The defeated saint is also on the way to tame the evil god today

Her tone was casual, yet tinged with a hint of unease.

After all, when she saw Aurora throwing herself into Perlis's arms, she felt for a moment that she was just a substitute.

Aurora was stunned for a moment, then raised her head and looked at Xingmo strangely.

She stretched out her finger, poked Xingmo's cheek and said:

"Jealous?"

"No...no!" This time it was Xingmo's turn to avoid looking.

"Hey hey hey..."

Aurora raised her wet little head and placed it on Xingmo's shoulder.

She stretched out her arms, put her arms around Xingmo's neck, and murmured:

"You are my family, and only belong to me."

"Only the followers are worthy to stay by the side of the gods and go on adventures together, sister? We don't want that!"

Xingmo lowered her head and looked at Aurora, and immediately saw a hint of cunning in those blood-red eyes.

I have to say, it's a cunning kitten.

Xing Mo smiled slightly, stretched out her finger, and tapped Aurora's forehead:

"Okay, I'm getting up first. Your sister gave me some dark chocolate, I'm going to make hot cocoa."

"No~Stay with me for a while~"

The sound of rain came into the room through the terrace, but was blocked out by the thick steam in the bathroom.

Hazy, comfortable, with indelible warmth.

...END...

2) Words of Scarab

In the early morning, the horizon briefly turned pale, but was soon swallowed by gray clouds.

The drizzle seemed to never stop, continuing from yesterday afternoon all night until early morning, still stirring up ripples among the waves of the sea.

As the dawn was swallowed up, the rain suddenly became heavier, as if icebergs in the sky were melting and torrents of water were pouring down from the clouds.

At the harbor, Isabella Ducep was standing under an umbrella held up by her servant, her pale golden eyes gazing at the horizon.

The appearance of the hostess of Maple Leaf Palace always seemed to be accompanied by such a grand ceremony. Almost half of the "Star Sea Church" came out in full force, with white church robes neatly lined up at the harbor, holding black umbrellas.

Today, the Machiavelli Empire across the sea will send an ambassador to the territory of the Academy City to discuss some recent incidents.

Of course, no one expected them to come to negotiate peace—his visit could only be a declaration of war.

Therefore, Isabella chose to get up early this morning and go to the port in person to greet the guest from the other side of the sea.

As the secret controller of the "Star Sea Church", she naturally hopes to minimize the possibility of war.

Of course, the people she was with didn't seem to care that much—

"..."

Isabella glanced at the nearby area, where Merlin, dressed in a black dress, was humming a tune in the heavy rain, occasionally dancing on the ground, as if he was living in his own melody.

Beside him, Professor Ling and a group of "bell guards" lined up neatly, with solemn postures, which actually saved some face for their team.

In fact, Isabella really wanted to stop Merlin, but according to the current division of power, she might not be higher than Merlin.

Although the "Bell Guardians" belong to the "Star Sea Church", most of its members are Merlin's students. They have been training with Merlin for many years and their relationship with him is indelible.

Nefera Beta Magic Academy is a school on the surface, but the talents it cultivates almost completely cover all fields of the entire academy, which also makes the principal Merlin's hidden power huge.

In addition, Merlin is the only demigod in the Academy, and he is naturally endowed with considerable say.

"..."

In the heavy rain, Merlin hummed the melody he had heard in a tavern in the village of Fallu - it was a melody that a beautiful musician lady had improvised after drinking, using the tavern's shabby public piano.

But it seems that only a weathered piano can play out the loneliness and melancholy of the traveler. Merlin stood in the crowd, but felt that he was the only survivor under the gray cloud.

"It's been so long, it's time to start." He muttered.

At this time, the tall mast broke through the horizon, followed by the huge sails and the magnificent hull.

An old multi-masted sailing ship came from the horizon. The black wooden hull was painted with the symbol of the sun, like eyes looking down at the waves.

Even if you just look from a distance, the string array on the sail is clearly visible - it is a sail of some kind of fire string field, used to resist the interference of the storm.

"..."

The people at the port suddenly became serious. Everyone knew that the news brought by the ship would determine everything that the academy would face next.

"The Imperials didn't even show off their ironclad warships," Merlin said, feeling out of tune with the surrounding atmosphere. "It seems they're holding back."

"The storm on the sea hasn't subsided yet," Professor Ling whispered beside him, "The Empire may not have sufficient conditions to march."

"Oh, my dear Professor Ling, the ambitions of the Golden People won't be stopped by a storm," Merlin muttered. "But they might be stopped by a barrel of fine wine... Hey, Dawn, did you bring my wine?"

"I brought it, Principal." The 'bell keeper' beside him responded helplessly.

Isabella listened to Merlin's conversation from a distance, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

"Keep the defensive rituals ready at all times," she instructed the priest beside her.

"Yes."

"..."

About fifteen minutes later, the black ship docked in the heavy rain.

The imperial ambassadors in yellow robes disembarked from the ship, accompanied by a figure in a wide robe.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the figure: he wore a beetle-shaped bronze helmet, and his chest was locked with a bronze breastplate engraved with the inscription of the sun.

"Scarab", Imperial Ambassador.

He is a minister in the court of the Golden King, but few people know the specific work he does.

The rain fell on his bronze helmet, but it could not conceal his aura from the depths of the desert, as if the scorching sun had plated his armor with an indelible color.

"..."

Seeing the ambassador approach, Councillor Martin, representing the White Tower Councillors, stepped forward with an umbrella and extended his hand gracefully.

"Hello, distinguished guest from the other side. The journey is long and must have been tiring."

He smiled confidently, and had already thought of the words in his mind: words that could resolve the war through words.

However, the Scarab simply glanced coldly at his outstretched hand and said in a dull voice:

"When you extend your hand to your enemy, are you asking for peace or surrendering?"

The smile on Martin's face froze. He hesitated and retracted his hand. His lips twitched, and then he smiled apologetically:

"I think we're not enemies yet, right? Everything is still within the scope of negotiation..."

"You, like your fellow Folk of the Mist, are timid and cowardly," the Scarab said bluntly. "Faced with the rain of fire, our ancestors chose to take root in the desert, while you flee in panic, hoping that starlight will save you."

"You..." Martin's face distorted a lot.

The next second, the Scarab pulled out a dagger from his robe and pointed it at Martin.

Almost at the same time, everyone on both sides drew their wands, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"Let your true leader speak," the Scarab hissed. "I hate to communicate with a self-proclaimed wise ape. You are unworthy of existing under the laws of nature, let alone speaking."

Martin's expression was completely frozen. His hand trembled, and the umbrella was blown away by the wind. The rain hit his face, making him look miserable.

At this moment, a hand fell on his shoulder:

"Okay, man, take two steps back and slow down."

Martin turned his head with a distorted expression, and Merlin's smile met his eyes.

He didn't hold an umbrella, but instead held a goblet filled with wine. The raindrops fell on the crystal liquid surface, stirring up amethyst waves.

"Leave it to me next." Merlin patted Martin's shoulder again.

Martin turned and looked at Isabella as if asking for instructions, and the latter nodded silently.

Then, he glared at the Scarab with hatred again, and then shrank back in embarrassment.

Merlin smiled and turned to look at the Scarab. Amidst the heavy rain, he straightened his black silk hat and stepped forward.

"Friends from the desert, do you like the weather in the Citadel?"

"You should feel lucky to be nourished by endless water." The Scarab sneered and retracted the dagger.

Merlin smiled politely:

"Don't you have a motto? Something like... the water on the other side of the sea is as sweet as fine wine?"

He extended his hand and handed the full wine cup to Scarab:

"Have a taste?"

Looking at the wine glass handed over by Merlin, the Scarab was silent for a while, as if examining and considering it.

Soon, he let out a low laugh and took the wine glass that Merlin handed him.

"Your taste matches your audacity, demigod."

Then he poured the wine, and it fell to the ground along with the falling raindrops, stirring up amethyst splashes.

"This is a tribute to your land," the Scarab's voice rose a little, "so let's get to the point."

The brass mask swept across the Citadel's ranks, lingered a moment longer as it passed Isabella, and finally returned to Merlin's face.

"Acquit Prince Austin and pay him a gold compensation equal to the value of the Humpback Whale, and the Golden Fleet will leave your coasts."

As soon as these words were spoken, the queue in the Citadel was in turmoil: Release a criminal who killed hundreds of people in the Citadel and almost sent everyone to hell?

This is tantamount to a direct declaration of war! At most, it's just an excuse.

"..."

Hearing this undisguised provocation, Merlin smiled and examined the Imperial Ambassador before him for a moment before saying:

"My friend, you'd better pray to the sun for good luck."

"The sun watches over us all," the Scarab hissed.

"That's a shame. It's the rainy season in the Citadel, so I'm afraid we won't see the sun as often." Merlin bowed gracefully.

Someone in the imperial delegation shouted a curse word in a foreign language, followed by a burst of laughter.

"But you can't overcome the waves either," Merlin replied in his foreign tongue. "The storm created by the narwhal is enough to overturn your three-masted sailboat, isn't it?"

"We will soon solve these trivial problems." The Scarab sneered.

"Okay!" Merlin shouted, reaching out and taking another glass of wine from Dawn beside him.

He tilted his head back, drank the wine mixed with rainwater in one gulp, and then threw the glass into the overcast sky.

"I cannot make the decision for the Council, but if you insist on war, I will wait for you on the coast."

"May your lightning be as powerful as your courage." The Scarab sneered.

"We'll find out soon enough." Merlin smiled.

He clapped his hands, turned around, and walked towards the line of [Bell Guardians].

After seeing him leave, Councilman Martin composed himself and then approached him holding an umbrella.

"Merlin's words are his own. The Council needs time to consider your proposal."

"You have half a month to discuss or assemble an army." [Scarab] sneered.

"That's enough time," Martin nodded. "Then please follow me to the embassy..."

"I will wait aboard the Black Jackal," the Scarab whispered. "I have no interest in your lands, Citadelites."

After saying this, he turned around and walked towards the black ship surrounded by the envoys.

Martin clenched his fists tightly, and after the envoys walked away, he cursed at their backs.

He turned around, returned to Isabella, and asked: