manynovel Chapter 865 Countermeasures (5)
Chapter 865 Countermeasures (5)
After informing everyone that they would meet at the Pure Land Palace later, Nasita quietly left Catherine's body.
In an instant, Catherine seemed to have been robbed of her consciousness. She slowly closed her eyes, her head drooped slightly, and she fell into a brief silence, like a puppet with its strings cut.
The sunlight slanted across her calm face, casting a subtle, dreamlike glow.
A moment later, she blinked gently, reopening those familiar eyes with a hint of confusion and bewilderment. Looking at Ying and her group before her, she murmured softly:
"What's wrong with me? It feels like I just had a dream."
"It's probably because the signal is bad, which caused Miss Catherine's brain to short-circuit a bit."
Paimon quickly replied, his tone as relaxed as if it were just a casual everyday incident.
That's a really impolite thing to say.
However, Catherine, as an android, didn't care about this. She quickly resumed her professional smile, straightened her posture, and spoke in a clear and friendly voice:
"Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild, towards the stars and the abyss! Are you three here to accept a quest?"
Ying quickly waved her hand, her tone gentle yet firm: "No, we're not here to take on a mission, we're just passing by."
After saying this, the three men quickly nodded to her, bid farewell, and left.
We can't stay any longer—if we stay any longer, we'll eventually expose our weaknesses.
If they discover any flaws in my explanation, I'll have to find a way to explain it to Catherine.
But how can this be explained?
Could it be bluntly said that the gentle and mysterious "Little Lucky Grass King" had briefly resided in her body?
Even if you say it out loud, how many people will believe you?
Moreover, this is not a secret that can be revealed at will.
That was a unique ability belonging to Nasita, and it should be carefully treasured rather than easily shown to others.
After making up a random excuse, the three hurriedly left the Adventurers' Guild and walked briskly down the stone steps to the side.
"I hope... we didn't give ourselves away?" Ying stopped and glanced back at Catherine, who was still busy behind the counter, and asked in a low voice.
Paimon floated in the air, tilted his head and observed carefully for a while, then breathed a sigh of relief: "Hmm, Catherine looks perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened."
Iya crossed his arms and spoke with certainty:
"Now that we've successfully fooled this place, let's hurry over to Jingshan Palace to find my sister."
Ying and Paimon exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.
Just as the three were about to set off, before they could even take a step, a clear and melodious female voice came from the side, like a spring breeze rustling through the treetops:
Are you going to Jingshan Palace? I wonder... could you take us with you?
—Reality Star's live stream room.
Are you going to Jingshan Palace? I wonder... could you take us with you?
The subtitles slowly appeared on the screen.
At the same time, a pair of long, straight, beautiful legs encased in black high boots were the first thing to catch the audience's eye.
The camera pans slightly upwards, and a sophisticated and elegant woman enters the frame.
She was elegant, like a noblewoman who had stepped out of an oil painting. Her golden curls, as dazzling as sunlight, swayed gently in the wind, and her azure eyes were as clear as the sea, as if they could reflect the waves deep within her soul.
She wore a unique black top hat, the brim adorned with a bright yellow rose and a pure white feather, exuding elegance and poetry.
A custom-made black and gold dress accentuated her graceful figure, with every cut showcasing her exceptional taste.
On his left arm, a Geo Aspect Eye, radiating a deep, dark light, hangs silently; at his waist hangs an exquisite ship's wheel ornament, symbolizing the control of destiny.
The parasol held lightly in her hand was edged with sparkling gemstones, which refracted a mesmerizing brilliance under the light.
Two silent attendants in suits stood beside her, making her appear even more noble and dazzling, like a star surrounded by its patrons.
"Oh, she's a beautiful older sister!"
Xing stared at the screen, her eyes lighting up instantly, and a trickle of saliva uncontrollably dribbled from the corner of her mouth.
At this moment, Firefly and March 7th are shopping together, leaving her alone at home. No one is stopping her, and there is no need for her to hide it.
So she let loose, her heart fluttering and her eyes darting around at the meticulously designed character model, almost leaping into the screen.
[Ah Xing, your performance has been incredibly consistent.]
[As expected of you, Wang Xiaoxing, the terrifying lesbian. Looking across the entire live stream, perhaps only "she" can rival you.]
[↑How dare you! Which "she"?! Explain yourself!]
[I must say, this character is truly stunning. She possesses a gentle yet dignified air, and is accompanied by attendants—she's practically a foreign princess descended to earth.]
[New wife online, confirmed.jpg]
【Ahhh—this is so beautiful! Honey! I declare that today you are my whole world!】
——Teyvat
In Sumeru City, sunlight filters through lush vines and the towering dome of the Wisdom Palace, casting dappled shadows on the stone path.
Paimon looked up at the woman and two men who had suddenly appeared in front of him, his little face full of confusion. He floated forward and asked, "Who are you? How did you suddenly appear?"
With his arms crossed, Iya scanned the three people's clothing with a sharp gaze and said with certainty, "Judging from their clothing style, they don't seem to be locals of Sumeru... but they do have a bit of the aesthetic sense of Fontaine."
Ying glanced at her sideways, slightly surprised: "You could even tell that?"
Iya shrugged, a slight smile playing on her lips: "When my brother had new clothes made for me, he showed me patterns of popular clothing from seven countries to choose from. I memorized those cuts and designs back then."
Just as everyone was talking, the blonde woman calmly stepped out from between two guards dressed in sharp black suits.
Her eyes and brows held a smile, yet exuded an undeniable air of authority. A confident and proud smile curved her lips as she spoke in a clear voice:
"Who am I? I am the one who cuts through thorns, pierces through the fog, and forges ahead without hesitation."
Her voice was clear and melodious: "The 'Rose Society,' a comprehensive and omnipotent grassroots organization in Fontainebleau, is where I belong—mediating disputes, protecting the weak, and solving problems."
She lightly touched her red lips with her slender finger, her smile deepening: "And I am Navia, the current president of the 'Rosethorn Society'."
Then, she winked and added playfully, "But according to our custom, everyone prefers to call me—"
"boss."
Oh my god, she's so dazzling...
That aura she exuded was like that of a noble lady who had stepped out of a painting.
The "boss" she mentioned... well, translating that, isn't she basically a female gang leader? Even if she's a local tyrant, I'm still tempted!
[Boss, hello! Long live the boss!]
At this moment, the younger man in the black suit bowed respectfully, his voice gentle yet courteous: "Squire Silver greets you, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Another older man placed his hand on his chest, nodded slightly, and said in a gentle and steady tone, "I am Myles, in charge of Miss's daily life and other affairs. I am at your service."
Paimon scratched his head, looking bewildered: "Wait... one minute you're calling me 'boss,' the next you're calling me 'young lady'? What are you guys up to?"
Upon hearing this, Navia scratched her blonde hair slightly embarrassedly and laughed, "Haha... Actually, I'm the second president. Myles and the others watched me grow up, and they're still more used to the old way of addressing me."
Myles immediately bowed and apologized: "I'm very sorry, Miss. If you prefer to be called 'boss', I will certainly follow your instructions from now on."
"Oh, don't be so formal!" Navia waved her hands repeatedly, her smile as bright as the spring sun. "Call me whatever you want, just don't be too formal."
Ying crossed her arms and looked at her calmly, speaking softly, "So, what brings this 'boss' from Fontainebleau to stop us?"
Navia laughed heartily, her eyes sparkling with sincerity: "Don't be so formal, just call me Navia."
[Yes, boss! I guarantee I'll complete the task!]
Yes, my dear wife!
[Your Majesty, please give the order (a baseless fantasy)]
Paimon nodded subconsciously: "Oh, okay, boss..."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly realized what she had said and hurriedly waved her hand to correct him: "No, no! We are not members of your 'Rose Society' at all!"
Navia chuckled and waved her hand dismissively, saying, "Oh, there's no need to fuss over such details."
Her expression turned serious as she looked at the three of them:
"I called you over not for any particular reason... I just happened to overhear that you were heading to Jingshan Palace?"
"Is it the Pure Goodness Palace where the Little Auspicious Grass King resides?"
The three nodded slightly, their eyes showing a hint of confirmation.
Immediately, Iya, who was always concerned about Nasita's safety, turned to Navia and asked with a slightly inquiring tone, "That's right, so you have important business to discuss with the Little Lucky Grass King?"
Navia nodded, but a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face. After clearing her throat twice, she said frankly, "To be honest... we are actually here on behalf of Fontaine to participate in the Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival."
Before he could finish speaking, all three of them were stunned, looking at each other with puzzled expressions.
Paimon blinked and blurted out, "But...didn't the Flower Goddess Festival end a long time ago? It's been quite a while!"
She tilted her head, her tone full of confusion: "If you really came to celebrate the birthday of the Little Lucky Grass King, isn't this a bit too late? It's as if you arrived at the banquet entrance just as the last rays of sunset were setting."
Iya nodded slightly, his expression serious: "If this is truly why we came... then arriving so late might not show our sincerity, would it?"
“This…” Navia scratched her cheek awkwardly, her eyes darting away.
At this moment, the attendant Myles, who had been silent all along, stepped forward and respectfully said, "Let me explain the situation."
He spoke calmly, with a hint of helplessness: "Actually, part of the reason is that we accidentally boarded the wrong ship when we arrived at Hailu Port."
"The ship was supposed to be heading to the port of Omos, but it led us all the way into the desert."
"Desert?" Paimon's eyes widened instantly, pinpointing the key word, and he made no attempt to hide his disbelief. "How could there be a port in the desert? How did your ship stop? Did it run aground on a sand dune?"
I have the same question as Paimon.
Isn't the more crucial question—why is there a sea next to a desert?
[↑That's right, there has to be a sea first before ships can sail in...]
The geological structure of Teyvat is indeed different from the real world; at least I've never heard of a desert bordering a navigable sea...
After a moment of contemplation, Yiya suddenly remembered something and slowly said, "Perhaps... it's because someone has set up anchorages for ships in the desert? Those markers can be used for temporary mooring."
He recalled an amusing anecdote his brother had mentioned: "I remember my brother saying that it was done by a lady named Alice."
"She traveled from the rainforest of Mount Meru to the depths of the Red Sands because she wanted to write a guide to Teyvat."
"Later, not wanting to take the long way back to the rainforest and then go to Port Omos, we simply planted a surf ship anchorage in the desert and took the surf ship directly to Fontaine."
“Alice…isn’t that Klee’s mother?” Paimon tilted his head, lightly touching his lips with his fingertip, trying hard to recall the mysterious name he had heard mentioned during his journey, his tone carrying a hint of realization.
Ying gazed into the distance, her eyes flickering slightly, and murmured, "What a wondrous existence... It's as if her footprints are all over every corner of Teyvat, yet she is always hidden in the mist."
Navia sighed softly, rubbing her forehead in exasperation, and said, "In any case, for whatever reason, our ship eventually docked at the edge of the desert."
She continued, "Of course, this shouldn't have had too much of an impact. After all, we had allowed plenty of time before we set off."
"Even if it requires trekking across the vast red sands, in theory there should be enough time to arrive at Sumeru City before the Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival officially begins."
“But…” her tone shifted, a hint of frustration and exhaustion appearing between her brows, “the security along the Sumeru Road is just terrible!”
"Absolutely unbearable—"
"We hadn't gone far when either a horde of ferocious mushroom beasts would suddenly appear, or we would be attacked by gilded caravans that were plundering merchant caravans."
"We spent most of our journey fighting and clearing out the enemy."
"What's more troublesome is that we encountered strange 'dead zones' along the way. The air in those places was filled with the smell of decay, making it impossible to force our way through. We could only wait for the forest rangers to come and deal with it."
Navia's story resonated deeply with Ying and Paimon, who nodded in agreement.
Indeed, the chaos on the Xumi official road was no exaggeration.
When they first trekked from the port of Ormos to the city of Sumeru, they had personally experienced the perilous journey—
The desolate roads scorched by the blazing sun, the monsters lurking in the wilderness, and the sudden danger zones all leave one utterly exhausted.
Navia spread her hands, revealing a bitter smile that said, "It's all in the past." "In short, because of this series of twists and turns and delays, we ultimately failed to make it to the Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival..."
"A highly anticipated event was unfortunately missed."