CHAPTER 1168: CHAPTER 1167: BUT WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH US?

With Elysia’s resurrection, the incident regarding the Seed of Holy Stone came to an end, and Precia kept her word, handing over all the Seeds of Holy Stone she had previously collected to Fang Zheng. She also agreed to Fang Zheng’s suggestion to settle on Earth.

Although Elysia was successfully resurrected, Precia’s soul suffered significant damage because of this, not only drastically weakening her power, but her body also became quite frail, thus she required some time to recuperate. Of course, Fang Zheng did not object to this, but he did give Precia a "punishment".

"No matter what, the commotion you caused while trying to collect the Seed of Holy Stone on Earth, the near collapse of the dimension, and the abuse of Fate won’t be easily written off. So your punishment is... to live with Fate. How you manage the situation is up to you."

When Fang Zheng uttered these words, Precia’s expression became extremely complicated. Until then, she had been focused solely on resurrecting Elysia, thus she had not thought about how she would face Fate in the future. Now that everything was settled, Precia suddenly remembered what she had done to harm Fate in the past.

Not only that, but it turns out Elysia had witnessed everything she did...

Alright, if it weren’t impossible, Precia really felt like digging a hole and burying herself.

Nevertheless, Fang Zheng certainly wouldn’t allow Precia to do so. Indeed, according to the original ending, Precia and Elysia died and didn’t have to bother with these troubles. But now that I’ve helped resurrect Elysia, you’ll obediently accept this punishment...

Serves you right for not treating Fate as human, for verbally abusing Fate, for striking her without reason.

Now, you see, karma has come, you’re embarrassed, at a loss for words, aren’t you?

Yet how does this concern me? Isn’t this all a consequence of your own actions? Clean up your own mess!

However, this wasn’t the end. At least, when an unexpected guest arrived at the Fang Family’s house, Fang Zheng knew that this matter wouldn’t conclude so easily.

"Hello, Mr. Fang Zheng."

The person standing in front of Fang Zheng was a woman wearing a blue uniform, with green hair and a gentle smile.

"My name is Lindy Harowan, I am the Admiral of the Space-Time Bureau’s Central Office and the Captain of the Dimensional Navigation Fleet ’Asura’. I am here to represent the Space-Time Bureau for negotiations with you and the Heavenly Dao Palace."

"I know why you’ve come."

Fang Zheng merely glanced at the woman before gesturing.

"Please have a seat."

"Alright."

Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Lindy smiled and nodded to him, then obediently sat on the sofa opposite Fang Zheng. Meanwhile, the young man in black who had previously met Fang Zheng stood behind Lindy, puffed-up and glaring at Fang Zheng.

"It’s like this........."

After sipping some red tea, Lindy pondered for a moment then looked towards Fang Zheng and spoke with deliberation.

"You might not be aware, our visit is for the Seed of Holy Stone and a highly dangerous criminal, Precia Testarossa. She is accused of developing forbidden human research technology, attacking Bureau warships, seizing the ancient relics, the Seed of Holy Stone, and attempting to create a dimensional tremor... These are exceedingly dangerous actions, and we are here to prevent her malicious acts. Please believe we mean no harm..."

However, Lindy’s words were interrupted by Fang Zheng’s raised hand.

"You don’t need to tell me these, I’m already quite clear about the situation. Now let me inform you of the Heavenly Dao Palace’s decision."

"Please do."

Upon hearing this, Lindy’s expression turned serious, while Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes, focusing on Lindy before speaking.

"Regarding the Seed of Holy Stone, we have gathered them all, and in principle, we can return them to you entirely as it is not something from our side. Keeping it here holds little significance for us, so you may take it. However... Precia Testarossa and her daughter are currently under the protection of our Heavenly Dao Palace, and without our authorization, you have no right to arrest them."

"But Precia is a criminal guilty of severe crimes!"

At this, before Lindy could speak, Kurono couldn’t help but interject.

"She violated dozens of Space-Time Bureau laws..."

"But those are the Bureau’s laws, which hold no relation to our Heavenly Dao Palace."

Fang Zheng coldly interrupted Kurono.

"Her actions on Earth will be punished by our Heavenly Dao Palace. Your Bureau’s issues are irrelevant to us. Remember, this is not your Bureau’s backyard, and you haven’t signed any extradition treaties or agreements with the Heavenly Dao Palace, therefore I naturally can refuse your Bureau’s demands. What? Do you plan to wield a Ming Dynasty sword to execute a Qing Dynasty official? Moreover, the Qing Dynasty is long gone!"

"You..."

Upon hearing this, Kurono couldn’t contain his urge to argue back, even though he didn’t understand Fang Zheng’s weird remark, he could guess the other party was certainly mocking him, and thus couldn’t hold back from retorting. Yet at this moment, Admiral Lindy cut off Kurono’s words.

"Don’t speak, Kurono."

"But... Captain... this..."

Lindy waved her hand, signaling Kurono to stop talking while she closed her eyes thoughtfully for a moment, then looked back at Fang Zheng.

"Mr. Fang Zheng, is this the decision of the Heavenly Dao Palace?"

"I am the supreme ruler of the Heavenly Dao Palace, what I say is naturally the final decision."

Handling the teacup in his hand, Fang Zheng gazed at the woman before him.

"I must clarify one thing, our Heavenly Dao Palace’s primary goal is to protect Earth and ensure the continuation of human civilization. Matters outside of this are beyond our consideration. So the Bureau’s issues, our Heavenly Dao Palace neither cares nor wants to involve itself. But, if you continue to come and go without notice, treating Earth and the entire human civilization as your backyard, that’s a different story."

"I understand your meaning."

Lindy was no fool; she understood Fang Zheng was conveying that the Heavenly Dao Palace regards the Bureau without hostility and doesn’t intend to provoke issues with the Bureau. However, this doesn’t mean the Heavenly Dao Palace is afraid of the Bureau, and if the Bureau becomes audacious, situations will drastically change.

Upon contemplating this, Lindy promptly stood up, respectfully bowing to Fang Zheng.

"I will report everything you’ve stated to headquarters."

After saying this, Lindy swiftly left with Kurono, returning to her warship. After teleporting back to the ship, Kurono eagerly turned to his mother to inquire.

"Mom, why did you do this? That Precia indeed committed grave crimes..."

"That’s correct."

Upon Kurono’s question, Lindy nodded.

"However, what Mr. Fang Zheng said was also correct, we are currently not within the Bureau’s jurisdiction, strictly speaking, we don’t have enforcement rights in this world."

"Then what should we do? Are we just going to watch the criminal go free?"

"The problem right now isn’t that..."

Watching her son, Lindy smiled bitterly, feeling her son was still too young to understand the gravity of the situation. The current problem isn’t merely arresting a criminal; it involves the Bureau’s authority being challenged and threatened!

It’s important to know that the Bureau has successfully governed for so long due to its powerful capabilities, and now suddenly a Heavenly Dao Palace appearing and daring to directly confront the Bureau is enough to make the headquarters’ bureaucrats furious—let alone, Lindy knows this matter won’t be concluded easily.

If the Space-Time Bureau were a body easily deterred by a random organization’s affront, it couldn’t possibly govern and manage so many dimensional worlds.

However... Lindy also harbored doubts about this.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that... this matter might ultimately have an outcome no one desires.