Chapter 258 - Blythe Valenstaine

Leaving the dungeon with their level masked back down to their level 50 state, Shiro saw Chen Yu waiting outside.

"Why are you here?" Shiro raised an eyebrow.

"The branch master told me to follow you to the elven continent to assist you." He sighed. His face looked like a person that had just been told that they'll die.

"Seriously? You don't have to." Shiro frowned slightly.

"I have to because the disciple that we have in the elven continent is rather… strange. It'll be dangerous having her around." Chen Yu replied with a shrug.

"Shiro, who's this?" Lyrica asked.

"This is Lil Chen. Aka Chen Yu. He's the middle man between me and that merchant." Shiro explained.

*cough!

Chen Yu choked on his saliva as he realised that Shiro had regarded the branch master as a merchant at best.

'I'm sorry branch master, seems like your efforts might be in vain.' Chen Yu thought with pity in his heart.

"Hi, I'm Lyrica. Nice to meet you." Lyrica smiled.

"Chen Yu."

As he greeted the party members one by one, he memorised their levels and classes.

'They just exited out of a level 70 dungeon. Surely, their levels would be above 50 already. Must be a disguise item. But doesn't she know that it wouldn't work in the elven continent?' He thought to himself.

He had also removed his disguise since he knew that he'd be found out.

[Chen Yu LVL 57 Phantom Blade]

"Phantom Blade huh? Sounds like an assassin class." Shiro smiled.

"That's because it is an assassin class." Chen Yu rolled his eyes.

"Heh~ Then why don't you just follow us? We're lacking an assassin." Shiro offered.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't want to join you? I'm only doing this because branch master ordered me to." Chen Yu retorted.

"Eh? Even after all the things we went through together?" Shiro grinned.

"Correction, after all the things that YOU put me through, joining you will be the last thing on my mind." Chen Yu sighed.

"Fine fine. Let's go now." Shiro laughed.

Meanwhile, Lyrica watched with a pout and instantly put Chen Yu on her danger list.

"Say Lyrica, Shiro's being quite close with that Chen Yu guy isn't she? She even calls him Lil Chen." Madison whispered over.

". . . Say, it'll be fine as long as he dies of natural causes, right? Or perhaps if he were to somehow disappear in the elven continent?" Lyrica asked with a 'smile'.

"Lyrica don't think about it. Shiro still needs him to talk to the merchant." Madison replied.

"Tch."

Ignoring the fact that Lyrica was plotting his death, Chen Yu followed the group from the back.

"So you've been put through a few situations as well huh?" Silvia smiled apologetically.

"You too?"

"Yeah. It's been a while and I still can't get used to it sometimes." Silvia sighed.

"I get ya." Chen Yu nodded.

"So what kind of situation were you forced into?"

"Well my boss is basically using me as a sacrifice despite it being my holiday and Shiro is actively going against my boss which may result in me losing something cherished by most men. You?" Chen Yu smiled depressingly.

"I was forced to bite the neck of a rabbit, witness Shiro break her arm just for a test along with her other shenanigans." Silvia replied.

""Ha…."" They both sighed tiredly.

Glancing back, Shiro chuckled slightly when she saw Chen Yu and Silvia discussing about their troubles.

'Well their situations are rather similar.' She mused.

As they approached the faction building, Shiro noticed that there was a lack of staff and some disciples were waiting anxiously at the gates.

"Elder!" One of the inner disciples called out.

"Mn? What's happening?" Shiro asked curiously.

"The other elders told me to guide you to the main hall since we've got VIP's. They also wanted everyone in the party to go as well." The inner disciple replied.

"Alright. But why are you so nervous?" She asked.

"Because a fight might be breaking out soon!"

###

"Why are they not here yet." A dignified man said with a frown on his face. He had short blond hair, and a pair of sharp green eyes. A single glare from him would make you want to kneel in respect.

Currently, he sat in the main chair while the other elders were standing in the hall in front of him.

[Blythe LVL 94 Domain Master]

Besides him, were the four level 100 escorts and the level 120 powerhouse.

[Morthil LVL 120 Elemental Emperor]

"I'm sure they're in a dungeon right now your highness. After all, everyone wants to level up." Freya bowed as she had a frown on her face.

"Hmph, you sure that my sister didn't just run away in fear?" He frowned.

*BANG!

"No she wouldn't." Shiro called out with a smile as their party walked in without fear. Looking at the man sitting in the main chair, she realised that he must be the elven royal.

'Blythe Valenstaine huh?' She thought.

"Royal brother." Lyrica called out after a small paused.

"Sister." Blythe nodded his head slightly but couldn't take his eyes off Shiro.

"We were in a dungeon so we couldn't get any news about your arrival your highness." Shiro chuckled and bowed politely.

"Ah no need to bow." Blythe called out instantly.

'Wait… could it be that the prince took a fancy to Shiro?' Freya thought curiously.

"Thank you. I believe that you're here to pick up my friend Lyrica am I right?" Shiro asked with a smile.

"Indeed I am." He nodded.

Seeing all seven members of her party, including Chen Yu, he narrowed his eyes on Yin who seemed like a younger version of Shiro.

'Could she be her younger twin sister or something?' He wondered.

"If I may be as rude to ask, why has your highness come to collect her?"

Morthil narrowed his eyes as he frowned. People like them should just accept the royalty's decision and ask no questions.

However, before he could make a move, Blythe raised his hand and gestured for him to stop.

Turning to Lyrica, Blythe held back the disdain in his eyes and smiled.

"You've been away for quite a while now. The elders along with the other members of the royal family wish for you to return to the elven continent. It isn't good for a member of the royal family to be away from the country after all."

Despite the fact that he claimed they 'wish' to see her, Lyrica knew that it wasn't a request but rather an order.

Clenching her fists, she knew that it would be bad if she was to reject or show any form of negative reaction.

"I understand. But can my party follow me to the royal capital?" She asked.

"Of course. They're welcome to come along." Blythe replied with a nod of his head. But in reality, his welcome was only extended out to Shiro and Yin. He had no care for the others, especially not this sister of his.

"Since it took you a while to arrive, we'll be leaving straight away." He smiled and stood up.

However, Shiro shook her head.

"We can't leave just yet since Lyrica still has to pack some of her stuff."

Morthil glared at her since it was a stupid request. What would a single useless girl have that the royal family doesn't?

Feeling the glare of a level 120 on them, the party shivered slightly as sweat started to drip. Shiro wasn't affected at all and frowned.

"Morthil! Stop at once!" Blythe glared at him.

"But you're highness th-"

"Shut up! What is a few minutes for us?" He cut Morthil off mid sentence.

". . .Understood." Morthil sighed and nodded his head.

Backing off, he narrowed his eyes at Shiro in wariness. Out of all the people that he's released his pressure on, no one below level 100 could stand against him. And yet, a level 60 Element Sage had actually shown no reaction.

He decided to place his focus on her for now since it was very likely that she had a disguise on right now. But once they arrived at the elven capital, it would be useless.

"Now, I apologise for that. You can naturally pack everything that you need but I do need to inform you that we definitely need to leave by the end of today." Blythe smiled.

"Of course."

However, they didn't know that the true reason was for Shiro to implant some nanobots by their sides without them knowing. If she was to make any suspicious movements on the trip, she may not be able to set up an ambush should it be required. But since they were still at the faction building, she could do anything without raising too much suspicion. Hopefully.