Tonight, Alice joins the hunt.

"seven!"

But they had hit him too hard and too steadily before, so they couldn't wake him up at all! Even though the engineer had been slapped in the face, he just smacked his lips and then shrank back as if he were still enjoying a vodka drink in a dream bar!

"six!"

Froststar's smooth silver hair suddenly bristled outwards by half a centimeter—it's hard to imagine that an Arctic hare could actually bristle like that. Ignoring Ming Yanwei—let's just call her "Black" for now—she rushed straight to the pile of open boilers, grabbed a box of Originium, and started dumping it inside!

"Calm down, big sister!"—The Yeti member who had been the first to be taken down outside the door peeked out from behind her neck, only to witness a scene that horrified her. She leaped forward and caught Frostnova around the waist. The box of Originium nearly slipped from Frostnova's grasp, but she held on tighter, continuing to shout.

—She had no idea about the communication via the loudspeaker, because she had just woken up and immediately poked her head into the engine room!

"You can't release so many at once! It'll explode, big sister! This will ruin our control of the airship, and we'll all be in trouble too—" Another Yeti suddenly lunged forward and covered the guy's mouth. The guy, still confused, looked at his companion with innocent eyes.

Ah… her companions must be itching to pin her against the wall and beat her up right now. Because after waiting for several seconds, neither group could hear the 'five' coming from the loudspeaker.

Froststar's long ears were almost drooping. She looked at her companion with a complicated expression.

And at that very moment—

The roles reversed, and the black figure flashed rapidly, accompanied by a muffled groan and a chilling gust that missed its target. The yeti holding Ceylon hostage had been forced back with a single blow, and then she used this Ceylon, who could theoretically blow away the surface of the planet with a single breath, as a shield behind her.

A dark shadow shot out from her hand.

'Crack!' Sparks flew from the speaker and horn, clearly indicating that it was no longer possible for them to continue operating.

"Gentlemen, your plan has failed. If you don't intend to surrender now, why don't we part ways here and pretend we never met?" the dark voice said, his gaze fixed on Frostnova not far away. "The airship's guards will be here soon. Although I don't know what you're planning, the news of the attack here has certainly been relayed to the Ursus authorities."

“Unless your plan involves blowing up this airship, it's no longer feasible. Or do you want to fight alongside me while dealing with the guards?”

“You…” Frostnova stared at her, almost losing her composure and gritting her teeth. She took a deep breath and then nodded to accept the suggestion. “The black panther of Siesta… well, it lives up to its name. I hope that next time we meet, we can speak from the perspective of fellow Infected.”

She noticed the faint signs of infection on Black's body. It was Oripathy, a condition that Siesta had suppressed for over a decade with its immense financial resources. But now, it was finally showing signs of breaking through the limits of drug resistance.

Hei lowered his eyes and did not answer, but emphasized his will by slightly raising the dagger.

Just as Frostnova was about to leave with the regret of defeat, Ceylon, who was being protected by Black behind her, suddenly interrupted as if she had mustered up her courage.

"Um, that white-haired young lady!...I'm Ceylon!" She acted completely like a naive, kind-hearted young lady just starting out. "I've been researching Oripathy. Your condition is very bad right now; you need to seize the opportunity to treat it as soon as possible!"

Froststar was slightly taken aback, then let out a soft hum.

“I know my own body, little girl from Siesta. Not everyone in this world can do what you who control Siesta do. You can spend millions of dollars every year without batting an eye, just to control the condition of one infected person.”

"This world is much crueler than what you encounter at home. There are many, or rather the vast majority, infected people in this world who are already doing their best just to stay alive."

“I know! But even so, you need to get medical treatment as soon as you get sick!” Ceylon clenched her small fists, the veins beneath her slender arms faintly visible. “I started researching medicine and Oripathy to treat Black, to treat the Infected!”

“You…” Frostnova suddenly turned her head to look at Ceylon, as if she was about to say something. But she changed her tone slightly before speaking. “…I hope that you can keep this original intention in the future.”

She turned and left with her companions without looking back. The Yeti member who had previously abducted Ceylon bowed to her before leaving, seemingly as an apology for his earlier rudeness.

This seemed to become a reason and a suitable opportunity for Ceylon to 'reasonably' generate a surge of courage within him.

“I can cure you! Miss with white hair!” she whispered, clenching her slender fists, which looked like they couldn’t even hold a chicken. “Your illness is very serious! I am a doctor, and if you have any health problems, please come to me! I will stay in the highest hotel in Chernobyl for a month!”

She saw Froststar pause slightly. She waved her hand with her back to her.

"Just call me Frostnova." She heard that voice. "If that situation really comes up, I will."

Her figure finally disappeared from Ceylon's sight. Not far away, the footsteps of the airship escort team sounded.

“Miss…” Hei looked at her, hesitating to speak.

—【This doesn't seem to fit the previous plan. Miss Luo Ye, I remember you said before that only I wouldn't be rejected by the Overlord and Fenrir. I could approach Yelena freely. But if we adopt this new scenario… perhaps everything will be completely different from the previous plan. Do you have some special arrangements?】

“Yes, let’s go back first.” Ceylon pursed her lips and nodded slightly. “We’ll be arriving in Chernobog soon. That lady… I think we’ll see each other again soon.”

—【Because plans can't keep up with changes. Something seems to have happened with Sirin. So I think it's necessary to speed things up a bit. Let the vortex of events explode sooner; the conflict between Fenrir and the Overlord is about to reach its climax, and we'll settle things here.】

The two exchanged a glance, and the communication between their wills ended there. As a member of the Central Continent Team who didn't intend to use her brain much, Ming Yanwei didn't feel the need to object to Luo Ye's modifications to the plan she had orchestrated. And with this shared understanding, the two silently departed—Hei fulfilled his duty as a guard, easily bypassing the guard team's search route with Ceylon. Soon, when the airship was declared to be in a state of emergency, and the burly guards, led by waiters, knocked on the doors of the passenger cabins one by one to verify the passengers' identities, the two of them were already in their suite.

Black brewed Ceylon a cup of perfectly flavored black tea, while Ceylon, holding the teacup, dismissed the ship's guards who came to verify identities and check for any hidden individuals. Shortly after, another military airship arrived in the airspace with regular troops for further inspection.

It was obvious that Ceylon, with her powerful background and family's control of the city of Siesta, wouldn't face any trouble from Ursus. While Black belonged to the ostracized infected group in Ursus, the Ursus authorities turned a blind eye because of her status as a guard—they only underwent a symbolic conversation and registration before being properly escorted to Chernobog by the relevant personnel. And when their feet touched the ground, the sky was already filled with stars.

Frostnova and her companions should have escaped successfully. Although their methods are unknown, the fact that the local Ursus garrison's movements were well-organized and that no large-scale battles broke out on the airship confirms that they were neither captured nor discovered. However, perhaps precisely because of this, the patrol garrison in Chernobog may be two to three times larger than usual in the coming days.

This might not be good news for many, but it had nothing to do with Ceylon and her companion—just three seconds after getting off the train, they encountered Siesta's liaison in Chernobog. Fifteen minutes later, they successfully checked into Chernobog's tallest hotel, having booked a single, enormous suite on the top floor.

According to the plan, the two from Ceylon will stay here for a month.

....................................

"Miss." Black, dressed in office attire, temporarily assumed the role of secretary. She placed a document in front of Ceylon while glancing briefly out the window.

“Your schedule is very flexible tomorrow. There is only one thing: a necessary meeting at 10:00 AM with the representative of Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals, the head of Kal'tsit Medical. He will be accompanied by an entourage. Would you like me to accompany you, Miss?” Black asked softly, her cat ears twitching slightly.

Ceylon nodded.

“Yes, I’m counting on you, Black.” She said earnestly, “Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals used to be the most authoritative company for the research and development of Originium Medical Applications, even surpassing Rhine Life Sciences, which is currently enjoying unparalleled success. Black, your condition is worsening, and only by seeking the best physician can it be suppressed—come with me, and perhaps Director Kal'tsit can provide some unique insights.”

Hei gave a soft "hmm" to indicate that he understood.

Then, just as she was about to say something, she suddenly twitched her nose slightly.

—She smelled Froststar.

Chapter 18 - The Overlord - Part 6

The door will be knocked on in 145 seconds. A rapid knock, but with a deliberately suppressed volume.

The team of Yetis that will enter will be disguised, wearing loose outer garments, with bandages and perfume underneath to cover up the necrosis and bloodstains of their wounds.

They would be in a great hurry, because they were holding the unconscious Frostnova. The sudden onset of Oripathy was tormenting her, causing her to furrow her brow and nearly bite her lip even in her unconscious state.

Her fate was inevitable, because she ultimately couldn't completely erase the traces, nor could she lead such a large group of people to completely evade the Ursus military's meticulous search. She would be discovered, but not immediately captured; instead, she would be lulled into a false sense of security, and then, when she and her squad thought they had escaped, they would be met with a thunderous blow that should theoretically be fatal.

It's a simple theory, considering the many distinguished guests on the airship. The Ursus people wouldn't risk a conflict by letting a powerful sorcerer drag a group of people down with him before leaving. As long as they act as if they haven't discovered them and keep a close watch on key areas, these vicious thugs will naturally prioritize escape rather than looking for 'hostages' to cover their tracks.

So Froststar's escape, though perhaps not easy, was certainly successful. The inspectors on the airship were more like covert guards than inspectors. They used the pretext of inspection to stay near the nobles, preventing the thugs from taking any risks.

She can escape, but not very far. Once she's at a suitable distance and there's no sign of her getting involved with more accomplices, the attack will come swiftly.

However, she will not die, because Ursus, with the situation under control, will prioritize capturing her alive. The troops dispatched will not be excessively strong; although Ursus is large, it will not waste manpower indiscriminately. The military staff will carefully assess the combat capabilities of both sides and then dispatch a maximum of three times the number of capture troops.

Three times, a gap that theoretically eliminates the possibility of failure, almost like hitting an egg with a stone.

However, Ursus's advisors could never have guessed or anticipated that Frostnova had never used her power since the moment she gained fame.

She is powerful. Her talent makes her powerful, her hard work makes her powerful, and the Oripathy within her that could kill her at any moment will make her stronger than anyone expected.

The parting with Ceylon and his group occurred six hours earlier.

The attack by the Ursus military raiding force occurred four hours earlier.

Frostnova unleashed most of her hidden power, wiping out Ursus's pursuing forces while trying to protect her teammates. This occurred three hours and forty-five minutes ago.

What follows will be a pursuit. Frostnova will lead her squad towards the nearest hideout over the next two hours. They will be discovered, leading to two forced but essentially skirmishes. Then, Frostnova will further exhaust her power to annihilate two search teams of varying sizes.

The first time will be successful, the second time will be a difficult success, but the third time is destined to fail.

Frostnova wouldn't allow herself and her squad to be drawn into a third war that would inevitably fall into the hands of the Ursus military. Therefore, she had to escape to safety before the third battle broke out. And the only target she could choose was Chernobog, the mobile city that roamed the land.

Her arrival here was inevitable. Her use of the Chernobog terrain, the slums, and even the Infected forces to escape the Ursus pursuit was also inevitable.

Finally, when everything around her became safe, she could no longer withstand the strain on her body from activating Originium Arts. Her collapse from exhaustion was inevitable.

She won't die, because Chernobog is full of compassionate people among the infected. There are plenty of underground doctors willing to pay the risk of performing surgery on her. At the very least, she can receive treatment at the Azazel Clinic, which has some connections with Rhodes Island in the original story, thus saving her life.

She will not die, even without all these reasons and preconditions. Chosen by the Overlord and Fenrir, she will not perish.

But she won't come back to life easily. Even according to the original script, the anti-Ursus underground force, which she was infected with Oripathy from childhood and was forced to fight in a medical-free environment, was destined to reach the end of its life in the next few months.

The doctors in Azshara couldn't cure her; at best, they could keep her alive. The shady healers in the slums couldn't cure her either; they could only temporarily stabilize her rapidly deteriorating condition. With these conditions in place, the Yeti members who adored her were bound to take a huge gamble.

After all… when Ceylon uttered those words, 'I can heal you!' his intended target wasn't just Frostnova.

So, two hours and fifty-five minutes ago, Froststar would have successfully infiltrated Chernobog.

Two hours and thirty-five minutes earlier, she would have collapsed amidst the terror of her companions.

Two hours and twenty minutes ago, she was to be transported to the Azsare Clinic to receive care and treatment from the local Oripathy group. And twenty-five minutes ago, the doctor there, with a somber expression, apologized to the Yeti Squad members when things seemed hopeless.

Fate is such a simple thing. In the eyes of beings of higher status, even without using their powers, observing timelines, or employing any extraordinary abilities, they can deduce a future that is almost entirely predictable simply from the smallest, most indistinct details that will inevitably have an effect on their surroundings.

For Luo Ye, the moment she uttered those words, the inevitable event of the Yeti Squad members carrying the unconscious Frostnova, bypassing the hotel's heavy security, and appearing before her to apologize and beg for help, became clear. She understood this, and she personally orchestrated this scene to materialize in the not-too-distant future.

For Ming Yanwei, who wasn't thinking critically, this was perhaps completely beyond her comprehension. But when she smelled Froststar's scent, the faint fragrance in the air, and the underlying smells of medicine and necrotic blood, she was able to connect the dots in an incredibly short time.

One hundred and forty-five seconds later, there will be a knock on the door, a rapid but deliberately suppressed knock.

She looked at Luo Ye—Hei looked at Xilan. She was slightly surprised to find that her young mistress hadn't made any preparations for the upcoming guests, nor had she pretended not to notice and continued enjoying her leisurely pre-sleep time. Instead, rather out of character, she got up from her seat, walked to the edge of the suite, and gazed out at the sky!

—What the hell?! Although Miss Ceylon's character is a scholar who is devoted to Originium research, according to her setting, she does not have a hobby of observing the stars!

Ming Yanwei inwardly grumbled, but still perfectly executed the behavior expected of the character 'Black'—her brows furrowed slightly as she heard a faint commotion in the distance and smelled the scent of blood rapidly approaching their location. But she said nothing, for for Black, protecting her young mistress's physical and mental well-being was her life's mission.

I should only become fully alert when the blood energy stops on this floor, signaling Ceylon to hide and preparing myself for battle.

That should have happened ninety seconds later.

[So, what I should do now... well, Black couldn't possibly have thought that far ahead. She wouldn't allow Frostnova, who was previously in a somewhat hostile relationship, to contact her mistress. Unless she can ensure the safety and control of this meeting before then.]

I will probably take action.

She subconsciously took a few steps towards Ceylon's location, just about to speak, as a guard, to advise Ceylon to rest early so she would have time to investigate the situation before the source of the bloody aura reached their floor. However, just as she was about to do so, Ceylon, gazing at the starry sky, suddenly spoke!

“Hey, do you see that cluster of stars? They’re brighter than usual.” Ceylon pointed to the sky, and at the tip of her finger, bright stars twinkled in the night sky through a gap in the clouds.

Star cluster?

What does it mean that the twinkling stars are brighter than usual?

Hei didn't understand, and neither did Ming Yanwei. She turned her head slightly and sensed hurried footsteps coming from afar—the members of the Yeti had already climbed the stairs to an area about three floors away. And they had at most fifty seconds to reach the door of this floor.

“Miss, it seems we…” She decided to continue fulfilling her duties as a guard.

However, in the next moment, her perception almost made her lose control of this body and the disguised identity, causing her eyes to widen in shock!

That patch of starry sky, that area of ​​galaxies... she recognized them!

Although this wasn't Earth, and although it wasn't even part of the Milky Way but some other, more distant region of the sky, she recognized the outline of that star cluster. She remembered its name on Earth!

That is……

...Fairy-like!

—Andromeda, and the Andromeda Galaxy Cluster!