Chapter 12: A Bustling Courtyard
Woton, Linley, Bloomer, and Olivia were all shocked simultaneously.
March fifteenth, announcing who would marry the Seventh Princess?
His Majesty Johann had been dragging his feet all along, showing no urgency at all. Neither Woton nor Bloomer had expected that His Majesty Johann would suddenly bring this up at such a time.
"Nina—" Woton turned to look at Nina beside him.
Nina shook her head in confusion. "I don't know. Father never told me." She too looked anxiously toward the distant His Majesty Johann, but as a member of the royal family, the Seventh Princess had no say in her own marriage—it was entirely up to His Majesty Johann to decide.
"Your Highness," a palace attendant approached at that moment. "Your Highness, it's time to withdraw. You must return to the palace."
Nina nodded.
His Majesty Johann did not permit Nina to leave the palace. This meeting had only been possible because of the great battle at the Colosseum. Nina parted reluctantly from Woton and could only follow the royal retinue as they departed.
Linley and Woton's group also withdrew from the palace.
"Olivia," Linley glanced at the distant Olivia as he entered the exit passage, and Olivia looked back at him as well.
The two peerless geniuses exchanged a glance, then turned and left the Colosseum.
********
On the twenty-fourth, after the eighty thousand spectators left the Colosseum, news of the great battle spread through the entire imperial capital like a whirlwind. The whole city was in an uproar.
Many spectators from other cities and provinces left and spread word of the battle as well.
Linley's easy defeat of Kenyon, Linley's draw with Olivia, and Olivia's challenge to Hedderson—these three events spread in an extremely short time, with unprecedented speed.
Linley's name resounded throughout the imperial capital in no time, radiating outward in all directions.
On Fushi Road in the eastern district of the imperial capital, carriage after carriage lined up before the count's mansion, forming a continuous stream of traffic. These people had all come to visit Linley.
In the backyard of the count's mansion.
Linley, Yale, and Reynolds were sitting together, drinking and chatting. Although nobles and celebrities from the imperial capital had gathered in the front courtyard, Linley couldn't be bothered with them.
In truth, those nobles understood in their hearts: What was Linley's status? Would he come out to greet them?
At Linley's level, secular power could no longer bind him. Even the emperor of the empire treated such Saint-level experts with great courtesy and dared not put on airs.
There was no doubt—
The Baruch family had produced a Linley. Even if Linley held no title in the empire and Woton was only a count, the Baruch family had naturally become an extremely transcendent family in the entire imperial capital.
"Third brother, you never show your hand, but this sudden outburst really scared people to death." Yale laughed heartily.
Reynolds nodded vigorously. "That's right, that's right. I think the Radiant Church must be getting a headache right now."
Reynolds and Yale were very clear about the matter between Linley and the Radiant Church. Given the Radiant Church's strength, killing Linley as he was now was almost impossible.
Especially since Linley was in the imperial capital of the O'Brien Empire. The Radiant Church dared not send Saint-level experts there, for fear of provoking a misunderstanding with the War God. After all, the imperial capital was the War God's territory.
"Deal with the Radiant Church?" Linley smiled faintly. "I've already killed my direct enemies. As for dealing with the Radiant Church, I can't rush it. I'm not afraid of the people in the Radiant Church now, but to deal with them... my strength is still insufficient."
The Radiant Church had several Saint-level peak experts.
Such as Radiant Pope Haydyn, the spiritual leader of the ascetics, Lord Luofei, the head of the Inquisition, Usono, the special executive, Stello, and the leader of the Fanatics Legion...
Five great experts, with Stello likely being the weakest.
The other four could not be underestimated. But even Stello would not be an easy victory for Linley. The reason Linley had easily defeated Kenyon was simply that Kenyon was only a mid-stage Saint-level.
"Once I reach the Saint-level in human form and also step into the Saint-level in magic, then..." A sharp glint flashed in Linley's eyes.
"Reach the Saint-level in human form?" Yale and Reynolds exchanged glances, feeling a sense of dread for the Radiant Church's future.
Reaching the Saint-level in human form meant that once he transformed, Linley's pure strength, battle qi, defense, and speed would all reach a terrifying level. The ultimate warrior, hailed as the strongest at the Saint-level, was no joke.
With such a strong foundation, combined with Linley's 'Wind Essence' and 'Earth Essence,'
By the time Linley's human form stepped into the Saint-level, his comprehension of those two essences would surely have advanced further. On top of that, his magic would reach the Saint-level.
In close combat, he would be invincible. In ranged combat, Saint-level magic attacks would be unmatched.
If the enemy used a human wave tactic, a single annihilation magic spell would settle it.
"Too terrifying." Yale and Reynolds shuddered just thinking about it. Linley was already at the Saint-level peak. If all his aspects increased tenfold, who could stop him?
"Let's drop this topic." Linley smiled faintly.
Yale nodded with a laugh. "Third brother, do you know? My father used to keep me busy with this and that all day, but now that he knows I'm with you, he doesn't urge me at all. Instead, he tells me to spend more time with you. I have to say... our Chamber of Commerce really made a killing, getting you as an elder so easily."
Back in the provincial city of Basil, Yale had given Linley an elder's token.
"Even without that token, for your sake, Yale, if anything happened to the Dawson Chamber of Commerce, how could I not help?" Linley said with a smile.
Yale felt a surge of emotion in his heart.
"Well said. Come, cheers." Yale immediately raised his glass, and Linley and Reynolds raised theirs with a laugh.
The human heart was truly hard to fathom, especially as they grew older. Linley, Yale, and Reynolds could no longer easily trust others. But for the brothers who had spent their carefree youth together, they had absolute trust in their hearts.
In life, to have a kindred spirit as a brother—
It was very fortunate. Linley and the others all had such good brothers.
"Third brother," Reynolds said with a pout. "You made a huge splash at the Colosseum this time. Even our Dunstan family sent someone to pay respects to you."
"Sent someone?" Linley was startled. "Who?"
"One of my uncles." Reynolds waved dismissively. "But he never even got to see you."
Linley nodded. During this period, he had refused to see anyone who came to visit him, not even members of the royal family.
"If your family really wants to see me, let me know first, and I can meet them." He had to give face to his good brother.
"No need." Reynolds shook his head. "I really can't stand those people in my family. Anyway, now that you're formidable, third brother, my life is much better. In the family, a lot of people treat me much nicer. They all know I'm your good brother." Reynolds grinned at Linley. "Third brother, if anything good comes up in the future, you have to look out for me."
"You rascal." Seeing Reynolds' cheeky grin, Linley couldn't help but scold with a laugh. "You've been in the army for seven or eight years, and you're still like this!"
Back in the day, among the four brothers of Dormitory 1987, Reynolds was the one who feared nothing and dared to do anything.
"In front of you, third brother, and big brother, I'm like this. But in front of my soldiers, I keep a straight face." Reynolds deliberately put on a stern expression.
He had to admit, when Reynolds put on a serious face and fixed his gaze, he really did have the bearing of a soldier.
...
After chatting and laughing with his good brothers for a while, Linley's expression turned serious. "Big brother Yale, Reynolds, there's something I need your help planning."
"What is it?" Reynolds and Yale both looked at Linley.
At Linley's level, what could he still need to worry about?
"It's about my younger brother. That day, Emperor Johann publicly announced at the Colosseum that on March fifteenth, he would declare in the Martial Arts Hall who the Seventh Princess would marry!" Linley's face was very grave.
Yale and Reynolds nodded slightly.
"My brother Woton has deep feelings for the Seventh Princess. If he loses her, I'm afraid he'll suffer for a long, long time. I don't want that to happen to my brother." Linley's voice dropped low.
Yale and Reynolds exchanged a glance.
They still remembered how, when Linley broke up with Alice back then, he coughed up blood in pain, especially during those ten days and nights without eating or drinking, when he completed the stone sculpture 'Awakening from a Dream.'
Although Linley never said much, they both understood that that incident had hurt him deeply.
"Third brother, just tell us what you need us to do." Yale spoke directly, and Reynolds nodded beside him.
Linley nodded. "I'm preparing for two possibilities. If His Majesty Johann chooses my brother, then all is well. But... if he chooses Bloomer."
Linley's face turned cold.
"Then I won't care about the emperor, nor about how powerful Bloomer's brother is. I'll directly snatch the Seventh Princess for my brother and let him elope with her. Anyone who tries to stop me, I'll kill!" Killing intent surged in Linley's eyes.
Reynolds and Yale both shuddered inwardly.
Others didn't know, but they were well aware that the five Barker brothers Linley had brought were actually Undying Warriors. Among these five, three had Saint-level strength. There was also the Hegemonic Blackcloud Panther and Bebe.
Six Saint-level experts!
If they went berserk—especially Bebe, whose strength was no less than Linley's—and six Saint-level experts rampaged through the imperial capital, the city would truly be thrown into chaos.
"I hope His Majesty chooses Woton." Yale and Reynolds both silently wished.
"Third brother," Yale said seriously, looking at Linley. "Don't worry. Even if we have to snatch the Seventh Princess, it doesn't have to come to that extreme."
"I know." Linley smiled faintly. "I only said I'd kill if someone tried to stop me. When it comes to the various affairs in the imperial capital, you and your families are far more knowledgeable than my brother and me. That's why I'm asking you two to help me think this through."
The Dunstan family and the Dawson family had extremely deep roots. They knew a great deal about everything in the imperial capital.
"Don't worry about this, third brother. My Dawson Chamber of Commerce has quite a few people in the imperial capital. Even some of the attendants and maids in the palace follow my Dawson Chamber of Commerce's orders." Yale said confidently.
Money could move the gods. The power of gold was immense.
"I'll go back and talk to my father. Don't worry, he'll definitely help you." Yale smiled.
Linley was certain of that.
The head of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce would gain nothing by leaking this to the emperor. After all, the Dawson Chamber of Commerce didn't lack money. As for experts... the emperor couldn't order a Saint-level expert to serve the Dawson Chamber of Commerce, could he?
"Reynolds, you handle the military side best. My family's strength is mainly in the army." Reynolds knew his limits.
Linley nodded.
"Then I'll leave it to you, big brother Yale." Linley said solemnly.
Yale nodded confidently.
After his parents died, Linley only had Woton as family. No matter what, he would not let his brother be hurt. If His Majesty Johann chose Woton, that would be for the best. If not... Linley would not hesitate to expose his side's terrifying strength and forcibly take Nina away.