Chapter 190: You Want Them All? Can Your Kidneys Handle It?
What a righteous answer! To have summoned such a Hero was truly the greatest fortune of the Heavenly Continent.
Qin Chu’s response satisfied everyone.
Augustus stroked his beard and nodded slightly. “I admire your resolve, Hero.”
“This is a matter of great benefit to the salvation of the Heavenly Continent. I believe the members of the former Hero Squad wouldn’t object, would they?”
He emphasized the word “former,” his gaze sweeping over them.
Loseweisse, Athena, and Airi’s faces darkened considerably.
Ekaterina lowered her eyes, her thoughts unreadable. Or perhaps she wasn’t thinking at all; after all, everyone knew she was all brawn and no brains.
When Augustus’s gaze fell on Sylph, she instinctively shrank back, her slender neck twitching as she swallowed nervously.
It was the gaze of Augustus, the Pope of the Holy See.
His seemingly cloudy eyes seemed to possess a penetrating power, making Sylph feel as if all her secrets were laid bare before him.
She subconsciously pulled at her collar, covering her neck.
Silence filled the hall.
No one spoke.
Recently, with Benson’s death, the Hero Squad’s strength had weakened. Loseweisse had wanted to use his death to their advantage, portraying him as a heroic figure who sacrificed himself to save civilians, besieged by hundreds of Demon Beasts, fighting to the last breath. This would boost the Hero Squad’s reputation and image.
But before her plan could even begin, Karsus’s incident erupted.
Then, Karsus fell, transforming into a terrifying monster, slaughtering countless nobles…
These events had severely tarnished the Hero Squad’s reputation, even leading to resentment towards Jie Luo, and their influence had greatly diminished.
Of course, they were extremely resistant to this situation. In their eyes, the Hero Squad was a small group centered around Lord Jie Luo.
They couldn’t tolerate any outsiders joining.
Loseweisse remained silent. Although she disagreed, she wouldn’t be the first to speak out. She knew someone would do it for her.
As expected, a figure stood up. It was Ekaterina, the Crimson Valkyrie.
I thought Sylph, with her fiery temper, would be the first to speak out… Loseweisse thought. But Ekaterina was fine too. It seemed that Ekaterina also didn’t want others to join and affect their plan.
“On behalf of myself, I welcome the new members who want to join the Hero Squad,” Ekaterina said.
Her words instantly drew the attention of the other women.
Loseweisse’s mouth opened slightly in disbelief, followed by a surge of anger, as if she had been betrayed.
Damn it, how could you allow others to join the Hero Squad?
The Hero Squad was personally chosen by Lord Jie Luo. Anyone else joining would be a taint.
Ekaterina ignored their gazes and continued, “I believe that everyone who wants to join the Hero Squad is doing it for our world. I commend their courage.”
“But I think you might have misunderstood something.”
“Being a member of the Hero Squad is not as glorious as you imagine. It’s not just about honor.”
“It’s also about responsibility.”
“In my opinion, it’s more about blood, chaos, slaughter, and fear. You will never know what kind of enemy you will face next,” Ekaterina poured cold water on their enthusiasm, “And you never know when you will die.”
The other girls were slightly relieved. It seemed that Ekaterina had also learned to be clever.
Was this a case of “dampening expectations before exceeding them”?
After all, the Hero Squad’s reputation wasn’t very good now. If they directly and bluntly objected, the situation would be very bad. Ekaterina’s approach was just right.
“Moreover, the members of the Hero Squad have been working together for many years. We understand each other. Newcomers might not be able to integrate smoothly, which would be detrimental to our combat effectiveness and unity,” Ekaterina added.
Saint Monique nodded. “So that’s what you’re worried about?”
“I think you’re overthinking it.”
“Since these individuals have decided to join the Hero Squad, it means they are fully prepared. They are the most outstanding talents from the royal family, the Holy See, the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess, and Sage Mountain.”
“Miss Ekaterina, you wouldn’t think their willpower is inferior to Karsus’s, would you?”
These words made Loseweisse’s heart sink.
Karsus was a stain on the Hero Squad that they couldn’t get rid of. Even in death, he was still causing them trouble. Whenever Karsus was mentioned, it was difficult for them to refute.
As expected, Ekaterina frowned, not knowing what to say.
Useless idiot… Loseweisse muttered inwardly.
Zimmerman also slowly spoke, “The Hero’s safety is of paramount importance. He is the hope of the Heavenly Continent. We can’t allow him to come to harm, so the Hero Squad must be replenished.”
“Moreover, there was the previous incident of the former Hero Squad members taking the Hero out of the Imperial City without permission. The Hero wasn’t fully developed at that time, and the entire Heavenly Continent had to bear a huge risk. I don’t want that to happen again.”
This insidious old man.
Deliberately bringing up this point, he was clearly saying, We’re not pursuing your previous mistakes, so don’t make a fuss about this matter either.
This wasn’t a discussion at all. These old geezers were just announcing a decision they had already made.
It was even a threat: If you don’t agree, don’t blame us for settling the score later.
Understanding this, Loseweisse felt discouraged.
Dealing with these old men was truly exhausting.
Ekaterina also seemed to understand that she couldn’t say anything more. She took a step back and returned to her seat.
“Then, it’s settled,” Wadsworth said with a smile, nodding, “Two positions in the Hero Squad. First, I recommend my cousin, Violet…”
No, no, she’s definitely not your cousin, Qin Chu thought. She’s old enough to be your great-grandmother…
“Miss Violet is close to the Hero and very powerful. I think she’s perfectly qualified to be a member of the Hero Squad. You three have no objections, right?”
Saint Monique, Augustus, and Zimmerman all nodded slightly, agreeing with Wadsworth’s suggestion.
They all knew that the “cousin” thing was complete nonsense.
Violet’s origins were very mysterious. They had all investigated her, but found no clues. She was like a super expert who appeared out of thin air.
But she was brought here by Qin Chu personally.
Now, Qin Chu’s fame, strength, and status were all increasing. No matter what, they had to give him face.
Although this meant four people competing for one spot, the difficulty suddenly increased.
“As for the remaining spot, I recommend my daughter, Carol!”
“Although she’s young, she’s very talented, no less than Lance. I believe she will achieve great things by the Hero’s side.”
The princess named Carol curtsied gracefully to Qin Chu, her large eyes blinking with curiosity… But that gaze made Qin Chu’s hair stand on end.
He felt as if this girl wanted to dissect him and study him piece by piece.
Wadsworth continued, “Although Carol’s strength isn’t very strong, she’s proficient in potion brewing. I believe she can be a great asset to the Hero Squad.”
“No, no, Your Majesty Wadsworth,” Augustus shook his head, “I admit that Princess Carol is indeed very talented, but… we’ve all heard the rumors about Her Highness. Do you want the noble Hero to become her pet?”
“I’m worried that if Carol joins the Hero Squad, it might cause unnecessary trouble…”
Wadsworth’s face darkened. His daughter was good in every aspect, except for her personality, which was truly terrible.
He had wanted to marry her off early.
But Carol’s status was noble, and only the son of a marquis or higher would be a suitable match.
Unfortunately, Carol’s requirement was that either the other party become her pet, or she become theirs. Otherwise, life would be too boring.
But who would dare to treat a princess as a pet?
And which marquis or duke would be willing to let their son be someone else’s pet?
So, although Carol was already of marriageable age, she still hadn’t been married off, becoming a leftover woman.
Although he usually appeared amiable, Augustus wouldn’t give Wadsworth too much face now. Being able to place his own person by the Hero’s side would bring the greatest benefits. These old foxes wouldn’t give up real benefits for the sake of false appearances.
“In comparison, Shirley from our Holy See, although she’s only a Saintess candidate, is definitely the most outstanding one. She’s the one who will succeed Loseweisse in the future,” Augustus said, “And Shirley has a gentle and elegant personality, perfect for staying by the Hero’s side. She’s also proficient in Light magic. She can play a very good role in the Hero Squad, both in terms of healing and defense.”
A flicker of resentment flashed in Loseweisse’s downcast eyes…
This damned little bitch.
Even when she reached the age of a Saintess, she wouldn’t be willing to step down from that position. She even wanted to climb higher and further…
And she said she would succeed her?
What qualifications did this little bitch have to succeed her?
Shirley, unaware of Loseweisse’s resentment, blushed slightly, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at Qin Chu.
Although she carried the task assigned by the Pope, her admiration for the Hero hadn’t changed.
“No…” Zimmerman and Saint Monique shook their heads almost simultaneously.
“Are you two mistaken about something? The Hero Squad is supposed to be the Hero’s fighting force, not a daycare center. The new members must be able to immediately join the fierce battles and even take on the responsibility of protecting the Hero.”
“I don’t deny that Princess Carol and Saintess Candidate Shirley are both very talented, but their current strength is insufficient.” Zimmerman stroked his goatee, his face full of pride, “In comparison, my Natia is much more outstanding.”
He paused for two seconds and deliberately said, “Moreover, the Hero and Natia have always had a good relationship. I think Natia is the most suitable candidate.”
Among the four major forces, Sage Mountain was always the weakest.
Although they had thirteen Grand Mages, including Natia… not a single one had broken through to level 90.
Even Zimmerman had been stuck at level 89 for many years and might never be able to advance further in his lifetime.
If Natia could build a good relationship with Qin Chu, then Sage Mountain’s status would immediately rise significantly… As for his precious cabbage being taken?
Let it be.
It was only a matter of time.
If she wasn’t taken by the Hero, she would be taken by someone else.
Zimmerman had come to terms with this. Since she was going to be taken anyway, it was better to choose the most outstanding one. And Natia seemed to be interested in the Hero, which could also benefit Sage Mountain.
“Master Zimmerman, have you forgotten about the Saintess of our Church of the Earth Mother Goddess? Inas is also a Grand Mage, not much weaker than Natia,” Saint Monique said with a gentle and charming smile.
Inas frowned slightly, seemingly unwilling, but she couldn’t refuse the Holy Maiden’s order.
Seeing the four factions competing for the last spot, engaging in “friendly exchanges” and “frankly exchanging opinions”…
Qin Chu scratched his head helplessly… Decorum, decorum!
You are the most powerful and noble people in the Heavenly Continent, aren’t your current actions a bit undignified?
After a long while, Qin Chu suddenly coughed, “Everyone, have you forgotten that there are several other people in my residence…”
“Angelica has been following me and serving me. She’s my most important maid. Whether I’m going out or doing anything else, I feel very uncomfortable without her by my side…”
“Princess Anastasia and I also have a very good relationship. We’ve become close friends, and it would make me very sad to suddenly part ways.”
“And Norma, Karsus’s ex-fiancée. As you all know, Norma also has the combat power of a Grand Mage. She even protected me during Karsus’s rampage.”
Everyone was stunned.
What did the Hero mean by this?
Did he really intend to keep all the spots for his own people, not giving any benefits to others?
Seeing their various expressions, Qin Chu tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his chair, “Everyone, what I mean is…”
“Who said the Hero Squad can only have ten members?”
“Couldn’t it be eleven, or twenty-one?”
Couldn’t he just have them all?
Hiss!
Everyone gasped.
Carol, Shirley, Inas… even Natia, their expressions all turned strange.
Wadsworth blurted out, “Seriously? You want them all?”
“Can your kidneys handle it?”
Tsk.
Someone with over a hundred wives wasn’t qualified to say that.
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