Chapter 53: The Guest
Linley in the Northwest Province was riding high. In the blink of an eye, Bebe and 'Anko' of the five brothers had both attained the Saint realm. Among their group, they now had four Saints. Four Saint-level powerhouses—even the three major trade associations of the Yulan Continent, or the four major assassin organizations, could not compare to them.
This was an extremely terrifying hidden force.
In contrast, Wharton in the imperial capital was very troubled.
On the spacious training ground behind the Count's estate, Wharton was wielding the family heirloom warblade 'Slaughter' in a frenzy of training. Sweat dripped from his temples, but Wharton seemed unaware of fatigue, training relentlessly.
The steward, Hiri, stood quietly by the side, shaking his head inwardly.
"Wharton is just like his father—too attached to emotions." Hiri had watched Hogarth grow up and knew the depth of Hogarth's feelings for Linley's mother, 'Lina.' When Lina was taken away back then, Hogarth suffered for over a decade, but he endured it because he had to raise Linley and Wharton. When Hogarth felt that Linley and Wharton could stand on their own, he threw caution to the wind to investigate his wife's fate, ultimately losing his life.
"And now Wharton is the same. His Majesty didn't dash his hopes, just told him not to rush, saying the Seventh Princess wasn't in a hurry to marry. And Wharton became like this..." Steward Hiri sighed deeply.
What Steward Hiri didn't know was that it wasn't just Hogarth and Wharton—Linley was the same.
"Roar~~"
With a beastly howl, Wharton slowly stopped swinging his warblade. After years of bitter training, Wharton's skill with the blade had reached a very high level. The roar just now was a phenomenon produced by the sword technique he had created.
"Grandpa Hiri." Wharton looked at Steward Hiri, forcing a faint smile.
After this release, Wharton's mood had improved slightly.
"Wharton, don't be too upset. There's still hope for you and the Seventh Princess." Hiri smiled. "I think His Majesty is having trouble choosing between you and Kalan, so he's been dragging it out..."
Wharton nodded.
He knew the current emperor of the empire well.
This was an emperor who valued talent and had decisiveness. But his only flaw was—being overly protective! Extremely protective!
Everyone in the imperial capital knew this.
For example, the emperor's only full brother, 'Yulin.' Over twenty years ago, the ruling family of the Southeast Province committed an offense. That family had no Saint-level experts, and in the end, the emperor had their entire clan executed. At the time, many families wanted to take over the Southeast Province. But in the end, the emperor let his brother, Duke Yulin, control the entire Southeast Province.
Anyone close to the emperor, he would protect fiercely.
And Kalan's father, the Empire's Left Premier 'Jadad Daryl,' had grown up with the emperor and shared a deep bond. After the emperor ascended the throne, he naturally promoted Jadad Daryl, eventually making him the Left Premier, with power second only to the emperor himself.
With such a close relationship between the emperor and the Left Premier, he naturally cherished the nearly perfect Kalan.
Moreover, Kalan himself was ambitious and outstanding. Now that Kalan was pursuing Nina, it was natural for the emperor to agree. But Wharton was also pursuing Nina, and Nina herself liked Wharton. This made the emperor hesitate.
Kalan and Wharton—both were excellent.
He doted on Kalan, and he doted on Nina.
Kalan's father was his good brother, a pillar of the empire. But Wharton was also a Dragonblood Warrior.
A hard choice!
"I understand His Majesty's thoughts. I know that since he didn't agree to my direct proposal this time, it won't be easy for Nina and me to be together." Wharton sighed.
"Wharton, have confidence in yourself," Steward Hiri encouraged.
Wharton forced a smile: "Grandpa Hiri, I know the situation. His Majesty's word is law in the empire. If there's anyone he fears, it's only the War God. That's why I participated in the nominal disciple selection competition back then, hoping to eventually connect with the War God. If the War God could help me, then everything would be settled."
The War God—the pillar of the O'Brien Empire.
If the War God said a single word, even if it meant the emperor stepping down, the emperor wouldn't dare resist. After all, the War God was the founding emperor of the O'Brien Empire and a peak-level deity.
"Take it slow, don't rush," Steward Hiri comforted.
"Count, the Seventh Princess has arrived," a servant entered the training ground and reported respectfully.
"Nina is here?" Wharton was very surprised.
Although their relationship was good, Nina rarely came directly to his estate. Wharton immediately went to wash up, changed into clean clothes, and went to the living room to see Nina.
In the living room.
Nina's face was brimming with an excited smile. The maid behind her whispered with a laugh, "Your Highness, what expression do you think the Count will have when he hears this news?"
"What expression will the big guy have?" Nina thought about it and smiled even more happily.
As she thought, she heard footsteps. She looked outside... and the tall, god-of-war-like figure walked in. Nina felt sweet at the sight of this imposing frame. In her heart, Wharton was her spiritual pillar.
"Nina, why did you come to my place? Aren't you afraid your father will scold you?" Wharton walked over with a smile.
Nina pouted and said, "Let him scold me if he wants. I came anyway."
Seeing Nina's adorable expression, a surge of tenderness welled up in Wharton's heart. He sat down beside Nina and took her hand, asking, "Nina, from you and Ruth's expressions, it seems like you're hiding something from me?"
Nina wrinkled her nose smugly: "Nothing escapes you. I'll tell you some good news."
"Good news? What good news? Don't tell me your father changed his mind and decided to let me marry you?" Wharton said casually.
The emperor's words were golden—once spoken, they weren't easily taken back.
"Of course not that news." Nina's smile was radiant.
"Then what?"
Nina's expression turned serious: "A couple of days ago, when you proposed to my father and he didn't agree, I felt terrible. So I came up with an idea. I went to see Brother Kalan."
"Kalan?" Wharton's eyebrows shot up. Kalan was his rival in love. "Why did you go to him?"
Nina giggled and said, "Alright, don't overthink it. I just had a good talk with Brother Kalan. I told him that I only see him as a brother. We grew up together, and he really is like a brother to me. I begged Brother Kalan to help us. I told him that without you, Wharton, I wouldn't be able to live."
Wharton felt a surge of emotion.
"Brother Kalan was silent for a long time, and in the end, he agreed to go talk to His Majesty, to give up his proposal and let us be together." Nina's face was bright with joy.
"Kalan gave up?" Wharton was shocked.
Wharton had been in the imperial capital for a long time and had interacted with Kalan many times. He could fully sense Kalan's feelings for Nina. He was completely immersed in them. That Kalan could choose to give up—Wharton was deeply shaken and also somewhat admired Kalan.
"Brother Kalan gave up. The others aren't much of a threat. Even that Lammo doesn't compare to you in my father's heart." Nina's face was full of happiness. "Big guy, no one can stop us now."
Excitement!
An uncontrollable feeling of happiness filled his entire chest. This sudden surprise—his most troublesome rival voluntarily giving up—made Wharton feel dizzy.
Looking at Nina's radiant smile, Wharton felt an unprecedented surge of emotion.
"That's right. No one can stop us now." Wharton pulled Nina tightly into his arms.
×××××
Linley, Bebe, Hei Lu, the Rebecca sisters, Jenny, Sessler, and the five Barker brothers left Cloud Peak Town and headed for the provincial capital, Basil.
Outside the Jax family castle in the provincial capital of Basil.
Linley's group arrived at the gate.
"Who are you people?" The castle guards shouted from a distance. The Jax family was the local tyrant of the Northwest Province. Their lair wasn't a place just anyone could enter.
The fifth of the five brothers, 'Gates,' immediately bellowed, "Go report to McKenzie! Tell him Lord Linley is here!"
"Who's making all that noise out here?"
A familiar voice rang out. Linley looked carefully toward the gate, and sure enough, that flashy young master 'Albert' walked out, surrounded by servants.
When Albert saw Linley's group, his expression immediately changed.
"You're called Lei, right? You actually dare to come to my house!" Albert's face was full of malice. "I didn't expect the six men from the Radiant Church couldn't kill you. But the Jax family isn't someone you can bully as you please!"
At the same time, Albert noticed Jenny behind Linley, as well as the Rebecca sisters.
Jenny was like a delicate lotus flower, fresh and vibrant, while the Rebecca sisters had a special, mysterious allure. That sense of mystery was extremely captivating.
"Why do all the beauties end up with this guy?" Albert felt very resentful.
"Daring to cause trouble at the Jax family! Men, arrest him!" Albert immediately ordered.
The surrounding guards and protectors rushed forward, but before Linley could act, the five Barker brothers charged in.
"Spare their lives," Linley said calmly.
"Got it," Gates said excitedly.
"As long as they don't die," Barker said, a hint of excitement in his eyes. These five brothers were famous killing generals from the eighteen northern duchies, having slaughtered countless enemies while leading armies.
These five super-sized brutes were like fighting machines. They grabbed the guards like they were catching chicks and then casually tossed them like sandbags in front of the castle gate. The five Barker brothers threw them with considerable force. Those level-five and level-six warriors hit the ground with audible sounds of bones breaking.
"You..." Albert trembled with rage. "You're too arrogant! How dare you act like this in front of my Jax family!"
"What's going on here?"
A furious shout rang out, and another group of people walked out of the castle, led by a middle-aged man with a square face. Albert immediately bowed and said, "Father, these people are causing trouble here and have injured our guards."
"Oh?" This middle-aged man was the current head of the Jax family, Odin Jax.
Odin cast a cold glance at Linley's group.
"Haha, Brother Linley, you've arrived!" A loud laugh rang out, and then a blur shot down from the distant sky, landing at the castle gate.
The graying hair, the spear-straight posture.
Odin, Albert, and the large group of people saw the newcomer, and their previous arrogance was immediately suppressed. They all respectfully bowed.
"Odin, what are you doing?" McKenzie shot a cold look at Odin.
Odin stood there, not daring to speak. He had heard what McKenzie said—calling Linley 'Brother Linley.' What else could he say?
"It has nothing to do with Odin. It's just that his son Albert had some grudges with me before, so he's taking the opportunity to settle scores," Linley said with a faint smile.
"Grudges?" McKenzie nodded.
He gave Albert a cold glance, then looked at Odin. "Odin, send Albert to Decker County to assist his uncle. The provincial capital of Basil is no place for him."
Albert's face turned pale.
"No place for him in the provincial capital of Basil"—those words clearly stripped him of his right to inherit the clan leadership. He was being demoted to a county, and only to assist his uncle, not even as city lord. His future would be worse than Keane's.
"Yes, Grandfather," Odin said without a hint of doubt.
McKenzie's status in the Northwest Province was like the War God's in the O'Brien Empire. Even if he ordered Odin to step down as clan head, Odin wouldn't dare complain.
"Brother Linley, my apologies. I was out for a stroll and neglected you," McKenzie said warmly, welcoming Linley into the castle.
Linley smiled and walked into the castle alongside McKenzie. Odin followed respectfully behind. As for Albert, his face ashen, no one cared about him anymore.