Fu Zhu accepted the [Time] Coreflame from Cyrene, and the mod's progress bar ticked up significantly.
Now, he just needed to touch the remaining few Coreflames, and he would lack for nothing!
"Let's go."
Fu Zhu carefully stored the Coreflame, then drew his Yamato to slice open a passage, leading the group through.
---o---
Within the Holy City of Okhema.
Because the vast majority of Chrysos Heirs had been dispatched to carry out the plan, all the miscellaneous affairs of the entire Holy City had fallen on Aglaea's shoulders alone. Fortunately, she had Tribbie by her side to assist; otherwise, she might have been overwhelmed to the point of collapse.
"My Teacher, please deliver this document to the Council of Elders."
Aglaea handed a file to Tribbie. Tribbie took it, nodded, then placed her small hand on the back of Aglaea's, reminding her, "Agy, you don't need to be so tense."
Aglaea froze. Over the years, ever since she inherited the Divine Authority of [Romance], her humanity had gradually faded. The emotions inherent to people naturally grew more muted along with it.
But a short while ago, after learning the whole truth from Khaslana, she couldn't help but feel the pressure, no matter how muted her humanity had become.
The disappearance of Nikador and Fu Zhu—the two great pillars of the Flame-Chase Journey—and the fact that Amphoreus had once again been plunged into eternal night...
At this moment, the Flame-Chase Journey seemed hopeless. She didn't even know how to continue assuring the populace that their cause was the right one.
But as the acting regent of Okhema, she absolutely could not let this wavering show.
She hadn't expected that, despite how well she had masked it, Tribbie had seen right through her.
A small smile graced Aglaea's lips as she gently placed her other hand over Tribbie's.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I'm fine."
"Mhm, we will be with you."
Tribbie offered one last word of comfort before grabbing the document and hurrying out of the office.
Just as Aglaea was about to resume her work, Tribbie suddenly rushed back in, her face beaming with joy.
"Agy! Agy, look out the window, quickly!"
"What is it, Teacher?"
Aglaea saw how fast Tribbie was running and quickly stood up to steady her, afraid she might trip and fall.
Tribbie eagerly pulled Aglaea toward the window, but being too short to see out, she could only urge Aglaea with her eyes to open it.
Aglaea looked toward the window in confusion. A bright light was reflected on the glass, a stark contrast to the dim streetscape that should have been there.
A tremor went through Aglaea's heart. A joyous emotion surged from its depths as she immediately pushed open the window and looked up.
Greeting her eyes was the blazing, yet incredibly warm, sun.
"The sun... He's back?"
"Mhm! It must be Fu Zhu! He's back!"
Tribbie nodded her head vigorously beside her, overjoyed.
Aglaea tilted her head back, gazing at the dazzling sun. For some reason, the heavy weight on her shoulders suddenly felt much lighter.
She couldn't help but lower her head and chuckle. "Indeed. Compared to being a leader, I'm much more suited to being a dressmaker."
"Agy, what did you just say?"
"Nothing, Teacher." Aglaea shook her head, composing her excited feelings. A smile played on her lips as she said to Tribbie, "Teacher, please hurry and deliver that document. After that, we have a much more important banquet to prepare, don't we?"
"Mhm!"
Tribbie once again dashed happily out of the office.
Aglaea, also smiling, sat back down at her desk. This time, the pile of official documents before her no longer seemed so daunting, but more like preparations for a joyous reunion.
---o---
In the Council of Elders' chamber, a hooded man knelt on one knee. His face, hidden beneath the hood, was etched with anxiety. He looked up, his voice filled with agitation, at the old woman standing by the window, gazing at the sun.
"Elder Caenis, the daylight has returned! That man is back!"
Caenis turned around, her face contorted in a ferocious snarl.
"Damn Nikador, damn Fu Zhu! If you were going to disappear, you should have stayed gone!"
"Elder Caenis, what should we do?" the hooded man asked again, his voice urgent.
"What should we do?"
Caenis's chest heaved. Right now, she wanted to know that as well!
But things had come to this point. They had no choice but to risk it all. As long as they could kill Aglaea, then according to the Council's regulations, she could use the arrangements she had laid out over many years to ascend to the position of Okhema's leader. Then she could command all the Iron Golems in the city!
This was an army she had coveted for over a thousand years! She had overheard Nikador telling Fu Zhu years ago that the Iron Golems in the city would only obey the supreme leader of Okhema.
This was her only chance!
"Go, take out Aglaea. Although her humanity is lost, from what I know of her, the last shred of humanity in her heart will be the final straw that breaks her!"
"Yes!"
The hooded man quickly departed. Caenis, standing in the shifting light and shadow, revealed a sinister smile.
---o---
Meanwhile, after finishing the rest of her official duties, Aglaea stretched her long limbs. She then decided to head to the grand bathhouse for a soak, following her teacher Tribbie's advice to relax and, at the same time, greet an old friend's return with a more elegant posture.
Aglaea took the items she needed for her bath and headed for the grand bathhouse, only to frown slightly upon entering.
The bathhouse, usually a favorite among the citizens, was completely empty.
Under normal circumstances, she would have immediately known the reason for the sparse crowd. But just a while ago, she had promised Cipher she would temporarily remove the golden threads in the city to avoid accidentally exposing her ruse.
However, even without the golden threads, she could feel the palpable, undisguised killing intent that permeated the air.
"Your hatred is so obvious, yet you dare not show your faces?"
A flurry of footsteps echoed. Aglaea turned her head to look, and when she saw the scene before her, her brow furrowed even deeper.
Caenis, along with a group of black-clad assassins holding daggers, was holding Tribbie hostage.
"I didn't expect it to be you. Caenis, you truly are a persistent pest. To think you could pop up again after being killed once."
Aglaea sneered at Caenis, then looked with some concern at the captive Tribbie.
"My Teacher, did they do anything discourteous to you?"
Tribbie shook her head, her brow furrowed. She said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Agy... I've become a burden to you."
But Aglaea simply smiled and shook her head.
"You have never been my burden."
Then she turned back to Caenis, her voice cold. "Let her go. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."
Caenis, however, just laughed mockingly. "Now that I'm here, the consequences will be the same whether I let her go or not. As for you, Aglaea, have you considered what consequences your next actions will bring? You wouldn't want to see the teacher who has been with you for so many years die a miserable death before your very eyes, would you?"
Aglaea stared at her silently, a storm of fury brewing in her calm eyes. Golden threads, using her long, slender legs as cover, began to spread out quietly.
"State your purpose."
Caenis gestured to one of her subordinates, who immediately tossed a dagger in front of Aglaea.
"Kill yourself, Aglaea."
Aglaea picked up the dagger from the ground and toyed with it in her hand. Then, she raised an eyebrow at Caenis and asked, "After I kill myself, will you let my teacher go?"
Caenis smiled coldly and nodded. "Of course. I guarantee it. As long as you die, I will let her go."
Tribbie immediately panicked, shouting at Aglaea, "Agy, don't believe her! Don't hurt yourself! Even without me, the other me's will still be with you!"
But Aglaea just held the dagger and shook her head. "My Teacher, no matter which you it is, I don't want to lose any of them."
Then, she looked at Caenis and said, "I am very satisfied with your guarantee, but Caenis, have you overlooked one thing?"
"What?" Caenis subconsciously followed Aglaea's line of thought, trying to figure out if she had made any mistakes, but she couldn't think of anything.
Aglaea gave a light laugh. "You, a person with no credibility whatsoever... how can I confirm whether you'll fulfill your promise after I'm dead?"
Caenis flew into a rage, realizing Aglaea was toying with her. She had no intention of killing herself at all!
"Aglaea!!! The hostage is in my hands! Do you think you have any other choice?!"
"Of course."
Aglaea suddenly smiled and lifted her chin, speaking confidently to Caenis. "Your oversights aren't limited to just that. If you weren't blind, you should have noticed that the sun has returned. And since he's back, he will naturally return as well!"
The moment Aglaea's voice fell, another set of footsteps rang out.
Fu Zhu and his group walked into the grand bathhouse. The village chief, who was with them, saw the scene before him and couldn't help but adjust his glasses, muttering to Cyrene beside him.
"The city seems more dangerous. Why don't you guys just take me back to my village?"
"Don't worry, Grandpa Chief. From now on, we just need to watch the show. Right?"
As Cyrene finished speaking, she gave Fu Zhu a charming wink.
Fu Zhu winked back in response, then folded his arms and walked forward a few steps. His gaze shifted between Aglaea and Caenis for a few moments before finally settling on Caenis.
"And you are?"
He glanced at Caenis's marker on the mini-map. There was no special information.
She wasn't a Chrysos Heir, nor a Titan, nor was she some disguise of Lygus. So why was this person acting so arrogantly?
Seeing Fu Zhu appear, Caenis's face filled with terror. Although she had never crossed paths with him, she knew she was no match for him.
She immediately snatched the dagger from a subordinate and lunged toward Tribbie's neck.
A single, resonant command boomed through the hall, absolute and undeniable.
"ZA WARUDO!"
Time itself froze at his will.
He was about to walk over and break Caenis's hand to give her a taste of the proper way to use a time-stop, when Mem, on his shoulder, blinked.
"Mem? (Time stopped?)"
Fu Zhu paused, looking at Mem in surprise. "You can move?"
He was already quite amazed that Mem could use his commands after getting his permission. He never expected Mem to be able to move freely during a time-stop. This was less like a command and more like... his Stand?
"Mem, go give her two slaps, then put her hand back where it was."
Although Mem didn't understand why Fu Zhu wanted to do this, it nodded and flew over. Its tender little paw swung left and right across Caenis's face, then it moved her dagger-wielding hand back to her side before flying back to perch on Fu Zhu's shoulder.
Once everything was done, Fu Zhu snapped his fingers, and time resumed its flow.
"Ugh!"
Caenis suddenly grunted. Blood trickled from the corners of her mouth and nose, and two "plum blossoms" appeared on her cheeks. Then, to her horror, she found that the dagger she was about to plunge into Tribbie's neck was somehow back at her waist.
Caenis didn't understand what had happened, but she couldn't hesitate now. She raised her hand again, but the next moment, she felt a sharp pain on her cheeks again as blood flowed even more freely from her nose. Her hand was once again back at her waist, as if her previous action had been nothing but a phantom.
What terrified Caenis even more was that Tribbie had somehow appeared beside Fu Zhu, looking just as confused as she was.
Caenis looked at Fu Zhu in terror and asked, "What did you do?!"
But Fu Zhu didn't answer her. Who asked this impolite old woman not to answer his question earlier?
Fu Zhu turned to Aglaea and asked, "Who is this old woman? When did a bit-part villain like this show up?"
Aglaea explained succinctly, "Her name is Caenis. She has always been trying to sabotage the Flame-Chase Journey and has assassinated quite a few Chrysos Heirs in secret. She was killed by Nikador once before, but for some reason, she's appeared again."
"She can be resurrected? Now that's interesting. Aglaea, do you have any objections to me handling these people?"
Aglaea naturally had no objections.
"Of course not."
A smile suddenly played on Fu Zhu's lips. He turned to Castorice and said, "Castorice, back when I left in a hurry, I forgot to tell you something. Besides nullifying your curse, the scythe I gave you has another ability: it can resurrect the dead. The prerequisite, of course, is that you have enough souls."
Castorice froze for a moment. She had guessed something, but she still asked with some hesitation, "You mean..."
Fu Zhu took the scythe from Castorice's hand. Castorice proactively moved away from the group. Without the scythe, being near her was still risky.
Fu Zhu patted the scythe in his hand and looked at Caenis and her group.
"Since they've killed so many people, it's only right that they pay the price. And to prevent this kind of situation from happening again in the future, it's best to have some souls prepared in advance. Not to mention, we have someone here who can be resurrected through unknown means."
Caenis might be ugly and detestable, but in the eyes of a technical Minecraft player, she was a rare treasure!
Caenis and her subordinates' faces turned pale. For the first time, they realized they had found someone even more inhuman than themselves. Caenis couldn't stop herself from retorting.
"You... you're supposed to be a hero in the eyes of the people! Have you no humanity?! Just give me a quick death!"
"Sorry, I'm a technical Minecraft player."