Chapter 251: The "Loyal Dog" Climb, Lana, and Blue Rose
*Gudongdong—*
A luxurious carriage traveled along the main road of the Royal Capital, its rolling wheels creating a slight vibration against the stone-paved street.
After leaving the unpaved area where "Free Will" was stationed and reaching the main road, the young man driving the carriage felt his tense nerves relax ever so slightly.
This was a medium-sized carriage pulled by two sturdy horses. It was exceptionally spacious, enough for four people, which also meant it wasn't easy to handle.
The young man gripped the reins tightly, controlling the speed and direction of the two horses. He could feel that the horses were unusually easy to control today.
*Was it because of that monster?*
The young man glanced cautiously out of the corner of his eye at the two-meter-tall Evil Spirit Hound trotting alongside the left of the carriage. Even the sturdy horses seemed petite in front of an Evil Spirit Hound of this size.
The young man had short, neat golden hair. Above his slightly upturned *sanpaku* eyes were thick, dark eyebrows. Although he looked to be about the same age as Enri, he possessed a composure that far exceeded his years.
Inside the carriage.
The Green Leaf Witch and Enri sat on opposite sides. One was expressionless, showing no change in emotion, while the other was somewhat excited and fidgety.
"Climb."
When Tang Zheng realized the one driving the carriage was the "Loyal Dog," a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes.
Climb's luxurious carriage had been sent by the Golden Princess. It was a complicated matter for outsiders to enter the Royal Palace under normal circumstances.
Moreover, the layout of the Royal Palace was complex. Without a familiar guide, it was easy to get lost and cause unnecessary trouble. After all, this was merely a private invitation from the Golden Princess.
*"So Climb was saved by the Golden Princess this early on,"* this thought flashed through Tang Zheng's mind.
He only remembered that because she lacked the unconventional idea of an "equal," the Golden Princess's mind had suffered, leading to anorexia and a slow march toward death.
If she hadn't accidentally found her "Loyal Dog," gaining comfort and satisfaction, she might very well have starved herself to death.
Of course, such a situation was unlikely to happen. The Royal Family wouldn't let the Golden Princess starve herself.
*"Their ages aren't very high right now. Based on the timeline, they should both be only 12, same as Enri. Climb should be a little younger."*
*"No, it's three years before the New Calendar, so they should be 13. That is, if the Otherworld doesn't differentiate between actual age and nominal age."*
Tang Zheng gently tapped his fingers on his knee.
They didn't look old, but their appearances didn't match what one would expect for their age. People in the Otherworld did indeed look a bit more mature.
The luxurious carriage soon drove into the Royal Capital.
Since arrangements had been made in advance, they encountered no obstacles. However, they were stopped as they neared the inner part of the Royal Capital.
The problem was the Evil Spirit Hound. In the end, however, the group was allowed to pass after presenting a letter from the Golden Princess as proof.
The Palace corridor.
Climb straightened his back, a serious expression on his face as he led the way. The chainmail lining under his armor scraped together, making a faint metallic sound.
"Sorry to trouble you earlier with Xiao Hei's matter," Tang Zheng said with a smile, following behind him at a steady pace.
When they were stopped earlier, Climb had argued on their behalf, but it wasn't as effective as the letter personally written by the Golden Princess.
Climb's pace slowed for a moment. His voice was stiff. "I am simply following Her Highness the Princess's orders to bring you to her. It is what I am supposed to do!"
"Alright," Tang Zheng shrugged.
The Climb before him was still too green. Even though he tried to make his expression and tone formal, he couldn't hide his displeasure toward their group.
As for why? It wasn't hard to guess.
Tang Zheng, relaxed and unconcerned, glanced around, admiring the beautiful scenery of the Royal Capital.
Climb walked ahead sullenly.
He truly disliked the people behind him. To meet the Princess without even wearing formal attire was an extremely discourteous act. And that large monster, the Evil Spirit Hound, had even been brought into the Royal Palace.
Climb saw this as a sign of disrespect toward Renner.
However, "Free Will" were his master's guests.
Climb felt that if it were Miss Leinas, she would likely have forbidden such behavior without hesitation, but...
He had no right to make decisions for his master, nor did he have the strength. That Evil Spirit Hound was a creature he couldn't stop even if he put his life on the line.
If he were to recklessly voice his inner thoughts, not only might it cause trouble for his master, but it could also earn him their contempt.
No matter what, he could not bring shame to his master.
Climb's back straightened once more. Even his stride changed slightly, forcibly creating a unique kind of imposing aura.
In this strange atmosphere, the group arrived at the palace where Renner resided.
The elite soldiers and knights who normally stood guard on both sides of the corridor gradually disappeared, and the number of maids noticeably increased.
Faced with the arrival of Tang Zheng's party, these maids all displayed the grand etiquette of the Royal House. Each wore a smile, and even as a terrifying monster like the Evil Spirit Hound passed by, they only trembled slightly, their facial expressions remaining unchanged.
Enri was already dazzled by the sight. She subconsciously and flusteredly returned the maids' kind smiles with a greeting.
In any other place, this would have certainly been a laughing matter.
*So Climb thought to himself.* However, no one on the scene laughed. His serious *sanpaku* eyes swept over the maids, and he couldn't help but snort inwardly.
When the maids usually saw him, they would always put on a stern face, sometimes even showing hostility.
Climb naturally knew the reason. Because of his relationship with the Princess, his position in the Royal Palace was actually somewhat special.
Unlike him, these maids were all of noble birth. The very thought of having to bow and scrape to a man lower than a commoner like him... it was a sign of their good breeding that they didn't let their anger show on their faces.
He knew these maids too well, so he could naturally tell that the smiles on their faces were not perfunctory, but genuine.
It was directed at the people from "Free Will"... or to be precise, at their leader named Tang.
Whether it was the expensive "Regeneration Potion" with its excellent healing effects, which was being snapped up by major nobles, or the matter of easily dispatching large numbers of evil adventurers and mercenaries during various attacks... his exploits were widely sung among the populace.
The man also seemed to be of commoner birth; at least, the rumors he heard mentioned no noble background or status. In short, he was quite a remarkable person.
On this point, even though Climb's favorability toward the members of "Free Will" had dropped considerably due to the matter of the formal attire and such, he had to admit it.
Without noble status, one could still earn respect through their own strength and reputation, just like Mr. Gazef.
From the bottom of his heart, Climb wanted to become such a person.
While he was lost in thought, the group had already arrived at the entrance to the Great Hall.
Two wide, heavy doors with a silvery metallic sheen were closed shut. Aside from their exquisite patterns, the most eye-catching feature was a huge tapestry hanging on the doorframe.
Embroidered on it was the crest of the Royal House: a white, ox-like illustration on a black background. This was also the national flag of the Re-Estize Kingdom.
*Knock! Knock!*
Climb knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in." A melodious voice, like the dripping of morning dew, came from within the Great Hall.
Only then did Climb gently push the door open.
Tang Zheng's usual calm showed a rare flicker of change at this moment.
What he had to deal with next wasn't just Renner, but also the people from "Blue Rose." There might not be any danger, but it was a situation that warranted his serious attention.
*Very well! This feels like quite a challenge.*
*Click.*
A luxurious but not ostentatious Great Hall came into view. The floor was paved with pure white stone slabs, with only the central area covered by a thick, exquisite carpet.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the surrounding walls were covered with a layer of satin wallpaper priced in gold coins.
A few sofas were simply arranged on the carpet, with a rather small tea table in the center.
The first thing to catch his eye were the figures of three golden-haired ladies. Two, wearing splendid formal gowns, sat on the sofa, complementing each other perfectly. The third stood behind the sofa, clad in simple soft armor.
Climb merely glanced once before quickly lowering his head. He pushed the door fully open, then proactively stepped to the side, making space for the group from "Free Will".
The two women sitting on the sofa, who seemed to be in the middle of a light chat, raised their heads at the same time.
Renner's golden hair was full of luster, and a bright yellow gem hung as a decoration on her forehead. Her smile was gentle, and her deep blue pupils, filled with curiosity, looked over.
Lakyus also had golden hair, but unlike Renner's smooth tresses, hers was wavy and curled. Her pupils were emerald green, and her gaze toward Tang Zheng's party was full of appraisal.
The moment they both turned their heads, the entire room seemed to dim slightly.
Even though he had anticipated it, Tang Zheng still couldn't help but be stunned upon truly seeing their faces.
His white cleric's robe swayed.
Tang Zheng walked forward with a calm expression, his steps still unhurried. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the other members of "Blue Rose," who were sitting on a sofa near Lakyus's side.
*Awooo.*
The Evil Spirit Hound shook its neck, keeping close to Tang Zheng's side. Despite its pitch-black fur and enormous size, its steps made no loud noises, possessing instead a sense of lightness.
Only the bone chains wrapped around its body slithered over its form like snakes, exuding the terrifying aura of a jungle beast.
Such a vicious monster didn't cause any change in the expressions of the people in the room. Even Renner merely raised a hand to cover her delicate lips.
Lakyus was the first to stand up. Despite the elaborate formal gown she wore, her movements were not hindered in the slightest. A flash of surprise passed through her emerald green pupils.
She had heard Gagaran mention that the leader of "Free Will" was very young, but she hadn't expected him to look about the same age as her.
Black hair and black eyes, and it didn't look dyed. He was indeed rather handsome and seemed to be a gentle person.
Lakyus thought to herself as she introduced herself. Her tone lacked the arrogance of a noble and the softness of a typical woman; instead, it was brisk: "Captain of Blue Rose, Lakyus."
These words, echoing in the Great Hall, in a sense set the tone for the meeting—an invitation from one adventurer to another, not from a noble.
Renner didn't speak next. Her fair hand still covered her lips, as if she were still surprised by the Evil Spirit Hound, while her other hand rested on the skirt on her lap.
"Captain of Free Will, Tang."
Hearing her introduction, Tang Zheng naturally introduced himself as well, a gentle smile appearing on his face:
"I have long heard that the Princess's beauty is like the 'brilliance of gems,' and Captain Lakyus's beauty is like the 'light of life.' Now that I have truly seen you both, I understand the rumors were no exaggeration at all."
At this point, Tang Zheng gave a slight bow to Renner. "May Your Highness's countenance shine as brightly as the morning star."
As soon as these words were spoken, Lakyus's eyebrow twitched. Standing by the door, Climb's expression stiffened even more.
This hardly counted as proper etiquette, nor did it have the subtlety of a noble; the words were a bit too direct.
However, coming from an adventurer, it wasn't a major issue. The adventurers of the Adventurer's Guild and the country were fundamentally separate entities.
Climb took a deep breath.
Not just any adventurer had such a privilege. Ordinary adventurers had best obediently follow etiquette, unless they were a powerful adventurer like the one before him, who could disregard some of the rules.
"The morning star? Thank you."
Renner didn't seem to mind. On the contrary, she looked happy. She glanced cautiously at the Evil Spirit Hound, then stood up, lifting the hem of her skirt with both hands.
Just then, another voice chimed in from the side.
"My, I've long heard that Lord Tang is accompanied by a formidable monster. Judging by its size, it must be far beyond an ordinary Evil Spirit Hound."
"It's been raised well. Is it a higher-tier species of Evil Spirit Hound, an Evil Spirit Hound Alpha?" Gagaran's rough, hearty voice came through.
"Figures. All men are the same," Tia said flatly.
"There are only two men present, right? Tsk, I'm very curious. Do you two think our leader is more beautiful, or Her Highness the Princess?"
Tina deliberately drew out her words, her voice sounding sinister.
The room fell silent again.
"Tina!" Lakyus shot Tina a glare, but her emerald green pupils turned to Tang Zheng.
Climb was somewhat taken aback. In his heart, there was naturally only one answer, but judging by the situation, it seemed no one cared about his response.
*Is it because they already know my answer?*
Facing the gazes fixed upon him, Tang Zheng simply shook his head helplessly. He then looked up at Leinas, who was standing behind Renner. "Long time no see, Miss Leinas."
Huh?
Leinas was stunned. She had thought her Master would pretend not to know her and hadn't expected him to suddenly speak like this at all.
However, after a brief moment of shock, she quickly suppressed her emotions.
"Long time no see, Lord Tang." Leinas was very smart; she immediately realized that Tang Zheng might have other intentions.
The others in the room were somewhat surprised.
Only Renner's eyes flashed, and her fingers, gripping the hem of her skirt, tightened.
The feeling was like a main course, already set out on the table, being suddenly uncovered by someone.
(end of chapter)