Alice erged from the narrow passage toward the exit, where the intense sunlight made her squint involuntarily. She shielded her forehead with her hand, and sunlight filtered through her pale arm; her skin was almost transparent, the edges refracting a hint of blood red.
Two military n in black coats approached her, gently brushing the leaves off their shoulders, and simply asked, "Miss Alice?"
Alice watched the golden leaves fall and paused for a mont, suddenly becoming aware of the quiet arrival of autumn—it was that season again. A complex emotion wound through her heart, everything felt as if it were from a previous life.
She looked up at the sky, the first clear day after the storm, Fenris's azure expanse arched at the horizon, clean and bright, with only faint clouds adrift.
She lowered her gaze, her eyes clear of any speck, and simply nodded her head calmly.
The military personnel politely responded, "Then please cooperate with us, and hand over your Magic Guided Reactor, weapons, Starlight material, and communication equipnt."
Alice did not resist or explain, but did as she was asked, watching her belongings being taken one by one. She thought silently, perhaps she truly was a criminal, for without her, would so many have died? As for Mr. Ade, he wouldn't have...
The military man lifted his head and suddenly noticed tears falling from the girl's pale face.
They paused, exchanged glances, then offered words of comfort, "Miss Alice, please don't worry, this is just part of our investigation. If you were coerced by Toragotos, we will prove your innocence."
With tears in her eyes, the girl managed a faint smile—what good would proving her innocence do, when the mistakes made could not be undone?
Under the shade of the Vitex tree, Elisa clenched her hands, watching helplessly as her sister got onto the carriage, escorted by the military knights as they slowly departed. She couldn't help but step forward instinctively, but Sophie, behind her, held her back, whispering, "Don't worry, the military will ensure her safety."
The Princess of Silver Weslan said, "It is actually you who should be concerned. Toragotos might seek revenge, and during this ti, we will ensure your safety."
"Why you? I have no connection with Silver Weslan."
"It's by the request of the military," Sophie sighed and replied, "but that's not the only reason; it's also a promise I made to Ade."
Elisa turned around sharply and asked, "Sophie, Mr. Ade, he…?"
Sophie only shook her head, silently gazing toward the distant horizon. "Let's wait for news from Stargate—" she said after a mont.
Elisa bit her lip, falling into silence.
In the nearby woods, a redhead girl with a War Halberd walked out. She looked at Sophie and their eyes t, as if across a vast divide of ti. Xi said nothing, but Sophie understood the girl's apologetic look.
Their losses were heavy.
Seven would remain forever in the darkness below, including her second in command. Dianmo was severely injured, and two of the three priests would not be able to take part in upcoming activities for a month. Following this battle, the team would likely have to split up and reorganize.
Regardless, one had carried out his promise, leading them out and saving everyone here.
Except for himself—
She had learned everything from the footage those people had taken at the ti. The Flash on the altar and the slowly sinking Obelisk had taken that young, fearless face with them, a scene that would perhaps forever stand as a monunt in the hearts of everyone who experienced this event.
After the incident, the people of Cloud Harbor had toppled Toragotos's Spire—although it had already broken once in the earthquake, they leveled the remaining parts, and the newly appointed Praetor of the Kingdom had decided to erect a statue on the original site.
That statue would undoubtedly feature a handso silver mask, a long coat, the half-face of youth still visible, and his—Clockwork Fairies, those Fire Giants, were now the symbol of the courage of Colin Ishurian.
The collapse of the Blood Oath Alliance was also expected.
With the military and relevant governnt departnts intervening, the club managers were controlled imdiately, but still, three ringleaders fled, fearing prosecution.
What infuriated those above even more was that in Eteliria, a third of the Blood Oath Alliance's high-level mbers mysteriously disappeared after the incident, and while the remaining ones were under control, the majority were still unaware of the full scope of the event.
The search and investigation work is still ongoing at full throttle and has now been officially combined with the Rain Listener Club's mysterious disappearance case.
Although the review showed that the Blood Oath Alliance's plans were not closely related to Toragotos's, once the true plan of the Night Lizard People beca apparent, it would give them enough to keep them busy—resurrecting an Evil God was a severe violation of the "Stargate Declaration," regardless.
This was perhaps the most dramatic event for Fenris in the last half-month; the clouds that had covered the island's small and large Guilds had quietly dissipated. Toragotos's abrupt disappearance had also left too much of a power vacuum in the region.
These Guilds and Adventure Groups, honored for their valiant performances amidst the catastrophe, had actively embarked on expansion efforts afterward.
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