing her father's view of her, but the past hurt remained unhealed.

"This ceremony is a signal from father," Hilary put down her silver fork and looked seriously at her friend, "I'll be representing the Wyatt family alone."

Fiya raised an eyebrow, "Congratulations, Hilary."

Given the Earl of Wyatt's advanced age and traumatic experiences, it wouldn't be long, perhaps even after this ceremony, before the title officially passed to Hilary.

"The youngest female Earl on the continent." Fiya bowed her head, opening a hand under the table.

Magic surged, blossoming a pitch-black flower in her palm.

Its faintly golden stamen, shimmering like the most dazzling gemstone, left the well-versed mistress in awe.

"For you," Fiya pinned the flower in Hilary's hair, its delicate golden light wrapped in a thin black mist, slowly spreading like a sheer veil, imparting a palpable sense of 'protection'.

Stunned, Hilary wanted to speak, but Fiya had already risen from the table.

The grand ceremony proceeded as scheduled.

Noble affairs always took precedence, and the resounding trial quietly paused.

The central city's streets were adorned with various noble crests, dazzling magic ribbons, and the royal palace, striving for utmost beauty, was bedecked with rare and opulent plants.

Carriages after carriages entered the palace gates.

It was both a ceremony and the royal family's annual open day.

Not just the top-tier nobility, but officials, archbishops, and vice-bishops - unless incarcerated - were all invited.

In the resplendently lavish banquet hall, rows of servants led bishops and vice-bishops, clad in white robes, across the reflective marble floor, seating them gracefully.

Followed by officials, knight order leaders, and distinguished merchants who contributed significantly to the empire.

Anyone who had a name in the royal records had a place at this banquet.

The high nobility arrived last.

"I'm a bit nervous," Hilary had been here before but never alone as the representative of Wyatt.

"Relax," Fiya adjusted her pearl necklace, "Just imagine them as cabbages."

The two young ladies burst into laughter in the lounge, and after a hearty laugh, Hilary asked, "Fiya, you've been acting a bit strange lately, haven't you?"

“Is that so? Maybe because vacations are too rare?” Fey glanced at her personal panel, noting the world line correction rate steadily rising, now surpassing 75%, and sighed softly.

Ever since she handed over the list of orphans from Jenny’s Orphanage to the instructors, the correction rate had been incrementally increasing.

It seemed that not only her but also the instructors hadn’t been resting.

The efforts to foster and absorb new believers in Yarvis were also progressing smoothly, with more sparks already igniting in countless corners of the continent.

Every day, she could feel more faith power growing within her, even her golden heart, once a stone-like entity, began to tremble softly in her chest.

There wasn’t much left that could make her back down.

“Let’s go, Xil,” she said, pushing open the door of the resting room, her black dress tracing a sharp arc on the floor.

The light made her eyes shine brightly. “Let's begin,” she stated.

To highlight the nobility's esteemed status, their seats were positioned closest to the emperor’s golden high-back chair, directly opposite the monastery representing the deity.

They passed by each long table, receiving standing ovations from everyone.

During this, Fey carefully observed each individual, but unfortunately, she didn’t spot anyone of particular interest.

This continued until they reached the last long table.

The wind whispered past, as the golden-haired Archbishop turned his gaze slowly.

His white robe was embroidered with golden clocks, and his peculiar eye color hid a brilliant sun.

The Archbishop's eyes usually held little emotion, but they paused abruptly upon encountering two spots of black.

He shifted his eyes, scanning the flower on Hil's bun, before finally resting on the girl beside her.

She was not very tall, her soft gray hair simply tied behind her head. A hat-shaped hairpin adorned her head, and her dark purple eyes were like a sky filled with storms.

She met his gaze directly, an unusual soulful fragrance emanating from her.

The Archbishop slowly caressed his ring, now chipped in two places, and gradually curled his lips into a smile.

He recalled a recent report from Budapest.

"All Abyss Breakers are dead, attacked by a witch in the North."

"Yet they found a clue; the northerners talk of a gray-haired girl who fought the last battle with Jenny."

"Quincy mentioned the same, a girl with gray hair, sneaking into his room."

"What a wonderful encounter," the Archbishop chuckled softly, "meeting you is my luckiest day."

At these words, everyone was shocked.

He was the most revered Archbishop! An eerie silence fell over the long table.

Yet, in her black dress, the girl inappropriately pulled out a chair.

"Crack!" A sharp sound cleaved the air, like a slap across the Archbishop's face.

Fey sat down calmly, with flashes of thunder in her eyes.

"I too eagerly anticipated our meeting. Believe me," she said slowly, "seeing me is the 'luckiest' event of your life."