"Oh, really?"

Barbara had been helping Andrew with the emergency treatment for Dean Charlie when she heard Capella's words, let out a cold laugh, and stood up.

Once upon a time, Barbara's nickname was "Pupil Witch." At this moment, she stared at Capella, and the "Heart Fire Series," paired with "Orange Flame Warm Fire," activated together, with flames indeed burning in her eyes.

Not only in her eyes but also on her forehead.

The "Fire God Mark," transformed from the "Warm Fire Order," quietly appeared on Barbara's smooth and full forehead, burning with flames, like a third eye opening.

This version of Barbara remained beautiful and delicate, with an added magical aura that she usually didn't possess.

Seeing Barbara like this, not only the people from the Magic Guild across and the two factions present from the Royal Court but even the members of the Warm Fire Commerce Association—like Havier and Sabye, who finally reacted and returned to Dean Charlie's side—were taken aback.

Andrew felt the "Water God Mark" at his brow flutter a few times, seemingly responding to Barbara's "Fire God Mark."

His heart was stirred: "I see, the synergy of water and fire between Barbara and me perhaps started when she fused with that 'Warm Fire Order' in the Inner Sea Desert. Back then, in the Inner Sea Desert, when dealing with Desert Speaker Rose."

For this negotiation duel in front of them, Andrew and Barbara had each undergone special training on the way here.

However, they hadn't seriously trained together for coordination.

And looking at the current situation, there might not be enough time to practice coordination well before the third two-on-two duel.

Yet Andrew kept it in mind: "Perhaps the key for Barbara and me to practice coordinated combat, to practice more harmonious water and fire synergy, lies in my 'Water God Mark' and her 'Warm Fire Order'!"

But that was a matter for later.

The current focus remained on the second round of the negotiation duel!

The hall still echoed with Capella's voice: "One-on-one... destroy you..."

Capella practiced the "New Edition Dragon Transformation Combat Technique," which only condensed into the "Dragon Transformation Weapon," unlike Fleur, her body would not transform into a half-human, half-dragon draconian. And now Capella had yet to take out her axe spear-shaped dragon transformation weapon.

But strangely, everyone present felt that Capella's echoing voice was no ordinary human sound! No human voice could persist for so long. The sound currently resonating in the hall was more like the "Dragon's Roar" of a magnetic giant dragon!

Legend says the "Dragon's Roar" carries a peculiar resonance with all things between heaven and earth, allowing it to echo longer. Some dragon roars and languages can even traverse time, resonating from ancient times to the present.

Although Capella didn't give such an exaggerated impression, she already had that aura.

She was different from the Dragon Taming Lady.

Completely different.

The Dragon Taming Lady was undoubtedly much stronger than Capella, but she gave the impression of a waning sunset; she lacked self-confidence, which is why she would resort to underhanded tactics like poisoning.

Capella was a rising new star, and within her voice was not only the non-human dragon's roar sensation but also an incredible level of self-confidence that was hard to believe!

"—The dragon shadow has appeared again."

Andrew looked behind Capella.

Once more, he saw that vague giant dragon shadow he had glimpsed distantly when the Shield of Flowing Fire was used to treat Orleans!

Barbara stared directly at Capella, thinking: "The kind of 'anxiety' she had... is gone."

Not long ago outside the Royal Court, Barbara discerned that Capella's mind was wandering because of some anxiety. Upon hearing that the King planned to marry Capella for the sake of royal bloodline, Barbara understood Capella's anxiety more.

But now, all the anxiety had disappeared from Capella. Her eyes were shockingly bright, making it hard to connect this person with the previously distracted girl.

"Clear the area, please," Capella gestured.

The magical remnants from the duel between Dean Charlie and the Dragon Taming Lady still needed to be cleared before the next duel could take place.

The ones responsible for clearing were the Frost Guards of the Royal Court.

Since the Frost Guards were responsible for clearing, the command naturally came from the King and Catherine on the throne. Even though the Royal Court was divided into two factions, outsiders could not meddle.

However, Capella gestured to hurry up the clearing, leading several Frost Guards to quicken their pace and start clearing. It wasn't until halfway through that they realized: Why... why am I listening to her? She's not His Majesty (Her Highness).

Catherine gave a faint snort.

The King, however, flashed a smile.

Confidence is a kind of magic, possessing power. Capella's strength was clearly less than that of the Dragon Taming Lady before, but her massive, inconceivable, and natural confidence seemed to form invisible tendrils, controlling the entire scene.

"Damn, this Saintess is so arrogant, how could she be so arrogant?" Havier muttered.

Sabye silently turned his head, looking at Barbara, who was also waiting to enter the duel after the area was cleared.

He saw Barbara's body trembling slightly.

The first negotiation duel had already been lost.

Barbara knew very well that she couldn't afford any mistakes in the second duel she was responsible for.

The most reliable way, naturally, was to carry out Andrew's plan: once the clearing work was finished, immediately trigger the magic mark that Andrew implanted in Yorkshire's body, turning the second opponent from the sole Saintess Capella to the Third Saint Son Yorkshire.

This was the best choice. Barbara's rational mind was clear about this.

But as her eyes watched Capella on the opposite side getting serious and no longer distracted with a commanding presence, as her ears heard Capella's confident voice echoing in the hall, Barbara felt a flame not only in her eyes nor on her forehead, but also in her heart, blazing fiercely.

She truly wanted to personally step into the field and have a good duel with such a Capella!

And defeat her fiercely!

Her body shivered uncontrollably, not because of fear, but because of the boiling fighting spirit within her.

"Sister (Third Miss), if you really want to enter the duel, then follow your heart! We all believe in you."

Catherine and Susan simultaneously transmitted their voices to Barbara.

The difference was that Susan's tone carried empathetic understanding; having participated in negotiations and competitions herself, she seemed to grasp Barbara's uneasy mood at this moment.

Catherine, however, seemed a bit provoked by Capella's dominant stance.

Upon hearing the voices of the two, Barbara's mind stirred.

She turned to look at Andrew.

Andrew continued treating Dean Charlie while subtly nodding his head.

After the Dragon Taming Lady was carried away from the scene, Capella stepped forward, showing an attitude of leading the whole situation.

If the serious Capella had a "presence" that filled every corner of the venue.

Then the Andrew treating Dean Charlie represented the other extreme, with no presence at all.

Having understood the Heart of Assistance, Andrew increasingly felt that often there was no need for him to jump out. The best support and assistance, like the Invisible Enchantment, should also be invisible and traceless.

Only this way, when it's really time for him to make a move and draw his sword, can he unleash the strongest, most astounding, and most world-shaking power.

The clearing work was nearing completion.

The atmosphere on site was visibly tense again.

Barbara momentarily ignored Capella across from her, focusing on Andrew's eyes and transmitting her voice to ask, "Do you also agree with me confronting Capella head-on for a showdown?"

"Of course." Andrew nodded.

Although the confidence Capella was showing at this moment was unbelievably strong, almost like magic.

But the hall was filled with confident individuals, and Capella was not the only one.

If Barbara had the confidence to face Capella and win, then Andrew was willing to believe in Barbara.

Being overly attached to a predetermined plan would hurt the indispensable courage and confidence Barbara needed on her career path, negatively affecting her future career development.

What's the fundamental purpose of the plan?

Naturally, it was to win.

Andrew believed that whether Barbara chose to execute the plan or chose to battle, the second negotiation competition could be secured by their side.

Victory was certain.

"Although Dean Charlie lost the first round, he proved one thing: the Magic Guild members, their hard power, actually can't compare to ours. They seem arrogant and domineering, but in reality, they are nothing more than paper tigers."

Andrew's calm voice soothed Barbara's body, which was slightly stimulated by Capella, "This Capella is the same! I don't know how you feel, Barbara, but at least from my perspective, this domineering version of her now feels less genuine than her previous distracted self.

So there's no need to be intimidated by her current demeanor."

Andrew was possibly the only person on site who didn't feel anything special about Capella becoming serious.

For some reason, Andrew always felt that this overwhelming presence of the current Capella wasn't truly her.

More like... a puppet manipulated by the shadow behind her.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "Her usual state of anxiety, is it really because her heart is unwilling to be used as a pawn by the Magic Guild, to marry the king? Her attitude towards the king doesn't seem unnatural.

Or is it that what she is anxious and worried about is actually... the shadow behind her?"

Before he could think further, he heard Barbara say, "Thank you, Andrew."

"Hmm?" Andrew came back to his senses, and saw that the clearing work was completed by this time.

Barbara inhaled deeply, without hesitation, strode directly into the field, her heart already made a decision: "I'll still proceed according to the original plan. Everyone and Andrew are willing to believe in me, so I am also willing to completely trust Andrew's plan."