Shrouded Seascape

After attempting to summon Anna numerous times through Sparkle with no avail, for the first time ever, a burning anger surged within Charles.

He wasn't angry that she was doing nonsensical things in his base; rather, he was triggered and furious that she was using her own daughter as an experiment subject! Only Sparkle had those green cross-shaped pupils.

I merely hesitated when the Foundation brought up their condition. But she just used our daughter for experiments without a single word. Is this woman out of her mind!

A sense of betrayal and deceit overwhelmed Charles. Perhaps Anna's previous words had all been an act, and she didn't care about Sparkle as much as she claimed.

However, as soon as he turned his gaze back on Swann, Charles swiftly suppressed his emotions.

Since there was no response from Anna, he had to focus on the current crisis before him—Lily was still in the Pope's hands.

As for Anna, he could find time to have a chat with her once he was done with the matter on hand.

"Alright, I can work with you," Charles said as he looked down at Swann's tiny head.

"Governor Charles, there's a need to clarify our goals. I want to kill the Pope while you want to rescue someone. Someone as smart as you certainly won't abandon me after rescuing your target, right? Don't forget, if the Pope escapes this time, he will come after you again someday."

"You don't need to remind me about that. He had killed 80% of the population in the Subterranean Sea by awakening the Light God. For that alone, he must die!" Charles declared, the murderous intent in his eyes unmistakable.

"Great. I like dealing with smart people. Now, please get your woman here so that the three of us can come up with a perfect plan," Swann suggested.

However, Charles slightly shook his head. "Anna can't come now. We can only rely on ourselves to take out the Pope."

Swann's smile instantly froze at Charles' reply. "What did you say?"

"I said she won't be able to participate in our plan. Let's not waste time. I can feel that the Narwhale is getting closer to the Pope's ship," Charles replied calmly.

"Are you mistaken about something?! He's the Pope! The Pope of the Light God. How can the two of us alone take him down?" Swann's voice was laced with apparent anxiety.

"I'm well aware of that. You don't have to remind me," Charles replied with a solemn expression.

Swann's expression grew increasingly hysterical. His crab-like legs hopped on the table, trying to gain momentum, until he leaped onto Charles' chest like a spider. "Kiddo, I'm warning you. Don't you dare try any tricks! My body is right beside the Pope!

"Also, I haven't forgotten what you and your wife did on the Albion Isles! Push me too far, and I'll switch sides! I'll help the Pope kill you first!"

Charles reached out with his steel prosthetic limb and gripped Swann's grotesque, mechanical, and flesh-fused head like a crab.

"Do you really think I'd play tricks under current circumstances? I told you Anna can't come; it's just that."

Charles gently brushed his finger over Sparkle's portrait, but the picture showed no reaction.

"Why can't she come? How could she not when this is a matter of life and death!" Swann's face twisted in frustration. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated this variable.

"Enough! It will just be me and you taking down the Pope. Now, do you still want it or not?" A hint of annoyance appeared on Charles' visage.

Swann seemed to have sensed something and a sneer surfaced upon his lips. "You can't even keep your own woman in check. What a disgrace to all governors."

However, Charles remained unfazed at Swann's words of provocation. He merely maintained an icy gaze on Swann and enunciated each word clearly, "Do you want to kill the Pope or not?"

"Yes. Of course. But without your woman, there will be many more uncertainties. Your identity as a Chosen One has left with your shadow while my Ronker body is stuck in the Subterranean Sea. The two of us alone can't defeat the Pope."

Charles shook his head in disagreement and brought Swann out of the cabin. "Don't worry. I have a plan to deal with the Pope. Though it depends if you're willing to make a sacrifice."

Charles brought Swann to the infirmary. The moment they entered, they saw Linda applying medication to Grace.

As soon as the shy Grace saw Charles entering the room, she quickly covered her exposed skin with her clothes.

"No matter how strong the Pope is, can he really match up against the Divinities on the surface?"

Swann had already known of Grace and her role. Instantly, he understood what kind of sacrifice Charles was talking about.

With traces of evident sarcasm in his voice, he remarked, "You've really thought this through huh, Charles? You want me to engage the Pope while you lure out a Divinity and then trap the both of us in that mess. Regardless if the plan succeeds or fails, you still stand to gain."

Charles walked up to Grace and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Feeling embarrassed, Grace shrunk back under his touch, but she managed to lift her head and showed him a forced smile.

"Don't you hate the Pope down to the bones? You were even willing to sacrifice the entire population of the Albion Isles just to see him dead. Now it's your turn. Don't worry, I won't just stand by and watch."

"The Pope…" A fierce hatred burned in Swann's gaze.

As for Charles, he wasn't too worried about Lily's safety. The power of the Light God within Lily had proven multiple times that it could protect her in any situation. However, she just needed a long recovery period after the power was triggered.

Only another Divinity could fend off an attack from a fellow Divinity.

"Fine! I agree with the plan! But you need to think carefully about the consequences if the Pope escapes."

"I know. You don't have to tell me that." Gripping Swann between his fingers, Charles walked out of the infirmary as they finalized the remaining details of the plan.

After they left, a brief silence settled over the medical room. Both Grace and Linda understood the underlying meaning of what had just been discussed between Charles and Swann.

The weapon that had been in preparation for so long was finally going to be put to use.

"Linda, thank you for taking care of me these past few days. Apart from my mentor, you've been the kindest to me," Grace said with tears glistening in her eyes.

Linda's lips quivered slightly. She wanted to say something but eventually chose to remain silent. She opened her arms and enveloped Grace in a warm embrace.

Being held in Linda's arms, Grace picked up her magic staff lying on the bed beside her. She carefully detached the slightly flawed crystal from its top and quietly placed it in her mouth.

***

"My dear God, it won't take long before we return to the Subterranean Sea. Don't worry. Apart from the Divine Light Order, I've hidden other resources in the dark. With them, a new Divine Light Order will rise up again in no time," Pope Lylejay declared as he paced the deck while gently cradling Lily in his hands and dreaming of a bright future.

Lily shook her furry head in apparent frustration. "The Subterranean Sea is about to be flooded! What's the use of all those resources! The Light God might have saved me, but I still have to say it! The Light God is evil!"

At Lily's words, anxiety painted Lylejay's youthful face. He hurriedly justified, "No, no. It wasn't Your fault. The power You left behind was enough to hold back the water from rising. But no one expected something to happen to You on the surface. That's why the link was broken. It's not Your fault."