Chapter 145

A deployment banquet?

Thinking back, he recalled a similar event before heading to the battlefield against the demon clan.

But Lynn knew that given Eleanor’s character, she wouldn’t attend such a gala if her family wasn’t under severe threat.

It seemed the Mosgra Family’s reach extended further than he’d imagined.

Was that foul witch Irina trying to level up her game?

Lynn pondered.

After a moment, he said, “I’m going to change my clothes. Prepare the carriage; I’m heading to the academy.”

With that, Lynn turned to leave.

However, the head servant hesitated, “Young Master Lynn, what should we do with those people?”

Lynn glanced at him, “Tie them up and bring them along.”

Outside the mansion, night fell.

A grand show seemed about to begin.

At the Royal Extraordinary Academy, Opal Hall.

As the largest public building on campus, the hall was brilliantly lit and extravagantly decorated.

Students, adorned with exquisite makeup and clad in luxurious and elegant dresses, strolled in groups into the hall to attend tonight’s grand ceremony.

Although most of the students appeared youthful, their noble lineage imparted them an extraordinary aura; coupled with the high standards of the gala, it had a hint of high society in Glostin.

At this moment, in the main hall, clusters of students held drinks and champagne, chattering about campus happenings and occasionally discussing the border conflicts.

The majority would eventually step into the empire’s or military’s core administration, inheriting their family legacies and forming the bedrock of the nation.

Some names alone could provoke an instinctive awe.

However, for tonight, the most attention-grabbing figures were not among those previously mentioned.

“Senior Xia just recently killed a Fifth Stage Legend demon on the battlefield. That should set a new academy record, right?”

“Absolutely! Reaching Fourth Stage at just twenty, plus the ability to fight across tiers, you can hardly find anyone like him in the academy’s history.”

“You mean there are still others?”

“Are you new here?”

“Sorry, Senior, I just transferred here recently, still getting to know the Imperial Capital.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Besides Xia, I believe there are two others who can compete with him.”

“Who are they?”

“One is the current ‘Empire’s Valkyrie’, who became a Fifth Stage Legend at just twenty-four and is stationed on the border, commanding a legion, although there seem to be some hidden motives behind it.”

“Hidden motives?”

“Yeah. That Valkyrie’s achievements seem tied to another person, her ex-fiancé.”

“If Xia hadn’t achieved that feat, he probably couldn’t hold a candle to that guy.”

“Seventeen, Fourth Stage, with 136 divine factors. If things had gone differently, he—wow.”

“What happened?”

“Cough, he was taken by the Mosgra Family.”

“Gossiping about others isn’t a noble trait.”

Just as the two students were deep in conversation, a cold voice interrupted from behind. Startled, the gossiping student quickly turned around.

A young girl with flaming red lips in an elaborate gown stood behind them, having apparently overheard their entire conversation and appeared somewhat displeased.

The girl’s beauty was only average, with prominent cheekbones giving her a sharper appearance.

However, clad in opulent attire, her air of nobility made her quite imposing.

The two students immediately broke into a cold sweat: “Y-You, Eunice.”

They looked terrified.

They had encountered the banquet organizer, and being caught gossiping meant facing dire repercussions from their powerful families.

Big fish eat little fish; it’s always been like that.

Fortunately, she seemed disinclined to pursue matters further, casually instructing them to “pack up and leave” before continuing on with her male companion.

The students felt as if a weight had been lifted and hurriedly slipped out of the hall, relieved.

Damn it.

Recalling the gossip they’d just overheard, Eunice maintained pleasantries with those around her, but a shadow passed through her eyes.

Just then, her male companion spoke up: “They aren’t entirely wrong.”

“If you hadn’t relied on underhanded tricks to usurp Bartleon’s status and wealth, or if Irina hadn’t stolen that guy’s divine factors, your Mosgra family wouldn’t be in this position now.”

“Yet even so, from my perspective, this status is but a fragile mirage; if it can be given to you, it can just as easily be taken away.”

At his words, Eunice felt a tightening in her chest, her grip on his arm stiffening.

The young man beside her wore a serious expression, looking slightly humorless yet not cold; rather, he was earnestly serious.

His hair was meticulously groomed, glasses perched on his nose, giving him a cultured demeanor.

As they walked further into the hall, various gazes were drawn toward them.

Of course, most of those eyes focused on Eunice’s male companion.

The Fourth Prince, Joshua Roland Alexini.

As the fourth-ranked individual selected by the Sacred Oak Institute, he was also among the hottest candidates for the royal selection.

Although he trailed considerably behind Second Prince Felix in scores, it was for good reason.

As the head of the St. Roland Research Institute, Fourth Prince Joshua had little interest in participating in the royal selection and devoted himself entirely to scientific pursuits.

In fact, even the technique for implanting divine factors was successfully developed by his team, earning him over three thousand points.

Most of his accolades came from the various patents he’d developed.

Despite persistent rumors suggesting he secretly abducted homeless people and orphans for experiments, it had little impact on his reputation.

It was a common consensus in the Imperial Capital that the Fourth Prince had no desire for the throne.

But is that truly the case?

At least after the Level 0 Sealed Item riot, the increasingly distant Mosgra family found themselves a new benefactor.

Collecting Bartleon’s blood was part of the deal.

Hearing Joshua’s tactless remarks, Eunice forced a smile, “Your Highness, you’re joking! Tonight’s celebration is so lively; why dwell on those disappointing characters?”

“True enough,” Joshua replied coolly.

Just then, a petite figure in a light blue gown flitted away from a corner in the distance.

Joshua paused, a strange emotion flickering in his eyes.

“Speaking of which, how are you handling things with Eleanor?”

“Your Highness… are you somewhat fond of her?”

A shadow crossed Eunice’s eyes.

As a contemporary of Eleanor’s, she had always lived in her shadow while the Bartleon family prospered. Regardless of looks or talent, she felt inferior.

Even now, with her family rising while Eleanor’s fell, she still found herself unable to surpass her.

Having spent hours preparing to catch the Fourth Prince’s eye, yet he hadn’t glanced her way throughout the evening.

At her comment, a greedy glint flashed in Joshua’s eyes.

“Of course.”

“Such perfect material should not be wandering out there; I must keep it firmly in my grasp, then slowly dissect it on the experimental table until Bartleon’s secrets are laid bare before me.”

For some reason, Eunice suddenly felt a chill, shivering involuntarily.