Walking along the Imperial City's expansive streets, Erza observed the surrounding shops as she strolled along in a leisurely manner. This was her first time going back to the city within the past few months.
After the incident, Erza only went back home once and spent the rest of her time practicing in the academy.
Phoenix's Fury, Lightning Dance of the Phoenix Wing, Thousand Sword Petals, Time Paradox, and her other new skills were learned during these past few months. She obtained some of them from the inherited memories in Ash's blood, while some were obtained from the academy.
As the champion of last New Students Championship and the number one student in her grade, Erza was granted access to the higher floors in the library.
As Erza walked along the streets, she realized that there was not much changes in the city. The streets were still as wide and spacious as before, paved with the same type of Bright Marble Stone. It was an extremely hard stone which could only be found in the Northern Continent.
When Erza was small, she never thought much about money. However, as she grew older, she realized how grand Black Snow Imperial City was.
One piece of Bright Marble Stone cost one thousand gold coins. The seemingly endless rows of streets within the Imperial City that spanned countless li were all paved with the same Bright Marble Stone. How many millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of gold were needed to build all of this?!
These streets in the Black Snow Imperial City that were paved with Bright Marble Stone emanated a kind of stately aura: domineering, wealthy, and brilliant, representing an empire without being garish.
Even with the endless stream of carriages moving up and down the Imperial City, the streets did not feel crowded at all.
After roughly two hours of strolling around, it was already noon. The girls were still eager to continue their window shopping, but the boys were so bored and tired.
Passing through a place called 'Unforgettable Intoxication' Restaurant, Qi Di's footsteps halted as he watched the crowded entrance of the restaurant and the endless bustle of customers. He desperately wanted some rests. He then looked over at Qi Long, Mozart, and the girls and said, "From the looks of it, this restaurant doesn't seem bad. Should we go inside and try something?"
"Yes! It looks fine." Mozart and Qi Long answered in unison. They could finally see the light at the end of this dark tunnel.
The girls had wry smiles on their faces as they realized that they might overdo it. The group then agreed to take a break and walked into Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant.
There were three floors to the restaurant, and when the group went inside, no empty table was available. They proceeded up to the second floor. Although there were a few places available, all of them were meant for two people, and their group was seven.
"Let's go up to the third floor." Qi Long said.
However, when the seven of them were about to climb the stairs up, two restaurant workers blocked their path, courteously explaining, "Several Guests, pardon our interruption, but our restaurant's third floor is reserved. Only Guests who hold Black Snow Empire's Baron and above noble title can go up to the third floor."
Though the words spoken sounded courteous, it did not hide the condescending disdain in their eyes. Mozart and Qi Di's eyes sharpened as they looked at the two workers.
Mozart then exerted invisible pressure onto them.
In the space above Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant, a violent dark tempest gathered, spiralling like a tornado, whistling about angrily.
Suddenly, it felt as if the entire space of Unforgettable Intoxication Restaurant solidified, and the noisy restaurant quieted down in the blink of an eye. From the first floor, to the second floor, and even to the third floor, every pair of eyes were looking at Mozart with fear swimming behind the irises.
Under the pressure exerted by Mozart, the two 'small' restaurant workers nearly had their breaths cut off on the spot. Horrified, their legs gave out and they fell to their knees just as their words ended.
"This is…! That boy is definitely an early level Knight, or maybe even a mid level Knight. Looking at his appearance, he should be less than 15 years old!"
"Do we have a boy like that in our empire?"
"He might be a foreigner, but he must be someone with a deep background!"
"Who are those seven kids?!"
The experts of Black Snow Imperial City on the third floor whispered amongst themselves, feeling the overwhelming pressure coming from Mozart.
In Black Snow Imperial City, Knight experts were not uncommon, but a young Knight was rare. A young Knight's status and identity was undoubtedly different from an adult Knight Realm expert. It was known that amongst the most talented youths of Black Snow Empire, there was only one person who reached the Knight Realm before the age of fifteen, and she was a girl.
'Hold on a second! Isn't that rumoured that in the Black Snow Royal Academy's Year End Tournament a couple days ago, there were a very young boy and another young girl who displayed the power of a Knight?!'
While everyone was still trying to guess the identities of the youths in front of them, a middle-aged man that appeared to be the restaurant owner was seen running up the stairs anxiously with two bodyguards tagging along behind him. The two bodyguards were also Knight Realm experts, but they were merely at the early stage.
Arriving on the second floor, the restaurant owner nearly prostrated before Mozart, inquiring with utmost politeness what seemed to be the problem.
After finding out the reason, the restaurant owner apologized to Mozart, Qi Di, Qi Long, and the girls profusely. His complexion paled tremendously, and he wished he could stab the two workers to death.
"This Young Master, we will immediately arrange a private room on the third floor for you." The restaurant owner said as he led them to a room on the third floor.
The girls initially did not intend to force their way up to the third floor, but Mozart acted too quickly by releasing his oppressive aura which resulted in the current situation.
Previously, the group decided to dress casually and kept a low profile throughout their journey. The wanted some privacies. As a result, very few people managed to recognize them, but there were few gangs who tried to stop the group as they were attracted to Erza and Elsa beauties. Of course, there was no need to say how they ended up.
At this moment though, they could only go along with the restaurant owner's 'kind' intention and courtesy by going up to the third floor private room.
Since those things already happened, then they might as well go to the third floor in a high profile manner! It did not make much of a difference.
Leading Erza's group up to the third floor, the restaurant owner ushered them into private room number four. There was a total of twelve private rooms on the third floor.
The lower number the room was, the more distinguished the guests identity. Above all, room number one was reserved specifically for Emperor Realm experts, but it was usually empty during the year.
Unforgettable Intoxication was one of the biggest restaurants in Black Snow Imperial City, situated at the Western District of the city, near the Hathaway Academy. It was very far from Black Snow Royal Academy which was located at the Eastern District. Hence, there were very few Black Snow Royal Academy's students came to this restaurant.
The private room number four that they entered was lavishly decorated, similar to a small scale mansion.
As they each took a seat, Mozart instructed the owner to serve their famous dishes and non-alcoholic drinks and indicated him to leave. Nodding respectfully, the restaurant owner left the room.
While Erza's group was being ushered into private room number four, in private room number three sat a young man wearing a golden brocade robe who appeared to be in his mid-twenties. The young man was… beautiful, albeit exhibiting a somewhat devilish charm. Especially so, in his eyes there were reflecting golden lights every time they moved.
The young man raised his right hand and lightly beckoned the guard behind him, "Go and check that person's identity–I want to know all seven people's background in one hour."
"Yes, Young Master!" That guard replied with the utmost respect and backed out of the room.
Long slender fingers drummed on the table surface softly, forming melodious notes as they moved.
At this moment, a beautiful young woman in her mid-twenties, same as the young man with skin so supple and moist as if dew was glistening on them, was sitting beside the young man and laughed, her tinkling peals of laughter were akin to marbles falling onto a bowl, teasing the ears. The two lumps of flesh at the front quivered endlessly like they could escape anytime from their bonds.
The woman's lips curved charmingly as she laughed, red lips moved as she said, "I didn't expect our Heartless Young Prince would one day show interest in another person."
The young man maintained a placid expression on his face, "You, Natalie, are more interested in them than I am."
Natalie continued to laugh coquettishly as she looked at the young man, her entire body seemed to lean onto him with the two lumps of flesh pressed against him, "You're wrong this time around, I'm more interested in you than anyone else."
The guards inside private room number three swallowed nervously.
But the young man, Heartless Young Prince, pushed the woman away without any feeling, "I'm not interested in you."
The smile on Natalie's face became ever more brilliant hearing that, "That's the very reason I'm interested in you."
A short while later, the guard that left earlier returned, reporting to the young man, "Young Master, we've found out. That black-haired young man is called Mozart, the finalist in this year's Black Snow Royal Academy's Year End Tournament. His strength is estimated at the peak of a mid Knight Realm expert!"
Natalie snickered with contempt, "Just a mid level Knight, such an unattractive boy, this aunt has no interest whatsoever."
At this time, the guard continued with his report, "However, this Mozart is only thirteen this year!"
"Thirteen-years-old!" Heartless Young Prince and Natalie were stunned, and then their faces turned ugly.
A thirteen-year-old mid level Knight?!
"How can this be? Impossible! How could a thirteen year old reach the peak of mid Knight Realm?!" Natalie blurted out in shock.
According to her knowledge, even the leaders of the four big clans of Black Snow Empire, or even the man beside her who was an Imperial Prince, did not advance to the peak of mid Knight Realm at thirteen!
"I have not spoken falsely!" The guard went on, "Subordinate verified Mozart's age, and his attributes are Flame, Wind, and Darkness!"
"Three attributes at such a young age!" Once again, Heartless Young Prince and Natalie were shocked.
But in the next moment, Heartless Young Prince frowned; if this Mozart was allowed to grow, then Black Snow Empire might be keeping its overlord status in the years to come!
He, who was hailed as the biggest talent in his empire, even after taking advantage of the wealth of his Imperial Clan, his cultivation speed was not as terrifying as Mozart.
Obviously, Natalie too thought of this point as a shimmering light flitted in her eyes.
"What about the other six people?" Heartless Young Prince questioned that guard.
Being asked directly, the guard quickly continued, "They were all extraordinary youths. The other two boys were called Qi Long and Qi Di, direct descendants of Seven Colour Pagoda Clan. As for the girls, one was the sole daughter of a big merchant's guild leader,while another was the only living relative of an Imperial Protector."
"And the remaining two people?" Heartless Young Prince pursued. As an imperial prince, descendants of a big clan, son or daughter of an Emperor Realm expert were not much in his eyes.
The guard hesitated for a second before continuing, "The other two, one was the youngest daughter of the Patriarch of Menzel Clan, while the last one... She was the holy daughter of Valentine Clan, the champion of the this year Black Snow Royal Academy's Year End Tournament."
"Oh, she defeated that Mozart guy? Well, he was still too young after all… Anything else?" Heartless Young Prince and Natalie noticed the strange expression of the guard.
"The last two girls were also estimated at the peak of mid Knight Realm, and both were thirteen years old this year."
Heartless Young Prince and Natalie were stomped for words.
Since when reaching a mid Knight Realm was this easy?!