Chapter 402

Vigna stared at her concerned gaze, hoping that the other woman wouldn't make the wrong choice later:

"Don't worry about Doctor Zhongli, let's go first."

Dagda didn't know what was happening inside, but since it was Vigna's order, she would definitely do it:

"Miss Ines, would you like to come along?"

"No, my mission is to stay here."

Ines knew that these Victorians were very hostile to the Sarkaz.

Despite Dagda's enthusiastic demeanor, she has secretly Demon Race her and W several times.

Discrimination against the Sarkaz was ubiquitous, Ines had long since become accustomed to it. Only by experiencing it could one truly appreciate how precious an environment like Liyue City was.

She wasn't worried about Shi Lei's safety at all. Even if Londinium were to fall, the City Lord wouldn't necessarily suffer any harm.

Morgan and Indra returned to the exit to ensure the safety of the retreat route. Doctor Zhongli did not come out, and Ines did not follow either.

Now, with only Vigna and Dagda in front of Alda, it is the perfect time to make a move.

Although it's unclear why Zhongli didn't evacuate, Your His Highness at least brought the Breath of the Kings out with you.

Shall we get started now?

Or... should we wait a little longer?

Vigna held the fake Breath of the Kings in her hand, her attention completely focused on Alda. Seeing her serious expression, she seemed to be going through an internal struggle.

"You look very nervous?"

"No, Your His Highness, you must be mistaken."

Alda noticed that Vigna was observing her, so she quickly changed the subject to distract her:

"Your His Highness, what is your opinion of these Steam Knight the Place Where the Kings Sleep?"

"I don't know, and I don't care. But I once heard a guy named Gawain say that back then only the council had the power to conscript Steam Knight. Alda, I get the feeling you seem to admire Steam Knight a lot?"

"Admiration? I wouldn't call it that. I just can't imagine what an agonizing battle that must have been. The Steam Knight, hailed as the hope of Victoria, was betrayed by his country and died in a dark, sunless underground palace. Your His Highness, can you prevent such a thing from happening again?"

"I will not betray my subordinates."

While Vigna was speaking, a dagger was silently pressed against her back.

Alda was not only wary of her, but also kept a close eye on Dagda, who was walking at the front, and said in a low voice:

"Your His Highness, for your safety, please entrust the Breath of the Kings to me, okay?"

Although it was somewhat expected, Vigna still felt deeply disappointed by what happened and couldn't help but sigh.

"Sigh, does it really have to be this way?"

Alda moved the dagger to her neck, a position more dangerous than stabbing her in the back:

"Your His Highness, you can scold me, you can hit me, I accept all of that. But I must leave with this sword, for it is my mission."

Even if this sword cannot cut off the Catastrophe?

"That's right, and you can rest assured about one thing: I will not hand this sword over to any Sarkaz."

Shi Lei had repeatedly reminded Vigna that if someone asked for something, she should just give it to them, but she still wanted to say a few more words:

"So, which Grand Duke has been taking care of you for the past twenty years? You should know that he will not defend Victoria after obtaining the Breath of the Kings."

Alda bit her lip, her face tense:

"I know all of this, but it has nothing to do with me. My mission is to bring back the Breath of the Kings."

"What about the Self-Rescue Army? This resistance organization that you and Clovicia created, are you just going to abandon it? If you just leave like this, how am I supposed to tell the other Self-Rescue Army fighters after I get out?"

When Vigna pressed her for answers, her expression turned grim.

"These... Clovicia will handle them. I don't care what those Self-Rescue Army think of me."

"Alda, aren't you underestimating what you already have?"

Hearing this, Alda gave a bitter smile. She had once been penniless, entirely dependent on the patronage of a certain Duke. But all of this belonged to others, and sooner or later it would be taken back. Along with the honor and dignity of the Cumberland family, it would all be taken away:

"Your His Highness, if you knew that losing it was only a matter of time, what would you still dare to possess? My current choice is not even the choice I wanted. It's just that I've come this far, pushed here by fate."

"Why."

Seeing her resolute attitude, and realizing there was no way to change her mind, Vigna sighed, feeling deeply regretful.

"Alda, you said you saw me many years ago, is that true?"

"Yes, Your His Highness. You were young then and may not remember clearly, but I will never forget it."

"Then... you can take it."

Seeing that Vigna was talking about unimportant things, Alda was already prepared to take it by force.

But now, the sudden delivery of the Breath of the Kings startled her, and it took her several seconds to react.

"You really gave it to me?"

"Otherwise what?"

Vigna forced a bitter smile, the lessons Doctor Zhongli had just imparted echoing in her mind: Respect others' choices, set aside any urge to help. Since it was beyond repair, this was the only option: let the other person leave with the sword.

"Didn't you want to take it to hand in your assignment?"

Alda tremblingly accepted the Breath of the Kings; it was exactly the same as the National Sword she remembered. She never doubted that it was a fake, because His Highness and Doctor Zhongli had only been inside for a few minutes; it was impossible for them to have replicated the same sword.

The weighty aura of the Breath of the Kings entered her hand, causing Alda to feel a sudden pang of fear.

She couldn't express how she felt right now.

Dagda walked at the front, turning back to check if the other two had fallen behind. Breath of the Kings was in Alda's hands, an ominous premonition immediately rose in his heart:

"Alda, what are you doing!"

Seeing the atmosphere on the scene plummet to freezing point, and a fight could break out at any moment, Vigna took the initiative to smooth things over:

"Dagda, news of my obtaining the Breath of the Kings will spread quickly. Then, both the Sarkaz City Defense Army and the various Duke outside the city will try every means to come knocking. I've asked her to keep it safe; it'll be safer that way. What do you say, Alda?"

Alda was a little stunned, but still agreed:

"Ah, yes..."

With Vigna as his guarantor, Dagda naturally couldn't say anything more and quickly tried to smooth things over:

"Oh, is that so? I thought she just stole the Breath of the Kings. That really scared me to death."

This made Alda feel extremely uneasy, as if she were sitting on pins and needles, with a fishbone stuck in her throat and thorns in her back, as if she were being roasted over a fire. She stiffly forced a smile, managing to manage an awkward one.

Why would you think that?

Dagda felt there was no need to hide it, and answered truthfully:

"The Breath of the Kings is the legendary National Sword of Victoria. You're not His Highness's personal guard, so it's normal for you to be tempted to steal it."

His Highness, Your Highness is farsighted and knows that many forces outside are eyeing this sword. I'm entrusting it to you for safekeeping; even if you're surrounded in the future, you can say you couldn't find it.

"Oh, by the way, why don't you take this opportunity to swear allegiance to His Highness? I can be your witness."

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