Chapter 44 - Not Bad

"Damn it!" Prince Henry threw his cup to the floor the moment Caesar left, "Hey you, how bad is it?"

Michael's guard bowed slightly. "The skin around my master's neck has completely vaporized, sir, but his flesh and veins are fine, it's just an external injury that is not dangerous."

"After all this time he's been burned, the fire hasn't even touched the flesh? that Caesar let go the moment he was done with the skin? this…." one of the more powerful guards voiced as everyone was silent, that's exactly what everyone was thinking.. 'The amount of control over his strength is terrifying!'

"send him to the residence of the Duchy of Tinley to be cured, as for that Caesar..." The prince looked toward the gate and gritted his teeth...

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"Caesar, I hope you excuse me for not intervening, you must have sensed the level of strength of those guards." John Burton apologized.

"It's okay uncle, I understand."

"But… wouldn't you be better off just forgetting about it and leaving? Gaining the enmity of all these doesn't seem like a good idea, especially that prince!!" John was very worried about what had happened, their place as an earl bloodline from another kingdom, gave them no protection here.

"Why would I allow myself to be insulted? I can endure if my opponent is much stronger, but since he is weaker than me why should I give him any face?"

John did not know what to say, *Since he is weaker than me*... He had judged one of the princes of Dolivar to be weaker than him even before they exchanged a single blow? This kind of arrogance...

"by the way, uncle john, how is the situation between the two kingdoms? it can't be too bad as we are attending a tournament here, right?"

"Not bad indeed, but not too good either. we had a lot of small-scale wars on the borders over the years, the last and biggest one so far was about 15 years ago between duke Everen from our side and duke Tinley from theirs... but it ended quickly with no one claiming any piece of the others lands"

Caesar raised his eyebrows," many wars with the last one being less than two decades ago? how is that *not bad*?!"

John shook his head "It will take too much time to speak about the affairs between the kingdom. forget about it, just let's get back to the family residence as soon as possible before we get into another trouble."

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After a few minutes of moving at their top speed, the two of them reached the family residence,

John immediately asked an audience with saint Billy and told him everything.

"Hmmm? This incident is really weird... did you feel something? Maybe they wanted to measure your strength to make plans to deal with you?" Billy looked at Caesar and asked

"I don't know and I don't care either, whatever they throw at me I will just burn it." Caesar shrugged

"Haha, that's the spirit, any way, they wouldn't have exaggerated so much even if you didn't get prince Henry's word, we are officially invited, guests. You can go now and get ready for tomorrow.. We will be going to the main city hall to hear the announcement about the tournament details."

"About this..we heard the prince say something about the *hunting event*" Caesar replied

"Hunting event? Are you sure!? it can't be!!" Billy quickly stood up and shouted

"Is there a problem, Uncle Billy?" Caesar furrowed, Uncle Bailey was always calm and steady, he rarely acted like that

"...no, let's not get ahead of ourselves, go now to rest and tomorrow we'll understand everything." Billy sat down and rubbed his forehead.

Caesar didn't know why his uncle would act this way, but eventually, he bent over slightly then turned to leave, John was about to do the same when he heard Billy's voice, "Not you, John, stay with me for a bit.."

Billy waited until Caesar got out and closed the door, then he turned his head to look at John, "When I heard the story of what happened, I didn't hear your name once.. Were you in the bathroom when this happened?"

"Me? No no.. I was there, I just didn't try to interfere." John replied in a low voice

"Are you an idiot?" Billy raised an eyebrow

"Excuse me?"

"Are.. you.. an idiot?"

"I.. I.. kept quiet so as not to provoke the situation further, there were many guards much stronger than me there!"

"You were appointed as Caesar's guardian! You didn't go out with him just to enjoy beautiful sights and eat at his expense, you fool!! You were supposed to stand in front of Caesar from the first word spoken and try to calm the situation, and if he didn't calm down you would stand to die until Caesar was given a chance to escape..

but you were silent because... you didn't want to agitate the situation? The situation was already raging! Listen... you were given this opportunity thanks to your relationship with Robin, and I will absolve you of punishment this time because of your relationship with him too, but it will be the last! Get the hell out." Billy pointed to the door

"I... realize my mistake." John bowed and then walked out of the room.

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A few hours were nothing for a cultivator, the time of the gathering where the details of the tournament would be officially announced has approached.

Most of those who had come on the Burton Expedition —including their saint billy —gathered together and headed straight for the main city hall...

The roads of the capital were now brimming with life as all those experts passing through them,

with also thousands of mortals and weak cultivators looking lining on both sides of the roads to catch a glimpse of one of those legendary figures.

After about twenty minutes, the Burtons arrived at the hall.

It was a huge golden dome with many entrances and surrounded by heavy security, checking the invitations of anyone wants to enter,

and by chance, one of those that were waiting to check their invitation now was the group of the royal family of the Black Sun kingdom.

"Oh! Your Highness, I didn't expect to meet you now haha" Bailey laughed loudly and led his group towards the royal family's, this was Prince William Marley, one of the oldest and most powerful princes in the Black Sun royal family.

"Hmm? Billy Burton.. ah, Hi." The man smiled slightly then turned to look straight forward again and yelled, "Is your damn *check* over yet?!"

"One moment.. Patience is good." The chief of the guard said with a smile "aaand... done~ you can come in now. see? There was no need for nervousness hehe."

"Bastards of Dolivar..." prince William spat on the ground and entered with his group following him

The chief the guard laughed in a low voice and then looked toward the Burtons and asked with a smile, "Who's next?"