Chapter 54: The Great Hustler · Kaisa
The beast cavalry completed their encampment north of the city, welcomed by both civilians and the garrison. Some Sand Capital guards even left the city to chat with the beast riders.
Inside a hastily set up tent, Su Xiao enjoyed his lunch while waiting for orders from the Roselle Palace.
He didn't have to wait long. About ten minutes later, a messenger hurried over.
"Commander Kukulin, His Majesty summons you."
"Mm, I understand."
Su Xiao set down his wooden fork, washed his hands, and led Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha toward the camp exit.
Passing through the city gate and entering Sand Capital, Su Xiao saw civilians celebrating in the streets. The ceasefire between the two nations was the most joyful news possible. The Sand Emperor had decreed a three-day celebration within the city.
The enthusiasm of Sand Capital's citizens was evident. Wine and food flowed freely, and street vendors worked up a sweat.
Amid this lively atmosphere, Su Xiao arrived at the main entrance of Roselle Palace. Unexpectedly, no guards were stationed there.
Entering the palace, the front hall was quiet, save for the gurgling of the fountain pool. Su Xiao remembered he had beaten Uno here.
Climbing the spiral staircase, he reached the bedchamber without any obstruction.
Creak~
Su Xiao pushed the bedchamber door open a crack. Chilling air seeped through the gap. When the two metal doors were fully opened, a corpse lay ahead.
Compared to Uno's treatment, the headless Sand Emperor fared much better, lying in a crystal coffin. A frail figure slumped beside the coffin, staring at the body within, her gaze complex.
"As expected of the great commander who invaded Peru, daring to come alone."
Carros 'walked' out from behind the gauze curtain. Her upper body had enlarged significantly, her hair and fingers lengthened, but her overall proportions remained balanced.
Carros's lower body was a black, writhing mass, like black mud. This sludge formed a thick serpentine tail, its surface uneven, nearly a meter thick and over ten meters long.
In Carros's hand was a greatsword over three meters long. The blade was a full twenty centimeters wide, appearing heavy, but the edge was razor-thin and exceptionally sharp.
"Sister, he only used you. As a descendant of the Pernier family, you cannot—and are not permitted—to truly love the offspring of the false king."
"I... know."
Queen Camilla, clad in a white gauze dress, spoke softly. She reluctantly caressed the crystal coffin before crawling toward her sister Carros. She still had a normal human form, but for some reason, her lower body had lost all sensation.
"I'll give you one chance. Surrender all your military command and leave Sand Flame, just like your subordinate Oss. He was wise. I hope you'll be as wise as him."
Carros held the greatsword in one hand, her mud-like tail undulating along the ground. This was the price of devouring two gods in a short time. The Pernier family's special constitution was indeed formidable, but awakening it fully in a short span brought various side effects.
Su Xiao found a seat in the bedchamber, lit a cigarette, and snapped his fingers.
"Ouch~"
Kaisa stumbled in from the doorway, kicked in by Amu.
With Kaisa present, Su Xiao slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. The hustling could begin. He intended to verify all his conjectures through Kaisa's mouth.
"Everyone stand back. Kaisa's about to show off."
Baha flew in. Hearing this, Kaisa puffed out his scrawny chest and secretly patted the sock in his pocket. If danger arose, he planned to toss it as a distraction and run.
"Honored lady, as a direct descendant of the Pernier family, don't you feel something's missing?"
Kaisa looked at Carros. She suppressed the urge to cleave this cunning little old man in two and replied with a hostile expression:
"We lack nothing."
"Not even the Pernier family heirloom?"
Kaisa raised his hand, revealing the [Pernier Ring].
"Father's relic."
Carros lunged forward, but a pale hand grabbed her tattered black robe—her sister Camilla.
"Don't be so hasty. It's yours, honored lady."
Kaisa flicked his thumb, sending the [Pernier Ring] spinning toward Carros.
Clang!
The greatsword slashed through, sending the ring flying as a blur that embedded itself into a stone pillar. Carros had eliminated the Sand Emperor and Uno, so her vigilance was naturally sharp. Indeed, wearing that thing would have been a 'surprise.'
"The Pernier Ring and the Darnes Halberd—both are items your family guarded, aren't they? You wouldn't miss the chance to reclaim them."
"Heh."
Carros sneered, looking at Kaisa. "You're clever, but the Darnes Halberd isn't something we guard. That's a divine relic. My family only protects the Pernier Ring."
"Then I guessed wrong. Let me sort this out. Half of the Darnes Halberd is inside the Sand Flame god, the other half inside the Verdant God, and the Pernier Ring belongs solely to the Pernier family..."
"Enough. No more nonsense. Die here."
Carros decided not to delay further. The situation favored her.
"Wait, wait, wait. Let me say one last thing. Aren't you curious what your ancestors and those two gods were really guarding? Only a Pernier family member can wear the Pernier Ring. To wield the Darnes Halberd, you'd need to be wearing the ring. Don't you wonder what this is all about? The Darnes Halberd... seems more like a key."
"..."
Carros said nothing, turning her gaze to Su Xiao.
"A foolish legend. You don't actually believe that tale, do you? 'He who wields the Darnes Halberd shall hold the world'? Ridiculous."
Clang~
Half a halberd was driven into the ground. Seeing it, Carros's expression flickered with momentary shock.
"So... you believed that legend and specifically sought the 'Pernier Ring' and 'Darnes Halberd'? So that's it. That was your original purpose in coming to Sand Capital?"
A beautiful misunderstanding arose. Su Xiao had obtained the Darnes Halberd through his own strength, and the Pernier Ring was pure luck—nothing more.
Carros raised her hand. Clattering sounds came from inside the bedchamber. After a moment, the other half of the halberd flew into her grasp—the upper half of the Darnes Halberd.
Seeing this, Kaisa's smile grew even more cunning.
"The Pernier Ring and the Darnes Halberd—both are gathered now. As a member of the Pernier family, won't you try it?"
Kaisa continued his hustle.
"..."
Carros fell silent. She sensed a deep conspiracy, but under absolute power, all schemes were useless. Just like the Sand Emperor and Uno—they had fallen to her absolute strength.
"Legend says only a Pernier family member can wield the Darnes Halberd, and the world will be in that person's hands. If you succeed, we'll destroy the Kingdom of Peru together. Sand Flame is yours, and a third of Peru's territory belongs to us."
Kaisa's acting was impeccable. He even had a 'grand ambition' ready.
"We only cooperate with victors. You won, so we're cooperating. How about it? Do you accept the offer?"
Kaisa's eyes held a hint of anticipation. This was the pitch his 'dual-core processor' brain had concocted.
Su Xiao remained silent. He never expected Kaisa to succeed. His goal was simple: let Kaisa trick out the first half of the Darnes Halberd, then kill the enemy. That was all.
"I'll try it—but only after you're dead."
Carros swung her greatsword. Silver-gray flames rose from the three-meter-long blade, heralding death.