Novel Full Chapter 604 It Filled Her With Determination - I
The first round of the selection tournament concluded swiftly, and one hundred and fifty extraordinary beings from across the Western Lands stood out, ready to advance to the next stage of the competition.
Among these one hundred and fifty, only the final fifteen could secure a position to join the Whistling Legion. By this stage, however, joining the Whistling Legion had become secondary; what truly mattered was the extent of the individual’s prowess displayed and the reputation they carved out during the competition.
Remarkably, among these one hundred and fifty contenders, there were three fourth-stage extraordinary beings of the scepter level. This was highly unusual, as fourth-stage extraordinary beings typically did not need such competitions to make a name for themselves; they were often already renowned powerhouses. Their participation in this tournament seemed almost unfair.
The gamblers placed the most bets on these three individuals—naturally, this did not escape the planners’ schemes.
“Lord…Lord Inothea,” stammered the secretary disguised as Milo, trembling before Inothea’s bed. “The current situation is—…is, this is how it stands.”
“He hasn’t done anything else?”
Inothea’s voice was hoarse, as he lay half-reclined on the bed, his entire body wrapped in bandages, only his head exposed. “Still just taking on trivial commissions?”
“…Y-yes, that’s right.”
The woman with bronze skin, like a lioness, remained silent. She slowly caressed her bandaged arm, as if savoring the excruciating pain of that moment.
After a slight tremor, Inothea fixed her with a cold gaze at the false Milo. “No news from Bryce Palmer Leo?”
Someone had turned his woman into a bloodied mess in his own hometown. Knowing this, no matter how important things were outside, any man would have gone mad and rushed back.
Moreover, the teleportation array at the Dispute Fortress was active; it would have taken Bryce Palmer Leo no effort to return. Yet, the leader of the Whistling Legion made no move at all.
Even if that “someone” was the legendary adventurer, however, he, as a fifth-stage, could have fought for a few rounds? If all else failed, couldn’t he seek help from the Duke of Azuregold? Why did he hide like a turtle?
Thus, many extraordinary beings found Bryce Palmer Leo’s reaction puzzling. Meanwhile, Inothea and the fake Milo had already learned from the Duke of Azuregold that the master of the Whistling Legion, a trusted lieutenant under the Duke of Azuregold, seemed to be showing signs of rebellion.
Unlike nobles, adventurers had no sense of honor or allegiance to their territories. If they lost one base, they could easily establish another, indifferent to the change. Bryce Palmer Leo had taken a large number of elite troops with him when participating in the war, so manpower was not an issue.
“It shouldn’t be like this…”
Inothea murmured softly, “If he were to defect, he wouldn’t abandon Milo so easily. Logically, he should have tried to contact Milo. How could there be no news at all? Or does he already know that Milo is dead and plans to abandon the Dispute Fortress altogether? What on earth is happening… Damn it!”
The woman roared, slamming her fist into the wall, causing the entire wall and the room to tremble. Blood quickly seeped through the bandages on her arm.
The intense pain and the current situation agitated Inothea’s nerves. She was not adept at contemplating complex situations. Otherwise, as an equally ambitious individual, she would not have entrusted Milo with the affairs of the Dispute Fortress.
The only thing she could ascertain was that her circumstances had not fundamentally changed; the person riding upon her had merely shifted from Bryce Palmer Leo to Faust.
But…
“He… is stronger.”
Inothea gazed at the bandages turning dark red, an unnatural flush appearing on her bronze skin.
That day, at that moment, through countless dark blades, she could only see Faust’s back.
And that man hadn’t even spared her a glance.
The pain etched into her body, and the sheer disdain left Inothea with an unequivocal answer—Faust was far stronger than Bryce Palmer Leo, by countless times!
“Hmph… hehehe…”
The lioness licked the blood-soaked bandages, an excited smile spreading across her face.
It mattered not who dominated her; having such a powerful monster replace Bryce Palmer Leo was… even better.
The extraordinary essence within her body and soul surged like roaring tides. Inothea sensed an opportunity, a chance to advance further.
She took a moment to calm her emotions, then said indifferently, “It doesn’t matter. Whatever comes next, we’ll follow Faust’s orders. Let him do as he wishes.”
Milo looked at Nidhoggur in astonishment. “Every… everything?”
“What else? Do you plan on doing something behind his back? Do you think you can defy that monster?”
“No, no… I wouldn’t dare. I understand, Lord Inothea.”
The woman waved her hand wearily. “Leave.”
Milo, feeling as if granted a reprieve, immediately turned to leave. Just then, someone knocked on the bedroom door.
Inothea’s gaze shifted toward the door. Despite her severe injuries, her extraordinary perception as a fourth-stage being instantly detected the presence outside.
It was a small, weak bug, one she could easily crush.
She recognized the presence, as it was the person with whom she had previously made a deal, representing Faust.
Before Milo could react, she coldly commanded, “Enter.”
The bedroom door slowly creaked open, and a slender figure, dressed as an ordinary adventurer, walked in with composed and steady steps.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you, Miss Inothea.”
The newcomer adjusted the brim of her beret and smiled at Inothea.
Margarete Gretchen… a presumptuous and audacious mortal.
Inothea loathed her, loathed that infuriatingly smug smile that seemed to suggest she was in control of everything.
She loathed her even more for… how each word pierced her psychological defenses with pinpoint accuracy.
It was this very girl, whom Inothea could easily crush into pulp, who had recently made a deal with her, ensuring Milo’s death was silent and that “Milo” continued to appear in public, thus subtly seizing control of the Dispute Fortress.
If Faust’s name had compelled Inothea to reluctantly accept the agreement before, her current multitude of wounds were the true reason for her submission.
However, even though she was willing to submit to the monster with the black blade at his waist, it didn’t mean she would show any kindness to the girl before her. At most… she would maintain an attitude that wasn’t overly offensive.
“Speak your mind… and why the fuck are you still here?”
The latter part was naturally directed at Milo, but without specifying the recipient, it undeniably carried a hint of malicious provocation.
Milo immediately fled the bedroom, closing the door behind him, leaving only an ordinary, delicate girl and a severely injured lioness in the room.
If the latter so wished, she could tear the former into pieces and swallow her with a mere thought.
However, the girl, who had long been traversing the beast-infested, monster-ridden wilderness, had become adept at handling them.
“Are your wounds any better?”
She did not speak directly as Inothea demanded but smiled while expressing concern for Inothea’s injuries.
The woman sneered and raised her arm wrapped in dark red bandages: “Do I look well to you?”
“Ah, my apologies.”
With her hands clasped behind her back, Marlina leaned forward slightly, somewhat apologetically:
“After all, it was Mr. Faust who inflicted these wounds. Recovering from them would indeed be challenging.”
“…”
Veins bulged in Inothea’s temples. She didn’t mind Faust saying such things to her, but she loathed this woman for taunting her.
Her breathing grew heavier, and the cold light in her eyes became more ferocious and savage.
“Even so, crushing an insolent rat is but a trivial matter.”
“A clever rat hides in a sufficiently vast shadow.”
Marlina smiled serenely, unperturbed by Inothea’s blatant threats: “Isn’t it difficult to find a rat in the shadows, Miss Inothea?”
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