Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1081 - 1074: Assisting the Escape

Chapter 1081: Chapter 1074: Assisting the Escape

"Mom..." Hearing Nina’s words, Luo’er felt even more ashamed, hanging his head low, not daring to look up.

The interaction between Nina and Luo’er was always sweet. Nina treated Luo’er with a mother’s love as rich as honey, so sweet it was deep, and everyone around them couldn’t help but feel the sweetness too.

If Luo’er and Tangmo liked to flaunt their affection when they were fine, then with Nina, Luo’er was giving out sugar in spades, sweet to the point of cloying, sweet until you’d get a toothache. Sometimes even Tangmo would start feeling jealous involuntarily, always thinking that if Luo’er and Nina weren’t mother and son, Luo’er would’ve probably been charmed away by her long ago.

But such a thing, upon closer thought, didn’t seem realistic. After all, how could a man as honest and straightforward as Luo’er flirt around? To those who couldn’t enter his heart, before him, they were nothing but pink skeletons.

It was precisely because Nina was Luo’er’s mother that she could enter and even fill his heart. Tangmo had spent a great deal of effort to reach the same level of closeness that Nina had from the start, but that was inevitable, after all, Luo was her flesh and blood.

Cheng Ziang quietly observed the interaction between Nina and Luo’er. Although his heart was filled with sweetness, it couldn’t help but also taste bitter. Unlike Luo’er, he and Baiyue had lost their mother right after birth; to be more precise, their lives were bought with their mother’s life. Hence, with a deficiency of both maternal and paternal love, they longed for such care.

Now, although they had all grown up, the lack of care in their childhood still affected them unintentionally.

Although Baiyue had found her grandfather, brothers, and sisters, her dearest father and mother were worlds apart. Cheng Ziang had found his father, but his mother would never see him grown up, which was undeniably regretful.

"What are you feeling sentimental about?" Noticing Cheng Ziang’s sighs, Hu Daoke gave him a pat on the shoulder and asked.

"Nothing much, just feeling a bit tired," Cheng Ziang shook his head, paused for a moment, and decided to change the subject, "Speaking of which, the Headquarters has decided not to assign Luo’er to fieldwork anymore. Probably after a while, Aunt Nina will be able to see Luo’er every day."

"Not able to do fieldwork anymore, why?" Nina was taken aback and turned to ask Luo’er.

"Oh, it’s probably because of my identity," Luo’er admitted frankly, "after all, my mother is a princess. The people at Headquarters all have their apprehensions. But it doesn’t matter; after all, I don’t plan on continuing like this anyway," Luo’er said.

"You’ve compromised for the sake of Ilanadale..." Nina said with a pained expression.

"No compromise, for Ilanadale, for Mom," Luo’er shook his head and smiled, "Moreover, if things go on like this, we’ll always be on the margins. The best way to control our destiny is to hold power. It’s not about controlling Headquarters completely, but at least having a say in the frontline command. My current influence either comes from my grandfather’s remaining fame or from my father’s legacy. The day my grandfather’s influence wanes and my father’s legacy depletes, I would truly be at the mercy of others."

"It seems you still have a clear understanding of yourself, I thought you were blinded by infatuation," Cheng Ziang shook his head and said.

"I’ve always been very clear about myself, what on earth is this peach blossom you speak of?" Luo’er asked with a wry smile.

"If you are wronged over there, come back, Ilanadale is also your home. Mom will find a way, try her best to have Mother acknowledge your identity," Nina said with distress.

"No need for such trouble," Luo’er smiled reassuringly, "I understand the status of Ilanadale and the whole world, so I know what to do. Mom should do what she does, don’t worry about me. On the contrary, I should be worried for Mom. Your children are all of mixed heritage; I fear that within Ilanadale, you..."

"Hehe, don’t worry, Mom will find a way to deal with it," Nina said with a laugh.

"If it doesn’t work out, perhaps we should sever our ties. That way..." Luo’er’s words were cut off before he could finish.

She looked quite angry, glaring at Luo’er as she spoke vehemently, "What nonsense are you talking about? You are my son, why would I give up on you? I managed to endure waiting in the Ancient States for you, and now that we’re finally reunited, you speak this nonsense. You’re the proof of me and Luo Chuan, without you, I would truly lose Luo Chuan forever and ever..."

"Right, sorry, Mom, I misspoke..." Luo’er quickly apologized, bowing his head.

"Ah, Luo’er, why are you always like this, always saying things others don’t want to hear. It’s the same with us, and with your mom..." Cheng Ziang said, shaking his head helplessly.

From Nina’s words, everyone could also sense some of her attitudes. Clearly, in her eyes, she cared more about Luo’er’s father, Luo Chuan, after all, he was her husband. Although she also loved Luo’er dearly, compared to that, the love between her and Luo Chuan—a love once lost and then regained—was the most deeply etched in her heart.

"I also, wanted to do what’s best for everyone..." Luo’er said ashamedly.

"Not this again, I’m really fed up with you..." Cheng Ziang shook his head and lamented.

The carriage sped along the streets and eventually passed through several checkpoints to arrive at the airship dock. There were no interceptions along the way, likely because the carriage belonged to the princess.

As for the priest, it was unclear whether Tana had delayed the message or Fulajie’er had employed some means, but there had been no movement from the priest. It seemed they wouldn’t make it in time.

At that moment, on the docks, the airship had already ascended and was hovering in readiness, clearly having received advance notice. On the jetty, Li Si paced back and forth, anxiously waiting for their arrival, and upon hearing the sound of the carriage speeding toward him, his face lit up with overwhelming joy, and he went out to meet them excitedly.

Once the carriage came to a halt, the door opened, and Nina, holding her skirt, stepped out first, then extended her hand to help Luo’er down, followed closely by the others.

"Thank you, Princess Nina, for your assistance," Li Si said, bowing slightly with respect.

"It’s only right; after all, Luo’er is also my son," Nina said, shaking her head.

"The airship has already started up, hurry aboard. We’ll set off through the night, heading straight for the coast," Li Si called out.

"Alright," Luo’er nodded, then turned to Nina and said, "Mom, I’m leaving."

"Go ahead," Nina said, her voice trembling a bit.

She reached out to straighten Luo’er’s clothes, showing a reluctant expression. Although she had spoken so calmly just moments ago, when it came time to part, she hesitated repeatedly.

"Ah, you’re still here, hurry up and go, the priest is already on his way," Fulajie’er’s voice suddenly echoed in everyone’s minds, clearly having just arrived.

"What were you doing just now?" Cheng Ziang asked curiously.

"Uh, just now? I was carrying out Mother’s orders, went to trip up that priest. I tangled with him for quite some time; it was hard to hold him back," Fulajie’er answered matter-of-factly.

"No wonder, I was wondering why there was no sign of him," Cheng Ziang nodded and couldn’t help adding, "By the way, why do you also call her ’Mother’?

"Stop wasting time, everyone aboard quickly. If the priest’s men catch up, it’ll get troublesome," Li Si urged.

Luo’er walked a few steps towards the airship, then suddenly stopped. After a moment of hesitation, he turned around and hugged Nina tightly, unable to hide his reluctance to leave.

"Child, go. Your mother will miss you," Nina, holding Luo’er close, said emotionally.

Indeed, when it came time to leave, neither mother nor son wanted to part from each other. Their meetings had been too infrequent, and the time spent in solitude far too long, filling them with deep longing for one another.

After a long while, when all the teammates had already boarded the ship, Luo’er finally let go of Nina reluctantly and left without looking back.

Nina watched Luo’er’s retreating figure with sorrow, then turned to look at the priest and soldiers catching up. She took a pistol from beneath her skirt, expertly chambered a round, then pointed the barrel at her temple and lay across the jetty, attempting to prevent the priest and others from getting closer.