Chapter 717: She Found Out After All!

Henwell turns to Alex as she eats wild fruit beside him. "Describe it."

"A standard extraordinary creature. Its energy output reached the Battle Knight rank, but its physical resilience was only at the Knight rank."

"Overall, it would qualify as a Vague Epiphany-class extraordinary creature."

"However, because of its aquatic traits, it could fight at the level of a Grand Knight against humans underwater."

Henwell gives a slight nod. "Then the professionals around Solomon will have to act tomorrow."

Alex tosses away the fruit and digs through the small basket beside her. "I'm afraid that won't work."

"That creature was only a juvenile. There is at least one much larger specimen behind it."

"Judging by its energy signature, Solomon's Grand Knights would only be delivering themselves as food if we did not intervene."

"The adult has already been enraged. It will probably ambush and kill any human who enters the water."

Henwell frowns. "We act now? That will make everything afterward much more troublesome."

He then asks the Lady of Calamity, "Can you curse the monster to death?"

The corner of her mouth twitches. "I control the power of fate, and that monster has no connection through fate with any of us."

"It has lived here for who knows how many years. I cannot find its fate map in so little time."

"The same applies to the other monsters and threats within the ruins, which greatly weakens my combat ability."

"That is precisely why I need all of you to assist me."

Henwell looks back at Alex, who is still eating fruit. "Where is that blind husband of yours? Bring him here and have him snipe the monster dead with one shot."

Alex holds out her hand. "Give me the Fate Rail."

The Fate Rail, then, is the name of Steve's strange weapon.

Henwell treats Alex's demand as though she said nothing.

He spreads his hands. "Then do whatever you like. I agreed to take part in this for only one year. Half that time has already passed, and I am going home at the end of the year."

"By then, we'll owe each other nothing, so don't accuse me of holding back. The other option is for me to act now and carve a path straight through."

"But in that case, you will have only one month."

"Once I reveal myself, many people will know that I am here and that the Henwell in Peace Haven is only a body double."

"I won't be able to remain away from home for long. At most, I can stay for one month before I must return and hold the fort."

Just as Henwell is about to leave, the Lady of Calamity suddenly says, "Henwell, after I return, I will grant Diversion Bay to Viscount Obian."

Henwell disappears in an instant. Alex reacts quickly, but the moment her hand touches the chest holding her warhammer, her body freezes in place.

He reappears between the two women, pressing the fingers of his left hand against Alex's forehead while his right hand closes around the Lady of Calamity's throat.

His gaze turns icy. "You have a death wish."

The Lady of Calamity doesn't flinch. "I came this far precisely because I want to live, and because I want my children and family to live."

"You have nothing to fear."

"No one else knows. I even erased every trace of this matter from the fate map."

Henwell narrows his eyes. "You are threatening me."

The Lady of Calamity shakes her head. "No. I'm stating my terms."

"Obian will be elevated to count, both a count of the Ika realm and my vassal count."

"The disputed territory northwest of Kriye City covers more than ten thousand square kilometers."

"It will all be ruled by Count Obian. His eldest son, Whistler, will be made a baron of the realm and become the landed noble of Diversion Bay."

Henwell says coldly, "I cannot take that risk."

The Lady of Calamity continues, "I will send my son Pikes to study in Peace Haven and serve as a hostage."

"I am not like you. I have no grand ambitions, and I do not want to become queen."

"There is no conflict of interest between us. If necessary, I could even give you my territory."

Henwell frowns. "That doesn't sound entirely sincere."

The Lady of Calamity laughs. "Heh... Henwell, you are different from most people. You are an extraordinary genius."

"Whether as a lord and ruler or as a professional, you are a genius."

"But that has led you to misunderstand one thing. A person cannot be both a professional and a ruler."

"Most people can choose only one direction."

"Someone like you is the rare exception who can possess both."

"You must lead an exhausting life."

"My husband's authority slowed his training. Otherwise, he would have entered the Iron Rank long ago."

"Every one of us must choose a single path, and extraordinary power matters to me far more than you can imagine."

"Not a single territory, not even all of Ika, can compare."

"The higher a professional climbs, the harder every step becomes. A person's energy is limited, and we can devote ourselves to only one pursuit."

"The choice between becoming a top-tier professional and a wise monarch will eventually trouble you as well."

"I have chosen my path. I will climb the stairway to the heights of extraordinary power."

Seeing that Henwell still does not believe her, the Lady of Calamity hesitates before continuing. "If this succeeds, it will be immensely important to my training."

"It will put me on the path to the Glory Rank and remove every obstacle between me and the Domain Rank."

"All I will need to do is wait for time to pass, and I will eventually become a Fate Weaver."

"A Domain-rank professional is not someone the continent, or even humanity as a whole, can casually abandon."

The revelation catches Henwell off guard.

He never expected the Lady of Calamity, or rather the Grand Princess, to be doing something this important.

Even Alex gapes in shock. The Domain Rank!

Is that not exactly what she and her husband have been pursuing?

Once they reach the Domain Rank, all the chronic ailments and defects afflicting them will be remedied.

Alex looks at the Lady of Calamity with open envy.

Henwell still hesitates. If the Grand Princess is telling the truth, helping her through this trial will leave her with a clear path of advancement.

When Henwell eventually conquers Ika, could she become an obstacle in his way?

The Lady of Calamity seems to read his concern and chuckles. "Heh... Henwell, let me give you one more piece of information."

"High-ranking professionals are forbidden from attacking human monarchs. That is a law."

"It was not made by humans or gods. It is a law imposed by the world itself through the River of Fate."

"Besides, do you truly have so little confidence in yourself?"

"Do you think I will reach the Domain Rank before you?"

"I do not possess your talent. Even after I complete this trial, I will need at least ten years, perhaps twenty, to enter the Glory Rank."

"As for the Domain Rank, it may take a century or even longer."

Tsk.

That changes things. Henwell can stop worrying.

He intends to conquer the entire continent within fifty years.

With that thought, Henwell releases his grip, and the Chains of Civilization binding the two women slowly dissolve.

He fixes his gaze on the Lady of Calamity. "You had better be telling the truth, or things will turn very ugly."

"Believe me. If I lose my family, my purpose, and every restraint upon me, I will become a nightmare to a great many people."

As Henwell leaves, the Lady of Calamity says, "Henwell, I will say it again. You cannot remain a monarch forever."

"You will eventually have to choose. Remember, humanity is truly ruled not by monarchs, but by the gods."

Henwell ignores the claim. "I will make the necessary arrangements for entering the ruins."