104 Dekan expressed satisfaction with the welcoming ceremony
“The Ice Snow Princess will be handed over to me, you can focus on completing your mission.”
The leader put away the [True Word Blood Covenant], and an air of absolute confidence was revealed in her indifferent tone.
She must succeed.
If she fails, even she would not escape the bishop’s punishment.
And these elites would hardly escape death.
This operation holds unparalleled significance for the Rebirth Church.
If they could forcibly enslave a powerful individual using the [True Word Blood Covenant].
The optimal choice is to capture an eighth-tier elite card master, maximizing the one-time effect of this card.
The eighth-tier combat profession is already the peak combat power in the world today.
Even so, the benefits of enslaving an eighth-tier combat profession are far less than those of capturing an eighth-tier card master.
If it’s an elite card master, it would be even more different.
Moreover.
The attribute growth potential of card masters is not necessarily as high as that of combat professions, and their own combat power may not be strong.
For instance, the Ice Snow Princess, despite being an eighth-tier with a powerful array of cards, only has a high mental attribute.
Her magical power is unremarkable, and her body is frail.
Even if she casts high-quality attack spell cards, the damage is far inferior to that of a combat-type eighth-tier magic profession.
For some reason, the Ice Snow Princess almost never produces summoning cards.
The only recorded instance was when she summoned a hideously ugly ice snow slime.
But the Ice Snow Princess seemed to refer to that slime as a flying dragon.
It can be confirmed that the Ice Snow Princess specializes in ice-type spell cards.
In one-on-one combat.
Even a seventh-tier combat profession might be able to defeat her.
Among the twelve certified elite card masters of the Card Master Association today.
While the Ice Snow Princess is not the weakest in combat power, capturing her offers the best value for the cost.
The other eleven either hide away, eager to stay in the royal palace for their safety.
Or they possess such great combat power that they can even outperform other combat professions of the same tier.
There are also card masters whom the Rebirth Church dislikes.
And those mysterious entities of unknown origin.
Overall, the Rebirth Church has determined that the Ice Snow Princess is the best choice.
They have also successfully confirmed her ancient true name, her race, and her gender.
If they can successfully capture the Ice Snow Princess.
It will bring revolutionary changes to the combat power of the Rebirth Church!
Unless they absolutely cannot capture the Ice Snow Princess, they would consider shifting their target to Dekan, this quasi-elite card master.
Although Dekan’s card-making style fits the Rebirth Church even more, and has, in some respects, surpassed the Church’s ideology.
However, the gap between third-tier and eighth-tier remains too vast.
Much like the obvious price difference between third-tier epic cards and eighth-tier epic cards.
Moreover, whether Dekan can grow to eighth-tier within his limited lifespan is uncertain.
As a half-elf, the Ice Snow Princess will have an extensive lifespan.
This is something the other human elite card masters cannot compare with.
“While capturing Dekan can still serve as a fallback, do not entertain any delusions of using him as your lifeline,”
The leader stood up and swept her gaze across all present.
There was a warning in her words.
If anyone thought that even if they failed to capture the Ice Snow Princess, they could still capture Dekan to make up for their shortcomings, the success rate of the mission would drastically decline.
Only by burning their boats can they ensure the task is done well.
“Understood.”
Everyone respectfully watched her depart.
“Only consider capturing Dekan at all costs if our plan reaches a point of absolute failure.”
With these words, the leader walked toward the dim exit of the temple.
In the flickering light and shadow, she completely merged into the darkness.
……
Tristin City.
The magical airship transportation center on the outskirts.
This vast magical site appeared to be exceptionally tidy.
It showed signs of being well-maintained over a long period.
At the center of the magic array, there is a giant landing platform, currently flickering with a weak glow, indicating that the magical airship is about to land here.
A troop led by Lord Rampard is already waiting.
The young lord is dressed in a white knight’s uniform, with a silver badge hanging from his waist, signifying his identity and authority over this area.
He wears a serious expression, his brows furrowed, and his eyes fixed on the sky.
A rumbling sound came from the direction of the outer city, where it seemed some flying beast was approaching amidst the thick clouds, carrying with it wind and thunder.
Although he was not yet aware of the specific situation on the magical airship.
The alarm signals coming from the magical airship surely indicated that something had gone wrong.
The operational cost of long-distance communication magic is high, but communication magic terminals are set up between the city-states.
Additionally, the magical airship is equipped with a simplified mobile terminal.
At the first moment of being attacked by wrongdoers, the assailants had destroyed the mobile terminal.
It seemed they wanted to prevent any information from leaking.
Accidents with magical airships are rare.
Even if there are thugs, they wouldn’t go mad trying to hijack a magical airship.
Only a terrifying organization like the Rebirth Church might commit such an act of hijacking.
In fact, even if a magical airship were hijacked mid-flight, it would be unreasonable to blame Lord Rampard of Tristin City for it.
But the lord did not dare to show any negligence.
If the magical airship could land here safely, and his negligence resulted in missing the opportunity for rescue, then he would be held responsible.
The most critical aspect is that there is a princess on that magical airship.
And the legendary elite card master from the capital city, who is set to become the thirteenth in the world and the second in the Norton Kingdom.
Due to the presence of these two, the seriousness of the hijacking incident multiplied exponentially.
With a loud noise, the magical airship gradually slowed down from a few kilometers away from the landing platform.
However, the airship circled in the air for a few rounds.
It looked as if it didn’t know how to land.
Then, as if the pilot quickly learned how to land on the spot, it began a smooth descent, kicking up waves of air.
Seeing the magical airship gradually landing along a normal trajectory, the lord’s heart eased by half; at least the airship had returned in one piece.
Even if it might still be in the hands of the assailants, there was still room to maneuver.
It was hard to think that someone could be learning to fly the magical airship while in progress.
A more reasonable explanation is that the assailants hijacked the aircraft, and the pilot was trying to buy more time to prepare the ground troops for an ambush.
“All units on alert!”
“Yes!”
However, after the airship came to a halt on the landing platform, minutes passed without any movement.
The knight troops unconsciously tightened their grips on their weapons, becoming tense.
Their state of readiness resembled a pack of beasts poised to pounce.
It seemed things wouldn’t be easy from here on out.
In the worst-case scenario, they would face a fierce battle of wits and courage against vicious assailants.
Several more minutes passed.
Finally, there was movement on the side of the magical airship.
The gangway lowered.
The crisp sound of footsteps echoed as a figure walked out of the cabin unhurriedly.
While stretching his neck, he yawned, appearing somewhat tired as he stepped down from the magical airship.
Noticing the knight troops braced for combat, he looked slightly surprised.
Then.
A kind smile appeared on his face as he surveyed the knights, seemingly very satisfied with the reception.
From time to time, he waved at everyone.
Both the lord and the knights were taken aback; what on earth is this…
Are we here to welcome you?
