The night in Juxia City was adorned by bustling neons like a flowing river of light, but the top floor of the Angel International Building was shrouded in an unusual solemnity. The decision Artoria had just announced left all the Angels, including Yan, in a brief state of shock and hesitation.
"You want to go out alone? To settle... private matters?" Yan put down the data pad she was playing with, her eyes, which always carried a bit of laziness and scrutiny, now turned sharp as she stared intently at Artoria. Although she had gained a new understanding of Artoria's perceptiveness and stance from their previous conversation, the proposal of "going out alone" still touched the bottom line of her core mission for this trip—guarding the absolute safety of the Star Vault Steward. Not to mention, in her view, Artoria's own strength was far from enough to deal with the many risks lurking on Earth, and even in the Known Universe.
Captain Zhui Feng took a step forward, his right hand over his chest, his tone respectful yet exceptionally firm: "Your Excellency Artoria, your safety must not be compromised. The Heavenly Base King and the Queen have strictly ordered that we must guard your side at all times. For any outing, please allow us to accompany you for protection, or at least be escorted by elite members of my squad."
Several other members of the Zhuifeng Squad on guard nearby also straightened their bodies in unison, their gazes focused on Artoria, silently expressing the same determination. They were warriors, and obeying orders was their primary duty, while guarding Artoria was the highest priority command personally issued by the Queen and the Heavenly Base King.
Minerva stood quietly beside Artoria without speaking, only gently grasping Artoria's hand, which was slightly tensed. She could feel Artoria's inner determination and also understood the Angels' concerns. But she believed in Artoria and supported any of her decisions.
Artoria's gaze slowly swept across Yan, Captain Zhui Feng, and every guarding Angel with determined eyes. She could feel that heavy sense of responsibility and loyalty, which made a warm current flow through her heart, but at the same time, it further strengthened her resolve.
She could not live under the absolute protection of the Angels' wings forever. Her teacher had told her to "do as she thought," and Queen Keisha had tacitly allowed her to deal with Suma Li, which was a test of her ability and a sign of trust. She needed to prove herself, not just in research and concepts, but also in actual combat, character, and independent decision-making.
More importantly, this was a "family matter." Cleaning house and avenging her teacher's humiliation—she hoped to complete this personally, carrying the will and methods belonging to her generation.
"I understand your duties, and I thank you for your loyalty." Artoria's voice was clear and steady as she took a small step forward, meeting Captain Zhui Feng's gaze. "But Captain Zhui Feng, Sister Yan, this matter... I must go alone."
"Reason?" Yan raised an eyebrow, the laziness in her tone completely vanished, leaving only the seriousness belonging to the Left Wing Guard.
"This is... a'subject' from the highest level of the Merlot Heavenly Court." Artoria did not hide it, but she didn't elaborate either, knowing that Yan and Captain Zhui Feng should understand. "An actual combat assessment, a... cleanup of the past. The target is clear, the location is locked, and the risk... is within my assessed controllable range."
She paused and added, her tone carrying a hint of unquestionable solemnity: "Furthermore, this is my 'private matter.' It is unrelated to the Angel Civilization's public actions and has no direct connection to the current situation on Earth. I do not wish for my personal actions to bring extra variables or attention to the Angels' deployment on Earth."
Yan's eyes flickered slightly; she seemed to associate this with something—certain dusty old matters, the complex expressions the Heavenly Base King occasionally showed... She vaguely guessed what the "subject" and "cleanup" Artoria mentioned might point to. This made her internal opposition loosen slightly, but her duty as a guard still made it difficult for her to nod easily.
Captain Zhui Feng also had her brows furrowed; the orders she received were absolute, with no exemption clauses for "personal actions."
Seeing the atmosphere fall into a stalemate again, Artoria took a deep breath. She knew that conventional reasoning would probably not make these loyal and stubborn Angel Warriors yield. She needed to produce something more powerful, something that could represent "will."
Her hand slowly brushed against the hilt of the long sword that had been silently accompanying her at her waist—the hilt of star dome.
As her fingertips touched that warm and restrained material, a connection like a bloodline throbbed. This was personally forged by Teacher Hexi and Queen Keisha, representing the highest level of recognition and entrustment of the Angel Civilization. It was a symbol of royal power, the embodiment of the Star Vault Steward identity. Since receiving it, she had always regarded it as a precious gift, a powerful weapon, and a heavy responsibility, never thinking of using it to "command" anyone.
But now, it seemed the time had come when she had to use this "weight."
"I command in the name of the Star Vault Steward."
Artoria's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the top-floor space. She gripped the hilt; she did not draw the sword, but an indescribable aura—a mixture of sacred majesty and stern determination—naturally spread out with her as the center. It wasn't an intentional release of pressure, but a "presence" of higher authority that naturally radiated when star dome resonated with her own will.
The moment this aura enveloped them, all members of the Zhuifeng Squad, including Yan, couldn't help but tremble slightly. They looked at Artoria—no, they looked at the long sword at her waist that seemed to be slightly awakened by an invisible force, flowing with a faint golden glow. Their eyes were instantly filled with undisguisable shock and... instinctive awe.
"star dome"... king sword! It represented the extension of the combined will of Queen Keisha and the Heavenly Base King! Seeing the sword was like seeing the royal power! They could disagree with Artoria's personal decision, but they could not defy a command formally issued by the Star Vault Steward that did not violate the fundamental interests of the Angels! This was an iron rule branded into the soul of every Angel Warrior!
Artoria's gaze swept over the Angels, who had instantly stood at attention, their right hands unconsciously placed over their hearts on the left side of their chests as they slightly bowed their heads. A trace of complex guilt passed through her heart, but her tone became even firmer:
"I command: The entire Zhuifeng Squad is to remain at the Angel International Building to maintain the security of this stronghold and keep in contact with Heavenly Blade Seven. Without my direct summons, you are not to leave without authorization, nor are you to track or interfere with my actions."
"I command: Angel Yan, continue to perform your original duties on Earth and maintain necessary contact with the Super Seminary and the Earth side. My actions do not need to be reported to you, nor do I require your assistance."
Her gaze finally landed on the faces of Captain Zhui Feng and Yan, her tone softening slightly but still carrying an unquestionable resolve:
"This is my choice, and also my trial. I have Minerva with me, and I have the power to protect myself. Please believe in me, and... please respect my will."
After speaking, her hand gripping the hilt of star dome relaxed slightly, and that invisible aura of majesty also slowly receded. But the faint light flowing over star dome seemed to silently bear witness to the "Order of the King Sword" that had just been issued.
The scene was silent.
Captain Zhui Feng and his squad members remained in the posture of hands over chests and heads bowed, their bodies slightly stiff, clearly undergoing an intense internal struggle. Finally, Captain Zhui Feng was the first to look up. His gaze toward Artoria was incredibly complex, containing worry and disapproval, but ultimately, it all turned into absolute obedience to the "command" itself, and a hint of indescribable emotion that the Sword Bearer had finally begun to exercise her authority.
"We obey... your command." Captain Zhui Feng's voice was a bit dry, but every word was crystal clear. The squad members behind him also repeated in unison: "We obey your command."
Yan looked deeply at Artoria for a long time. Finally, that habitual smile, tinged with playfulness and inquiry, reappeared on her face, though there was a bit more seriousness deep in her eyes.
"Very well, Your Excellency Star Vault Steward." Yan shrugged, her tone returning to its usual laziness. "Since you've used your 'privilege,' then as a mere Left Wing Guard, I can only obey. However..." Her tone shifted, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "If you encounter danger you can't handle, or need someone to clean up the mess... remember to send a signal. The king sword's command was for us not to follow, but it didn't say we couldn't save you."
Artoria knew this was Yan's maximum concession and concern. Her heart warmed slightly as she nodded. "Thank you, Sister Yan. I will be careful."
The matter was settled. Under the complex and indescribable gazes of the Zhuifeng Squad and Yan's thoughtful scrutiny, Artoria took one last look at the brightly lit Juxia City below, then turned around and exchanged a glance with Minerva.
No words were needed; in their soul link, a mutual understanding had already been reached.
"Let's go, Xiao Xiao."
"Mm."
With a thought, Artoria connected to the hidden interface of the Sacred Knowledge Vault in the Dark Plane—this was one of the special permissions Hexi had left her before her departure. It allowed her to call upon some non-core computing power of the Knowledge Treasury for information retrieval and auxiliary calculations when necessary, especially when locating certain "specific targets."
Target information: Suma Li. Characteristics: Ancient male Angel (Heavenly Scum), has an old grudge with Heavenly Base King Hexi, possesses strength of a Third Generation God Body or above, proficient in Dark Energy manipulation and assassination, cunning and insidious character, skilled in stealth. Last known activity area (based on intelligence analysis and probability deduction): Edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, near an abandoned interstellar pirate transit station.
The powerful information processing capabilities of the Knowledge Treasury responded instantly. Countless public, hidden, historical, and real-time data streams were mobilized, compared, and analyzed. Combined with the characteristics provided by Artoria, probability cloud calculations were rapidly performed. Just a few seconds later, a highly encrypted feedback message—containing precise space-time coordinates, a simulation of the target's current energy signature, and a risk assessment of the surrounding environment—flowed into Artoria's consciousness.
Found him.
Coordinates locked: located outside the orbit of Mars, near an inconspicuous gravitational equilibrium point at the edge of the Asteroid Belt, a derelict space station wreck disguised as a meteorite.
"Target locked," Artoria said to Minerva, her eyes becoming cold and focused. "Let's move."
She didn't use the morning glow; that was too conspicuous. Instead, she directly activated a single-person transit vehicle she had prepared long ago in the Dark Plane, which combined psionic drive and short-range space jump technology—the shadow shuttle. The silver-gray streamlined vehicle slid out from a miniature spatial rift opening beside her like flowing mercury, silently hovering on the landing pad.
Artoria and Minerva boarded the shadow shuttle, and the hatch closed. In the next moment, a layer of water-like shimmering light flowed over the vehicle's surface. Optical camouflage and energy stealth fields were fully activated, and even the life signs inside were isolated by a certain force field.
The shadow shuttle vibrated slightly and turned into an almost invisible glimmer, instantly breaking through the atmosphere and racing toward the deep cosmic starry sky—toward the target coordinates that carried the dust of history and a filthy past.
On the top floor of the Angel International Building, Yan and the Zhuifeng Squad watched the direction where the shadow shuttle had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.
"What a... troublesome little thing." Yan finally let out a soft breath and shook her head, but there was no anger in her eyes. Instead, there was a strange sense of anticipation. "However... daring to use the king sword to give orders, she's starting to look the part. Chasing Wind, it seems your'Steward' has quite a temper too."
Captain Zhui Feng did not answer, only continued to silently watch the night sky, his hand unconsciously brushing against his breastplate again. The Order of the King Sword had been issued, and they had to obey. But that worry did not decrease in the slightest.
"Suma Li..." Yan whispered the name, a cold light flashing in her eyes. "Fine. Some old debts should indeed be settled by the new generation in a new way."
"Pass down the order," Yan's voice returned to the coldness of the Left Wing Guard. "Increase the monitoring level around the Angel International Building and Juxia City. Report any abnormal energy fluctuations or spatial disturbances immediately. Also... using my authority, secretly connect to Heavenly Blade Seven and apply for the highest level of indirect situational awareness support for the shadow shuttle's flight path area. Remember, it's 'indirect.' Do not perform any form of active scanning or contact, and certainly do not interfere. We... only 'watch'."
"Yes!" Captain Zhui Feng solemnly took the order.
The hunt had already begun. And the hunter and the prey were about to meet in a fateful collision amidst the cold ruins of the star sea.
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