As soon as Natalie spoke, the scene fell silent. Indeed, before considering Rosen's identity, they had to acknowledge that he had saved Alice several times. If this were truly a conspiracy by the Marines, why would he risk his life to rescue Alice from dire situations? In their calculations of gains, losses, and schemes, they had overlooked the simplest and most direct truth.
Queen Hathaway looked at Natalie. She had some impression of this girl and had planned to strengthen her bloodline factor once she was a bit older. She considered Natalie a promising talent.
"He saved Alice?" Hathaway was deeply skeptical. When she first arrived, she thought the current crisis was related to this Marine dog. As for his battle with Charles, she didn't want to dwell on it. Provoking Charles, that demon, was no small matter.
But now Natalie was claiming that Alice was saved by him?
Hathaway turned her questioning gaze to Alice.
"It's true. Not only did he hold off the monster invasion during the crisis, kill the Crimson Mist Beast, and build a moat to protect the city from new species of monsters, but he also saved my life," Alice said, her voice trailing off towards the end.
Natalie's reminder pulled their thoughts away from Rosen's identity.
Hathaway then looked at City Lord Hodman and Lisa.
Both Hodman and Lisa spoke in unison, "Yes."
"Even so, we can't..." A middle-aged man behind the queen started to speak but was silenced by Hathaway's raised hand. She had her own judgment on the matter.
"I am willing to vouch for him and monitor his actions in Ming City. If there is any risk, I will do everything in my power to eliminate him, at any cost," Alice said, kneeling before the queen despite her severe injuries.
This surprised Rosen. Wasn't this woman eager to kill him earlier?
"What kind of alliance agreement did you make with him?" Hathaway didn't immediately agree or take further action. Instead, she calmly asked.
"He will help us obtain food, and we will use our manpower to find someone for him on Landis Island," Lisa explained.
"That's it?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Rosen remained silent, smoking a cigar. This was their internal decision and judgment; his input wouldn't change much.
"Do you have nothing to say?" Hathaway sheathed her sword and looked at Rosen, who was leisurely smoking. This man was truly bold, despite his formidable strength.
But with so many people around, wasn't he afraid of being surrounded and killed?
Little did she know, Rosen had already prepared for such a scenario.
"Not really. I find it rather boring. Should I listen to your one-sided, ridiculous judgment? I thought the leader of Lantis Island would be wiser. It seems you're more suited to be a warrior than a hero," Rosen chuckled.
"Do you think saving them means I won't take action against you?" Hathaway was annoyed by Rosen's attitude. She was used to looking down on everyone from her position of power, including the Marines and the World Government.
But she saw no fear in him.
"Of course not. I'm just stating a fact. As a leader, you acted on a subjective judgment without fully understanding the situation, merely based on an external identity system. That's a shallow judgment, and it's the price of your foolishness..." Rosen raised his right hand, the wound no longer bleeding but still visible.
"Are you in a hurry to die?" Morad, enraged by Rosen's casual attitude, especially in the presence of their savior-like queen, drew his sword, ready to cut down the insolent man.
But a glance from Hathaway stopped him.
Hathaway fell silent. Rosen's words weren't without merit. She had indeed lost control of her emotions upon thinking Rosen was a Marine dog and even considered taking him out while facing Charles together.
But Charles was her primary target, hard to deal with.
"Since you saved Alice, I shouldn't take action against you as long as you don't harm our interests. But..." Hathaway drew a dagger from her waist, and everyone instantly went on alert.
"I don't accept your evaluation of me." With a swift motion, Hathaway plunged the dagger into her own arm, deep enough to draw blood.
She had previously struck the back of Rosen's wrist, avoiding major arteries, but still hitting bone.
"Your Majesty!" Alice, Hodman, and the queen's subordinates exclaimed in shock.
Rosen's actions paused. This woman was ruthless to herself. With his Active X2, recovery was nothing, but she didn't have that.
"Now we're even. We Lantis people never repay kindness with enmity. You've done us a favor, so the alliance stands. But if I ever find you to be an enemy of Lantis, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth," Hathaway said coldly.
"As for you, since Alice is exposed and lacks the defenses of the Ninth Garden, and Charles is still alive, you can't stay here long. Evacuate to the Ninth Garden within two days. I'll arrange temporary accommodations, but there won't be enough food for everyone. Organize hunting parties," Hathaway said before turning to leave.
She wanted to see if she could continue tracking Charles. After all, Charles wasn't at the heavily guarded Great Rift Abyss tonight, a rare opportunity.
"Farewell, Your Majesty!" Hodman led everyone in a half-bow, watching the queen depart. They already held absolute respect and obedience for her, but now they were even more impressed by her fairness and leadership.
Even Rosen, an outsider, felt it deeply. This woman was not simple. As an enemy, she would be troublesome, both in mind and combat.
"Uncle, let's go back. You're injured. Natalie is the best at dressing wounds. Let me help you," Natalie said eagerly, looking at Rosen's battered body.
In reality, Rosen's injuries weren't severe, mostly superficial, even the wound from Hathaway's sword.
With his Active X2, they were already starting to heal, and the bleeding had stopped.
"Are you sure you're not using me as a guinea pig?" Rosen smiled. He was grateful to Natalie for preventing a conflict at a critical moment, or else there would have been much more trouble.
"Of course not..." Natalie replied.
(End of Chapter)