[Chapter Thirty-Two] Maria’s Confession

On the island of Sicily, in the dark and damp Bat City, ever since the news arrived that Anderson had been killed and Rufus had fled, the entire morale was very low.

In the council hall, White Wolf and General Black Bear, along with the witch Sumi and several minor fang generals, were holding a meeting.

White Wolf, looking dejected, said: “With the Ghost Emperor gone, only our band of broken soldiers remains. I predict that very soon, the Dragon Knight’s Iron-Blooded Guard or Father John and Father Stron’s exorcist forces from the church will attack us. With our current residual strength, I fear we will be completely annihilated…”

Black Bear said angrily: “Although the situation is lost, how can we sit and await death? I propose an idea: we split up to capture more living people as hostages. When the enemy launches a major assault, we can use those people as our human shields. White Wolf, what do you all think of this idea?”

The minor fang generals present all nodded in agreement. One of them said: “This is a good idea, General Black Bear!”

White Wolf and the witch Sumi exchanged glances.

Sumi said in a cold tone: “I don’t mean to dampen your spirits, but in fact, even before the Ghost Emperor and the two led the Bat Army to depart, I had already seen through the crystal ball that the Ghost Emperor would meet such a fate. Now, it seems I must repeat the same words. You all know this is reckless, yet you still want to gamble. What else can I say?”

Sumi stood up and dropped a warning: “Everyone, turn back while you still can! Stop this fight of a trapped beast!”

Sumi then turned and left the council hall, leaving Black Bear and the minor fang generals staring at each other.

White Wolf said: “I agree with the witch’s viewpoint. But if you all want to gamble this one last time, I will accompany you, going to hell together with you.”

“Plans cannot keep up with changes.” Black Bear’s plan had not even been implemented when, the next day during daylight, the Iron-Blooded Guard led by the Dragon Knight had already sealed off every exit of Bat City, preparing to launch a “fire attack”: dumping barrels of kerosene into the underground tunnels. Executing a fire attack in broad daylight meant that even if the ghost soldiers escaped, they would be killed by the guards stationed at the exits. Even if they survived the guards’ deadly force, under the sun, their bodies would catch fire and burn.

The guards rushed into the council hall, panicked, to report the situation to White Wolf and Black Bear.

“General, it’s bad! We are surrounded by the Dragon Knight’s Guard and a large number of military police. They are preparing to pour barrels of kerosene into our city…”

White Wolf, calm, said: “They intend to use fire attack. I have decided to abandon resistance and submit to the princess to preserve the lives of our brothers. Black Bear, what is your decision?”

Black Bear bowed his head in silence for a while before slowly saying: “Better to live dishonorably than die honorably! I don’t want to die here.”

White Wolf said: “Sumi, you represent us to go negotiate with them.”

The witch Sumi was the only negotiator who could move about during the daytime because she was an evolved vampire. In fact, no one knew that she had been secretly recruited by Maria and had taken the Dragon Blood Pill, which allowed her to move during the day.

Sumi emerged from the underground city, escorted by guards to meet the Dragon Knight.

Sumi said: “White Wolf and I have persuaded them. They are willing to abandon darkness and submit to the princess.”

The Dragon Knight said: “Sumi, take this bag of Dragon Blood Pills back. Have each of them take one pill. After half an hour, they will collectively surrender.”

Sumi took the bag of Dragon Blood Pills and turned to leave.

Half an hour later, over a hundred elderly, weak, and injured soldiers walked out of the underground tunnels in order, under the strict escort of the Iron-Blooded Guard and local military police, and entered the prison vehicles. These ghost soldiers were to be sent to the Heaven Hotel by Lake Lucerne, and then brought into the Sky Castle for treatment and transformation.

After Father John and his group left the Monster Forest, the Monster Forest gradually disappeared into the thick fog. Amy and Colin waved goodbye to them. Lin Xiaoyang realized that Tanya had begun to fulfill her promise; from now on, no one would be able to enter the Nether Valley again.

Apart from Father John, the companions noticed this but did not understand how the Monster Forest had vanished into thin air.

Father John’s group first passed through the Lime Forest Mountain. The lizardman chief, Lawang, received a report from scouts and, together with his trusted subordinates Chocolate and Montana and several other commanding officers, waited at a small lava cave entrance to meet David, the youth with an Eastern face. Lawang wanted to meet David personally.

Father John’s group arrived at the small lava cave entrance, and Lawang and his men came forward.

Lawang extended his hand proactively to express goodwill to Lon: “Old Wolf Head, I hope all is well.”

Lon said: “Old bug, what kind of hospitality is this? I thought you wanted to avoid me forever.”

Lawang smiled awkwardly: “Please don’t hold past offenses against me.”

Lawang turned to Lin Xiaoyang and his wife, bowing his hands: “Young hero, you must be David. I’ve long heard of your fame.”

Lin Xiaoyang replied humbly: “Enemies should be reconciled, not created. Previously, we only passed through by necessity.”

Lawang shook Xiaoyang’s hand warmly: “Let bygones be bygones, David. I like your attitude.”

At this moment, both sides were harmonious, putting all past grievances aside.

The group then passed through Hell Valley and arrived at the wolf clan territory.

Father John said to his companions: “Everyone, Xiaoyang and Minhua will part ways with us here and will not return to the Heaven Hotel with us.”

Adorno, Rona, and Kace were equally surprised and puzzled. Kace was about to ask Xiaoyang why he had changed his mind but was stopped by Father John’s glance.

Adorno leaned to Xiaoyang’s ear: “Boss, you really are a good person. I will miss you. You are always welcome to return to the Heaven Hotel.”

Lin Xiaoyang said: “Thank you. Please help take care of my grandfather, Huang Lihua, with Wilson.”

Adorno and the others hugged Xiaoyang and his wife to say goodbye, their affection lingering wordlessly.

Lon noticed that Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua had no intention of returning with Father John and looked delighted.

Lon held Xiaoyang’s hands: “David, you and your wife can stay here in peace. Although this place isn’t exactly a paradise, there is absolutely no scheming among humans.”

“Brother, then we’ll bother you for a few days,” Lin Xiaoyang said, looking at Lon’s eager eyes and unwilling to refuse at that moment.

In the Sky Castle’s great hall, Princess Maria personally received the companions from this mission, but she did not see the “Sun Staff” brought by David and his wife.

Maria thought: “David didn’t bring the Sun Staff back. Something might have changed. Could David have been persuaded by Tanya…?”

Maria shook hands with everyone, commending Father John and his group for their hard journey, deliberately avoiding mention of the mission for now.

After everyone else left, Father John returned to the council hall and roughly conveyed Lin Xiaoyang’s decision: “Princess, David, after meeting Tanya, seems to have been persuaded. He decided to let Tanya continue to keep the Sun Staff and bring Erin back to live in Lon’s wolf clan territory.”

Upon hearing this, Maria’s eyes glistened with tears. Suppressing her sorrow, she asked: “David, did he convey anything else?”

Father John said: “David asked me to deliver a message to the princess: in this lifetime, please grant Lin Xiaoyang and Huang Minhua freedom.”

Tears streamed down Maria’s delicate cheeks. Shaking her head, she sobbed: “David, I love you. Please forgive me for selfishly making this choice!”

John, witnessing this scene, was also deeply moved by the plight of this suffering couple…