Before sunset, Luo Wei returned to Star Luo Residence.

  Just as she stepped inside, Troy and his griffin flew back and landed in the courtyard.

  Watching the travel-worn Troy stride into the living room, Luo Wei said in confusion, "Why are you only getting back now? I thought something happened to you."

  "Something did happen." Troy walked up to her with a grave expression. "Your Highness, this isn't a good place to talk. Please allow me to report to you in the study."

  What could make him this tense?

  Sensing trouble, Luo Wei immediately turned and headed upstairs. "Come on up."

  "Yes, Your Highness." Troy followed behind her.

  The two practically flew up to the second-floor study. Luo Wei cast two prohibition spells on the room before looking at Troy.

  "What exactly happened? You can tell me now."

  Troy's brows furrowed tightly. "Your Highness, Count Wesley was injured by the Moon God's Archangel. After waking up, he keeps coughing up blood. I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left."

  "The Moon God's Archangel?" Luo Wei's heart jumped. "What happened? Didn't the Sebanli Duchy withdraw their troops?"

  Troy lowered his head. "The Sebanli Duchy did withdraw, but the Moon God's Archangel somehow infiltrated the lord's castle."

  "This morning, Count Wesley went to the secret chamber to retrieve magic stones. He didn't expect the Moon God's Archangel to follow him in. To stop him from stealing the Blade of Judgment, Count Wesley was struck by a palm strike that shattered his lungs."

  Luo Wei suppressed her anxiety. "And then? Did the Moon God's Archangel steal the Blade of Judgment?"

  "No." Troy shook his head. "After Roman and Rosie discovered the Moon God's Archangel had broken into the castle, they quietly followed him into the secret chamber and killed him."

  "..." Luo Wei doubted her ears. "What did you just say? Say that again."

  Troy repeated, "Roman and Rosie discovered the Moon God's Archangel's trail, then followed him into the secret chamber and killed him."

  Luo Wei: "Who killed who?"

  Troy: "Roman and Rosie killed the Moon God's Archangel."

  Luo Wei: "...That's it? Can you give me more details?"

  Troy said hesitantly, "Roman and Rosie fought the Moon God's Archangel in the secret chamber. In the end, they used the Blade of Judgment to kill him and even sealed his soul."

  Luo Wei was suddenly alarmed. "You're saying they used the Blade of Judgment to kill the Moon God's Archangel?"

  Troy: "Yes."

  The Blade of Judgment was the Goddess of Justice's godhead. Anyone who inherited the godhead would be pulled up to the clouds, where the Sun and Moon Gods waited to hunt them down. Wouldn't Rosie and Roman be walking into a trap?

  Luo Wei took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "So... Roman and Rosie—one of them isn't coming back?"

  Troy thought for a moment. "Actually, neither of them is coming back."

  He added, "Count Wesley said they received the goddess's recognition and must be descendants of the Goddess of Justice's bloodline. He wants to adopt them as his son and daughter and pass his title and estate to them before he dies."

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  Luo Wei: ...

  She looked at Troy's gem-like forest-green eyes, listening to his flat narration, wanting nothing more than to crack open his skull and see if his brain had any wrinkles. Would it kill him to say everything at once!

  She closed her eyes, suppressing her anger before continuing to ask, "You mean both Roman and Rosie received the goddess's recognition? And after receiving it, they didn't inherit the divine position?"

  "I don't know either. They said the Blade of Judgment split in half. Afraid Count Wesley would blame them for breaking it, they put the sword back after using it."

  Luo Wei pressed her throbbing forehead. "Tell me everything you know and saw, from beginning to end, in detail. Don't leave anything out!"

  Troy hesitated. "By the time I saw it, the Moon God's Archangel was already dead..."

  At the time, he'd been feeding the griffin when Rosie found him with blood all over her face, saying someone had infiltrated the secret chamber and injured Count Wesley.

  He immediately followed Rosie into the underground chamber, where he saw the unconscious Count Wesley, a white-robed mage covered in bloody holes, and Roman wearing a dress with bruises on his neck.

  Rosie and Roman explained what happened and even picked up the long swords from the offering table to demonstrate their battle process.

  According to them, the two swords had originally been one golden broadsword that later split into two golden longswords—one flowing with white light, the other radiating dark energy.

  "Roman also said the sword he held could measure good and evil in people's hearts, compel people to answer his questions, and help him make just judgments."

  "Rosie said the sword she held seemed to really enjoy killing. When she used dark magic, that sword flew into her hand on its own."

  "After Count Wesley heard their story, he said he wanted to adopt them and have one of them inherit his title. Rosie and Roman didn't agree. They wanted to ask your opinion first."

  "You should have brought them back to ask me themselves." Luo Wei sighed. "What about their own opinions? Do they want to stay there?"

  Troy answered, "They don't want to stay, but they said if Gelu City's land and those two swords would be useful to you, they're willing to temporarily stay by Count Wesley's side and come back after the count passes away."

  Luo Wei laughed despite herself. "Those two kids—turns out they're sweet dumplings with black sesame filling."

  Black sesame? Dumplings? Troy didn't understand.

  "So do you want them to agree to Count Wesley's proposal?"

  Luo Wei's smile faded as she spoke righteously. "Tell them I don't need Gelu City or the Blade of Judgment. Things obtained through such methods won't last long even if we get them. We've already agreed to cooperate with Count Wesley. We can't go back on our word."

  She had a prior agreement with Alfried. To save Gelu City and the Wesley family, they had to convert to worshipping the Sun God and support Alfried's succession.

  If Gelu City's lord changed hands now, it would only attract covetous attention and probing from various factions. If word leaked that the Wesley family possessed a godhead, the Sun God would be the first to come after them.

  Once the Sun God became enraged, Gelu City would be engulfed in war again. Alfried would also face repercussions. His troubles wouldn't matter much, but he'd drag her and the Death Penalty Squad—who caused all this—out into the open. Then everyone would be finished together.

  She could secretly mine the magic stone veins. Why would she add another layer of risk for herself?

  As for the two divine swords the Blade of Judgment transformed into, no one but Roman and Rosie could wield them anyway. Even if they didn't agree to become Count Wesley's adopted children, those two swords would eventually end up in their hands.

  Count Wesley knew this perfectly well, which was why he wanted to use this opportunity to pull them into his family and continue the Wesley family's glory.

  Unfortunately, Luo Wei didn't want to touch this hot potato.

  She looked at Troy. "How much longer can Count Wesley hold on?"

  Troy: "Three days at most."

  "That's enough time." Luo Wei said calmly. "Wait here at home. I'll go to the academy first to have someone brew a pot of healing potion. Then you can take it back to Count Wesley. I guarantee he won't die."

  Count Wesley was a shrewd man beneath his rough exterior. His thoughts weren't as straightforward and simple as his outward personality suggested.

  What was this about entrusting his title and estate to someone before dying? It wasn't like he had no daughter. Besides, his family had magic stones—couldn't he find a way to buy a potion?

  Although the Magic Association forbade mages from using magic on ordinary people, which noble family hadn't secretly used these things?

  The Magic Association made that rule to cut off commoners' opportunities, not to restrict nobles.

  As dusk fell, warm lamplight lit up Star Luo Residence's courtyard.

  Luo Wei took the cocoons and silk moths she'd gotten from the mulberry orchard that afternoon and got back in the carriage to return to the academy.

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