"The Ephor said she wants to invite you for a meeting."
The moment Carlotta finished speaking, a fiery red figure walked out of the hall at the same time:
"Correct."
The steady voice caused everyone to turn their heads at once.
The other party had long hair that burned like flames, adorned with a sun-like golden crown. She wore golden light armor paired with pure white silk, exuding an aura of majesty that could not be offended.
[Limited Banner "Unfallen Sovereign Crown" and "Authority to Command Crown and Forge Thunder" has been activated.]
Augusta gave Noah a polite smile:
"Respected honored guest, may I have the honor of speaking with you privately?"
"...Sure."
Noah turned his head and glanced at Cartethyia, Carlotta, and Zani behind him:
"Perfect. You three go buy bathrobes and such first. I know the location of the bathhouse. I'll come find you after I finish talking with the Ephor."
Outside the hall, a crow took this scene into its scarlet eyes, then flapped its wings and flew away.
...
"I really didn't expect… Noah actually came to Septimont too. He's everywhere, like a lingering ghost."
"If he's here, the plan to assassinate Carlotta won't be easy to carry out right now, lest it ruin my script arrangement. However… things have become interesting."
In a hidden room, Cristoforo released the crow perched on his finger, then took out his Fractsidus terminal and dialed a communication:
"Phrolova, I have good news for you."
On the other side, inside a cave, Phrolova, who was feeding Gondola redcurrant honey cakes and watching Gondola happily roll around in the water, answered the call.
As they communicated, her brows furrowed little by little:
"Noah came? Are you sure this is good news for you?"
"Of course!"
Cristoforo answered confidently:
"My plan is flawless. Replacing the script with reality is almost instantaneous."
"When Leviathan descends together with the Black Tide, even if he can defeat Leviathan, so what?"
"Isn't he the savior of the world? I want Septimont to be submerged by the Black Tide right before his eyes, then personally mock him — he can't do anything!"
He had already thought it through. After the script covered reality, he would use the same script to trap Noah.
Even if he couldn't kill Noah, he could reenact Septimont's tragedy over and over again, dealing a mental blow to Noah.
Listening to Cristoforo's plan, Phrolova pursed her lips:
"Have you considered what if you succeed, Septimont is submerged, Leviathan is killed by Noah again — then what about me? What about what you promised me?"
"Don't worry, Phrolova. Listen to me. The current Leviathan is essentially just a gem-like fragment."
Cristoforo answered unhurriedly:
"Even if it is defeated by Noah, that gem containing Threnodian power will still remain. You can use your own Resonance ability, combined with the Threnodian power of this gem, to attempt reviving your loved ones."
"Better not have any more accidents."
After hanging up the communication, Phrolova lowered her head and discovered that Gondola had stopped rolling. Something that vaguely looked like a honey cake was floating on the water surface.
It seemed it had secretly spat it out.
Ungrateful broken boat.
Taking out the Red Spider Lily conductor, Phrolova squatted down on one knee and spoke seriously to Gondola:
"Listen, if you get caught outside, no matter how you are interrogated, you are not allowed to bring anyone here. Understood?"
Gondola nodded.
"Good. Reward: eat a honey cake."
Gondola shook its head in horror.
"...The sweet kind."
As she stood up, a chill wind blew from nowhere. Phrolova felt a chill down her back and a faint pain in her chest, as if someone had stabbed her.
"No good." She muttered to herself. "Noah is here. I can't stay here anymore. As for the playwright — heh, wish him good luck."
...
[Current possessions: Radiant Tide0, Lustrous Tide10, Astrite37480, Shell Credit8.58 million.]
Should I pull for Augusta?
It's a guaranteed banner!
Either of the two, Day or Moon, could hold up half the sky alone. Together as a team, they are a proper T0 lineup.
"I have heard of your great feats from the Black Shores. I have long admired your fame. I was remiss in not welcoming you earlier when the savior himself arrived."
Augusta gave Noah a solemn bow, invited him to sit, and personally poured him hot tea:
"I heard you are from Huanglong. This is a famous tea I specially had someone fetch. I wonder if it suits your taste."
"It does. Of course it does."
Seeing Augusta being so courteous, Noah naturally responded in kind, even though he didn't really know how to appreciate tea:
"Ephor Augusta, I heard you have always been straightforward. There's no need to follow Huanglong's etiquette. Just speak directly. You can call me by my name. I'm Noah."
During their conversation, Noah opened Augusta's banner and started doing ten-pulls again.
50 pulls — Gold. Obtained Augusta.
60 pulls — Gold. Obtained Augusta's first chain.
30 pulls — Double Gold. Obtained Augusta's second chain and Jianxin.
70 pulls — Gold. Obtained Augusta's third chain.
20 pulls — Gold. Obtained Jianxin's first chain.
Looking at the remaining 680 Astrite, Noah stopped.
Discovering that Noah was surprisingly easy to get along with, Augusta felt satisfied and spoke solemnly:
"May I ask if Mr. Noah has come to my Septimont for any important matter? If there is, Septimont will fully cooperate with all its strength."
Is this the benefit of fame?
In the original plot, when Rover came to Septimont, she was completely a passerby. She only entered Augusta's sight after winning the gladiatorial tournament championship and was tested in combat by Augusta before being allowed into the hunting plains.
But here, it was directly "Septimont will fully cooperate with all its strength."
"Since the Ephor is so understanding and righteous, I won't hide anything."
Seeing that Augusta was willing to cooperate, Noah was naturally happy. He directly revealed the main storyline related to Lupa, causing Augusta's expression to change repeatedly as she listened.
"So Mr. Noah also possesses a similar ability to foresee the future. This is quite similar to our Septimont's Priestess."
Getting into the conversation, Augusta said:
"One of my friends is the most talented Priestess in Tetragon Temple. Although she appears carefree, she is a very reliable companion. I can introduce you to her when there's a chance."
Oh — Iuno!
That bold, straightforward, tsundere yet somewhat cute genius Priestess.
This character had a distinct personality and extremely high strength. She was also very popular in the game.
Noah smiled after briefly picturing the genius Priestess who could shoot arrows with her feet in his mind:
"We can meet later when there's a chance. No rush for now."
They didn't chat much longer. After casually explaining that Cartethyia might come to see Augusta about something, Noah bid farewell and left.
Just as he walked out of the hall door, Noah turned around and his gaze was immediately drawn to a slender figure.
Blue twin-tails adorned with some golden accessories, below which was a delicate face, skin so fair it looked fragile, and under the bold and cool hem of her clothing, a pair of long, slender, and rounded legs that were very eye-catching.
[Limited Banner "Axis of Abundance and Scarcity" and "Annotations of All Things' Persistence" has been activated.]
Speak of Iuno, and Iuno appears.
Noah originally wanted to greet her, but remembering that the current Iuno shouldn't know him and that he had no Astrite left, he only exchanged a glance with her and prepared to leave without thinking much of it.
"Guilty!"
Unexpectedly, just as he wasn't planning to engage with Iuno, she quickly walked up to him, raising a slender finger:
"You — are guilty!"
"I'm guilty?"
Noah pointed at himself in shock, eyes wide open. He saw Iuno's beautiful eyebrows raised vertically as she shouted loudly toward the inside of the hall:
"Augusta! Expel this beast who just broke into the girls' bathhouse from Septimont!"
"What the—!"