Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1156 Do you want to bask in the sun together?
Accumulate strength, wait for the opportunity, and then use a battle to completely change the situation in the Ansus region and even the entire Noah Kingdom. From a strategic point of view, the advice given by Xino is undoubtedly very reasonable. As she said, even if they escaped to the East Continent, Linger and his party were still highly valued by the Witch Society. Once their whereabouts were exposed, they would face an overwhelming blow. The Dark Witch and the Alien Philosopher in the universe, the Strife Witch and the Nidhogg in the sea, all have the ability to provide ultra-long-range support. The longer they stay in the same place, the greater the possibility of being exposed, and the more unfavorable the situation will be.

However, in reality, it was not the case. After all, their partner, the Ash Guerrilla led by the Eagle of Ash Hill, had just experienced a tragic defeat and could only lie dormant in the Black Forest, silently licking their wounds and recovering their strength. Other resistance organizations in the Ash Hill region had their own demands and different philosophies. Although they maintained a fragile alliance with each other, it was only based on the pressure brought by the Axis Powers. It was difficult for them to truly unite and cooperate sincerely. Not to mention launching a massive counterattack as Shino had assumed, and completely driving the invaders out of this land.

Basically, without a strong backbone to call for action, these scattered resistance organizations can only fight on their own, and then be defeated one by one by the Axis 17th Army stationed in the Gray Hill City of Suare. In fact, there are backbones like that, such as the Church of the Original Night, which represents the religious power in the Gray Hill area, or the Count of Gray Hill, who represents the interests of the Noah royal family. Unfortunately, the former has destroyed himself, and the latter fled his fiefdom at the first moment of the war. It is said that he has been lobbying the king and ministers in the court day and night, hoping that they will agree to send troops to help him recover the territory.

Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to him. At first, the locals of Gray Hill thought he cared about his people, but as too many similar rumors spread, and some people claimed that the Count of Gray Hill had gained a lot of weight after escaping back to the royal city, and did not look at all like he was "thin due to hard work in the war" as rumored, they gradually gave up their thoughts on him. Otherwise, how could the Forest Ranger openly shout the slogan "Let Gray Hill regain independence"?

The situation was too complicated. Lingge was just an outsider, who neither understood nor had the right to comment. He knew very well that the rebels who were still active on this land were not just Carson Borg, who had ideals and beliefs. Who among them did not believe that they were fighting for the Gray Hill, for freedom and justice? But it was precisely because of this that cooperation became so difficult. If there was no sincere cooperation, could we drive the powerful invaders out of the Gray Hill by just fighting a little?

If this phenomenon does not change, even if it receives external support, it will not be beneficial to the overall situation, right?
All I can do is try my best.

Linger stopped and saw a corner hidden by the branches of the forest, revealing a red tile roof and a whitewashed exterior wall. The wall was decorated with grayish-yellow pebbles, like yellow paint on canvas. Under the lattice windows inlaid with blue glass, there was a flower bed made of thin stone slabs, in which purple mountain ivy and roses bloomed. A painted wrought iron sign hung on a bracket that looked like a complex rose vine, shining in the warm sunlight. Although there would be no more guests on this island, the owner still engraved a pattern of flowers and flasks on the sign according to his own custom, and wrote in a line of small words: Rorona's Alchemy Workshop.

Lingge couldn't help but think of the scene when he met the workshop owner in Lotterdana City. However, at that time, this magical workshop was still hidden in a dark and remote alley. Except for the residents living nearby, basically no one cared about it. Today, it stands in the woods and surrounded by birds and beasts. The environment looks much fresher, but there are still few guests. The owner has nothing to do, so he simply moved a recliner and put it in the open space in front of the workshop, basking in the sun leisurely. His eyes, as clear as the sea, narrowed slightly in the sunlight, looking very comfortable.

In the entire Yunjingkong Island, this Princess Haiqi is probably the only one who can always maintain a calm and optimistic attitude. Even the genius player who has always been like-minded with her is still in autism because of the matter of Themis in the celestial world. Only she went to the universe and still looked like this after returning. It can even be said that... she is more relaxed than before?

"Oh, Ringer."

Rorona, who was sleeping on the recliner, heard the footsteps, turned around and greeted the young man: "Long time no see."

"Long time no see...?" Ling Ge was speechless: "We just met at the dinner table last night, right?"

"Ah, I mean, I haven't seen you in my workshop for a long time, that's why it's been a long time." Rorona said with a smile, "Besides, you were only busy being intimate with Xiaoxia and Xinuo last night, and didn't talk to me. I was so lonely."

"Isn't it because you were just busy eating?" Ling Ge was even more speechless. After the genius player shut himself up, only when Rorona spoke could he feel familiar with her. "Besides, I wasn't being intimate with them. It was all normal communication."

"Normal...communication?"

Rorona waved her hand with an expression that said, "I'll just believe it for now." "Okay, those are just details, not important. Now that you're here, do you want to bask in the sun with me? Oh, the weather is so nice today, it would be a shame to be lazy and not bask in the sun."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but sigh, "It's a pity that there is no sea or beach on Yunjingkong Island. Otherwise, Alice could enjoy the seaside holiday she longed for. The swimsuits I made could also be used again, instead of getting moldy in the boss lady's closet."

Hearing this, Linger looked at her in surprise, but said nothing. He just shook his head and said, "It's already this late, are you still in the mood to bask in the sun and be lazy?"

Not to mention a seaside holiday. What if a turbo mothership Nidhogg suddenly appeared at sea? Wouldn't that be what Alice called "giving away one's life"?
"You're so serious." Rorona curled her lips in disapproval. "It's especially important to maintain a positive attitude during times like this. It's not necessarily useful to always worry about this and that."

Linger gave her another strange look before answering, "Always do the best you can."

"Really?" Lorena blinked at him. "Then tell me what your plan is, Lingge. Well, let me guess, have you reached an agreement with the Ash Guerrillas?"

Ling Ge was not surprised by her sharpness. After all, she was the princess of Nereides City. She had her own opinions and ideas since she was a child. She was familiar with politics. She usually acted lazy and casual, but she was not interested in those things. But if you ask her what her interests are, it seems that no one can see through it.

At least I won’t be basking in the sun in an open space.

"Yes." Linger nodded and told the truth. He also explained his purpose: "In order to support the Ash Guerrilla's subsequent operations, I may need you to refine some items, Lorena."

"Haha, that's what I said."

Rolena looked as I expected, then tilted her head, turned over on the recliner, and turned her back to Lingge: "I won't do it."

Ling Ge was immediately confused: "Why?"

"Because I'm too lazy to move."

Princess Haiqi said lazily, "Sunbathing is more suitable for me. How about I let you have the workshop and you can go in and stir the cauldron yourself, Lingge. Maybe you have a natural talent and can learn my alchemy?"

"I'm not the Girl King."

"Hmph, I don't think so." "What's wrong with you today, Lorena?" Even the most obtuse person should have noticed that Princess Haiqi was deliberately looking for trouble. Ling Ge looked thoughtfully at the girl on the recliner. She had her back to the young man and squirmed like a curled-up sea caterpillar, humming and groaning, but she refused to turn around and face him: "Are you in a bad mood?"

"No way, I'm in a good mood. Otherwise, why would I be so bored and bask in the sun here?"

Rorona lied with her eyes wide open: "It's just that the sun made me too warm, so I was too lazy to move. Lingge, you should understand this feeling, right? Have you never stayed in bed late before?"

"No."

"..."

This decisive answer immediately made Princess Haiqi lose the mood to continue arguing. She curled her lips slightly where the young man could not see, and then slowly said: "Okay, I admit that I am in a bad mood and I am teasing you on purpose. Let's play another game, Lingge, guess why I am in a bad mood. If you guess correctly, I will be reluctant today and cheer up to help you with the work."

"What if I don't guess right?"

"Then I will go on strike for a day, and you have to stay and bask in the sun with me."

How should I put it? Such simple and unpretentious conditions.

After hearing what Lorena said, Lingge didn't feel embarrassed, but relieved. He was too familiar with this feeling. It was just that the problem girl finally started to act up. He had experienced it before. Olvera's depression, sensitivity and insomnia, Ieta's loneliness, autism and psychological inferiority, Leticia's hostility, vigilance and reincarnation curse, and even Gloria's dual personality and identity switching. Except for Saint Xia Liya and Xino, who were more reliable, the other girl kings had more or less given him some problems.

Originally, Ling Ge thought that Rolena was also a relatively reliable person. Although she was always harsh in her words and liked to stir up trouble and sow discord, she never caused any big trouble for him in her actions, so he relaxed his vigilance against her. Who would have thought that she was waiting for him here?

Ling Ge regained that familiar feeling. He thought to himself, it is difficult to guess people's hearts, but figuring out the thoughts of you young royal girls seems to be easier than defeating Alice in a fighting game.

The young man looked at the Princess of the Sea, who was curled up on a recliner, pretending to be a sea caterpillar. He then looked up at a ray of sunlight falling through the lush forest, which slanted through the branches and leaves like a crystal column, breaking off a large area of ​​tiny dust and floating ash, just like the plankton in the ancient sea, small and dense. He whispered, "Do you miss home, Lorena?"

"what?"

Although there was no reply, Princess Kaisu expressed the meaning of "You guessed it all" with just one interjection.

Of course, for Linge, this wasn't actually that hard to guess.

"If I remember correctly," the young man said, "Nereids City originally decided to move to the Chaos Sea, and the Chaos Sea is located between the Endless Sea and the Storm Sea, not too far from the East Continent. I think that with Nereids City's background and Queen Amyra's skills, they should have established a firm foothold in the Chaos Sea. Although I don't know what the situation is now, I think that without strong winds and waves, there will be no accidents."

"..." Rolena was silent for a while, then she said faintly: "Are you trying to comfort me?"

"Do you feel comforted?" Lingge turned the question back to her.

Princess Umisu asked herself, and replied reluctantly: "It's okay...right."

It is impossible to say that Lingge's consolation had no effect at all. The young man was able to guess her inner knot without any hint, just based on his understanding of her, which made Rolena feel a little happy. But what else can she do? In the final analysis, it was just verbal consolation and psychological self-deception. She couldn't abandon her companions and return to the chaotic sea alone to visit her relatives. That would look more like running away.

Besides, she was actually a little afraid. She was afraid that when her mother and sister saw her again, they would ask her, "What have you done after two years away?" How should she answer? She could not cure her illness and restore her health; nor did she find a way to purify the magic pollution and protect the ocean where the mirror elves lived. The alchemy she was proud of was just a small fight after all. Facing the dark witch and her constructed mecha, she was as weak as a child playing and was easily defeated. In the end, she even had to rely on Themis from the celestial world to sacrifice herself to help them escape before they could be saved.

I always feel like... I have accomplished nothing.

Her mother and sister would not despise her for not having accomplished anything, but would give her more tolerance and encouragement. But wouldn't Princess Haiqi be overwhelmed by the guilt and shame in her heart? Have the bold words she made before leaving her hometown become a joke today?
She looked at the sunlight passing through the forest with sadness, and her crystal blue eyes seemed to be stained with wet mist after the dew evaporated, becoming hazy and confused. As Ling Ge said, she did miss home a little, but at the same time, she was also afraid to go home.

The mood of a traveler is like the weather at sea, changeable.

"Is this the only chair?"

At this moment, his voice suddenly came from behind: "Since you want me to stay with you, you can't let me stand in the sun, right, Lorena?"

Give me some meow