In the night sky, the flying dragons soared steadily.
Stars dotted the deep blue firmament, and moonlight poured over everyone like water.
"Wow! So high!"
Chisato excitedly leaned over the dragon's back and looked down, "Takina, look, Orario has become so small!"
Takina's eyes also sparkled with excitement: "Mm… it's beautiful."
On another flying dragon, Hestia tightly hugged Artemis's waist: "Artemis! I'm so happy to be with you again!"
Artemis smiled gently, lightly pressing down her blue ponytail, which was ruffled by the wind: "Mm, me too."
Ilena and Kokkoro's flying dragon followed closely behind.
Ilena controlled wind magic to reduce flight resistance, while Kokkoro curiously observed the scenery below.
"Master and the others are always flying ahead…"
Kokkoro said softly.
Ilena followed her gaze and pouted, saying: "That cunning god Hermes must be up to something again."
Sure enough.
On the back of the foremost flying dragon, Hermes suddenly spoke: "Ying Ping, I'm very curious…"
His voice was exceptionally clear in the wind, "Why did you agree to this support mission? You could have refused, couldn't you?"
Ying Ping looked straight ahead and casually replied: "It was just a momentary whim, out of respect for the beautiful Lady Artemis."
"Oh?"
Hermes narrowed his eyes, a fox-like smile faintly visible in the moonlight, "I thought Ying Ping was someone who disliked trouble."
"That depends on what kind of trouble it is."
Ying Ping answered casually.
The flying dragon gave a slight jolt, and their figures swayed gently in the moonlight.
Hermes continued to probe, "Speaking of which... Lord Ying Ping."
"You and your Familia are definitely not as simple as you seem, are you?"
"Your strength must be more than the LV1 registered with the Guild; otherwise, it would have been impossible to defeat Apollo Familia's people so easily."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice: "So the question is... what is the purpose of you hiding your strength?"
Ying Ping finally turned his head, his eyes as deep as a pool in the light.
He smiled faintly: "Lord Hermes, aren't there also people in your Familia who hide their strength? Like Miss Asfi, your captain?"
Hermes froze, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Then..."
Ying Ping asked calmly, "What is your purpose then?"
The night wind howled between them, and Hermes fell silent.
A moment later, he suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahahaha! As expected of Lord Ying Ping, your intuition is truly sharp!"
He spread his hands, feigning ease: "Our Hermes Familia just likes to collect information; we don't have any special purpose~"
Ying Ping didn't expose him, only nodded meaningfully: "Is that so? Then our Hestia Familia actually just wants to live a peaceful life."
"But then again."
Ying Ping suddenly changed the subject, "Is the monster riot in the Great Tree Sea truly just an accidental event?"
Hermes's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal: "Well... you'll know when we get there~"
He deliberately changed the subject: "The moon tonight is truly beautiful!"
Ying Ping shook his head, a hint of mockery on his face: "Yes, but it's a pity to be riding a dragon with a man like me, right?"
"Hahahahaha, not at all, it's actually quite interesting to chat with Lord Ying Ping."
Hermes laughed again.
The two chatted on and off like this, their words subtly hinting at underlying intentions, probing each other.
Hermes half-jokingly said, "Lord Ying Ping, how much do you know about Lady Artemis?"
Ying Ping's gaze shifted slightly: "Not much, I only know that she is Hestia's good friend, the Moon Goddess who presides over chastity."
Hermes nodded and continued, "In the Divine Realm, she is as famous as Hestia, one of the three famous virgin goddesses..."
"She is one of the few deities who personally takes up a sword to fight, possessing highly skilled archery and combat techniques."
"Even without divine power or authority, she can still easily hunt monsters."
Hermes said meaningfully, "As for the Orion's Spear on you..."
Ying Ping didn't respond, just quietly waited for him to continue.
Seeing this, Hermes continued, "That spear chooses the fated one... It seems you are that person."
"Fated?"
Ying Ping chuckled lightly, "To be honest, I'm more inclined to believe that things are achieved by human effort, and man can conquer nature."
"An interesting answer."
A glint flashed in Hermes's eyes, "Then... are you prepared for the danger you are about to face?"
Ying Ping looked into the distance: "Of course I'm prepared. No matter what situation, I'll just deal with it as it comes."
Hermes nodded thoughtfully, saying no more.
The night wind howled, and their conversation was swallowed by the wind.
Neither knew what the other was truly thinking, but both tacitly maintained a surface harmony.
On the dragon behind them, Hestia suddenly sneezed: "Achoo!"
Artemis asked with concern: "Are you cold?"
"No..."
Hestia rubbed her nose, "I just feel like someone is talking bad about us behind our backs..."
She looked at the backs of Ying Ping and Hermes at the very front, muttering, "It must be that Hermes filling my Lord Ying Ping's head with something bad..."
Artemis followed her gaze, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "Hestia... what kind of person is your Familia member, Ying Ping?"
Hestia immediately puffed out her chest proudly: "What kind of person? My Lord Ying Ping is the best!"
"Is that so?"
Artemis sighed softly, her gaze drifting into the distance, becoming profound and melancholy.
The dragons carried them from night to dawn, crossing countless mountains and rivers.
When the midday sun shone upon the earth, they finally landed to rest on an open grassland.
"Let's rest here for a bit."
Hermes stretched, "We've been flying all night and all morning; everyone needs to replenish their energy and get some sleep."
Ying Ping gracefully leaped from the dragon's back, surveyed his surroundings, and then walked into an empty grove of trees. From his system warehouse, he took out a grill, various seasonings, and meat products.
"This... this is...?"
Looking at Ying Ping returning laden with goods, Hermes's eyes widened, his jaw almost dropping to the ground, "Lord Ying Ping, where did you get these things?"
Ying Ping smiled without speaking, only beckoning: "Everyone, come help."
Chisato and Takina immediately ran over to help start the fire, Elaina used wind magic to control the heat, and KKR carefully prepared the tableware.
Hestia also wanted to help, but Artemis gently held her hand.
"Let the children do the work, Hestia, let's chat for a bit."
Artemis's voice was gentle, but the melancholy between her brows could not be hidden at all...