CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 260: ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION

The first possibility is the "Eighth Fire".

The reason is simple: I know nothing about the Eighth Fire.

Naturally, the possibility that it’s "not visible" cannot be ruled out.

"However, currently, there should be no existence of the Eighth Fire in this world."

Andrew silently analyzed, "Even if the Commerce Association’s fire creation plan can indeed produce the Eighth Fire, it will definitely take time. Therefore, the possibility that the Strange Fire within Catherine is the Eighth Fire only exists theoretically."

Thinking of the "fire creation plan" of the Warm Fire Commerce Association, Andrew felt slightly settled.

The situation at the Royal Court is intricate and bizarre, while over in Warm Fire City, the magic production lines that I entrusted Ivan to oversee before departure are methodically being established and operating smoothly.

The production lines output a large amount of Snickers, magic facial masks, and other Water Magic goods, sold worldwide through the Commerce Association’s channels. These outputs continuously support the fire creation plan of the Warm Fire Commerce Association, while also providing me with a constant income of Fire Extinguishing Value.

The business cooperation between myself and the Warm Fire Commerce Association is inherently mutually beneficial.

Not long ago, I was able to defeat that Third Saint Son Yorkshire, partly because I learned the Counterattack Technique and understood how to employ Water Magic in real combat.

On the other hand, thanks to business cooperation with the Warm Fire Commerce Association, my influence range — the scope of my Magic Territory — keeps expanding, and my Magic Power rises accordingly.

Which means completely crushing Yorkshire in terms of "Magic Power", a fundamental skill for mages!

"Of course, that’s not the main point right now."

Andrew quickly pulled his thoughts back, "Besides the ’Eighth Fire’, the second possibility is the ’Formless Blade Fire’ among the Eight Strange Fires."

Formless Blade Fire, as the name suggests, is formless.

This is the type of Strange Fire that Andrew feels Catherine is most likely to possess.

"Moreover, this also explains why Catherine claims she hasn’t reached the War God level like Peter or the Female Assassin yet seems to already possess combat power at that level!"

Andrew remembered clearly, "The attributes of the Formless Blade Fire perfectly match the Crimson Knights! All Crimson Knights yearn to partner professionally with Warm Fire Mages possessing the Formless Blade Fire.

And if a Crimson Knight doesn’t need a mage partner and possesses the Formless Blade Fire themselves? Could this be the reason for Catherine’s formidable strength?"

Andrew was rather confident in this speculation.

This confidence naturally stems from his identity as a Water Magic Lord.

Others wouldn’t suspect that a warrior, a Crimson Knight, might possess Eight Strange Fires.

However, due to his Water Element profession and especially the "Water God Mark" on his brow, Andrew can easily sense feelings of affection or aversion towards the Eight Strange Fires of the Flame Realm.

In short, Andrew was fairly certain that what Catherine had was most likely the ’Formless Blade Fire’.

Yet, for some reason, this discovery filled Andrew’s heart with inexplicable horror and fear.

Though it’s unclear what he was afraid of.

"...Perhaps it’s still because the situation at the Royal Court remains too unclear."

Andrew reopened his eyes, "Catherine should explain the situation to Aunt Susan, right? When Aunt Susan comes out, let’s ask what exactly happened, what the situation is."

He was thinking about this in his heart.

With a creak, the bedroom door opened from the inside.

Susan’s enormous body squeezed through the doorframe with some difficulty, yet she didn’t make any unnecessary noise, landing silently, displaying the essential footwork for Crimson Knights.

After coming out, Susan gently shut the bedroom door backward.

Havier, Barbara, and Dean Charlie immediately approached: "How’s it? How’s Auntie (Second Sister, Second Miss)?"

Andrew also stood up.

"Alright, she’s just fallen asleep." Susan sighed gently, "Indeed, there was a mishap in her training, but it’s nothing serious, all better now." Saying this, Susan looked at Andrew, "Second Miss asked me to thank you for helping heal her earlier."

"It was necessary." Andrew exhaled in relief, along with Barbara, Dean Charlie, and Havier, once hearing that the problem was resolved.

However, he soon followed up with a question: "What exactly was the mishap in her training?"

Mishaps in professional training are quite normal.

But it’s rare to see something as severe as Catherine vomiting blood and fainting.

Andrew only investigated the injuries within Catherine’s body, left by the Crimson Knights, and inferred that she was hurt by her own power, indicating a mishap in her training.

But what exactly was the issue, Andrew did not understand.

In fact, if not for having enough confidence in his diagnostic ability, Andrew might have even thought: Simple training mishaps couldn’t possibly lead to that severe vomiting of blood...right?

"What kind of training issues do Crimson Knights have? Isn’t it all because they’re aiming too fast or becoming too anxious?" Susan sighed, "Second Miss was just one step away from reaching the War God level within Tier Nine, and precisely because of this, she was too anxious with her training, resulting in her hurting herself due to uncontrolled acceleration."

At the end, Susan couldn’t help but purse her lips.

A feeling of frustration akin to a teacher seeing a student fail to meet expectations!

For those unfamiliar, it might seem strange: Susan, despite being Tier Eight, has the audacity to critique the formidable Tier Nine Catherine?

Andrew had heard Barbara mention it once or twice—

The Crimson Knights not only need to learn "Acceleration," but also "Deceleration."

Many people think "Crimson Footprints" is a combat technique to increase speed, but it’s not.

Crimson Footprints is used to practice deceleration, making footsteps more solid and preventing the body from becoming unstable due to excessive speed.

"Crimson Sprint" is the combat technique truly used for "Acceleration."

Skillfully combining "Crimson Sprint" and "Crimson Footprints," merging acceleration and deceleration appropriately, is the most crucial fundamental skill and mandatory course for every Crimson Knight.

Due to certain early experiences, Susan’s body was out of control, her cultivation limit decreased, and her acceleration ability reached the pinnacle of Tier Eight, which is already the end.

However, when it comes to deceleration ability and mastery of "Crimson Footsteps," she has actually surpassed her own tier, stronger than Tier Nine Catherine, being the most adept at deceleration among the Crimson Knights in this Flame Realm.

Therefore, she indeed has enough qualifications to critique Catherine’s cultivation issues!

"Issues with deceleration, huh?" Dean Charlie seemed surprised that Catherine’s problem originated from the basic skills of the Crimson Knight, "Isn’t that exactly Susan’s expertise?"

"Yes." Susan’s plump face finally showed a hint of a smile, a confident smile, "So there’s definitely no problem anymore. I just taught Miss a few tips on footsteps and deceleration. You know Miss’s aptitude, Charlie."

"That’s good." Dean Charlie nodded; he initially wanted to ask what the specific cultivation issue was, but Andrew beat him to it.

Andrew finally understood: "This is what Catherine meant by the greatest help coming not from my Healing Magic, but from Aunt Susan. So that’s how it is."

He thought again: "Hearing Aunt Susan’s words, the Crimson Knights really might hurt themselves because they can’t control the speed and get injured like that..."

"...I don’t believe it!" Havier suddenly shook his head again, "I still don’t believe a simple cultivation issue could cause Aunt’s severe bleeding!"

Referring to this, Havier furiously said, "Damn it, couldn’t it be that king of the Royal Court bullying my Aunt?!"

Even Havier, the rebellious child, understood the problem in the Royal Court probably stemmed from the king.

Because Catherine was unconscious till now, and as her husband, the king hadn’t shown himself at all.

"Can you keep it down?" Barbara looked at Havier, frowned, and said, "Andrew already said Aunt’s internal injuries have nothing to do with the Frost Guards, so it definitely wasn’t the Warrior Chief, nor was it the king."

The king is also a Frost Guard. The entire Royal Family of the Royal Court is.

But not ordinary Frost Guards.

They have the "Frost Pattern Titan" blood flowing within them, a particularly special group among the Frost Guards.

The Frost Pattern Titan clan lived on this northern land in ancient times, although they no longer exist, their bloodline actually survived mixed with humans and now flows within the Royal Court’s Royal Family.

Thus, Havier’s claim isn’t entirely groundless.

If someone within the Royal Court could have possibly injured the powerful Catherine, it would indeed be the king who has yet to appear!

Rumor has it that the current king of the Royal Court simultaneously masters the two great legacies of the Royal Family, "Eternal Frost Ice Pattern" and "Ancient Gaze," making him the strongest among all past kings.

Possibly close to being on par with Catherine, nearly reaching Divine Level.

In this Flame Realm, currently at this level are Madame Yi Lian, who controls the Deep Blue Magic Tower, Catherine, and Grandpa Falk, who is actually also of this level. Facing a true Divine Level like Peter or the Female Assassin, they still couldn’t win. However, compared to other ordinary Tier Nines, they are indeed noticeably ahead.

"Oh, this question, I also asked Miss earlier."

Only hearing Susan say, "She said her injuries can’t completely be said to have nothing to do with the king..."

"See, see! That’s what I said!" Havier shouted, his attitude towards Andrew having just started to improve now turned hostile again, "So Andrew, you...you misdiagnosed!"

Andrew was confident in his abilities and didn’t think he’d misdiagnosed.

He activated Water Magic to directly block Havier’s shouting.

His eyes were fixed on Susan.

Seeing Susan raise her hand, directly sealing Havier’s mouth amidst his shouts, she continued, "Miss said there truly is a change in the Royal Court, and the problem stems from the king.

The Miss was worried she’d be suppressed unintentionally by the king’s power during negotiations, thus hastening her cultivation, and inadvertently hurt herself due to her uncontrollable speed and power."

"So what’s actually happening?" Dean Charlie focused and asked, "What’s wrong with the king? What’s the current situation in the Royal Court?"

Andrew, Barbara, and the muffled Havier, whose mouth was blocked, also looked at Susan.

Catherine’s injuries were fine and not directly inflicted by the king, that was enough for now and could temporarily be brushed aside.

What comes next is crucial to understand: Exactly what’s wrong with the Royal Court?

Only by understanding this can it be determined: Whether negotiating strategies need to be adjusted? Perhaps...whether the negotiations should even proceed!

The negotiations are held in the Royal Court because Catherine is the queen, having such a relationship is absolutely advantageous for the Warm Fire Commerce Association. Before coming to the Royal Court, no one expected a problem within the court. Let alone that the problem would be Catherine’s husband, the king.

Thus, truly puzzled and urgently needing to understand clearly what happened?

Susan took a deep breath, her expression turning peculiar, with anger, annoyance, and somberness, her voice slow and deep, as she said: "According to Miss earlier, the situation is like this—"