Chapter 1367: Drooling Over a Challenge ( 1367 )
Chapter 1367: Drooling Over a Challenge ( 1367 )
"Mm." Garius’s voice came through, calm but with a hint of urgency."Ensure you proceed with the plan as scheduled. It has already been two days since your arrival, and you have until the third day to complete your mission. Put on your mana talkie."
"Yes, Esteemed Father." Javier reached into his pocket, retrieving his mana talkie and placing it securely on his ear.
Garius’s voice came through clearly, his tone measured but firm.
"Let us be clear, this situation was also partly your doing. You chose to use a disguise instead of approaching her directly as the escorting delegate. I understand you wanted to approach her carefully, to investigate her intentions before bringing her to Armand. That caution is what keeps our family and our people safe."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"But there are other ways to handle such situations without resorting to disguises that lead to misunderstandings. Your approach, while well-intentioned, created unnecessary complications. However, their reaction was still reckless and dangerous. If you had been anyone else, the outcome could have been far worse."
"I understand, Father."
"In any case, prepare a full written report of today’s events. It may serve to shield you from your mother’s wrath, given that the mission was supposed to be simple and straightforward."
Javier exhaled, a faint, knowing smile crossing his lips. "I’ll have the report ready, Esteemed Father."
"Good. I’ll leave you to handle the rest. And Javier... be careful."
The device clicked, and the call ended.
Javier pulled the mana talkie from his ear, slipping it into his pocket before taking a seat at the table. Falme moved silently behind him, both hands clasped in front of her, her posture composed and professional.
Javier reached for the notes Falme had written, scanning them briefly before glancing up at her.
"Your handwriting is beautiful, Falme. Cursive suits you."
Falme inclined her head humbly. "You flatter me, Your Highness. I simply take pride in my work."
Javier set the notes down, wiping his neck with the towel still draped over his shoulder before turning his gaze to the two women still kneeling on the floor.
"State your names and ranks."
Ashara kept her head low, her voice trembling but steady.
"I am Ashara, Captain of the Royal Guard of Divinity, Second Rank."
Jiowana followed, her voice equally strained.
"I am Jiowana, Vice Captain of the Royal Guard of Divinity."
Javier rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing.
"If I were to follow Armand law to the letter, both of you would already be dead. But..." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "My appraisal alone cannot fully determine your intent or your worth. Therefore, your punishment will be suspended until you are presented before the Sovereign of Armand himself. After that, I will decide your fate."
Ashara bowed lower, her voice cracking with desperation.
"Please, Your Highness... we beg for a second chance. We only acted out of concern for our princess’s safety. She is in constant danger from Julius and the other summoned heroes. If we are not by her side, we fear for her life."
Javier’s eyes narrowed, his voice steady and firm.
"You should not worry about the safety of your princess once she is under Armand’s protection and personally escorted by Armand personnel. She will be safe."
Jiowana began to sob softly, her voice trembling.
"You don’t understand how dangerous Julius is! He doesn’t know that Princess Celine was sent on this mission yet, but once he learns of her whereabouts, he will send someone to track her down. He will not let her go so easily."
The moment Javier heard Jiowana’s words, his expression shifted. A slow smirk crept across his lips, widening into a grin of pure excitement.
"So... this Julius person... he’s strong? That strong?"
Ashara kept her head bowed, her voice low and steady.
"He is. He defeated the strongest of our king’s personal guard in a championship match, just by standing there and smiling. From what we have gathered over the past seven years, since the summoned heroes first arrived, Julius has been the strongest among them all. His power is unimaginable."
Jiowana’s voice trembled as she continued.
"From our observations and the intel we gathered, Julius can make all the heroes under his command, all nineteen of them, including their vice leader Vane, kneel in an instant without lifting a finger. Not only that, but the summoned heroes from the other goddesses also bow to his power. That is why he was appointed as the Supreme Leader, the highest authority among all summoned heroes."
Javier tilted his head down, his eyes narrowing as a manic grin stretched across his face.
"And with a man like that after your princess... how exactly were you planning to defend her?"
Ashara’s voice dropped, carrying a hint of desperate resolve.
"We know every person under Julius’s command, not just the summoned heroes, but his secret units, his chosen elites. We know his tactics, his movements, his patterns. He won’t come himself for now. He always sends his people first. We can anticipate them, counter them, and protect our princess until we find a way to break free from his influence."
Javier’s grin widened, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Interesting~"
He wiped his mouth with the towel, his gaze narrowing as he studied them.
"After experiencing my strength firsthand earlier... do you think this Julius is stronger than me?"
Ashara hesitated before answering.
"We cannot say for certain, Your Highness. We have never faced Julius directly. His hidden skills remain unknown to us. The only information we have gathered through observation is that he can summon what they call ’Divine Warriors.’ Thousands of knights clad in full golden plate armor with wings, wielding golden swords and shields. Rumors say they are even stronger than the heroes under his command."
Javier’s eyes lit up, his grin turning almost manic.
"Wow! Really? Thousands?"
He rubbed his palms together, a slight drool forming at the corner of his grin before Falme leaned forward, whispering discreetly.
"Your Highness... your drool."
"Ah..." Javier quickly wiped his mouth with the towel, clearing his throat as he straightened his posture.
"These ’Divine Warriors’ he summons... do you have an estimate of how many he can summon at once?"
Jiowana shook her head slowly, her voice apologetic.
"We are sorry, Your Highness. We do not know the exact number. But based on the reports from our scouts, it seems he can summon far more than we could have ever imagined."
( End Of Chapter )
noveltune