The midway refueling point for magic-powered airships was just a medium-sized city. Though it lacked the grandeur of the Lost City, it had its own unique charm.
In the docking bay, dozens of airships underwent maintenance and inspection. Some, after refueling, had already begun to slowly ascend.
Just then, another airship entered the sky above.
But the sight was completely out of place!
The airship was badly damaged, covered in scorch marks and destruction. It wobbled unsteadily.
Upon touching the ground, it let out an awful scraping sound. With great effort, it barely stopped.
The scene froze the passing workers in place.
But soon, they snapped out of it.
“What’s this? Damn it… Call medical staff and repair crews now!”
This wasn’t their first such sight.
Though this one seemed worse than any before. Only the sky-haunting ghosts—the air pirates—could reduce an airship to this state!
“Alert Lord Ada immediately! A large airship suspected of attack has arrived!”
After a brief pause, the workers regained composure. They began working methodically.
Some approached to inspect. Others notified the local authority and medical teams.
So engrossed in the airship, they missed several pitch-black shadows on its side. They vanished in an instant.
On the airship, Zuo Yuan looked at Useless and said calmly, “I don’t know what happened, but you’re safe here now.”
He looked like he wanted to ask something but hesitated. In the end, he stayed silent.
Bai Ling remained unconscious. But Useless showed no worry, so she was likely fine.
The attackers seemed after her. Zuo Yuan was puzzled but knew the steward wouldn’t talk.
After a silence, the young man pressed his lips together. “We shouldn’t travel together below. Let’s part ways here.”
Useless nodded.
“You’ve been a great help, Lord Zuo Yuan.”
Zuo Yuan chuckled lightly and shook his head. “It was quite troublesome.”
Without waiting for a reply, he pushed off with his toes and jumped down.
Useless watched him leave, eyes slightly downcast. After a long while, he turned back.
Behind him, Bai Ling—who should have been asleep—stood there.
The girl glanced at her steward, disheveled for the first time. With a calm expression, she said, “Let’s go. I need to see my sister soon.”
Workers were already approaching from the other side.
Useless looked at the girl’s back, sighed slightly, and followed.
Below…
“Too slow.”
Yuri stood arms crossed, watching the young man who jumped down. Her expression was slightly cold.
Zuo Yuan rubbed his nose. Sensibly, he didn’t argue. He just shrugged helplessly.
“Hmph, let’s go,” Yuri snorted. She snapped her fingers. Darkness surged from the ground.
Zuo Yuan instinctively closed his eyes. His body felt a pushing sensation.
The darkness enveloped all three. After seconds, it dissipated—and they vanished.
Short-distance teleportation was tricky with others, but not impossible.
When Zuo Yuan opened his eyes, the surroundings had changed completely.
They stood in a secluded corner far from the airship.
The area was quiet. Everyone’s attention was on the damaged vessel, so no one noticed them.
Walking off openly would bring trouble. Yuri refused to waste time on nonsense.
Finding an inn for proper black tea appealed far more.
Of course, bleeding the young man beside her would be even better.
But seeing Zuo Yuan’s still-pale face, Yuri reluctantly abandoned that tempting idea.
As she thought, the three quietly slipped away.
Just after they left, an exceptionally peculiar airship appeared above the docking bay.
It was only a third the size of a normal airship, pure white all over. At its center, a golden cross emblem entwined with roses was engraved.
Compared to ordinary airships, it was faster and looked exceptionally luxurious.
“…What’s this?” Ada rushed over upon hearing about the attacked airship. He spotted the special vessel circling to land.
As the local authority, he could identify airship affiliations clearly.
But when he saw the central emblem, his plump face stiffened.
“The Holy See?”
Indeed, that emblem belonged to the Holy See—one of the continent’s greatest powers.
Though the Holy See belonged to no nation, its followers spanned the world.
Their conduct kept relations decent with many countries. At least… on the surface.
But… why would a Holy See airship appear here?
Only high-ranking officials owned such exclusive vessels.
Just passing through? Ada pondered without conclusion as the airship descended slowly.
Since it hadn’t triggered hostile barriers, it was permitted to pass.
After hesitation, Ada led his subordinates to greet it.
The damaged airship could wait. If this carried a Holy See dignitary, respect was essential.
Soon after landing, the cabin door opened slowly.
Under Ada’s puzzled gaze, a tall figure emerged.
She was a young-looking woman. Her holy white robe was loose but couldn’t hide her impressive figure.
Her light blue, choppy short hair added efficiency and elegance to her aura.
Her sky-blue eyes gave a gentle, water-like warmth.
With a perfect smile, though her face was merely pretty, she radiated comfort.
After stepping out, she moved aside. Her posture showed she wasn’t the main character.
Sure enough, another person followed out.
As she emerged, Ada and his men froze in awe.
If the first woman was gentle water, this girl… was the sun.
Silent, just standing there, she radiated incomparable allure.
Her face was exquisitely delicate. Eyebrows slender, eyelashes fine. Nose and lips perfect, shoulders sharply defined.
Her figure wasn’t as full as the woman’s but flawless—golden ratio. A bit more would be too much; less, too little.
Though her expression was indifferent, it added pure beauty and uncanny allure.
A breeze stirred her golden-white hair. Beneath her wide-sleeved dress, porcelain-white calves peeked out faintly.
Heaven seemed overly fond of her, bestowing all beauty.
But this made her feel hazy, unreal.
Could a human truly be this perfect?
It seemed she might vanish if you closed your eyes.
Ada, over fifty and past impulsiveness, felt a sudden urge to possess her.
But seasoned as he was, he suppressed it quickly.
His young subordinates remained frozen in shock.
“Are you the person in charge here?” The blue-haired woman noticed Ada and walked over.
Simultaneously, the golden-white-haired girl looked his way.
Under her gaze, the weathered man felt an urge to flee.
He subtly wiped sweat from his palms. Stiffly, he nodded. “Yes. I’m Ada, the local authority.”
“Hello,” the woman smiled. “I’m Renata. Our airship ran out of fuel. Can you refuel us? We’ll pay the continent’s standard rate.”
She didn’t introduce the girl behind her. The girl calmly surveyed the area. After an initial glance at Ada’s group, she ignored them.
“Of course,” Ada replied. A permitted Holy See airship deserved no trouble.
They discussed specifics. Though young-looking, Renata was surprisingly talkative.
Just then, the silent girl pointed into the distance, interrupting. “That airship… what happened?”
Ada followed her finger. It was the one attacked by air pirates.
“Uh… it was hit by air pirates. I was just heading there.”
“Air pirates?”
The girl’s eyebrows lifted. Disgust flashed across her face.
“Those insects running wild under God’s sky?”
“Uh…”
Though accurate, Ada had never heard anyone call them “insects” so bluntly.
The girl didn’t press further. She turned away. “Renata, let’s go.”
“We’ll leave it to you,” Renata nodded to Ada before hurrying after her.
Whether intentional or not, the girl’s steps suddenly halted.
She slightly turned her head. Her gaze landed on Bai Ling and her steward stepping down from the damaged airship.
“…Your Highness?”
Renata tilted her head, confused by the pause.
No reply came after a long silence.
Just as Renata was about to ask again: “Renata, book two rooms at the nearest inn.”
“Huh? Rooms?”
Renata froze. They only needed quick refueling. Departure was imminent.
Book rooms?
The girl withdrew her gaze without turning back. “Mhm. We’re not leaving today.”
Renata watched her walk away, eyes filled with confusion.
