Chapter 528: Sixty Shares of the Joy of Fate—Truly Worth It

Annie Bretagne and Sophia Gallanord stood atop the city walls. Neither was a Saint rank, so neither could join the battle. Their emotions, however, were complex.

Sophia Gallanord felt a mix of guilt and relief. While she harbored some embarrassment, there was a faint sense of lightness in her heart.

Annie’s emotions, on the other hand, were far more conflicted. She even briefly entertained the thought of kicking Sophia Gallanord off the city wall.

Of course, she would never actually do such a thing, but the notion was maddeningly persistent!

As the battle raged outside, Annie refrained from involving the city’s inhabitants, knowing that holding Black Phoenix City was far more important to Charlot. However, when Emilia called out, "Papa!" at the top of her lungs, Annie couldn't help but glance at Sophia Gallanord’s shapely figure. But she quickly concluded that the child couldn’t possibly belong to the Rose of Strasbourg.

After some thought, Annie also realized that the child couldn't be Charlot’s.

They had only been apart for a year. Emilia clearly wasn’t one year old!

Annie mused privately, "Mr. Mecklenburg is only in his twenties. For him to have a daughter this old, he’d have needed to father her at fifteen or sixteen... Impossible!"

“She must be adopted. As her adoptive mother, I must treat her well!”

Then, Annie witnessed Charlot using Emilia as a weapon to kill a Saint rank!

Unable to hold back, Annie turned to Sophia Gallanord and remarked, “Did you hear? That little girl called him Papa.”

Sophia Gallanord replied coldly, “That little thing is obviously an Evil God.”

“That’s not the point. The point is who she’ll call Mama next!”

Annie’s confidence swelled as she declared, “I will undoubtedly be her adoptive mother.”

If Charlot were present, he would undoubtedly quip, “Sixty shares of the Joy of Fate—absolutely worth it.”

Surrounding him were figures like Eumibella, the Ancient Gomodoro Tree, Dabachiro, Whale King Ivona, Sea Serpent Queen Posugi, Amon, Emilia, and Yishemierlen. These Evil Gods had all granted Annie blessings to ensure she would be forever favored by fate—living a safe, peaceful, and disaster-free life.

The Serpent of Fate had only demanded sixty shares of the Joy of Fate in return. The price was undeniably fair.

If Charlot could foresee his future trials, he would have made the same wish for himself. Sixty shares of the Joy of Fate for a lifetime of peace? What a bargain!

...

On the deck of the Emilia, Gareth Mecklenburg crouched, enveloped in a shroud of blood energy. The ship was hidden within the Void, and soon, chunks of Evil God flesh were being hurled aboard.

Gareth, unable to resist the temptation, assumed this was Emilia feeding him and consumed two pieces. His blood energy surged, and he was on the verge of breaking through another rank.

Meanwhile, Emilia gleefully grabbed the chunks of flesh, making them vanish into the Void without realizing Gareth was sneaking bites.

...

Charlot pursued his enemy relentlessly, occasionally summoning the Infinite Mirror World to conjure magical mirrors and close the gap between himself and Avish.

Avish, however, dared not continue the fight. He was approaching his limit, and if he didn’t release the Aruta Samsusu, he risked being assimilated by the Evil God.

Out at sea, the water towering above the ocean suddenly shifted and retreated toward the depths.

The leaders of the New Continent Conference fled, with Mocher reluctantly tapping into the power of an Evil God to escape Yishemierlen’s pursuit.

As for the fleet besieging Black Phoenix City, most ships couldn’t escape. Hastily raising white flags, they surrendered, knowing Charlot’s orders: no prisoners, no survivors. Surrendering to Black Phoenix City seemed the only intelligent choice.

Although the battle was chaotic, it ended with the New Continent Conference’s leadership on the run. Fewer than a thousand escaped. Charlot’s forces, led by Saint ranks, pursued them relentlessly until Charlot and Emilia broke through the Aruta Samsusu’s form. Only then did they regroup.

Charlot shook his head and said, “Let’s return to Black Phoenix City.”

Emilia clung tightly to Charlot, refusing to let go. He allowed her to stay as they returned to the city walls. The moment they landed, Annie rushed over and hugged Charlot, slipping Emilia a plate of candy.

Emilia squealed with delight and jumped off Charlot to enjoy her treat.

Sophia Gallanord, watching Annie and Charlot embrace, felt a pang in her heart. She gently held Emilia’s tiny hand, planning to make her move through the child. But suddenly, a chilling voice echoed in her mind: “Stay away from my Papa! You lack the Serpent of Fate’s favor.”

Terrified, Sophia released Emilia’s hand. Her vision blurred, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

A slender, graceful hand offered her a handkerchief. A gentle voice said, “Don’t cry.”

“You’re the Rose of Strasbourg!”

“Be strong.”

Sophia Gallanord choked back her sobs. It wasn’t a lack of resilience—she’d just been scared out of her wits by the Evil God.

Who could have guessed that behind Emilia’s lively, adorable facade lay something so terrifying?

...

Annie beamed. “You’re finally back.”

“I’ve thought of you often. It was only thanks to everyone’s help that we managed to hold Black Phoenix City. I could never have done it alone.”

The Duchess of Mesu whispered to her daughter, “You’d better learn from her! Grand Duchess Annie dared to step forward when her fiancé’s territory was in danger. She led a group to aid the city, seamlessly took command of Charlot Mecklenburg’s subordinates, and gained their support. She decisively abandoned her own territory, evacuating people and supplies while rallying allies from all sides.”

Ardosa Mesu agreed. “Annie Bretagne is truly remarkable.”

The Duchess corrected her. “No, those are minor achievements. Her most impressive feat was transforming into a sweet little lark the moment she saw Charlot. The resolute and courageous duchess we witnessed these past few days? Gone.”

Ardosa was momentarily stunned but soon chuckled. “Sophia Gallanord didn’t lose unjustly.”

Glancing at Menielman, she added, “Nor did Senior Rose.”

At that moment, a voice echoed behind them: “This princess lost most unfairly.”

Ardosa suddenly remembered Princess May Guillaume and glanced nervously at her mother, thinking, You wanted me to compete with her? Look at how formidable the opposition is. How could I possibly win?

Charlot surveyed the gathered crowd atop Black Phoenix City’s walls. With a faint smile, he remarked, “What fine weather we’re having today.”

Annie, smiling sweetly, added, “Earlier, Sophia Gallanord mistook your fleet for reinforcements from the New Continent and prepared to face her death. She even asked me to relay a message…”

Sophia Gallanord tensed suddenly…

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