Capítulo 144: Causing a commotion
The mere thought was absurd! He knew firsthand that Elizabeth returned to Castle Reinhard under the full protection of the kingdom. Having a Royal Guard as a father made him appreciate just how mighty a Perception Realm combatant was. Being beaten senselessly by Emperor Lianghu further reinforced that belief. Unless one was Perception Realm, it was impossible to beat another Perception Realm! While there were many unknown or rogue warriors in the kingdom, there was no way that the kingdom could be bested! With the three strongest knights, as well as the military's full support, could Elizabeth really be taken away? Only the Xingyuu Empire or the Zino Kingdom could achieve that!
But he could not shake this feeling. He could tell it was not a simple thought. It was his gut warning him! He bit his lip and ran back to the camp with his brother and the Hundred Lives Doctor. His actions raised many questions to the guards, but since they knew him, they let him be. Benedict rushed to his horse, hopped on, and whipped the reins. By the second, the feeling was turning worse and worse. His horse sensed his anxiety and exploded out with unparalleled urgency towards Castle Reinhard. Benedict's expression was so dark that it was nearly black. He hoped he was wrong!
When he arrived though, he discovered everything was in order. The three brigades consisting of fifteen thousand troops were assembling at the gates. The sheer scale of the camp sent shivers down Benedict's spine. He was a soldier too and knew how fearsome three brigades were. That was a massive force! For reference, the Alzar force used to besiege Emperor Lianghu was five thousand strong. Even then, the number of ships used to ferry the force was enough to span the horizon! However, the numbers here were three times that… It was a terrifying figure to behold. There were so many soldiers here that they occupied a large portion of Algard by themselves!
Naturally, the entire city was alerted of their presence. Everyone living in Algard were elites above elites, so they received the news quickly. When they heard about Elizabeth's situation, they were floored. From what they knew, she was supposed to join the Grand Nobility's party. These aristocrats were looking forward to seeing her humiliated and brought down. But she was nearly assassinated in Algard! This was an entirely different matter! What the young heirs could do amounted to plain mockery and insults. There was no real harm. Attempting to assassinate Elizabeth though was… openly declaring war on the Royal Family! One was child's play, the other could overturn the entire political landscape! The aristocrats were frightened so hard that they refused to step outside. They knew the Royal Family would be out for blood!
The people in Corasen were scared as well. Most of the citizens in Corasen had a lesser status, so their information network paled in comparison to Algard. All they knew was that the main military headquarters in Corasen had deployed three brigades! That was nearly the entire reserve force of the city! They existed as the last line of defense in case of the Xingyuu Empire's attack. However, in the many centuries since Corasen's founding, the empire had never come close. Therefore, the brigades were scarcely utilized. In fact, many people had forgotten their existence. From this, it could be seen how peaceful Corasen and Algard were. So, when the city felt the rumbling of warhorses and felt the deadly killing intent pervading the air, everyone felt scared! They prayed that this was not the beginning of another war!
Benedict felt the same way. On the surface, Elizabeth was attacked by the Second Hand. That simple fight involving less than fifty people in the outskirts of Algard quickly stepped centerstage to sweep the world! Benedict was terrified senseless. For once, it really set in… That girl he saved from New Havens more than half a year ago had become the most important person in the kingdom! She was no longer Elizabeth Silvera from New Havens, but Princess Elizabeth Etuvel Reindel, heir apparent! She could move the entire world!
After seeing the tremendous forces assembling outside the castle, Benedict hesitated again. Was his feeling really right? For something to happen to Elizabeth now, could anyone really harm her now? She was at the center of an impenetrable fortress. Even ten Whispering Shadows could not invade, much less ten Second Hands! However, that feeling in his gut became stronger and stronger, forcing him to act. If he did not, he knew he would regret it forever!
He rode his horse toward the first security checkpoint. The soldiers frowned and stopped him before asking, "What's your business here? Castle Reinhard is closed for now."
"I'm here to see Princess Elizabeth," Benedict said slowly.
The soldiers looked at him up and down suspiciously. "What is your identity and purpose?"
"My name is Benedict Hawken, son of Sir Roland Hawken. I am concerned about Her Highness's safety and I wish to see her."
Hearing this, the soldiers wore incredulous faces and burst into laughter. "Kid, there is fifteen thousand soldiers here. Unless a god came themselves, they could not sneak in without us knowing!"
"He's right. Only the Xingyuu Empire could break through," another shook their head. "Her Highness could not be safer right now."
"You heard us. Stand back unless you want to get hurt," the captain said.
Benedict was speechless. Of course, he would be seen as an idiot. "Please, I implore you to send this message up. Her Highness is in danger! If we don't do something soon…"
The captain frowned while the other soldiers became irritated. "We already told you Her Highness is safe! What more do you want from us? Are you saying we're not good enough?"
"Get lost, kid!"
Although Benedict was technically a squadron captain who commanded a squadron back in Fortress Fallinard, his rank was temporarily rescinded because of his involvement in Elizabeth's escape months ago. But even if his rank was restored, it was far from enough to sway these people. The difference between a captain in a distant fortress to a captain in Corasen was huge. The forces in the capital naturally carried more weight. He would have to be a Platoon Captain or a Brigade Commander to do anything here. Furthermore, the military was different from the nobility. His Grand Nobility title held little sway as well. Otherwise, the nobility could influence military decisions.
Benedict clenched his fists. Ah, forget about it! He thought. There's not enough time!
He knew time was running short, so he whipped his reins. The soldiers flinched and leapt out of the way as Benedict's horse barreled through. He was forcefully breaking through! Immediately, a large commotion broke out as everyone rushed over. The soldiers wore dark expressions and unsheathed their swords. Without saying a thing, they rushed in and hacked down! Anyone who attacked was an enemy! The only response was death! Benedict's sight was filled with the rain of more than a dozen sword lights. His horse whinnied in fright while he felt death looming over him! Against fifteen thousand, what could one man do?
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