Chapter 71: The Golden Apple’s Revelation

In the early hours of Alastor, the fluorescent streetlights still flickered intermittently, casting a dim glow upon the sparse pedestrians making their way along the avenues.

Vending hawkers, already traversing the streets and alleys, had begun their morning cries, and from the deep recesses of the alleyways, the occasional clang of an iron gate being drawn open could be heard.

****

In stark contrast to the quiet streets, the Knights’ Headquarters was ablaze with light.

Armored knights bustled through the corridors, their conversations light and laughter echoing.

Despite the day’s mission to hunt mountain bandits, the young women seemed entirely devoid of any sense of impending danger, viewing it merely as another drill, one of countless they had performed.

The atmosphere within the Knights’ Headquarters remained as relaxed and cheerful as ever.

Indeed, some were already sipping coffee, idly discussing where they might find men that very evening.

****

However, this jovial mood found no echo in the ninth-floor conference room, where a group of senior knights sat, their expressions grim, awaiting the commencement of the meeting.

Qing Yu and his companions were seated together, facing the knights, who all wore deeply furrowed brows, as if bracing for a formidable enemy.

In a corner of the room sat a figure shrouded entirely in a black cloak, their presence quiet and still, almost swallowed by the shadows, making their appearance utterly indiscernible.

Eden had mentioned that this was a good friend of his, a person with extensive experience in countering poison magic, specially invited today to lend their expertise.

“Aldoran, they seem so serious.

Is it really that terrifying?”

Thrud, unnerved by the heavy atmosphere, leaned in close to Aldoran’s ear, whispering her question.

“It seems there’s a formidable individual among the mountain bandits who can use poisonous gas, a threat even Aldoran couldn’t resist if exposed.”

It was Qing Yu who answered Thrud, his gaze flitting around the conference room, scrutinizing everyone present.

“Hmph, they’re just a bunch of bandits.

Is there really a need to be so tense?

I’ve seen countless such groups.”

Liliya, on the other hand, exuded an air of complete nonchalance.

Her legs were propped casually on the table, and she rocked her chair back and forth with boredom.

In her estimation, a mere band of bandits presented no challenge; as a born hunter, Liliya believed she could easily apprehend them all by herself.

Meanwhile, Eden, holding a basket of golden apples, distributed one to each of the senior knights, chatting and laughing amiably with them, seemingly a natural at making acquaintances.

****

The knights, whose brows had been tightly knit moments before, found their stern expressions softening under Eden’s infectious smile, their furrowed brows easing slightly.

Roalsa, in particular, was swept up in the moment, presenting Eden with a rose and insisting on reciting a poem for him.

“Ah, you are the snow lotus atop that mountain peak—”

“Yes…”

*Click*

Roalsa’s eloquent discourse was cut short by the sound of the door opening, shattering the slightly eased atmosphere.

Olivia, impeccably dressed in formal attire, entered, cradling a stack of documents.

Approaching the table, she placed the documents down, then gently pressed her hand to the hilt of her sword, drawing it slightly before returning it to its sheath.

This was the customary greeting among knights in formal settings.

“My apologies for the wait, everyone.

Let us begin the meeting now.”

The knights were just preparing to rise and offer their respects when Olivia waved a dismissive hand, proceeding directly with the meeting.

“First, regarding personnel deployment: For this operation, I have seconded three hundred and fifty knights from headquarters.

Additionally, I requested one hundred knights from Sturge, who will be led by Ms. Caesar, the strategist of the Sturge Knights.”

A woman in a red military uniform with black hair rose and bowed slightly to the assembled group.

“Does anyone have any thoughts on the personnel assignments?”

Olivia scanned the room.

Seeing no objections, she nodded and walked to a blackboard covered in diagrams, continuing her address.

“Next, let’s discuss the allocation of personnel.

I intend to divide everyone into groups of three, forming a total of one hundred and fifty teams.”

As she spoke, Olivia glanced at Qing Yu and his companions.

“All members of the Knights will each lead five of these smaller teams.”

“As for Qing Yu, will your group form one such team?

Is that acceptable?”

“No problem.”

Aldoran nodded, and the others also expressed their agreement.

“And what about the rest of you?”

Olivia turned her gaze back to the other knights.

“Aren’t they just ordinary citizens?

Why are they here?

Moreover, two of them are men.

Are you serious?”

A pink-haired knight raised her hand, voicing her skepticism.

Allowing two men to participate in the bandit search would not only be unhelpful but could also hinder the others.

If anything were to happen to them, a special rescue team would have to be dispatched, wasting both time and effort.

“Don’t worry, they are quite formidable, no less capable than women.”

Roalsa gently patted the knight’s shoulder, offering a confident smile.

“Roalsa, are you sure?

They look…”

The knight looked at Qing Yu and Eden, then back at Roalsa, ultimately leaving the latter half of her sentence unsaid.

“It’s perfectly fine, really, perfectly fine.

Trust me.

Sometimes, men are no less capable than women.”

“What if something happens to them?”

Caesar raised her own doubts.

Sending men with no magical talent on a search and rescue mission would be a burden to all the knights.

After all, the mountains were teeming with magical beasts; if they accidentally disturbed them, who would protect the men?

“Please trust me, nothing will happen to them.”

Roalsa was about to further defend Qing Yu and his companions, but Olivia cut her off the next second.

She looked directly at Aldoran; as Qing Yu’s lover, Aldoran held more authority to speak than the other knights.

“Please trust me, I will protect Qing Yu.”

“What about Eden?”

“Don’t worry, I have someone to protect me too.”

Eden flashed a victorious smile, pointing to the silent, black-clad figure.

“Miss, may I ask if you can protect Mr. Eden?”

The cloaked figure remained silent, merely nodding their head.

“In that case, I’m grateful for your assistance.”

Olivia nodded, then turned to the other knights.

“So, everyone, does anyone have any further objections?”

Since someone had already pledged to protect Eden and Qing Yu, and this matter would not affect their own teams, the other knights nodded in unison, having nothing more to say.

“Very well, I will now deploy everyone’s team search areas.”

Olivia extended her hand, tapped the blackboard, and pointed to a section of the divided map.

“Firstly, regarding the various passes leading into Alastor: these areas have been placed under strict lockdown.

All individuals entering and exiting have undergone rigorous checks, and the number of knights patrolling the mountains has been increased.”

“Understood!” the crowd responded in unison.

Olivia nodded with satisfaction, then pointed to the blackboard again.

“Next, for everyone’s designated areas.”

“Roalsa.”

Roalsa stood up, acknowledging with a firm assent, her hand resting lightly on her sword hilt.

“Your squad will operate within Area A.

This region has sparse vegetation and virtually no traces of magical beasts.

It’s close to Alastor, so while searching, your team will also be responsible for rear support.

Should any other team request assistance, you are to immediately dispatch reinforcements from Alastor.

Additionally, I will issue four flare stones to each knight.

If you encounter danger, immediately launch a blue flare stone into the sky.

Use a red flare stone if you have intelligence to report.

Is that clear?”

“No problem.”

“Next, Livia.”

“Yes.”

The pink-haired young woman rose, similarly gripping her sword hilt.

After assigning her area, Olivia then turned to her own deployment.

Olivia’s squad would be stationed in the very center of the mountain forest, the most perilous zone.

Thus, it would be led by Olivia, the strongest knight in the order, and the knights under her command were all elite forces, positioned in close proximity to the other knights’駐扎 areas for convenient support.

Finally, it was Qing Yu and his companions’ turn.

Qing Yu’s group was assigned to the area closest to Olivia’s knight detachment, where numerous knights patrolled, ensuring their safety would be fully guaranteed.

“Now, Eden, you mentioned earlier that you have a method for dealing with poisonous gas.

Please elaborate.”

After the deployment was finalized, the most crucial aspect—the counter-measure for the poisonous gas—was addressed.

“It’s quite simple, actually.”

Eden stood up, shaking the glowing golden apple in his hand.

“This is a golden apple.

If everyone simply eats a small piece of its flesh, you’ll be immune to poisonous gas.”

“What?”

The knights present immediately exchanged bewildered glances.

While Eden’s golden apples were renowned throughout Alastor for their ability to cure all manner of ailments, no one had ever heard of them preventing the dangers of noxious gas.

“Are you making fun of us?

Setting aside the issue of how to prevent gas poisoning, how are we supposed to divide one apple among three hundred people?”

Eden said nothing, merely took a bite from the apple in his hand.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the bitten-off portion of the apple rapidly regenerated, restoring itself to its original state within seconds.

“Not only does it prevent poison, but it also enhances the consumer’s resistance to physical blows.”

Eden smiled gently, raising the apple to display it to everyone.

“Miss Roalsa, please punch me.”

“Punch you?”

Roalsa and the other knights were startled; they hadn’t anticipated Eden having such a peculiar request.

“Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine.”

Eden waved his hand, appearing utterly confident.

“Don’t worry, Roalsa, you can’t hurt me.”

“Are you sure?”

Roalsa remained highly hesitant.

She had always believed that resorting to violence against men was a crude act, and no matter the reason, Roalsa would never lay a hand on a man.

“Don’t worry, really, it’s perfectly fine.”

Eden still looked completely confident, without a hint of fear.

“But…”

“No ‘buts.’

Allow me.”

Caesar stood up.

Roalsa’s hesitant, timid demeanor was utterly unlike a knight.

Caesar walked directly in front of Eden, looking down at him.

“You really won’t get hurt?”

“Don’t worry.”

Eden patted his chest.

“Very well, I’m going to strike.”

Caesar wasted no more words.

Fixing her gaze on Eden’s face, she delivered a heavy punch directly to his stomach.

“Ugh.”

Eden grunted, clutching his stomach and bending over.

But this posture lasted only two seconds before Eden straightened up again, as if nothing had happened.

“I’m fine!”

Eden flashed a victory sign, happily walking around the circle of knights.

Seeing Eden completely unharmed, the other knights exchanged glances and then nodded in agreement.

“Then, what about the anti-poison aspect?

Eden, how will you prove that the golden apple is truly effective against poison?”

A black-haired knight asked.

“Don’t worry, it has anti-poison capabilities too.”

Eden maintained his broad smile, facing the assembled knights.

He pulled a bottle of purple liquid from his pocket and shook it before them.

“This is poison, you see.”

“Hey! Eden!”

Realizing what Eden was about to do, Roalsa immediately stood up, rushing to stop him.

But it was too late; Eden had already acted, pouring the entire vial of poison into his mouth.

By the time Roalsa snatched the bottle, it was completely empty.

“Eden! What are you doing?”

Catching sight of Roalsa’s anxious expression, Eden stuck out his tongue.

“I’m perfectly fine, Roalsa.”

Roalsa clearly didn’t believe him.

She immediately channeled her magic, carefully examining Eden’s physical condition.

But this simple investigation caused Roalsa’s eyes to widen in shock.

Indeed, there was poison within Eden’s body, a virulent and potent toxin capable of killing a person within three minutes.

Yet, this very poison was being rapidly dissolved and destroyed within Eden’s system, firmly suppressed by a golden energy.

“This is…”

Seeing Roalsa’s astonished reaction, the other knights also channeled their magic, sensing the changes within Eden’s body.

A clean, golden energy flowed, and the hearts of everyone present were touched by its beautiful essence.

The power of that energy, so potent and sacred, was enough to purify all defilement in the world and overcome all evil.

Nothing could be cleaner, more beautiful, or purer than that.

Everyone was involuntarily drawn to that energy, captivated and filled with awe.

One minute later, Olivia slowly opened her eyes, sweeping her gaze across the room.

“Prepare to depart.”