Watching Igula being choked by the Sword Maiden, Diya was stunned.

As a princess in the Tower for over a decade, she didn't know many people, and even fewer could build a relationship with her.

Igula was one of those few.

Of course, after Diya became the Empress, everything changed. She could freely reach any place in the Kingdom of Gospel, and in each place, countless people vied to be her friend.

After all, she was the first emotionally inclined Empress of Gospel in nearly seven hundred years. Her likes and dislikes could change the nation's fate, her will could change countless lives.

She dreamt a dream last night and could fulfill it by morning.

Some approached Diya for self-preservation, such as the families like Mercury who once hunted her, while others approached the Empress to advance further, such as the Senheiser and Belladett families who once sheltered her.

Qinna had more than once suggested sending Senheiser family members to serve the Empress in the palace; Yvalin went even further, volunteering to be Her Majesty's maid, willing to offer her heart to the Empress!

Even though Diya had not made any statement, everyone consciously guessed her intentions and indirectly explored the new Empress's preferences.

This is the power of authority.

Diya could be an Empress who acted according to her whims, and everyone was ready to welcome a capricious and foolish new ruler.

But with the seven-hundred-year foundation of the Yisu dynasty, how much could Diya squander and waste? The Yisu royal family had diligently contributed to the Gospel for seven hundred years, so what if Diya showed some small caprices?

More importantly, no one could defy Diya, who possessed the Divine Beings of Gospel.

However, not only did Diya not become wanton and reckless to compensate for her childhood, she consciously imprisoned herself in the imperial palace, rejecting all external flattery.

As for specific affairs such as governance and planning, she delegated them to the most rational White Queen, never revealing her private interests to outsiders.

Diya once read a fairy tale comic where the protagonist was an emperor. She forgot the storyline but remembered a monologue: "I am a solitary ruler."

A monarch must be lonely and ruthless because without loneliness, there would be partiality, with emotions, there would be favoritism. She had not received formal education, only read fairy tales, but when she took this position, she naturally adapted to her new identity, knowing what she should do.

Perhaps it was due to hereditary blood, perhaps influenced by Ash, or maybe... she also wanted to be a good Empress.

In any case, without being brainwashed by the Divine Beings of Gospel, Diya still remained secluded, like past Empresses of Yisu, staying a reserved beauty. To possess power yet not act recklessly is extremely difficult, especially since she had been oppressed and confined for more than a decade; even Diya was not sure if she could persevere.

But the consequence was that her interpersonal relationships were completely defined. Before leaving the Tower, she was an untouchable princess; after conquering the Gospel, she was a solitary Empress, only during her time at the Funeral Service Office did she experience normal social interactions.

Hanna Doran, Banjee Doran, Ash Heath, Igula Bokin, Archibald Harvey... she valued them.

Thus, she chose Hanna to be her spokesperson and established a political team to promote reform;

Ash needs no mention; she reserved a position for him that could cause national chaos.

Only with Igula did Diya's feelings become complicated.

She knew well that Igula disliked Liss from the beginning until the end, the Swindler never hid his aversion. However, he braided Liss's hair, helped her buy clothes, and even protected Liss.

Whenever she thought about the high probability of Ash returning to the Gospel with Igula, Diya felt troubled.

Even though she was Her Majesty, if she truly wanted to lock Ash in a dark room to prevent him from going to Dazzling Star, her primary obstacle was not the Sword Maiden, but the Swindler and the Necromancer.

Yet despite this, Diya sincerely wished for Igula to safely return.

Because Liss wanted to see Aunt Bojin.

Because Ash couldn't lose the Swindler.

"Wait!"

"Don't kill him yet!"

Diya looked at Weiser in surprise.

She called out impulsively, only to realize she had no suitable reason to save Igula. To maintain the Secret Keeping Authority, she couldn't expose herself as Lissdia, nor could she let the Sword Maiden know the Swindler's importance to Ash.

Moreover, Igula was too perceptive; if she suddenly showed care for him, Igula might even guess it! If the Secret Keeping Authority were broken, Diya would have no tears left to cry.

But since Weiser also called to stop, she must have a valid reason, and I just need to support her to save Igula!

However, at this moment, Weiser appeared calm but was already racking her brain.

She had to save the Spirit Mage, unrelated to camaraderie—there was no friendship between them—purely because Ash's reality team couldn't function without the Spirit Mage!

If it were a Necromancer instead, Weiser might still consider it, after all, that person's existence wasn't as invaluable.

But the Spirit Mage was different; without him, Ash's reality team would instantly collapse. Plus, with the Divine Sect and Qinri Alliance about to increase the intensity of the war, if the Spirit Mage didn't lead, Ash and his team would most likely be caught in the war vortex!

Yet, Weiser similarly had no reason to save him!

The only reason she could give was, "He knows the Observer."

But who is he? How do you know they know each other?

With a little probing, the Sword Witch would realize she knows Ash in reality, and the Silver Lamp identity wouldn't hold for long.

So, I can't save him, but instead, I must...

"Dreams Come True only seeks to obliterate his soul, why not have him hand over all his Technique Spirits?" Weiser said, "Otherwise, his Technique Spirits would also be obliterated by Dreams Come True, which would be too wasteful."

Sonia was taken aback, "Do you have to skin a pig before killing it?… Ah, 'skinning a pig' is a saying from my hometown, meaning something like milking someone dry."

"But he wouldn't willingly hand over his Technique Spirit, would he? He could destroy his own Technique Spirit with just a thought. Holy Sanctuary Mages are smart, unless a contract guarantees his safety, he wouldn't easily give up his life's work."

The Sword Maiden paused and said, "Moreover, killing to take a spirit is one thing, but killing to rob is another. The former is survival, the latter is greed."

"Even if we don't take his Technique Spirit, it would go to waste, but for something like this, I..."

Sonia's face was very conflicted, "...at least need to kill a few people to break in the blade and get used to the idea."

Weiser's lips twitched.

She suddenly realized that the Sword Maiden might be the type of person who easily falls into selfishness, with a very flexible moral baseline, the kind who would slip into the Abyss without any push. She didn't know what Ash had done, not only keeping the Sword Maiden's innocence but also...

turning her into someone who could warm others.

"But weren't we trying to improve Dreams Come True to make it not lethal?" Weiser said, "Maybe he got some unique Technique Spirits from the ghost inheritance that could effectively improve this Miracle."

Sonia hesitated for a moment but still shook her head, "You were right earlier, we're out of options, we can only kill, we shouldn't cling to false hope."

But I didn't expect the first person we'd have to kill would be a Spirit Mage/Aunt Bojin!

Weiser and Diya deeply felt the invisible malice of Fate.

While they were racking their brains for reasons, Igula finally caught his breath and asked, "You want to improve a Miracle... what magic faction is it from?"

"Dream Faction! Developed from the Spirit Faction and the Soul Faction into a Level 2 Magic!" Diya quickly answered, but soon switched to a fierce tone, "Its effect is stealing Technique Spirits through controlling dreams! If you can't help, then you're as good as dead!"

"I can help." Igula said, "I just got a direct ghost inheritance, it's a Miracle Technique of level 34 called 'Soul's Eloquent Echo', which includes a few Dream Technique Spirits, I can take them out."

"Besides, I'm at the Holy Sanctuary level in both the Spirit Faction and the Soul Faction, I should have the ability to improve the Miracle."

The three exchanged glances, Sonia let him go, frowned and said, "Is there really such a coincidence? Could you be a Swindler?"

"It's not such a coincidence." Igula stood up leaning against the wall, softly saying, "Perhaps there's a bit of fate's guidance."

*

This morning, as usual, Igula used the Revelation Technique Spirit after his bath.

Actually, the Revelation Technique Spirit has little use for him now, after all, it's a One-winged Technique Spirit, and he's a Three-winged Mage, the fate he carries has already surpassed the observation limits of the Revelation Technique Spirit.

The tips from the Revelation Technique Spirit lately have been increasingly useless, it's at a level where doing something might have a tiny benefit, but not doing it is fine too.

However, today's tip was very strange, telling him to comfort Ash. Originally, Igula didn't plan to pay attention, but at dinner, Ash seemed down, so he went to chat with Ash at night, only to find them in a pillow fight.

Igula wouldn't usually be so idle, but Black Crow promised not to use any martial arts skills, which was a temptation no one could resist, so everyone ganged up on Black Crow, only for Black Crow to beat them down.

Afterwards, Igula asked Ash if he was alright, Ash said his head hurt from being hit by Black Crow and needed a bit of mental massage Miracle. Normally, the Swindler wouldn't bother, but due to the revelation, he gave Ash a head massage.

Then Ash was very moved, tapped Igula on the head, and gave him a so-called 'Soul Burning' boost Miracle.

When Igula entered the Void Realm, he discovered a huge change in himself—he had recently cultivated his soul to fifty person-souls, and tonight it suddenly surged to five hundred person-souls!

It increased tenfold!

Because of this, he was able to break through to the 80th level and obtain the ghost inheritance 'Soul's Eloquent Echo'!

He thought this was the guidance of revelation.

Little did he know, the guidance wasn't over yet.

*

Looking at Igula taking out several Dream Technique Spirits, Sonia pulled Diya and Weiser aside for a moment of discussion, then turned to him seriously and said, "Would you be willing to help us improve the Miracle Technique? Time is very pressing, and if we find you're up to any tricks, for safety's sake, we will execute you immediately."

"But if you succeed in improving it, we'll let you go."

Igula raised his head and looked at the red-haired female mage in front of him.

This wasn't their first meeting.

Back in the Combat Arena on the Time Continent, he and Harvey were killed by them once.

It's just that so much time had passed, plus so many things happened in between, Igula had forgotten about it.

To the extent that, when Ash was influenced by the Mirror of Flowers, appearing as this red-haired female mage with no resemblance to his real appearance, the Swindler didn't make the connection.

Moreover…

He looked at the two female mages behind the Sword Maiden, wondering who the other person in the love triangle was.

Or did Ash hide it, and it wasn't just a love triangle, but a love quadrilateral?

This should be one of Ash's hidden secrets, yet he is not here, and their words vaguely hint that they kill for 'survival'…

Thousands of thoughts whirled in Igula's mind, but his face remained impassive. He looked at the red-haired female mage he had been seeing every night lately, nodded and said:

"I accept your terms."

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