CHAPTER 157 A STRONGER BACKING

In the meantime, not far away from the Gehenna Border, something was happening in the supreme

headquarters of the Crimson Dragon Group in the Yi City.

A giant shadow loomed above the city. A war dragon with iridescent black-green scales slowly landed

in the beast farm of the supreme headquarters. A familiar figure jumped off it. It was Marin. After she

left the dragon with someone in charge of taking care of spiritual-manipulated beasts, she left the beast

farm right away, unaccompanied.

Walking through several magnificent buildings, Marin finally came to a tasteful pavilion whose style was

quite different from the other buildings surrounding it. It was special and unique, conspicuous among

the other similar-looking structures around it.

"Greetings, Commander Marin," four female guards standing in front of the pavilion called in unison

with great respect at the sight of her.

"Is the Deputy Commander in Chief in there?" Marin asked one of the female guards, nodding out of

habit.

"Oh, she is resting now. Should I go inside to inform her of your arrival?" a female guard asked.

"You don't have to. I will go in directly." Marin waved her delicate hand. With that, she entered the

pavilion with her cloak fluttering behind her.

The pavilion had two expansive floors. The decoration on the first floor was very elegant. Table and

chairs made of fragrant timber were put in order along the walls; terracotta pots brimming with flowers

were placed at the four corners. It was a tasteful and serene living space.

Marin proceeded to the second floor. It was full of gauze curtains that overlapped each other, the smell

of incense pervading the air. Marin felt as if she was in a fairyland. At the end of the room, a white jade

bed was placed aside, giving off purple smoke. On the bed, a female figure sat cross-legged. A

vigorous aura of power of the spirit manipulator beyond the seventh level of the Heavenly Stage

emanated from her form.

Before Marin could speak, the female figure quickly opened her beautiful eyes and parted her exquisite

lips. She spoke gently, "Marin, why are you here?"

"Greetings, Deputy Commander in Chief." Marin immediately bowed to the female figure.

"Oh goodness. Have you forgotten what I told you? Don't call me that when we're alone! We are

cousins for crying out loud. Don't be so stiff and formal! It's unusual and awkward," the lovely woman

grumbled.

Few people knew that the Deputy Commander in Chief of the Crimson Dragon Group was the cousin of

Marin, who was also the second in command of the Crimson Dragon Group.

"Alright, Isis." Marin winked with her beautiful eyes, a playful look on her face.

"Come in. Let me see you." Isis stood up from the white jade bed and pulled open the gauze curtains.

Her eyes were graceful and moving. Her gestures, expressions, and demeanor were so eye-catching

and elegant. Distinctive and beautiful, her delicate oval face, like a masterpiece of supreme

craftsmanship, made her look like a fairy descending to the earth and an elf dancing among flowers. All

in all, she was such a dazzling beauty that made even the most delicate and charming flowers pale in

comparison. Any man would be touched by her beauty, any woman would desire to emulate it.

Although she looked like a gentle and virtuous woman, Isis' position was at the head of one of the four

major army groups of the Holy Dragon Empire. Known as for her intelligence, she was sharp and

intelligent. More than that, she had read so many books on the art of war that she knew almost all the

tactics on the Wild Spirit Land in the past thousands of years thoroughly by heart and she could apply

them skillfully. She was known for being able to devise strategies within a command tent and win

battles outside a long distance. Her stratagems were inexhaustible and fluid, so it was almost Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

impossible for her enemies to predict and guard against her attacks.

Isis was also the daughter of Lance, the Commander in Chief of the Crimson Dragon Group. Enjoying

an equally respectable reputation, he was one of the Three Great Generals of the Holy Dragon Empire.

However, compared with Bryant and Marcia, both of whom always showed their abilities to the full

extent, Lance was a low-key. But the truth was that he had won brilliant achievements in war for the

Holy Dragon Empire and was by no means inferior to Bryant. Otherwise, the emperor of the Holy

Dragon Empire wouldn't have assigned the Crimson Dragon Group to defend the frontier of the

Gehenna Border.

Isis and Marin's mothers were sisters, who had both married famous generals. Marin's father also used

to be a great general, but tragically perished on the battlefield at an early age. After this great loss,

immersed in great sorrow, Marin's mother also died of depression. As a result, Marin was orphaned

quite young. Therefore, Isis' mother took Marin in and raised Marin as her own daughter. In this way,

Isis and Marin grew up together, with a bond as close as sisters.

Isis and Marin had both inherited great abilities from their fathers. They had been born with remarkable

natural endowments, especially talent for military affairs. They both successfully became royal spirit

manipulators. Since Isis was around five years older than Marin, she had battled in the past few years

following the Crimson Dragon Group under the command of her father. With her wise and resourceful

mind, she guaranteed the long history of victories of their force, which had triumphed with many

outstanding military exploits. Soon, she was promoted as the Deputy Commander in Chief of the

Crimson Dragon Group to assist her father and render her services to the armies.

Ideally, Marin could have made use of her very strong backing to join the Crimson Dragon Group

directly and even occupy an important position. But she chose a different path. Ever since she was a

child, Marin was independent. She preferred to work for her position in the army by herself. Thus,

instead of joining the Crimson Dragon Group, she insisted on becoming a commander of the northeast

military camp.

As it should be, ordinary royal spirit manipulators were still not qualified to be a commander of a military

camp garrisoned the Gehenna Border. Marin's relationship with Lance and Isis was the main reason

she had attained the position of commander of the northeast military camp so easily. While Marin's

ability was undisputed, thanks to her cultivation on tactics from her childhood and extraordinary military

attainments, she arranged the northeast military camp in good order since she took up her post as

commander. Besides, she performed meritorious military services with her striking abilities.

"Look at you. You've been burnt by the sun and have gotten so thin just in two to three months!" Isis

mumbled admonishingly as she looked Marin up and down. It seemed that she was a sort of

discontented with Marin's indifference to her health.

"Really? I think it looks good for me." Marin smiled after she looked at herself in the mirror. She had

already gotten accustomed to her appearance and grown to like it.

"Why? You're a woman! Not a stinky man... Well. I think you should be recalled to the supreme

headquarters. It's too troublesome that I have to send someone to invite you to be here when I miss

you. Besides, it's so inconvenient for you to go back and forth," Isis said as she gently touched Marin's

forehead with her figure, which seemed to be a habitual gesture between them for years. Isis' eyes

were full of her deep affection for Marin.

"How does that work? I don't want to provide others' critics with a handle." Marin shook her head

immediately.

"I really don't understand you. Why are you so obstinate in being just a commander? Speaking of

which... I heard that lately something happened in the northeast military camp." Isis changed the

subject and stared at her cousin, because she had grown used to Marin's response as she complained

about her job. They sat down next to each other.

"Yes, but it's not a big deal," Marin replied.

"Don't lie to me. Don't you know why I sent my man to ask you to come here?" Isis stated seriously.

"I don't know." Marin shook her head, completely confused. Isis was known for her intelligence, so it

was hard for Marin to read her thoughts.

"The first reason is that I miss you. The second reason is..." Isis paused and her eyes wandered

around Marin, studying her closely. After a short pause, she went on, "Several men of the northeast

military camp sent a joint letter that basically worked to defame you."

"Who did that?" Hearing Isis' words, Marin couldn't help but frown.

"Their names are not important. What's really matters is that once father sees the joint letter, they will

be all doomed. But they're lucky. It just so happens that he's not in the Imperial City now. They never

know that father shows more affection to you than to me." Isis responded with her smiling eyes.

"Isis, you must be kidding." Marin muttered with a little embarassment. But what Isis said was actually

true. Lance, Marin's uncle, has treated her with great kindness since she had been a little girl. One of

the most important reasons for his demeanor to her was that her father once saved his life. Without

Marin's father, Lance wouldn't have achieved his status today. Therefore, when Marin's mother passed

away, it was Lance that put forward to take her to their family.

"I'm just stating the truth. Let's get in back to the point, I keep the joint letter in secret in case that father

will be enraged. What's more, I made a survey of it. I found that the cause of the joint letter is that you

awarded a First-Class Merit Citation to a team leader who was just in the second to third level of the

Mortal Stage. If I remember correctly, his name is Rocky. Marin, you must explain the whole story to

me," Isis said. She found it rather strange that how such a powerless team leader was able to make an

exception to get the First-Class Merit Citation. This developement was quite unique and rare. Isis knew

her cousin well. Because Marin was definitely immune to bribery, Isis became more curious about why

she had chosen to do such a thing.

Isis was growing more and more desperate to know the real reason. She believed that Marin must

have her sufficient reasons to do so, but she still couldn't figure it out. After all, the First-Class Merit

Citation was an important issue. Even in the supreme headquarters of the Crimson Dragon Group,

many spirit manipulators beyond Earthly Stage hadn't been honored with this title at all! Isis couldn't

understand why and how a low-end team leader of a small military camp could suddenly and quickly

get in Marin's good graces.