Regrettably, Morgan didn't retort with something like, "I am the Queen of Britain—how could I possibly be afraid?"
Instead, she merely fixed her gaze on Jiang You, waiting for him to reveal his news, displaying the full composure of a queen.
"The Pilgrimage Bell has rung," Jiang You declared, revealing the matter most pressing to Morgan's heart.
"Has the Child of Prophecy finally appeared?" Morgan's eyes lit up with renewed energy. For years, she had been searching for the Child of Prophecy, seeking to defy the prophecy and ensure the survival of the Faerie Realm. "Since the bell has rung, it means war against me, the 'False King.' Do you truly think I would be afraid of such a thing?"
"Of course not for that reason."
The mere ringing of a Pilgrimage Bell would pose no challenge to Morgan, regardless of which Child of Prophecy had triggered it.
"I'm referring to her status as a Child of Prophecy."
"Whether subject or kin, anyone who threatens Britain's survival—anyone who dares defy me—must face judgment. This has been the law of the Fairy Kingdom for 2,000 years!"
Morgan declared without hesitation.
Her resolute expression made Fairy Tristan shrink back in fear, unsure of her own standing in Morgan's eyes. To Tristan, Morgan was a flawless King, stern and uncompromising, incapable of letting sentimentality bind her.
"Speak. Who is it? My mercy will grant her a painless death."
"Oh, that person's name is..." Jiang You, who had been waiting for this moment, revealed a wicked grin. "...Baobhan Sith!"
"!"
Morgan's expression first flashed with utter shock, but she quickly composed herself, turning her gaze to Fairy Tristan. "Baobhan Sith, tell me—is this true?"
Fairy Tristan shot an annoyed glance at Jiang You, genuinely terrified that Morgan would order her execution at any moment. Yet she would never dare lie to Morgan. "Mother," she said, "yes, I rang the Pilgrimage Bell. Lord Woodworth of Oxford will report this to you. I rang the bell in his territory."
"Baobhan Sith... why did you even consider ringing it?"
Morgan couldn't decide whether to feel joy or sorrow. If Fairy Tristan became the True King, it meant she would inherit the throne. But Morgan couldn't imagine how Fairy Tristan would cope with the calamities ahead—problems even she couldn't solve. Fairy Tristan should have simply focused on living a good life.
"About that, it was my suggestion," Jiang You interjected, explaining his original plan to Morgan in detail. His educational methods clashed sharply with hers. While Morgan instilled fear in Fairy Tristan, Jiang You cultivated loyalty.
Considering the unique properties of Jiang You's Noble Phantasms, Morgan had no concerns about Baobhan Sith's safety. She tacitly approved of his approach.
"A Shadow Game... what a convenient tool."
Morgan's curiosity was piqued by this noble phantasm resembling a miniature wishing machine. If she could decipher it, many problems could be resolved with ease. She gazed at Jiang You with keen interest. "Is this also part of the future you foresaw? Also, once these matters are settled, come see me alone. A few days will suffice."
Morgan, true to her habit of only revealing half her thoughts, left Fairy Tristan, who felt she had overheard something monumental, with violently trembling pupils.
Jiang You, drawing on his knowledge of Morgan's Affection Reward tiers and the current context, correctly deduced her true intentions.
"Prophecy? To be honest, I didn't foresee this outcome either. I even prophesied that you would be splattered all over the ground, and that Beryl would rot until only his head remained. Look where Beryl is now. The future I see has long lost its value. I do know who the Child of Prophecy destined to ring the funeral bell should be, but I never imagined Fairy Tristan would be the one to actually ring it."
"Hey! Don't be disrespectful to Mother!"
Fairy Tristan refused to believe that Morgan, the invincible ruler of the world, would meet the fate Jiang You had described. Though she had come to trust his words, she knew that without his intervention, Beryl would indeed have left her to rot until only her head remained.
Morgan laughed, a sudden wave of relief washing over her. Ever since meeting Jiang You, a series of fortunate events had unfolded around her.
"I doubt those fools ever anticipated such an unexpected variable," she remarked.
"Then would you be interested in learning the true identity of the Child of Prophecy?" Jiang You asked.
Artoria Caster was likely still in a state of confusion. If she were to learn that the Pilgrimage Bell had already been rung, her reaction would be worth seeing.
"Now that the prophecy has been broken, her identity no longer matters," Morgan declared.
Morgan's magnanimity was evident in her earlier stance toward Artoria Caster—as long as she didn't ring the Pilgrimage Bell, she wouldn't be treated as an enemy. Now that Fairy Tristan had rung the bell, Morgan no longer cared who the Child of Prophecy was.
"Is that so?"
Jiang You had no choice but to drop the matter for now. He had been rather curious to see if Artoria Caster joined Morgan's faction, whether Paradise would dispatch Unit Three in response. Still, time was on their side; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"Now that I've reported the specifics to you, I plan to proceed according to our original plan. I had Fairy Tristan ring the Pilgrimage Bell to consolidate your rule. Since that objective has been achieved, I intend to halt the pilgrimage at the first bell. We need to first establish her persona as the Fairy Savior, the one who possesses the power to save the world. As you know, under your directives, Fairy Tristan has become infamous—her name alone can silence a child's cries at night. If she were to ascend the throne now, I fear the Faerie Realm would collapse after only two generations."
As the princess, Fairy Tristan's temporary halt to the pilgrimage at the queen's request was perfectly reasonable—a testament to maternal love and filial piety.
Fairy Tristan herself knew she wasn't yet qualified to be king. Faced with Jiang You's teasing, she could only pinch her nose and accept it.
"That works well. But you said Baobhan Sith gained new power from the Pilgrimage Bell? Have her demonstrate it for me."
Morgan nodded. While she had indeed hoped Fairy Tristan would grow stronger by ringing the bell, the princess wasn't yet ready to rule and still needed Morgan's protection.
"Yes, Mother!"
Fairy Tristan eagerly sought to showcase her abilities before her mother. "Jiang You, hurry, hurry!"
"Alright, fine."
Since this wasn't a Duel to determine superiority, Jiang You simply ended his turn.
"My turn! Draw!"
Fairy Tristan immediately activated her strongest card: "I activate the Spell Card, Grudge Fusion! By sending Fairy Knight Tristan and Cernunnos from my Deck to the Graveyard, I Fusion Summon—Cait Cú MikoCer!"
A colossal white antlered god erupted from the sea, its massive antlers splitting the surface. Perched atop the giant's head, the cruel and capricious miko of the Divine Offering waved excitedly at the two duelists.
Fairy Tristan (Swimsuit)
Attack Power: 3000
"Pilgrimage Bell, Cernunnos, miko of the Divine Offering... I see now," Morgan murmured, finally understanding the reason behind this outcome. She turned to Jiang You. "Can't see the future, huh? Hmph, such excessive modesty is just another form of arrogance! Anyway, thank you."
Jiang You tilted his head in confusion, noticing a sudden new email notification.