People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Kal'tsit, now relieved, had no idea that this was only the first hurdle.

Meanwhile, in the hallway outside, the visitors, who were indeed there, looked curiously at the head of the medical department, and then looked at Amiya, who had led them there, with puzzled expressions:

"Miss Amiya, is Dr. Kal'tsit, whom you mentioned, always like this?"

Amiya's expression was somewhat embarrassed and resentful. She could only quickly explain, with a sense of disappointment:

"Don't misunderstand, Miss Shining, Miss Nearl, Dr. Kal'tsit... she's not usually like this!"

"Really, you have to believe me!"

Chapter 460 Torturing the Apostles Today

Rhode Island is a magical place where people, regardless of race or origin, health or infection, can be tolerant, understanding, and live together in harmony and love.

At least, that's what Amiya told the Apostles.

The name "Apostle" is actually very meaningful. If one does not bear a mission, how can one be called an apostle?

But what kind of mission they shouldered remained unknown to outsiders, and even to the members of their small trio.

Shining was unaware of Margaret's dream. Born into a family of pardoners in Kazdel, she couldn't imagine that there was a country on this land that would abandon their champion.

Margaret was also unaware of the Shining's mission. Coming from the Nearl family in Kazimierz, she had no concept of Kazdel, the Sarkaz, or the family of Exonerators from which the Shining lived.

Before being exiled by Kazimierz and set out into the wilderness, she might not have even seen the Sarkaz.

As for Liz the Nightingale, she knew nothing.

As an artificial life form, the birth of her self-awareness was, as the leader of the Exorcists, the White Horned Demon King Quesatushta, said, a wonderful accident. To exaggerate a bit, she didn't even have a basic understanding of this land; if it weren't for Shining's dedicated teaching, she would have been nothing more than a pitiful and pathetic puppet.

These three individuals formed a team called the "Apostles," traversing the wilderness, healing their wounds, and finally arriving at a ship called "Rhodes Island."

Before boarding this ship, they all felt it would be a wonderful journey, and that they would find the true meaning of their mission here.

However, the result...

"Margaret, is this how you intend to meet me?"

Sitting in the Rhodes Island lounge, Marner held a newspaper in her hand, not even raising her head, her cold tone seemingly concealing some kind of anger and resentment.

But what truly made Margaret sweat wasn't Marna's words, but Marna herself, and Maria, who was holding her and crying.

Suddenly, I think I saw my uncle.

"Uncle, Maria, what are you doing here...?"

"Why are we here?"

Marna snorted coldly, ruthlessly interrupting Margaret, and asked in return,

"What's wrong? Does seeing your family here make you feel uncomfortable?"

I was so angry that I thought I heard my uncle talking.

Margaret seemed somewhat dazed, while Marna continued her sarcastic remarks.

"Look at your embarrassed look. What, are you going to slam the door and leave again? Just like last time when you went to participate in that knightly competition against your family's objections?"

Yes, I can confirm the taste. That tone of voice really is my uncle.

Margaret turned her head slightly away, her lips pressed tightly together, and she unconsciously clenched her fists.

She doesn't regret participating in the Special Championship, nor does she regret winning the championship. She doesn't think she did anything wrong. As a "knight," she has to do things that others wouldn't or dare to do—like giving the Business Federation a good slap in the face.

But she couldn't refute Marna's words, because the consequences of her stubbornness were already clear: what did it matter if she won the competition? The championship was taken away from her! What did it matter if she was Nearl? She forced her grandfather to suffer mentally and physically, and shamelessly help clean up the mess! Undeterred by hardship and darkness, did she really think no one could stop her? Dream on! She should continue dreaming in the wilderness after her exile!

But no matter what, being so harshly mocked by one's own family is always a hurtful thing. Margaret's earlier feelings of greeting and warmth were now swallowed back down by Marner's words.

Margaret sniffed, pursed her lips, and said softly:

"If you don't want to see me, I can..."

Before she could finish speaking, Maria, who was holding her, let go, turned around, opened her arms to shield Margaret behind her, and shouted:

"Uncle! Why are you scolding my sister! You participated in the knightly competition too!"

Marner's cold expression behind the newspaper suddenly froze.

Margaret's somewhat aggrieved expression suddenly turned into one of surprise!

"Uncle Marner, you too..."

"I don't!"

Marna finally put down her newspaper, glared fiercely at Maria, this little brat who betrayed her uncle after having a sister, her lips trembling slightly as she forced a calm explanation:

"What I participated in... wasn't a knightly competition! That was a competition event under the International Games, a national sporting event... how could it be considered a knightly competition?"

"But you won the championship! The Knights Association even gave you a title! Let me tell you, Uncle is now truly the [Lightless Knight]!"

“Me!” Marner’s face flushed red, and he uttered the only curse he had ever heard before, followed by a string of incomprehensible words: something about “Kazimir having no right to award me a medal,” something about “if those guys hadn’t given me so much,” something about “it was all Ernst’s doing”...

Margaret couldn't help but burst out laughing.

To be honest, this was the first time she had ever seen Uncle Marner look so awkward, so she immediately pressed her advantage and said:

"Should I congratulate Uncle Marner on winning the championship?"

"Margaret, tsk!"

Marna clicked her tongue in slight reluctance.

The education and reprimands he had been holding back for almost four years since Margaret left were all rendered useless by Maria's betrayal.

You little brat, still laughing! I should have seen it coming; you're got a rebellious streak. Are you going to follow in your sister's footsteps and become a knight?!

Ultimately, Marna didn't say anything reprimanding to Maria. She let out a long sigh and looked at Margaret:

"Margaret, do you still think knightly competitions are something good?"

Margaret's smile faded, and she said seriously:

"Uncle Marna, I think there is no good or bad in knightly competitions."

"During my years of exile in Casimir, I traveled to many places. The people of Letania love music. Even in the homes of villagers in remote villages, parents would make a violin for their children out of wood and animal whiskers. The story they told most often was about a violinist from the village who played a moving melody at the Trilintelme music competition and was recruited by the king."

“Such a thing is impossible,” Marna said ruthlessly. “The reality is that in Letania under the rule of the Twin Queens, the hierarchical order is very strict. Even in a city, there are noble soldiers and sentries guarding the lower and upper districts, prohibiting movement between them.”

"That story took place a hundred years ago, when Letania was ruled by the Witch King."

Margaret retorted.

Marna shut her mouth.

He couldn't refute it, because the stories of the Witch King era were difficult to verify, and he himself, in the early... no, throughout his reign, did indeed have a reputation for "appointing only the talented."

The Witch King is certainly not a human rights advocate like Ernst; he doesn't care about "employment fairness." But his equal discrimination against everyone except himself is, in a way, a form of equality as well.

Margaret continued:

"Therefore, I think that knightly competition is neither good nor bad."

"Its existence is like the music competitions of Letania during the time of the Witch King, giving many Kazimierz people something to look forward to. Compared to music, knighthood has a barrier to entry, but knightly competitions, and watching them, have no barrier to entry."

"This is the most direct, convenient, and popular way for many Qazimirians to access our proud chivalric traditions."

“Even if what it actually promotes has absolutely nothing to do with the Knights?” Marna said coldly.

This time, Margaret proudly gave her own response:

"Yes! And correcting it, making it truly promote our knights' courage, fighting spirit, unity, and many more virtues and traditions, is exactly what I want to do!"

Marna closed her eyes:

"Is this the path you've chosen?"

Margaret nodded firmly: "This is the path I've chosen."

"Well."

Marner took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and chuckled softly.

"Then you don't need to go back to Kazimir."

Margaret's previously enthusiastic expression froze instantly, and she opened her mouth in astonishment:

"Wha...what?"

“I said, you don’t need to go back to Kazimierz.”

Marner Road,

"You don't need to go back to Linguang's house."

Margaret panicked slightly and quickly shook her head:

"No, Uncle, this, that... we can discuss it, is it really necessary?"

"Hmph, what's unnecessary about it?"

Marner shook the newspaper in her hand and held it up in front of her again.

“The main branch of the Nearl family has withdrawn from Kazimierz, and the name Nearl in Kazimierz is now inherited by your aunt Zofia. The reason Maria and I are here is because we are on our way out of Kazimierz.”

Margaret asked incredulously, "Where are you going?"

Marna said calmly, "Sherag."

Margaret asked, puzzled, "What kind of place is that?"

Maria nudged Margaret in the waist:

"Sister, didn't you watch TV while you were out? You don't even know about Sherag? You're so ignorant!"

Margaret looked completely bewildered.

What do you mean? Is Sherag famous?

Margaret didn't watch TV. To be precise, the "Apostles" spent most of their time walking in the wilderness, working as Doctors Without Borders. Living outdoors and enduring harsh conditions was already a basic requirement for them. Where would they find the opportunity to watch TV?

Even when they occasionally visit villages, they mostly use their currency to replenish supplies, so they naturally won't waste money on things like newspapers.

They learned about Rhodes Island because a village they had passed through recently had been visited by Rhodes Island and had set up an office there. They received supplies at the office, were introduced to the organization, and that's how they learned about this organization with similar ideals in this land, which led them to this location.

But Maria and Marna clearly had no intention of explaining to Margaret from the beginning where Sherag was and why he was famous.

Marner's voice came from behind the newspaper, calmly saying:

"I won't pursue the matter of you wearing a headset and answering my questions together with your two companions."

“Margaret, I only hope you remember what you just said. Since you claim you have found your path, Maria and I will be watching you from the sidelines. Until you show me the results you have achieved, there will still be no place for you in the Nearl family, and I will continue to question and criticize your empty talk.”

"You'll prove that your so-called 'fearlessness in the face of suffering and darkness' isn't just an old joke."

Margaret lowered her hand from her earpiece, which she had been awkwardly covering, and removed her own earpiece as well. She then nodded solemnly to Marna.

"I will, Uncle Marner!"

.........

"This is Margaret Nearl?"

In the control center of Rhodes Island, Ernst sat next to Kal'tsit, watching the Nearl family's "discussion" on the monitor screen with some surprise.

Well, Ernst wasn't too surprised by Margaret's personality. A resilient female knight—in other games, she'd be the kind that gets delayed very quickly. But this is Arknights.

What truly surprised Ernst was Margaret's appearance.

So this is what you look like, Margaret.

His voice was somewhat boyish, and his handsome facial features were more striking than pretty, coupled with his tanned skin, which bore the marks of time and sun exposure from his travels through the wilderness.

Margaret, a woman among men! No... a man among women!

According to Marna, she will not come to Sherag, at least not now.

The Lashlag family consists of Manna and Maria, while the Nearl family is inherited by Zofia, although she claims to be merely acting as its head.

Margaret was not part of Marner's plan. It wasn't that he had forgotten about the exiled Lin Guang; on the contrary, he remembered her very well.

During his negotiations with Ernst, he even specifically mentioned Margaret.

“I will not allow her to come back until she finds her way.”