What? The intelligence is fake?!

Seeing that Roland's attitude was softening, Fllam said, "There's no need to rush your answer."

"After all, we still haven't figured out how many people they actually have, nor how many powerful figures are involved."

"Once we confirm their numbers, Iluvia will help us create a suitable arena."

That's right, the reason Fllam set aside her reservations and decided to take the initiative was very simple.

It was the array authority inherited by Iluvia.

This ability to freely carve out space and create an exclusive mini-battlefield suited her desires perfectly.

This way, she wouldn't have to worry about enemies going after Kalia while she was dealing with them, or other onlookers threatening her.

Nor would she have to hold back out of fear that her spells were too destructive to cast freely.

Even if she couldn't win, Iluvia could use her authority to trap the enemies within a fixed boundary, preventing them from escaping.

Advance to attack, retreat to defend.

She wouldn't even be afraid if the enemy had superior numbers; they could completely split the battlefield, and then Fllam and Roland could defeat them one by one.

The sturdiness and secrecy of the royal capital's array were not something that could be easily destroyed.

Even if Fllam herself attempted it, it would be impossible to directly break or disrupt the operating logic of the array.

After all, when this array was built back then, the eldest son of the Knight King, the second emperor of the Hester Empire, had designed it to withstand the intensity of a Demon King entering the city.

While it might not necessarily stop a Demon King, it was definitely enough to stop anyone else.

"Is the royal capital really this dangerous right now?"

Kalia's sudden remark left everyone speechless.

How many days had it been? She had almost been mind-controlled herself and used as a tool to kill someone by proxy.

Did she really have zero vigilance left?

Or was her sense of security from those around her simply too overwhelming?

Perhaps Fllam had indeed left behind high-level protective measures on Kalia, which subconsciously made her lower her guard.

Fllam looked over at Kalia as well and said, "Lia, when the time comes, if Roland and I take action together, you will stay with Her Highness Iluvia, understood?"

Upon hearing this, Iluvia wore a polite, standard smile and waved at Kalia.

How could she possibly be angry?

How could she possibly be envious of this girl getting so close to Roland?

Would you be jealous of a family pet getting close to the master of the house?

Would you be afraid that a pet would steal your man?

Of course not.

Well, no, she wouldn't.

Iluvia thought to herself, suppressing the genuine emotions stirring in her heart.

After all, she had no idea what Kalia had been up to last night.

***

Iluvia didn't react much. Although her inner monologue was very lively, her outward expression remained quite calm.

Kalia's reaction, however, was the exact opposite.

She sprang up from her seat and grabbed onto Roland tightly, crying out, "I refuse!"

"Roland gets to participate in the operation, so why can't I?"

Fllam gave her foolish disciple a blank stare and said, "Because that person could kill you in a single exchange before you even had a chance to react, do you believe me?"

Kalia desperately wanted to retort.

But thinking of Roland's elusive blink spell—one that left no trace of mana fluctuation even upon activation—she fell silent.

It seemed she truly wouldn't be able to react in time.

Roland would only need to blink behind her and strike her down, and it would all be over.

"E-Even so, there's no way I'm staying with this woman! Can't you find someone else?!"

"I think Grandpas Tolan is great! He's kind, and he even sneaks me small snacks!"

Roland silently grumbled to himself: So anyone who feeds you is a good person, huh?

Your criteria for judging a good person are really low.

It's a good thing Tolan actually is a good person, otherwise this foolish girl would be sold off and still help count the money.

"That lad Tolan was quite a capable fighter in his youth, but he has been away from combat for many years."

"Warriors are different from mages; they require long, continuous training and combat to maintain a stable level of combat power."

"As he is now, he probably can't even display sixty percent of his full strength."

"Besides, an eighth-circle warrior really doesn't have many ways to protect you, Lia."

"By staying with Iluvia at the headquarters of the Ministry of Military Affairs, you'll have at least a hundred seventh-circle transcendents and ten eighth-circle hero-tier powerhouses around."

"If an attack really happens, that golden-haired brat—who claims to be neutral but actually cares deeply about the stability of the royal capital—will definitely step in to help."

"His strength is not inferior to mine."

Iluvia looked at Kalia, who was clinging tightly to Roland, let out a barely audible "Hmph," and then resumed her friendly, business-like smile.

"That's right, it's much safer staying with me!"

Kalia muttered inwardly: But you're the one who couldn't even protect yourself from being assassinated.

This pinpoint observation almost caused Iluvia to drop her composure.

What else could she do? Who could blame her when the enemy had so many people!

Didn't they know the old saying: a thousand days of being a thief cannot guard against a thousand days of defense!

Besides, she had only been subjected to five assassination attempts this month, which was a significant decrease compared to sixteen times last month!

Seeing that Kalia was still reluctant, Fllam displayed rare firmness and delivered her sternest warning to the girl.

"Be a good girl, Lia."

"…Oh."

***

Kalia instantly wilted and chose to obey obediently.

After all, the outcomes of the past few times she hadn't listened after Fllam used those four words had not been very pleasant.

This old hag was never a gentle guardian.

Yet, at the thought of having to spend a period of time with that detestable woman, Kalia felt a sense of despair.

"So Teacher, when are you planning to make your move?"

Fllam thought for a moment. "We'll wait until we confirm how many ninth-circle legends are standing on the opposing side."

"Currently, three are known: Grand Duke Wellington, that damned Blood Fiend, and that prelate from the Brotherhood of Chaos."

"If nothing goes wrong, that cowardly shut-in Blood Fiend has probably already been frightened away by Roland and won't dare to come."

"I've also crossed paths quite a few times with the Hellfire Prelate from the Brotherhood of Chaos, but his behavior is erratic and fickle, so it's uncertain whether he's in the royal capital."

"Wait, Madam Fllam, did you say the Hellfire Prelate?!"

Roland realized something was amiss.

Wait, could the system's intelligence have been false?

Wasn't it the Lustful Prelate?

"Yes, what's wrong?" Fllam tilted her head. "The communication channel between Lia and me was jammed by that very Hellfire Prelate and that damned Blood Fiend."

"As for the leak of the communication channel, that was Grand Duke Wellington's doing."

Oh no, the intelligence was genuinely wrong.

Fllam had miscalculated!

Or rather, someone had tried to mislead her from the very beginning.

Roland felt that even if he were to be suspected, he had to speak up now.

"Madam Fllam, is it possible that the Hellfire Prelate only participated in jamming the communication channels, and that a different prelate has come to the royal capital instead?"

"For instance... the Lustful Prelate? Isn't he also active within the empire?"

Although Roland didn't present any evidence, the moment he uttered the words "Lustful Prelate," the expressions of both Fllam and Iluvia darkened considerably.

"We indeed cannot rule out that possibility."

"Unlike the coward Hellfire, if it's that lunatic Lustful, he would actually dare to come to the royal capital."

"And if we want to deal with him..."

Fllam looked at Roland as she spoke. "It might require your kid to join forces with me."

"If we don't use your special arts against him, as long as he is still able to cast his own spells, he will remain invincible."