"Grandfather... Why are you standing here?"Ernesta's face drained of color the moment she stepped out and saw Master Mentos. Right behind her, Benjamin's eyes narrowed, feeling the overwhelming aura directed menacingly at him."What's this? Why can't I stand here?"The elderly Lord Mentos didn't answer his granddaughter's inquiry.Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly, a mischievous smile playing on the corner of his lips.Seeing his demeanor, Ernesta's cheeks flushed with even more vigor, her countenance becoming utterly flustered."Grandfather, I... I..."Caught off guard, Ernesta was at a loss for how to respond to him.Moments before, having seen this young lady exuding such confidence in the room, Benjamin had thought her to be a formidable spirit.Yet now, seeing her awkward state, Benjamin had to suppress the urge to chuckle.However, before he could bask in that amusing sight for long, the patriarch's gaze had shifted back to him."My dear, aren't you going to introduce this yo
Fortune favored him. At that exact moment, Ernesta's gaze shifted backward. There was a tinge of impatience in her demeanor as she waved her hand dismissively and remarked: "Why are you lagging so behind? Hurry up!"The countenance of the middle-aged man instantly softened, a stark contrast to the menacing expression he wore just moments before.And Benjamin, sensing a reprieve, hurriedly distanced himself from the somewhat peculiar man.Upon departing the Mentos' residence, Ernesta took him on a tour around the city of Kistna. This city stood over a hundred kilometers to the northeast of the capital. Interestingly, it was located on a peninsula, separated by a wide sea channel spanning fifty to sixty miles.How did he end up in such a remote place, especially in the young lady’s room of the Mentos family? The Mentos clan held more than half of the city's assets, and the family's wealth was unimaginably vast. Even though Ernesta never disclosed the exact figures, Benjamin's guesstimat
Before Walter could craft a response, the old lady's wrathful voice thundered once again, which seemed rather surprising to Benjamin, who had always thought of her as a gentle, approachable soul. However, witnessing this confrontation, a stiff expression gradually settled on his face."Grandmother, please, calm your anger!" he attempted to mediate: "We spoke yesterday of our concerns for your health. If you wish to walk outside, Linda can accompany you. She even mentioned some delightful places in the city!"Yet, as the young girl named Linda tried to calm the waters, her words only seemed to pacify the old lady slightly, her gaze still bitterly cold as it landed on her son."Hmph, what do you know, child? I've frequented those places you speak of. What truly captivates me is wandering the world, admiring its wonders, and witnessing humanity's marvels. Not the cheap amusements you think can appease me. And most of all, I relish observing the fates of others. Their life's ups and downs
"Enough, enough! If the boy is destined for the relic, let him keep it for now. I'm tired and wish to rest." the old lady declared, waving her hand dismissively, disappearing even more mysteriously than Mr. Jackson."Leon, Ernesta, let's end today's affairs here. We'll meet again if fate allows. Linda, see the guests out."Noticing the elders' departure, Walter's face was shadowed with concern.He witnessed a reluctant smile flicker across the old man's face, followed by a casual wave, signaling his daughter to escort the three, including Benjamin, out.The old man, left to his own devices, carefully sealed the chamber's door, leaving it a mystery as to what he was planning to do in such solitude.Stepping out into the palpable tension of the outdoors, it was Ernesta who finally broke the silence: "Linda, thank you. Escorting us this far is enough. Should the winds favor it, I'll return to visit once more.""Of course." was the reply.Only upon hearing Ernesta's voice did young Linda
"Grandfather, come quickly! Has he practiced his martial arts to the point of madness? His entire body feels like it's on fire, and he looks like he's on death's doorstep."Ernesta's voice and her grandfather’s echoed from outside. The urgency in their steps was palpable."Wasn't everything fine just yesterday? You even said he had a bright future!"The old man, Mr. Mentos, chimed in, his tone mocking, as if mimicking his granddaughter's previous words. Ernesta's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and indignation: "Are you teasing me again, Grandfather?"Seeing Ernesta's reaction, the old man chuckled heartily. But their laughter was short-lived. As soon as they laid eyes on Benjamin, Mr. Mentos's face paled with shock."What's happened to him?" Ernesta's voice quivered with worry.After checking Benjamin's pulse, the old man sighed deeply: "It's too late, my dear. Remember the marriage proposal we discussed? Perhaps you should consider it. I'm afraid your friend here won't be with us
The room's temperature was bone-chilling, causing Ernesta's teeth to chatter slightly.She didn't dare to linger in Benjamin's room and quickly took her leave.Watching the retreating silhouette of the Mentos heiress disappearing down the corridor, Benjamin swiftly recentered his emotions.He securely closed the door behind him, casting his gaze about the room."It seems their family has invested quite some effort into this." he mused, looking at the state of the bedroom. Benjamin silently clicked his tongue in disapproval, shaking his head.However, he didn't dwell on it for long. On the contrary, the current conditions were rather conducive to his meditation, suppressing the fiery energy within him.Thus, after a brief inspection, Benjamin once again settled on the bed to meditate.Time's passage seemed monotonous and dull during his meditation. But for Benjamin, this period granted him much-needed tranquility.Every day, young mistress Ernesta would visit him. Mostly, she checked t
The room's temperature was bone-chilling, causing Ernesta's teeth to chatter slightly.She didn't dare to linger in Benjamin's room and quickly took her leave.Watching the retreating silhouette of the Mentos heiress disappearing down the corridor, Benjamin swiftly recentered his emotions.He securely closed the door behind him, casting his gaze about the room."It seems their family has invested quite some effort into this." he mused, looking at the state of the bedroom. Benjamin silently clicked his tongue in disapproval, shaking his head.However, he didn't dwell on it for long. On the contrary, the current conditions were rather conducive to his meditation, suppressing the fiery energy within him.Thus, after a brief inspection, Benjamin once again settled on the bed to meditate.Time's passage seemed monotonous and dull during his meditation. But for Benjamin, this period granted him much-needed tranquility.Every day, young mistress Ernesta would visit him. Mostly, she checked t
Ernesta's voice rang out again, irritation evident: "Benjamin, what's the matter with you? You nearly crushed my cousin hand! Do you realize that?"The color drained from Benjamin's face. But he quickly recovered, scratching his nose: "I apologize. I felt a sudden discomfort. Perhaps I overexerted myself in recent training."Though not entirely convinced by his own excuse, he directed a sheepish smile at both ladies, conveying his regret. Without another word, he retreated to his previously arranged room, securing the door behind him.Not immediately resuming his meditation, Benjamin cautiously surveyed his surroundings, ensuring no surveillance devices. Reassured, he seated himself, gaze fixed on the door.As expected, soft footsteps sounded outside. A gentle voice soon followed: "Are you there?"Recognizing Ernesta's cousin, Tryphena's voice, his heart raced. What did she want? And how come Ernesta seemed unaware of their whispered conversation earlier?Despite his apprehensions, Be
Benjamin, unbeknownst to him, was oblivious to the demonic prince's frenzy over the armor. He held in his hand a command token, under which lay a somewhat tragic corpse. However, a familiar energy emanated from the token, causing his brows to furrow deeply, for a voice resounded urgently within his mind."Chirp chirp!"Deep in thought, Benjamin was roused by Alan's voice. The creature, now the size of a sparrow, perched gracefully upon his shoulder.Recognizing the intention behind the creature's head rubbing against him, a tender smile graced Benjamin's lips: "You did wonderfully." he praised."Chirp chirp!"In response, Alan regurgitated an ancient ring which landed deftly in Benjamin's palm. As it touched his skin, the ring transformed into a golden glow, wrapping around his finger. It was the space ring Benjamin had discovered in the Dragon Palace. Although the spirit inside was dormant, its basic functions remained accessible.Earlier, Benjamin had entrusted this ring to Alan to
Instantly, his face became grave. Only now did he discern the fading form of Alan, with even the flames upon it having waned by more than half. Yet, what was most alarming was the emanating ominous aura from the Demon God's heart, causing Benjamin to jolt and hurriedly shout,"Elder!""Hm?!"Hearing Benjamin's call, an ethereal figure suddenly appeared outside the central region of the altar. Its gaze locked onto the sealed space above the altar."Ha ha ha, foolish humans, my true form is almost here. Once it arrives, I'll reduce the both of you to mere ashes!"Sensing the familiar aura steadily nearing the altar, the Demon God's heart laughed triumphantly.However, a languid voice suddenly intervened,"Quiet!"Following which, an overpowering force, emanating from Benjamin, suddenly descended, shattering the very core of the heart."AHH!"A scream echoed from within. Simultaneously, an ethereal figure, eyes filled with disbelief, turned towards the altar."What is this force?!"Feeli
Boom!Boom!Several blows in succession, and Benjamin had lost track of time. But at this moment, cracks began to appear on the wall before him. They spread and widened until finally, with a full-force punch, the wall collapsed. A vast space revealed itself, stretching out before his eyes.Here, Benjamin beheld a huge sacrificial altar, filling almost the entire space. Above the altar hung a heart. Though he could not ascertain from what creature it was taken, its appearance allowed him to sense an incredibly evil energy, pervading the entire space.Moreover, this evil energy made his mind reel slightly. Were it not for his strong will, Benjamin feared he would have been bewitched by the heart.Instantly, his face marked with caution, he retreated a few steps."This is truly bizarre? How could such an altar appear here?"But just then, stepping back some twenty meters, a sound of great astonishment suddenly came from behind him.Startled, Benjamin quickly turned to see the people who
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man with blonde hair and glasses, holding a laptop, arrived looking somewhat harried and sleep-deprived. He looked toward Red, placed his hand over his chest, and rapidly spoke.“Prince Red, why have you summoned me here? My research is on the brink of completion, needing only one final step. If there's nothing urgent, I would like to return and continue with my work.”After speaking, the middle-aged man seemed incredibly impatient, ready to turn and leave.Seeing this, Red felt slightly annoyed but did not show anger. Instead, his face bore a placating expression, and he hastily replied.“Mr. Steven, I genuinely have a very important matter that requires your assistance. Agat and Orange are in trouble in New Braum, and I want you to go there and bring them back. What do you think?”Red's attitude was extremely humble, a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance and pride.However, Steven seemed not to care, his eyes sweeping the control room in a glan
However, Steven seemed uninterested, his eyes sweeping the control room before he spoke, a little annoyed.“Your Highness Red, such a trivial matter, and you call me here? If you feel overly bored, I can help you with some training time. Within the next twenty-four hours, I assure you that the time spent will not be wasted at all!”Hearing this, Red's eyes showed a hint of fear.Although the man was just a human, his strength was not particularly great. However, Steven's status in the kingdom was very special. He was a scholar, and his creativity was terrifying.Hundreds of years ago, when the kingdom of Autuman was just a small tribe on the planet Namec, their king, then a young man, luckily rescued a human, and this human was the middle-aged man before him, Steven.Harnessing the terrifying breadth of Steven's intellect, in less than a decade, Autuman evolved from a minor tribe, nestled in the wilderness of planet Namec, into a mighty empire. They conquered the entirety of Namec, an
Boom!Boom!Boom!Blood painted the sky, and countless pieces of metal debris littered the ground.A smirk formed on Benjamin's lips. He hadn't expected that after such a long slumber, its power had grown so immense.However, the sight of the scattered armor shards pained him.Such high-quality armor pieces, capable of enhancing a warrior's strength and providing incredible defense, were now in ruins. For someone of Benjamin's caliber, these armors might not pose much challenge, but if equipped by his soldiers, they would have been invaluable assets, exponentially amplifying their combat prowess.Although he felt a twinge of regret, Benjamin didn't blame Alan. Instead, he commended him."Alan, you did splendidly!""Chirp, chirp!"As Benjamin's praise graced his ears, a rush of exhilaration surged through Alan. In mere moments, his form swiftly contracted, taking on the delicate guise of a sparrow, which alighted on Benjamin's shoulder, its chirps melodious and relentless.Witnessing s
"Ha ha ha, I was merely jesting with you." he laughed with ease, his eyes dancing mischievously: "No need to take it so seriously. Anyway, feel free to examine it. It's now mine, and even if you wish, you cannot claim it."With a boisterous laugh, Benjamin, brimming with amusement, effortlessly tossed a ring towards her.Catching a glimpse of his action, a pang of surprise coursed through Fidelma. Still, she reached out, catching the item.Holding the ornate ring in her hand, she felt a strange force emanating from within. The intricate designs adorning it suggested an ancient aura. Fidelma could confidently deduce that this was a space treasure. Its grade was undoubtedly high, surpassing any artifact she had previously encountered in the annals or in the treasury of the Moonlight Religious Sect."Done examining?" His voice hinted at impatience: "If so, kindly return it."Watching Fidelma cradle the ring, almost reluctant to release it, a twitch of amusement played on Benjamin's lips.
Now, even though its headpiece had been severed, it was still far more complete than the other armors.Without hesitation, he approached, with a mere thought, his storage ring's light flared. The entire armor, along with the leader's corpse, was drawn into it.He then surveyed the surroundings once more, detecting no anomalies. Benjamin then proceeded towards Dermot's wooden house atop the hill."Boss, you're not hurt, are you?" asked Azaria, eyeing Benjamin's bloodstained appearance with a hint of concern.Benjamin glanced at him and shook his head."I'm fine; go rest. Tonight, there may be more to do. I'll handle it myself." he said, continuing straight to Dermot's bedroom.Upon seeing Benjamin's bloodied state, Irina suddenly rushed over, her face filled with alarm. She hastily grabbed his hand, her expression fraught with concern."You...you're alright?" she stammered.Seeing her worry, Benjamin merely shook his head without verbally responding. Meanwhile, Dermot emerged from the
Although puzzled, Benjamin refrained from questioning her outright. Instead, his gaze swept the room. Aside from scattered clothing and discarded food on the floor, nothing seemed amiss. It was logical. After all, someone fleeing in a hurry wouldn't leave traces behind."Where did the woman who was in your room go?" he inquired, his sudden question startling Irina, making her let out a soft gasp.At her reaction, Benjamin's eyebrows furrowed, his gaze growing wary: "What did you ask?" she stammered, fear evident in her voice.Reiterating his query but with more firmness, he watched as Irina visibly shrank back, finally murmuring: "She...she said she had something to do and left. Can...can you not look at me like that? I'm truly scared."Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, every word dripping with fear. Benjamin felt a pang of confusion but, before he could react, she threw herself at him, gripping him tightly: "Please don't go. I'm truly terrified. This place... I can't bear to