Chapter 67: A Change from the Tide of Madness
Queen Arachne had anticipated Isabelle’s reappearance, though she was surprised the North Empire had discovered her so quickly.
But she was even more surprised that Isabelle had gone to the most dangerous place of all, the Wild God Altar.
“Miss Lin Yan, is this a guess, or confirmed intelligence?” she asked, her languid posture gone, her expression serious. “This is very important to us.”
“We can confirm she was near the Wild God Altar. And given the nature of demons, it’s highly likely she has already entered, through an offering,” Lin Yan said, her voice low.
If not to enter the altar, why would Isabelle have come here?
And demons, with their lack of morals, wouldn’t hesitate to make a sacrifice.
Of course, this was the general perception of demons on Solor. They hadn’t yet encountered the unique Bai, or the timid Isabelle.
“Indeed,” the Queen nodded approvingly.
She paused, then turned to Diana. “Diana, send a team to investigate the area around the Wild God Altar. See which unlucky tribe has been wiped out.”
“Yes, Mother,” Diana said, rising respectfully and backing out of the room.
Lin Yan watched her go, then asked casually, “Diana seems to be afraid of you.”
“A certain degree of authority is necessary when raising children,” the Queen smiled, then, from a bookshelf, she took two cups and placed them on the small table before her, a table that seemed far too small for her.
She then produced a pot of steaming coffee and began to prepare it with a practiced hand.
“Surprising. I didn’t know Your Majesty was familiar with such things,” Lin Yan said, impressed by her refined technique, so similar to that of an Imperial noblewoman.
“I learned it from you humans. You seem to have many new and interesting things lately. I like them,” the Queen smiled, handing a cup to Lin Yan. “Try it.”
“Thank you,” Lin Yan said, taking a small, cautious sip.
Hmm, as expected, it was ordinary.
But not bad.
“How is it?” the Queen asked.
“Delicious, Your Majesty,” Lin Yan said, her expression unreadable.
“No need for flattery. I’ve had coffee made by your people. It’s much better than mine,” the Queen said, taking a sip of her own.
“It will improve with time,” Lin Yan said, draining her cup.
“Few humans are invited to have afternoon tea with me. You are fortunate,” the Queen said, putting down her own cup, not even half-finished.
“And I am pleased to see a different side of the renowned Queen Arachne,” Lin Yan replied, her own flattery just as practiced.
“The North Empire, at most, how many Knight units can you deploy?” the Queen asked, her voice turning serious.
“While maintaining our defensive lines, at most, three full units,” Lin Yan replied. She had come here to form an alliance, and she was prepared.
“And the Savage Lands, you know our situation. I can only guarantee that each tribe will contribute at least twenty percent of their forces,” the Queen said, taking another sip of her coffee.
“That’s enough,” Lin Yan nodded.
They both knew that Isabelle herself wasn’t the main threat.
Even as a demon commander, one of the strongest in the Calamity Class, she wasn’t invincible. And the Shadow Demons didn’t possess any powerful, large-scale offensive abilities.
In a small-scale conflict, Lin Yan’s three squads could hold her off for a considerable time, long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
So, their real concern was the return of the Abyssal Demon Realm.
Although they knew it was inevitable, neither the Empire, nor the Savage Lands, nor the Bewildering Forest, was ready for another full-scale war.
“I hope our cooperation will be… pleasant this time,” the Queen said with a faint smile.
“And I hope Your Majesty will honor your commitment, at least until this crisis is resolved,” Lin Yan replied, her own smile just as insincere.
They both knew this was a temporary alliance.
Just then, the Queen’s expression flickered, her coffee cup trembling slightly.
“Your Majesty, what is it?” Lin Yan asked.
The Queen frowned, then her expression softened. “It’s nothing. One of my children is in danger and has summoned my avatar.”
The timing was a bit… inconvenient. She was in the middle of a meeting. It was almost embarrassing…
Although she maintained her calm, elegant demeanor, Lin Yan felt a sudden chill, a sense of impending danger.
“Is… everything alright?” she asked.
The Queen put down her coffee cup and stood up. “Of course. Even an avatar possesses the strength of a Calamity Class being… hmm?”
She frowned again, her expression changing. “Wait, that’s… the Tide of Madness? They’ve gone so deep they had to summon an avatar?”
“What is that place?” Lin Yan asked curiously.
“A place where we banish the Fallen Demonspawn,” the Queen said, her voice dismissive, but the tension in her face betrayed her.
This place… was more than she was letting on.
Lin Yan made a mental note. This could be important information.
“My apologies. Please wait here. I have to see what’s going on. I don’t know which of my children has been so reckless as to venture so deep into the Tide of Madness…”
The Queen hurried to her bed, and the white webbing descended, concealing her.
Lin Yan stood there, unsure what to do.
She looked around, then pulled a book from the shelf.
A short while later, Diana cautiously entered, relieved to see the Queen had retracted her webbing.
But Lin Yan was still standing by the bookshelf, her expression thoughtful.
“Miss Lin Yan, my mother…” Diana asked hesitantly.
“Her Majesty had some urgent business. She asked me to wait,” Lin Yan replied, taking a step away from her.
Diana was about to ask another question, but just then, a startled cry came from within the white webbing.
“It’s you!”
