The shock took a while to wear off, their ears still a constant hum. They had anticipated that the explosive warehouse would result in a severe explosion, but never in their worst nightmares had they imagined it to be this horrifying. When Cheng Ziang looked at Luo’er, he actually found a trail of blood running from his ear.
But they had neither the time nor the energy to fret over these details; the garrison base was burning in chaotic fervor. A delay would see them captured. Cheng Ziang helped a slightly disoriented Luo’er to his feet, and they hurriedly left the artillery fortifications.
By now, the two girls had also evacuated the base according to the set signals, and were making their way to the camp. When Luo’er and Ziang arrived at the camp, the girls had already been waiting for them.
Seeing Luo’er injured, Tangmo circled around him with a worried expression, but Luo’er just waved his hand in dismissal. At this moment, fleeing was the priority; Hu Daoke had already packed everything, and they were simply waiting for Luo’er and Ziang to leave.
Once they got onto their horses, they hurriedly left the vicinity along a path.
They proceeded south along Obus’s road, then entered the rebellious controlled area through a mountain pass, evading possible pursuit by Masya’s men. They did not dare stop along the way and continued to travel for three days straight. Only after they had fully entered the rebel-controlled area did they allow themselves to rest.
The operation could be described as risky and audacious, but it produced exciting results. The Odelanqi troops at the base had already clashed head-on with Masya’s forces, resulting in a fierce overnight battle. Regardless of how the relationship between Odelanqi and Masya eventually turns out, Prince Aud’s spring offensive was largely in vain.
With the death of Rodney, suspicions towards Luo’er and his party were basically dispelled. Therefore, the frontline legions would not suspect the Advance Team, but would rather consider possibility of reprisals due to recent strikes on rebel targets.
Upon completion of their mission, Luo’er instructed Baiyue to send a message to Princess Melia, urging her to keep her promise. Meanwhile, he also proposed his additional request - information on the origin of Masya’s artillery.
Over a hundred miles away in Galan City, Princess Melia quietly awaited the good news from Luo’er in her own bedroom. In the morning, ministers rushed into the palace, obviously on account of some urgent matter.
The maid who was waiting on her relayed that the ministers were discussing something with the king in the Consultation Hall, possibly about the front-line legions.
Soon after, a knight walked in and respectfully conveyed the king’s order, requesting Princess Melia to arrive at the Consultation Hall.
Melia’s lips curved into an almost undetectable smile - she had an idea of what had transpired, yet she feigned ignorance.
Melia quickly arrived at the Consultation Hall where a few ministers were engaged in a vehement discussion. Seeing her arrival, King Varen immediately cut to the chase, "Melia, have you remained in contact with the adventurous squad that once saved you?"
"What’s happened, father?" Melia asked in bewilderment.
"The front-line legions had an arsenic fire with the Odelanqi corps, and the ammunition depot of the royal artillery camp exploded. Army-nucleus Rodney was assassinated!" Every piece of news Varen relayed was enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.
"What’s all this to do with that adventuring squad?" Melia asked, wondering if Luo’er and his comrades had been exposed.
"We just suspect that problems arose in the front-line legions following the arrival of these mysteriously sourced individuals," Varen voiced his queries.
The absence of concrete evidence reassured Melia. She gritted her teeth, raised her head to look at King Varen, and said, "Father, are you doubting me?"
"I...I didn’t mean that..." Varen stuttered in denial on being addressed so abruptly by her.
"I know, you’ve never trusted me. You’ve always viewed my existence as an impediment in Oliver’s path. That is why you are so eager to marry me off to Odelanqi," Melia said, her expression turning resentful.
"Melia, father has never thought this way. I also wish for you to enjoy a life of luxury by marrying into Odelanqi. Prince Hasman has already been chosen as the next heir, and once he ascends the throne, you can become the queen of Odelanqi. Why won’t you understand father’s predicament!"
King Valen earnestly tried to counsel her, but to Melia it was nothing short of ridiculous. Even now when things had escalated to such a point, he was still trying to deceive her with his feeble lies. This led to an unparalleled disappointment within Melia.
Coming prepared for a major confrontation during this meeting, she was firm in her resolve. Yet, her father was still attempting to mislead her with his pathetic lies, which only strengthened her determination.
"What does father plan to do now?" Melia asked, referring to her impending marriage.
Valen sighed heavily and said, "With the recent arsenic fire, both our and Odelanqi’s forces have suffered. They have pulled back to Odelanqi now. King Gudelv’s envoy just made a protest against the incident, asking us to ascertain the cause."
"So, am I still required to go?" Melia asked indifferently.
"Let this matter rest. Our relation with Odelanqi has worsened already, and your going over wouldn’t make a difference." As he spoke, Varen rubbed his temples and waved his hand, saying, "You can go. Father will no longer make you marry into Odelanqi."
A smile played on the lips of Melia’s heart, but her face was devoid of any expression. Obviously, Luo’er had completed her task. He had stoked tension between Masya and Odelanqi, which ended up bringing her wedding plans to ruin.
Just as she was about to say something, a knight suddenly rushed into the Consultation Hall and breathlessly announced to King Valen, "Your Majesty, Obus is in dire straits!"
"What did you say?" Hearing the knight’s words, Valen’s scalp stood on end. Obus was the gateway to Galan. If it fell, the rebels could march straight in and seize Galan City, leading to the end of the kingdom.
"The rebels launched an offensive this morning, breaking the front-line corps’ defenses and currently surrounding Obus. Our royal artillery battalion has also fallen into their hands." The knight’s news shocked everyone present.
"Deploy troops to reinforce Obus immediately!" Valen commanded loudly.
Obus must not fall; the consequences would be dire. They were currently in a ceasefire, and the armies of various earls are still waiting in their territories. If Obus were to fall, they would not have time to aid Galan, and all would be lost.
Valen suspected that the rebels initiating an offensive was not a random event. His guess was that the rebels secretly instigated conflict between Masya and Otland’s armies, only to take advantage of this to counterattack Obus.
"Father," viewing the noticeably frustrated Valen, Princess Melia called to him calmly.
"Melia, please return to your quarters, I am very busy at the moment." Despite his agitation, Valen still managed to present a calm front to his daughter.
"I would like to lighten your burden, Father." Melia said sincerely, her head lowered.
"Your help isn’t needed here, go back and continue to be the princess." Valen casually waved her off.
"Father," Melia’s voice grew louder, "The kingdom is in trouble, and I want to help you too. I wish you would grant me this wish."
"Melia, what do you want to do?" Valen asked, exasperated.
"I wish to relieve you of your troubles, lead the army, and crush the rebels." Melia stated firmly.
"Please stop this nonsense and return to your quarters. This is no game. How can you, a girl, lead an army?" Valen attempted to persuade her.
Melia had anticipated Valen’s reaction. Of course, she understood that her father couldn’t simply hand over the reins of the army to her. What she sought was not the command of Masya’s army.
"Father, I wish to organize an army to defeat the rebels!" Melia finally voiced her true request.
"Melia, stop this nonsense, this isn’t a game." Valen sternly rejected her request.
"Father, I don’t need any help from you, all I need is your endorsement!" Melia said resolutely. She knew this moment was crucial.
"Melia, are you serious?" Valen looked at her and asked.
"I want to devote my strength to Masya too, I don’t want to get married to Otland and become some queen. Father, do you really distrust me that much?" Melia looked up, a trace of indignation in her eyes.
Seeing Melia’s determined look, Valen sighed. In the end, he relented and said, "I understand, and I’ll grant your request. Now leave."
"Thank you, Father." Melia said, her head bowed.
"Be careful, and come back when you’re worn out." Valen dismissed her like it was not a big deal. He clearly had no hopes for Melia to accomplish much; after all, a lone girl with no power or wealth thinking she could organize an army to resist the rebels was a foolish thought.
His plan was to give her a squadron of knights and let her wander around in less concentrated areas of the rebellion. When their supplies ran out, Melia would naturally have no choice but to return.
However, Valen clearly underestimated Melia’s ambition. She was prepared to organize an army, build up her own power, and then seize control of Masya with it.
Returning to her bedroom, Melia asked her maids to pack up all her jewelry. She planned to sell it off as the initial funds for the organization of her army.
She herself changed out of her elaborate princess dress and put on a fitted outfit for hunting. Her long hair was tied into a ponytail, and she removed all her jewelry and put on a pair of leather gloves.
While she was removing her jewelry, the pigeon ring on her finger gave her pause. Luo’er and his team had completed their mission, but there was still no word from them, worrying Melia somewhat.
Of course, what she was worried about was not the survival of the advance team, but that they might expose her secrets to others.