Chapter 388: Roundtable Discussion (Part 1)

“Just my luck. Why did I have to run into her here of all places…”

Samimi closed the door and let out a long sigh.

“I ran into a weirdo.”

Shirley William was one of the younger generation’s elite who had already awakened their domain.

She was the classic kind of person who loved to stir up trouble and was obsessed with magic, her purpose in life probably being to find strong opponents to fight.

She even had a sense of martial virtue, at least.

But once she targeted you, it was like being stuck with a fly—you couldn’t shake her off.

What made it worse was that she was a Wind magic user, not a Fire mage.

So her element wasn’t countered by mine.

On top of that, Shirley William was that standard pale-haired beauty, a year older than me and a senior in the academy.

Based on the underlying logic of character tropes, someone like her was usually even more troublesome than the Lion King.

In typical academy novels, a character like her would be the “campus tyrant.”

The absolute overlord of the school, specializing in beating up the transfer student protagonist and taking him down a peg, to teach readers that there’s always someone stronger.

Back in my academy days, I had almost no chance against Shirley William.

Only after awakening my magic domain did I barely qualify to stand against her.

But things are different now.

I’ve strengthened a lot of skills and been through countless life-or-death battles.

The Demon-Hunting Nun was no longer the same Demon-Hunting Nun.

Without a hundred percent certainty, if it came to a fight, I’d at least be firmly undefeated.

Unless Shirley William suddenly realized some heaven-defying magic formula and summoned a demon god right on the spot.

Then I’d accept it.

“Looks like this banquet won’t go smoothly after all…”

Samimi sighed.

Those Western Sea nobles were clearly determined to force old Shia to hand over his authority.

Either give it up or die.

They would never let him leave Dream Village intact.

She walked back to the bed and sat down, while Black Samimi sat quietly on the opposite chair, blankly staring into space, entering standby mode.

That was one of the benefits of doppelganger.

When no action was needed, she could directly enter a meditative standby state, zoning out in place, greatly reducing magic consumption.

“Hmph, Shirley’s arrival is just perfect.”

Samimi narrowed her eyes. Her irritation only lasted a few seconds before it quickly gave way to her familiar arrogance.

“I was just worrying about finding someone to test Black Samimi on, and you delivered yourself.”

PVP was always her specialty.

Fighting people—the joy was endless.

After all, she could now comfortably lie in a high-end inn and recover.

This was completely different from the long-term, high-pressure environment of PVE, where death could come at any moment.

When it came to fighting people, her mentality never faltered.

Boom boom boom —

Not long after, there was another knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

Samimi was noticeably more cautious this time.

“It’s me.”

Veronica’s voice came from outside the door.

Only then did Samimi open the door and let her in.

The two of them snuck in stealthily, like underground contacts.

“Why are you being so cautious?”

Veronica frowned as soon as she entered.

“I haven’t seen you for days. I thought you’d died in some corner. Finally decided to show up?”

Samimi shot back.

“I’ve been mapping Dream Village’s terrain.”

Veronica lowered her voice.

“But there’s one place I can’t get into. It’s a small building with few guards, but each one is a master at counter-surveillance. I suspect the Ghost Squad and Count Perry are hiding there.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

Samimi asked.

“Count Perry must already know his son is dead. You didn’t seal the news, and you let a few maids and cooks escape. He definitely knows now that the killers of his son were a few female holy practitioners.”

Veronica tugged at her gray nun’s robe, the implication clear.

“So?”

Samimi raised an eyebrow.

“Let’s strike first and take out Count Perry.”

Veronica’s tone was ice-cold.

“Good suggestion, but too extreme. Not the outcome I want.”

Samimi refused flatly.

“Then what outcome do you want?”

Veronica frowned, analyzing.

“This is the best chance. Let’s join forces and take out the Ghost Squad and Count Perry first. Once the Round Table Meeting starts and they hide among the crowd, we’ll never find another opportunity.”

“This is Dream Village.”

Samimi suddenly became serious.

“Whoever makes the first move loses. Do you think they traveled all the way here for what? For that ridiculous knight spirit. The people here care most about doing things in a just and proper manner. Whoever breaks the rules first loses the upper hand. Once we make the first move, we’ll be stuck and unable to move forward.”

Veronica looked dark-faced, obviously disagreeing with this logic.

“Don’t blame me for not warning you when the Ghost Squad ambushes you.”

“Since Count Perry knows we killed his son and still holds back from acting, why can’t we hold back?”

Samimi retorted.

“He’s holding back now so he can make a justifiable move at the Round Table Meeting. Since he wants to put on a show, we’ll play along.”

“Then what are you going to do when he really makes his move?”

Veronica asked.

“What to do?”

Samimi laughed.

“Deny it flat out, of course. If I resolutely refuse to admit it, what can he do to me? Does he have evidence?”

Her laughter grew more and more brazen.

“Are you really a holy practitioner?”

Veronica questioned with a blank expression.

“One hundred percent pure-blooded priest, pastor, holy practitioner.”

Samimi said righteously.

“I was raised by my mother who packed me off to the Church to be trained as a proper holy person.”

Just then, the door was pushed open again.

Fabiana returned with Niubao, who had eaten and drunk their fill.

“We ran into the God of Fight while we were eating.”

Fabiana said as she placed the packed food on the table.

“He seemed to have a problem with the Half-Orc Paladin, but after talking to Niubao for a bit, he was driven off by Niubao.”

“Someone can be talked into running away by Niubao?”

Samimi immediately lunged for the food like a starving ghost.

Veronica hadn’t eaten either, so she simply reached over and grabbed Samimi’s lunchbox, eating along without reservation.

“What other intel do you have from your side?”

She asked while eating.

“On the God of Fight side, it would take at least Niubao and me working together to barely hold him off. Winning is basically impossible.”

Fabiana first analyzed the combat strength.

“I also ran into a peer just now.”

Samimi said while guarding her food.

“The strongest apprentice of the younger generation from the Continental Magic Academy. She’s currently Count Salam’s hired magic consultant. When the time comes, I’ll have to focus on dealing with her.”

“…”

Veronica was silent for a second.

“So who’s going to deal with the Ghost Squad and the Ghost Boss?”

“You, of course.”

Samimi said matter-of-factly.

“You ate my food and still want to slack off?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll summon Skeleton Knights to assist you.”

Fabiana calmly added.

“Is it too late for me to go back to Black Street?”

Veronica forced a smile.

“You got on a pirate ship and still want to get off?”

Samimi snatched her lunchbox back.

Veronica couldn’t be bothered to argue with her; instead, she unfolded the Dream Village map she had drawn and began planning routes for everyone.

Whether it was to fight or retreat later, at least they shouldn’t run around like headless flies.

They needed to know first where to strike and where to flee.

Next, everything that could be done had been done.

All that remained was to wait for the Round Table Meeting to begin.