Witnessing a Great Undertaking

Scarlet wine passed between glasses. For some unspoken reason, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the hunt that had just concluded. It had ended so prematurely that the "hunters" even had time to return to the castle for their evening banquet.

Li Yue had held nothing back in terms of physical strength. The arrows she threw by hand possessed terrifying lethality. Regardless of where they struck, they tore through the surrounding flesh, inflicting massive rending damage. Almost none of the furs she gathered were intact; some were so shredded she hadn't even bothered to bring them back.

The so-called steed was merely a tool for carrying trophies. Her own movement speed far exceeded that of the warhorse.

The castle's staff had prepared in advance. Although they hadn't expected the hunt to end so early, they still managed to set up the banquet's basic proceedings. They had processed a large amount of ingredients beforehand; after all, every uncontrollable factor had to be nipped in the bud.

Even if the food ended up going to waste in the end... for them, such a degree of waste did not cause even a sliver of moral shame.

The crisp clinking of glasses rang out incessantly. Dmitry wiped his lips with a handkerchief and drank the deep purple wine. His brow was slightly furrowed, showing signs of irritability.

“Lord Zen, how is your hand healing?” Dmitry glanced at the purple-haired middle-aged man's slightly trembling right hand. His canines bit into his lip in a display of dissatisfaction. He then looked at Li Yue, who sat opposite him with her head propped up, looking indifferent. His expression darkened further.

“The flesh and bone are nearly healed, but it's still a bit stiff.” Zen shook his hand. “That girl's strike... the power behind it was simply too great...”

“The Raven's Beak Covenant... isn't that family known for illusion magic?” Dmitry applied slight pressure to his fish knife, cutting a piece of silver cod. Set against the pale green sauce, the cod appeared even whiter.

The tip of his knife pointed vaguely toward Helen, as if implying something.

“Indeed. However, this young lady's strength is astonishing... and yet, there was never any news of her before. It's as if she appeared out of thin air.” Zen placed his right hand under the table, his left hand gently tracing the veins beneath the withered skin.

“My point is, is she really from the Raven's Beak Covenant?” Dmitry's teeth clenched. He set his cutlery aside, looking thoroughly annoyed.

“She passed the blood sacrifice ritual. Before the hunt began, she even received His Majesty's recognition. Logically, there shouldn't be any other possibility.” Zen stroked his goatee. The throbbing pain in his right hand made it difficult to focus.

“Her physical constitution doesn't seem like someone from that family. She's more like a member of the royal family—a Great Mage of the royalty.” Dmitry's eyes narrowed. His molars ground together forcefully, and his face was grim.

“Camillian is only at the level of a magic user, yet his physical strength already far exceeds mine. She is of the royal family... No, I have endured for so many years; how could there be someone I don't know about?” Dmitry clenched his hands, his fingernails leaving deep marks on his thumb.

“The Soul Hall doesn't know, I don't know, and none of the ‘great figures’ supporting me know. Yet she definitely possesses the power of the royalty—pure-blooded royal power. Who do you think she is?” Dmitry looked at Zen, his eyes—one blue, one red—flashing with a hint of malice.

“It couldn't possibly be... the one everyone is talking about, the vassal of the God of Death?”

“I hope not.” Dmitry leaned back, trying his best to look relaxed and cheerful. He raised his wine glass and offered a toast with a smile.

“Let us witness a great undertaking!” He raised his glass high, acknowledging most of the people present.

“Witnessing a great undertaking...” Li Yue softly repeated Dmitry's words. She frowned, her suspicions seemingly confirmed. She looked at Dmitry; now she had to verify her theory once more.

Red light flickered in her blood-red eyes. She intended to use her god's remains to observe the two princes. In her vision, Dmitry's soul was saturated with complex and diverse fragments—no different from the cultists she had killed who had tortured countless souls. The only difference was his so-called title of “Wise King.”

In contrast, Camillian, who shared her bloodline, had a soul that was almost too clean. He had hardly killed anyone. He had hunted plenty of magic beasts and blood demons, though. That faint yellowish glow... was it “Knightly Spirit”? Truly rare.

Li Yue leaned back. Things were becoming complicated again, yet everything seemed to fall within her expectations. She took a small sip of wine, and her expression shifted slightly.

She glanced at Clo and snatched the other girl's glass before she could drink, taking a small sip of that as well. The servant carrying the steak smiled and poured more wine into Li Yue's glass.

“If you like it, you can have mine.” Clo puffed out her cheeks, finding Li Yue's previous action rather cute.

“It's fine. You keep drinking.” Li Yue took out a handkerchief. “Your wine is good. The flavor is complex, fruity, and has a distinct sweet aftertaste.”

“Was yours... brought by the wrong sommelier?” Clo cut a small piece of beef. The etiquette here was complex, and she wasn't very skilled with the steak knife.

“No, there's nothing wrong with the taste or texture.” Li Yue wiped her mouth. When the handkerchief left her lips, it was stained with a scarlet hue that looked just like a red wine stain.

“It's just that someone poisoned it.” Li Yue coughed up a small mouthful of blood. She conveniently knocked over the goblet on the table, and the red wine instantly soaked the snow-white tablecloth.