Chapter 271: Giving Seleu a Helping Hand.

And just like that, the special training was settled.

Amanda would have been better off keeping his mouth shut. By speaking up, he'd only managed to add another training program to his schedule. Talk about making a bad situation worse!

Unfortunately, it was too late to change his mind.

Ilio's office was right next to Zephyr's, and he wasted no time approaching him to finalize the training arrangements.

When Zephyr heard that his young relative was eager to improve himself, he readily agreed. Patting Amanda on the head with a benevolent expression, he said, "Your brother will be delighted to hear how hard you're working."

Amanda had no idea whether his brother would be delighted.

All he knew was that he certainly wasn't.

But what could he do about it? He could only accept his fate through his tears.

Shu Li and the other Little Fairies regarded him with boundless sympathy.

Trying to pull a fast one on Ilio? Not a chance!

Still, dragons did require a different approach to training than Fairies, so there was nothing unreasonable about Ilio working with Zephyr.

Once the matter of special training was settled, Shu Li brought up the necromancer and the nightmare demon.

Ilio had gone to the Magic Tower yesterday afternoon and hadn't returned even by evening. Shu Li wondered how his discussion with Danlov had gone.

"The necromancer and the nightmare demon?" Ilio elegantly lifted his teacup, took a sip, and smiled confidently. "Naturally, they've been dealt with."

"Dealt with?" Shu Li blinked. "Already? When did that happen?"

Ilio made no attempt to conceal the truth. He briefly recounted what had happened at the Woba Grand Canyon the previous afternoon.

Shu Li's mouth fell open as he listened. The other members of the Light Squad were even more dumbfounded.

Ilio was incredible! Not only had he killed a Saint Mage-level necromancer, but he'd also severely wounded a high-ranking nightmare demon that had lived for ten thousand years.

Kumandi frowned slightly. "Sperien, why didn't you tell us about this yesterday?"

None of them had known anything about the necromancer and nightmare demon heading to the canyon.

"Uh, mainly because it was way beyond what we could handle," Shu Li explained apologetically. "I didn't want you to worry, so I asked Ilio for help first. I was planning to tell everyone once he and Danlov had resolved the situation."

How was he supposed to know Ilio would act so quickly? Shu Li had barely finished reporting the matter that morning before Ilio went to the canyon alone that afternoon, fought a tremendous battle, and actually won!

"You handled it correctly," Ace praised.

Kumandi nodded seriously. "Next time something happens, let the rest of us know. We're a team. Whatever comes our way, we can shoulder it together."

Warmth spread through Shu Li's chest.

"Okay. I will."

Ilio set down his teacup. "What about the plant?"

In fact, after reporting to the King the previous night, he'd already learned where the plant came from. But if he was going to play his part, he had to see it through. Naturally, he needed to ask.

"It's Blood Hell Grass! A demonic plant from hell."

Shu Li explained in detail everything the Elven King had told him.

"...The current king of the Kingdom of Cecilia sold his soul to the Dark God long ago. He deliberately murdered his elder brother and usurped the throne to exploit a loophole in their contract."

"That's despicable!" Dixio exclaimed angrily. "He isn't even human anymore!"

"Exactly!" Angel sighed. "Poor Seriu."

Nasha unconsciously clenched her fists, struggling to suppress the hatred burning inside her.

"Is there really no way to kill him?"

"That's why I want to help Seriu return to the Kingdom of Cecilia as its rightful heir," Shu Li said, "and overthrow Danton Trik's rule."

Budno clapped his hands. "That's a great idea!"

Seriu was a prince of the Kingdom of Cecilia and the legitimate heir to its throne. There could be no better person to lead the effort.

"But how are we supposed to do that?" Angel asked.

"I only have a rough idea so far," Shu Li admitted. "We'll have to meet with Seriu and work out the details together."

Overthrowing a country's government was no simple matter.

Danton Trik had been king for eighteen years. His position was deeply entrenched, and his influence was extensive. Without sufficient strength, opposing him would be extremely difficult.

Seriu, meanwhile, was practically a commander without an army. Defeating Danton under the present circumstances was little more than a fantasy.

Nasha bit her lip and declared firmly, "I'll help him."

As a princess of Pedam Kingdom, she had both the responsibility and the duty to avenge her fallen people.

Although she had nothing left at present, once she found her brother, the two of them could work together to rally the surviving forces of Pedam Kingdom. That would be a considerable force in its own right.

"The queen of the Dalia Empire is my aunt. If I ask her, I might be able to borrow some troops."

Nasha lowered her head in thought before adding, "When I get the chance, I want to return to the Dalia Empire and ask the queen to lend me the Sword of Borshug."

The Sword of Borshug was one of the Five Swords, and it had been part of the Dalia queen's dowry.

Having a magical sword in their possession would improve their chances of success.

Shu Li looked at her. "It's going to be difficult."

Nasha smiled confidently. "I'm not afraid of hardship."

Nothing could be worse than the time she'd spent fleeing for her life.

Hunted by the Black Knights, she'd hidden from place to place every day, living in constant fear. Even when she slept, she couldn't relax, and there had been no hope in sight.

Things were so much better now. What reason did she have to retreat?

"In that case..." Sidi snapped her fingers. "As a princess of the Serex Empire, I should do my part too! Leave the matter of borrowing troops to me!"

The next time she returned home for an extended holiday, she would put in a few good words with her father. Surely she could persuade him.

"Oh, right! There's also the Sword of Ashera! I'll write to my grandfather and ask him to visit my uncle in the St. Nia Mountains."

If her uncle had become a Sword Saint, she'd have to get him down from that mountain at once so he could help them accomplish something big!

Hector looked at Nasha, then at Sidi, before lowering his head dejectedly.

He was useless right now. Apart from offering himself, he had nothing he could contribute.

Listening to the youngsters discuss their plans with mounting enthusiasm, Ilio scratched his ear and shooed them away.

"You haven't even mastered your own skills, and you're already thinking about starting wars like the adults? All of you, get back to class!"

The Little Fairies, driven out of the office, made faces at Ilio from the doorway.

Ilio glared.

They immediately grabbed their human teammates and scampered away.

"Those little brats have some nerve," Ilio muttered.

Zephyr stood leaning against the doorway of the neighboring office, his arms folded across his chest and a broad smile on his face.

"With that person around, a little extra boldness won't hurt."

"That person" was, of course, the Elven King disguised as a human.

Ilio shot him a sidelong glance.

"Do you know what they're planning?"

Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Ilio spread his hands. "Starting a war and fighting for control of a kingdom."

Zephyr froze for a moment before laughing.

"Whose idea was that?"

Ilio's lips curved upward.

"Sperien's."

Zephyr fell silent for a moment.

"Brave Sperien, is it?"

He'd heard stories about the Little Fairy. The fact that Sperien dared propose a struggle for political power certainly proved he was no ordinary child.

Judging by Ilio's expression, however, he didn't seem opposed to the idea.

With an indulgent parent around, children could get into all sorts of trouble and still have someone to clean up after them.

No, wait.

Not one parent.

An entire crowd of them.

An entire race of them, to be precise.

Shu Li was a Fairy of action.

As soon as classes ended that afternoon, he gathered his teammates and hurried off to find Seriu.

At the time, Seriu had just finished his lessons at the neighboring swordsmen's academy. Wearing light armor and drenched in sweat, he was on his way back to his dormitory at the magic academy, looking forward to a hot bath.

When he saw ten youths standing in a neat row, all staring at him with shining eyes, he stopped in surprise.

"What's wrong?" he asked with a frown, assuming something serious had happened.

Shu Li stepped forward, took his hand, and said enthusiastically, "Come on! Let's go to the dorm Ace and I share. We have something to discuss with you."

And so, before Seriu could even take a bath, the youngsters surrounded him and escorted him to the first-year dormitory building.

In the living room, Shu Li explained everything they'd learned, paying particular attention to the Blood Hell Grass and the fact that Danton Trik had sold his soul to the Dark God.

"We absolutely cannot let the Dark God's scheme succeed. We have to kill Danton and destroy the dark forces supporting him. So—"

Shu Li placed his hands on Seriu's shoulders and said solemnly, "We need you to step forward and overthrow his rule."

Without the protection afforded by his position as king, Danton would be nothing more than an ordinary villain.

Nasha and Sidi immediately declared their willingness to help.

Hector patted his chest. "If there's anything you need me to do, just say the word. I'll do everything in my power to help you."

"Us too!" The Little Fairies and the young dragon raised their hands.

Ace smiled. "I have a few connections in the Izera Empire. I can offer some assistance as well."

Seriu looked at his enthusiastic teammates.

His initial shock gradually gave way to emotion, and his eyes grew moist.

"...Thank you, everyone."

Shu Li grinned. "We're friends! Of course friends should help each other however they can!"

Dixio waved his fist. "You're the rightful prince of the Kingdom of Cecilia! It's only natural for you to take back everything that belongs to you!"

"Danton is my enemy too," Nasha said bitterly. "We should join forces and take revenge together."

Seriu rose from the sofa, placed his right hand over his chest, and solemnly thanked each of his teammates in turn.

"I'm deeply grateful for your kindness. But revenge is no small matter, and war is certainly not a game. The path I must walk is difficult, cruel, and bloody. Whether I'll succeed remains uncertain. You all have wonderful lives ahead of you. You shouldn't become entangled in my hatred."

Shu Li opened his mouth to speak, but Seriu raised a hand to stop him.

"You're still young. Right now, your most important task is to improve your own strength. As for Danton, my sister and I will deal with him."

"But..." Shu Li hesitated.

"I'm not rejecting your help. It's simply that the present circumstances aren't suitable for launching a major military campaign."

He looked at Nasha, Sidi, and Ace, his voice turning grave.

"If the Dalia Empire, the Serex Empire, and the Izera Empire all enter the conflict, the entire continent will be dragged into war. That would only benefit the growth of the dark forces."

Seriu was older than the others, and his thinking was more comprehensive and cautious.

What should have been a small-scale war of revenge must not expand into a conflict that engulfed other countries.

War meant bloodshed and death. It meant countless families torn apart and countless people losing their homes.

Since Danton had sold his soul to the Dark God, the more chaotic the continent became, the happier he would be.

His current wars of conquest against neighboring countries were nothing more than an attempt to strengthen his position and expand his military forces in preparation for an even greater war in the future.

After listening to his analysis, Shu Li lowered his head in embarrassment.

He really had been thinking too simply. He'd actually overlooked the most important consideration.

War and plague were breeding grounds for darkness.

Danton was already swallowing up neighboring countries at will. If three great empires entered the conflict simultaneously, it would only give him an opportunity to drag even more nations into the flames of war, strengthening the dark forces in the process.

Unwilling to see the Little Fairy so discouraged, Seriu softened his tone.

"Starting a war requires money, supplies, and manpower. None of them can be neglected. My sister and I have been making preparations for years, working to build a formidable army. In a few more years, we'll be able to return openly to the Kingdom of Cecilia and take our revenge on Danton."

Seeing that Seriu already had a plan, Shu Li said, "Whatever happens, we'll support you with everything we've got!"

"Exactly!" Hector declared, thumping his chest with a clenched fist. "I still have an inheritance worth quite a lot. If I sell some of it, I can raise a considerable sum."

"Money? You mean gold coins?" Amanda blinked. "I have [N O V E L I G H T] lots and lots of those in my cave! How many do you need? I can go back and bring them!"

When it came to wealth, no race on the continent could compete with dragons.

Angel smiled and draped an arm around Hector's shoulders.

"You should hold on to your inheritance for now, in case you need it someday."

"We can provide food," Shu Li offered.

Every year, the Elven Kingdom produced mountains of wheat, far more than its inhabitants could possibly eat. The surplus was sold to countries across the continent in exchange for resources unavailable in the Elven Kingdom and the Faerie Forest.

Even then, there was always some left over.

Why not supply it to Seriu as military provisions?

He could discuss it with the Elven King later. Surely there wouldn't be a problem.

Ace glanced at Shu Li, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Oh, right!" Shu Li suddenly remembered something and turned to Seriu. "Does everyone know that Danton murdered his brother and usurped the throne?"

Seriu was still trying to process the offers of gold and grain. The question caught him off guard.

"Power struggles within royal families are never brought into the open for the public to see."

"You mean... the ordinary people of the Kingdom of Cecilia don't know Danton usurped the throne?" Shu Li asked in astonishment.

Seriu smiled bitterly.

"Only a small number of nobles know the truth. It's a royal scandal. No one would go around publicizing it."

"If Seriu hadn't told us, we wouldn't have known either," Hector remarked.

The Kingdom of Cecilia was only a small country. A coup in such a place had virtually no impact on the great powers, so naturally, no one paid it much attention.

Besides, the continent was vast, and information traveled slowly. By the time people learned that a small kingdom had fallen, a year or two might already have passed.

Shu Li frowned.

"There's a saying that you need a just cause to go to war. If you want to overthrow Danton's rule, the first thing you need to do is expose his crimes. Everyone on the continent needs to know that he's a tyrant who murdered his own brother to steal the throne!"

His expression grew increasingly serious.

"The first step in launching a war is winning the battle for public opinion. You need to shape the narrative, spread the word, and make Danton a criminal condemned by everyone. After all, a just cause attracts allies, while an unjust one leaves you isolated."

He paused before concluding decisively.

"In short, starting now, you can have Captain Ximu begin spreading the news!"

Ximu's traveling song-and-dance troupe performed in countries all across the continent.

What better means could there be for spreading their message?