Chapter 273: Rain’s Deepest Concern
Floating high above the sky, with two brilliantly shining moons as his backdrop, the middle-aged man couldn’t help but smile as he watched Leon gradually fade from view.
“With this, he should be able to avoid future regrets, right?” He murmured softly to himself.
At that moment, a delicate and soothing woman’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Don’t you think you’ve helped him too much? Your actions could cause his fate to veer off course into something completely unpredictable. If that happens, won’t the plan you’ve meticulously built over thousands of years fall apart?”
Her voice was gentle, but the helplessness woven into her words was unmistakable.
Hearing the woman’s concern resonate in his mind, the middle-aged man smiled faintly and shifted his gaze to the two moons, Miranda and Sylvia.
“You needn’t worry. I understand the limits of my actions,” he said calmly. “Moreover, my actions were well within reason and won’t significantly impact his future. Fate is intricate and not easily altered.”
The woman’s voice fell silent, though a faint sigh echoed in his mind.
“If you’re that confident, I won’t push further,” she replied softly, then added, “But I still have to warn you—proceed with caution. If they detect your presence, it could jeopardize everything we’ve worked for.”
She paused briefly before continuing, “Furthermore, they might focus on Leon and his three daughters earlier than anticipated, putting them in serious danger. This is not the time for them to draw such attention.”
The middle-aged man nodded slightly, his calm expression unchanged as he gazed up at the beautiful night sky.
“I’m fully aware, so there’s no need to worry. Leon and his three daughters are under my care, and as long as I’m here, no one will find them. You can relax,” he replied casually, yet with an undeniable air of dominance.
His words momentarily silenced the woman’s voice before she let out a soft sigh. “Even after thousands of years, you truly haven’t changed at all, master.”
The middle-aged man smiled at her response and whispered, “You’re right. No matter how much time passes, I remain the same—the sword god who has severed the heads of gods with a single strike.”
As he spoke, a radiant light erupted from his body, illuminating the surroundings for hundreds of meters.
Gradually, the light began to fade, and the middle-aged man’s figure disappeared, leaving behind shimmering particles that gently floated down, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
…
Two hundred meters from the tent where humanity’s troops were camped, Jim stood with a calm expression, gazing at the two moons, Miranda and Sylvia, in the sky.
“Everything is proceeding as planned. The Demon Race army won’t be able to escape tomorrow,” he murmured with a cold smile.
Although he was withdrawing humanity’s troops, it didn’t mean he was conceding defeat. Over the past two days, he had meticulously allocated forces and devised a strategy to decisively defeat the Demon army in a single strike.
He had also positioned Valen, Luna, Guren, Natasya, and Rain according to his strategic plan and was confident in its effectiveness.
Certainly, achieving absolute certainty in war strategy is impossible, even with his own plan. The unpredictable nature of war means that numerous contingencies can change the situation at any moment.
As the foremost strategist in the Holy Empire of Elysium, he was well aware of this and had already taken ten precautionary measures for the worst-case scenarios he anticipated.
Thus, he remained unconcerned, confident in his thorough preparations.
“What are you doing out here, Jim?”
At that moment, a soft yet indifferent woman’s voice came from behind him.
Jim, snapping out of his thoughts, smiled slightly without turning, as if he already knew who it was.
Taking a small breath, he shook his head and replied, “Nothing important; I’m just enjoying the night and the view of the sky.”
After a brief pause, he sighed and added, “Can’t you sleep, Rain?”
Rain, wearing a beautiful black lolita nightgown that highlighted her cold yet charming demeanor, stopped beside him and gave a small nod with a soft sigh.
“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep. Something’s been bothering me,” Rain said nonchalantly, her purple eyes betraying a rare hint of loneliness.
Jim’s expression remained unchanged, but a spark of curiosity briefly appeared on his handsome face.
“Is something wrong? If you want to talk about it, I’m here to listen. Maybe I can help,” he said casually.
Despite their close working relationship and frequent collaborations, Rain had always been emotionless and closed off, even to him and Velix. This made it challenging for Jim to discern her true feelings and thoughts.
Hence, her directness, with no attempt to conceal her feelings, had undeniably piqued his curiosity.
Rain’s usually indifferent demeanor showed a flicker of doubt. After a moment of silence, she sighed softly and gazed up at the star-filled night sky.
“Jim, as the prime minister of the Holy Empire of Elysium, you must know why I was permitted to join and work at the palace, correct?” Rain inquired in a low tone.
Jim was momentarily taken aback by her question, having not anticipated it. However, he quickly masked his surprise and nodded in response.
“Yes, I’m aware,” Jim replied, nodding slightly. “But why do you bring this up? Is your current concern related to that?”
Though Velix was the most powerful person in the Empire, it was fair to say that Jim was a close second.
With his high status, he had access to all crucial information, including the reasons behind Rain’s appointment as a palace mage.
Still, he couldn’t grasp why Rain had suddenly brought up the matter, which only heightened his curiosity.
Rain’s expression became unusually complex, her lips pursing slightly in a rare display of emotion.
“In the past, His Majesty the Emperor and I made a pact as a testament to my loyalty to the Empire,” Rain explained with a quiet sigh. “The pact stipulated that His Majesty would find someone—specifically, my childhood sweetheart who vanished when I was a child. Yet, despite all these years, His Majesty has not provided any information, leaving me feeling both frustrated and confused.”
After a moment, she bit her lower lip and asked hesitantly, “Jim, do you think His Majesty might have deceived me?”
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