Chapter 94 - 95: Pledging Allegiance
Seeing Felix York awake, Sophie Wexler finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"General York, why didn’t you tell me you were poisoned by a Starbug?" Sophie Wexler asked. "I can help you cleanse it."
"Even if I can’t remove all of it, it’s better than nothing."
Hearing this, Felix York glanced at Cillian Forrest, who stood beside Sophie Wexler, and sighed inwardly.
He had been utterly shocked when he first learned that Sophie Wexler could cleanse the toxin.
Besides, due to the large gap between their Levels, he hadn’t dared to entertain the idea.
Because of her own Level, it wasn’t difficult for Sophie Wexler to soothe the soldiers, and he could afford the corresponding fee. It was only a matter of Crystal Stones.
But he was different. Although his spiritual power couldn’t compare to the Marshal’s, he was a 3S, after all. The difficulty of soothing his Spiritual Sea and cleansing the toxin was immense.
It wasn’t something that could be solved by simply paying a fee.
His Seventh Legion had always remained neutral in the power struggles of the Imperial Royal Family.
Back then, when Cillian Forrest had told him about the possibility of cleansing the toxin, the implication couldn’t have been clearer.
He didn’t know the Marshal that well and certainly didn’t want to get involved in the conflict. That was why, at first, he had no intention of letting Sophie Wexler cleanse the toxin for him.
Later, as they spent more time in each other’s company, Cillian Forrest’s presence meant that members of the First Legion started appearing in the Seventh Legion’s territory from time to time.
Although he said nothing, he had been secretly gathering information and had gained a much clearer understanding of the political disputes on the Capital Planet.
He also knew that with Cillian Forrest having stayed with the Seventh Legion for so long, he could no longer remain neutral.
Therefore, he had been looking for an opportunity to bring up the toxin recently, but one thing after another kept coming up.
Furthermore, after that Starbug war, Sophie Wexler had cleansed the toxin for Leo Fane. Although her Level had increased, the toll on her spiritual power had been immense. It wouldn’t have been wise for her to perform another treatment so soon, which is why he hadn’t said anything.
He never expected his Spiritual Sea to suffer such a severe blow this time, making it impossible to suppress the toxin any longer and leading to his current state.
"Miss Wexler, thank you for saving me this time," Felix York said, his tone solemn as he made a promise. "If you ever need anything in the future, I will do everything in my power to help."
Sophie Wexler didn’t expect him to be so serious. ’What kind of trouble could an insignificant person like me possibly get into?’
Still, she accepted his goodwill with a word of thanks. "General York, I can’t cleanse the toxin at the center of your Spiritual Sea right now. It will definitely flare up and spread again. Whenever that happens, just come find me, and I’ll help you clear it out again."
"If my Level can increase further, the toxin in the center of your Spiritual Sea..." Sophie Wexler trailed off.
Although she was still in her second spiritual power growth phase, she wasn’t sure if her Level could rise again. She couldn’t guarantee that she could completely rid Felix York of the toxin.
Everyone else understood exactly what she meant.
Felix York smiled. "This is already more than enough."
’The toxin is already much better than before. One shouldn’t be too greedy.’
"Miss Wexler, I hear you’re going to the Capital Planet." As he spoke, Felix York held something out. "This is a Defense Device. The energy within can withstand a single attack of 3S-class or higher."
He then offered the object in his hand to her.
Sophie Wexler quickly waved her hands in refusal. "No, that’s too valuable. I can’t accept it."
"You must take it. You saved my life. This is just a material possession."
Seeing Sophie Wexler still trying to refuse, Felix York added, "If you keep refusing like this, how can I possibly ask you to help me cleanse my toxin in the future?"
Sophie Wexler paused. Seeing Felix York’s insistent expression, she hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out to accept it. "Well, thank you, General York."
Felix York was only satisfied after she took it.
Then he looked up at Cillian Forrest and said to the others present, "I have something to discuss with Ethan Cross and... the Adjutant."
Hearing this, everyone instantly understood what he meant. The surrounding soldiers and Medical Masters filed out.
Sophie Wexler glanced at them and also turned to leave. As she passed Cillian Forrest, she said, "I’ll wait for you outside."
"Alright," Cillian Forrest replied. As he spoke, he brushed his fingers against Sophie Wexler’s hand.
Sophie Wexler’s expression froze. "..."
He had pressed a few more Crystal Stones into her palm.
After everyone else had left, only the three of them remained in the room.
Ethan Cross knew he was only kept behind to conceal the Marshal’s identity, so he tactfully took a step back.
Felix York looked up at Cillian Forrest. After a long moment, he spoke slowly, "Marshal, my Seventh Legion does not wish to make pointless sacrifices."
’That’s why we’ve never wanted to get involved in the conflict. But this time...’
"However, you were right. It’s impossible for us to stay out of it."
’Even if we don’t want to be involved, someone will always drag us in.’
Take this mission, for example. Clearing out Space Pirates shouldn’t have been difficult, yet things went wrong. His Spiritual Sea was even damaged.
Those people were clearly not ordinary Space Pirates. The powers that be were using this method to pressure them into choosing a side.
If he hadn’t been poisoned by the Starbug, this injury wouldn’t have been serious.
But the fact was, his Spiritual Sea was tainted with Starbug toxin, which led to this outcome.
If it weren’t for Miss Wexler, his life might have truly been hanging by a thread this time.
’Since I have to pick a side, I’d rather stand with someone I know.’
"Marshal, from now on, the Seventh Legion is at your command." His tone was resolute.
He started to rise to give a formal salute as a sign of respect.
Cillian Forrest placed a hand on his shoulder. "Stay seated."
After stopping him, Cillian spoke. "I’ve said it before. You are the commander of the Seventh Legion. I won’t interfere. I only need you to show your stance at the appropriate time."
"Understood," Felix York nodded.
"The Defense Device for Sophie Wexler," Cillian Forrest said after a moment. "Thank you."
A Defense Device capable of withstanding an attack from a 3S-class or higher was exceedingly rare, even on the Capital Planet.
"It’s only right. After all, Miss Wexler saved my life."
’Giving it to Sophie Wexler was worth it.’
The two then discussed some details about the current political situation on the Capital Planet. Once they were finished, Cillian Forrest also stood up to leave.
"Don’t get up." Seeing Felix York trying to rise to see him off, Cillian Forrest immediately said, "Get some rest."
With that, he turned and left.
Ethan Cross gave Felix York a military salute, then said with a smile, "General York, see you on the Capital Planet."
"See you on the Capital Planet."
Meanwhile, when Cillian Forrest went outside, he saw Sophie Wexler waiting for him not far away. She had probably been waiting for a while, as she was looking down, fiddling with the Crystal Stones in her hand.
Cillian Forrest walked over and saw that only one of the Crystal Stones she held had faded in color.
"Why aren’t you absorbing it?"
Cillian Forrest’s voice sounded from above Sophie Wexler’s head.
Only then did Sophie Wexler notice him. She stood up. "Are you done talking?"
"Mhm."
Noticing his gaze was still on the Crystal Stones in her hand, Sophie Wexler opened her palm and explained, "I can’t absorb it."