Chapter 13: Kailan's Arrival
Night fell, and the imperial capital of the O'Brien Empire, the mightiest nation on the Yulan Continent, remained as it always had been. Apart from a few streets bustling with entertainment venues, the rest of the city was still and quiet.
On Fushi Road in the East City, after the recent days of bustling carriages and crowds, the Baron's manor had gradually returned to its former tranquility.
In a side hall of the manor.
Lin Lei, the steward Xili, Hillman, the five Baruch brothers, and Sethler—a group of core figures—gathered here, discussing matters concerning the Seventh Princess.
"If His Majesty truly chooses Brom, then I'll naturally follow Big Brother's plan," Wotton said without hesitation.
Beside him, Hillman spoke earnestly, "The soldiers of the Empire are known for their bravery and fearlessness, and the Seventh Princess lives deep within the palace. If we're discovered during the abduction... even if we fight our way out, there will likely be many casualties."
Since arriving in the O'Brien Empire, Hillman had been struck by the atmosphere within it.
Martial worship!
The entire empire held the Martial God in extreme reverence; the deity they believed in was the 'Martial God.' In such a nation, the strong were highly esteemed. One could feel it just by observing the frenzied behavior of the people in the fighting arenas.
Cowardice and flight were despised in the Empire.
The O'Brien Empire was located in the northern region of the Yulan Continent. The climate there was generally cold, which had forged a resilient character in its inhabitants.
"Uncle Hillman, we won't be sending ordinary people to kidnap the Seventh Princess. The Imperial soldiers may be formidable, but in my view, they aren't the main threat. The real trouble is the Saint Realm experts living in the imperial palace."
The Emperor himself did not have the qualifications to have a Saint Realm expert serve as his personal bodyguard. However, the imperial palace was a vital location; even the Martial God would surely station Saint Realm experts there. The palace held the treasury and various treasure vaults accumulated over the years. Their importance was even greater than that of the Emperor himself, so naturally, they needed protection.
If someone dared to deep-dive into the palace to abduct the princess, those stationed Saint Realm experts would likely intervene. While Lin Lei felt confident in facing a Saint Realm expert alone, doing so while carrying Nina, an ordinary person, would be problematic.
Lin Lei looked at Bei Bei, who was lying on his leg: "Bei Bei, when the time comes, it will be up to you."
Bei Bei suddenly sprang up, leaping directly onto the table.
"Hmm? Up to me?" Bei Bei's small, jet-black eyes darted around as he looked at Wotton. "Little Wotton, don't worry. Your woman, I, Bei Bei, will definitely bring her back without a scratch."
"Bei Bei will go?" Wotton was stunned.
"Little Wotton, you don't trust me, Bei Bei?" Bei Bei raised his small head, eyes widening in a glare at Wotton.
Wotton shook his head repeatedly. "It's not that I don't trust you, but... the palace should have Saint Realm experts living there. If they intervene, and Bei Bei still has to carry the fragile Nina, will it work?"
"Wotton, with Bei Bei's strength, taking the Seventh Princess out of the palace should be no problem," Lin Lei said, still having considerable confidence in Bei Bei. "Bei Bei's speed is the fastest I've ever seen."
"The fastest? Brother, faster than you or Olivier?" Wotton asked in surprise.
"Bei Bei's speed is the most terrifying I've seen among magical beasts," said the Black-striped Cloud Leopard, 'Heilu,' lying on the ground. The cloud leopard was famous for its speed. Back when they were in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Bei Bei had only just entered the ninth level. Yet even then, he was not far behind the cloud leopard in speed.
Especially after five or six years had passed, Bei Bei's speed had become significantly faster than the cloud leopard's, reaching an incredibly terrifying level.
And now, Bei Bei had reached the Saint Realm. His speed had skyrocketed again!
"Of course he's faster than Olivier," Lin Lei said with a smile, patting Bei Bei's head. "Wotton, I'm telling you, Bei Bei's defense and speed are the most terrifying I've ever witnessed. When I was still at the Ernst Academy, Bei Bei was still growing, probably around the strength of a seventh or eighth-level magical beast. Yet when he was struck by a desperate final blow from a peak ninth-level Spike-backed Armored Dragon, he only suffered serious injuries."
This was the first time Wotton had heard this, and Sethler and the others were equally hearing it for the first time.
"How is that possible?"
They were all shocked. The Spike-backed Armored Dragon was an incredibly fearsome beast among the dragon species.
"Back then, when we encountered Heilu in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Heilu attacked Bei Bei, but it couldn't hurt him at all. Bei Bei had just entered the ninth level then. You have to understand... the attack Heilu launched back then would have injured me even in my transformed state at peak ninth-level defense."
Bei Bei's small head, being described by Lin Lei, tilted even higher, like a victorious general proudly surveying his surroundings.
"I can tell you, Bei Bei's speed is definitely faster than Olivier's. And that 'Aurora Sword' of Olivier's, if it struck Bei Bei, probably wouldn't even break his defense."
Lin Lei chuckled.
Bei Bei's fur, its defense was truly terrifying.
"The Aurora Sword, probably wouldn't break his defense?" Wotton, Hillman, and the others were speechless. The seemingly unremarkable little shadow mouse that Lin Lei had obtained back then was actually this formidable.
Bei Bei shook his head and swayed. "Gaga, my, Bei Bei's defense is beyond reproach. But... whether I can withstand Boss's 'Earth Essence,' I'm not so confident."
Lin Lei's 'Earth Essence' largely ignored defense. It could only be weakened somewhat during the process of transmission.
"With Bei Bei's speed, carrying the Seventh Princess, and fleeing the palace at maximum velocity, the Saint Realm experts inside probably wouldn't have time to give chase."
"Hehe, Boss, just leave this matter to me, Bei Bei!" Bei Bei was extremely excited, as if he were about to go kidnap the Seventh Princess right then and there.
"No rush. After all, His Majesty Joanne hasn't yet announced who he has ultimately chosen." Lin Lei was prepared for either scenario and was not panicked in the slightest.
Wotton and Brom had been worrying about this for days, and many nobles in the capital were also secretly guessing who between Wotton and Brom would ultimately win the hand of the Seventh Princess.