Chapter 125: Make the Sword of Expedition Great Again
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 125: Make the Sword of Expedition Great Again
"Hmm? Just now... what happened?"
"How did Edward end up flying into that dirt mound over there?"
"What was I just about to do..."
"Right! The gold coins! The coins for the test ride haven't been settled yet!"
Unlike the players, who were left dazed by the gap in their memories, the group of alchemists reacted with immediate panic the moment they snapped out of it, rushing toward the mound.
"Chief! Lord Chief! Are you alright?!"
With the support of the crowd, Edward managed to stagger to his feet.
Though he looked worse for wear, covered in dust with his robes torn in several places, he didn't appear to have sustained any serious injuries.
Xie Bai had clearly held back.
"I’m... fine. I just... took a bit of a spill."
He waved his hand, signaling for the others not to panic.
"Chief, you must be joking! This was clearly an attack! A blatant provocation against our Royal Alchemist Association! We must conduct a thorough—"
"Stop."
Edward raised his voice, cutting off his subordinates' protest.
He brushed the dust from his robes, a helpless, bitter smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Though he hadn't caught a clear glimpse of the attacker’s face, he would never mistake that all-too-familiar killing intent.
But it’s been so long, and I haven't even done anything yet... how did I manage to offend her?
At the thought, Edward shook his head.
Regardless, compared to her previous habit of coming at him directly with a blade, today’s insignificant kick could practically be considered gentle.
"Anyway, settle the payments for those people. While you're at it, collect the accident data so we can get to work on the second version of the magitech train back at the lab."
"Yes, Chief."
After giving his orders, Edward walked over to the edge of the massive crater.
Looking at the faint wisps of acrid smoke rising from within, he couldn't help but sigh.
"From the looks of it, I should make it a rule never to ride any vehicle I’ve had a hand in building."
Following this incident, Edward added yet another rule to his personal survival guide.
Once the aftermath was mostly settled and the onlookers began to disperse, Edward prepared to return to his workshop.
However, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a petite figure standing silently in the shadow of the city wall not far away.
Edward’s footsteps faltered as he narrowed his eyes to look.
It was a young girl in a magnificent battle-skirt, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. She was even shorter than the two blue-haired girls.
[Atoris Lv.105]
The moment he saw her, Edward’s pupils constricted.
No way, not again?
Alarm bells rang in Edward’s head, and a cold sweat instantly broke out across his back.
As a core member of the Wheel of Fate, Edward was naturally aware of Atoris’s identity as a Branch Manager.
Had he somehow offended her without realizing it?
For a moment, Edward froze in place, his mind racing at high speeds, yet he couldn't find a single clue as to what he might have done wrong.
However, the expected reprimand never came.
Atoris simply watched him quietly for a few moments before asking, "Did a white-haired girl come by just now?"
"A white-haired girl?"
Edward blinked, momentarily stunned.
Was she referring to Xie Bai?
Realizing this, Edward bowed slightly and addressed Atoris. "A white-haired girl did indeed pass through just now, but she should be quite far away by now."
"Is that so..."
Upon hearing this, a faint look of disappointment flickered across Atoris’s small face.
Seeing this, Edward didn't feel relieved; instead, he grew even more anxious.
It couldn't be that the Sword of the Empire had missed out on something important because he hadn't tried to make the girl stay, could it?
Contrary to Edward’s expectations, Atoris appeared exceptionally calm.
She had sensed Xie Bai’s presence the moment she arrived in Carlos Lilanka.
Upon realizing Xie Bai had come, Atoris was initially surprised, followed by hesitation.
After agonizing over it for a long while, Atoris had finally come to the spot where Xie Bai had been standing.
But by then, Xie Bai had already departed.
Asking Edward only confirmed what she already knew.
Faced with this, Atoris couldn't help but feel a bit worried.
After all, they hadn't seen each other for a long time. What if something happened to her while she was within the borders of the Empire under Atoris's jurisdiction?
If she wasn't by her side, Atoris truly couldn't set her mind at ease.
As the Sword of the Empire responsible for guarding the realm, and as a Branch Manager of the Wheel of Fate, Atoris spent most of her time in Carlos Lilanka.
If she were to leave, someone would have to take her place and handle the branch's affairs for her.
Master Roland had not yet returned to the country, and Orion was the Emperor, burdened with his own imperial duties.
Cecilia had been dispatched to the Northern Territory to meet with the headquarters.
Looking around, if she wanted to go out and search for Xie Bai, there was only one person left to choose.
The leader of the Alchemist faction within the Wheel of Fate, the Child of Fate on the Alchemist side, the current Royal Chief Alchemist of the Aodu Empire, and the personal disciple of the strongest alchemist, Roland.
Edward.
With that thought, Atoris spoke to him.
"If I asked you to handle the affairs of the Wheel of Fate branch in my stead for a while, would you be willing?"
Edward was stunned by the question.
Handle the branch affairs in her stead? Is this a test?
For a moment, Edward fell into hesitation.
Could it be that she wanted to groom him as a successor and was testing him in advance?
It wasn't impossible.
As the Child of Fate for the Alchemists, though he often encountered great danger, as long as he survived the catastrophe, a corresponding opportunity would follow.
Could this be the opportunity he earned after surviving Xie Bai?
The more Edward thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Though he didn't know the underlying reason, Edward decided to accept.
At the very least, the alchemists under him already had experience in manufacturing magitech trains; there was no need for him to oversee every detail personally for the time being.
This happened to free up his time to handle other matters.
Having made his decision, Edward spoke in a solemn tone.
"I am honored by your trust, my Lady. I am willing to take on this responsibility."
Seeing Edward agree, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Atoris’s face.
"Very well. This is the pass for the branch base. I have already granted you access permissions. The location is beneath the Opera House."
As she spoke, Atoris handed Edward a badge.
[Wheel of Fate Pass]
[Usage Scenario: Wheel of Fate - Aodu Empire Branch]
[Access Permissions: Atoris, Roland, Edward]
Edward bowed as he took it, tucking it away carefully.
"By the way, I haven't asked what specific..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Edward froze.
Atoris was already nowhere to be seen.
*
Lightless Outpost.
Xie Bai had already arrived at the location with the two little ones.
Before coming, she hadn't been sure what this "major event" referred to, until she saw the dense crowd gathered here.
Scanning the area, there were roughly four hundred people—nearly half of all the closed beta players.
Are they... plotting something?
At that moment, Xie Bai remembered the player forum.
If she checked there, she might discover what these players were up to.
With that thought, Xie Bai opened the forum.
The moment she entered, the first thing she saw was the video with the highest trending score.
[The First Major Event of the Closed Beta: Make the Sword of Expedition Great Again!]
[Posted by: Cat Fur Hat Maomao]