"Please, Lady Leong, calm down," Zhang Fan advised as he swiftly dodged Leong Mishuri's grasp. By the time she regained her composure, he had already settled comfortably on the sofa.
"Who are you, exactly? How do you know all this?" Leong Mishuri asked, taking deep breaths to regain her composure. Her trembling shoulders betrayed her outward calm.
"Who am I? I'm the hero summoned by Princess Mishiore, of course. Due to certain circumstances, I arrived in this world with a mission—to save Princess Mishiore," Zhang Fan stated, mixing truth with fiction.
"Save Mishiore? How can she be saved?" Leong Mishuri, desperate as one grasping at straws for salvation, once again clutched Zhang Fan's shoulders, her expression filled with earnest pleading. Mishiore meant everything to her. In the past half-year, all the wars she had instigated were just to save Mishiore. She had never been able to decipher exactly how Mishiore would die from her star chanting.
"Calm down and listen. What you saw may not necessarily be the whole truth. Even if it is, we can change it! A beast, transformed from a land god, will soon descend upon this land. Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint the exact time and place. But I assure you, if we slay this beast, Princess Mishiore will be safe," Zhang Fan explained.
"A beast?" Mishuri was taken aback. Everyone knew that, under the protection of Floniel's divine power, defeated soldiers turned into beast balls. But beyond this divine sanctuary, residents were as vulnerable as any ordinary human.
"Yes, precisely. It's a transformed land god, a formidable foe. Defeating it will require much effort," Zhang Fan nodded, aware from his knowledge of the anime that this beast was no easy adversary.
"Let me remind you, Lady Leong, to consider the adage 'prevention is better than cure.' Constantly triggering wars will only provoke Princess Mishiore's rebellious spirit. She yearns to understand the changes in you and seeks to draw closer. In the end, your well-intentioned actions might backfire," Zhang Fan cautioned.
"How could this be..." Mishuri was distraught. All her efforts to protect Mishiore and alert her people had only worsened the situation. Zhang Fan's words enlightened her to the unintended consequences of her actions.
"Fear not, Lady Leong. Now that I'm here, such a tragedy will not occur. We share a common goal, do we not?" Zhang Fan reassured her, finding her cluelessness quite amusing compared to her usual icy demeanor.
"That's right! I will not allow this to happen!" Mishuri clenched her fists, determined to protect Mishiore.
"Then let's collaborate. I'll guard the princess while you share any insights from your star chanting. We'll just need to wait and unite to slay the beast when it appears," Zhang Fan proposed, seeing her resolve.
"I understand. The safety of Mishiore is in your hands," Mishuri finally agreed after a moment of silence.
"Perfect. I look forward to our cooperation. Time is short, so I must leave now. Farewell," Zhang Fan smiled, transforming his weapon into a surfboard and swiftly departing through the open window. Although meddling a bit, he had given Mishuri a much-needed reassurance. His next step was to communicate with Darlkion, the top warrior of the continent, and perhaps learn a thing or two from her.
"Hero..." Mishuri murmured as she watched Zhang Fan's departing figure. His mysterious nature intrigued her, but now, with a clearer mind and the knowledge of his protection, she felt more at ease about Mishiore's safety.
"Where is the Biscode hero? Damn it, I demand a rematch with him!" Galo, who had just reverted from his beast ball form, barged into the room, still aggrieved over his previous defeat.
"You fool! I've been looking for you. Come here!" Mishuri scolded Galo, now completely annoyed. It seemed Galo was in for another lesson.
Meanwhile, Zhang Fan, on his surfboard, quickly caught up with Mishiore and the others. Despite the best steeds provided by the Galat Lion Brigade, their speed was limited compared to his. Without wasting time on greetings, he whisked Mishiore away, planning to arrive first at the concert hall.