The city was probably only two or three hundred years old. Because of its proximity to the Forest of the Beast, no one dared to build a city here before the Court of God descended.
However, after discovering the underground of this area was rich with ores, the Empire dispatched countless knights to level the area.
That was how the Buried Gold City was established.
A commercial city with high city walls. The walls werenât built with boring grey bricks and tiles. Instead, it was built with a strange white stone.
A strange azure glow emanated from the city walls from time to time. As if the walls were alive.
A small bat crouched nearby. Gazing at the gears of the gate turning as it opened. The young girl dressed in black clothing under the protections of a large number of white knights.
âThe human technology in this world is really⊠monstrous.â
Lucius gazed at the city gate. It opened without human power required. To build such a thing, the human-technology in this world was not far below humans on Earth. As for why Lucius said monstrous, itâs probably the architecture style.
Itâs impossible to leap over the tall city wall with his bat form.
When the gate opened, Lucius quickly spread his wings, flew inside, and stood on top of a buildingâlooking down on the city scenery.
The technology advancement was almost as advanced as the current Earth. But the humans in this world were still living in the Western Europe Middle Ages style. Both the clothes and the building architectural style reflected it.
But this world had gunsâŠ
Lucius scanned the knight guards on patrol duty below. They carried weapons other than swords.
It would be best to call them cannons, but these cannonsâ power was many times more powerful than those on Earth.
On top of the silvery metal shell, there was a faint azure glow gleaming on the shell.
It was a strange energy that Lucius didnât know. This was how the humans fueled their engines, not with oil.
And some gifted humans in this world had the power to directly manipulate the energy.
But still⊠they were too recklessâŠ
Lucius looked down at the cityâs inhabitants, leisurely chatting below. Obviously, they lived at the edge of the Beast Forest.
But they dared to chat when they should be closely observing the gate. Especially now that itâs open.
Maybe because the Beasts in the forest were peaceful and they didnât disturb humans. Too peaceful that the humans forgot about the fierceness of the beasts. They thought those Beasts were domestic animals they could control.
Lucius stopped thinking about it and continued to observe. Naiya was taken by Kensel to the heart of the city, where the City Major used to live.
Such a shame now that the City Major was dead. Probably right now, his body was being torn apart and eaten by those Mineral Spirits.
No one noticed Lucius turning as a bat. He flew all the way to the City Mayorâs residence.
He was circling around before he finally found a secluded window and stopped. The batâs scarlet eyes silently watch the human activities below.
There was a council table in the City Majorâs Hall. It looked like it was used earlier this morning.
âThis is the brief situation, Your Highness. Now, your father is really just trying to make up for all the years of guilt he did to you⊠thereâs really no ill will.â
Kensel told her everything about the recent changes in the Empire and her identity. He thought the girl would be very surprised to hear that she was the Emperorâs daughter.
But the girl wore the same cold expression she always had. She just listened to Kenselâs words in silence.
But he wasnât worried that she wouldnât agree to return to the Capital with him.
To ascend the throne of the Empire.
Became an Empress!
Even in this organized world, manâs most primitive rule still exists.
Thereâs a lot of Archdukes and nobles who secretly do bad things. But under the Court of Godsâ watch, they had no guts to start a rebellion.
Although the long peace made him anxious, Kensel still wanted peace to last forever.
Life is always a priority.
After Kensel stepped into the hall with Naiya, he found a man who seemed to have been waiting here for a while.
âDuke Lissner, why are you here?â
After seeing the manâs figure, Kenselâs word became cold. This man was one of the aristocrats that were craving power.
They wanted to be the Emperor. The head of the Crowell Family, the largest business holder in Capital City. Lissner, Duke of Crowell!
âIâve heard the Buried Gold Cityâs specialty metallurgical wine was the best one among the red wines in the west.â The brown-haired man turned around, holding a goblet in his handâthe pale golden liquid sloshing slightly inside the goblet.
âOnly by coming to this city, you can taste the most authentic taste of the wine. I had nothing else to do, so Iâve come to test it out.â
Lissnerâs temperament was his identity. Years of socializing among the noble circles, and as the Familyâs head had nurtured him to maintain a graceful demeanor in every situation.
âButâŠâ Lissner raised his goblet.
Behind his goblet, Naiya was standing there, expressionless, âSuch a shame that the so-called âauthentic tasteâ was far from the best wine sold at the Capital. I wonder why?â
âEnough, Lissner!â Of course, Kensel understood the manâs intention. He was openly mocking Naiyaâs identity.
âSurely, the taste of the wine had nothing to do with authenticity.â Lissner shook his goblet and stared at Naiya.
âItâs all about the brewing location. As the most prosperous city in the world, the wine brewed in the Capital is far more superior than a wine brewed in this small city that makes its living by emptying mines.â
âAre you saying that Iâm not qualified to inherit the throne?â Naiya spoke; her words didnât carry much emotion.
Before humans, she couldnât act natural as she was in front of Lucius because she couldnât judge the authenticity of those humansâ words.
Only Lucius alone could make her feel relaxed because her life was his. Even if he tried to deceive him, in the end, she would be dead just like he said.
âSome things are better left untouched without power, beautiful lady.â Lissner put down his wine goblet and smiled at Naiya.
âOr youâll wake up and find you lost everything before you can even play the game.â
âLissner! Youâre threatening Her Highness the Empress! Listen, sheâs the one the Emperor is looking for! Donât you dare question his judgment?â
Kensel knew Lissner was a sly man. Naiyaâs young appearance worried him. If she felt intimidated by Lissnerâs words, he canât forgive himself!
âIâm not threatening her. Nor did I question the royal blood flowing within her veins.â Lissner lightly replied.
âIâm just telling an innocent young lady how dangerous the world could be. How dangerous the situation youâre going to put her through. Do you think itâs fair for her?â
Lissner didnât wait for Kenselâs reply and continued to speak to Naiya.
âThey only told you about the beauty of royalty. But the world is cruel. The life of royalty isnât for everyone.â
âShe will be the Empress. The Emperor himself ordered, so she will inherit the throne.â Kensel glared at Lissner.
âHis Royal Highness is old. So old that even his memory is now foggy. He would have this young lady, whose name the country doesnât even know, became the Empress. It would be a disaster. I would prefer to support the Emperorâs children from his wife and concubines over someone of unknown origin.â
âThe women youâve bought with your money?â Kensel mocked Lissner too.
But he just ignored the knight and looked at Naiya, who stood still, quietly. âIf you want money, our Crowell Family will provide you inexhaustible money for the rest of your life. If you donât mind, you can join our Family. The treatment you will receive is no much worse than becoming the Empress. And you donât have to be burdened by worldly matters.â
Who would accept a person of unknown origin who suddenly becomes their Empress? Of course, everyone would think the same way.
In Lissnerâs opinion, the young lady was no different than the noble ladies he met at the ball.
With enough money to live a comfortable life, having servants, and a handsome prince charming on a white horse, it was definitely every womanâs dream life.
But, he chose the wrong person.
The young lady in front of him was not the kind of lady who spent their days sitting in a room with hand embroidery. But an avenger who had crawled out of hell with a bloodsoaked blade. Naiya had lost everything she had and was no longer entitled to anything. From that night, she belonged only to Lucius.
Now, Lucius wanted her to become the Empress, so she must beâŠ
As a pawn, a puppet that unconditionally obeys its mastersâ order.
âI refuse. Iâm sorry, Lord Lissner. Thereâs no way I can disobey the order of a father I havenât even met.â
There was a mocking tone in her voice.
After hearing Naiyaâs declining Lissnerâs invitation, Kensel laughed out loud. Although the young lady didnât seem to be as powerful in battle as her royal bloodline, her boldness was enough to make the Dodran family proud.
âReally? Itâs a shame. The young moth looked at the dazzling fire and tried desperately to embrace it, with tragic results.â
Lissner drank the wine in one gulp⊠and placed the empty goblet on the table.
It was a signal that would bring death.
But nothing happened.
Death didnât comeâŠ
Not even a killing intent.
What happened? Lissner looked up with a slightly surprised expression at the most secluded window in the hall.
Isnât the assassin there?
So⊠where did he go?
âŠâŠâŠ..
âLetâs seeâŠâ
Right now, Lucius was doing a very unscrupulous deed. That was, looting a corpse.
His hand was soaked in blood. A corpse lay in front of him in a tattered trench coat with a metal mask on its face.
He was the assassin that observed the situation from a secluded window. With Luciusâ bat appearance, the assassin didnât care much about a small critter.
After observing the things happening in the hall from behind his mechanical mask, he quietly drew out a small but sharp blade with his hand. There were hundreds of engravings on the hilt.
At this moment, Lucius understood. He was going to kill the Emperorâs heir after the negotiation failed.
It was killing her in front of a Knight Commander!
Certainly, his combat power was countable.
As Lissner drank his wine, the assassin used the steel embedded in his fingers to make an additional nick on the hilt. The meaning of it was clear.
This knife was going to claim another life.
And so it did.
But the life it claimed was its masterâs life.
Naiya was the most important pawn in Luciusâ plan. How could he let someone kill her?
Human and vampiresâ assassination?
His race was gifted for assassination!
Lucius sneaked behind the assassin, covered his mouth, and slit his throat with his own knife. Before slitting his throat, Lucius slowed down the blood flow in his body.
Making it difficult for him to breathe or to fight back. Otherwise, Lucius wonât win against a top assassin.
But he was already dead.
Lucius flipped through the corpseâs belongings. All of them were alchemical items fitted for assassination, such as a few bottles of high concentrated poisons. There were no antidotes, which of course, the assassin never needed it.
But for Lucius, it was all junks. Thereâs not even a money pouch!
A money pouch rattled as the carrier moved around. As an assassin who requires absolute silence, it was impossible to carry them.
Lucius stopped searching the corpse and looked at the metal mask covered face. He reached out his hand to remove it. But after a few tries, it wouldnât pull off at all!
Itâs clearly not linked anywhereâŠis that what it is?
Lucius laughed lightly as he managed to pull it off.
Blood dripped from itâŠ
The mask was indeed removed, along with the skin covering this manâs face. Now, whatâs left on his âfaceâ was a clump of bloody flesh.
The metal mask was this manâs face. Tearing it off would cause his death.
âDedicating your life to the assassination? You might be this worldâs best assassin. But itâs such a shame.â
Lucius threw the mask over his body. The blood in his hand formed a blade with his mind control, piercing through the manâs brain.
Compensation is more important than anything else.
After confirming that this strange being was truly dead, Lucius continued to watch the scenery below. It was almost time.
To change the worldâs opinion of Naiya.
From a girl of unknown origin who got lucky being chosen as the Emperorâs heir to someone who actually qualified to inherit the throne!