I Have a Dice Left by a God

Chapter 556 148: Arrival

Estella told Li Xin about the quarrel she'd had with her eldest brother. "Mr. Gemini, am I being too selfish?"Li Xin thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Miss Aries, I believe your decision is the right one. Not because we're friends, but from the perspective of a fair, outside observer."

"Mr. Gemini, we are friends. How can you still be fair?" Estella asked softly. She wasn't here seeking comfort, but answers, so she countered him directly.

Li Xin smiled faintly. "If the safety of a country has fallen to the point where it needs to sacrifice a woman to save it, that in itself is a paradox. The Black Meteor Empire and the Moncalleta Kingdom are age-old enemies. Their wars have flared and faded for a thousand years. If the Black Meteor Empire already has the strength to defeat Moncalleta, then even if you go, they will still invade Moncalleta. If the Black Meteor Empire has no confidence, then even if you don't go, they won't dare to truly attack—at most they'll bluff and posture."

"But if I go, will it be a little better? Even if it only lowers the chance of war? And if I refuse, will that become their excuse to start a war?" Estella asked anxiously.

"Miss Aries, war needs a pretext, but that pretext can be you, or it can be anyone and anything. If they want to invade, there is absolutely no way to stop them with excuses. This sort of factor cannot be changed by an individual—even a King, let alone a Prince," Li Xin said. "I don't know whether your brother understands this. The only way for a country to prevent war is to possess the strength to wage it."

Estella agreed with him very, very much. "So why do I still feel so weighed down?"

"Because you're kind," Li Xin said. "You care about your family and want to do your best. Where I come from, what your brother is doing is called moral blackmail—using another person's kindness to achieve his own ends. It's also a form of weakness and selfishness."

"I'm sorry, perhaps I shouldn't judge your brother like that," Li Xin went on. "But I think Your Majesty is the one who is a good King, and also a good father—a brave man."

Ola the Eighteenth, a real man—maneuvering between the royal kin, nobles, and the Church, pushing forbearance and cunning to their limits, yet when faced with choices, he is not lacking in the courage to sacrifice. He deserves to be called a good King and a good father.

As for Hokele, he'd once seemed quite outstanding; Hedan also thought highly of him. Perhaps he's just a chicken sheltered under an eagle's wings.

Thinking of her father, Estella's eyes reddened. "Thank you, Mr. Gemini. I feel much better."

"Miss Aries, hold fast to your own beliefs. Don't wrong yourself, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. I think that's what your father wishes for you as well. I hope you have a good dream."

"I will, Mr. Gemini. Good night."

Estella rose, lifted her skirt and dipped in a curtsey. Li Xin also stood and returned the gesture. The two looked at each other and both smiled. Estella's figure began to blur, and with a flash of light, Miss Aries departed from the Star Disc.

Li Xin sat back down. After thinking for a while, he looked up at the starry dome and reached out to touch the stars of Leo.

On the Mist Continent, in the Sarawo Mine of Divpo City, in this place backed by high mountains and far from the city, the Whispers were especially intense.

Night was when the Whispers were at their maddest.

Led by Batty, the seven shanty overseers each held a wooden fish and began to beat it: dong, dong, dong, dong, dong…

All around the shacks sat rows of Roto in silent meditation. A day of hard labor was nothing compared to facing the crazed Whispers. Each overseer kept a distance of a few dozen meters from Batty; that spacing worked best.

Besides those eight, many others were also beating crude wooden fish. The shapes of the wooden fish were very rough—some were just blocks of wood, even rocks. The Roto beat them with seriousness and focus.

Batty felt the summons from the Star Disc and stopped the tapping, though his posture didn't change. His soul had already reached the Twelve Zodiac Star Disc.

"Good evening, sir," Batty greeted.

"Good evening, Batty," Li Xin said with a smile. "Come on, let's go take a look at your side."

Batty nodded excitedly. Li Xin followed the network line down and descended onto the Mist Continent.

To the people in the mine, it was only a brief daze, and then Batty's hand was once again striking the wooden fish. But unlike usual, everyone's expressions instantly relaxed. Invisible ripples spread out in waves. It was a clarity that washed through the body; minds that had been locked in constant resistance suddenly went quiet, especially for those closest to Batty.

Roto fell prostrate in patches on the ground. The other overseers felt it too—Divine Power was radiating from Batty, shielding them from the assault of the Whispers, and their own wooden fish strikes grew more resolute in response.

Li Xin held the Great Vajra Wheel Seal. Power flowed ceaselessly to sustain Batty's output, while he also sensed the state of the mining area. Because of the limitations of his condition, he couldn't move around freely and could only remain near Batty.

Batty, wooden fish in hand, walked as he beat it. The Roto around him fell silent and parted to make a path. Wherever Batty passed, the Whispers were blocked; wherever he left, the Whispers gradually returned, though it took some time.

The Roto prostrated themselves one after another, their eyes filled with boundless gratitude. Li Xin, meanwhile, watched those knocking on the wooden fish. Those wooden fish themselves produced no power, but according to what Batty had said, people did feel some relief from the Whispers when beating them.

In his soul state, Li Xin didn't see anything special. Perhaps it was a kind of psychological suggestion, something that in its own way could fight back a little.

Batty's beating was slow and gentle, with rhythm. Li Xin had instructed him on that—if he struck too hard, he'd knock himself out in no time.

Li Xin hadn't done anything major recently, his body had recovered well, and with Batty's cooperation—their light and slow rhythms—their coordination had improved a lot.

In the eyes of many Roto, especially those who were close to Batty, he now looked more and more like the Lord of the First Gate. Compared to the Lord of the First Gate's disgust and indifference toward the Whispers, Batty's bearing held an extra touch of compassion.

"For now it seems those wooden fish don't have any power. What's happening is that, with something in their hearts to lean on, they've gained the will to resist the Whispers," Li Xin said.

To Batty's ears, that meant these people had already developed devout faith.

Only the devout can receive salvation.

"Yes, sir," Batty murmured.

Batty focused on keeping the rhythm steady, changing from anxious to stable. He could feel more pain, and he could feel more strength. Sir was guiding his growth bit by bit, while also helping the Roto find their own path to resist the Whispers.

When Batty was very young, he'd heard a teaching from an old Roto: the greatest kindness is not shielding you from wind and rain, but teaching you the skill to shelter yourself.

This walk was not slow. Batty knew that the time Sir could descend to this world was limited. He needed to let more people feel Sir's grace, to let them feel hope and a future.

Ever since the wooden fish appeared here, almost no Roto in the mining area had committed suicide, and those who had felt Sir's protection believed in that legend with unshakable conviction.