When Margaret felt she couldn't breathe, she finally let go of Shad.
Xia De patted her on the back:
"It's all right now. Even if there was something wrong, I would have taken care of it. I didn't have a chance to talk to you just now. How do you feel now?"
"I'm fine..."
Her Royal Highness the Princess pursed her lips and looked at Xia De:
"I was just thinking, even though I already have the power, when faced with this kind of thing, I am still no different from an ordinary person."
Her skirt was squeezed between her and Shade, and she snuggled up to Shade's chest, sobbing as she spoke. Shade rarely saw Margaret behave like this, so he knew that she was really scared this time:
"After all, today's events involve those indescribable great beings. I even suspect that this seemingly meaningless event is also related to the preparations for God's descent."
He had not revealed these things to Margaret before, but now he said it:
"It's okay, it's okay, the witches and I will protect you."
She still held Xia De tightly:
"In fact, when I was petrified, I didn't feel anything at all. When I regained consciousness, I just felt dazed for a moment, and then there were so many people in the room... It was great to be able to see you as soon as I woke up."
"Speaking of which, why are you here with Prince William today?"
Xia De asked his question, and Margaret hugged him and whispered:
"A few days ago, someone leaked the news that the Stonemasons' Guild was about to reconcile with the royal family, which led to a near riot on Stonemason Street. But this is also good news. At least the people here know about it, and there is no need to think about how to leak it out bit by bit. Sometimes a rough way is more effective.
So, I wrote to President Pigman to discuss the next steps. My father agreed with my action in principle, but he wanted the royal family to apologize publicly, which was absolutely impossible. I wanted to discuss the details of the reconciliation with President Pigman face to face, so I came here. As for William, he and I ran into each other downstairs... I even suspected that he was the one who leaked the news last Friday. He didn't want me to do it alone. Seeing that he couldn't stop me, he also wanted to share the credit. "
When it came to serious matters, Margaret returned to her usual strong and opinionated self. If she hadn't been listening to Shad's heartbeat, Shad would have thought she had fully recovered:
"But your negotiations have been interrupted by this unfortunate incident."
"That's a good thing, too. Yes, it's really great."
Margaret said softly, looking up at Shade, her eyes were very bright at this moment:
"The princess of the kingdom went to negotiate in person to resolve the conflict between the royal family and the local organization, but unfortunately she was implicated and poisoned and fell into a coma. Do you know how much reputation this will bring me?"
She seems to have fully recovered:
"Moreover, the cultists succeeded in attacking the royal family, so the church is in the wrong. I will communicate with the church later and change the wording of the newspaper report tomorrow morning, saying that 'the Anjou royal family and the Stonemasons' Association are in peace talks' is an established fact. With the church's endorsement, there is no need to worry about the Stonemasons Association going back on their wording - although this possibility is very small. When my father sees what the church says, he will also acquiesce to this statement. After all, it is the responsibility of the royal family to prevent ordinary people from knowing the other side of the world. Moreover, if William and I are injured, my father will feel that he owes us and will not stop us from doing what we want to do... Those cultists really helped a lot."
She put her arms around Xia De's neck affectionately, sat herself up, and looked at Xia De with her nose almost touching his:
"So, although this attack once again made me realize that I am still very weak, this attack was really timely. If I hadn't been unable to control those cultists, I would even think that this was my own order."
"That's a terrible statement... Is the matter of the Stonemasons Guild coming to an end?"
Shade asked hesitantly.
"Yes, it's almost over. We're just waiting for the final compensation plan. The inspection of Oxenfurt's industries has been completed, and charges such as tax evasion and substandard quality have been clearly laid out. My father is unwilling to pay the settlement compensation, so the compensation fee depends on how much money Oxenfurt has."
Shade smiled:
"You can start now."
"Have you decided to take action?"
Margaret looked at Shade in surprise:
"I thought you wanted to wait a little longer."
"No need for that. We'll wrap up everything in Randall Valley this week. The ribbon-cutting for the shipyard should also be this week, right?"
"Next week. After this, I shall return to Willendel."
She bit her lip and looked at Shade:
"We are separated again. I don't know when we will meet again."
"Soon, I think I'll go to Willendal to do something this year."
"Okay, we agreed last time that when you arrive in Willendel, I will give you a special gift."
As she said this, she kissed Shade deeply again. Shade suspected that if they were not in the Masons' Guild but in some other private place, she would probably do something more impulsive.
After returning to Miss Benannis's estate on Monday night, Shad informed the witches and Luvia of what he had seen at the Stonemasons' Guild that afternoon.
Similar to Shade's view, they also believed that this seemingly purposeless event was most likely part of a descent ritual prepared by the cultists. Considering that Shade and the guardian saw three stone statues on the top of the mountain last Tuesday night, it is possible that when the last stone statue of the old man appeared, the evil god Stone Heart Demon would really descend into the material world.
Because of the discussion with the witches, Shad stayed in the Randall Valley until very late that night. He sent Luvia back to the Land of Plenty Inn and planned to go home.
On the way, the ground shook again, indicating another small earthquake. But except for the horses in the cab who were a little panicked, the drivers and night walkers on the street actually acted as if they were used to it.
After returning to the inn, Shade also received a letter from Stone Oxenfurt. This morning he had sent a letter saying that he had received the sapphire earrings, and Stone Oxenfurt agreed with Shade to meet at a tavern in the countryside east of the city tomorrow, Tuesday evening, to trade.
So on the following Tuesday afternoon, Shad, who had a little free time, went to the Randall River Valley to continue waiting for news of the Randall flowers blooming.
He was alone at the Wilde Opera House, while the witches and Miss Lathers went out to collect intelligence and gather news from the city. The fog in the Randall Valley was almost as heavy as that in Tobesk on Tuesday. Even at noon, Shade, standing at the window on the third floor of the opera house, could only barely see the shape of the house opposite.
The weather was particularly gloomy, and there were dense snowflakes floating. The last chill of the late winter was still biting and unbearable. The whole city seemed to be falling into a deep sleep again. Even ordinary citizens could feel the impending storm in the city.
Carriages carrying patients with the petrified plague hurried away on the street. The girl selling flowers and the boy selling newspapers huddled in the corner of the alley to absorb the warmth. The women who went to the street to buy vegetables walked carefully along the wall. Shade at the window frowned as he watched the scene in front of him.
If the matter in the Randall Valley is not handled properly, this scene will gradually appear in all the cities of this old continent in the next six months.
At four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, Shade finally saw Luvia, who had hurried over to the Wilde Opera House. She brought Shade new information:
“Oh, the entire southwestern area of Carsonrick, centered around the Randall River Valley, is in complete chaos!”
The girl with purple eyes pointed at the map on the table:
"Just this morning, seven crazy lands were discovered outside the Randall River Valley. At the same time, the church actually discovered a monster similar to the fallen earth elemental giant in the northern mountains of Draerion, close to the Far North Ice Cap. Yes, on the other side of the Old Continent!"
She rubbed her brows gently:
"You can't imagine how busy we are today. Even though the headquarters sent seven high-level fortune tellers, it's still not enough. I know how busy the local associations in Coldwater Harbor and Midhill Castle were last year."
"Any news from the Guardians?"
Shade asked, everyone was waiting for the Guardians to show up again, otherwise the Ceremony of the Chosen One could not proceed.
"No."
The girl with purple eyes shook her head slightly:
"And you can't find them, can you? You still haven't found the last gem, the gem that represents spring."
As she spoke, she took out two identical coins from her pocket:
"This is what I was talking about a few days ago. The coins purchased from the association, now is not the time to save."
The coin Luvia brought this time was the clerical-level relic Thundergod's Wrath. It didn't sound like the name of a coin, but it was indeed a coin.
This coin is similar to the dandelion coins that Shade had obtained twice, and is believed to be used as currency for trading with elemental creatures. The coin is silver-white and about the same size as a shilling silver coin, but it is extremely dense and therefore incredibly heavy.
On the front is the number 1 and a thunderbolt pattern, and on the back is an angry human face.
On the side of the coin, the words of the ancient elemental elves are engraved:
May the thunder sweep away all evil.
"The proper use of this relic is to eject it with any supernatural power. The coin itself will turn into a bolt of lightning the moment it flies out. Its power is much stronger than Yin Luna's current Sunshine Gun, and it ignores any energy-based defenses. For example, your Sidon Seal will be directly penetrated."
Luvia introduced.