CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 271: HEART OF ASSISTANCE

"Are you okay?" In the entire audience, only Barbara didn’t watch the scene where Catherine’s strike forced the King to step back half a foot. Instead, she looked worriedly at Andrew beside her.

"Phew!" Andrew took a deep breath and said, "I’m fine."

But his face couldn’t hide its paleness.

In Andrew’s perception, the King’s power acted on him for just a moment, immediately intercepted by Catherine.

Conversely, even though it was just a moment, it still gave Andrew the terrifying feeling of facing the masked female assassin at the Shield of Flowing Fire!

Compared to back then, now that he’s reached Tier Four and learned "Magic Counterattack Technique," his strength is enough to defeat the Saint Son of the Magic Guild, Yorkshire, in a direct confrontation.

But... the feeling remains the same.

The same helplessness.

After all, against someone at the Tier Nine War God level, it doesn’t matter if I’m Tier Three or Tier Four, whether I’m a rear-line talent relying on the "Enchanting Finger" or a front-line combatant with the "Magic Counterattack Technique."

Because the gap is just too vast!

"So, this is what negotiation contests are like? The contest hasn’t even truly begun, and the judge of the negotiation contest—the King—can brazenly strike me, a contestant!"

Andrew felt his body subtly trembling uncontrollably.

Finally, he genuinely understood something: the so-called Royal Court negotiation has little to do with the word "negotiate."

This Royal Court is the front line.

This Eternal Frost Hall is the battlefield.

This Royal Court negotiation is essentially another war following the end of the Twin Fires War!

Similar words had been mentioned repeatedly by Susan before and during the journey. But it was only after experiencing it firsthand that Andrew truly comprehended what Susan’s words meant back then.

Thus, Andrew acted.

In the moment when the King’s oppressive power was blocked by Catherine, while Andrew’s face was still ghastly pale, in actuality, Andrew had already quietly made his move.

"Invisible Enchantment" once again proved its strength. Among the audience, there were not only one but multiple top Tier Nine experts; however, except for Catherine, nobody noticed—nor would they believe—that Andrew would dare to intervene in this situation in the duel between Catherine and the King.

Calling it intervention seems arrogant.

More accurately, it’s "support."

The Lifebound Magic Series "Fingertip Series" launched, a magic arrow formed of dense Water Magic shot out from Andrew’s subtly moving fingertip, fell behind Catherine, and silently melded in.

Not long ago, Andrew used a specially crafted Magic Warrior Energy Bar to heal Catherine’s injuries, the fundamental principle of which was to stir the "Formless Blade Fire" within Catherine, creating an effect similar to "Water and Fire United" between Andrew and Barbara.

Now, Andrew was following the gourd and modeling a ladle.

The launched magic arrow was originally a lesser-known Tier Four Water Magic called "Hunting Arrow" from the "Water God Mark," intended for searching and locking onto the "Eight Strange Fires."

After making some adjustments, Andrew applied it to Catherine, triggering the Formless Blade Fire within her and creating a "Water and Fire United" effect in practice again.

Supporting this arrow was the massive Magic Power unique to a Magic Lord, which comes both from oneself and the domain, including the "Whole Power" of the people, incorporating "Power of Faith."

The timing for this arrow was chosen based on the "Counterattack Technique" Andrew had not long ago learned.

A booming sound was heard.

In front of everyone present, the King was forced to retreat half a foot by Catherine. Except for Catherine, no one present knew: the King’s retreat included Andrew’s supportive effort!

"This... this is impossible!" The Dragon Taming Lady’s expression suddenly changed, crying out.

Much like earlier outside the Royal Court, the Dragon Taming Lady and Dean Charlie’s aura matched each other, Flame Turtle versus Susan, Capella locked onto Barbara (yes, this time Capella wasn’t getting distracted), each member restraining the other with no effort left to aid the King or Catherine.

In this situation, the only one who could silently assist Catherine was Andrew.

After acting, Andrew confirmed two things:

First, Catherine definitely possesses an Eight Strange Fire, most likely the "Formless Blade Fire," even if not, it’s definitely some other form of Eight Strange Fire.

Second, this moment made Andrew finally understand what he can do and what he should do, given his current tier and strength.

"There are so many unlocked and yet-unlocked Water Magic Series within the ’Water God Mark,’ sometimes it feels a bit too much," Andrew thought, "but for me, it can actually be simplified to three ’main directions of attack,’ or three kinds of ’self-positioning.’

Firstly, it’s the business ability centered around the ’Enchanted Finger.’ This was repeatedly proven after coming to this Flame Realm, in modifying the Wildfire Territory, and in the business cooperation with the Warm Fire Commerce Association.

Then it’s the practical capability led by the "Counterattack Technique," combined with Whole Power, Lifebound Fingertip Series, and various auxiliary Water Magic. This piece was gradually filled after deciding to attend the Royal Court negotiation. The achievements include defeating Yorkshire in direct confrontations, twice at that!

The third main direction, which Andrew has just realized, is "assistance."

This Flame Realm is truly too difficult.

Even if one grows into a Tier Four prodigy among the younger generation in a very short time using the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method, there is still a huge chasm-like gap with existence like the king.

What to do in this situation?

The answer is assistance.

Lower your stance, and play as an auxiliary in a game.

Actually, I have been doing such things before, like the healing ability of the "Water Priestess Series."

Now Andrew realizes that there is more he can do beyond healing.

Water Magic is naturally very suitable for assistance.

Yes, in a direct confrontation, it is impossible for me to arm wrestle with the king, the Female Assassin, the Dragon Taming Madam, or the Flame Turtle in the short term.

But that doesn’t mean you can just treat me like a soft target!

Even my current self can still, in an auxiliary manner, affect how Tier Nine experts face off with each other.

—This is the realization Andrew reached in the moment he reached out to assist Catherine, a "self-positioning" he finally understood.

And this positioning, as of now, might actually be the most effective among the triple self-positioning.

Not to mention, just talking about Catherine’s recent injuries, those were injuries that even Medicine Master and Captain Linda might not be able to heal, yet Andrew healed using the principle of "Counterattack Technique" combining "Water Priestess Series" and "Water and Fire United."

Andrew himself hasn’t fully realized that his current healing ability is now on par with Medicine Master and Captain Linda. With future tier elevation, becoming the number one in healing magic in this Flame Realm is practically a certainty!

A series of thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind.

Andrew took a deep breath, and under Barbara’s gaze of relief, his face returned to a normal color.

"Hmm?" Barbara, looking at the improved complexion of Andrew, felt relieved and vaguely sensed that Andrew at this moment seemed somewhat different from before? His spirit seemed somewhat changed!

No time for detailed thinking.

Then the queen, after stepping back half a step, on her face, neck, and exposed arms, skin flashed quickly with mysterious ice-blue patterns.

It is the highest legacy of the Royal Court’s royal family, "Eternal Frost Ice Pattern."

The ice patterns flickered rapidly, seemingly dissolving Catherine’s high-speed impact force.

Soon, the king dissolved Catherine’s force, snorted, and advanced again.

Yet, as the king advanced half a step, his footsteps suddenly paused again.

He originally thought he had entirely dissolved Catherine’s force, but then a delayed force suddenly sprung out with a "snap," and he touched the side of his face, feeling warmth.

On the left side of his face, a not large but not small wound opened up.

The blue blood unique to the royal family flowed down his cheek.

"..."

Seeing this scene, everyone present was stunned.

They should know that the reason the negotiation challenge was held in advance was because the king was confident that he could fully suppress Catherine, thereby making the negotiation site entirely a home ground for the Magic Guild, allowing those participating from the guild to fully display without restraint (take liberties).

However, Catherine’s crash told the king, and also the Dragon Taming Madame and others from the Magic Guild: "Don’t even think about it."

"Good... well done! Second aunt, mighty!!" Havier excitedly flushed red.

Andrew beside him let out a gentle breath, staying low profile, and being ready to assist and support at any time.

Understanding that besides business cooperation, direct confrontation, and the "admonition" plan, he can also influence this extremely important Royal Court negotiation for the Flame Realm through assistance and support, Andrew really feels: More, I can do more!

The king looked down at the blue blood in his palm, then looked at Catherine in front of him, his eyes slightly narrowed: "The madam’s injury is really completely healed now! And even closer to War God Level. How was that done?"

He glanced towards Andrew, "Was the healing really done by this little brat?" Not in a provoked manner, but instead asked very seriously.

Catherine no longer "drives," but also does not answer, only lightly asks back: "Can the negotiation start?"

She used words to provoke the king and then repelled the king half a step back publicly, not impulsively charging onward.

Everything was for a fair negotiation environment. Further suppressing the king, Catherine knows clearly in her heart, is impossible. In this world, there are only those few who can steadily suppress Dedman. Even the First Knight Peter, facing the king, is just a fifty-fifty match.