T0 Gaming Guild Saves the World.

Chapter 164, Section 163: Traitor
Since all the major city-states of Anna have no-fly regulations, the convoy did not go directly into the capital, but instead landed at a mansion on the outskirts of the capital.

The royal guards, who had been waiting there, first bowed to Prince Sloan, then turned their attention to the back of the carriage—where the jailer was pulling prisoners out one by one.

The members of the Anna mission had all disembarked and gathered together, watching coldly.

Seeing the prison guard's rough behavior, someone tried to step forward, but was pulled back by others.

Jiang Heyi noticed all these small details and, combined with some unpleasant remarks that Kesha had overheard using magic, realized that this trip to the capital wouldn't be very smooth.

never mind.

Because of their excellent choices, Mint Mom has continued her reading time.

Their equipment is also being forged in the Fallen Star Royal Court.

They've already made a lot from this long storyline, and even if the plot is ruined and goes in an unpredictable direction, they're still not at a loss at the boundary between reality and fiction.

"This is the temporary residence of the Fallen Star Mission. Servants and guards have been arranged. His Majesty will personally summon you soon."

After Prince Sloan finished speaking, everyone at the boundary between the real and the virtual remained silent and unresponsive, like wooden figures.

Kesha did react somewhat, but it was only by teasing Jiang Heyi with its tail.

She didn't care at all about being surrounded by a large crowd, enjoying her time alone with her boyfriend as if no one else was around.

Judging from her exceptionally beautiful mental state, she absolutely wanted more people to watch her and Jiang Heyi being affectionate.

"You wish to transfer the person?"

Prince Sloan was relieved, thankful that at least one person in the delegation understood the implied meaning and that he didn't need to explicitly state the topic.

Although Jiang Heyi's question had already brought the issue to the forefront.

Prince Sloane was very worried that the Siren Mission would insist on continuing to guard the eight nobles, but his worries did not materialize, and they readily handed them over.

It went more smoothly than anyone had imagined.

After the royal guards escorted the prisoner away, Prince Sloan also left, and the once noisy mansion suddenly became quiet.

Jiang Heyi sent all the servants to the first floor, forbidding them from going upstairs without permission.

Upon reaching the rooftop terrace, Kesha set up a soundproofing array. The group looked around at the guards who remained to protect them, shouted a few times to confirm that the array was in effect, and then began to communicate.

"Tell me, what were those voices you overheard saying?"

Jiang Heyi was serious, and Ke Xia also adopted a serious attitude.

She cleared her throat and imitated the tone of some of them.

"Making a mountain out of a molehill; the fallen star was just an attempt to embarrass the Empire."

"They could have negotiated through diplomatic channels, but instead they sent the Siren to land on Gunnar, which was an act of undeclared war, and now they are still getting bogged down in trivial details."

"Whether there was a frame-up is still unknown. We need to investigate thoroughly once we arrive in the capital."

Although Kesha heard a few members of the mission arguing their case, their overall voices were far less loud than the former.

"Things aren't simple." The jailer found a recliner, put his hands behind his head, and slumped down comfortably.

On the surface, this appears to be a desperate struggle by a few once-wealthy nobles who are now in decline, and their method of struggle is a despicable attempt to force the issue.

It's a very simple principle, but it seems some people are planning to ignore the facts.

Just as Jiang Heyi was about to reach out and rub the corner of his eye, Ke Xia's hand was already there.

A slight dampness from the water element on my fingertips, a cool and refreshing touch, combined with Kesha's perfectly timed rubbing, instantly relaxed my tense brows.

"Comfortable?"

“Of course.” Thinking that Ke Xia was always the one doing the work, Jiang Heyi suggested, “I’ll give you a massage too.”

As soon as he finished speaking, five pairs of eyes stared straight at him, each with a strange smile on their lips.

"It's alright, you can continue. Just pretend we don't exist," the jailer waved his hands repeatedly.

The blanket urged, "Keep rubbing it! The potato will grow, I want to see it!"

Just as Jiang Heyi, who was about to take action because he thought that Kexia was being so proactive and didn't want to show any weakness, coughed.

"Let's get down to business, Kshasa. How much do you know about Anna's politics?"

Kesha's attention was drawn back.

She shook her head blankly: "Although I worked for the Narum family, it was just for fun, and I didn't really learn anything about it."

Orange Tea reminded: "The demonic incident that happened in Cyon should have made Narum think you're dead too. Now you're swaggering back to the capital. Will you be alright?"

Kesha shrugged and said matter-of-factly, "Just say I left the mansion early. Anyway, they can't reconstruct exactly what happened that night."

The remnants of the demon's magic are significantly different from those of common magic. Under its influence, Narum Manor was left in ruins, and to this day, no one has been able to determine exactly what happened that night.

Even if they could find out that Ksha was also at the mansion that night, Narum wouldn't be able to do much about it.

Unless he wants to add fuel to the fire at a sensitive time when the Empire is clashing with the Siren.

Just as everyone was worried about how little they knew about the Anna pattern, a chime-like notification sounded in the ears of everyone at the boundary between the real and the virtual.

Jiang Heyi vaguely remembered that this was the notification sound when the guild was established.

This is the first time it's been heard. What happened?
Filled with doubt, he brought up the guild panel and his eyes widened in surprise.

Mint: "Where did you all go? Come back to the guild and get me!"

Mint: "Wow, where are you all? Where are you all? Where are you all?!"

Mint was frantically repeating her lessons, the wind chimes ringing incessantly. When Jiang Heyi returned to the guild, he picked up the anxious Mint and took her to the manor.

Her first words upon landing were: "That's outrageous! They abandoned me and ran off to the capital."

The blanket couldn't hold back any longer: "Mint Mom's accusation is really going too far! You're studying in the Great Library, and we even renewed your study time, and you're still complaining about us."

"That's right, that's right, Mint Mommy is bad!"

The saying "one is influenced by one's surroundings" probably applies to orange tea as well.

Mint panicked when the two, who were pretending to be angry, accused her.

I've rediscovered that feeling of bullying Mint from the beginning. Sigh, it was really mean, but... Mint's mom's reaction was so funny.

Upon learning that everyone had gone to the capital as envoys, Mint asked the Queen for permission to study and immediately returned to the guild.

She knows very well what her own child is like.

The Queen knows what Ksha is like.

This home needs an Anna Best Talker!
After hearing about everyone's experiences along the way, Mint was about to make a brief analysis when several carriages with luxurious decorations appeared in the distance from the mansion.

The presence of a mage and a cavalry guard clearly demonstrated the distinguished status and position of the visitors.

Without exception, all the visitors wore black hats and black robes.

As night fell, they drifted like ghosts, relying on special tokens to make the mansion's guards clear a path for them, allowing them to enter the first-floor hall without hindrance.

"Pudou, the guild leader of the Virtual Reality Boundary Guild, would you be willing to accept a private invitation?"

Upon hearing this, Ke Xia frowned. Seeing that Jiang Heyi was about to go downstairs to meet her, she quickly shook her head, signaling not to take the risk.

If it were reality, Jiang Heyi would definitely not go.

Since we can't die in the game, it wouldn't hurt to go and see what these mysterious people are up to.

Jiang Heyi entered the soundproof magic circle created by the group of people alone. Facing the several mages surrounding him, he remained calm and picked up an orange from the table and slowly began to peel it.

"If you can enter here by facial recognition... that means you're here for a reason."

Everyone used special magic to cover their faces, as if they were shrouded in a layer of gray mist.

"His courage is admirable; no wonder he became a distinguished guest of the Fallen Star Royal Court."

"Let's skip the compliments and just state our purpose," Jiang Heyi emphasized again.

"Alright, let's save some time." The man paused for a few seconds, then said, "The potato will grow; would you like to gain a friendship in return?"

Jiang Heyi paused in peeling the orange. Despite the ashen face of the black-robed man sitting in front of him, he couldn't help but look up.

"Friendship?" he repeated with amusement.

"Friendship," the other party emphasized.

"Whose friendship?"

“Many people.” The man in black robes’ voice was a few decibels louder.

"I don't really like riddles, you might as well explain it more clearly."

"You are a terrestrial species and also a human. As a fellow human, you should be able to understand some of the awkward things that are happening now, causing many people to get into minor troubles."

Jiang Heyi put an orange segment into her mouth; it was very sour and astringent.

Damn it, is this the kind of fruit the Empire uses to entertain people?

With a hint of resentment from the bitterness and hardship, he pressed on, "If I understand, then what should I do?"
"Consider the hardships faced by the people of the Empire and let this matter be resolved as soon as possible."

Jiang Heyi's lips curled slightly: "I see. Then... what should we do with Giza and the others?"

"That's why I say you can make some friendships in Anna."

Everything became clear. Jiang Heyi ate the sour orange segment by segment, staring at the gray fog right in front of him with a playful expression.

How can I help you?

"If Falling Star wants to show sincerity, we will offer something that will satisfy the Sirens. Since they have sent Chairman Potato to witness this, if only you could understand a little..."

He emphasized the word "understand".

"Take the compensation, return to the fallen star and explain things a little more clearly. Siren, Empire, peace will be restored."

"You mean, ignore the fact that Giza could easily find the best targets to deceive as soon as they arrived at the royal court, ignore their attempts to force the siren girls into having sex, and ignore the trauma suffered by those siren?"

"Anyway, no siren was really harmed. It's better for both sides to end things this way, isn't it?"

The short sword, imbued with elemental power, pierced through the thick wooden table; none of the magicians present saw how Jiang Heyi drew the sword.

The man in black robes and Jiang Heyi stared at each other for a long time.

"You're human, must you side with the siren?"

"I'm standing on reason, not on a stance," Jiang Heyi said calmly. "Of course, in someone like you, I must seem like a traitor, right?"

"It doesn't matter. You can curse me and hate me all you want," Jiang Heyi said with a raised head and a sneer. "I don't care."

“But as long as we remain the messengers of the Fallen Star Siren at the boundary between the real and the virtual worlds, Anna must give the royal court an explanation.”

"Remember, it's essential."

(End of this chapter)