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Chapter 123
Chapter 123: The Blood Emperor's Suspicions, the Gold-Rank Adventurer Gagaran Arrives!
Leinas and Imina had already departed that very night.
With something as major as the annihilation of two great noble families, Leinas would soon be targeted. Naturally, the sooner she left the Baharuth Empire, the better.
The matter he had entrusted to the two women was actually a bit more complicated on Leinas's end, but if handled well, the rewards would be immense.
The Kingdom and the Empire were warring nations. Especially now, with the Kingdom having suffered severe losses, the daughter of a noble who had slaughtered two major families of the Empire had arrived within its borders.
This was a living example, a direct blow to the Blood Emperor's centralized power and reputation.
The Kingdom's nobles might feel some disgust and aversion toward what Leinas had done, but compared to the commoner, Gazef, Leinas—a noble's daughter who possessed great strength—would be more easily accepted by them.
Furthermore, what Leinas had done made it impossible for her to be a spy sent by the Empire; it had even cut off any hope of her returning to the Empire.
With all these traits combined, Tang Zheng refused to believe that the members of the Royal Family would not make a move.
"Build a faction? How could that be more direct than controlling an entire country?"
"Unfortunately, the Empire is too close to where the Great Tomb of Nazarick appeared, and it surrendered too quickly. It's not suitable for making too many arrangements here."
Tang Zheng raised his hand, stroking the lesser soulhound's somewhat coarse and stiff black fur. "Who do you think is more suitable? First Prince Barbro, Second Prince Zanac, or Third Princess Lana?"
"Awooo~"
The lesser soulhound squinted its eyes and let out a comfortable, soft whine.
Naturally, it could not answer.
Imperial Capital. Royal Palace.
Inside a lavish, brightly lit grand hall.
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, looked at the detailed information in his hands regarding the annihilation of the two great noble families, his face tinged with frost.
"Are you certain it was Leinas Rockbruise?"
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, asked in a cold voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The secretary quickly bowed his head and spoke, "The motive points to her, and people in both territories reported seeing someone who closely resembled Leinas Rockbruise."
"That madwoman!"
A vein bulged on the Blood Emperor Jircniv's forehead. He raised his palm and slammed the document in his hand down onto the desk.
Bang!
"Find her immediately and arrest her!" Jircniv's tone was ice-cold.
Although he had long been dissatisfied with these incompetent and pedantic nobles, their removal was supposed to be a gradual process under his plan. What Leinas had done would inevitably give those old fools who remained an opportunity to counterattack.
Of course!
More importantly, he would not allow such an unstable person to exist within the Empire.
His good mood from the recent successes on the border battlefield was completely swept away by this matter.
"How is the Ministry of Magic's research on the alchemical potion progressing?"
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, raised his hands and gently rubbed his temples, speaking with authority without even lifting his head.
"There has been no progress so far."
"The Ministry of Magic suspects that the other party's alchemical methods are unlike any existing techniques. They hope Your Majesty can extend an invitation to him."
The secretary, holding a stack of documents, spoke up quickly. Without hesitation, he picked out a file from the many he held and placed it in front of the Blood Emperor, Jircniv.
"This is all the information gathered on the Adventurer, Tang. There isn't much."
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, reached out and took the file. His golden pupils scanned it quickly before he closed it, placed it on the desk, and tapped his fingers on it in silence.
"Reject the Ministry of Magic's request."
Jircniv said, then paused. "Is there any issue with the old man?"
"Lord Fluder is also interested in that alchemical potion, but he hasn't proactively inquired about it," the secretary replied without hesitation after a moment of thought.
"Mm."
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, nodded. His gaze returned to the file in his hand. "What do you make of it?"
The secretary immediately stood ramrod straight, a pair of sharp eyes revealed beneath his pale golden hair. "This alchemist adventurer named Tang is a problem!"
"How so?" The corner of Jircniv's mouth tilted up, his golden pupils rising to look at the secretary.
"According to information from the Adventurer's Guild, he registered as an adventurer in the Re-Estize Kingdom's E-Rantel over a month ago."
"He then entered our country. For nearly half a month, his specific whereabouts were highly erratic, as if he were searching for something."
"For the latter half of the month until now, he has been in the Royal Capital selling his alchemical potions. Judging by the price of the potions and the stir he's caused in the market, his goal isn't money."
The secretary said grimly.
"Then what is it for?" The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, leaned back, his tone tinged with a bit of laziness and a light chuckle.
"There is too little information to make an accurate judgment."
"However, during his few excursions, he appeared once at the Imperial Magic Academy and made contact with two students: Arche Eeb Ryle Furt and Fleur Vaelia Lan Gusmond."
As the secretary spoke, he pulled another file from the documents he held and placed it before the Blood Emperor.
"Furt?"
Hearing this unfamiliar family name that he had no recollection of, Jircniv was somewhat puzzled.
"A minor family stripped of its noble title by Your Majesty. Their eldest daughter, Arche Eeb Ryle Furt, is currently one of the most famous geniuses at the Imperial Magic Academy," the secretary said.
As for the other name, there was no need for the secretary's introduction.
"Gusmond..."
The Blood Emperor ignored Arche of the minor family, narrowing his eyes and muttering to himself, "He doesn't accept any invitations and spends most of his time in his residence in the Noble District, heh."
"He doesn't want money, nor does he care about reputation. I'd really like to know what he truly wants."
"Have someone keep an eye on him."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the secretary said respectfully.
...
Due to Imina's departure.
Tang Zheng had to start handling some matters personally, such as delivering the alchemical potions to the Adventurer's Guild to be sold.
Because of this, he even met the incredibly enthusiastic Guild Master of the Imperial Capital's Adventurer's Guild, a middle-aged man with the air of a merchant.
After a friendly exchange between the two parties,
Tang Zheng increased the number of regeneration potions from five per day to eight, though officially, he still supplied only five per day.
In return, the Adventurer's Guild Master raised Tang Zheng's adventurer status from Copper-rank to Gold-rank, while also paying an additional 1,000 gold coins.
It should be known that the Adventurer's Guild had explicit rules: regardless of an adventurer's strength, they must raise their adventurer level by accepting quests.
And the Imperial Capital's Adventurer Guild Master hadn't actually broken any rules.
Because the effect of the regeneration potion was truly excellent, and coupled with its immense popularity, some wealthy nobles or merchants directly posted a quest at the Adventurer's Guild.
Since it was a quest, Tang Zheng, as an adventurer, could naturally accept it.
Procedurally, the Adventurer's Guild had simply processed the quests a little faster, and the time it took to advance from Copper-rank to Gold-rank was a little shorter.
There was nothing wrong.
Of course, according to the Imperial Capital's Adventurer Guild Master, advancing beyond Gold-rank would have stricter requirements and a relatively long review period.
He would also have to complete several normal quests.
A rapid promotion to a Gold-rank adventurer was already the greatest privilege the Adventurer's Guild Master could grant.
For an organization that had been passed down for hundreds of years, any loopholes had long since been closed, and the rules had been supplemented to a near-perfect degree.
Tang Zheng felt it was a bit of a shame; he had originally hoped he could grind Adventurer quests.
However, being able to advance from the lowest-rank adventurer to a Gold-rank adventurer without wasting time was already a pleasant surprise.
Aside from this small surprise,
as three consecutive days passed, Tang Zheng discovered something else.
He was being watched!
Not by the various factions of the Imperial Capital, but by some patrolling soldiers.
Thud—
The heavy gate of the noble courtyard closed.
Tang Zheng turned around expressionlessly and walked back into the courtyard.
"The last glimmer of hope has been extinguished."
Tang Zheng sighed softly. The badge hanging from his waist, now made of gold, swayed slightly with his steps.
He had previously thought that the Blood Emperor simply hadn't noticed him, which was why there had been no movement. But with the appearance of these watchful soldiers,
he realized that his plan to acquire the "Immortal" job had failed.
Given the Blood Emperor's personality, the fact that he learned of the abilities Tang Zheng had displayed, yet chose to monitor him instead of summoning him, meant the Blood Emperor was already wary of him.
"As expected, I was a bit too hasty."
Tang Zheng recalled his actions over this period and shook his head.
"It's time to leave."
Tang Zheng glanced at the beautiful, enormous courtyard with its fountain, not a trace of reluctance in his eyes.
He would have to come back for the "Immortal" job next time. But when that time came, he wouldn't be using such gentle methods.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, a loud knocking sound erupted.
It was as if someone was forcefully striking the heavy gate with a large iron hammer.
Tang Zheng's expression tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. A magic scroll instantly appeared in his hand, and he turned to head back toward the gate.
Before he even got close to the gate, the tense look on Tang Zheng's face relaxed.
He already knew who had arrived.
An unexpected person—the "Warrior King," Gagaran!
That enormous body, over three meters tall, was a full head taller than his gate. It would be difficult not to recognize her.
(end of chapter)
Leinas and Imina had already departed that very night.
With something as major as the annihilation of two great noble families, Leinas would soon be targeted. Naturally, the sooner she left the Baharuth Empire, the better.
The matter he had entrusted to the two women was actually a bit more complicated on Leinas's end, but if handled well, the rewards would be immense.
The Kingdom and the Empire were warring nations. Especially now, with the Kingdom having suffered severe losses, the daughter of a noble who had slaughtered two major families of the Empire had arrived within its borders.
This was a living example, a direct blow to the Blood Emperor's centralized power and reputation.
The Kingdom's nobles might feel some disgust and aversion toward what Leinas had done, but compared to the commoner, Gazef, Leinas—a noble's daughter who possessed great strength—would be more easily accepted by them.
Furthermore, what Leinas had done made it impossible for her to be a spy sent by the Empire; it had even cut off any hope of her returning to the Empire.
With all these traits combined, Tang Zheng refused to believe that the members of the Royal Family would not make a move.
"Build a faction? How could that be more direct than controlling an entire country?"
"Unfortunately, the Empire is too close to where the Great Tomb of Nazarick appeared, and it surrendered too quickly. It's not suitable for making too many arrangements here."
Tang Zheng raised his hand, stroking the lesser soulhound's somewhat coarse and stiff black fur. "Who do you think is more suitable? First Prince Barbro, Second Prince Zanac, or Third Princess Lana?"
"Awooo~"
The lesser soulhound squinted its eyes and let out a comfortable, soft whine.
Naturally, it could not answer.
Imperial Capital. Royal Palace.
Inside a lavish, brightly lit grand hall.
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, looked at the detailed information in his hands regarding the annihilation of the two great noble families, his face tinged with frost.
"Are you certain it was Leinas Rockbruise?"
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, asked in a cold voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The secretary quickly bowed his head and spoke, "The motive points to her, and people in both territories reported seeing someone who closely resembled Leinas Rockbruise."
"That madwoman!"
A vein bulged on the Blood Emperor Jircniv's forehead. He raised his palm and slammed the document in his hand down onto the desk.
Bang!
"Find her immediately and arrest her!" Jircniv's tone was ice-cold.
Although he had long been dissatisfied with these incompetent and pedantic nobles, their removal was supposed to be a gradual process under his plan. What Leinas had done would inevitably give those old fools who remained an opportunity to counterattack.
Of course!
More importantly, he would not allow such an unstable person to exist within the Empire.
His good mood from the recent successes on the border battlefield was completely swept away by this matter.
"How is the Ministry of Magic's research on the alchemical potion progressing?"
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, raised his hands and gently rubbed his temples, speaking with authority without even lifting his head.
"There has been no progress so far."
"The Ministry of Magic suspects that the other party's alchemical methods are unlike any existing techniques. They hope Your Majesty can extend an invitation to him."
The secretary, holding a stack of documents, spoke up quickly. Without hesitation, he picked out a file from the many he held and placed it in front of the Blood Emperor, Jircniv.
"This is all the information gathered on the Adventurer, Tang. There isn't much."
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, reached out and took the file. His golden pupils scanned it quickly before he closed it, placed it on the desk, and tapped his fingers on it in silence.
"Reject the Ministry of Magic's request."
Jircniv said, then paused. "Is there any issue with the old man?"
"Lord Fluder is also interested in that alchemical potion, but he hasn't proactively inquired about it," the secretary replied without hesitation after a moment of thought.
"Mm."
The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, nodded. His gaze returned to the file in his hand. "What do you make of it?"
The secretary immediately stood ramrod straight, a pair of sharp eyes revealed beneath his pale golden hair. "This alchemist adventurer named Tang is a problem!"
"How so?" The corner of Jircniv's mouth tilted up, his golden pupils rising to look at the secretary.
"According to information from the Adventurer's Guild, he registered as an adventurer in the Re-Estize Kingdom's E-Rantel over a month ago."
"He then entered our country. For nearly half a month, his specific whereabouts were highly erratic, as if he were searching for something."
"For the latter half of the month until now, he has been in the Royal Capital selling his alchemical potions. Judging by the price of the potions and the stir he's caused in the market, his goal isn't money."
The secretary said grimly.
"Then what is it for?" The Blood Emperor, Jircniv, leaned back, his tone tinged with a bit of laziness and a light chuckle.
"There is too little information to make an accurate judgment."
"However, during his few excursions, he appeared once at the Imperial Magic Academy and made contact with two students: Arche Eeb Ryle Furt and Fleur Vaelia Lan Gusmond."
As the secretary spoke, he pulled another file from the documents he held and placed it before the Blood Emperor.
"Furt?"
Hearing this unfamiliar family name that he had no recollection of, Jircniv was somewhat puzzled.
"A minor family stripped of its noble title by Your Majesty. Their eldest daughter, Arche Eeb Ryle Furt, is currently one of the most famous geniuses at the Imperial Magic Academy," the secretary said.
As for the other name, there was no need for the secretary's introduction.
"Gusmond..."
The Blood Emperor ignored Arche of the minor family, narrowing his eyes and muttering to himself, "He doesn't accept any invitations and spends most of his time in his residence in the Noble District, heh."
"He doesn't want money, nor does he care about reputation. I'd really like to know what he truly wants."
"Have someone keep an eye on him."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the secretary said respectfully.
...
Due to Imina's departure.
Tang Zheng had to start handling some matters personally, such as delivering the alchemical potions to the Adventurer's Guild to be sold.
Because of this, he even met the incredibly enthusiastic Guild Master of the Imperial Capital's Adventurer's Guild, a middle-aged man with the air of a merchant.
After a friendly exchange between the two parties,
Tang Zheng increased the number of regeneration potions from five per day to eight, though officially, he still supplied only five per day.
In return, the Adventurer's Guild Master raised Tang Zheng's adventurer status from Copper-rank to Gold-rank, while also paying an additional 1,000 gold coins.
It should be known that the Adventurer's Guild had explicit rules: regardless of an adventurer's strength, they must raise their adventurer level by accepting quests.
And the Imperial Capital's Adventurer Guild Master hadn't actually broken any rules.
Because the effect of the regeneration potion was truly excellent, and coupled with its immense popularity, some wealthy nobles or merchants directly posted a quest at the Adventurer's Guild.
Since it was a quest, Tang Zheng, as an adventurer, could naturally accept it.
Procedurally, the Adventurer's Guild had simply processed the quests a little faster, and the time it took to advance from Copper-rank to Gold-rank was a little shorter.
There was nothing wrong.
Of course, according to the Imperial Capital's Adventurer Guild Master, advancing beyond Gold-rank would have stricter requirements and a relatively long review period.
He would also have to complete several normal quests.
A rapid promotion to a Gold-rank adventurer was already the greatest privilege the Adventurer's Guild Master could grant.
For an organization that had been passed down for hundreds of years, any loopholes had long since been closed, and the rules had been supplemented to a near-perfect degree.
Tang Zheng felt it was a bit of a shame; he had originally hoped he could grind Adventurer quests.
However, being able to advance from the lowest-rank adventurer to a Gold-rank adventurer without wasting time was already a pleasant surprise.
Aside from this small surprise,
as three consecutive days passed, Tang Zheng discovered something else.
He was being watched!
Not by the various factions of the Imperial Capital, but by some patrolling soldiers.
Thud—
The heavy gate of the noble courtyard closed.
Tang Zheng turned around expressionlessly and walked back into the courtyard.
"The last glimmer of hope has been extinguished."
Tang Zheng sighed softly. The badge hanging from his waist, now made of gold, swayed slightly with his steps.
He had previously thought that the Blood Emperor simply hadn't noticed him, which was why there had been no movement. But with the appearance of these watchful soldiers,
he realized that his plan to acquire the "Immortal" job had failed.
Given the Blood Emperor's personality, the fact that he learned of the abilities Tang Zheng had displayed, yet chose to monitor him instead of summoning him, meant the Blood Emperor was already wary of him.
"As expected, I was a bit too hasty."
Tang Zheng recalled his actions over this period and shook his head.
"It's time to leave."
Tang Zheng glanced at the beautiful, enormous courtyard with its fountain, not a trace of reluctance in his eyes.
He would have to come back for the "Immortal" job next time. But when that time came, he wouldn't be using such gentle methods.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, a loud knocking sound erupted.
It was as if someone was forcefully striking the heavy gate with a large iron hammer.
Tang Zheng's expression tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. A magic scroll instantly appeared in his hand, and he turned to head back toward the gate.
Before he even got close to the gate, the tense look on Tang Zheng's face relaxed.
He already knew who had arrived.
An unexpected person—the "Warrior King," Gagaran!
That enormous body, over three meters tall, was a full head taller than his gate. It would be difficult not to recognize her.
(end of chapter)
