The Cloud Knights had a good plan, but it was quite difficult to implement, as there were too many Mara-Struck individuals who had fallen, and a large portion of them were even former Cloud Knights. The few Disciples of Sanctus Medicus members they occasionally encountered were merely small fry carrying out orders.
However, along the way, Takatsuki noticed familiar traces in an area where several Mara-Struck individuals had fallen.
"These are March's Six-Phased Ice, aren't they?"
The ice cones on the ground shimmered in the sunlight. This ice, which wouldn't melt due to temperature, could only be Six-Phased Ice. After gaining Void Energy memories, Takatsuki found that Six-Phased Ice bore some resemblance to the light cones that freeze memories.
Could March 7th have once been a Mnemonist?
Takatsuki couldn't be sure, but he made a mental note of it.
"There's a group of Mara-Struck here! Quick, send reinforcements!"
Just as Takatsuki was examining the Six-Phased Ice on the ground, a large wave of soldiers wearing uniform armor and wielding long sabers or spears appeared before them.
"Wait, wait, we are rational!"
As the Cloud Knights on the opposite side gathered, the large group of over twenty Mara-Struck Cloud Knights behind Takatsuki quickly spoke up to explain.
"Don't attack yet, we've captured the people who planned the attack."
Several Mara-Struck soldiers immediately escorted the Mara-Struck individuals they had tied up to the front, leaving the ordinary Cloud Knights utterly bewildered.
What? What was going on? This was their first time seeing something like this.
"An Xin, you're An Xin, aren't you! I'm Zhi Yan!"
At that moment, Zhi Yan suddenly recognized a Cloud Knight and shouted loudly.
"Zhi Yan!? How did you…"
…end up like this?
"Don't even mention it. Thankfully, it was all thanks to the Goddess of Medicine, otherwise, you would never have seen me again."
The other soldiers who had fallen into the Mara-Struck state also quickly began to state their identities to the opposing side, finally gaining their trust.
A person who appeared to be a Cloud Knight captain stepped out from among the Cloud Knights.
"You must be the Goddess of Medicine and the Guardian of the Goddess of Medicine."
Seele said a bit awkwardly, "Um… just call me Seele. As for the Goddess of Medicine…"
"That won't do! You saved so many of our compatriots. I will report this to the Seat of Divine Foresight, but it's still too dangerous here. I'll escort the two of you away."
"Um, I see there are still many soldiers who have fallen into the Mara-Struck state."
To Seele's words, the other side just shook their head: "I heard Zhi Yan say that this method can't maintain their rationality for long, is that right?"
Seele nodded.
"Then, for now, that's enough. We've already contacted the Ten-Lords Commission's judges to deal with the Mara-Struck issue."
"Ten-Lords Commission?"
"Yes, the Ten-Lords Commission specializes in managing the lifespan of long-lived species and matters concerning the Mara-Struck. They are professionals in this field."
Although he said this, the captain's tone was filled with sorrow. Clearly, emotionally, he couldn't quite accept it.
But rationally, it was a necessary matter.
After arranging for other Cloud Knights to detain the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus individuals, the captain personally escorted Takatsuki and Seele to the ferry terminal.
"From here, you can take a Starskiff to the central hub of the Starskiff Sea. I apologize, but I have duties and cannot escort the two of you further."
The captain took a medal from his person and handed it over: "This is proof of an honorary Cloud Knight captain. As a token of gratitude, if you encounter any problems, please present this."
"Is it alright to give something like this to outsiders?"
Takatsuki took the medal from the other party's hand. Two characters were engraved on it: Cheng Zhi.
"It's fine. This is my personal judgment, and I am vouching for the two of you in my personal capacity. Based on what I have seen and heard, I judge that the two guests are worthy of this."
"Since you've said so, I'll accept it."
Cheng Zhi nodded: "Then, safe travels to you both. The public order of Cloudford still needs to be dealt with, so I'll take my leave first."
Before leaving, Cheng Zhi summoned a Starskiff floating in the air for the two of them.
"So this is a Starskiff. I've heard them mention it before."
"Takatsuki, how does this Starskiff float in the air?"
Takatsuki shrugged at Seele's question: "I'm not sure, but this thing seems to be alive."
"Alive?"
"Yes."
Takatsuki still had the two character cards active on him and noticed that the Starskiff in front of him seemed to be a hybrid between a plant and a machine.
"The main body of this Starskiff seems to be an integral whole grown from some kind of plant, and then special engines were installed on it. I just don't know if the ability to float in the air comes from the engines or the main body of the plant."
After stepping onto the Starskiff, the two discovered an awkward fact: neither of them knew how to operate a Starskiff.
"I have LV5 driving and LV2 horsemanship, yet I can't understand this thing at all."
It wasn't that the Starskiff was difficult to operate, but rather that Takatsuki simply couldn't understand what any of the controls were for.
However, fortunately, Hatori Nozomu's ability allowed him to control the Starskiff without any hindrance.
Although it wasn't controlled by radio waves, this thing was still part of a machine.
However, Hatori Nozomu's ability had one major drawback: even if he controlled the Starskiff with his ability, Takatsuki didn't know how to operate it. He would just issue a command, and the Starskiff would act.
This was the unreasonable aspect of psychic abilities.
"Isn't this more fun than racing cars?"
The Starskiff was very fast, and flying in the air meant fewer traffic rules than on a highway.
"Takatsuki… go a little slower."
Takatsuki was speeding the Starskiff with his psychic ability, but Seele couldn't quite handle it. Although her Gold Experience physique made her much stronger than before, she still couldn't overcome the psychological barrier.
"Okay, no problem."
Since Seele couldn't take it, Takatsuki naturally wouldn't continue to speed, but rather slowed down.
Then he realized something…
That is, when he issued a command, the Starskiff would only move forward, without any pre-set route. Takatsuki had forgotten to have the Starskiff auto-navigate when using his ability, or rather, if operated through conventional means, this Starskiff would only follow a pre-set route.
But under the forceful operation of his psychic ability, the concept of a route completely disappeared.
It was like pushing open a door. Because the person opening it used too much force, it was pulled open without hindrance, but the cost of pulling it open was that the door broke.
"Um… Seele, I think we're lost."
"Huh?"
Takatsuki explained to Seele, and Seele looked at Takatsuki with a speechless expression.
"Takatsuki, honestly… sigh, let me take a look."
Detective Seele shook her head helplessly and began to search inside the Starskiff for something that could guide them, but it was clear that the person who designed the Starskiff had not anticipated someone doing this.
"In that case… I can only use that ability."
Seele looked around the Starskiff and finally broke off an unimportant part from the Starskiff's control panel.
"Um, this is a power that only exists because of Takatsuki's Stigmata, it's not because Seele is too violent."
After explaining somewhat flustered, Seele said: "As long as I use the power of Gold Experience to turn this part into a living creature, it can take us to where it was born."
With a faint glow, a blue butterfly appeared in Seele's hand. The butterfly gently flapped its wings, then began to flutter and fly into the air.