Chapter 236 - 225: One Warning, One Trouble, One Note
Chapter 236: Chapter 225: One Warning, One Trouble, One Note
However, the piercing shriek caused no casualties. It was as if it were just a cruel prank, intended only to throw the calm and orderly procession into chaos.
But the Guard Knights dared not take any chances.
Their previously loose protective formation instantly contracted inward.
The clang of scraping metal, sharp commands, and heavy footsteps blended together. Shields were raised in an instant, forming mobile barriers that surrounded the area around Cecilia’s carriage in layer after layer of protection.
The cold gleam of drawn swords shimmered with a deadly chill, reflecting the light of torches and the distant lamps of the Lord’s Mansion.
"Northeast! The tower!"
A captain of the guard roared, his arm pointing toward a blurry, shadowy silhouette at the edge of town.
However, just as the Knights, on high alert, prepared to rush the assassin’s hiding spot—
"Urk!" A stifled groan came from the shadows of a nearby street corner.
It was immediately followed by the thud of something heavy hitting the ground and the clang of armor.
Everyone’s startled and suspicious gazes immediately focused on the spot. A Knight responsible for the outer perimeter lay on the ground. A short, completely black, lusterless bolt was lodged in his breastplate, its fletching still trembling slightly.
He was curled up in pain but had clearly not been hit in a vital spot. The assassin’s intent seemed to be to create chaos rather than to kill him on the spot.
At almost the same instant, a blurry, ghost-like figure flickered at the top of the abandoned watchtower to the northeast. Like a bat melting into the night, it vanished after a few leaps into the depths of Roco Town’s jagged silhouette of rooftops and chimneys.
"Don’t give chase! Protect Her Highness!"
The experienced captain of the guard immediately stopped his subordinates, who had instinctively started to give chase.
The enemy had missed their shot and fled a great distance, clearly well-versed in the art of assassination. Rashly splitting their forces to pursue would risk falling for a diversionary tactic, and more importantly, it could expose the Princess to unknown follow-up dangers.
A brief, suffocating silence fell over the scene.
Only the wounded man’s heavy gasps, the crackle of burning torches, and the deep, wary breaths of the Knights mingled in the air.
The assassin was truly gone, but this brought no sense of relief.
On the contrary, an even heavier gloom settled over everyone’s hearts.
The attacker had precisely struck an outer guard post, created chaos, displayed astonishing skill and decisiveness, and then escaped completely unscathed.
This felt more like a warning, a declaration—as if to say: ’See, we can get to you at any time. This was a warning. Next time... it might not be.’
...
"The Princess was attacked, and they’re searching for the assassin now, so no one can leave the city?"
After returning to Roco Town, Jon had just finished sorting the materials he had gathered from the Demon Forest Ruins and was preparing to go back to Trulane County City before heading on to Heta County.
But just as he was about to leave the town, he received this notice.
In response to his inquiry, the Scribe who had received him before was bowing repeatedly.
"My apologies, Mr. Advisor, but this is a joint order from the Lord and Her Highness the Princess."
’It’s not my call, so giving me a hard time won’t help.’
Jon had no intention of making things difficult for the dutiful Scribe. He merely glanced at the two carriages behind him, loaded with his recent haul.
Even without using the main gate, he and Dolores had plenty of ways to get out of the city.
But if they did that, this large batch of valuable materials would be stuck in such a troublesome place. By the time he sent someone back to retrieve them, there was no telling if they would still be there—which was obviously unacceptable.
’Looks like some things just can’t be avoided...’
With that thought, Jon sighed softly and turned to give orders.
"Moon, Sati, you two watch the carriages. Dolores, you’re with me."
Then he lowered his voice.
"Bring the bird..."
"Oh~"
The purple-haired girl obediently replied, but her big, blinking eyes clearly revealed a hint of anticipation for what was about to happen.
She deftly pulled a bag from the carriage and skipped along after Jon.
Meanwhile, the Warrior siblings driving the carriages exchanged a look, both seeing a bit of helplessness in each other’s eyes.
’Jon was entrusting them with two whole carriages of supplies just like that? Wasn’t he afraid they’d just take the goods and run?’
...
The assembly hall of the Lord’s Mansion was brightly lit. The flames in the fireplace dispelled the evening’s chill, but not the tension that filled the air.
The Lord of Roco Town, Viscount Garrett Rokko, was puffing out his belly—which had grown plump with age—trying to stuff himself into a set of polished Knight’s Plate Armor that was clearly a size too small.
The agile figure of the once-excellent Knight had long been replaced by a bloated one. The tight plates of the armor dug into his flesh, creating awkward folds, and fine beads of sweat trickled down his forehead from under his helmet.
But that didn’t stop him from putting on a serious face and barking orders at his subordinates in a booming voice.
"Send two more teams to the east district! Search every warehouse and every tower for me!"
"Once you’ve searched the town, extend the blockade line another mile! If you see anyone suspicious, apprehend them first and ask questions later!"
His orders were urgent and slightly chaotic. He was clearly rattled by the attack on the Princess on his own turf and was desperate to display his loyalty.
And yet, the center of this storm—Cecilia Benest herself—sat on the main seat, her posture flawless.
Her slender fingers rested lightly on the edge of the velvet-covered armchair. Her clear blue eyes calmly swept over the bustling scene in the hall, her face holding a perfectly measured, reassuring gentleness, as if the heart-pounding assassination attempt had been nothing more than a trivial interruption.
This composure and elegance, far beyond her years, made the few nobles from the Roco Town area who were observing quietly nod in admiration. ’As expected of the Princess, truly extraordinary.’
Soon, the other nobles of various ranks who were staying in Roco Town because of the procession heard the news and rushed over.
Some were worried, others concerned, but most simply wanted to show their faces before the esteemed Princess.
The small assembly hall suddenly felt somewhat crowded, and the air was thick with a mixture of expensive perfumes and powders.
"Your Highness must have been terrified! This is a family heirloom, a ’Moon Shadow Stone,’ said to dispel malice..."
"A humble gift, just a little Calming Dew. I pray Your Highness takes care of her health..."
"Your Highness, this ’Iris Talisman’ contains the power of a Guardian..."
Gifts were presented one after another, most of them being healing potions, protective items, or jewelry with calming properties.
Cecilia maintained an impeccable affability, nodding slightly to each visitor while her steward, Land, accepted the gifts and offered polite thanks on her behalf.
Land continuously whispered the names of the gift-givers and their items to his mistress, while discreetly and quickly inspecting the gifts and their packaging for any hidden tricks.
Just then, an attendant brought forward another wooden box, this one carved with intricate vine patterns.
Land took it as he had the others, but as soon as it was in his hands, he could feel the box was made of exceptional material.
He cautiously opened the lid, and a fresh, pure, and vibrant natural aura immediately diffused through the room, instantly overpowering the scent of powder and perfume.
Inside the box, a fist-sized, emerald-green Crystal Core, which seemed to contain a flowing liquid, lay quietly on a velvet lining. It shone with a gentle light, suffused with a powerful Life Force.
The old steward’s gaze froze, not because of the gift’s value, but because he had keenly spotted a small white slip of paper tucked beneath the Crystal Core.
He nonchalantly brushed his hand over the box and unfolded the paper.
On it was written—’I can find the assassin.’
"—!"
After once again confirming that the box held no hidden devices, he immediately pushed the slip of paper, along with the open gift box, gently across the table to Cecilia’s side.
Cecilia’s gaze was initially on an old baron who had come to offer his greetings, a gentle smile on her face.
When Land was done, her peripheral vision caught the slip of paper. The smile on her face did not change in the slightest—even the curve of her lips remained exactly the same—as if she had merely glanced over an ordinary object.
However, deep within her clear, lake-like blue eyes, a tiny glint of light flashed and was gone.
She elegantly lifted the bone china teacup beside her to her lips, as if simply taking a sip of hot tea to ward off the chill.
"Land, please invite the advisor from the Morton family to come and have a word with me."