Departure

The night was dark as ink, scattered with stars.

A silver moon hung high overhead.

It bathed the forest at the foot of Proadas in silvery white.

A breeze brushed gently through the trees' lush branches, their rustling a lingering melody, half song and half sob. Deep within the forest, layers of darkness lay hazy and indistinct. A shaft of moonlight rode the wind across high mountains and secluded valleys, reaching the stony bottom of a deep pool.

The night passed without dreams.

Early the next morning.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and rain began to fall.

Fiona left in a hurry, slipping back to the Imperial Palace on the mountain under cover of the gloomy, rainy weather.

As an imperial consort, she naturally had a room in the Imperial Palace.

Even if the Goblin Emperor Amigel had no interest in human beauties, he was not so magnanimous that he would let his own consort do as she pleased.

Standing deep in the forest.

Jiang You watched the heavy rain fall on the green grass. With a sigh, he returned to the Winged People Embassy in Proadas.

The moment he entered the embassy, a little turtle flashed toward him like purple lightning and bounded onto his shoulder.

"Boss, why didn't you come back all night?"

"Naturally, I had important matters to discuss with those humans!"

Jiang You replied calmly.

"Wait, why do you smell faintly of jasmine?"

Standing on Jiang You's shoulder, the little turtle suddenly sniffed.

The corner of Jiang You's mouth twitched, and he reached up to lift the turtle off.

"Wang Xiaoba, you're a turtle, not a dog! Why are you sniffing everything?!"

"Oh."

Just then.

Inona, a female Winged People official, approached with several other Winged People officials and asked.

"My King, what did the humans say this time?"

His Winged People Administration was gradually taking shape, and Inona was effectively the head of the officials who helped him handle affairs of state.

So Jiang You told her everything he had discussed with Fiona, leaving out the part about having children.

Inona sighed after hearing him.

"The Human Race really has had terrible luck. To think they've now been reduced to herders raising Griffins for the Goblins."

"That's where you're mistaken. The Human Race is thinking far ahead; there's nothing simple about their plans. Still, their actions certainly benefit us greatly."

Jiang You said with a smile.

"By the way, pack up and choose who will remain at the embassy. I'll visit the palace again today, and once I've said farewell to Emperor Amigel, we'll return to Paradise Mountain!"

"Yes, my King."

Amigel had summoned Jiang You this time because he wanted to deploy some of the Winged People troops against races that remained fiercely loyal to the Titan Giants.

The enemy forces included flying units such as Griffins and Windbirds, so he needed the Winged People legion.

As a loyal ally of the current Goblin Emperor Amigel-a loyal subject in the emperor's eyes.

Upon receiving the summons, Jiang You immediately led three thousand Winged People soldiers to Proadas and placed them under the Goblin general commanding the expedition.

He would not go himself this time. Instead, he would have a Master Tier Winged People professional lead the legion on the campaign alongside the Goblins.

Once he had delivered the Winged People legion, he was free to leave.

He had only stayed an extra day because of Fiona's invitation.

When he arrived at Emperor Amigel's palace, Jiang You saw Fiona standing behind the Goblin Emperor Amigel like a court official, seemingly reporting something to him.

When he saw Jiang You arrive.

Amigel's face lit up with delight.

"Yuliel, thank you for sending your troops so promptly. Those Titan remnants will be wiped out to the last! And the Winged People will always be the Goblins' closest allies!"

"Every one of my people is more than willing to serve Your Majesty!"

"Wonderful!"

After chatting for a while, Jiang You bid Amigel farewell and departed.

Before leaving, he gave Fiona a long, meaningful look.

A month later.

Jiang You and the others returned to Paradise Mountain.