CHAPTER 249: THAT’S IT?

Kissing Amelia could only be described in two words, delicious!

Carlotta breathed in Amelia’s scent, absorbing the essence of Amelia, feeling her entire body heating up. Her clothes suddenly felt so unnecessary.

Her breath came quick and heavy as she continued drawing in, while Amelia could only passively endure. With her lips sealed, she couldn’t speak, merely letting out soft hums, which only made Carlotta more excited.

Finally, Amelia managed to push Carlotta away, gasping, "Wait... I can’t breathe."

"Excuse. People like us, how could we possibly have trouble breathing? Are you perhaps feeling shy?"

Carlotta laughed.

She pressed down Amelia’s hands and leaned back in.

Amelia had no choice but to yield to Carlotta. The two rolled back and forth, wrinkling the sheets and leaving the bed in disarray, carrying a faintly chaotic atmosphere.

For a moment, the air seemed saturated with intimacy.

Often, Carlotta didn’t want to dwell on ancient secrets or prepare for unknown dangers. She simply wishes to eat, drink, and play with Amelia every day, watching spring flowers bloom.

But now wasn’t the time, and that left her with regret.

And so, this rare moment of relaxation made Carlotta bolder in her actions, leaving Amelia blushing deeply, her body temperature rising, struggling to keep up with Carlotta’s advances.

Just then, Carlotta stopped and sighed.

Amelia, her face still flushed, asked, "What’s wrong?"

Carlotta smiled. "Nothing. A group of people just arrived. I’ll get rid of them quickly. Wait here for me."

Amelia nodded.

At this moment, she looked especially obedient.

Carlotta straightened her clothes, then flickered away, reappearing outside the house.

Meanwhile, Phiva and her group had just reached the doorway.

Seeing Carlotta appear, Phiva was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "May I ask your name?"

"Carlotta White."

Carlotta replied coolly.

Hearing the name, neither Phiva nor Leopold showed any reaction, clearly, they had never heard of her. They had stayed in the Central Ruins for a long time, rarely returning. Their teacher, Aldrich Suarez, hadn’t returned for ages either.

Back then, when expecting Carlotta’s return, Emperor Alex had wanted to seek help from an Exalted, but could only find Elora, Aldrich was unreachable.

Although Phiva and Leopold didn’t recognize Carlotta, many behind them revealed expressions of surprise, even shock. Clearly, they hadn’t expected to meet a legendary figure here.

They quickly masked their expressions, silently exchanging glances, perfectly in sync.

Phiva smiled. "The Central Ruins are full of dangers. Traveling through this area must bring you some trouble. But don’t worry, join us, and we’ll protect you."

Carlotta was slightly taken aback. Was this person really offering help so kindly?

She politely declined, "Thank you for the offer, but I don’t need protection. I can stand on my own, no help required."

Phiva smiled. "Our teacher is Aldrich Suarez. We have more than enough power to protect you."

Carlotta hesitated. She hadn’t expected the name of that Exalted from the Wendell Empire to come up.

Still, she refused. "No need. I can protect myself."

Phiva’s smile began to fade. "Are you certain you don’t need protection? We only ask for a small fee in return."

Carlotta sensed something was off.

This person clearly wasn’t as kind-hearted as they pretended.

Their so-called protection required payment, far from free.

"I don’t need protection."

Carlotta reiterated.

"Are you sure?"

Phiva asked, her gaze turning hostile.

"So you’re forcing protection on others? And I actually thought you were decent people at first."

Carlotta couldn’t help but laugh. "You claim to be Aldrich’s students? I hope you behave properly, don’t disgrace your teacher."

She wasn’t someone who’d let herself be taken advantage of. Her tone grew slightly firmer.

Leopold now spoke up. "We’re offering help sincerely, yet you respond like this. It feels like you’re showing us great disrespect."

Carlotta was growing impatient. "Enough. Stop these pointless games. You know exactly what you’re after, don’t you? You’ve never heard of Carlotta White? Outside, no one dares provoke me. Even if you really are backed by Aldrich, you’d better treat me with respect, or not even Aldrich himself could save you."

She had no intention of playing the weak card. She was making her strength clear, wanting to drive these people away quickly. She mentioned how Emperor Alex of Wendell had recently apologized to her, and how the Empire’s top swordsaint, Xavier, had defeated by her.

"To boast so openly in front of us? Do you think we’re lying when we say Aldrich is our teacher?"

Phiva laughed bitterly.

She couldn’t believe Carlotta’s claims. She’d never even heard of Carlotta before. Even though she’d been stuck in the Central Ruins without outside contact, how could someone rise so quickly, someone who’d make Emperor Alex bow in apology and defeat the first swordsaint Xavier?

This person was clearly lying.

"You truly show us no respect. We have no choice but to teach you a lesson."

Leopold said coldly, prepare to attack.

At this point, Carlotta’s patience had run out.

She didn’t care who they were. All she knew was these two limited senses. She’d made herself clear, yet they still dared challenge her. That meant they only had themselves to blame.

Just as she said, Aldrich himself couldn’t save them now.

"Kneel. Slap yourself ten times."

Leopold struck first, immediately activating a Word Magic.

An odd wave instantly enveloped Carlotta.

This time, Carlotta was slightly more convinced these two really were Aldrich’s students. But that wouldn’t stop her from acting.

"Slap!"

Carlotta flicked her hand in the air. A gust of wind formed into a giant palm and struck Leopold square in the face, sending him flying backward. A clear handprint was left on his cheek.

"Boom!"

Leopold crashed into the valley’s cliff wall, causing it to collapse. Chunks of rock rained down, burying him completely beneath the debris.

This turn of events stunned Phiva, who hadn’t anticipated such a reaction. Even after revealing she was a student of Aldrich Suarez, this person still dared to attack?

After a brief moment of shock, Phiva’s expression turned furious. "How dare you ambush Leopold? Do you really think we’re people without tempers?"

She acted without hesitation, unleashing a Word Magic spell.

"Kneel down! Kneel down right now!"

Her voice boomed, carrying intense Word Magic that slammed into Carlotta.

However, Carlotta felt nothing from the assault, like a thin garment laid over her body, easily torn apart with just a slight struggle.

"Go ahead, try kneeling for me."

Carlotta swept her fingers like a blade across her chest.

She had already assessed Leopold as an early tier Weaver, Phiva as middle tier. Such strength was beneath her notice.

The flash of swordlight passed, and before Phiva could react, her legs below the knees were severed. Her body pitched forward uncontrollably, crashing heavily onto the ground.

She shrieked, trying to take flight, but an invisible force enveloped her, pinning her down. Helpless, she could only lie there, immobilized.

"So weak, utterly powerless, yet you can’t recognize your own limits and still dare provoke others? Is this how Aldrich taught you?"

Carlotta sneered.

These fools weren’t even worthy of being her opponents.

"Boom!"

Nearby stones exploded outward as Leopold crawled back out, the slap mark still vividly stamped across his face.

He turned toward Carlotta and Phiva, and a chill shot through his heart. He never expected Carlotta to be so ruthless, and so overwhelmingly powerful. Phiva hadn’t even lasted a single exchange.

Yet Carlotta’s displayed strength was the same as Phiva’s.

Without a second thought, he turned and fled, too scared to remain.

But since conflict had already begun, Carlotta had no intention of letting anyone escape.

"Whoosh!"

A blade of light tore through the air, surging and violent, ripping open space itself. It struck Leopold without mercy, cleaving him cleanly in two.

"Urrrraaaahhh...!"

Leopold screamed, writhing in unbearable pain, his face twisted in agony. But the suffering didn’t last long, within the next instant, the blade that split him shattered into countless sword energies, tearing his body apart into unrecognizable fragments.

Phiva witnessed the entire scene, a bone-deep chill rising from within. Her lips turned purple with fear.

Seeing Carlotta turn her gaze towards her, she cried out desperately, "I really am a student of Aldrich Suarez! They can all testify for me!"

Phiva gestured to the others who had accompanied her, shouting loudly.

But at that moment, the others were equally stunned, unable to believe Carlotta had acted so quickly and decisively.

They knew Carlotta wasn’t afraid of Phiva and Leopold, after all, she herself was powerful, and backed by an Exalted. But such outright, merciless killing exceeded their expectations.

Carlotta smiled faintly. "I think they can also testify for me, proving I wasn’t lying just now, right?"

Everyone nodded.

"Exactly! Miss White’s duel against the First Sword Saint in the capital firmly established her reputation, we’ve long admired her!"

"The Emperor’s compensation to Miss White is no secret; we’re all well aware of it!"

"Yes, yes! Miss White is still Moon, the number one person from Sky Island. I deeply respect her!"

"Actually, I’m a huge admirer of Miss White!"

"Miss White is backed by an Exalted who once fought the Southern Continent’s Demon King to a draw, someone incredibly powerful!"

At that moment, everyone feared Carlotta might turn on them. They scrambled to say flattering things, scared of being seen as accomplices since they had arrived together with Phiva and Leopold.

Some even explicitly mentioned they had been forcibly conscripted, having paid a fee, otherwise they wouldn’t have joined the mission at all.

Hearing their words, Phiva’s expression shifted repeatedly. She hadn’t expected these people to be so pragmatic.

What scared her even more was that they actually confirmed Carlotta’s claims. Was Carlotta truly a Weaver so powerful that even the First Sword Saint couldn’t defeat her? And did she really have an Exalted backing her?

Aldrich Suarez’s status as an Exalted was Phiva’s ultimate trump card. If others possessed equally powerful backing, what reason did she have left to be arrogant?

Sensing Carlotta’s killing intent, Phiva nearly sobbed, "Don’t kill me! Even if you have an Exalted behind you, surely you wouldn’t want to trigger a war between Exalted? My master loves me dearly! If he learns I’m dead, he’ll demand answers, it would be quite troublesome for you!"

"Not troublesome at all."

Carlotta extended her fingers like a blade, sword light flickering at her fingertips.

Phiva’s face twisted in terror. "How can it not be troublesome? Don’t act tough! As long as I live, Leopold’s death really doesn’t matter. I can plead your case! I can stop my master! I swear on this, just don’t kill me, and I’ll do whatever you ask!"

"So noisy. You’re disgracing the name of an Exalted student."

Carlotta shook her head. "What use is someone like you in this world? A waste of your privileged birth."

Carlotta showed no mercy. Threatening her with an Exalted meant nothing. She believed that in her current state, she could probably even fight a weaker Exalted to a standstill.

Her finger descended.

In that instant, Phiva was split cleanly in half, blood spraying across the ground, staining the earth red.

For Carlotta, this was an ordinary occurrence. But for the onlookers, the impact was overwhelming.

"She really was Suárez’s student..."

Someone murmured weakly.

Carlotta glanced at them. "I know. She used Word Magic, that’s likely genuine. But so what? Just because someone’s an Exalted student, do they get to do whatever they want?"

Hearing this, everyone fell silent, afraid to utter another word.

Carlotta waved her hand. "Leave now. Since you’re not truly allied with those two, I won’t trouble you."