"Aiya." Dyon looked around in disappointment. "I thought you said that array was amazing? Seems I just slipped and fell in…"
Little Alauna covered her lips and giggled. She had never seen her father in action before, he mostly hid it from her. But, it seemed he was even more mischievous that she was. Even in the face of so many Higher Existences, he was actually slapping their faces so severely.
It was obvious Dyon could have strolled in whenever he felt like it. But he actually first goaded an 'expert' into explaining just how amazing the array was first before doing so. It seemed like a minor change, but judging by the ugly expressions on the faces of the elders, it was still a resounding blow.
Dyon shook his head, taking a casual glance around. His eyes lit up when he noticed Rose and Jade. A weight on his heart was dropped immediately afterward. It seemed Jade had finally resolved her manifestation's problem.
By then, Saru and Lilith had inexplicably disappeared. From start to end, Dyon was never aware of their appearance.
Jade's gaze darted around nervously. Though she was eager to return to Dyon, she was also nervous to face him head on… Her memories had been sealed, but she was still an intelligent individual. She could tell by the odd relationship between her master and Dyon that something deeper was going on. And, she could faintly feel that it was somehow her fault.
The final result was a apprehensive and jumpy Jade, whereas the Jade Dyon had always known was as confident and witty as himself. The change was far too drastic.
Unfortunately, he could only sigh in his heart. Sealing her memories probably wasn't the ideal solution… Still, now wasn't the time to deal with these things.
'Maybe Miss Everdeen's spirit found its way to the Elvin Tombs… In that case, maybe the only way Jade can let this stone rest from her heart is to speak with her directly…'
With this final thought, Dyon turned his attention back to coliseum below.
It had quite an ancient design, reminiscent of Roman times. A section of its body was cut out to form an elevated platform that loomed high in the skies. There was no doubt that this housed the most qualified elders, of which the most obvious at a single glance was the old man whose height was looming even while he sat on his throne.
As Dyon casually scanned the surroundings, he suddenly found something interesting that made him tilt his head in surprise. His gaze met the panicked gazes of Amell and Nora, Madeleine's biological parents!
In the end, Dyon smiled. If he thought about it, he couldn't be too surprised by their appearance. They were indeed high-level Dao experts, and they were young at that. They weren't more than 300 years old by Dyon's estimations. So, considering their cultivation, they could actually enter the Ancient Battlefield. In all likelihood, their standing was very high amidst the Sapientia.
Dyon thought for a bit and decided not to expose them.
Judging by the actions of the couple, there was definitely some secret brewing within the Sapientia. Maybe the entire Clan wasn't his enemy after all…
The couple, however, were shocked by Dyon's immediate recognition of them. They had always taken cautions in the past. Not only did they change their appearances, but they changed their auras as well. For Dyon to see through them with a single glance…
"This little brat… Not only did he wring my dry of my precious money, he's actually brought my daughter to such a dangerous place!" Amell grit his teeth.
"Amell… What do we do? What do we do?" Nora gripped her husband's hands, clearly not taking Dyon's calm gaze as any sort of insurance.
Amell's brow frowned. "That boy is reckless, but he isn't stupid. Maybe he already has a way out."
"What way out?" Nora continued to panic. "Foolish tricks don't work against Higher Existences. This isn't a joke."
"Calm down, Nora." Amell's words snapped Nora out from her panic attack. "You heard the reports yourself. He killed 13 Fallen alone. I originally didn't believe it was him, but there's no denying it now. Even if we interfere, we would be no help… We can only send word to the elders and hope they can help…"
"Just what happened in all these years… We've tried to return to that universe many times already, but it was sealed off… I thought… I thought Little Maddy was dead…"
A deep swirl of complicated feelings welled in Nora's ċhėst. She was both happy that her daughter was alive, and devastated that she would appear here. It was impossible to sort her feelings out.
Dyon was partially aware of what the couple might be feeling, but his attention was already elsewhere.
"My Sacharro Clan had a recent windfall and accepted the Sprite Alliance's generosity in allowing us to manage their territory. But, to my horror, my brothers in the Sprite Alliance were actually kicked off the Nephilim Gathering Seats of Honor.
"I've come to seek an explanation on their behalf. This sort of slight cannot be accepted. No matter what, the Sprite Alliance is prepared to shoulder a large burden for the sake of our Mortal Plane, yet you all have spit on their efforts.
"I, Dyon Sacharro, will not allow this to stand!"
The lips of the elders twitched violently. Shameless!
Little Alauna couldn't hold back anymore. She laughed so hard that she had to lean her forehead against her father's back.