Chapter 51: Halo is back
The banquet ended after some light talk, and the city officials were dismissed.
Elder Song also dismissed the disciples, but Shira insisted Seraph should stay.
Although surprised, neither adult disagreed. Now, only Elder Song, Lord Bryan, Butler Grey, Princess Shira, and Seraph remained in the hall.
Now wearing a serious expression, Lord Bryan spoke gravely.
"I received a bit of information from my brother-in-law. This matter is indeed serious."
Princess Shira turned in surprise.
"My father spoke to you?"
Lord Bryan nodded. "Yes. I now understand what is going on in the palace and I think it is a very serious matter. The royal family is in danger."
Elder Song sighed and rubbed her temples tiredly.
"This is a complicated issue. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s not just an internal strife, but one instigated by another kingdom? Perhaps those neighboring kingdoms that had set their eyes on our resources here in the Orchid Province."
Princess Shira shook her head.
"That... isn’t that too much? A prince wouldn’t fall for such obvious manipulation tricks."
Lord Bryan sighed and leaned back. "People tend to fall victim to their desires, and would do anything to achieve it."
In his seat, Fernandes shifted uncomfortably, his brows furrowed.
"Why would someone be killing the other princes just for the throne? That’s pure stupidity. It’s obvious that someone is controlling them."
Stating his own view not to be left out, he expressed great dissatisfaction.
Shira raised her head and looked at her uncle.
"Uncle Bryan, can I stay with you? I don’t think I’ll feel safe otherwise."
"Hah?"
Lord Bryan was stunned, then immediately shook his head.
"No, Shira. You’re no longer a child."
The girl’s expression dropped immediately.
Seeing this, the man smiled and said. "Don’t worry, I’ll give you a room next to mine. Your butler would be there to protect you and alert me if it’s something he can’t handle."
Shira nodded with a compromising expression, making Seraph wowed.
’So she has deduced that the real danger is Fernandes, hasn’t she? Quite a clever girl.’
"In that case, we will leave the princess’s safety to you, Lord Bryan."
Elder Song said as she stood up.
Seraph immediately followed suit, his eyes still fixated on Fernandes.
The young man glared back when their gazes met, then looked away and snorted.
Meanwhile, Shira looked at Seraph meaningfully and mouthed.
"I won’t forget you."
Seraph was surprised, but shrugged and nodded.
"Thank you for your sacrifice in bringing the princess here. I wholeheartedly appreciate."
Lord Bryan rose and bowed to them, his tone truly sincere.
Elder Song smiled and waved calmly. "It’s nothing. The princess’s safety matters most."
Soon after, the Soul Cross Sect members departed from the city.
Using Elder Song’s spirit beast, a Crowned Crane, they flew through the sky and returned to the sect in half a day.
Seraph was the last one to be dropped off at the Mission Hall, with Elder Song even following him inside.
Their unusual pair drew attention and made everyone wonder why the esteemed elder was following such a disciple.
Unconcerned by their stares, Seraph approached the woman who had given him the mission.
"Hello there, madam. I didn’t die. See?"
The woman looked up in shock, and was even more shocked when she saw Elder Song standing behind him.
Calming her nerves, she asked carefully. "Have you completed the missions? Where is the evidence?"
Before Seraph could reply, Elder Song spoke.
"Excuse me, Elder Layla."
The woman froze, then turned stiffly towards her.
Elder Song had a chilling smile on her face at the moment.
"Why did you give a Core Disciple mission to an outer court disciple?"
"This..."
The woman’s expression darkened instantly. How did she realize that?!
Indeed, a Core Disciple from the Soul Peak was supposed to lead other disciples for the mission. However, to knock Seraph down a peg since her nephew had begged her to, she gave the mission to Seraph.
Since they were escorting a princess they didn’t really need much protection as the royal guards would be present to protect her. Yet, there would surely be enough problems to kill a weakling like Seraph.
’How did he... survive?’
"You haven’t answered me, Elder Layla."
Elder Song’s voice turned colder. From her eyes, a soul-freezing glare struck the woman, making her shiver.
"It was my mistake. I must have made a mistake."
She shook her head and lied.
Leaning back, Elder Song folded her arms and hummed.
"Is that so...? Alright." She smiled, "Lock yourself in the Phoenix dungeon for two months. That’s your punishment."
The atmosphere in the Mission Hall froze, but no one dared to even look or speak.
Elder Layla’s expression darkened and instantly became helpless.
Voluntarily, she stepped out from behind the counter and left the Mission Hall with Elder Song.
Seraph stood there, blinking in surprise.
"Eh... who’s going to give me my rewards...?"
Turning, he locked gazes with the man in the next counter.
The man hurriedly looked away and pretended he was attending to someone.
Seraph clicked his tongue and turned to the other side. There, there was an old man with a bald head and long beard staring at him with shining eyes.
"Hmm. Weird, but okay."
Nodding, he approached the old man.
"What are the rewards you were supposed to receive, young lad?"
He asked professionaly.
Seraph closed his eyes and calmly recited it.
"Some luminous spirit orbs, lightning ores, megan metals and some corrosive spirit fluids. Yeah, that’s all."
The old man chuckled and nodded with a grin, then wrote them down on a paper which he signed on.
"Take this to the storage room down the mountain. They’ll give you according to the list."
Handing the paper to Seraph, the man’s grin disappeared, and he turned around.
"Now, leave."
Seraph ignored the man’s eccentric behavior, then walked out of the Mission Hall.
’How’re you feeling now, Halo? Better?’
["You never cease to amaze me with how you make weird acquaintance, you know."]
Halo replied sarcastically, its tone full of energy.
A light smirk appeared on Seraph’s lips.
’It’s a good thing to have you back.’