CHAPTER 404: WELCOME TO SLIME PARADISE

After leaving the village, Nero took out a crystal ball from his storage ring and activated it.

A moment later, Eleanora’s image appeared on the crystal ball.

"My Lord, do you need something?" Eleanora asked respectfully.

"Eleanora, I will turn a blind eye to your abuse of authority, but only this once," Nero said calmly. "You are no longer allowed to order any of the members of our faction using my name. Do I make myself clear?"

The young lady on the crystal ball visibly shuddered as if she had been caught doing a crime.

"Yes, My Lord," Eleanora answered. "It will not happen again. I only did it because of My Lady’s request."

"Don’t make excuses," Nero said coldly. "My daughter doesn’t have the authority to command anyone from our organization. Whether the other factions send people to kill Alex Stratos is none of our concern. Understood?"

"I obey your will, My Lord," Eleanora replied. "Do you have any instructions that you wish to pass to My Lady?"

"Tell her to grow up," Nero stated. "She should embrace her bloodline and start acting accordingly. Now, about that mission—what’s the progress? Have you managed to bring Alex Stratos under your command?"

"I-It’s hard to accomplish such a task at the moment, My Lord," Eleanora said through gritted teeth. "Alex is not someone that I can approach easily. Also, My Lady..."

"Eleanora, I didn’t raise you to be incompetent." Nero eyed the young lady in the crystal ball. "If it had been too much, you should have spoken up. Now, report. What’s the update on my daughter, and what have you accomplished at the academy?"

"Yes, My Lord." Eleanora obeyed and began her report. She detailed how she and Evangeline had joined Alex’s club, Endless Horizon, and what she had managed to find out about its recent activities.

"My Lord, do you also wish to know more about its members?" Eleanora inquired.

"You can include that in the written report." Nero shook his head. "By the way, did my daughter say anything about Alex Stratos’ childhood?"

"At the recent party, she asked Alex if he could remember a girl from when he was around ten years old," Eleanora answered. "But he fainted before he could give an answer."

"He fainted, huh?" Nero frowned. "Very well. Your only task is to watch over my daughter and Alex Stratos. You are to observe only. Do not involve yourself with the organization’s activities, no matter who tries to rope you in. Is that clear?"

"By your will, My Lord." Eleanora promised.

Severing his connection to Eleanora, Nero returned the crystal ball to his storage ring. His gaze then drifted toward the village, a sneer twisting his features.

"You’re still chasing after castles in the sky, Evangeline," Nero noted icily. "It’s about time you move on from your puppy love."

A moment later, he once again turned into a black mist and soared to the sky, heading northeast, where his domain was located.

———

Come morning, Alex and Latifa stood with their group and bade the villagers goodbye.

They didn’t talk about the incident and acted like they normally did.

"Alex, you said you’re going to Slime Paradise, right?" Princess Xenia asked. "I can take you there. The airship ride is about an hour. To be honest, I’ve been wanting to see the place myself."

"I’ll happily accept that offer, Your Highness," Alex answered. "Looks like we’re going to get a free ride, Dim Dim?"

"Dim Dim~" Dim Dim nodded happily.

"I also wanna go to Slime Paradise," Lavinia chimed in. "Grandfather told me that it’s one of the most beautiful places here in the Kingdom of Avalon."

After hearing Lavinia, all the members of Endless Horizon also grew curious.

"What a coincidence." Elaine smiled faintly. "We’re also going to Slime Paradise. Isn’t that right, Efa?"

"We are?" Efa blinked before suddenly catching on to. "Right. We plan to visit it before we continue our journey."

Cairo didn’t say anything. Accompanying his disciple on a trip was a rare occasion, so he didn’t mind taking a brief detour before heading to the Kingdom of Faelarun.

The Captain of the Clawford airship grinned. "I’ve been to Slime Paradise a few times. Since this is a good opportunity, I’ll take our warriors there for a change of pace."’

With their destination set, the two airships made their way to one of the most sacred places in the Kingdom of Avalon.

The Slime Paradise was located in a valley that spanned nearly three thousand miles.

This was the natural border separating the Kingdom of Avalon and its neighboring kingdoms from the northern factions, including the Aetherion Empire.

Saying that this wide stretch of land was the invincible bastion preventing any army from crossing over wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

If any northern kingdom wished to declare war on Avalon, they would have to send their troops by air. After all, no one dared desecrate the holy land of the baby slimes.

This was the valley where they were born. Once they turned into adults, they would either stay to protect the next generation or wander the continent to explore new lands.

No conflict would be tolerated in the Slime Paradise. Those who would dare to break this rule would find themselves facing countless Blast Bombs until—if they were lucky—only their ashes were left.

An hour later...

"I see it!" Lapiz pointed at a giant rainbow that seemed to stretch endlessly across the land.

"You’ve got a good eye, missy." The Clawford Captain grinned. "Welcome to Slime Paradise!"

Even Alex, who had already seen this scenery from the game, couldn’t help but draw in a cold breath, awed by the sheer beauty of the place.

A few dozen floating islands dotted the sky, their waterfalls cascading into the valley below. The resulting mist wove countless rainbows into existence.

When they were a mile away from the entrance of the valley, the two airships found a good landing spot.

It was an unwritten rule that, unless it was of absolute importance, no airship should fly over the valley, for it might make the baby slimes feel anxious.

Alex and his friend disembarked and walked toward the valley.

He planned to get a few hidden treasures within the Slime Paradise, which would help him and his members become a little bit stronger.