Fallen Guest Empire (13)
Lady Raven.
In a high-collared dress and a gauzy cloak, this expected visitor did indeed look like a pampered lady.
Even the features on her somewhat aged face were gentle. She showed none of the deep-seated bitterness of a resistance member—even though she'd been forcibly invited here.
Mariana's arrangement didn't surprise Fu Qian at all.
After she'd been provoked into insisting on coming along, she'd already been caught between a rock and a hard place.
His danger level had steadily increased, and his motives had become increasingly concerning. Bringing him straight to the organization could spell disaster if anything went wrong.
But if she didn't bring him there, breaking her promise could just as easily spell disaster on the spot.
In such a deadlock, the best outcome—for her—was to take advantage of his apparent cooperation, sacrifice an unimportant base to cover their escape, and preserve the organization's initiative.
Everyone's perspective was limited, while leaders were famously far-sighted.
An organization built almost entirely on faith couldn't possibly ignore another ideology capable of a Dimensional Strike—especially when it was backed by the nightmare's aggressive targeting.
If they wanted to keep people from losing faith, facing it head-on was the only option.
Either eliminate it decisively, or do everything in their power to disprove it.
So after being attacked amid all that rushing around earlier, Fu Qian had been quite certain this meeting would happen.
That was why he'd been willing to cooperate all the way.
The worst outcome for him was simply wasting time waiting before a large force of elite Awakened Ones came to surround and attack him. The conversation would happen eventually.
And the best outcome was what he had now: no need to report in, since Lady Raven had been keeping track of Mariana and