Chapter 46 - 44

Zero was with the second princess who was the real ice princess. He was unexpectedly was here again at the same place where the poker game happened and he couldn't imagine that it was a month ago that it happened, like it was just yesterday. The happenings was very fast as the young man was a bit bewildered by his involvement of the Royal family.

At first, when he woke up and learned things. He decided to just retain his memories and once his memories got back, he would leave the Royal Household after paying them back but things did not happen as planned.

Currently, the second princess was letting her maids prepare the food and drinks as it was already afternoon and it's time for lunch. After all of the complete course of food was out, Xiu Jia immediately dismissed the servants, making only the two of them was left in the pavilion.

"You can serve your own tea," the second princess spoke while she took a piece of moon cake to her mouth.

The young man sipped on the refreshing tea as it was not his usual rose tea but it was a mixture of mint and lemon.

"So what are we going to talk about?" Zero started.

"You and my sister. Did she confess?" The second princess teased as the young man was confused to her words.

"Huh? What confession?"

Flashback.

"Wait! I have something to tell you."

The youth turned around and waited for the first princess to talk.

"Umm… you must keep yourself safe at the war and I… umm.. good luck!" She suddenly bursted out at the surprised young man. Zero sighed as he was happy that he was wrong about his instincts. He thought that she would say something that could make him speechless.

The first princess did not say anything about her feelings, it might be the system was mistaken on its last description of his altered identity.

"Thanks for wishing well for me, Xiu Meihui," the youth said as he patted the head of the first princess. Even though he was younger than her, he couldn't help but looked at her like a younger sister when she acted shy and embarrassed.

"You can call me Meihui," she whispered but the young man still heard it as he chuckled.

"Okay. Let's go back now, Meihui. Shall we?"

The first princess nodded as they went back together.

-----

Realizing that she was wrong on her ȧssumptions, Xiu Jia disappointedly sighed as she sipped on her tea.

"It would be a good show if that cold princess would be drooling upon you…" she trailed off that made the youth frowned at her.

Suddenly, the atmosphere went serious due to the ice princess grim vibe.

"Alright. I called you here because I have a negotiation to offer."

"Negotiation? And what it may be?"

"As you had know the truth about me, let's strike a deal. A win-win deal."

Zero gestured for the ice princess to proceed.

"I know that system travellers like you had ȧssigned missions to do so tell me first what is it? Maybe I could help."

"How did you know about the systems?"

The ice princess suddenly smiled in reminiscent, "Well, I had worked with someone with the same case like you."

She smiled meaningfully at Zero but the youth felt strange about it. The youth just ignored it and continued to listen at the ice princess' statement.

"Only those people who had connections with the Circus would be chosen with the mother system."

The youth did not comment on this as he knew that his case was not something like having connections by the said organization but he had a deal with a deity that lead him to his current situation.

"I'll tell you about my tasks if you tell me about a witch named Izi."

Hearing that, a sadistic smile appeared on the ice princess face, "That witch? Well, I had enough with her impersonating so I killed her and let her body be discovered by the enemies of the kingdom. Though, that two-souled girl escaped."

"Why did you let her body got discovered? And who was this enemies you're talking to?"

Zero heard it too at the mouths of the servants that he asked about the occurrence during he was not present. They said about enemies and 'they'.

He thought at first that it was just the Phoenix continent but he was wrong.

"That's why invited you here at my pavilion in order to filter our discussion from the prying ears of the Serpents."

"Serpents?"

"Serpents are called to the loyal servants of the deity of Mischief and Deceit. Knowing that sly deity is on our tails as he governed this continent so we must be careful."

"So he knew about my existence?"

"Sort of but not your system."

Zero was surprised as he discovered the involvement of a deity on this situation. He thought at first that this mission of his was easy as he had a long duration time of two years but he did not anticipated that he would prepare himself for going against with a deity. It would be good to have an ȧssistance with the ice princess as she was familiar with them.

"But not only that, we are chasing against time. The war can't happen next week as it will be detrimental to the unity of the continents."

"That's part of my tasks. I'll prevent the war to happen."

"Then, that's good. So what are your other tasks?"

"Burn the Sphinx formula of Izi and solve the mystery behind the Xiu Royal family."

The ice princess smiled, "You can check the progress of your third task as I'm one of those said mystery."

Zero just followed.

["Open display screen."]

[System Tasks:

Main task

- Prevent the war between the Greatworld continent and the Phoenix continent (2%)

- Burn the Sphinx formula of Izi (0%)

- Solve the mystery behind the Xiu Royal family (10%)

Note: if failed to complete within two years time, punishment awaits.]

"It's the same, even I am classified by a higher being of that system of yours. I still could not see the wonders that only system travellers saw."

'She's part of the big mystery then but what was the latter half of it, though?'

"Let's focus first at the war first. What's your plan in order to prevent it?" Xiu Jia changed the subject as she knew that the war was necessary to discuss as it was nearing and a pressing matter at this moment.

"Plan?"

Truthfully speaking, the youth had already planned in order to prevent the war. The general stated to him that before the war would be set, the second prince of the Phoenix continent would come in order to negotiate once more but General Jianguo proposed that they would just ignore the plea of the second prince or if he's insistent then they'll just kill him.

But while they were planning, the youth beside them had other plans in hand.

-----

Before the day of war.

The second prince of the Phoenix continent finally arrived at the Greatworld kingdom as he sighed. It felt like yesterday that they were just at a banquet happily announcing the union of the two kingdoms and now they were at a warring times.

"Your highness, are you sure about this?" The personal head guard of the second prince asked.

"No matter what, I must prevent this."

It was known that the youth was the most laziest yet smartest prince in the kingdom so that's why the king sent him to study at Harconia Institute in order to see his future in cultivation but after they had known that he had no talent on it, they were a bit disappointed but when the headmaster of the institution proposed about training him as a strategist as he had brains for it, the king and his father agreed.

But he went back after the school got destroyed by the infiltration of the demons and the Phoenix reinforcement was late. Lerrent had changed after experiencing the most heartbreaking scene with his teacher and cousin. He was not lazy anymore but more determined now. His sickness about suddenly falling asleep due mental exhaustion was cured unexpectedly. He could now used his intellect to solve most hidden cases, although he was limited by the king to only cases that was safe.

'Might be Uncle was in trauma due to what happen to my cousin.'

After the institute's tragedy, the seven of them separated ways. Others went back to their home while others decided to travel. Like Lith, she decided to be a travelling doctor, Han continued to be a ȧssassin but an ȧssassin who upholds justice. Rye went to apply at the IT Association in Zenzen continent in order to gain more experience. Kai Sun stayed at his homeland as he worded that he wanted to forget and start anew while Terra came back to her family. And Li Li…

'Right. She's here.'

"Let's visit Li Li on our way as she's working in the military's barracks here," Lerrent stated as he looked out the window of his carriage as to see the peaks of the palace.

'Chun, wish me luck here.'