Chapter 518 -The Choice of Friend or Foe
After confirming that both Twilight and Hammer would fully support him, John directly took them to the Naga Tribe. He was very familiar with the Naga Tribe and encountered no trouble there. He soon met with the Naga Queen.
However, the ensuing conversation between him and the Naga Queen was far from pleasant. The moment she saw Twilight and Hammer, the Naga Queen understood the purpose of John's visit.
Her face, previously smiling, now bore no such expression. "I understand your purpose now," she said. "But I must warn you, if you truly intend to break the seal of the Ocean Sage, it will inevitably lead to direct hostility with the Northern Myst Empire. Are you really prepared to face the consequences of opposing the Northern Myst Empire? Haven't you previously collaborated with Duke Arsena? You should be very aware that Duke Arsena and the Ocean Sage are likely to be adversaries."
The Naga Queen wasted no time in expressing her genuine thoughts. She clearly hoped that by doing so, she could enlighten John about the difficulties he would face ahead. After all, the Northern Myst Empire is, by all means, the strongest force within the Order Faction. Opposing the Northern Myst Empire would undoubtedly require immense courage, especially considering the significant assistance John had previously provided to them.
John was unlikely to give up the good cooperation he had previously established with the Northern Myst Empire. However, his response surprised the Naga Queen.
Shaking his head, John said, "Of course, I am willing to cooperate with the Northern Myst Empire, and I have indeed collaborated with Duke Arsena on many occasions before. But I believe that lifting the seal of the Ocean Sage doesn't necessarily mean I have to become an enemy of Duke Arsena. The conflict between the Ocean Sage and Duke Arsena happened a long time ago, didn't it? Even if the seal on the Ocean Sage is lifted, it's uncertain whether his strength can quickly return to its optimal state. Afterwards, even if he wishes to oppose Duke Arsena, it might not be feasible.
I think it's entirely possible for the Ocean Sage to turn from foe to friend with Duke Arsena. In this way, the power of our Order Faction could become even stronger than before. Wouldn't that also be good news for your Naga Tribe?"
John's words were certainly eloquent. However, neither the Naga Queen nor the nobles of the Naga Tribe seemed convinced by his argument.
Standing beside the Naga Queen, Shatras found John's current ideas somewhat baffling and stepped forward to address him directly.
"Our Naga Tribe once aided the Ocean Sage, and as a result, we found ourselves at odds with Storm City for a time. However, after the attack by the Saint of Mystery, our tribe's strength has significantly diminished. We cannot afford to oppose Storm City again over the Ocean Sage. Moreover, you must be aware that Storm City has received support from the Northern Myst Empire. Their strength is now far greater than before. If we oppose them, we would face a severe threat.
Even if the Ocean Sage could become our ally, it's not particularly good news for us. After all, the Ocean Sage's power is far inferior to that of Storm City. You must carefully consider the choice between friend and foe. You cannot afford to forsake a powerful ally like the Northern Myst Empire for a weaker one like the Ocean Sage."
Shatras's words made the situation abundantly clear. There was little need for the Naga Queen to add more; she simply waited for John's final response.
John remained silent for a moment, fully aware that his actions seemed impulsive and somewhat foolish in the eyes of the Naga Tribe.
Despite the concerns raised, John felt that to complete the secret quest in Storm City, he must find a way to help the Ocean Sage break his seal. He knew certain secrets were only known to the Ocean Sage, secrets that even if Duke Arsena knew, he would never disclose to John.
"You make a valid point," John replied. "But what I want to ask is, do you really not care about who is right and who is wrong? Do you not care about the past actions of the Northern Myst Empire? Indeed, the Ocean Sage may not be as powerful as Storm City, but didn't he fight to the end for his faction? I believe that once we rescue the Ocean Sage, he will surely be willing to assist us. Unlike Storm City, which has always been indecisive, he will firmly stand by our side."
John's firm stance finally prompted a change in the Naga Queen's perspective. She felt that if John had made up his mind, she should offer him some assistance.
"If you have made your decision, I will arrange for a guard of the Naga Tribe to guide you to the location of the Ocean Sage's seal. However, I cannot directly assist you in breaking the seal. The seal on the Ocean Sage was actually set by several Legend Magi of the Northern Myst Empire. In terms of breaking the seal, you will have to rely on your own efforts."
After saying this, the Naga Queen left. In truth, she had already provided John with substantial help; guiding him to the location of the Ocean Sage's seal was all that was needed.
"See, I told you the Naga Queen would be on our side. Her relationship with the Northern Myst Empire isn't that strong. Besides, Duke Arsena and the Mystery Protector had threatened her before. If we manage to break the Ocean Sage's seal, it would also empower the Naga Queen," John said with a smile to Twilight and Hammer after securing the Naga Queen's support. Both Twilight and Hammer appeared even more delighted, as this development signified that their plan was now halfway to success.
"In the upcoming operation, you both need to be cautious. I have a feeling that the Ocean Sage's seal might affect you too. Don't get too close to the seal before I completely remove it. If it influences you, it could interfere with my actions."
John issued this warning to Twilight and Hammer before heading to the Ocean Sage's seal. He was concerned that their excitement might lead to mistakes that could jeopardize the entire plan. He didn't want his plan to fail due to someone else's error. Twilight and Hammer nodded earnestly in understanding. They were well aware that all their hopes rested on John's success. If he failed, all their efforts would be in vain.
Thus, John, accompanied by Twilight, Hammer, and a Naga guard, arrived at the location of the Ocean Sage's seal. It was only upon reaching there that John truly understood why the Naga Queen had expressed doubts about the success of his plan.
The Ocean Sage was sealed under multiple layers of divine-level magic spells, each intricately intertwined to reinforce one another. If John managed to break only one of these divine-level spells, the others would intensify significantly. More crucially, if he failed to break all the divine spells at once, they would transform into a series of tangible entities to attack John and his companions.
John himself could handle the attacks of these energy entities transformed from the divine-level spells, but the people around him might not withstand them.
Faced with such a dire situation, John didn't act rashly but began to observe carefully. After some time, he addressed his companions, "You should leave this place now and head to a safe location. The actions I'm about to take will be extremely dangerous, and I won't be able to protect you if you stay here."
Twilight and Hammer quickly retreated to a safe position, understanding that it was crucial not to interfere with John's actions. The Naga guard also retreated far away but did not leave immediately. This was because the Naga Queen had given him another quest: to closely monitor John's actions. If John's attempt failed, the Naga Queen would need to be informed immediately to address any complications arising from the failure.
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