Volume 2, Chapter 41 – Hilgena’s Mind Racing at Full Gallop

In the eastern part of the Veiled Domain, the mood of the Covenant’s ‘Arbiters’ Legion’—the main force in this operation—had been fluctuating like a roller coaster.

From the initial tension during deployment, to the excitement when ‘Lianna’ was rescued, to the panic when the Terran Malevolence appeared, and then to the exhilaration when the Terran Malevolence was destroyed…

And now, everyone was experiencing a strange mixture of joy and unease.

The joy came from the fact that the great hero Lady Hilgena, whom they thought had perished in battle, had suddenly reappeared before them.

The unease stemmed from the special person Lady Hilgena had brought back with her.

The former Divine-Graced Maiden of the Covenant, Lianna-Anloxi.

Of course, it was good news that Lady Lianna had been found, but considering that Gaia Lobir had previously infiltrated the flagship ‘Hallowed Sigil Vessel’ by assuming Lianna’s form…

Everyone’s expressions had become particularly strange.

“So what exactly happened?”

In the battleship corridor, Shawn Ge, the Second Celestial Augur Knight, was hurriedly walking toward the command room despite his injuries, while nervously glancing at the brown-haired man beside him.

“About ten minutes ago, when the logistics team was doing the final battlefield cleanup, Lady Hilgena walked out of the Veiled Domain carrying the unconscious Lady Lianna. Then… General Perom, who was in charge of the scene, brought them back.”

“Are you certain it’s really them?”

“Lady Hilgena definitely is—the secret code checks out, and her aura completely matches. But as for Lady Lianna…”

“What about Lianna?”

“Her aura and DNA match what’s in our database, but… her appearance…”

“Hmm?”

Seeing his subordinate’s hesitant expression, Shawn Ge frowned.

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However, soon enough, this Celestial Augur Knight understood why his subordinate wore such an expression.

Upon entering the battleship’s command room and seeing that blue figure lying on the sofa, Shawn Ge shuddered and instinctively took two steps back.

“What the?!”

That figure was all too familiar to Shawn Ge—it was the Divine-Graced Maiden Lianna, with whom he had fought side by side many times.

Normally, seeing Lady Lianna safe and sound would have made Shawn Ge jubilant.

However, after the twists and turns of two days ago, Shawn Ge’s heart was filled with nothing but unease.

After all, Lianna’s current appearance was identical to the impostor he had seen two days ago—the one disguised by the Terran Malevolence! Whether it was her hairstyle, clothing, or the bandages wrapped around her feet and left arm…

For a moment, instinctive fear welled up from the depths of Shawn Ge’s heart. But as a Celestial Augur Knight, he quickly took several deep breaths and stabilized his emotions.

Then, out of courtesy, Shawn Ge first greeted Hilgena who stood nearby.

“It’s wonderful to see you safe and sound, Lady Hilgena.”

In response, Hilgena crossed her arms over her chest, raised her head, and said rather arrogantly:

“I am a Divine-Graced Maiden blessed by the Lord, how could I easily come to harm? You all worry too much. I disappear for just one day, and you’re all saying I perished together with Gaia Lobir? It’s truly speechless.”

“I apologize for our oversight.”

Shawn Ge respectfully lowered his head.

While appearing submissive, Shawn Ge slightly relaxed.

Hmm, that lofty demeanor and that prickly attitude…

It’s definitely her.

“But speaking of which, where did you go after shattering the core? When the explosion’s aftershocks dissipated, we searched for you for a long time but couldn’t find you…”

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“No wonder you couldn’t find me. I was chasing the Terran Malevolence into the Veiled Domain.”

“Chasing the Terran Malevolence?!” Shawn Ge’s expression suddenly changed.

Not just him, but everyone nearby also had their expressions change instantly.

“Such an attack, and it still couldn’t eliminate Gaia Lobir?!”

“Indeed, that monster of a Terran Malevolence has quite a tenacious life force. After being severely injured, it still managed to split off a piece of its core to escape.”

Hilgena nodded indifferently:

“But rest assured, I caught up with it afterward and completely destroyed the remaining core of the Malevolence.”

“Is that so, then the Terran Malevolence should be…”

“Yes, that monster has been eliminated by the Lord’s radiance.”

As she spoke, Hilgena glanced at the blue-haired girl lying on the sofa with a very complex gaze.

“However, thanks to that monster’s desperate escape, I was able to successfully find Lady Lianna deep in the Veiled Domain.”

“Is it really Lady Lianna?”

As if traumatized by his previous experience, Shawn Ge’s eyes still carried a hint of doubt as he looked at the blue-haired girl.

To this, Hilgena scoffed coldly:

“Would I not know whether she’s real or not? The Lianna disguised by the Terran Malevolence might fool you all, but it can’t fool me. The Augury Force within her can resonate with mine. How could this possibly be fake? A monster like the Terran Malevolence could never harness the Lord’s grace.”

“I understand…”

Shawn Ge nodded with complex emotions. Although he didn’t deny Hilgena’s judgment, this Celestial Augur Knight kept his gaze fixed on the blue-haired girl’s left hand.

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The scenes that had unfolded on the flagship Hallowed Sigil Vessel earlier reverberated in Shawn Ge’s mind.

Recalling the black liquid twisting and dancing beneath the bandages, Shawn Ge couldn’t help but clench his fist.

Finally, under everyone’s somewhat startled gaze, the determined Shawn Ge suddenly took action.

“Hey! What are you doing!” Hilgena shouted angrily.

Unfortunately, perhaps because it happened so suddenly, Hilgena couldn’t stop Shawn Ge’s probing in time.

Thus, Shawn Ge’s mechanical arm lunged forward, flying directly toward the blue-haired girl’s left arm. In the next instant, the bandages wrapped around the blue-haired girl’s left hand were torn off by Shawn Ge’s arm.

“This is?!!”

Upon seeing the arm, Shawn Ge was stunned. For what entered his sight was not the black liquid he viewed as a nightmare, but a delicate and fragile small hand covered with burn marks.

It was a genuine human hand.

“It’s… it’s really Lianna?”

Shawn Ge muttered in astonishment.

At this moment, Hilgena’s angry questioning came from the side, causing Shawn Ge to tremble all over.

“Shawn Ge!! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I apologize for my rudeness.”

Shawn Ge hurriedly waved his hands in apology.

“Lianna’s hands and feet were severely injured, that’s why they’re bandaged. And you just rudely tore off the bandages? Lianna is very fragile right now! What if you hurt her?!”

As the words left her mouth, terrifying coldness flashed in Hilgena’s eyes, along with a trace of imperceptible unease. Her Augury Force instantly condensed in her palm, clearly preparing for a confrontation.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the command room took a sharp turn for the worse.

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However, just as Hilgena was about to teach Shawn Ge a lesson, the girl who had been ‘weakly’ sleeping for so long quietly opened her eyes.

“He’s just concerned about safety… Gena… don’t be so hard on him.”

The girl’s voice was quite weak, but it was like heavenly music, embodying indescribable gentleness and kindness.

Seeing the blue-haired girl speak, both Shawn Ge and the other Covenant soldiers in the command room all showed astonished expressions.

Under everyone’s surprised gaze, Hilgena, upon hearing these words, immediately and obediently dispersed the Augury Force gathered in her hand, and nodded rather respectfully.

“Understood, Senior Lianna.”

After appeasing Hilgena, the blue-haired girl turned her gentle and apologetic gaze toward the astonished Shawn Ge before her.

“I’m sorry, she’s just worried about me, please forgive her…”

As her words faded, a perfect and heart-stirring smile appeared on the girl’s exquisite face, like spring sunshine, directly warming everyone’s hearts.

Standing before the blue-haired girl, directly facing this smile, Shawn Ge trembled all over, his eyeballs quivering with excitement.

At this moment, upon meeting those compassionate emerald eyes, upon seeing that nostalgic smile, all tension and doubt in Shawn Ge’s heart vanished. He dispersed his spiritual power, respectfully lowered his head, and knelt on one knee before the blue-haired girl.

“Welcome back, Lady Lianna.”

Of course, since Shawn Ge and all the soldiers in the command room were focusing their attention on the blue-haired girl at this moment… no one noticed Hilgena’s abnormal expression, which was as if she had seen a ghost.

Staring at the blue-haired girl’s enchanting smile, Hilgena’s brow didn’t show any immersion in it; inst

ead, her eyebrows twitched frantically.

—”What the f***? How can she act so well??”—