After receiving the mermaid lady's comment, "How despicable!", Herbert was not angry at all; instead, he felt secretly pleased.

"After seeing this scene with your own eyes, you just said I'm despicable... Oh, Fremay, you're still too kind-hearted."

Sister, you scold people like you're acting cute~

Herbert initially refused Sofia for two reasons.

One of them, as Herbert said, was that he didn't need anyone's loyalty.

Even if the true identity of this loyalty is Nenasha, with whom they have no distinction now, he still doesn't need it.

Although this somewhat distant action made Nenasha secretly complain in her heart, Herbert still stuck to his principle.

Loyalty that is not absolute equals absolute disloyalty.

Herbert did not need a loyalty mixed with other emotions.

If it's mine, then it's mine, no need for you to give it, and nobody can take it away.

And if it's not mine, even if I have it in hand, it will eventually be lost someday.

The other reason, however, was not so noble.

Herbert was suspicious.

He wasn't suspicious of Sofia; her current state was indeed reset.

Nor was he suspicious of Nenasha; he didn't think She was deceiving him, he had that bit of trust.

Herbert was suspicious of the entire Misty Mountain Range.

After encountering Sofia today, Herbert became more wary of the Misty Mountain Range.

Regarding her presence, Nenasha hadn't sensed it at all before.

This indeed was the relic of Her Divine Kingdom, but She had left too long ago and had long lost control.

She no longer sensed those Heroic Spirits who originally obeyed Her... This is a dangerous signal.

Miss Xie Shen's control over this place might be less than he thought.

And Heroic Spirits like Sofia are definitely not the only one.

There will be more Divine Kingdom creations, more Heroic Spirits, Holy Spirits, and even Angels...

As a brave and skilled Centaur Heroic Spirit, Sofia's strength should not be underestimated.

A Legendary Level Mist Ghost Wolf, even with these wolf packs, even with attribute suppression, could it really have pushed Sofia to such a state?

In this regard, he held a slight bit of doubt.

And if the truth was really as he thought... In this mountain range, at this moment, could there be other prying eyes?

Could someone be watching him?

If he were to admit from the start that he was related to Nenasha, or even claim to be Her emissary... How would those other Heroic Spirits react?

After being free for so many years, would they still be willing to become followers of Nenasha?

Would they bow to him immediately after he revealed his identity?

Herbert didn't think so.

People's hearts can change.

A long time can change too much.

A century is enough to change the world, turn the sea into mulberry fields, and change the color of the world.

Moreover, these Heroic Spirits have been existing for far more than a hundred years.

So Herbert chose a roundabout approach, deliberately taking a longer path.

I am not the master you imagine; what I do is merely accept your loyalty reluctantly, not wanting you to fade away just like that.

And this operation, though somewhat pointless,

It can at least make those observing in the shadows hesitate and give him a little more time to develop.

And for him now, any bit of time is extremely precious.

Perhaps it is a mind game with the air, but a bit more caution is never wrong.

After letting off steam for a long time, Sofia finally calmed down, somewhat embarrassedly released Herbert, and lowered her head, saying:

"My Lord, please forgive my offense."

Perhaps instinctively, she didn't call Herbert "master" but used the tone with which she had served the Divine in the past.

"It's nothing, no need to be nervous."

Herbert didn't deliberately correct her terminology—after all, a true Divine Spirit was still hiding in his body.

And just as Sofia let go of Herbert, before he could steady himself, he was scooped into Fremay's arms.

She floated in mid-air, letting her weight press against Herbert's head, wrapping her fish tail around his waist.

Herbert: What on earth is this? Blushing moment?

After doing all this, Fremay even gave Sofia a provocative glance and smiled smugly.

However, this only earned Sofia's respectful bow.

"Lady Fremay."

This honest reaction made Fremay feel like her actions might have been a bit embarrassing, like a small animal vying for the owner's affection...

"...Ahem!"

She coughed, trying to let go of Herbert casually—unable to bear it.

She floated down from Herbert, then clung to his back, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind.

And habitually sniffed secretly.

And Herbert didn't stop Fremay's antics, letting her mischief unfold.

After all, she wasn't heavy, and she was using floating magic, basically weightless.

Well, just think of it as carrying a salty fish.

Herbert observed Sofia, whose injuries were still slowly healing. At this rate, it might take some time until she returns to her peak condition.

Anyway, with Fremay here, he wasn't lacking in bodyguards.

Now that this unexpected surprise was initially solved, there remained only the other original target.

Herbert looked at the lake that had been entirely frozen over and couldn't help but click his tongue.

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