NOVPUBChapter 66: Chapter 65 Old Friends
Chapter 66 -65 Old Friends
…
“Ge Wei, what’s wrong?” Shandela looked at her.
“Hmm… I just sensed a mysteriously strong presence,” Ge Wei scanned her surroundings, “but now it’s gone.”
“Strong? How strong? Stronger than you and me?”
Ge Wei gave Shandela a serious look, “You are a master-level warrior, naturally strong. But the kind I’m talking about… it can’t be measured in ranks.”
“Then how should it be evaluated?” Shandela said dismissively. The status of a master-level warrior was something to take pride in no matter who possessed it—it was not a self-proclaimed title. To achieve this status, one had to not only be recognized unanimously by predecessors but also pass through a series of severe trials to be granted the honor. She always believed that the less there were rules for comparison, the less credible the origins were.
Ge Wei shook her head, avoiding the question, “… The odds are I perceived it wrong; such a person shouldn’t be appearing on the streets of Magnificent Castle.”
Perhaps all Priests shared this common issue… that being they tended to prattle. Shandela sighed quietly to herself, then cautioned again, “After we enter, you’ll wait for me in the lobby, and don’t cause any trouble, please. The person I’m meeting this time is quite important, and the meeting cannot be disturbed.”
“I understand, Commander,” Ge Wei yawned, “I’m just worried about the Heretical Cult members posing a threat to you.”
There wasn’t the slightest hint of worry in her voice, which Shandela could detect. Ge Wei probably hoped that the Heretical Cult members would surround the place, so they wouldn’t have to bother looking for enemies anymore.
Shandela turned a deaf ear to her and entered the hotel.
Meanwhile, Chaoyang watched the two disappear at the entrance before slowly emerging from the shadows.
“There’s nothing weird about my face, right?”
“No, you look quite normal,” Ailuodi took a few extra looks before she confirmed, “How long do you plan to keep holding onto me?”
“Uh… That was an emergency,” Chaoyang quickly let go of her hand, “You think I wanted to hold onto you?”
“So, someone has their eye on you?” The girl rotated her wrist, perhaps because he had gripped it too tightly, leaving two red marks near her bowl-sized wrists.
“Shouldn’t be the case.”
At this moment, although Chaoyang was moving around in his true form, he was still disguising his appearance with wishing power. Now, whether it was his height or his face, it was quite different from that of “Detective Sir.”
Why then did the other party still sense something under these circumstances? He was somewhat perplexed.
And what about that individual with the lip piercings and ears full of metal buckles? What was their story? The giant cross she carried on her back made Chaoyang feel a hint of threat.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“Aren’t you going to meet that woman? She seemed to fancy you quite a bit,” Ailuodi teased.
Just because someone fancied him, should they meet? What kind of logic was that… “I’m afraid if I go, I might not be able to return.”
“Not able to return, as in stay the night?”
This person…
Chaoyang glared at Ailuodi, “Mind your own business, and focus on your food.”
…
Shandela ascended to the third floor and walked into the guest room that could only be entered with an invitation. The moment the Attendant pushed open the door, a familiar woman came forward to greet her with a warm embrace.
“Long time no see, Shandela…” Elise said affectionately, “Or should I say, should I address you as Commander now?”
“You jest, young miss,” Shandela also hugged her tightly, “You’ve grown taller since I last saw you.”
Seeing Elise as she is now, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration, as every encounter seemed to leave her with a different impression of the young lady.
The first time, she thought Elise was just a pampered little girl.
The second time, she seemed to see herself in Elise—a warrior who never slackened.
And this time, Elise had become the ideal noble lady in everyone’s mind, dignified, intelligent, and gracefully beautiful.
“Your father… how has he been lately?”
At the mention of her father, Elise’s smile faded slightly, “Still the same, always talking about honor and duty. Little does he know that times have changed. All families are desperately grabbing whatever they can get their hands on, but he is still so unhurried, it’s frustrating to watch.”
“Uh… is the General like that?” Shandela was somewhat surprised. Her impression of General Fales Ben was of a man with great ambition, else he wouldn’t have broken through his own limits to advance to a Grandmaster Level warrior at the age of fifty. He was never lenient either during the times when the Heretical Cult was most rampant, leading his troops to suppress rebellions and eliminate the remnants, personally beheading hundreds every day, even earning the nickname Butcher of Blikan.
However, Elise Ben was his daughter, so she should know the General better than Shandela, his student.
She had been away from the Old Continent for too long and could only get a glimpse of the situation there through overseas newspapers.
“Yes, all he ever thinks about is going to the military academy, saying he wants to leave some good seedlings for the Kingdom, but it’s not guaranteed that these seedlings will be loyal to him. Other families are also inserting their people into the military academy!”
At this point, Elise suddenly looked at her, “No matter what happens in the future, you will stand by the General’s side, by our family’s side, right?”
That look in her eyes sent a shiver through Shandela.
What on earth had happened on the Old Continent?
To see a hint of pleading in the eyes of that always confident noble lady from her memories?
Shandela took her hand, “There’s no need for that, the General shaped me into who I am today. No matter where I am, I will support him. And you too… my lady.”
“Thank you, I knew you wouldn’t let me down,” Elise beamed with a smile.
Was that flicker of weakness in the other’s eyes just her imagination? Shandela couldn’t help but ask, “Are you running into some kind of trouble?”
She denied, “Not really. My father is one of the Three Commanders; problems he can’t solve are the same for everyone else.”
“Then why did you suddenly come to Magnificent Castle? It wasn’t just to see me, was it?”
“Can’t it be just to see you?” Elise blinked innocently, “Unfortunately I can’t stay long, I have to board a ship to New Aocheng tomorrow.”
New Aocheng… That’s another port city on the New Continent. Shandela reflected thoughtfully, the defense commanders of these cities mostly came from the military academy.
“It’s a pity… I was actually hoping to introduce someone else to you today,” Elise suddenly sighed, walking to the window and looking down at the city nightscapes, “But I guess he won’t be coming now.”
“Another person?” Shandela followed, inevitably curious, “Who could possibly refuse your invitation? Who exactly is he?”
“I don’t know, it was a chance encounter on the road,” Elise chuckled, “He’s different from most men I’ve encountered; there’s something fresh about him.”
“Ha…” Fresh, what kind of description is that? Shandela was stuck, You’re not choosing vegetables at the market. Still, though she thought it, she couldn’t actually voice her criticism.
“He has considerable research in mechanics and Oddities.”
“I see.” That made much more sense. The Old Continent had organizations specifically studying Oddities, and those who emerged from there were all conferred the title of Scholar, “So he’s a Scholar?”
“No, from the way he spoke, he didn’t even seem to know what a Scholar means.”
“Uh… my lady, he might be a swindler, mightn’t he?” Shandela had to speak up. Who doesn’t recognize a Scholar! It’s the most popular profession and the best chance for a poor child to rise above their station. After all, starting with Third Class Oddities, their use or access already depends on one’s talent.
“Perhaps, but if he is a swindler, he’s certainly not an ordinary one,” Elise said with a hint of regret, “That’s why I wanted to invite him over for you to assess. If he’s not, he would be a rare talent for Magnificent Castle; if he is… you could conveniently send him to prison right away.”
