Stacy's Pets

With a determined heart, Ma Moreno frantically poured all his remaining Magic Power into the jade tablet, initiating the final destruction program!

However, after a few deathly seconds, the expected energy burst and the disintegration of the ship did not occur.

The control room was deathly silent, save for the low hum of the core array in operation; the light symbolizing destruction did not illuminate.

Just then, clear footsteps sounded behind him.

Zijin appeared at the door of the control room. While dismantling the magical traps, she leisurely played with a glittering gold jade tablet engraved with an intricate sun emblem in her hand—the very cardinal identity card that Katharine had given her, representing the second-highest authority of the Temple of Light.

"Sorry, Captain Ma Moreno," Su Ming stepped out from behind Zijin, a mocking smile on his face, "We're Gold VIPs, our privilege level... seems to be a tiny bit higher than yours."

Ma Moreno's face changed drastically in an instant, turning from pale to utterly despairing ashes. He let out a low, unwilling growl like a wild beast and suddenly drew his silver-hilted sword from his waist.

Su Ming immediately and instinctively adopted a defensive stance.

However, Ma Moreno's sword was not aimed at his enemy, but rather resolutely slashed across his own neck!

Pfft!

Hot blood gushed out instantly, staining the front of his magnificent captain's uniform. His wide eyes stared intently at Su Ming and Zijin, his body convulsed violently a few times, and finally, with a "thud," he crashed heavily onto the cold magic array floor, his breath fading away.

"... What's going on here?" Su Ming looked at the glaring bloodstains spreading rapidly on the ground and the lifeless corpse, completely puzzled.

"Ma Moreno's failure to carry out the mission of destroying the warship is already an unforgivable crime," Zijin's voice carried a chilling insight. "If he doesn't die here to atone for his sins, the temple's higher-ups will surely consider him a traitor. At that time, all his blood relatives in the Radiant Holy City will be slaughtered without exception."

"I see..." Su Ming looked at the corpse on the ground, his expression somewhat complicated.

Bowers entered the control room and visibly relaxed when he saw that Su Ming and Zijin had taken control of the situation. But when his gaze fell on Ma Moreno's corpse, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately suggested, "How about we use high-level necromancy to 'revive' this old guy's body? Then spread the word that Captain Ma Moreno had a change of heart and led the ' Thorns of Atonement ' to glorious surrender!"

"Then, when the Pope is enraged and executes his family in the Holy City, we'll jump out and announce the truth, saying that it was actually just a high-level zombie controlled by us?" Su Ming countered.

"Yes, that's it!" A vengeful glint flashed in Bowers' eyes.

Su Ming shook his head, his tone slow but firm, "No. Even if the Divine Covenant Faction is a hateful enemy, it's not worth using such methods."

"Doing this will severely damage the morale of the remaining Divine Covenant Faction and create suspicion and division within them!" Bowers was puzzled, even somewhat anxious. "What's the downside?"

"Yes, it will severely erode our reputation," Zijin replied, "Damage our very foundation!"

Bowers didn't quite understand, "Shouldn't war be waged without restraint?"

"Next, we'll need to face numerous forces on the continent," Su Ming patiently explained. Since transmigrating to this other world, he had experienced a wide range of affairs, broadening his horizons and perspective considerably. "We need to deal with them, including but not limited to negotiations, alliances, and various transactions. In the process of fighting the Temple of Light, we must strive to turn these people into our allies, not obstacles."

"Therefore, we need to cultivate and maintain a positive image," Zijin said. "We can be assertive, and we should be powerful, but we cannot allow people to see us as treacherous, cunning, and despicable."

"I know you deeply resent the Divine Covenant Faction," Su Ming said, looking at Bowers, "But from a strategic perspective, the price we pay for this tactical advantage is simply not worth it!"

"..." Bowers paused for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I understand. I've learned something."

****

The "Thorns of Atonement" was quickly and completely suppressed. Su Ming left one hundred necromancers to guard the ship and immediately began repair work.

However, many of the ship's magic array nodes and sail systems were severely damaged. Lacking materials like sails, they could only piece together substitutes from other items during repairs.

After inspecting the area, Su Ming confirmed that this was not a project that could be completed in a short time.

He teamed up with Zijin to dismantle the ship's key magical traps before returning to the Pansy.

The ship's engines roared once more, propelling the vessel at full speed through the waves, heading straight for the next fleeing warship.

Lunchtime has arrived. Due to the wartime situation, in order to facilitate the quick access to meals for personnel on duty and to allow logistics personnel to deliver meals to the front-line combat positions, today's food is mainly of the convenient type, consisting of various bread rolls or meat patties filled with thick meat fillings.

However, the restaurant still provided a large pot of steaming hot soup. Su Ming had been busy all morning and was parched, so he filled a large bowl for himself.

He carried his tray into the small dining room on the side and found that Younier was already inside.

The junior clerk was also busy all morning. While the soldiers at the front were fighting valiantly, she was in the rear coordinating the allocation of supplies and personnel rotations.

At this moment, on the table where the junior clerk was sitting, there were several cages of different sizes and materials placed rather incongruously.

Su Ming's gaze swept across the area, and he immediately recognized the inhabitants: a coiled snake, a curled-up hedgehog, and two lizards climbing.

"These are all pets that Stacy asked me to look after temporarily," Younier explained, feeding the pets into the cages according to their numbers.

"Are these all the pets she kept in the Divine Might Prison?" Su Ming asked, somewhat puzzled.

"No," Zijin chimed in as she entered the restaurant, "Stacy just 'picked these up' along the way. She's always had this problem—she gets soft-hearted when she sees small animals on the street."

"No wonder you specifically warned her not to impulsively 'bring' those Silver Dragon back as well," Su Ming said with sudden realization.

"The key point is," Zijin added, her tone tinged with helplessness, "that Stacy has a particular fondness for creatures like lizards!"

A dragon, perhaps, could also be considered... a type of extremely large lizard?

"Will she listen to my advice?" Su Ming's tone couldn't help but carry a hint of nervousness.

"Probably, maybe, it will..." Zijin seemed less certain.