Always Ready

"Master, do you know what I'm thinking right now?"

"I know, but from my perspective, proper etiquette is still necessary."

"I really want to tie up that charlatan goddess and extract the truth from her mouth, word by word. I refuse to believe that she'll still dare to play tricks on me after we've used a wooden horse, whip, and candles."

Clearly, Angela did not heed Li Lin's warning.

This is understandable. The Goddess of Secrets finally came, claiming she had important information to report, only to utter a pointless statement everyone already knew, then dusted herself off and left. Angela didn't immediately erupt in anger out of respect for Li Lin; how could she not complain?

Even if you dismember her, it won't make a difference.

Li Lin reached out and picked up the milk tea that Suoxiate had placed on the table, a wry smile on his face.

"Keeping secrets is her divine duty. As long as she insists on remaining silent, no matter how you treat her, she will not die. However, once she breaks the rule of secrecy, it is tantamount to suicide. Therefore, for Goddess of Secrets, to have done this much is already more than enough."

"But I still don't understand what you mean by 'he's not fighting alone.' This isn't football."

Angela snorted coldly.

"Could it be that she's implying that those blind gods would also support the God of Justice and stab you in the back, Master?"

"The possibility is very small. Moreover, if that were the case, the other gods should have noticed it as well. In addition, most of the gods in the Upper Realm have lost their power. Even if they wanted to help the God of Justice, they would not have enough power to condense an avatar and descend to the mortal realm. As you have seen, the other gods Divine Descent through the bodies of the Divine Chosen. They do not have any extra power to condense their own avatars."

Li Lin didn't understand what the Goddess of Secrets was referring to. Whether from a long-term or current perspective, the gods of the Upper Realm had no chance of this. After all, those who had managed to remain under the God of Justice without being absorbed were only the Greater God. Therefore, even if the God of Justice wanted to grant them the status of subordinate gods in exchange for their loyalty, it was impossible. According to the rules of the Upper Planes, Greater God could not grant Greater God positions and power. Therefore, if those gods wanted to become subordinates of the God of Justice, they would first have to give up their divine duties and most of their divine power—suicide might be a quicker solution.

However, the arrival of the Goddess of Secrets in person certainly wasn't just empty talk. As before, her appearance already represented an attitude and stance, and was also part of unraveling the mystery. Now, it's Li Lin's job to find the true meaning behind the Goddess of Secrets's words. After all, a secret remains a secret for a reason, and knowing a secret inevitably comes at a price.

However, since he couldn't figure it out, Li Lin stopped thinking about it. But he still secretly kept the Goddess of Secrets's warning in mind and prepared himself for protection. Whatever the Goddess of Secrets's true intention was to convey, it was to remind him to be aware of the possibility of unexpected situations. For Li Lin, uncontrollable and unforeseen situations were the things he disliked the most.

Pulling his thoughts back, Li Lin focused his attention back on the report in front of him.

So far, the Magic Empire has three allies. Catherine has become its most loyal subordinate, and although the City of a Thousand Towers suffered from resource shortages due to the Scourge Legion's attacks, it received considerable food and supplies from Li Lin and is now determined to follow the Magic Empire to the end. Progress with the Sea-Encircled Country has been somewhat slow. Since Li Lin gave the sea fortress to the princess, she has begun to implement plans both internally and externally. On one hand, following Li Lin's orders, she personally travels to other peripheral small countries to conduct diplomatic negotiations, urging them not to succumb to the pressure of the Five-Nation Alliance and become enemies of the Magic Empire. On the other hand, relying on the powerful military backing of the sea fortress, Princess Shirley has gradually increased her power. Of course, this has aroused the suspicion of the King of the Sea-Encircled Country. According to reports from the Dark Elf responsible for protecting her, Princess Shirley has been secretly attacked several times, but the assassins naturally failed to achieve their goals against the Dark Elf, the progenitors of cunning assassination.

As for who sent these assassins, it's self-evident. From the perspective of the Sea-Encircled Country, although killing Princess Shirley might anger the Arcane Mage, since the two countries have already signed an agreement, even if Li Lin gets angry, he won't do anything to the Sea-Encircled Country unless they no longer need the aid of other small countries. Otherwise, the Sea-Encircled Country will not face any substantial threat.

Li Lin had naturally foreseen this, which is why he left the group of Dark Elf behind as Princess Shirley's guards, precisely to prevent such a situation from occurring.

Of course, he kept this matter very secret, as he couldn't let other countries discover that Arcane Mage liked to infiltrate their countries, as this would damage the diplomatic credibility of the Magic Empire.

However, people change.

"Suoxiate."

As Li Lin summoned his head maid, he stood up. Then, Suoxiate's figure flashed by and appeared in Li Lin's line of sight.

"What is it, Master?"

"You didn't do anything to Beika, did you?"

In response to her master's question, Suoxiate gave a rather business-like smile, as radiant as a blooming flower.

"Please rest assured, Master, everything is under control. I am merely fulfilling my duty. Although as Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, I can understand Beika's feelings, as the Head Maid, I have my own tasks to complete."

As she spoke, a leather whip slipped from Suoxiate's sleeve, which she then grasped with both hands and lashed out forcefully.

"Smack!"

The crisp sound echoed in the room, while Li Lin looked at the smiling but silent Suoxiate and sighed.

However, this was something Li Lin had expected.

The "Shield of Guardianship," managed by Beika, is the only uninhabited area in Ringwraith City. Thousands upon thousands of magical barriers form a smooth, mirror-like region, hovering and flying around the outermost edge of Ringwraith City. If Ringwraith City is attacked, the "Shield of Guardianship" will immediately and automatically disintegrate, protecting the entire Ringwraith City from all sides. It can be said that this is Ringwraith City's first and last line of defense; it is a floating wall in the sky, faithfully performing its mission of guarding the city and resisting external enemies.

The area where Beika lives is the underground city— the Crystal Palace —located in the center of this region.

Although the name sounds beautiful, it's actually just an underground room. After all, the Shield of Guardianship, which acts as a barrier, normally floats horizontally along the edge of Ringwraith City, but it can immediately change shape and stand upright in case of trouble. If a room were built on top of it, it would probably have fallen down due to gravity long ago. Therefore, when the design was being planned, Beika took the initiative to request that her room be built underground.

The Crystal Palace, true to its name, is an underground room composed entirely of crystal-clear, bright magical protective shields. The shimmering magical light, which had returned after its master's return, was no longer dim and lifeless. Li Lin strolled down the steps and, just as he reached the doorway, heard the sounds coming from inside.

"So, I told you you were just asking for death, weren't you?"

It seems someone has already arrived first.

"I'm telling you, you're taking this too seriously. We know the little guy's abilities very well, so why do you have to ask so many questions? If you weren't confident, Nia would have brought it up already, wouldn't she?"

Kalin's voice sounded full of complaints.

"Beika... does it hurt...?"

Anna was clearly among them, and it must be said that the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys were quite united in some matters.

"Ahhh, over there, there's bleeding again... Wait a minute, Beika, I'm coming right away..."

Yi Aier was as flustered as ever, but fortunately, this trait apparently didn't affect her weapons research.

It seems that Beika really got a lesson from Suoxiate.

Thinking of this, Li Lin couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. He knew very well Suoxiate's principles. Just as gods strictly adhere to the rules of their divine duties, Suoxiate also followed certain principles deep within her heart. What a maid should do, shouldn't do, how to do it correctly, and what would be punished—these were strict requirements and controls within Suoxiate's heart. Although, realistically, it was perfectly normal for Beika to question her decision, in Suoxiate's eyes, everything she had done had undoubtedly exceeded her duty as a maid. If Nia, Kalin, Anna, or Miu'erkasi had raised the same questions, Suoxiate wouldn't have cared. But Yi Aier and Beika were different; as maids, they had their own principles and duties, and any actions that went beyond these duties were, in Suoxiate's view, an absolutely intolerable offense.

Li Lin had considered ordering Suoxiate to change these issues, but unlike other Ring Spirit Envoy, Suoxiate hadn't ventured out with Li Lin to gain experience. Li Lin, being Arcane Mage, naturally couldn't learn how to serve others. Therefore, Suoxiate's personality and thoughts, formed over a long period, were the result of observing other servants. Thus, even if Li Lin spoke to her, Suoxiate would find it difficult to change. In the end, Li Lin had no choice but to let her be.

This time was no different. When Beika questioned him, Li Lin knew things were going to go wrong. Although Suoxiate's smile was innocent and harmless, seemingly without any problem, based on Li Lin's understanding of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, it would be a problem if the head maid's smile wasn't so innocent. As things stand now, his worries were clearly justified.

With a helpless sigh, Li Lin stretched out his hand, and magical runes flashed on his palm, arranging themselves into a complex pattern. Then, the magical barrier automatically slid open to both sides, revealing the path in the middle.

Upon entering the room, Li Lin saw Beika, her entire body wrapped in bandages. She was sitting in a chair, gritting her teeth, receiving treatment from Yi Aier. In a way, the two sisters had gone through thick and thin together... The punishment Yi Aier had suffered was no less severe than Beika's.

"How's the situation?"

Li Lin asked, and when Beika noticed his presence, her face paled slightly. She then quickly pulled up her clothes to cover her battered body.

"Please don't worry, Master, it's just some superficial injuries."

Even so, her voice remained unchanged, as cold as ice.

"Sister Suoxiate... is very strict..."

Anna stood beside her, holding Beika's hand, a worried expression on her little face.

"Beika... it hurts so much..."

"So, he's an overly serious idiot."

Kalin looked at Li Lin and shrugged.

"It's kind of you to come and visit, but please rest assured, with Suoxiate's strength, even if she really goes all out, she can't cripple us. Don't let Beika's current appearance fool you, she'll be jumping up in a minute."

Kalin's words, though somewhat thoughtless, were true. As Weapon Spirit created primarily for combat, their defensive capabilities were already quite formidable. This was especially true for spirits like Kalin, Anna, and Miu'erkasi, whose true forms were weapons. Even a sword couldn't harm them in the slightest. And as one of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, Suoxiate, lacking any combat ability, naturally couldn't inflict any real damage. However, while the injury didn't seem as painful as being slashed or stabbed, it was still quite uncomfortable and unpleasant, like a finger being cut by a book page.

"I simply made what I believed to be the right decision."

Having barely managed to get dressed, Beika's expression remained icy. She stared at Li Lin without fear or wavering, and began to speak.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with it."

"That idiot, he's just plain stupid."

Kalin frowned and snorted in dissatisfaction.

I don't think you're wrong.

As Li Lin spoke, he walked up to Beika and gently stroked her head.

"Just as I said before, I understand your feelings, and I can guess what you're thinking. After all, I am your master, and you are my weapons. I know exactly what you're thinking."

At this point, Li Lin revealed a smug smile.

"A little girl who appeared out of nowhere has become my familiar, and she seems so arrogant, it's really annoying... Isn't that what you all think?"

"Well..."

Upon hearing this, Yi Aier was the first to fall silent, while Beika's expression froze, and she quickly lowered her head. Anna looked at the two of them curiously, then turned around and shook her head at Li Lin.

Anna likes it very much...

I refuse to answer.

As always, Kalin found various reasons and excuses, and then walked outside.

"Well, now that you've arrived, we should retreat and get back to our work."

As Kalin left, the rest of the group gradually dispersed, leaving only Li Lin and Beika in the room. Even so, the maid remained expressionless, as if nothing had happened.

"I don't understand what you're saying, Master."

She began to speak.

"I am your weapon, your shield, your subordinate. I will not question or blame you because of personal feelings."

Even Weapon Spirit have feelings.

Li Lin sat in front of Beika, gazing at her.

"I don't think you'll be the exception among them, Beika."

"As a maid, I will not respond inappropriately to your comments."

Beika was silent for a moment before finally speaking.

"However, this does not mean I agree with what you said."

"If Suoxiate hears you say that, you'll get another beating."

Li Lin was well aware of his weapon's stubbornness. If Yi Aier was punished for her impulsive nature, then Beika was constantly punished because of her stubbornness. He didn't expect Beika to admit her feelings in a few words, and he understood Beika thoughts perfectly. As the last weapon created, Beika had always been loved like the youngest sister among the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys. And it was precisely because of this that she forced herself to be even more determined. As Li Lin's shield, Beika had to ensure that she could protect her master from any harm at all times, but she failed.

That wasn't her fault.

Faced with the silent Beika, Li Lin felt a headache coming on. Of the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys, all except Suoxiate shared similar sentiments to varying degrees, even Nia. Although Li Lin had ordered them to leave the Magic Empire, deep down, the Seven Ring Spirit Envoys still harbored regret for not being able to stand by their master's side when the empire and their master faced destruction. While Suoxiate also failed to protect her master, at least she was by his side in death; the others didn't even have that opportunity.

That's why Nia chose to wait for him for a thousand years, and why Anna chose to walk directly from the lowest level of the Nine Levels of Hell to the Prime Material Plane. They both probably still harbored some regrets about it.

Beika is the same.

She knew that offering her opinion would lead to punishment from Suoxiate, but she still voiced her opinion and directly questioned Li Lin's decision. This was also to avoid feeling guilty.

However, things can't go on like this forever.

"Oh, right, Beika."

Thinking of this, Li Lin suddenly had an idea.

Let's set aside time tomorrow.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Master?"

"That's right."

A cunning and smug smile appeared in Li Lin's eyes.

"I have to go out tomorrow, and you all need to come with me."