Chapter 77: She is Scary
Assassins Hideout:
"Damn it. This is a problem. How could four certified Peak Sages fail to capture or kill a mere Princess?" A green-haired elf expressed his frustration.
"Migos, we had everything under control, but the unexpected arrival of 14 unknown assassins forced us to deviate slightly from the plan," one of the kneeling individuals explained. With blue, long hair and a cat eye, he possessed the sharp vision characteristic of an assassin.
"And you take pride in admitting this? They were Semi-Saints; eliminating or subduing them shouldn't have been a challenge. Yet, you not only failed but also couldn't capture even one of these so-called Semi-Saints for interrogation."
"Pathetic. Now, what am I supposed to do with a maid, huh?" The dark green-haired guy inquired.
"We were hoping we could leverage the one who hired us to lure the Princess out. She trusts him, so with his assistance, we can put an end to this once and for all," the cat-eyed guy responded. Aware of the potential consequences, he added, "After all, capturing or eliminating the Princess is crucial to draw out the one who matches our profile."
After contemplating for a moment, he shifted his attention to Vira, who was tied to a chair, and inquired, "How far would the princess go to rescue you?"
"I'd rather die first than let any of you do anything to Vina," Vira declared in an angry tone.
The green-haired guy then addressed the four kneeling individuals, stating, "I suppose you're all safe for now. It seems the Princess and her Maid are closer than we anticipated. Let's go catch ourselves a Princess, shall we?"
They promptly left the underground dungeon and began making their way to an undisclosed location.
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In an inn located in the southern part of the capital, four young individuals sat around a table, leisurely sipping their tea. The ambiance around them was vibrant and lively.
"Where do we go from here, boss?" Ragnar inquired in his customary deep Viking voice.
"We're waiting for someone. He'll be here soon. We'll decide our next steps after hearing what he has to say," Rasoul replied.
"So, Magnus, how did your bonding session with Lara go?" Rasoul inquired, looking to pass the time by discussing Magnus and Lara's experience in the forest.
"She's scary," Magnus replied in a short sentence.
"You don't have to tell me that. Lara is indeed quite intimidating," Rasoul responded with a satisfied smile.
"Well, duh, she's a goddess. What do you expect?" Valkyrie interjected, cutting Magnus off before he could say another word.
"What is so special about goddesses that makes you happy like a doll? You seem cheerful around Lara," Rasoul remarked, attempting to understand why Valkyrie appeared to be idolizing Lara.
"Goddesses are revered for their divine grace, beauty, and mastery over cosmic forces, embodying a harmonious balance between benevolence and power. Their influence extends beyond the physical realm, touching the spiritual and metaphysical, inspiring awe and reverence among mortals," Valkyrie explained, revealing her more knowledgeable side.
She continued, "Lara hasn't awakened her powers yet, but the day she does, many will bow and worship her. You are fortunate and unfortunate at the same time."
"And why is that?" Rasoul inquired.
"You are lucky she chose you as her lover, but unlucky because many powerful beings will try to take her from you. They will go to any length to separate you two. So, if you want her to be by your side always, then become powerful," Valkyrie advised.
"Of course, we will be there with you. Before they can take her away, they would have to go through all of us first," Valkyrie declared with a determined look.
Ragnar, Magnus, and Rowan all displayed a similar determined expression on their faces. However, before they could resume their conversation, a white-bearded man entered the inn and approached them.
The man who entered was the head of Charles's family, and also Rasoul's slave.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything important," he said as he approached Rasoul's table.
Rasoul nodded at him and, to avoid further stares at their location, pulled a chair over for Old Charles to sit down. Once he settled in, Rasoul spoke, "What have you found out?"
"Not much. The spies in the other kingdoms haven't discovered anything suspicious that would implicate them. The Porter Kingdom, however, is a bit different. Our spies report secret meetings taking place for the past month, but they haven't uncovered anything concrete tying them to the kidnapping and attempted assassination," Old Charles explained.
"I expected nothing less. Whoever these people are, I believe they are not from around here. I wouldn't be surprised if they are from other empires," Rasoul said, appearing deep in thought.
"Contact the other heads and see if they can find something using their networks. Also, get me everything on this list by the end of the week," Rasoul instructed as he handed a piece of paper to Old Charles. He left right after that.
"What do we do now?" Magnus asked with a slight frown. He knew they were at a dead end.
"Let's give it some time and see if the kidnappers will try contacting the Princess. I already have men at both her apartment here and at Orange Field City," Rasoul responded. They then continued to sip their tea while waiting to hear anything from his other allies.
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While waiting to hear from their other allies, more movements began outside the inn. Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that everyone was heading to the city square. They all wanted to be the first to hear any announcements that might be made.
Observing the commotion, Rasoul and his comrades stood up and made their way toward the gathering. Upon reaching the crowd, they saw a man standing with what appeared to be a megaphone in his hands. Once he saw that enough people had gathered, he began to speak.
"People of Sundance Kingdom, hear me! Our king has announced that three days from today, exactly when the sun hits twelve, he will declare the heir to the throne. He urges all citizens to suspend all their activities and attend this grand event," the man announced through the megaphone.
"Additionally, he mentioned that there will be a huge announcement three days from today that will usher our kingdom into an era of prosperity and peace. Thank you for listening," the man concluded.
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire place erupted into a huge uproar. They had all been waiting for this moment for a very long time. While they were confident the Princess would be selected, a lingering question kept popping into their minds as they continued to ponder.
"When will the Princess return to the capital?" a young lady asked. Ever since the Monster tide ended, they had all been anticipating the day the Princess would come back to the capital.
"I don't know why she hasn't come yet, but I am sure she will be here by tomorrow," another lady replied.
"I can't wait to see her," a man said with a happy look on his face.
"We all are," another lady replied.
Listening to their conversation, Rasoul couldn't help but shake his head. He knew things were not that easy. But he understood that there was no other way but to bring the princess to the capital so she could attend the event.
Even though part of him kept urging caution, he knew the only logical move was to bring the Princess to the capital without alerting anyone. He understood that the assassins would make their move as soon as they found out, so he had to ensure there was no opening for them to exploit.
'This damn quest...he cursed
He also wished the assassins would strike so he could use that as a breadcrumb to track Vira down. He was aware they wouldn't harm the maid until they had their hands on the Princess.
'Lara, teleport back to the hotel room we rented last time we were in the capital, now,' Rasoul immediately instructed Lara telepathically.
Five minutes later, they arrived in the room and began making plans for the event that would take place three days from today.
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Porter Kingdom:
Distant from the kingdom of Sundance and now within the borders of the Porter Kingdom, a clandestine gathering unfolds in a rustic cabin secluded from any settlement. Present are six figures, the esteemed generals of the Porter Kingdom. Yet, amongst them, a distinctive figure emerges—a cloaked man, evidently the chief confidant to the king, entrusted with managing affairs with neighboring kingdoms.
"The timetable for our invasion of the Sundance Kingdom has been accelerated, shifting from a month to just two weeks from now. Developments in the Sundance kingdom, as communicated by our allies, indicate that now is the opportune moment to make our move. Ensure your armies are prepared; we'll start the invasion in two weeks from today," declared the hooded man.
"What about the additional armies from the neighboring kingdoms? They're set to arrive in two weeks. How do we intend to coordinate with them when we're initiating our move to the borders of Sundance Kingdom in just one week?. They were suppose to come her so we all can move together" inquired a young man, his dark hair cropped short, and his eyes a shade of light green.
"General Kellan, the other armies have been duly briefed. They will advance directly to the frontline. We've strategically aligned with five kingdoms, ensuring that each front has a joint effort from two allied kingdoms," responded the hooded man.
"We hold numerical advantage, so let's conclude this swiftly. Each of you will lead 1,500,000 soldiers into battle. Furthermore, there will be an additional 3,000,000 soldiers from each allied kingdom. Therefore, at every front, we'll amass over 3 million troops. Even if the Sundance Kingdom deploys all its trump cards, I am confident we will emerge victorious," he confidently added.
"This will be a swift operation. The Sundance Kingdom is in for a harsh reality check. I only hope they can muster a token resistance," remarked another general, his tone tinged with arrogance.
"Will you be joining us, General Titus?" inquired the third general, unveiling the name of the hooded figure.
"I'll be in the vicinity, ready to intervene only if an unforeseen variable arises," responded General Titus, the hooded figure. "This is going to be quite exhilarating. We're on the verge of establishing our dominance as the sole kingdom to rule over the entire human empire," he added with anticipation.
Had any soldier from the Sundance Kingdom been present now, the mere mention of General Titus's name would have sent shivers down their spine. Whenever General Titus steps onto the battlefield, blood flows like a river, and this upcoming battle won't be an exception.
Chaos is on the verge of spreading, and soon the entire empire will be plunged into darkness. It will become a battle for survival—either for the strongest or the wisest.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone