In response, Andrew just smiled and did not answer. He simply waved his hand gently, sending Fleur back into the Illusion Realm.

Afterward, the "Water Dragon Snake" that was originally entwined around Fleur twisted and transformed into a "Water Demon Puppet," carrying Fleur and delivering her to Alpha in Wildfire Territory.

Andrew's voice sounded directly in Alpha's ear: "Lock this woman up as well. Just keep her with Cook and Sally."

Alpha nodded, took Fleur, and turned back to the town.

The others in Wildfire Territory remained still.

Everyone stood silently in place.

An Ya, Zi, Xiao Ha, Xiao Bai, the original residents of Wildfire Town, and the residents from various parts of the desert driven by the "Vanguard Plan" over the past five days... all of them had just witnessed the Desolate Beasts transform into Flame Warriors, overwhelming and devouring Rose.

At first, everyone felt both horror and fear. Many, like An Ya, couldn't help but vomit.

Then, seeing Rose, the culprit, being devoured and receiving his comeuppance, some people felt a sense of satisfaction.

Now, watching the Flame Warriors stand confused in the sunlight after eliminating Rose, the people of Wildfire Territory suddenly felt... a bit sad.

Why feel sad?

Clearly, the one consumed was a Magic Guild villain, and the ones doing the consuming were also Magic Guild's Flame Warriors.

Over the past five days, the Desolate Beasts that became these Flame Warriors brought countless nightmares to the people of Wildfire Territory.

Looking further back, how many innocent souls have perished under the claws of Desolate Beasts throughout the history of the Inner Sea Desert?

So there's no reason to sympathize with these guys, no reason to feel sad for them!

But... even so, just putting oneself in the shoes of these Flame Warriors for a moment, it's still hard not to feel a heaviness in the heart.

Because these Flame Warriors did not die on the battlefield, but were stabbed in the back by the Magic Guild they trusted most.

An Ya finally managed to stop vomiting, paused for a moment, and said, "Anyway, the crisis is over! Everyone, cheer up! This is already the best outcome, isn't it? We basically achieved zero casualties!"

As the designated administrator of Wildfire Territory by Andrew, An Ya was very dedicated indeed.

In her view, dispelling the heavy emotions shrouding everyone's heads was also her responsibility!

Sure enough, upon hearing An Ya's words, people started to smile: "Yes, no matter what, the crisis is over—that's what's most important."

People couldn't help but look at Andrew.

Earlier, Andrew's figure had been engulfed by the horde of Desolate Beasts. Not only the "Enchanting Dance," but even the process where Andrew fought Fleur and easily subdued her had almost gone unnoticed by anyone.

But everyone knew that the way Wildfire Territory survived this uniquely destructive Desolate Beast Sand Tide in the history of the Inner Sea Desert was definitely due to something Andrew did!

"Who is that young man?"

A desert resident quietly asked a native resident of Wildfire Town beside them.

As an outsider who had just been driven to Wildfire Territory two days ago, this person only knew that there was an important figure in the Warm Fire Commerce Association named Barbara but did not know about Andrew, the true Lord of Wildfire Territory who had been in a "missing status" along with Ivan for the last five days.

The person being asked was an older woman.

After Andrew dealt with the old mage Humboldt, this older woman had expressed doubt as well: What would happen after offending the Magic Guild?

Now, despite previously having more reservations about Andrew, this older woman proudly puffed out her chest and said, "That's our Chief Mage of Wildfire Town, Lord Andrew!"

If Andrew's killing of Humboldt gave an impression of great difficulty before,

Then now, in the eyes of the people, he seemed to possess an air of having extra strength and unfathomable depth.

So, although the collective charge of the Desolate Beasts, their transformation into humans, and Rose being eaten were terrifying scenes that shook the heart relentlessly, looking at Andrew's figure now, what people mostly felt was an unprecedented sense of security and trust.

Even... a slight illusion of fighting alongside Andrew.

This wasn't really an illusion.

The earlier "Enchanting Dance" wasn't just Andrew's magic but the result of everyone's efforts.

If the people of Wildfire Territory had completely fled, rather than facing the Desolate Beasts while shouting "I'm going to die, I'm going to die" yet still throwing whatever weapons they had, even ten "Enchanting Dances" from Andrew wouldn't have worked.

Moreover, in the past five days, if not for Barbara and An Ya leading everyone closely observing Rose's Vanguard Plan, Andrew wouldn't have had the opportunity to find the ultimate key against the Desolate Beasts in that dark red little world and return to complete the "counterattack" against Rose, Fleur, and the Desolate Beast horde.

"Hey, look quickly!" someone suddenly exclaimed.

A Flame Warrior who had returned from a Desolate Beast form to human shape had walked up to Andrew.

"Hmm?" Andrew, who had been pondering about the "Year of Tribute" and "Outer Battlefield," sensed something and looked up.

He saw a Flame Warrior kneeling before him.

The warrior lowered his head and, with a somewhat unsteady tongue, said, "Tha...nk you..."

Not just this one Flame Warrior, but all the others slowly knelt on one knee, expressing their gratitude to Andrew—the one who had freed them from their Desolate Beast state!

In their eyes, leaving the opportunity to kill Rose to them was just a small favor, while the act of liberating them was the true great kindness.

Andrew sighed at this and felt a bit complicated.

He said, "If there is a next life, I hope you can wash away the sins you have committed."

After all, these people were Magic Guild's Flame Warriors.

And like the mountains and seas, they had once turned the butcher's knife towards Water Mages or innocent civilians or the Warm Fire Commerce Association's Mages and Crimson Knights.

Freeing them is one thing, and whether to forgive them is another.

"Moreover, as someone who has crossed worlds, I actually have no right to discuss forgiveness," thought Andrew to himself, "Only the true victims have the right to decide whether to forgive or not!"

However, at this moment, Andrew suddenly froze.

He saw the Flame Warriors, after expressing gratitude to him, turning one by one to face Wildfire Territory.

The people of Wildfire Territory collectively held their breath at this instant.

Could it be that the Desolate Beasts, now in human form, were still enemies?

Instead, the Flame Warriors knelt again towards the people of Wildfire Territory, saying, "So…rry..."

At this moment, everyone in Wildfire Territory stood dumbfounded.

Andrew, too, couldn't help but be moved.

"These people, the aura they emit now...

And the final feeling Zhongshan Sea gave me—"

Andrew's expression changed, and he couldn't help but step forward, wanting to communicate more with the Flame Warriors.

However, after saying "thank you" and "sorry," the Flame Warriors seemed to have finally found a release for their bodies and minds. They smiled, then turned to ash in the sunlight, scattering with the wind.

"This... what's this?" Andrew's face twitched again.

A new batch of Fire Extinguishing Values, almost comparable in quantity to what he had previously obtained by finding and reactivating the "Lake of the Ocean" deep underground, was being fulfilled at this moment.

It seemed that, in the judgment of the Water God Mark, exorcising a Desolate Beast brought far more Fire Extinguishing Values than merely killing one!

But Andrew didn't have time to look at how much Fire Extinguishing Values he had gained this time.

Because this time, he finally saw that the Fire Extinguishing Values were not just cold numbers but had a concrete form.

The so-called Fire Extinguishing Values were actually... tears.

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