Returning to the Mysterious Era-Chapter 481 - True Beauty, Evil Mother

Rumble, rumble...

Two carriages passed by slowly, one ahead of the other. Only Soss's and Nien's carriages remained.

Soss's gaze had been frightened into clarity. His former fury had been crushed by terror. The blood veins that had once filled half his eyes were now barely a faint circle around his sockets. He felt as though his heart and body had been submerged in ice water.

He now realized that he and White Aster were worlds apart.

What was he? Merely a Dark Gold Hunter whose potential had been exhausted, at best a decent combat force. Though he once had a royal background, he had failed in the Shadow Hunter competition, and the side effects of gambling everything on boosting his strength had caused it to fall. In other words, he no longer had any training value. At this point, the royal family would be sure to squeeze any remaining gains from him to recoup its losses. Thus, he no longer truly possessed the royal family's backing.

He was only coasting on past inertia, wearing the fading veneer of a prodigy. In a year or two, even that outer shell would peel away and a gaunt, hollow lion would be revealed beneath.

But White Aster? He was a Shadow Hunter, ranked near the top as Number Two, which was several major levels above Soss. Coupled with his role as Director of the Treatment Ward, he not only possessed formidable strength but also wielded real authority. He was exactly as Nien had called him: Lord Blood Fist. Indeed, White Aster had become a big figure. Someone like Soss could, at best, compare to one of his commanders...

In truth, Soss was overthinking it and giving himself far too much credit.

A commander?

Each newly appointed commander of the Treatment Ward had Shadow Hunter-level strength and possessed unique lethal tactics and special abilities. Even before Cassius released them from the Savage Beast Den, they had been vicious criminals confined to the third level. Their beast transformation had elevated their combat ability to near the Shadow Hunter threshold, requiring the Director of the Treatment Ward himself to subdue them.

There were plenty at Soss's Dark Gold Hunter level among the ward's elite doctors, and that number only continued to rise as they trained with the Golem Seed and grew more proficient with their Golem totem abilities.

Soss sat in his carriage with gold-patterned trimmings and spoke in a low, chilly voice. "I'm feeling unwell. We're returning to the manor."

The coachman paused, then obediently complied, turning the carriage around and heading back the way they had come.

"Heh..." In the other black carriage, Nien let out a faint chuckle. He had already resolved to share this entertaining drama with his friends. Such an amusing incident would make excellent conversation fuel, especially since the embarrassed lead happened to be Soss, whom Nien disliked.

"Heh heh." He snickered triumphantly, eyeing the grand estate building in the distance. He wondered whether the rumor that the Ninth Princess Angela would approach the Number Two Shadow Hunter was true. He planned to keep a discreet eye on things so he could brag vividly to his friends later.

***

At 5:58 p.m., a white hall was brightly lit by wrought-iron sconces hanging at intervals along the walls. The intricately carved sconces were shaped like flower petals and gilded in gold paint. The open flames burned cleanly without smoke and their glow flooded the area with warm light.

A soft carpet made of high-quality animal pelts from the northern region covered the entire floor. Its fur was so plush and pure it could be used as bedding but now, it merely lay under people's feet.

Two or three long, narrow black tables stood separated in the center of the hall, each draped in white cloth and set with silver goblets, floral arrangements, fruit platters, and various snacks. Some tables also offered beverages for the guests to help themselves to.

The banquet was about to begin. Guests mingled around the hall, exuding elegance in their lavish attire.

Women in expensive gowns with trailing hemlines styled their hair in graceful updos. Some wore black gloves, allowing glimpses of pale, delicate hands beneath. They spoke softly and giggled quietly together.

The men's attire fell into two categories: older aristocrats wore traditional noble garments with lavish white lace at the collars and cuffs, while the newer aristocrats and council officials donned close-fitting tailcoats, primarily black with various secondary colors and patterns. They were all impeccably dressed, gathering in small groups of two or three to discuss current affairs.

A band in the corner of the hall played gentle, lilting melodies through the air like a smooth stream. A few latecomers trickled inside, wearing polite smiles and greeting acquaintances.

At 5:59 p.m., two figures arrived right on time, stepping into the hall.

They differed from the typical guests, having utterly ignored the formal dress code and instead wearing clothes with striking personal flair.

On the left, the slightly shorter figure wore a neat, practical hunting outfit in pale black, apparently designed for tracking game. The man on the right had gone even simpler, wearing nothing but a large, black overcoat.

It had no adornment, just that stark, icy black color.

It was Aaron and Cassius. After parking their carriage, they had exchanged a few words; Aaron had chattered at length, delivering everything the Chief Mechanist had instructed him to share—such as how the Chief Mechanist handled countless tasks daily and was a workaholic, so he would not arrive at the banquet until 7:00 p.m., hoping Cassius would understand.

Cassius did not mind. He happened to be in a good mood. One of his goals for the current time-travel journey, the bronze key, was about to be his.

Once he acquired the key, Cassius would depart for the Alphama Mountains. He had already dispatched his elite subordinates to Shire County to search for traces of the Kupan Demon Box, trusting his two commanders would not disappoint him.

As they walked through the corridor and into the banquet hall, they were met by the curious gazes of many guests. An older man who had been chatting with some VIPs immediately hurried over. His hair and beard were meticulously groomed, and he radiated vigor. He held a purple cane in his right hand and wore a family ring adorned with a giant bear emblem, signifying the Augustus family.

The white-haired aristocrat was none other than Duke Augustus. Though he held a lofty position that wielded significant power, he was wearing a bright smile that radiated hospitality. He walked forward with a steady step, arms open like a benevolent, kind elder.

"Oh, you have finally arrived, Mister Aaron, Mister White Aster..." Duke Augustus welcomed.

Aaron laughed heartily and walked up to give Duke Augustus a robust hug. Aaron had always practiced the royal court's rapier arts and was considered a disciple of that royal fencing master. Since the duke shared a connection with that master, Aaron made sure to show respect. Besides, with his gregarious nature, Aaron had already attended numerous banquets and enjoyed a personal rapport with Duke Augustus.

They counted as half-friends, so to speak, even though one was in his sixties while the other was only in his twenties.

When they finished, Duke Augustus turned to regard Cassius, whose aura remained as cold as ever. The duke kept smiling, nodding politely. "Mister White Aster, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a great deal about you these past few days. You have achieved extraordinary feats so soon after succeeding as Director of the Treatment Ward. Impressive indeed."

Duke Augustus raised his arm, indicating a smaller circle deeper in the hall where only a few people stood. "Gentlemen, this way, please."

Cassius gave a slight smile, his blue eyes surveying the duke. He thought the man was intriguing; he was skilled at reading others without making his guests uneasy. His flattery and hospitality were measured, cordial yet preserving his own ducal dignity. No wonder this banquet of his was so renowned.

It had enjoyed an excellent reputation in Florence's upper circles for over a decade.

The three of them proceeded to a certain area of the hall. Smiling, Duke Augustus began introducing Cassius to various distinguished guests, including a noble marquis, a leading parliamentary member, and a prominent figure among the new aristocracy. In short, every one of them could be considered a major player and an essential pillar in Florence's high society.

That was the nature of these Florence gatherings. The major figures gathered in one corner, casually trading tidbits that would be earth-shattering secrets for common folk. Meanwhile, other guests formed similar circles elsewhere. Aristocrats and council members of status and power discussed business and potential collaborations; noble ladies gossiped about new and exciting trends in style or music; and clusters of the younger generation convened around a few standout talents to talk of dining, entertainment, and rumors.

For instance, at that moment, a circle of young aristocrats had formed. The curly, brown-haired Nien was eagerly relating the recent drama to his companions and clearly relishing it.

"Soss actually clashed with that Number Two Shadow Hunter, can you believe it...?"

"Is he just bitter over losing in the Shadow Hunter contest?"

"And now he's leaving the banquet claiming he's unwell? Probably can't bear to watch the Ninth Princess chatting so happily with Lord Blood Fist..."

"Heh heh heh..."

Quite a few younger nobles were reveling in his misfortune. Though some kept quiet, others were bold enough to kick a man when he was down, evidently delighted by Soss's downfall. Likely, Soss had been too arrogant and conceited when he was flourishing. Now that he was in decline, it was only natural that people would mock him.

On the left side of the hall, a group of refined ladies and noblewomen had gathered together.

"That Number Two Shadow Hunter is shockingly young. He also looks tall and handsome, with an icy aura." A curvaceous noblewoman held her wine glass, gazing toward the right side of the hall.

White Aster stood among the older dignitaries like a crane among chickens. His sharply defined profile looked unusually striking, emanating a forceful, cold aura that made him stand out.

"Yes, indeed, so young. No one knows which family's daughter might end up marrying him, but I'd wager it'll be someone from a major noble house..." Another noblewoman beside her spoke softly.

"Have you not heard the rumors? They say the royal family intends to wed the Ninth Princess Angela..." The third noblewoman began gossiping in hushed tones. frёeωebɳovel.com

In the soothing strains of music, half an hour slipped by. It was now 6:30 p.m.

A strikingly lovely figure suddenly entered from the outer corridor.

All eyes turned in her direction.

She was a pretty girl of about nineteen or twenty, clad in a lavish pale-green court dress. It was tailored to fit snugly and accent her smooth, snow-white calves, reminiscent of sunlit sheets of ice on the ocean's surface. The lace at her bodice rose in gentle curves, hinting at a generous expanse of fair skin.

She was Ninth Princess Angela, the jewel of the Hongli Empire's royal family. She had radiant and enchanting features. She made her way into the hall with a polished smile. Various aristocratic acquaintances tried greeting her midway, inviting her to join them. She politely declined as her target was clear—the circle where White Aster stood in the corner.

Within seconds, the princess, under many a watchful gaze, approached White Aster with a flawless smile and spoke in a clear, melodious tone.

"Hello, Mister White Aster. A pleasure to meet you. You may call me Angela, or Muse."

Cassius merely nodded when met by her emerald gaze. "Hello."

From that moment on, Cassius did not speak a single further word to Ninth Princess Angela. He was too engaged in conversation with the noble lords and leading council members, partly because he wanted to figure out which high-level figures in the royal family and parliament might have sided with the Gate Organization. After all, the fiasco of Florence's dark creature experimentation proved that there were internal issues.

Ninth Princess Angela maintained her poised smile for those thirty minutes until her cheeks nearly cramped. She could hardly interject in their conversation by herself. Now and then, she responded briefly to some point Duke Augustus posed to her to clearly help ease the awkwardness.

She had wanted to initiate conversation with Cassius, but her pride as a princess held her back. As a result, she awkwardly stood there like a decorative vase. After enduring for around thirty minutes, Angela finally gave in and went to rest on a nearby couch.

Her emerald eyes fell on Cassius's imposing figure from behind, and she felt a twinge of defeat. Meanwhile, Cassius continued talking with the duke and council members, showing no interest in Angela at all.

He had steadily shed many worldly desires in his ongoing journey to the realm of Holy Fist, growing more focused. Matters of romance hardly stirred him anymore.

In fact, whether it was due to the deepening influence of his Golem Covert Martial Arts or not, he found Evil Mother far more attractive than Angela. Just imagining that full-figured, two-meter-tall frame, the black totems, the bewitching face, and six arms...

He suspected that she would be considered a true beauty even in the world of monsters!

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