NOVPUBChapter 189 -188: Entering Dreams and Waking from Dreams (Part 2)
Chapter 189 -188: Entering Dreams and Waking from Dreams (Part 2)
Shandela closed her eyes and pondered for a while before giving up on the idea of dispatching the city guards. “Listening to you… I really should have attended more noble gatherings over the years. I used to think that crowd was nothing but a bunch of bastards who only know how to extort money!”
After venting her frustration, she lay back down on the chair. “Then do you have any clues?”
“We have a direction, but lack evidence,” Chaoyang teased, deliberately playing coy. “There may be a place where we can find what we’re looking for.”
“Where?”
He pointed at Shandela. “Right here.”
“No, no, no, impossible!” Woody stammered in agitation, switching to his old habit of cursing when overstepping boundaries, “I can swear on my life that Lady Shandela would never collude with a Heretical Cult!”
“Calm down, he’s talking about my head,” the commander herself was quite composed. “Mr. Zhao, you mean the evidence is in my brain?”
“Your reaction is commendable,” Chaoyang praised.
“Can you tell me what kind of evidence you’re looking for? Who is the suspect?”
“If I tell you in advance, you’ll keep it in mind, which might hinder the investigation,” Chaoyang gave his prepared reason. “It’s best to ask nothing at all, as you’ll find out sooner or later.”
“So what should we do?”
“It’s simple, just take a nap. If you can’t fall asleep, I’ve brought some sleeping pills that can help.”
Shandela was slightly startled, then her eyes widened. “Do you mean you can search someone’s memories while they’re asleep? No wonder last time, after you hypnotized Jerry Will, you broke through his mental defenses in such a short time!”
It was inevitable that she had guessed it, as the preparation for the Dream Entering Technique was too obvious, and without the subject being asleep, it could not be performed. Nonetheless, Chaoyang raised a finger, finding himself a cover—after all, his current role was the general manager of the Gate of Destiny, just an ordinary person like everyone else, “This isn’t my ability, but a ring bestowed by the Paradise Master. It can connect thoughts and allow the wearer to read images from dreams.”
“Wait… Could this cause any harm to Lady Shandela?” Woody asked with some concern.
“Jerry has already experienced it, right? If I don’t inform you in advance, you wouldn’t even be aware of what happened.”
“Can I have my people watch this time?”
“Of course,” Chaoyang agreed without hesitation. Previously, he had not allowed observers because the friend-or-foe situation was unclear and he had only Ailuodi for protection. Now that he had almost ruled out Shandela and Ge Wei as suspects, there was no need to be as guarded as before.
Shandela made her decision quickly. “Then give me the medicine, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep easily in this situation.”
“My lady…” the deputy hesitated.
“I know what you’re worried about, and while there is indeed a risk, it is negligible compared to the Heretical Cult’s plan,” she had clearly made up her mind. “This city is supposed to be protected by the city guards, yet I have not fulfilled my duty. If I make the wrong choice, then let it be the price of my dereliction.”
Having said that, she reached out her hand to Chaoyang.
He reached into his pocket and instantly produced two fast-acting anesthesia pills, then handed them over to her. “You can definitely trust our Lord—Paradise is willing to shelter any person of goodness, and that naturally includes you.”
…
“Rise.” The tip of the sword tapped her shoulder gently twice before moving away, and a gentle voice came from above.
Shandela stood up and looked towards her young lord whom she would soon serve—on the ship coming to the New Continent, she had already read everything about his family and background, yet now, seeing him in person, she found it somewhat difficult to associate him with the person in her memories.
Earl Li Qiang Ola, the sole heir of the Ola family, it was said that he had only just come of age when he became the lord.
Unlike his brave and warlike father, Ola the Great, he was enveloped in an aura of scholarship, which matched well with the elegant scent of pine resin in the study. The house was also filled with many books and scrolls, rather than swords and shields.
“How does it feel, are you a bit disappointed?”
Shandela was somewhat caught off guard, “Disappointed? No… why would I… I don’t feel…”
“It’s alright; I would feel disappointed too if I were you.” Li Qiang smiled, “Getting top grades in the military academy, performing exceptionally well after joining the army—if things went smoothly, you could have joined the Royal Guards one day and served the royal family directly. And yet, now you’ve been reassigned to a desolate land across the sea, to pledge loyalty to an earl whose territory is no bigger than the palm of your hand. Anyone would be disappointed.”
Shandela was at a loss for words.
Because what he said was exactly what she had been thinking.
But for her, the mission came above all else.
Since she had chosen to become a soldier, military orders were as weighty as Mount Tai, leaving no room for her to shirk them.
“Have you ever wondered why you were transferred to Magnificent Castle?” Li Qiang asked again.
“Because I was drawn in a lot,” Shandela replied, “Any commander who has reached master level could be selected—expanding the New Continent has become a major policy of the Kingdom, and an increasing number of pioneering lands are in need of military defense.” 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
“Is that really all there is to it?” He suddenly revealed a smile she couldn’t understand.
Shandela frowned, “If you have something to say, please, just say it.”
“It’s nothing, I used to think just like you, that the Ola family moved from the Old Continent to Magnificent Castle because of poor management and that my father’s temper was so volatile he hurt himself falling during a drunken stupor… Sometimes, thinking less can actually be more relaxing.”
Although she listened quietly, she couldn’t grasp his intention. Could it be that he was implying her transfer to Magnificent Castle wasn’t a coincidence?
As for the Ola family, two hundred years ago, they were a renowned grand family. Whether it was her superior’s father or grandfather, they all made significant contributions to the Kingdom, and their reputation for courage and skill in battle also had considerable influence within the military. Unfortunately, after the civil war ended, the family seemed to have suddenly lost its direction and swiftly fell into decline.
Perhaps it was this decline that prompted the young Earl to change the family’s old ways, from brave warriors to cultured scholars? It wasn’t that she thought the change was bad, just that she preferred leaders like General Fales Ben, who were unrestrained, upright, and never gave up. If the Ola family was truly pushed out of the New Continent, then why not just win back what was lost?
“Do you wish to restore your family’s former glory?” Shandela waited for him to finish, then replied seriously, “I think that Magnificent Castle might not be as prosperous as the Old Continent, but it’s also a good starting point. It has abundant rare resources and Glowing Stone mines; surely many traders and companies will come here to develop in the future.”
“Perhaps,” Li Qiang said, noncommittally. “I shouldn’t have spoken so much at our first meeting, but you reminded me of someone I used to know.”
“May I ask who they were…”
He shook his head, seemingly reluctant to elaborate, “Your talent is better suited for the battlefield. Well then…” Li Qiang walked over to the table and fiddled with something, then came back and handed her the sword he was holding, “Take this.”
Shandela was stunned, certainly not expecting to receive her superior’s personal sword on her first day.
“The sword itself isn’t anything significant; you’ve seen that I don’t fancy weapons. This sword was actually bought from an armorer just today because you were coming.”
Only then did she reach out with both hands to receive it.
“Thank you.”
“You shouldn’t thank me for the sword, but for the opportunity I’m giving you,” he said, dismissively.
“Opportunity?”
“Yes… Your talent won’t always be buried in Magnificent Castle, and this sword will grant you freedom,” Li Qiang said, patting her arm affectionately. “When the right time comes, you’ll understand what I mean.”
Shandela solemnly hung the sword at her waist and looked up again, surprised to see a dark shadow suddenly appear behind him!
In a panic, she tried to push the Earl aside to shield him from the shadow, but her feet were as if rooted to the floor, unable to move!
She tried to scream, but her throat lost the ability to speak!
At this critically urgent moment, Shandela’s eyes snapped open and she cried out loudly, feeling a stabbing pain at her waist from her movements.
The dream, had ended.
