Minister Valentin stepped forward, his tone urgent.

"Your Majesty, we must find a way to delay the Empire's advance to buy us time to contact the other forces in the Eastern Region!"

"The fall of the Goldflow Empire is enough to awaken everyone. Unification is our only way out!"

"Delay? How do we delay it?"

"Aurek's army of hundreds of thousands of Stellar Rank soldiers is right on the border! Do you think he will give us time?"

Will nearly howled in response.

"Marriage!"

Valentin spoke two words and immediately explained in detail.

"We can pretend to submit and become a vassal of the Crossbridge Empire, offering Princess Belinda to Aurek as a symbol of our surrender."

"By using the excuse of preparing for a marriage, we might be able to delay for a month or two. If we can gain this time, the Eastern Region alliance may have a chance to form!"

Will's face turned pale with anger. He knew full well that with Aurek's domineering nature, he didn't need a vassal.

But this was the only lifeline they could grasp in their desperation.

Exchanging a woman and humiliation for a brief moment of respite.

"…Do as you say. Immediately select the most beautiful women in the Empire to act as attendants, and send a delegation to Paris City… Also, prepare an emergency evacuation route."

Will's voice was filled with helplessness and humiliation.

He watched Valentin leave, clenching his fists tightly.

To offer up his beloved daughter Belinda, this was a humiliation deeper than defeat itself.

...

Crossbridge Empire, Valoria Palace

Aurek had just finished a round of meditation when a system notification appeared in his mind.

[Destroy Stellar Merchants' Guild, Emperor Point +296 billion…]

[Destroy Goldflow Empire, Emperor Point +91 billion…]

Aurek's eyes swept over the accumulated Emperor Points, which were enough to propel him to even higher ranks.

At that moment, Tina returned via the interdimensional teleportation array to report.

"What's the situation?"

Aurek asked while placing the Imperial Eagle flag on the map of the Goldflow Empire.

Tina bowed in response.

"My Lord, the Selene Empire sent Duke Bernard and several Sage Rank members."

"Notably, Catherine is wielding a powerful artifact called the Silver Serpent Dance."

Aurek paused for a moment.

Duke Bernard was an Overlord Rank force that could coexist with the Selene Empire, yet Elizabeth could command her, even making her use an artifact…

There was only one possibility: Elizabeth had the absolute power to suppress Duke Bernard.

And to casually produce a genuine artifact...

This woman was hiding secrets deeper than he had anticipated.

She had intentionally revealed Duke Bernard and the artifact, fulfilling the cooperation agreement, while cleverly concealing her true trump card.

"An artifact…"

Aurek's eyes grew darker.

"Looks like my ally is far more interesting than I originally thought."

...

Selene Empire Royal Palace

Empress Elizabeth stood by the window, gazing out as though her eyes pierced through space to the direction of Valoria Palace.

Catherine silently appeared behind her, respectfully presenting the Silver Serpent Dance.

"Your Majesty, aside from this sword, nothing else was revealed. It should not have triggered excessive suspicion from Aurek."

Elizabeth did not take the sword but spoke calmly.

"One artifact is not enough to let him see through anything. You may keep this sword for now."

She smiled slightly, a barely perceptible curve at the corner of her mouth.

Does Aurek want to pry into her secrets?

It wouldn't be that easy.

The true hunter always hides the deadliest traps behind the most seemingly harmless gifts.

...

Skyborne Church, the Sky Cathedral

High Priest Frederick gathered all the Divine Envoy Rank church strongmen.

The atmosphere in the room was as heavy as lead.

"Latest intel, the Crossbridge Empire has destroyed the Goldflow Empire. In addition to the known army of over 200,000 Stellar Rank soldiers, they have revealed at least a hundred Sage Rank warriors."

"Based on this, it can be inferred that the Empire's hidden strength is at least double what is visible. Whether there are any Divine Envoy Rank or stronger existences remains unknown."

"However, Aurek seems to intentionally avoid deploying his highest-end forces in battle, and his intentions are difficult to predict."

The High Priest's voice was steady.

"The Crossbridge Empire's aggressiveness is unquestionable. Their foundation is unfathomable. If left unchecked, the entire Eastern Region will be doomed."

"The Filo Empire proposes to unite all the forces in the Eastern Region to utterly defeat the Crossbridge Empire. I support this proposal."

Nearby church priests nodded in agreement.

"If the Eastern Region can truly unite, we can shake the heavens themselves!"

"Even if the Crossbridge Empire is strong, it could never withstand a full-fledged counterattack from the entire Eastern Region!"

"The alliance is already in the works, but how should we define the contributions of each faction?"

"Is the White Wing Abbey willing to fully support it?"

"How should the specific strategies be formulated?"

"With so many factions, it's easy for hearts to scatter. Even if the alliance is forced, how can we ensure unified command and fighting strength?"

The priests debated fiercely, filled with concern and disagreement.

At that moment, a voice from a church guard echoed outside the door.

"High Priest Frederick, Mr. Lucio from the Heart of Earth requests an audience."

All debates stopped abruptly.

The priests looked surprised, and even Frederick's eyes flashed with surprise.

"Quickly, let him in!"

He immediately commanded, his voice tinged with seriousness.

The sage, Lucio, who had lived in seclusion for so long, was visiting during this sensitive moment.

His arrival might directly impact the fate of the Skyborne Church and the entire Eastern Region!

As Lucio's figure appeared at the massive doors of the cathedral, Frederick immediately welcomed him with a beaming smile, bowing in a formal greeting.

"Mr. Lucio, the Seer, it's an honor to have you visit Skyborne Church. You didn't notify us in advance so we could prepare a grander welcome?"

Lucio gently touched his tarot box on his chest in response.

"Staying in the Heart of Earth for too long can be quite tiresome. Seeing the recent turbulence in the Eastern Region, I thought I'd come out for a while."

"To think I ended up at the door of Skyborne Church."

He turned to the priests of the Skyborne Church and bowed elegantly.

"Since I'm already here, it would be rude not to enter."

Frederick's heart leapt with joy, his voice full of barely contained excitement.

"It is truly an honor for Skyborne Church to have the Seer visit!"

He hurriedly turned to the priests.

"Quickly, show the Seer to a seat!"

Frederick gave a subtle order to have the rare Moonlight Dew prepared for Lucio.

As Lucio took his seat, Frederick's gaze locked onto him.

"As I understand, the Seer has been quietly observing the flow of fate in the Heart of Earth. Your sudden visit today must be for more than just a stroll, correct?"

The priests around them were all curious.

It was widely known that Lucio never left the Heart of Earth.

Many factions had sought to invite him, but he always refused. His visit today was truly surprising.

Lucio lightly brushed his cards, his gaze rippling with subtle energy.

"Not leaving doesn't mean I'll never leave."

"If there's a truly magnificent drama on the continent, I'm always willing to come out for a while."

"A drama?"

Frederick's eyes flickered.

"Is the Seer referring to the Crossbridge Empire, which has recently gained so much attention?"

Lucio tapped the cards lightly with his fingers.

"Half correct!"

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