Chapter 428
In no time, Shi Lei finished analyzing the metal material of the longsword. Amidst Vigna's horrified, ghost-like gaze, he conjured ten Breath of the Kings out of thin air!
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Chapter 505 Killing Someone By Destroying Their Spirit (4K)
"Mister Zhongli, who exactly are you?"
If attacking the alcohol refinery made Vigna look at Shi Lei in a new light, then creating the Breath of the Kings with his bare hands was simply shocking and completely shattered her worldview.
The Originium Arts, which can be copied with a single touch, completely violate the law of conservation of energy.
The room was extremely dark, with only the faint light from the cell phone. Vigna didn't dare look at the other person's face, because it would be extremely offensive.
Who I am is not important.
Shi Lei handed over the original version of Breath of the Kings:
"The important question is, what do you plan to do with this sword after you get it?"
Vigna took it with both hands and carefully examined the Breath of the Kings, which was exactly as Alda had described.
But out of the corner of her eye, she would occasionally glance at the incredibly realistic replicas. To the naked eye, it was impossible to tell the difference between the two.
"I... I want to stop the war."
Vigna had made similar remarks long before entering the Place Where the Kings Sleep.
She remained tight-lipped about her status as the heir to the Aslan Royal Family, repeatedly stating that she would rather be an ordinary person.
Shi Lei wasn't surprised by this answer. He picked up a replica of the Breath of the Kings and examined it in his hand.
"I can tell you definitively now that the legends of this sword being able to cleave through Catastrophe are all false. I don't know how many Victoria Duke regard this weapon as a symbol of royal power. How to use it to stop this war is what you and I need to consider."
Upon hearing this, Vigna weighed the sword in her hand. It felt quite heavy, but she couldn't bear Victoria's weight.
If Doctor Zhongli hadn't come today, and instead the Doctor or Amiya had accompanied her, then her attempt to restore the Breath of the Kings to the mortal realm would certainly not have achieved the desired effect.
Should we hand it over to a powerful Duke so he can send troops to drive out the Sarkaz of Londinium?
If a Duke could control the situation, the war wouldn't have dragged on until now.
Vigna paused for a moment, then raised her head:
What do you want to do?
Instead of giving a direct answer, Shi Lei, like a patient and encouraging teacher, posed questions to stimulate the students' thinking:
"If any Duke were to obtain the Breath of the Kings, what do you think he would do next?"
Vigna thought for a moment, her tone uncertain:
"If it's Duke with a smaller army, they'll most likely hide National Sword Breath of the Kings to prevent it from being coveted by external forces if its whereabouts are exposed. If it's Duke with a larger army, I... don't know."
Shi Lei grinned and asked the key question:
"Do you think any of these Grand Duke outside the city are truly here to save the people of Londinium?"
Vigna shook her head directly, that much was certain:
"You mean..."
"The Breath of the Kings is like the Imperial Seal of the State, a powerful tool that can ignite desires. If a powerful Duke obtains it, it will only accelerate the attack on Londinium and drive the Sarkaz out of the city completely."
Because only by storming the Royal Palace and displaying the Breath of the Kings to countless people can one claim to have inherited the will of the former Victorian Emperor and establish oneself as king, or install a Dolak and Aslan as puppet emperors. Returning to the original question, what do I want to do? With so many Breath of the Kings here, don't you understand?"
Vigna suddenly realized and offered her own interpretation:
"You want to use these Breath of the Kings to lure the Grand Dukes into accelerating their attack. That way, you can liberate the people of Londinium sooner. But if the Sarkaz flees in disarray, won't the remaining Duke be thrown into chaos? Then the people in the city will have to face a new battle."
Seeing that she only cared about the people in the city, Shi Lei was honestly a little disappointed. Just like the previous Rhodes Island, simply knowing how to liberate the infected was useless.
However, this is not Vigna's fault. No one is born with a long-term vision; everyone grows gradually through accumulation.
As long as his heart for protecting the weak remains unchanged, he will eventually become a good leader.
"The real is real, and the fake is fake. Perhaps the Breath of the Kings has some hidden effect, but those in the hands of those Dukes are all fakes. Once Alda takes the fakes away and they disappear into the distance, I'll decide how many Breath of the Kings are circulating in the market."
At this point, Shi Lei demonstrated it again.
The Breath of the Kings in his hand vanished into thin air, only to reappear a few seconds later, as if by magic.
Vigna has now approved of his plan, but feels that Alda can still be saved:
"Everyone knows that the Noble Cumberland is Father's most loyal subordinate. Alda is their only bloodline. Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"Indecisiveness is not a quality a leader should possess. I know you want to protect her, but does she want to be protected by you? If you ask me, it's best to respect her personal choice and put aside your desire to help her."
When the Lion King was overthrown, the entire noble faction was implicated. Alda has been under the protection of a powerful figure for twenty-six years. Perhaps she's on your side, but she won't disobey his orders. If you don't believe me, take the fake item out later. If she wants to take away the Breath of the Kings, just give them to her."
Upon receiving the replica, Vigna solemnly exchanged it for the genuine Breath of the Kings.
Doctor Zhongli is right. Alda has been indebted to others for twenty-six years. Even if she were to turn against them at the last minute, it wouldn't be too difficult to predict. Moreover, the most loyal Duke Cumberland is already dead, and it is still unknown whether his descendants are worthy of the title 'forever pure'.
"Yes, I understand."
Vigna's words were spoken with great reluctance. She still hoped that Alda wouldn't go astray.
Shi Lei noticed that the Steam Knight deeper inside had actually moved, and staring in that direction, he said:
"You go out first, I'll Rearguard."
As Vigna wondered why he wasn't leaving, a hissing sound instantly filled the entire underground cavity.
"Pfft... Pfft..."
The sound grew louder and the rhythm clearer. This startled her greatly, leaving her utterly astonished.
"Are there still living Steam Knight?"
"You go first, don't keep Alda waiting."
Vigna wanted to stay and observe, but the hissing sound was like a drumbeat, making her feel depressed.
Okay, take care.
She raised her phone, using the light to illuminate her path. Then she jogged back quickly to the battlefield where the Sarkaz Elite Pincer Attack the Steam Knight.
Upon seeing that familiar yet unfamiliar sword, Alda's pupils dilated suddenly, and her breathing became rapid.
"Your His Highness, why are you alone?"
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."
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 harbored a deep resentment towards the Sarkaz.
Despite Dagda's enthusiastic demeanor, he has secretly cursed her and W several times Demon Race.
Discrimination against the Sarkaz is ubiquitous, Ines has long been accustomed to it. Only by experiencing it can one truly understand how precious an environment like Liyue City is.
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's the perfect time to make a move.
Although it's unclear why Zhongli didn't evacuate, Your His Highness at least managed to bring 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 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 dungeon. 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 may scold me, you may hit me, I accept it all. 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 won't defend Victoria after obtaining the Breath of the Kings."
Alda bit her lip, her face tense.
"I know all of this, but it's none of my business. 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?"
Her face turned pale when Vigna pressed her for answers.
"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.
"Your His Highness, if you knew that losing it was only a matter of time, what would you dare to possess? My current choice is not even what 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 taught her echoing in her mind: respect others' choices, set aside any impulse 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?"
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, and 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, inexplicable tremor in her heart.
She couldn't describe how she felt.
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!"