Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Swordsman vs. Warlock

The sun had set.

The last ray of dusk vanished from the horizon, as if someone hiding behind the mountains had extinguished a lantern.

Daphne was shrouded in the veil of night.

The Royal Palace stood on a hill on the northernmost side of the city, its high position allowing the people of the Royal Capital to gaze up at the magnificent castle whenever they raised their heads.

Wang Xi and Pinocchio had changed into magnificent aristocratic attire, complete with furry, round-crowned hats adorned with peacock feathers.

Both were already striking in appearance, with smooth skin, red lips, and white teeth. Dressed in these outfits, they looked so dashing that no one would believe they weren’t nobles.

With Minister Ando and the other two leading the way with oil lamps, their path was completely unobstructed.

Inside the Royal Palace, the Palace Guards on watch and patrol rarely approached to question them, simply offering a salute before moving on.

Having a familiar face was just that convenient.

Even when they passed through the wing’s courtyard and arrived at the Queen’s Tower in the innermost part of the Royal Palace, they were stopped by the elite guards flanking the portico. However, Ando merely stated that Prince Calvin had summoned them on urgent business, and they were allowed to pass.

But just as the group entered the main hall and prepared to ascend the spiral staircases on either side, they encountered an unexpected obstacle.

The hall was brightly lit by the candlelight of several large, gilded chandeliers. Three people—men and women in deep blue, lace-trimmed robes—blocked their path.

Wang Xi glanced over and saw the information labels above their heads—

「Palace Warlock · Moreno (Yellow/Three-Star)」

「Palace Warlock · Lalin (Yellow/Three-Star)」

「Palace Warlock · Emily (Yellow/Three-Star)」

Three Three-Star Palace Warlocks.

"Minister Ando, may I ask what brings you to the Queen’s Tower so late at night?"

the middle-aged, short-haired man named Moreno asked in a low voice.

The chubby minister chuckled, his cold tone suggesting a long-standing animosity with the Royal Mage Corps:

"Lord Calvin has summoned us urgently. Don’t waste our time. If anything is delayed, you’ll be held responsible."

"A summons from Lord Calvin?"

The other warlock, a woman named Emily, glanced at them, her face full of suspicion.

"And who are these two? I’ve never seen them before."

"Lady Emily, there are plenty of people you haven’t met, and I don’t have the leisure to introduce every one of them to you."

Ando waved his hand, looking rather impatient.

"Now, step aside."

"Hah." However, the chubby minister’s words had no effect. The three warlocks remained unmoved, and a cold sneer appeared on their faces. "Minister Ando, your evasiveness only makes you look guilty."

"We Palace Warlocks are responsible for protecting the Queen and Lord Calvin. If we cannot ascertain the identities of these two individuals, then you must forgive us for not letting you pass,"

the female warlock said coolly.

Ando’s expression soured, while the Coinage Officer and the Pharmacist beside him exchanged a speechless glance.

Normally, the Swordsmen Corps was supposed to take over from the Warlock Corps after nightfall to continue guarding the tower. But for some reason, the shift change hadn’t happened on time tonight.

Ando was on good terms with the Court Swordmaster, but his relationship with this group of warlocks was terrible. This was because the Warlock Master, Bertrand, was also one of Calvin’s trusted confidants, and the two couldn’t stand each other.

Ordinarily, it wouldn’t matter—it would just mean a war of words and a bit of wasted time. But now, with them latching onto Lord Gurui’s identity, any further delay might lead to complications.

"I am Gurui, a Wandering Scholar invited by Lord Calvin. He wishes to discuss with me the respective importance of swordsmen and warlocks to the kingdom’s development."

Wang Xi stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back, and spoke with casual confidence.

His earnest act took the three warlocks by surprise. They exchanged strange looks.

’A Wandering Scholar named Gurui? What kind of hick from the sticks is this guy?’

"Lord Calvin would be interested in something like that?"

the male warlock named Lalin asked with a frown.

He was a middle-aged man with long, flowing hair, fair skin, and delicate features.

"Of course." Wang Xi lifted his chin, looking down his nose at the man with an air of academic arrogance that suggested his intellect had gone to his head. "You clearly don’t understand the scale of Lord Calvin’s ambition."

He raised his hands as if playing an accordion, striking a pose that screamed ’Nobody understands Calvin better than I do.’

Then he pressed them aggressively:

"Let me ask you—"

Wang Xi drew out his words, taking another step forward.

"Between swordsmen and warlocks, which is more important for the development of the kingdom?"

"Hah. Warlocks, of course,"

the female warlock, Emily, said coolly.

"Those reckless, stupid swordsmen can only understand simple commands and are good for nothing but fighting... We warlocks, on the other hand, possess noble bloodlines, an innate Elemental Affinity, and can cast all sorts of magic to solve the royal family’s problems."

"Then let me ask you this."

Wang Xi nodded as if in agreement.

He took another step forward.

"Between swordsmen and warlocks, who is stronger in a fight? Who is better able to protect the Queen and Lord Calvin?"

"A pointless question."

Emily shot him a glance.

"Within seven paces, the swordsman is stronger. Beyond seven paces, the warlock is stronger... But such comparisons are meaningless, because swordsmen still have to bow and scrape before us."

"Is that so?"

Wang Xi looked astonished.

He scanned the three of them, then flashed the smile of a cheerful young man as his voice dropped to a low tone:

"Last question. How many paces away am I from you now?"

"?!"

The three warlocks’ expressions changed slightly.

WHOOSH—

Their vision blurred for an instant before a fierce gust of wind hit them in the face. The Wandering Scholar named Gurui had lunged forward like a human beast.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

In the blink of an eye, before the three could even react, they felt a sharp pain in their necks, their vision went black, and they lost consciousness.

THUD!

Before the astonished eyes of Ando and the others, the three Palace Warlocks collapsed to the ground, completely still as if they had fallen asleep.

"A-Are they dead?!"

Coinage Officer Dick shrieked, his voice choked as if his throat had been seized, completely intimidated by Lord Gurui’s presence.

"They’re not dead. Just knocked out."

Wang Xi flexed his wrist and said nonchalantly.

’Three-Star warlocks have such weak physiques. They’re not even on par with a One-Star caravan mercenary,’ he thought to himself.

Once he got close, the three of them were pathetically weak; he took care of them with ease.

Six orbs of light—three green and three white—flew straight into the space between Wang Xi’s eyebrows. Ando and the others were completely oblivious, unable to see them at all.

Wang Xi grabbed the Warlock Corps members by the legs, dragged them to a corner of the hall, and tossed them into the shadows behind a large vase.

Then he dusted off his hands and walked back.

"Ando, lead on."

"..."

The chubby minister wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Yes, Lord Gurui."

...

...

The fifth floor of the tower—the top floor.

Inside the Queen’s magnificent and spacious bedchamber.

With the help of two young maids, Sianna removed her white fleece cloak, her ornate long dress, the intricate ornaments in her hair, and her royal crown.

She changed into a simple white tunic and sat barefoot by the window. The two maids carefully and gently combed the Queen’s long, golden hair.

The cool moonlight fell upon the windowsill and spilled onto Sianna’s face, making her look all the more weary.

Gazing at the distant snow-capped mountains, she could faintly make out a "sapphire" sparkling on a peak. That was the Crystal Castle where her older sister resided...

The Queen was lost in a daze.

A trace of fatigue and sorrow flickered in her eyes.

Sianna knew very well that she was not suited to be queen. But her father, the king, had passed away early, and her older sister refused to involve herself in the affairs of the kingdom, living as a hermit on the Snow Mountain Peak.

So, she had no choice but to brace herself and shoulder the burden.

Facing incursions from the Northern Lands, threats from the Magic Forest, and the endless scheming of the court ministers, she was now utterly exhausted in both mind and spirit.

In truth, Sianna did not love Calvin at all.

She even vaguely detested him.

But she didn’t dare show it.

She needed his status and the technology he possessed to fight back against the evil demons of the Magic Forest.

Her father had been killed by a Witch!

She had seen the Magic Weapons Calvin created; they were incredibly powerful. With them, she thought, she would surely have enough power to protect herself.

"What time is it?"

the Queen asked without turning her head.

"A quarter to bedtime, ah, no... It’s 8:45 in the evening, Your Majesty the Queen."

The maid glanced back at the mechanical clock and hastily corrected her slip of the tongue.

That clock was a gift from Prince Calvin to Her Majesty, far more convenient and accurate than a water clock or an hourglass.

It was said that across the sea, in the Clockwork Kingdom, every household had such an exquisite time-keeping device.

"Mm, I’m tired."

Queen Sianna raised her hand in a gesture of dismissal.

"You may leave."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The two maids lifted their skirts, curtsied, and exited quietly with their heads bowed.

But before Sianna could even reach her bed, she heard a maid cry out in alarm from outside the door.

"Lord Calvin, you... you can’t go in! The Queen has already retired for the night!"

"It’s fine. I just came to say goodnight to Sianna and have a little chat."

A man’s low voice could be faintly heard.

Accompanied by the faint sounds of a scuffle and a cry of surprise, the door was opened again.

CREAK.

Sianna’s lovely brow furrowed as she looked over coldly.

A short-haired man stood in the doorway, dressed in deep red aristocratic clothing with a small ruff collar, his smiling gaze fixed upon her.

Behind him stood two tall Humanoid Dolls clad in heavy armor and carrying greatswords on their backs.

Sianna knew these were the more powerful combat-type dolls... even ten members of the Swordsmen Corps would have trouble defeating one. Not even the magic of the Warlock Corps could do them much harm.

Only two such dolls existed, and Calvin kept them by his side as personal bodyguards.

"Aren’t you going to invite me in for a bit?"

The man’s searing gaze fell upon the Queen, shamelessly sizing her up.

Sianna detested his rudeness and audacity. "It’s late, Calvin," she said coldly. "Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow."

"This is important."

Calvin completely disregarded the Queen’s coldness. He walked in as if he hadn’t heard a thing and shut the door behind him.

SLAM!

"Calvin! What do you think you’re doing?!"

Startled by his actions, Sianna couldn’t help but take two steps back.

Calvin strode forward, grabbed her by the arm, and she could feel his hot breath on her face.

"We’re about to be married, Sianna. Why are you so hostile toward me?"

Calvin said in a low voice.

The Queen struggled to shake off his hand, retorting angrily,

"Don’t get the wrong idea. This is merely a political marriage... and right now, your title is only Prince. Even if you were to enter my chambers, you would have to wait until after the wedding."

"I tolerate your behavior in the court on a daily basis. Don’t push your luck!"

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