Diana's anguish

Li Qi firmly rejected General Antiope's suggestion that he leave. His expression was serious as he solemnly reiterated that he had come to take the young princess Diana away.

His action was like a spark landing in a powder keg, thoroughly enraging Antiope. Her face flushed red, and she flung out a hand, her eyes full of fury as she sternly ordered the guards, "Escort him into the interior of Paradise Island!"

Antiope turned to leave, but as though unable to suppress her anger, she could not help looking back. Glaring at Li Qi with eyes that seemed capable of spitting fire, she demanded through gritted teeth, "What exactly are you after? Diana is the treasure of Paradise Island. How dare you covet her!"

Li Qi remained composed, his expression steady as he calmly replied, "I mean Diana absolutely no harm. I came to discuss something important with her, something that concerns her fate and the future of this world."

Antiope snorted, a disdainful curl at the corner of her mouth. "Hmph, absurd! You think a few empty words are enough to let you take the princess away?" With that, her face still filled with anger, she swished her skirt and returned to the beach to carry out the final cleanup.

Beside them, anxiety clouded Princess Diana's face like gathering storm clouds. Tears welled in her eyes, on the verge of spilling over.

She clutched Li Qi's arm with both hands, her knuckles whitening from the force, and pleaded desperately, "Li Qi, hurry and leave. If you don't go now, it'll be too late!"

Li Qi gently patted Diana's hand, his gaze full of reassurance. "Diana, don't worry. Since I came here, I have a way to handle this."

Diana was so anxious that the rims of her eyes turned as red as ripe cherries. Her voice trembled slightly, thick with tears. "You don't understand. My mother won't let you leave easily now. Please, go!"

Diana's azure eyes were filled with anxiety, like a pool of blue lake water churned into turmoil. Beneath her small nose, her cherry lips trembled slightly.

Her Amazon armor perfectly outlined her graceful figure, adding to her air of innocence and kindness.

She was so worried about Li Qi's safety, but he merely shook his head gently. He raised a hand to stroke her face, which was covered in blood and sand, only for Antiope to slap it down.

Li Qi knew he could not neglect their ongoing safety. Turning slightly to the side, he lowered his voice and quietly ordered the AI JARVIS

, "Spread the eight suits of armor around Paradise Island, overhead, and dozens to a hundred nautical miles out. Conduct nonstop patrols and security work. If you discover any enemies invading again, immediately engage and intercept them, and report to me promptly."

Considering that eight suits of armor were too few to establish a solid defense, he also had JARVIS send another summons to the armor assembly workshop in his Malibu villa in Los Angeles, calling the dozen or so suits already produced to defend the area around Paradise Island.

The second batch of armor would take roughly four to five hours to arrive.

After assigning the AI its work, Li Qi followed Diana deeper into the island under the escort of several female guards. After walking for just under half an hour, a magnificent palace complex came into view.

The glittering, imposing buildings stood in a carefully arranged pattern at the heart of Paradise Island's interior.

The main palace stood in the center like the moon surrounded by stars. Its architecture combined the elegance and solemnity of ancient Greece, with enormous stone columns supporting its soaring roof and exquisite reliefs recounting ancient legends.

Staggered towers and defensive positions surrounded it. The sturdy towers were covered in weathered marks left by the years, as though silently guarding this mysterious land.

Behind them were an arena, a horse-racing track, and a training ground. The grounds were spacious and level, and it seemed as though the shouts from past training sessions and competitions could still be heard.

Tall buildings rose nearby, pinpricks of light shining through their windows as though displaying the life and vitality of this place. The entire area formed an almost circular zone, its ancient Greek character so palpable that it felt like traveling back to that distant era.

By then, the main force that had just assembled at the queen's command had dispersed, but security across the island had been tightened, and a hint of tension hung in the air.

The queen rode a tall horse, her bearing vigorous, like a war god descended to earth. From atop a rise, she looked back at Li Qi being escorted toward her, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face,

then lightly squeezed her horse's flanks and rode down the slope, heading toward the central palace with her female guards behind her. Immediately afterward, thunderous drumming rang out through the palace complex, its sound deep and powerful, as though announcing the beginning of an important event.

Hippolyta's fiery red hair was piled high, with a few playful strands falling beside her graceful neck, lending her a touch of softness.

Her eyes shone like rubies, deep and captivating yet gleaming with a sharpness that seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly in a confident smile, as though everything was under her control.

She wore magnificent armor of pure gold, its inlaid jewels dazzling to behold. A golden belt cinched her waist, perfectly accentuating her mature allure, while every movement displayed a queen's majesty and charm.

Diana explained to Li Qi, "That's the summons for the island's council to convene. In thousands of years, no enemy has ever invaded the waters near Paradise Island. This is a major matter, and the council needs to discuss how to respond."

Seeing the confusion on Li Qi's face, she continued, "This is the system of monarch and council passed down from ancient Greece. Normally, the council has considerable power, but the queen has even more. During wartime emergencies, the queen can even dissolve the council and devote all her efforts to fighting foreign enemies."

Li Qi asked curiously, "Then how do the council and the queen usually work together?"

Diana patiently explained, "Normally, the council handles various matters and makes recommendations, while the queen makes the final decisions. But everyone works together for the peace of Paradise Island."

Li Qi sighed softly, thinking to himself, This is practically a small country. Wherever there are many people, struggles for power naturally arise. A queen or king and a council naturally have different roles and duties. Li Qi offered no objection to this.

Princess Diana was intent on rescuing Li Qi from the queen's guards, but her aunt, General Antiope, stopped her in time. Gently taking her hand, she earnestly cautioned her

, "Diana, if you disobey the queen's orders now, your mother will certainly be very angry. Why not let our benefactor be detained for a couple of days? Once your mother has calmed down, you can take your time pleading with her."

Diana said urgently, "Aunt, Li Qi really isn't a bad person. I can't feel at ease keeping him locked up like this."

Antiope shook her head helplessly, her eyes full of affection and resignation. "I know, but this is all we can do for now. You have to trust your aunt."

Diana thought it over carefully. She knew her mother's temperament well, and the things Li Qi had said earlier had indeed infuriated the queen. She nodded and decided not to defy her mother for the time being, though this meant Li Qi would have to suffer some unfair treatment.

Her expression instantly grew sorrowful, like a flower touched by frost. She reached out, took Li Qi's arm, and pulled him away from the several female Amazon guards.

She raised her head and gazed at Li Qi's resolute, strong, and handsome face. He was the first man she had ever interacted with at close quarters, and an indescribable feeling welled up within her, like a spring breeze brushing across a lake and setting off ripple after ripple.

This was something she had never read about in the many enduring masterpieces and theoretical works written by the gods and demigods of Mount Olympus in the island's library.

Diana put that strange feeling aside for the moment. Looking at Li Qi sincerely, she said softly

, "Li Qi, my mother is still angry right now, but it's all right. She'll calm down in a couple of days, and then I'll plead with her. For these two days, you'll have to put up with staying on the island, but it certainly won't be in a dungeon. You'll be in a clean, tidy hot spring sanctuary."

The hot spring sanctuary she spoke of was an unusual palace, clean and filled with light. Inside, underground hot springs bubbled up with clear, crisp sounds, as though performing a beautiful piece of music.

After passing through eighteen bends, the hot spring water became pleasantly warm, its rising mist dreamlike and ethereal. This palace had originally been reserved for the speaker of the council and the captains of the Amazon fighting units. Now Diana had decided to let their honored guest, Li Qi, rest there for a few days.

Li Qi nodded. He could not leave Paradise Island so soon anyway. His mission was still unfinished, so how could he leave lightly?

Afterward, Diana explained the arrangement to the queen's guards escorting him. Naturally, their squad leader did not dare oppose the young princess's wishes. After all, even if mother and daughter were at odds, and however strict the queen's orders might be, the squad leader could not completely ignore Princess Diana's words.

Thus, the squad leader first escorted Li Qi to the Water Curtain Sanctuary. Afterward, Diana and General Antiope also went to the council hall to attend the meeting and discuss this invasion of Paradise Island by outsiders.