Chapter 487 Chapter487-Conspiracy within a Conspiracy
Although the Naga Queen took John's words into consideration, she remained skeptical about their chances of success this time around.
Faced with the Naga Queen's questioning, John exhibited a confident demeanor, "Indeed, my last operation did not yield success, but I don't see it as a significant setback. The situation we are facing is extremely challenging, and our enemy is formidable. It's normal to face failures against such a strong adversary.
The reason I couldn't find any clues within the Naga Tribe is because someone deliberately targeted me. They erased all the clues I could have found."
John's statement surprised everyone present.
If true, this meant there were members of the Mystery Faction within the Naga Tribe, possibly even individuals in high positions, who were well-informed about John's every move in the tribe.
"Are you serious? If that's the case, I will immediately order an investigation! Our Naga Tribe absolutely does not tolerate such situations! We have never cooperated with the Mystery Faction, and any tribe member found collaborating with them will face severe punishment!"
The Naga Queen's mood worsened again.
She was now aware that a conspiracy was slowly unfolding within the Naga Tribe.
The Naga Queen's primary concern was her unawareness of the conspiracy unfolding within her tribe, potentially leading to significant mistakes in the future.
"I am certain that this is true. However, I don't know who the person causing me trouble is. If I find out, I assure you they will pay dearly," John stated confidently.
The Naga Queen nodded at his words, but she seemed to think John might be diverging from the main issue.
Weren't they supposed to be discussing how to identify and counter the Mystery power?
"Even if what you say is true, I have another question. Does your information have any direct connection to our current discussion?" the Naga Queen inquired.
"It is highly relevant," John replied.
"I believe that someone within your Naga Tribe is preparing to summon Mystery monsters. Your tribe will soon face an attack from these creatures."
This revelation made Duke Arsena uneasy.
He was quite certain that John should not have access to such specific information.
This discrepancy raised suspicions about the validity of John's claims and suggested that there might be deeper layers to the situation than initially apparent.
Duke Arsena was increasingly aware that he was being drawn into a complex conspiracy, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that John was somehow involved.
He worried that John's previous actions might have been a facade to mask his true intentions, possibly even a plot to gain Arsena's trust before betraying him at a critical moment.
"Your Majesty, I believe we can be of assistance in the actions ahead. Regardless, the Sea God will inevitably face threats from the Mystery Saint.
Even with his immense power, he remains a deity of the Order Faction. As a member of the Order Faction, I am naturally inclined to offer you help. Storm City should be free from threats for the foreseeable future.
I can join forces with John to help resolve any crisis that the Naga Tribe faces. While I'm not certain if your tribe will indeed face an attack from Mystery monsters, having more powerful allies is always safer."
Duke Arsena's words seemed to alleviate some of the Naga Queen's concerns.
As he pointed out, having more powerful allies would indeed provide additional security for the Naga Tribe.
"In that case, you may stay in our Naga Tribe. I will assign Shatras to work with you. She is a Legend Magus and should be able to coordinate well with you," the Naga Queen decided.
After expressing this, she chose to leave.
The situation had become exceedingly complex, and she needed time to contemplate her next course of action.
The Naga Queen, facing the intricate web of plots and potential threats, had to strategize carefully to safeguard her tribe.
After the Naga Queen left, Shatras, as a Legend Magus, first nodded to the Mystery Protector in recognition of their shared status and familiarity.
Then, she turned her attention to John.
"The Queen is very disappointed in you," Shatras began.
"Previously, you had promised Her Majesty that you would find clues related to the Mystery power within our tribe. However, you left without fulfilling this promise. I understand you went to assist Iceburg Castle, but I still cannot forgive this oversight."
Shatras shared the Naga Queen's perspective, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the Naga Tribe above all else.
Faced with Shatras's words, John had little to say in his defense.
"Regardless, I indeed failed to fulfill my promise to the Queen. But this time, haven't I brought two powerful allies? With their assistance, I am confident we will find the clues to the Mystery power. And with them here, you shouldn't need to worry about the defense of the Naga Tribe."
John's response highlighted his renewed commitment to the task at hand, as well as the added security and strength brought by the presence of his allies.
He sought to reassure Shatras that, despite past shortcomings, their current efforts would be more fruitful and beneficial for the Naga Tribe.
Shatras nodded in acknowledgment and then turned her attention to Duke Arsena.
"Duke Arsena, we are naturally grateful for your willingness to assist the Naga Tribe. However, I hope you understand that the Naga Tribe is different from Storm City.
While you are here, you must adhere to the rules of our tribe. You are required to follow my orders here. If I have the opportunity to support Storm City in the future, I will follow your commands."
Shatras was clearly concerned that Duke Arsena might clash with other members of the Naga Tribe.
The tribe members harbored resentment because Duke Arsena had not provided support when the Naga Tribe previously sought help from him.
This incident had left a mark of anger among the Naga Tribe members, many of whom wished for retribution.
Duke Arsena nodded, his expression unreadable.
Although he was aware that the Naga Tribe was part of the Order Faction, his relationship with them had not been very good.
This strained relationship was one reason why his knowledge of the Mystery power was limited.
Both the queen and the nobles of the Naga Tribe had a deeper understanding of the Mystery power, a resource that could have been more accessible to him with better relations.
Arsena's acknowledgment of Shatras's terms indicated his acceptance of the current situation.
His cooperation with the Naga Tribe, albeit under these conditions, suggested a willingness to bridge the gap between them, potentially leading to better mutual understanding and collaboration in the future.
"Alright, now that we understand what our most urgent task is, let's get moving immediately. I'll take you to the location where the Mystery power clues were last detected.
However, I must warn you, all traces of the Mystery power have disappeared. It's unlikely you'll find any useful information there," Shatras said as she led John, the Mystery Protector, and Duke Arsena to the previous location of the Mystery power clues.
As they made their way to the site, John, the Mystery Protector, and Duke Arsena were all deep in thought, pondering the intentions of the others.
Each harbored suspicions that the others were plotting against them.
What none of them realized was that while they were indeed caught in a web of conspiracy, there was another layer to it that they were yet to uncover.
They all failed to grasp the full picture, not realizing that the strings were being pulled by the immensely powerful Mystery Saint.
The Mystery Saint had plans revolving around the Naga Tribe, intending to use the tribe as the starting point for his return to the physical world after his resurrection.
In his grand scheme, the Naga Tribe was to become a focal point for his reemergence.
To achieve his goal, the Mystery Saint needed to ensure that the Mystery power within the Naga Tribe was immensely strong.
This was the reason he had previously orchestrated cooperation between Darklord and the Naga Queen.
Darklord's quest was almost complete, and the remaining tasks needed to be handed over to others who would collaborate with the Mystery power.
However, the Mystery Saint was not entirely confident in the Mystery Protector.
Despite providing some assistance to the Mystery Protector, the Mystery Saint felt that the Protector was merely using him for his own ends.
But wasn't the Mystery Saint also using the Mystery Protector for his own purposes?
The Mystery Saint kept a close watch on the Naga Tribe, aware that John posed the greatest threat to his plans.
Therefore, he continuously interfered with John's actions, with the attack on Iceburg Castle being one of his disruptive tactics.
It was precisely because of the Mystery Saint's interference that John had been unable to find more clues about the Mystery power within the Naga Tribe.
The complex web of manipulation and counter-manipulation created a challenging environment for all parties involved, each pursuing their own objectives while trying to navigate and counter the moves of others.
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