Lin Lei's tone made King Johann's brow furrow. No matter what, he was the Emperor of the O'Brien Empire!
"King Johann!" Lin Lei's voice grew even deeper, his gaze cutting toward the emperor like a blade.
At that moment, King Johann actually felt as though he were trapped in a cold, dark prison. Lin Lei's stare made it hard for him to even breathe. His throat twitched, and he forced out, "Master Lin Lei, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you saying you don't trust this sovereign?"
Dilia, standing beside them, remained silent.
Lin Lei stared at King Johann and said in a low voice, "King Johann, it's not that I don't trust you. But Rein is my closest brother. You suddenly tell me he died in battle, and you expect me… not to find out the truth?"
"The truth?"
King Johann straightened his back, his voice sharp with anger. "Master Lin Lei, is what this sovereign told you not the truth? I tell you again — Rein was pursued by the people of the Roar Empire all the way to the walls of Niel City, and ultimately fell in battle. Of that there is no doubt!"
"Niel City?" Lin Lei's eyes narrowed involuntarily. "King Johann, if Rein had already made it to the gates of Niel City, surely with so many people garrisoned there, someone could have gone to his aid?"
King Johann faltered for a moment, but then pressed on: "This sovereign was not present at the time either. But according to the reports, Rein and his men had barely reached the walls of Niel City when the soldiers there had no time to mount a rescue. Rein was already dead."
The fourth brother — dead!
Lin Lei refused to believe it. As he questioned King Johann, scene after scene from his time with the fourth brother flooded unbidden through his mind, and the murderous intent stirring in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
King Johann, too, sensed that something was wrong with Lin Lei. The atmosphere around them had become suffocatingly oppressive. Beads of sweat the size of beans kept appearing on the king's forehead. He stared back at Lin Lei, unyielding.
No matter what, he would hold his ground — insist that Rein had died in battle, that the soldiers of Niel City simply hadn't reached him in time.
Lin Lei closed his eyes, fighting to calm the killing intent inside him. He exhaled slowly.
When he opened his eyes, they crackled like lightning. Under that gaze, King Johann felt an immense psychological pressure bear down on him. He was an ordinary warrior — how could his mental fortitude possibly compare to that of Lin Lei, a ninth-tier Grand Mage?
"King Johann, you need to understand — what you've told me may very well be true. But can you guarantee… that the person who brought you the news was also telling the truth?" Lin Lei's voice was low and heavy.
King Johann nodded without hesitation and said in a firm, resolute tone: "Lin Lei, you must trust the soldiers of the empire."
Lin Lei glanced at him, then said coldly, "King Johann, I'm not in the mood for this today. I'll be taking my leave. You can break the news to my brother and to Nina as well."
Despite the cold sweat covering his forehead, King Johann still managed to force a smile. "Master Lin Lei, this sovereign understands your feelings. Please, go back and rest. I will make sure to speak with Wotton and Nina."
Lin Lei nodded, then left the palace together with Dilia.
Only after Lin Lei had gone did King Johann let out a long, deep breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed inwardly. Good heavens — lying to Lin Lei's face had been absolutely nerve-wracking. If Lin Lei had lost his composure right then and there, no one would have been able to stop him.
He composed himself, and the same noble, amiable smile returned to his face as he walked back toward the great hall.
Lin Lei and Dilia walked side by side along Fushi Road. The entire way back from the palace, Lin Lei said nothing. Dilia, walking beside him, knew he was hurting deep inside.
After deliberating for a long while, she said softly, "Lin Lei."
Lin Lei startled out of his reverie and looked at her. "What is it?"
Dilia said gently, "Are you thinking about Rein?"
Lin Lei gave a slight nod. "Dilia, in my heart, Elder Brother Yeru, the second brother, and the fourth brother — they're like my own blood. I never imagined that the fourth brother would die in battle." His words were calm, but Dilia noticed that his eyes had turned red.
A man as resolute as Lin Lei — his eyes were moist. The pain in his heart could only be imagined.
Even though he didn't want to dwell on it, the memories of his youth kept pouring in unbidden. He remembered the four of them drinking and laughing together, making a racket. He remembered the four of them in their dormitory, talking about the girls at the academy. Back then, Rein and Yeru had been the most worked up about it. The memory of Rein's carefree, easygoing manner made Lin Lei's chest ache all the more.
They arrived at the gate of the baron's manor.
"My lord," the guard at the entrance said respectfully.
Looking at the manor, Lin Lei turned to Dilia. "Dilia, you go on ahead."
"Where are you going?" Dilia asked, alarmed. She quickly added, "Lin Lei, please don't do anything reckless." She knew his state of mind right now — if he caused some terrible incident, it would be disastrous.
Lin Lei shook his head. "No. I'm going to Rein's home — the Dunstan Family."
The Dunstan Family was one of the ancient noble houses of the O'Brien Empire, and it wielded considerable influence within the military.
The Dunstan estate was not far from the palace.
Using the Wind Shadow Technique, Lin Lei moved through the streets like a gust of wind. Ordinary passersby barely noticed him before he had already traveled a hundred meters beyond them.
"Hey, I told you — watch yourself around the madam. You just never learn—" One of the two guards standing at the entrance of the Dunstan estate was laughing at his companion.
The other guard was rubbing his cheek, where a bright red handprint was clearly visible.
"I didn't even do anything! She just showed up, and I didn't get out of the way fast enough. She yelled at me and slapped me right across the face. It's just not fair."
"Don't go crying about it. With Young Master Rein dead, anyone who惹 the madam is asking for death."
The two guards were chatting idly, but suddenly a light breeze blew past, and a figure appeared without warning at the gate of the Dunstan estate.
Both guards jumped.