Imperial Capital West District Inspection Station.

Compared to a station, it's more like an open church surrounded by railway tracks. Rose windows adorned with stained glass, pillars carved with olive branches and soaring dragons, and the largest of the pillars suspended with copper oil lamps, exquisitely carved with shrines.

Dark walnut benches slowly come into view.

The sect's direct train to the Imperial City has come to a complete halt.

Wearing the sect's white robe to impersonate an officer of the Eighteenth Formation, Mika's heartbeat was like a drum, pressing his face firmly against the Dragon Face Helmet.

He glanced outside the window.

As consistent with the crystal communication, the Imperial Capital Great Church Holy Knights were complying with the Pope's direct order to receive at the inspection station, ensuring an unobstructed path to the arena.

Those Holy Knights were all towering figures, their silver-white Magic Rune Armor mixed with some sort of luminous material, appearing as rows of shimmering lights.

The leading Holy Knight, though Mika himself had never encountered him, was the Knight Order leader, Qiande.

With neat short golden hair and eyes full of vigor, his tall figure enveloped in armor was immensely brave, even the unique material of his sword scabbard glowed with a peculiar holy radiance.

This profession naturally required an impressive front, and Qiande was flawless, embodying the Holy Knight image, akin to the Valkyrie who battles upon a Celestial Horse in stories.

She held her helmet with one hand, waiting for Mika to disembark and coordinate the champion's congratulatory ceremony with her.

But from the window, Mika only felt fear, having heard from the departed adventure group's leader in the Boneyard that the Eternal Sect might hide many evil entities akin to Haywood and Carrie.

Brother Hai was helpless, Liszt was a damn psychic Demon God.

As for Carrie, she was born ready for conflict, even Mika himself was bewitched, severely punishing the Enchanting Demon before joining Liszt's group.

Qiande's eyes held no emotions, perhaps even her form concealed was a multi-eyed Devil.

Devils don't bleed; when Haywood got injured, what flowed was red sand, and Carrie was the same, a kind of dark sand — all living monsters.

Mika's conscience was also uneasy, afraid that if he was exposed along the way, he'd be sliced into mince by these zealots.

He hadn't realized he too was a Demon within the Annihilation Domain of Calirabos, bleeding iron filings when injured.

He checked the time on the clock — seven-thirty? A bit early; the Imperial City was vast, taking at least an hour from here to the arena.

Earlier is better than late; if delayed in delivering, and others finish their fights, not only Liszt but all the Black Sail crew would lose their heads.

If the Emperor is pleased with this transaction, I'd go from Eastern Sea dog pirate to Aran national hero.

Qiande waited for a while, about half a minute, with the officer still onboard, feeling suspicious; wasn't time supposed to be urgent?

Mika...

Immortal Emperor mode, activate!

HEISHIN!

I really want to have Qili, not just "mess around." I am serious!

RIDER... FUCK!

Fen was the ultimate sinister, leaving the sect survivors in the carriage enchanted — disobedience meant death.

The Eternal Sect was grand, with a lot of Madmen, yet few willing to die as martyrs.

Everyone awaited Mika's maneuver.

Mika pinned the Dragon Face Helmet tightly, left the carriage, stepped onto the platform, touched the grounds of the Imperial City, and felt the reality of Rashomon.

The project was about to find its foundation.

"I am the Imperial Capital Great District Holy Knights leader, as you stated, time is tight; we will immediately proceed with the goods acceptance."

Qiande gestured, a team of holy knights whose armor produced a clanking metallic friction sound as they moved, ready to board for Dragon Corpse inspection.

Opening thunder strike!

Mika couldn't give this opportunity, as inside lay Zote.

"It must swiftly be transported."

Mika spoke calmly, afraid of exposing the trick, anxiety overwhelmed him — never encountered such a significant "official" before, Great District, Great Church, centralized within the Eternal Sect, an individual of notable status in the Church Court.

"Completion is imminent, we also possess dragon identification experts here; even judgers knowing Dragon Clan language are all extinct, surely it's no ordinary Flying Dragon."

Qiande couldn't tolerate Mika's objection, ordering the holy knights aboard.

The Dragon Clan language, broadly categorized as word spirit magic, yet fundamentally different, a higher essence close nature, said to be primordial, partaking in creation as musical notes, imbued with truths and aphorisms.

"The dragon's corpse is extremely valuable and has been sealed with wax to prevent the energy within from dissipating."

Mika still wanted to refuse.

"There's absolutely no need to worry. As I mentioned, with experts present, such an incident won't occur."

Qiande could understand the adjutant's desire not to be robbed of his credit for such an achievement, and simply reassured him.

The inspection and verification continued.

Mika's face beneath the mask turned pale; he could only pin his hopes on General Fen.

Without thorough preparation, it's certain that playing Rashomon would be too risky.

Luckily, both Garscek and Fafna are dragons; even the experts from the Holy Spirit Sect couldn't identify what Fafna truly was and couldn't use her for samples, only using Garscek's hair and breath.

After finishing sample collection, Fen arranged a magic technique in the coffin but emphasized it could only deceive perfectly once; after that, such a precise technique would fail. They still needed to lock down the time to minimize opportunities for verification by the Royal Court and Sect.

A group of Holy Knights and experts boarded the carriage for verification.

Mika didn't understand arcane techniques and could do nothing but wait idly, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would break out and fly away.

Fucking hell... Fen.

These years of endless posturing, the professors of the Pedan National Arcane Academy, the Upper Senators of the Tower Alliance – were you just fooling the clueless pirate buddies, or did you truly have some substance? It's all down to now!

These individuals aren't illiterate pirates; they can't just be toyed with. They're fucking magic experts among experts!

"Are you hurt or something?"

Qiande clearly sensed Mika's off state, whether it was nerves or something else?

"Nothing much, just sitting on the carriage for days and nights, inevitably feeling a bit uncomfortable."

Mika quickly made up a reasonably passable reason.

Qiande didn't suspect anything.

"You can have a doctor take a look. His Holiness the Pope personally directed that you stay at the Eternal Clock Tower for further study. Such supreme glory—don't let an illness delay you."

Qiande indeed believed that these survivors were somewhat injured, coupled with the arduous journey, their conditions couldn't possibly be good.

"Really? Didn't expect such an honor, but I still need to make a trip to the arena."

Mika clearly understood the wonder of the Eternal Clock Tower, rumored as the place closest to the Dragon Lord. Getting in there meant going home for New Year wouldn't just have relatives and friends standing up to toast you; even the local big shots from government and military would come to flatter you.

But Mika's aspirations didn't lie here.

Qiande's lips curled slightly, having heard that this adjutant specifically named Qili for a meeting. With the Sect's influence, it was a trivial task, just a matter of giving orders.

Verification had been completed, and a Holy Knight descended from the carriage to report the situation to Qiande.

"We've planted an insider in the Royal Court Military Department and learned of Army General Crocodile Island's inquiry about verifying the Dragon Clan's identity. The verification result now matches the intelligence from the Military Department experts; it's the same dragon, a Black Dragon active around seven hundred years ago during the Engma Period."

The Holy Knight reported.

"Then it's foolproof; seal it up and head straight to the arena."

Qiande issued the order.

Mika was inwardly ecstatic; General Fen truly was competent, worthy of the Pedan National Arcane Academy, my most proud belief!

"Then we'd better set off quickly. The Military Department noticed some signs at the border checkpoint. There'll surely be blockades on the way to the arena."

Qiande's gentle gaze receded, replaced by a fleeting cold gleam.

"Can we make it?"

Mika merely cared about meeting Qili; the first stage of Rashomon was complete. What followed depended on whether he, as the primary offender, could make a clean getaway.

"No need to worry. I happen to be the champion of the fourteenth Continental Martial Arts Competition."

Qiande donned his helmet, briskly turned, and signaled Mika and the Holy Knights transporting goods to hurry and follow.

Mika was momentarily stunned but thought it understandable; after all, as the leader of the Sect's central Holy Knight Order, winning the title in the competition indeed meant ascending to the top in one step.

The Royal Court and Sect were increasingly discordant; it seemed the Pope defiantly confronting the Emperor wasn't just yesterday's news. The signs became apparent two years ago with the person-snatching incident, part of their traditional craft.

Mika breathed deeply; at this moment, that woman should be preparing the performance.

Perhaps, he was living the best day of his life.

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