Mystical Journey

Thoughts were swirling in both their minds. After a cold stare, both of them greeted each other warmly.

"I wonder for what’s the purpose of the Palace Head’s visit to the North FIeld?" The old man slowly descended, controlling the octopus as it quickly shrunk, from a humongous creature into a black octopus the size of a palm which rested on his shoulder.

"I was just bored, so I came out to look for some creatures which were slightly stronger for practice." Garen laughed. "I never expected to meet Tower head Endjack, what great luck I have."

"We from the Seven Nights Tower have good relations with Kovitan, why don’t you come over with me to the inner tower area for a visit, so that i can host you properly." Similarly, Endjack smiled as he said.

Garen had originally intended to get close to this person, and the other party also seemed to have similar intent when as he heard that he was from the powerful Kovitan Kingdom. Since both sides intend to build a relationship, both sides travelled with each other, chattering away about the North Field’s unique scenery.

As the other party mentioned that they were looking for a brat who stole their treasure, Garen immediately agreed to help and dispatched his own Black Fire Guard for a search and arrest.

The tens of Black Fire Guards each rode on a giant Thunderhawk and scattered across the entirety of the surrounding airspace within the snowy land.

The only elite guard left was merely there to carry miscellaneous items.

The duo walked as they chatted, and soon, two Black fire Guards have sent signals of sightings of human tracks.

Garan and old man Endjack rushed over, but they found a group of people facing the Black fire guards as though they were preparing for war

The group probably had ten or so people, each of them decked in red attire, with the strength of Form 2s, and even two Form 3s among them.

The group was also surrounding an eel-like creature’s corpse with a sad expression. The snow-covered ground was stained red by blood, corpses littered the surrounding areas.

"Sir from the Royal Alliance, this Black-tailed Eel is something we took down after hefty amount of preparation and sacrifices…" A man stood up among the red-clothed men and spoke loudly as he observed the duo approaching.

"A form 3 Black-tailed eel…" Endjack had an expression of greed for a moment.

"It’s just a form 3 Black-tailed Eel." Garen who was beside him couldn’t care less. This thing is primarily used to create leather armor and tactical scrolls, nothing much aside from that. He had the Black Fire Heavy Plate made specially by the Royal Family, and the tactical scrolls were also made by high quality black dragon skin. Those were top-tier creatures that were in the peak of form 4, these kinds of small creatures don’t even come close to comparison.

It’s just that Garen felt lazy to bring those during the usual days. Most totem users who primarily used totems during combat will pay extra attention to the tactics. Which was to say, most totem users primarily used tactics, their totem’s talents and abilities as well as their heirloom abilities for combat. But Garen was different, he didn’t need tactics to do combat at all, he used his own physical body as the fastest, most simplistic killing machine.

Adding onto Kovitan’s ability to churn out materials, the items forged from these form 3 materials can be obtained anytime. Why would he even bat an eye to these dirty raw materials. That was the reason why he was not attracted at all towards the tactics’ raw materials.

As he heard an expert of the same level say this, Endjack was shocked. He decided not to ask to take it in the end.

For the Seven Nights Tower, a form 3 Black-tailed Eel was already decent spoils, one where everything on it had a purpose.

Despite hearing this, the opposite party still didn’t loosen up.

One shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that it was easy to take down a single Black-tailed Eel. In reality, Black-tailed Eels were actually herd animals. It was an incredibly difficult task to lure and hunt a singular Eel. On top of that, they had suffered a casualty, too, if it were to be snatched by an outsider, it would be tragic.

"Let’s go, we’ll check out the other places, perhaps you can find the person you want to catch." Garen noticed the greed in the old man’s eyes.

Subsequently, the duo repeatedly encountered totem users who came to North field to hunt monsters. These totem users were mostly form 2, with a small portion of them being Form 3, but most of them came over from Kovitan’s general direction. Once they saw Garen’s Royal Alliance Uniform, they all became fearfully wary. Only a handful of people knew about Endjjack, the Tower Head, but they were most definitely respectful to Garen.

This incident had open Endjack’s eyes on the benefits of becoming a Royal Alliance member.

After a round of searches, both of them failed to find any leads, but Garen wished to help Endjack settle this issue as a friendly gesture of the Black Fire Palace.

Endjack only said he would consider, but did not reject it outright.

Garen wasn’t rushing it either, instead used his identity as the Head of Trejons Family to express his wish to obtain trade support with the Third Tower. The produce from the North Field had extremely good heat insulating properties; their animal furs were also of good quality with good aesthetics, with some exotic items on the side.

Not only did Endjack not reject it, he agreed to it on the spot. The both of them exchanged a secret communication device, then Garen returned to the kingdom.

**********************

The First Concubine’s Palace

Delouse seemed troubled as she sat on the Concubine Throne, observing the black-armored guards patrolling the surroundings through a side window of the hall. Large amounts of dark red flower patterns could be seen inscribed onto armor, which meant this person is from the Black Fire Palace.

"This is troublesome… this Nine-Headed Dragon just appeared and has his line of sight planted everywhere." A voice from a dark corner was heard; transmitted directly into First Concubine’s ears.

"That’s why you need to figure out a way. With Garen in the picture, we need an additional safeguard." Delouse’s lips moved slightly, and a soft voice was sent into the corner.

"If all else fails, we will do ‘that’!" The voice from within the corner sounded as if a decision had been made.

Suddenly, a loud noise was heard from outside the hall.

"Minister Veska has arrived!!"

Soon, an elderly man with a head full of grey hair walked into the hall under the escort of two white-armored guards.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Veska bowed out of respect. "By His Majesty’s orders, I am here to inform Your Highness that the ceremony of trust shall start tonight. I hope your highness can keep this a secret, and do the necessary preparations.

"Tonight?!" Delouse was shocked, she was caught off guard. "Why does His Majesty want to bring forward the ceremony!? I haven’t received any prior notice, this seems a bit rushed."

"These are his Majesty’s orders, we have no rights to question them." Veska turned around and left after bowing with respect.

Soon, a red skirted maid walked in; she was First Concubine’s close maid.

"Your Highness, what do we do now?" the maid asked softly after approaching the First Concubine.

"Inform everyone, make the arrangements. Though it is slightly rushed, we have finally arrived to this day. That old man Veska had most probably found out something. Do the necessary arrangements on your side and wait for orders."

"Understood"

"Alright, now get going, nowadays the Black Fire Palace are on a vigilant lookout for spies, so don’t stand out too much."

"Okay"

As the silhouette of the maid left the door, Delouse’s blue eyes turned deep again.

Nine-Headed Dragon and Garland Sword…Looks like Veska that old fart was strategizing for Avic. One was in the light while another was in darkness, and all of this happened simultaneously while getting rid of all the suspicious characters, this was truly the work of an important person.

*****************

Once Garen returned to the palace, he heard the news that the Aegis Ceremony would be held tonight.

He was slightly shocked that Avic would decide so quickly and was planning to investigate thoroughly already.

Although he had done checks for such a long time, Garen still felt that the First Concubine’s Obscuro pawns were still hiding inside the palace, and their numbers were not small. This made him uncertain.

He made a special trip to the front of the Eleventh Royal Daughter’s palace to inspect it, and kept making guesses. Avic had already sensed the First Concubine’s betrayal, but failed nonetheless, and this likely had something to do with the Eleventh Royal Daughter. Thus, he monitored the Eleventh Royal Daughter closely, not letting her out of his sight, and not allowing any outsiders to have any contact with her.

The Eleventh Palace was completely quiet, and the Eleventh Royal Daughter was focused on drawing practice and did not sense his oncoming presence.

This allowed Garen to relax slightly, and he decided to participate in the ceremonial activities this time.

Regardless whether Avic’s assassination succeeded or failed, he wanted to find as many benefits from this as possible. Of course, it would be best if it failed. The important thing, unlike the rubbish massacre previously, was that a proper professional killer was involved. Furthermore, he was also interested in the ancient Endor precious heirlooms.

Soon, after dinner, the sky darkened quickly.

Avic entered the underground palace as well, and went into the Blood Jade Palace that was below ground. He gathered Garen, Edin, Veska and the others, to participate in tonight’s secret ceremony.

******************

Inside the underground palace

The pitch-black floor was covered in black bricks as smooth as mirrors, and each piece was shaped in a large square, and could almost reflect a person’s shadow.

On top was a semi-circle shaped black ceiling, illuminated with dots of silver light. In the center, a large crystal chandelier hung downwards, and lit up the room with an unknown, faint red light.

Blood Jade Palace was roughly the same size as most palaces, except that the four walls of its interior were engraved with many gold human portraits, and all of these portraits protruded out of the walls, forming many embossments. The carvings were extremely lifelike, as if the four corners of the palace were filled with a circle of onlookers.

The ‘onlookers’ included palace officials, royal family members, children, and old people, but most of them were beautiful and flirtatious young women.

These women’s bodies were exposed, as some of them were only covered in light veils, while others were half naked, and others had exaggerated movements, and there were others that were shy and charming.

The gazes of all of the carvings were fixed at the center of Blood Jade Palace, where a blood pond was built.

Avic wore his cumbersome royal military uniform and his silver crown, and held the royal scepter in his hand, his gaze solemnly transfixed on First Concubine Delouse, who was half-kneeling in front of him.

Behind them in order stood Garen, Veska, and Edin, and some elite guards who were clad in full-bodied silver armor, holding white dual swords in their hands.

This ceremony was unusually simple, without a large aristocratic ceremony, and without notifying any foreign ministers. Meanwhile, the two Grand Dukes were also absent, and the representatives from the Elder Parliament had yet to arrive as well.

Avic had probably organized this ceremony hurriedly, and perhaps no one knew what he was thinking, or maybe First Concubine had already guessed it but currently, the conclusion was already decided, and she would have to start making her first move soon.

The faint red light shone on everyone, and cast a slightly mysterious atmosphere in the palace.

"The ceremony will begin now," Avic said solemnly.

Clang… Clang… Clang…

Melodious clock noises echoed from the palace.

Chirp chirp chirp chirp…

Suddenly, white streams of air flowed into all four corners of the palace through the windows like white ribbons, flying towards Avic and the half-kneeling First Concubine.

The white air currents were apparently made out of countless tiny pieces of yellow and white paper. They made bird-like chirping noises as they flew circles around the First Concubine.

Avic raised his right hand, before the unassuming black ring on his finger suddenly released puffs of black smoke slowly. The black smoke gathered in a circle and rose upwards, dissolving in the air slowly, before the entire palace was quickly filled with a light flowery aroma.

First Concubine Delouse bowed her head and knelt on the ground, while the white and yellow pieces of paper floated downwards and fell onto the top of her head slowly, before quickly turning into delicate flower petals.

White and yellow flower petals fell from her head and body. Like rain drops, the flower petals fell on her body, and some of them slipped off, while others changed their shape slowly, turning into white and yellow butterflies.

These butterflies flew and danced around, and some of them perched on her shoulders, while others flew everywhere.

"In the name of my ancestors, from this day onwards, I bestow you, my concubine, the final right of asylum!" Avic placed his right hand that wore the ring towards Delouse’s forehead, and said in a loud and solemn voice.

Suddenly, a cloud of black smoke wafted out of his ring and flew towards Delouse as if it were alive.

Veska, Edin, and Garen nodded lightly in respect. They were the only three close ministers that Avic had gathered here.

At this moment, in the middle of Delouse’s golden undone curls, a lock of braided black hair suddenly underwent a strange transformation.

The braid became pitch-black, and its narrow end sharpened and hardened suddenly before the entire black braid slowly turned into the shape of a scorpion’s tail.

There was a snapping noise, before the sting of the scorpion’s tail jumped up suddenly, and lit up in a dark red, and almost black glowing sheen.

Meanwhile, Avic’s perpetually raised hand now hovered over Delouse’s head, and his gaze was still fixed there as if it had never moved at all.

The moment when the ceremony was finally about to end, was when Avic had lost his final ultimate asylum pass, at that time…

First Concubine lowered her head, not allowing the coldness in her eyes to flow out.

The ring on top of her head continued to release almost-sentient black smoke, that drilled into Delouse’s head continuously, unceasingly as if it was endless.