Chapter 365 - The First Meeting
Chapter 365: The First Meeting
“Watson, how many points do you think you can get for the two trials that your master arranged for you in the floating city?”
They were in a carriage heading toward the royal city; Antonio leaned back in his chair and asked that question lazily.
“I think I can get 60 points,” Watson said hesitantly.
“Why do you think so?” Antonio asked.
It had been a few days since they left the floating city, and the carriage had already arrived near the royal city. Not far ahead, they could already see the landmark buildings of the royal city, the nine massive walls that were gradually rising.
“Because I did not stop the sea folks and the Ptolemy family before they started the war. I should have had a better way. For example, I should have displayed my ability before the sea folks wanted to resist. For instance, I could have helped them rebuild the underwater city or brought them to Mount Creation. That way, they would not have gone to the floating city! I did not do my best in the Ptolemy family’s trials either. If I could comprehend the principles that you wanted to impart to me faster, I would not have been ambushed by the Severed Fingers Gang, causing me to have no choice but to destroy them in front of everyone.”
Watson counted with his fingers, adding things he did not do well in the floating city.
Antonio waved his hand. “Alright, Watson, it’s enough that you know that you still have some shortcomings. If you have any shortcomings, you have to correct them. Next time, just strive to do better.”
“Yes, Master. I promise to do better next time.”
Antonio heard Watson’s respectful promise and mocked him inwardly. Every time Watson agreed to that kind of thing, he would agree very quickly. He did not think that Watson would only get 60 points. In fact, when he gave Watson the first trial, he did not expect that Watson would understand the subtle manipulation of power in only a day. He even wanted to discuss with the Ptolemy family about letting Watson stay in the secret chamber for a few more days.
He did not expect Watson to easily complete the first trial and stop the battle between Ptolemy and the sea tribes. Antonio could not even stop the fight between the two races by himself. Plus, Watson had even advanced to the diamond tier.
After advancing to the diamond tier, Watson did not exude the aura of an elite. However, Antonio knew that Watson’s strength far surpassed his. Perhaps the Sword Saint was the only one who could take on Watson then.
At the same time, he smelled the aura of faith on Watson. Antonio, who had entered the diamond tier, naturally knew what that aura was. On the way, Antonio asked Watson about the process of advancing to the diamond tier. Watson said that he had used the faith of the sea tribe and the people of Mount Creation to break through forcefully. That made Antonio very envious.
If one wanted to become a star, one had to have people who believed in themselves. Many people in the kingdom worshipped the astrologer, but there was still a specific difference between worship and faith. Furthermore, those people were not as high-quality as the millions of believers Watson had. They were all platinum-tier angels.
Watson’s strength had surpassed him. That made Antonio, as his master, felt somewhat frustrated. He considered whether he should discuss it with Watson and ask his disciple to give him a portion of the believers. In the end, before he could speak, the carriage vibrated.
“This is a checkpoint; please get off the carriage. Let us check your permits.”
There was a 100-meter-tall wall blocking the front of the carriage; two rows of soldiers in golden armor stood in front of it. Their bodies emitted a gold-tier aura as they extended their hands toward the carriage.
Ordinary gold-tier elites were overlords in some cities. They were either the guards of some great nobles who guarded their homes or their courtyards. However, those gold-tier warriors could only defend the city gates.
“It has been a few years since I left the capital, including the time I spent on Mount Creation. It feels like a lifetime ago.” Antonio walked down with a wooden cane. He sighed at the city in front of him.
“You are—”
The leading guard was a little surprised and uncertain when he saw Antonio. He took out a picture scroll from his pocket and compared it repeatedly.
Antonio did not say anything. He raised the staff in his hand. The starlight in the sky drooped down, forming 24 dazzling golden cards above his head. The card with the outline of a god was drawn. It emitted a divine aura.
“The astrologer tarot card! It’s the Lord Astrologer!”
In other parts of the kingdom, it might not be very effective for Antonio to use that move, but that was the capital. The residents there recognized Antonio’s signature ability. All the guards knelt. The gate in the center of the outermost wall surrounding the capital suddenly opened.
The gates on the seventh, eighth, and ninth floors opened—layers after layers of gates opened, and melodious bells rang out from within the capital. White pigeons flew quickly across the sky, and a man in golden armor with an army with golden dragon patterns embroidered on their shoulders marched out. A burly man with a buzz cut led them.
“I am General Hoen from the Holy Dragon Kingdom, and I am here to pay my respects to Master Antonio! His Majesty has arranged a banquet in the palace to welcome you, Master Antonio. Please head there as soon as possible.”
After the man named Hoen spoke respectfully to Antonio, his gaze shifted toward Watson. “This must be the rumored new disciple that Master Antonio has taken in at the border. It looks like he can conceal his power without leaking a single bit at his young age. It is as one would expect from your disciple. Even I can’t see through him. His strength doesn’t seem to be inferior to mine. He is indeed a young genius.”
“General Hoen.”
Watson bowed humbly to the man. As for Hoen’s compliment, he just smiled and did not respond.
“Watson, I know you’re tired after the long journey, and you don’t like that kind of banquet. Why don’t I go to the banquet by myself? You can take Nightingale and Denise to participate in the Royal Academy’s test.”
Antonio gave Watson a look; he knew that Watson and His Majesty had a conflict. At that moment, without waiting for Watson to act, Hoen suddenly got down from his horse and came to Watson.
Hoen was three meters tall. At that moment, he was like a giant looking down on a dwarf; Watson must have felt pressured.
“I’m sorry, Master Antonio. His Majesty said that he wants your disciple to attend the banquet with you because he wants to see him. He said that he wanted to confirm the future pillar of the kingdom personally.”
“No matter what His Majesty says, Watson, if you don’t want to go, then I won’t take you.”
Antonio chuckled, not taking Hoen’s words to heart at all.
His attitude toward Watson surprised Hoen a little. His Majesty said that Antonio would not disrespect him to such an extent. Furthermore, as Watson’s teacher, why did he ask Watson for his opinion? He did not understand.
“His Majesty has requested that. It’s not appropriate for me to refuse his request. Most importantly, I can’t make things difficult for you, Master.”
Watson thought for a moment and revealed an innocent expression unique to a youth of his age.
After agreeing to Hoen’s invitation, Watson and Antonio returned to the carriage. Hoen’s army guarded the carriage. After passing through nine walls, they arrived at the spacious streets of the capital. There was news about Antonio’s return to the capital, and the news had spread throughout the royal city. At that moment, both sides of the streets were filled with noblewomen or gentlemen dressed in luxurious clothes. They were eagerly waiting to see Antonio’s carriage.
“That is Master Antonio’s carriage. Is he in there?” A woman with a parasol stared at the carriage escorted by the army with interest.
“General Hoen is escorting them, so it must be Master Antonio’s carriage! I can’t believe it; Master Antonio hasn’t left the Temple of the Stars for so many years. But this time, he took in a disciple. I wonder what that person looks like. Is he handsome?” A woman with a rose in her hand asked.
“Lily Campbell, you’re a disgrace to the Campbell family. You only know to ask if he’s handsome. I heard that Master Antonio’s disciple is taking the Royal Academy’s test. If you can pass the test, won’t you be able to see him then? Or is it too difficult for you? You don’t have the confidence to pass the test?”
The woman holding the parasol teased, making the girl holding the rose unhappy. “Of course, it’s easy for me to pass the test. Charlotte, you’d better worry about yourself.”
“I went to the Royal Academy to take the test yesterday and passed it. Now, I’m very curious about Master Antonio’s disciple. I wonder what kind of results he will get if he passes the test? The Saint Laurent family requested Master Antonio to be my master back then, but he rejected it. Now, he has accepted a youth as his disciple. It seems that that youth has a stronger talent than me.”
While sitting in the carriage, Watson quietly lifted the curtain and looked outside. He felt emotional when he saw the bustling scene on the street.
Others had recognized Antonio in other parts of the kingdom, which caused a heated discussion among the masses. However, at that moment, it was not like that. The people who recognized Antonio were taken aback, and the people on both sides of the street cheered for him. As they welcomed him, they also praised Antonio.
“Master Antonio has finally returned. I heard that he took in a disciple, and he also made a break through, breaking the curse of forever stagnating in platinum-tier. And he even became younger.”
“When he was young, Master Antonio was remarkably handsome. I still have his portrait passed down from my ancestors.”
Those words reached Watson’s ears, allowing him to understand how famous Antonio was in the capital.
“What’s wrong, Watson? Are you envious?”
Antonio turned around and smiled at him. “Don’t worry. In the future, you will be more popular with the people of the kingdom than me. My fame belongs to my era. From now on, the new era will belong to the young people.”
“I hope so,” Watson replied casually.
He knew that his master was comforting him. The convoy strolled under the welcome of the people in the royal city. It took them half an hour to arrive at the royal palace.
“Master Antonio and Young Master Watson, please come in! As for the rest of the irrelevant people, please stay here.”
Hoen waved his hand at the guards in front of the splendid palace. The guards immediately gave way, and he said the second half of his sentence to Nightingale, who was in charge of driving the carriage, and Denise, who was in the carriage.
“Irrelevant people? General Hoen, you have misunderstood. Those two are my handmaidens, not irrelevant people.” Watson smiled.
“His Majesty only invited Master Antonio and Young Master Watson, so everyone else is irrelevant.”
“Don’t worry, Young Master Watson. Since His Majesty did not invite us, we are free to go anywhere. You can go with them.”
Nightingale was angry at Hoen for calling them irrelevant, but it was not convenient for her to flare up, so she could only force a smile at Watson.
“General Hoen, if His Majesty only invited me but not my maid, then it’s fine for me not to attend that banquet.”
Watson did not even look at the magnificent palace in front of him. He immediately turned around and walked in the direction of Nightingale and Denise. That scene changed Hoen’s expression. He subconsciously reached out his hand toward Watson and said, “Young Master Watson, please wait.”
Hoen’s outstretched palm was covered with a layer of combat aura. The ground under Watson’s feet was immediately covered with a circle of earth elements. Hoen had infinitely enlarged the place that he could walk in just a few steps.
One of his signature skills was to draw a soil barrier, a platinum-tier earth-elemental combat skill.
It could magnify the distance between two pieces of land by hundreds of times, trapping the enemy while also reducing the distance between himself and the enemy by hundreds of times. At that moment, he was using the effect to magnify the distance.
However, Watson only smiled and raised his right foot. “General Hoen, are you planning to use this move to stop me?”
Watson crossed thousands of meters with a single step; he stood outside the area covered by the earth elements.
That made Hoen’s pupils shrink subconsciously. When he first met Watson, he thought he could not see through Watson’s strength, but it was not inferior to his. That was all his pride. A platinum-tier elite was relatively rare in the kingdom. Naturally, he was proud of it. He did not think that the young boy, Watson, could compare with him. However, at that moment, his thoughts had to change.
The young man had stepped out of his imprisonment easily; Watson might really be able to contend with him.
“Alright, Watson, Hoen, stop fighting for now. Let Nightingale and Denise come with us! Later, if His Majesty asks, tell him that I wanted them to come with us. His Majesty won’t refuse me, right?”
Antonio stood to the side to mediate the situation.
“I wouldn’t dare do that, Master Antonio.”
Almost as soon as his voice fell, another dignified voice sounded not far away from Antonio.
Hearing that voice, the guards guarding the palace gate all knelt respectfully on the ground. “Greetings, Your Majesty.” Hoen also turned his body and knelt behind him. “Your Majesty.”
Following the direction where everyone was kneeling, Watson looked over and saw a middle-aged man wearing a luxurious golden robe and a crown on his head walking down from a carriage. Two maids beside him were carefully supporting him.
That luxuriously dressed emperor did not have the sinister and reverential aura that Watson had imagined. On the contrary, he was very delicate. His square face had traces of wind and frost. His temples were slightly pale, and his eyes were filled with kindness. He gave people a sense of familiarity.
‘That’s King Landhar III, the kingdom’s current ruler!’
Watson sighed in his heart. Previously, he and the King had been in an invisible confrontation. At that moment, he finally met that important figure.
While he was observing King Landhar III, the king was also scrutinizing him from top to bottom.
He had light golden hair, blue eyes, and not a single trace of aura leaked from his being. He was just like an ordinary person, but the divine radiance that lingered around Watson’s body and the symbols that symbolized knowledge flashed in his eyes from time to time. It showed that Watson was not as simple as he looked.
Of course, what surprised King Landhar III the most was not those things but Watson’s appearance.
‘That appearance is the same as the face of the youth that the gods had shown him, causing the idols to lose their effectiveness all over the country. Is that Watson, the youth who had caused the idols to lose their power?’
King Landhar III’s heart was in turmoil. He had sent people to the City of Steel to search for the person who caused the idols to lose their effectiveness all over the country. That incident even attracted the gods’ attention. In the end, there was no result.
Just as King Landhar III was about to let go of that matter, he saw Watson and realized that the youth was the same person he had been looking for. How could he not be surprised?
After all, King Landhar III had been the king for many years. He was very brilliant. So, he suppressed the excitement in his heart and walked toward Watson, extending his right hand.
“Before this, I had always wondered why Antonio valued you so much. Now that I’ve seen you, I have to admit that you are indeed exceptional.”
“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty.”
Watson took King Landhar III’s extended hand and shook it.
As they shook hands, Watson felt a mysterious power enter his body as if searching for something. However, he pretended not to notice that power.
Upon releasing his hand, King Landhar III’s expression did not change at all. “It is the kingdom’s fortune to have a platinum-tier elite at your age. It looks like we will also get a diamond-tier elite soon, similar to our current Sword Saint! Watson, as a reward for your talent, you can make a request later. However, before that, let us enter the palace. The banquet that I prepared for you is about to begin.”