Chapter 33: Framing the Princess
This was merely one scene playing out among many.
Other guilds were also receiving reports on the situation.
"Frost Monarch can solo a Level 45 Blood-Eyed Black Turtle. At our current stage, the probability of successfully killing him is extremely low. Even if we succeed, the cost might outweigh the rewards."
At the Pagoda Club, Fenrir Pagoda voiced his assessment.
However, the person sitting in the primary seat this time wasn't Bulwark Pagoda. Instead, it was a woman whose cold elegance was tinged with a hint of seductive charm.
"The rewards for Demon King Geryon will definitely be top-tier. To widen the gap with other guilds at this stage, those rewards are vital to us."
She was none other than Bulwark Pagoda’s older sister, a woman who held immense authority within the Pagoda Guild. In fact, she was the true power behind the Pagoda Club, not Bulwark.
"Scarlett Blackwood, this is a difficult situation. Misty Snow had the Golden Scepter, and the hundred-plus people they sent were all elite team members."
"The result? A total wipeout. Every single one of them dropped a level."
Scarlett’s gaze shifted toward Bulwark.
"Bulwark, I recall you’re on decent terms with Frost Monarch. Go negotiate with him. We can pay a price to have him stand still and let us kill him once."
Bulwark’s expression soured. "Don't be ridiculous. I barely know the guy; we just happened to meet once."
"Besides, he’s Level 20 now. With his Infamy Points, if he dies, he’ll drop straight back to Level 1."
"With his ability, hitting Level 20 again would be easy. Just go talk to him. Five million for one death—I doubt he’d refuse."
Bulwark sighed. "I’m not doing it."
"Bulwark, don't be so rebellious. Twilight of the Gods isn't like other games. Whether he agrees or not, you should at least ask."
"I said no, and I mean no. Do whatever you want, but leave me out of it."
Bulwark’s temper flared. He slammed his hand on the table, turned, and stormed out of the conference room.
Scarlett’s expression turned dark. "The Divine Wolf, send someone to negotiate with Frost Monarch. I’m certain that if the price is right, he won’t refuse just for one death. He has no reason to."
"Understood."
Fenrir Pagoda sighed inwardly. He felt Scarlett was being far too arrogant and self-assured.
The reason was simple: Would Liam actually be short on money?
Impossible.
With Liam’s current combat power, he could make a fortune just by selling a few Skill Tomes or pieces of high-end equipment.
However, Scarlett was clearly in a foul mood. Speaking up now would only invite her wrath.
In a way, Fenrir agreed with Bulwark’s stance. In the current climate, Frost Monarch was someone to be recruited, not provoked.
Unfortunately, Scarlett was used to throwing money at problems. She believed wealth could buy anything, overlooking a crucial fact: even if someone needed money, they still had to be in the right mood to take yours.
And Frost Monarch certainly didn't need the money.
Back at the Blood-Backed Black Turtles, Liam was still happily grinding.
Finally, someone arrived.
But it wasn't Leona, whom Liam had been expecting. It was a Crone.
Liam looked her over.
Corvus the Guide (???)
Level: ???
HP: ???
Attack: ???
Skills: ???
(Note: She has a significant background. Obtaining a quest from her might yield unexpected benefits. However, be extremely careful not to provoke her—her favorite pastime is tasting blood.)
Liam’s eyes narrowed. Aside from her name, he couldn't see a single stat. The wall of question marks made it clear: he was likely no match for her.
"Hello. Is there something I can help you with?" Liam offered a faint smile, using the standard greeting an adventurer would use for an NPC.
Corvus the Guide chuckled, revealing jagged, yellow-black teeth.
"Frost Monarch."
She rasped his name. "You are the most powerful adventurer I have ever seen. You shouldn't be wasting your time in obscurity. You should be a noble—an Earl, a Marquis, perhaps even a Duke."
She was laying the flattery on thick. Any other player would have been overwhelmed by the praise, but Liam knew better.
When things are too good to be true, there's always a catch. Why would such an unfathomable powerhouse seek him out just to pay him compliments?
It wasn't normal.
"Tell me what you want," Liam said, cutting straight to the chase.
Corvus nodded. "Someone killed Valerius Geryon, the son of the Demon King. His Majesty is overjoyed and intends to reward Princess Leona."
"Oh? Does he need me to hunt some wild game for the celebration feast?" Liam deliberately steered the conversation away.
Corvus shook her head. "No. I want you to go to the Royal Palace and claim that you were the one who killed Valerius Geryon."
Liam’s heart skipped a beat. How did she know he was the one who killed Valerius?
Wait. She didn't know he did it; she wanted it to be him!
If Leona took the credit for killing Valerius, she would undoubtedly gain His Majesty's favor. But what if the person who "helped" Leona was a criminal burdened with over 900,000 Infamy Points?
That would change everything.
"You want me to frame Princess Leona?" Liam blurted out.
Corvus nodded. "Indeed. You're sharp."
"I could help you, but what if His Majesty doesn't believe it?" Liam asked. "How could I have killed Valerius Geryon while he was in the Sealed State?"
"Don't worry. I've already thought of that."
As she spoke, a Bronze Mirror appeared in her hand.
"An Ancient Fragmented Relic. It can open a spatial gate, allowing for direct teleportation to other locations."
"Oh?" Liam raised an eyebrow. That was a high-value item.
"Second question. With my Infamy Points, if I’m caught, won't I be rotting in a cell for the rest of my life?"
Corvus shook her head. "Not necessarily. You haven't killed anyone in the Capital City. At most, you’ll be exiled, not arrested."
"Then you might not know that a squad already tried to arrest me earlier."
"Is that so?" Corvus feigned surprise. She knew perfectly well that Commander Varun’s men were sent by the Queen, but she couldn't show it.
"You needn't worry. My benefactor is Queen Fiona. As long as you provide the false testimony, you won't be arrested. In fact, because you 'slew' Valerius Geryon, you’ll be granted a special pardon, allowing you to walk freely within the Capital City."
Liam’s eyes lit up. One of the main reasons he couldn't complete his Class Advancement was his Infamy; he’d be expelled the moment he tried to enter the Capital. If he gained the right to walk there freely, it would be a massive advantage.
"And the benefits? What do I get for taking such a huge risk?" Liam asked.
Corvus hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly. "Once the task is done, I can make Princess Leona your servant."
"Not only can you command her in battle, but she will satisfy your every whim. And I mean every whim."
Liam feigned interest. "That sounds... quite enticing."
"Wait." Liam looked at Corvus. "When exactly can you deliver on that promise?"
"Once Princess Seraphina ascends and becomes the new sovereign."
Liam shook his head without hesitation. "By your timeline, how long would I be waiting?"
Corvus pondered for a moment. "Princess Leona is the ultimate reward. If you act now, I can give you a set of Bronze Grade equipment suitable for an Archer."
"That's it? I can't farm that myself?"
Corvus blinked. He had a point. With Liam’s current capabilities, obtaining a set of Level 20 Bronze gear wasn't exactly a 'Hard' task.
"Then what do you want? Ability Points?"
Liam grinned. "I want a blink skill, special equipment, and special skills."
"A blink skill..." Corvus thought for a bit. "Fine. If you help, I will give you the skill Void Blink. It has no casting delay—it's instantaneous. At One-Star Rank, the maximum travel distance is five meters."
Liam raised an eyebrow. That sounded like an excellent skill.
"Plus two hundred AP," Liam added.
Corvus frowned. "This is a quest that only benefits you. Void Blink is already incredibly rare."
"Then forget it. I’ll go back to grinding." Liam didn't even wait for a rebuttal and flatly refused.
"Wait." Corvus hesitated. "One hundred AP and Void Blink."
"Two hundred."
"One hundred and twenty."
"Two hundred."
"One hundred and fifty."
"No deal," Liam said.
Corvus’s face darkened. "Fine. Then there's nothing to discuss. I’ll just send you back to the Altar of Rebirth for a 'bath'."
As she spoke, a terrifying, suffocating pressure erupted from her.
Liam’s first instinct was to unequip his gear, then he flashed a wide grin at her.
"Let's be reasonable. No need to get all violent."
"So you agree?" Corvus asked.
Liam shook his head. "No. I mean three hundred AP. Not a single point less."
"You’re seeking death!" Corvus’s eyes turned into daggers, staring at Liam like a demon about to devour its prey.
Liam showed no fear, meeting her gaze coldly.
"You can kill me. But I guarantee that if I die here, the news of the Queen’s secret dealings with the Nether-kin will echo across the skies of the entire Astral Kingdom."
Corvus’s expression changed instantly. Her aura didn't dissipate; instead, it grew even more frigid.
"Hmph. Who would believe the words of a common criminal?"
Liam shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? I’m not short on Gold Sovereigns anyway. I can pay for the world-wide announcement three times a day."
"Aren't you afraid of life imprisonment?!" Corvus hissed.
"Do you dare?" Liam pushed Corvus aside with a look of disdain. "I haven't killed anyone in the Capital. For mere slander, the most they can do is lock me up for a few days."
"But if the King actually listens... I wonder what will happen to your Queen."
"Furthermore, if I’m not mistaken, the person who sent Commander Varun to kill me was her, wasn't it?"
Liam then changed his tone.
"If it weren't for that business with the Commander, I might have settled for a hundred AP. But because of it, I want three hundred. Not a single one less!"
This was Liam’s strategy: the carrot and the stick. He wasn't trying to scare Corvus away; he was trying to squeeze every bit of profit out of her.
"What do you say, Corvus?"
Corvus took a deep breath and finally gave a heavy nod. "Fine. We do it your way."
System: Corvus the Guide has offered you a Quest: Framed Princess.
Quest Objective: Tell the King that you were the one who helped Leona kill Valerius Geryon.
Failure Penalty: None.
Quest Reward: Skill: [Void Blink], 300 Ability Points.
"Accept."
Liam took the quest and asked, "When do we go?"
"Tonight. I will come to notify you then."
"Fine."
Liam let out a small sigh of relief as Corvus departed. Negotiating with a powerhouse like that was a gamble. But the result was worth it. By leveraging the Queen’s dirty laundry with the Nether-kin, he had forced Corvus to cave.
Shortly after Corvus left, another figure approached slowly.
"Princess Leona. You finally showed up."
"I’ve been here for a while. It seems you’ve reached some sort of agreement with Corvus," Leona said, her tone heavy with concern.
Liam didn't bother hiding it. "Where’s my reward for helping you kill Valerius Geryon?"
"First, tell me what Corvus wanted with you."
"Not giving it up? Fine. Then I’ll go tell the King right now that you conspired with a notorious criminal to kill Valerius."
Leona’s face darkened. "I have never met anyone as shameless as you!"
Liam just grinned. "Hand it over."
Leona pulled out a scroll, a Skill Tome, and a Talisman.
"That’s it?"
"These were hand-picked. They are perfect for you," Leona snapped.
Everlasting Scroll (Special)
Type: Consumable (One-time use)
Effect: Enchant a piece of equipment to become Soulbound. The item can no longer be destroyed, stolen, or dropped.
Liam’s eyes lit up. This Everlasting Scroll was practically a Tier-0 support artifact. At this stage of the game, players often lost precious gear upon death. This scroll solved that.
Not only that, it made the gear indestructible. Liam’s mind immediately went to the Bloodstained Necklace.
The necklace was just too perfect for him. Based on his ten years of experience from his past life, finding a better one was nearly impossible. Percent-based HP regeneration was broken in any stage of the game.
However, Liam didn't rush to use it. He checked the second item.
Glacial Wings
Rank: 1-Star
Effect: Condense a pair of frost wings, allowing for short-duration flight (5 minutes).
Cost: 300 MP
Cooldown: 60 minutes
Mastery: 0/100
Liam raised an eyebrow. A flight skill—that was monstrous. Below Level 50, flying mobs were rare, and even in the mid-to-late game, they remained the exception. Having a flight skill meant he could quickly disengage from a losing battle. It was an excellent skill.
Finally, he looked at the Talisman...