Chapter 200: A Fork in the Road... Just Kidding!
"Ho? Someone actually followed us out," Xia Yu looked down toward the Scar Market below.
Theresa wore a heartfelt smile.
"What is your name?"
"Yurie," the leading Sarkaz woman answered. She had dark-red long hair and twin blades at her waist. She looked at Theresa, her hand reaching for her hilt, but after trying a few times, she gave up.
Theresa smiled at her. "It's a very beautiful name, quite rare among mercenaries. Did you name yourself?"
Yurie shook her head. "No... I didn't have a name. This is a name someone gave to me. She said a name would give me a sense of belonging."
Sarkaz have the custom of inheriting the names of others.
"She was right," Theresa nodded, then continued, "Why didn't you go to Londinium with them?"
"I'm sick of fighting back and forth. She said Her Highness would one day make it so we didn't have to fight anymore, so I came to see for her."
Yurie said seriously, "I originally wanted to try and challenge Your Highness before deciding whether to follow you, but when you stood before me, I didn't even have the courage to lift my blade."
Theresa gave a charming smile. "You are a powerful warrior, I'm certain of that."
How could she not be? She was one of the zombies sent to assassinate Theresis, even holding the status of a leader. Her strength was basically on par with the Sarkaz Centric sent to assassinate Theresa.
What kind of people were the latter? During that war two hundred years ago, they were the ruthless figures who could tear open the armor of a Steam Knight and drag the knight out from inside. Matching them, how could Yurie's strength be lacking?
"I wouldn't dare speak nonsense before Your Highness."
Yurie was quite humble. "But at least now I can be sure that the story she told about Her Highness being a hero of Kazdel long ago is actually quite believable."
At this, the red-haired mercenary scratched her head.
"If I have to say... I quite like the way Your Highness spoke just now, though I didn't entirely understand it."
Theresa looked behind her. "Where are your companions? You can all come together."
"She's right here," Yurie patted her own clothes. "Her blades and her clothes... though the clothes are indeed a bit too large and don't fit well."
"If you're asking about her specifically... she was also a very powerful warrior when she was alive. The feeling she gave off, well... anyway, she was very strong."
Theresa was silent for two seconds, then said, "I know a bit of needlework; I can alter them for you."
Yurie grinned. "No need, Your Highness, I'm long since used to it."
"Also, Your Highness, could you wait a moment?"
"There are some other mercenaries here who also want to follow you."
Theresa looked toward the pitch-black exit of the Scar Market, her gaze drawn by a flickering firelight.
One cluster, two... more and more points of light emerged from the darkness. When the first mercenary holding a torch stepped into the sunlight, he saw the white figure on the hillside.
He pointed forward and walked toward Theresa without looking back. Behind him, a continuous stream emerged from the dark cave—a group following Theresa.
They connected to form a rising sun.
"Mercenaries are used to the battlefield, but not everyone is willing to bury themselves in a never-ending expedition. We all want a different way of living—if possible."
Yurie sighed. "I heard some people are privately recruiting volunteers within Kazdel City. There might be others in the city who want to join us. It's just, uh, the roads in the wasteland are not easy to travel."
"Oh, look, they're here!"
From the distant Kazdel City, figures converged into a torrent, appearing in the wasteland outside the city walls.
"I will arrange everything," Theresa laughed from the bottom of her heart. "Let's leave together in a moment, Yurie. We have much to do next."
"With so many people, we'll have to prepare places for them to stay as well."
The Sarkaz were marching in silence.
Carrying the old and supporting the young, they came toward Her Highness all the way.
At this moment, Xia Yu suddenly thought of the old tale of Liu Bei leading the people across the river in the Three Kingdoms.
Perhaps... those commoners back then trusted him just as much.
"Truly, there are so many people..." Watching the flow of people pass her, hearing the calls of 'Your Highness' filled with trust and nervousness for the unknown, Theresa looked down at Xia Yu.
A crystalline light seemed to flash in her eyes.
"I thought at first... that not many people would follow me."
"Have some confidence," Xia Yu grinned. "You have been a merciful Demon King for two hundred years."
The efficiency of the Sarkaz was very high; perhaps they had long since mastered this 'migration' instinct through tens of thousands of years of fleeing.
The soldiers of the Military Commission stood all over the walls, yet they did not obstruct anyone who wanted to leave the city. They maintained sufficient restraint.
Even though everyone knew that after today, the next time they met would be on the battlefield.
"Thank you, Bailu," Theresa said gratefully. "If not for you, I wouldn't have the confidence to feed so many people."
"Instead of that, you should think carefully about which people need some 'persuasive beating' next," Xia Yu looked toward the distant Kazdel City. "Give me a list."
"...Inside the current Kazdel City, we have to face Theresis, the King of the Eater of Souls, the Damazti Cluster, the Sanguinarch, and the tens of thousands of elites under them."
Theresa looked at Xia Yu worriedly. "Can your, uh, friend really defeat them?"
"How about we take the people back first and plan for the long term?"
Facing all these people was something to be done while the Banshee Royal Court remained secluded and the Eater of Souls' army was not in Kazdel.
"Sounds like a lot of people," Xia Yu laughed. "That's fine. It's better than it being over before the fun even begins."
"By the way, did you know? We are actually very, very far from this planet. So far that the distance is an astronomical figure you can't even imagine."
Xia Yu reached out. "The reason I can appear before you now is through an ultra-long-range deployment via a medium unit. But these medium units are truly precious; a simple exploration mission only requires one."
"The other units are all exploring Amphoreus. The situation there is much more complex, and they don't need a minor physician like me."
She placed her hand over her heart. "Now, I shall seek aid from my sisters and see which generous sister will respond to me... Ah!"
As if receiving some information, Xia Yu looked at the Scar Market below with pity. Theresis was right there.
"It looks like your brother is in for some big trouble, Theresa," she said gleefully. "Now, I'm going offline for a bit. Sister Firefly will continue our transaction."
"Don't worry, she's very easy to get along with."
In a burst of light, Bailu's tiny body gradually dissipated, replaced by a taller young girl.
"Stellaron Hunter, Firefly," Xia Yu switched identities and nodded calmly to Theresa. "You are Theresa? The one Bailu mentioned who needs help?"
"Yes, Miss Firefly," Theresa's eyes widened at the sight of the transformation. "This is truly... amazing."
"May I ask what the mission objectives are?" Firefly asked with a polite smile.
"Um, beat up everyone who resists me?" Theresa paused. "That... try not to kill them if possible. Can you do that?"
Of course, Theresa wasn't some naive fool who thought such a conflict could be resolved without deaths. It was only because she saw the confident look Bailu had that she made such a request.
On one hand, she was indeed merciful; on the other, it was an assessment of the strength of this organization from space.
If the other party said they couldn't do it, she would understand. If they agreed and actually pulled it off...
Then the Sarkaz would truly have found a golden thigh to lean on!
"Then... call the people out first," Xia Yu hesitated for two seconds and then said, "I can't exactly beat up everyone in that city, can I?"
That would be too brutal!
"Oh, alright," Theresa nodded quickly. It wasn't that she couldn't do it, but that it was a hassle?
"By the way, can the city be dismantled?" Xia Yu asked again.
"...Try not to dismantle it," Theresa's face stiffened. "It wasn't easy for us to build a city... no, you decide based on the actual situation."
Although it pained her, she still chose to let the other person decide.
After all, she wasn't some heartless boss.
"Then let us start with my brother," she turned to look at the Scar Market below, her aura beginning to surge.
This was an invitation.
In the hidden room deep within the Scar Market, Quisatustshtsh, Scarface, and Theresis all looked up simultaneously.
"The future... the future has changed again!" Scarface covered his eyes. "Blurry... flames... destruction... ah!"
That was... death!
"Your Highness, she is inviting you," Quisatustshtsh bowed toward Theresis. "Would you like to respond to this invitation? If not, I can go out and decline."
"No need," Theresis shook his head, his gaze looking upward with doubt.
'Theresa, what are you thinking?'
'Shouldn't we have a tacit understanding not to interfere with each other, let the two factions separate, and then each head toward our respective ends?'
'Why meet me here?'
'Is it for that final farewell?'
Theresis thought it over and eventually decided to respond to the invitation.
An invitation from a blood relative.
He walked out of the inner room.
"Is that... the General?"
"The General is here?"
"Then Her Highness..."
The Sarkaz mercenaries outside began to whisper as they saw the upright figure, and then... one by one...
The mercenaries followed the General's footsteps, just as they had sixty years ago when he came to the underground to liberate the slaves.
Theresis stepped out of the cave one step at a time into the sunlight.
He was met by his sister's gentle smile and the gaze of the tens of thousands of Sarkaz behind her.
The Sarkaz from the Scar Market silently formed ranks behind him. The two sides faintly formed a confrontation.
"Is there anything else to say?" Theresis looked at his sister. He saw her hesitation, her wavering...
This shouldn't have appeared on Theresa. Therefore, something had happened that he didn't know about.
This made him recall the things Scarface had said earlier.
Flames...
"I still want to make one last effort," Theresa smiled helplessly and said, "After all, I have worked for peace for two hundred years, haven't I?"
"You know we have no way back," Theresis shook his head.
"Babel has a supply of food right now," Theresa said. "Enough for all Sarkaz to eat their fill for a whole year. With a bit of thrift, plus our own planting and stored grain, the Sarkaz won't have to worry about famine for at least ten years."
"Not enough," Theresis shook his head. "Simply having enough to eat doesn't mean there's a future."
"We have opened a trade route to Yan," Theresa continued. "From now on, Kazdel is no longer an isolated island cut off from the world. We have diplomacy and can conduct trade."
Hearing this, Theresis sighed. "Not enough. A single trade route is nothing. It comes too late, Theresa."
"Kal'tsit dug up some interesting things," Theresa went on. "They are secrets of Prehistory. The Sarkaz won't have to lag behind others in technology from now on."
"Not enough, Theresa. The rage of the Sarkaz has already been ignited," Theresis shook his head. "We don't have time to wait for the vision you speak of to be realized."
The Eater of Souls craves war, the Sanguinarch craves slaughter, the Damazti crave change... The Royal Courts will not let this war stop.
'But sister, I am sincerely happy for your success. If the Sarkaz could choose to go your way... perhaps that would be true salvation.'
'As for the most stubborn batch, those who can't accept change the most... they will go to Londinium with me.'
'Perhaps dying there would be a decent end.'
'Provided Babel can survive the Military Commission's offensive.'
"I knew it," Theresa smiled. "Of course, I'm not finished."
"I met some friends who are willing to provide help to the Sarkaz, including..."
"Including military force," Xia Yu spoke for her. "Specifically, the profession you Sarkaz are most familiar with: mercenaries."
"No racial traits," Theresis finally looked at the young girl beside his sister. "But I can feel it—the aura of a warrior coming from you."
Even though she looked so frail on the outside, instinct told Theresis that he absolutely must not let his guard down.
"He's your brother?" Xia Yu looked at Theresa.
"Yes, my dearest brother," the latter smiled gently.
"Then do I need to hold back?" Xia Yu asked, tilting her head.
"No need," before Theresa could speak, Theresis drew his sword and pointed it at Xia Yu. "Whatever skills you have, speak through your blade!"
"Let me see why Theresa thinks that relying on you can turn the tide!"
"In that case..." Xia Yu reached out and took out her Morpher.
[Firefly Type-IV — Active!]
★ ★ ★
T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me.
★ ★ ★
Shilling time!
Members of my [email protected]/quickinquickout can read advanced chapters on quick-tl(dot)com—and even customize translated terms to match their preferred names and terminology!