"What happened? Why did we stop in the middle of the forest?" Ella questioned, her confusion evident.
"Are you oblivious? I just mentioned that I smelled blood," Anon retorted with impatience.
Faith, ever the practical one, took charge of the situation. "You all stay inside. Julia and I will investigate the situation outside." n𝐨𝑣𝐄-𝒍𝗯/1n
Julia added a parting jab to Anon, saying, "Keep an eye on her; she's a bit dense."
Anon dismissed the suggestion of going outside with an astute response. "I'm not venturing out. What if someone kills me?"
He casually put on his sunglasses and leaned back in his seat. Ella, however, couldn't resist a sarcastic remark. "Wow, for a man, you sure have a brave heart. Since you're not going, I will."
As Ella reached for the carriage door handle, she glanced back at Anon, branding him as a coward. The moment the door opened, two arrows streaked towards her from the trees. Before the arrows could touch her, Julia's swift swordplay intercepted and destroyed them.
Julia scolded Ella as she joined her outside the carriage. "What are you doing out here? Didn't you hear what I said? I told you to stay inside."
Ella, ever determined, replied, "Well, Commander, I'm your vice-commander, and I can't stay in this carriage while you're facing danger outside."
Julia's response was to instruct Ella. "Very well, Vice Commander. Take cover and try to locate our attackers."
Curious, Ella asked, "Where's Madam Faith?"
Julia provided an explanation as they took refuge behind a large tree. "She's in the trees, dealing with the archers attacking us. We just need to pinpoint their locations and relay that information to her."
Ella inquired further, "What happened to the rest of our soldiers?"
Julia delivered a grim assessment, "They're all dead. These archers are professionals, and we can't take any chances. They know precisely what they're doing."
Ella then surmised, "So, if they're professionals, they're not random bandits, right?"
Julia confirmed Ella's suspicion, "Correct. They're not. They're here to assassinate Sir Jule."
Curiosity drove Ella's questions as she probed, "And how do we know that?"
Julia provided the rationale, "He's the Queen's Candidate in the exchange event. That's why they're here to eliminate him."
Ella sought more details, asking, "Do we have any numbers?"
Julia admitted, "No, we've been attacked from several directions. They change their positions with each attack. I can't determine their exact numbers, but Faith is continuously tracking them."
Ella couldn't resist taking a dig at Anon, even in the midst of danger. "Mr. Jule won't step out of his carriage. Don't you think he's a bit of a coward?"
Julia defended Anon's actions, saying, "No, he's just following orders, like a good soldier."
Suddenly, a barrage of arrows rained down upon them. Ella and Julia hastily sought cover behind the tree.
"They're attacking with full intensity. What should we do?" Ella asked with genuine concern.
Julia, too, was worried. "Madam Faith, what's our course of action?"
Suddenly, Anon emerged from the carriage and glanced around the scene. "Haa... How much longer are you going to take?"
Julia shouted in a futile attempt to keep him inside, "Mr. Jule, go back inside!"
But it was too late. Over a hundred arrows were directed at Anon from all directions.
Anon employed his telekinesis to halt the incoming arrows.
"I have to save—"
Before Julia could complete her sentence, she witnessed an astonishing sight. The arrows hovered in mid-air, frozen in place. Anon effortlessly redirected them back towards their origin, doubling their velocity.
The arrows found their marks, and the forest was filled with the sound of bodies thudding to the ground.
Ella, still in disbelief, asked with a mix of surprise and admiration, "How can you do that?"
Anon maintained an air of mystery as he mockingly replied, "It's a secret."
Faith rejoined the group after investigating one of the corpses. "Come here, everyone. Look at this."
Anon, Julia, and Ella gathered around Faith to see what she had discovered. Julia inquired, "What happened, Madam Faith?"
Faith revealed a distinct tattoo on one of the dead assassins. "Look at this."
Ella recognized the symbol and inquired, "Isn't that the mark of the Croc-Assassins?"
Anon, less familiar with the term, asked, "What are Croc-Assassins?"
Faith provided a brief explanation. "They're the most renowned group of highly skilled assassins, holding a formidable reputation in the underworld. They want you dead at any cost. They must have tipped off the largest assassins' group, which means they have a lot of resources—"
Anon, distracted, interrupted her with a question about the event's rules. "Was there any rule in the exchange event that states I would lose automatically if I arrived a little late for the match?"
Faith clarified, "Yes, there is. If you don't reach the arena within ten minutes of the match starting, you'll be declared the loser."
Anon pieced together the situation. "They weren't here to kill me; they were here to prevent me from reaching the Colosseum. A clever plan... They killed our drivers first, released our horses, and sabotaged the carriage wheels."
Faith lamented her decision to bring the group with her. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have brought you all with me. Now we won't make it in time, and the Queen will impose the death penalty."
Anon, ever the optimist, responded, "Don't worry, love. Sometimes, a whistle can summon help."
"A what can do what ?" Ella asked with a confused expression.
He stepped forward and whistled loudly.
Whistleeeeeeeeee
The sound echoed through the forest, and, in response, a series of caws filled the air.
Suddenly a big black Raven who had three eyes appeared over in the sky.
"What is that ?" Julia asked.
"My pet, a three eyes raven." Anon answered.
"Wait, Wait, Wait... A three eyes what ?" Ella asked in a Shocked tone.
"A three eyes raven." Anon repeated.
"Isn't that the pet of Demonic Royalty ?" Ella asked.
Suddenly the Raven descended on the ground and Anon walked up on it's back after scratching it's head.
"Come on, Luv. We have a fight to catch." Anon said as he helped Faith getting on the raven.
"You are going to leave us here? In the middle of a forest? Are you serious ?" Ella's voice was laced with surprise and concern as she watched Anon and Faith preparing to depart on the Three eyed Raven.
Anon, his demeanor still calm, reassured her, "We are, Luv. But don't worry, I'll send someone to retrieve you as soon as I reach the city.
I will also tell them to only send royal guys because you won't talk to Commoners, okay ?
Now, let's go baby..." Anon said as he affectionately stroked the raven, it immediately flapped it's wings and took off high into the sky.
"We'll be looking forward to your help, Sir Jule." Julia called out loudly.
With a hint of accusation and a smile on her face, Faith interjected, "You are a jerk. Do you know that, Mr. Jule ?"
Anon, feigning innocence, asked, "Why would you say that, luv? I thought you liked the ice-cream last night."
"Why would you take me with you and not them? Ella even had her match today." Faith's asked with a cute and naughty smile as she looked at Anon.
Anon countered with a smile of his own, "Well, because I'm not dating Ella, Luv. I'm dating you. That's why I took you with me."
Faith's expression suddenly saddened, tears begin to well up in her eyes and she responded calmly, "Mr. Jule, you don't have a future with me. You are like a free bird and I am a chained soldier. We don't have any future."
Anon remained calm and replied, "Well, we'll see about that in the future. Why worry about it for now? Just enjoy the ride."
With a tearful gaze, Faith continued, "No, you don't understand. I'm a woman who will sacrifice herself for this kingdom, without even thinking about you or anyone else. You have no future with me.
I am also 450 years more older than you."
Anon, maintaining his composure, asked calmly, "So, what's the real issue here, again? The kingdom's sacrifice thingy or the age?"
Faith hesitated for a moment before responding, "Well, both of them. What I'm trying to say is, you're wasting time with me. You should go out and look for a girl your age."
Internally, Anon mused, 'She can say that with a whopping 30% mind corruption? That's some willpower, and I will enjoy breaking it. I will break her througly and slowly.'
He inquired further, "So, are you proposing a breakup with me, Luv ?"
Faith hesitated, then eventually confessed, "Y-Yes... and don't call me love, anymore."
Anon concealed his intentions beneath a calm exterior. 'Yep, I already predicted this situation. If you want to manipulate someone's mind, you have to study their behavior and history thoroughly.
Faith and her husband had some serious relationship issues when they had their first children 150 years ago. Her husband demanded that she leave her job to attend to their children, but Faith refused. Her husband resorted to violence, but out of love, Faith initially did nothing.
After a few days, she eventually proposed a divorce, but before it could be finalized, her husband died in battle. That's why she doesn't see any future with me. She thinks I will do the same things that her husband did with her.
But just you wait, darling. I will turn you into someone who won't give a damn about this kingdom and give me 100% of your loyalty.'
Anon continued his conversation with Faith, saying, "Well, I guess this is it, you are not my girlfriend anymore and I am not your boyfriend from this moment. Hold on tightly..."
"Why?" Faith asked through her tears.
"Just do it. We won't make it to the Colosseum at this speed, i am going to increase our speed." Anon instructed.
Faith obediently gripped Anon's hand and closed her eyes. Anon reached out and touched the raven's back.
"Give me some more speed baby...." Anon spoke.
Cawwwww
The three-eyed raven emitted a loud cry and took off, soaring through the skies at an incredible speed.
At the Colosseum...
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the contestants of our first match, Mr. Perci... He is a very intelligent and promising young man from his academy and from his class too." Sam announced.
Clap-Clap-Clap
The audience applauded as Perci made his entrance from the left side of the Colosseum.
Fiona, concerned, questioned her butler, Charlie. "Where is Mr. Jule, Charlie?"
Charlie responded calmly, "My Queen, Mr. Jule left with Mrs. Faith last evening to investigate a case in the Dark Elven territories. However, we received information that they were attacked by a team of professional Croc-Assassins on their way back."
Panicked, Fiona asked, "What? Is he dead? Please, Charlie, say that he's not dead."
Charlie reassured her, "No, ma'am. Upon receiving this news, I immediately dispatched my team to search for them. We found their carriages in the middle of the forest. It appears the Croc-Assassins were hired to delay his arrival at today's match."
"Fuck..." Fiona cursed as she sat back down and grabbed her head.
"We also found two Dark elfs sitting inside the carriage, my Queen." Charlie added.
"Were they with the Assassins ?" Fiona asked.
"No, ma'am. Those two were Julia and Ella." Charlie replied.
"What ? The commander and Vice-Commander of the dark Elfs ?" Fion asked with a confused expression.
"Yes, ma'am." Charlie answered.
"What did they say ? What happened to Mr. Jule ?" Fion asked with a hopeful expression.
"Well, they said that Mr. Jule and Mrs. Faith left the place on a three eyed raven to reach here.
Fiona, bewildered, asked, "A three eyed, Raven ? Isn't that a demonic pet?"
Charlie clarified, "Yes, ma'am, and a royal one at that. They claim that Mr. Jule is on his way here, but I can't be certain. Should we trust them ?"
Fiona, resigned to the situation, said, "What other choice do we have?"
Charlie offered his apologies, saying, "I'm sorry, ma'am."
As the Colosseum event continued, Sam announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, please have a big round of applause and welcome Mr. Jule, who is fighting for the Royalty."
Clap-Clap-Clap
However, Anon did not make an appearance from the right side of the ring and made everyone wonder in confusion where he was.
'Something's not right. Did I miss something?' Sam pondered as he scrutinized the right-side hall closely.
A messenger approached Sam and whispered something in his ear, immediately. Sam nodded in acknowledgment.
"Very well, ladies and gentlemen. It seems Mr. Jule is not currently present in the Colosseum," Sam announced to the audience.
"According to the rules, if Mr. Jule does not enter the arena within the next ten minutes, he will be disqualified from this event. According to our Queen,Perci will be declared the winner by default."
The environment inside the Arena was tense. The Queen had a very displeased expression on her face.
"Is he really not going to come? Only one minute is remaining until the time runs out, and I don't think he will be able to make it to the stage, even if he is standing right outside the Colosseum right now," Sam thought as he and all the other audience continuously stared at the entrance gate.
Perci, on the other side, was getting really nervous at this moment, and he was continuously taking rounds of the arena.
"Am I really going to win this match? I never imagined that I would win this event so easily. Finally, I will receive the money to get my mother all healthy again. Thank you, God," Perci thought as he overjoyed inside his heart.
"What was I thinking, trusting that guy? A commoner?" Fiona cursed as she threw her wine glass towards the wall.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, only 30 seconds are remaining until the ten minutes' time period comes to an end. Will Mr. Jule be able to make it to the stage, or is this the end of this year's Academic Exchange?" Sam asked as he looked at the entry gate one last time and started walking towards Perci to declare him as the winner.
"Where is master? What is he thinking?" Jessica wondered as she continued to chew her nails rapidly.
"Well, looks like your man is not coming, Fiona?" Mrs. Glen mocked Fiona with a smile.
"Say one more word, and I will really kill you," Fiona spoke with a very irritated voice.
"But Fiona..." Mrs. Glen tried to speak something, but Maison immediately stopped her.
"Mom, please keep your mouth shut," Maison spoke with a very serious expression as he looked at her.
"Okay," Mrs. Glen replied as she kept her mouth shut.
"10...9...8...7...6...5..." Sam started counting backward.
"Ah... I am leaving," Fiona said as she closed her eyes and stood up from her chair with a very angry expression on her face.
"3 - Huh?" Suddenly, Sam stopped counting as he felt something on his right shoulder.
Sam immediately looked back and noticed something that shocked him thoroughly. Not only him, but the whole audience sitting inside the Colosseum. It was Anon, standing behind him and looking at him with a smile.
"You might want to stop that countdown, buddy," Anon spoke.
"Y-Yes, Sir," Sam replied.
"Now, don't you have something to announce?" Anon asked with a smile.
"Yes," Sam replied.
"Then do it," Anon said as he removed his hand from Sam's shoulders and went back to his position.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Jule has made it to the stage in time. I don't have any idea how he did it, but he did it, and that's what matters. Now, let's begin this fight," Sam spoke as he stepped down from the stage and walked up to the sand hourglass.
As soon as these words fell into Fiona's ears, she immediately rushed back to her position and looked at Anon with a wide smile.
"So, what were you saying again, Mrs. Glen?" Fiona asked with a mocking smile.
"Nothing, nothing at all, Ma'am," Mrs. Glen replied with a very irritated expression.
"Hehe..." Charlie chuckled a little at this view.
"Laugh all you want, Charlie, my champion is here," Fiona spoke as a whole new energy filled her body.
"Well, it's good that he is back. Now that white-haired weak guy won't win the match," Maison spoke.
"Did you see him coming here, Deris?" Eve asked Deris.
"No, did you?" Deris asked back.
"No, you idiot. If I would've seen him coming here, why would I ask you?" Eve replied.
Crack
The mysterious man with the black suit and black mask broke his cane as he looked at Anon.
"How did he get here? Croc-Assassins, those bastards, I gave them one task to do, and they couldn't do it. I will mess up these bastards," he said in a very frustrated tone, leaving the Colosseum immediately.
"3...2...1...Start," Sam declared as he turned over the sand hourglass.
Crack-Crack
Anon cracked his knuckles and looked at Perci with a smile.
"What's your name?" Anon asked.
"Perci, Sir," Perci replied as he assumed a defensive position.
"Ah, Perci. If I am not wrong, you are fighting this tournament because you want to get your mother treated, right?" Anon spoke.
"Yes, Sir," Perci replied.
"Well, good luck then. Come at me with everything you've got," Anon spoke.
Perci immediately changed his stance...
[Your opponent has used the skill [Martial Art: Second form Praying Mantis].]
'Wow... that's one serious Martial art. Can't take him easily...' Anon thought as he also assumed his defensive stance.
"Hyaaaaa..." Perci shouted as he jumped from his position and came at Anon from above.
'Why isn't he moving from his place?' Perci wondered as he looked at Anon.
As soon as Perci's hands reached near Anon's body, he noticed that Anon had disappeared from his position and reappeared near the top left corner of the ring.
Perci jumped to attack him again, but this time when he landed on the ground, he felt something different.
"Candidate Perci has been disqualified from this event due to stepping out of the Arena," Sam's voice resounded in the Colosseum.
"What? But I am still-" Perci tried to make sense of Sam's announcement as he turned around, but suddenly he noticed that he was really standing outside of the Arena.
[Illusion]
'What a great skill... He was 10 levels lower than me, and I don't want to waste too much time on him either. I have to corrupt Faith as well, can't spare time on him.
While he thought that he was attacking me, in reality, he was just swinging his sword in random directions, and as the last illusion, I just moved the arena a bit left, and that's why he jumped out of it by himself, That was easy win.
I almost forgot, how easy things are when i do them with my skills.' Anon thought as he smiled and looked at Perci standing outside the Arena.
"Mr. Jule has officially won this match and without much effort. Ladies and Gentlemen, a big round of applause for Mr. Anon," Sam spoke.
Clap-Clap-Clap
Perci walked back up to the stage and bowed down to Anon.
"I am very thankful for your teachings, Sir. It's been an honor fighting with you," Perci spoke as he stepped down again and started walking towards the exit.
"Oi, kid," Anon called out.
Perci halted his steps and looked back.
"Yes, Sir?"
"Here you go, get your mother treated well," Anon said as he tossed two platinum coins towards Perci.
"T-T-This... Th-Thank You Very Much, Sir. I will never forget this kindness," Perci spoke as he bowed down to Anon once more and left the Colosseum.
"Aww... he helped that guy. How cute."
"I think I love Mr. Jule."
"Me too... he is cute and very addictive. I want to eat him."
"Go, go, Mr. Jule."
"Win, win, Mr. Jule."
The girls from all over the Colosseum started shouting and cheering for Anon.
Anon, on the other side, went back to his seat and sat down beside Fiona.
"You were late..." Fiona spoke.
"Well, I had some work," Anon replied.
"You don't have any work that's more important than this competition," Fiona shouted as she looked at Anon.
"Page No.13, Clause 67... 'I can do anything and everything I want in the free time,'" Anon spoke as he wore his sunglasses and leaned back in his seat.
"What?" Fiona asked in confusion.
"My Queen, it's a term in the contract you signed with him," one of the mages informed Fiona.
"Damn it," Fiona said as she looked at Anon with a frustrated expression.
"Madam, here is Commander Faith," Charlie spoke as he came back with Faith behind him.
"My greetings to my Queen," Faith spoke as she immediately bowed down to Fiona and glanced at Anon for one second.
"Faith, you have broken my trust. You took a guest of mine with you on a dangerous mission when you knew that he is my representative in this tournament. What excuse do you have for this?" Fiona spoke.
Faith immediately went down on both of her knees and apologized.
"My Queen, please forgive me. It was my mistake, and I am ready to pay for my mistake. Please punish me however you like."
'Well, that's one line I would love to hear from her, but for now, Fiona has done something that will help me get Faith's loyalty even faster...' Anon thought as he dramatically removed his sunglasses and looked at Fiona with a serious expression.
"What?" Fiona asked with a confused expression.
"She didn't force me to come with her... I went with her because I wanted to. Don't punish her; she hasn't done anything wrong," Anon spoke in an emotional tone.
"Wait..." Suddenly, Fiona realized something.
'Wait, are they dating? Let's see... this is going to be very interesting.' Fiona thought as a smile appeared on her face.
"Well, someone has to be punished... either her or you. Choose..." Fiona spoke.
'Yep, her mind is still too small to be an Elven Queen. I manipulated her mind into thinking that there is something going on between Faith and me. Now, the rest of the game is a piece of cake.
I will take the punishment, and knowing Faith's personality, it will definitely make her feel bad... sometimes, I can't believe how easily girls can be manipulated, no matter their rank.' Anon thought as he smirked for a second but immediately went back to his original serious expression.
"I am the one who took him with me; please punish me, My Queen." Faith spoke as she looked at Fiona's feet to show her submission.
"What about you, Mr. Jule? Do you want to say something as well?" Fiona asked with a smile.
"Yes, please punish me. It was my decision to go with her. I disappointed you. It was all my mistake." Anon spoke as he pretended to take all the blame on himself.
'Now, I just have to feed her unconscious mind some guilty thoughts, and she should start breaking.' Anon thought as he started generating guilty thoughts in Faith's unconscious mind.
[He saved you in the mansion from the zombies, He took your reputation to the next level in front of the Dark Elves, He even took you out on a wonderful date and chose to ride with you on his three-eyed raven.
But, what did you give him in return? A heartbreak? Punishment by the Queen? You are heartless, Faith.] Anon immediately fed this thought to Faith's unconscious mind.
'That's like the guiltiest thought I have ever fed to anyone.... I can't wait to see its results. Hehehehe...' Anon thought as he laughed like a demon in his mind.
"Okay, I have decided. Mr. Jule will be the one to take the punishment; you can go now, Faith." Fiona ordered.
"My Queen, please—" Before Faith could say anything else, Fiona stopped her.
"Shut up, Faith. Just go," Fiona shouted.
"Y-Yes, My Queen." Faith immediately stood up from the floor and walked out of the room.
'Plan successful... Now, I just have to do one more thing, and Faith will turn into my obedient slave... show me her corruption level.' Anon thought as he looked at Faith leaving.
[Faith's Mind Corruption: 40%]
'Wow.... Fucking 10%? Let's goooo.'
"Mr. Jule, would you like to know your punishment?" Fiona spoke, but Anon was busy observing Faith.
"Mr. Jule, I am talking to you..." Fiona shouted.
"Huh...? Yes?" Anon asked, turning around.
"I asked, would you like to know your punishment?" Fiona asked again. n.(O𝔳𝐞𝑙𝒷In
"Why not?" Anon spoke as he smiled at Fiona.
"You will be coming with me to the human kingdom as my personal butler, today in the evening," Fiona spoke.
"Hmm...? Why are you going to the human kingdom?" Anon asked.
"Well, there is this thing called the Memorial of Queen Derein's husband and her Daughter. I have to pay my respects every year, even though I don't want to," Fiona spoke with a bored expression.
'Yeah, why would you want to? You were not the one whose husband and daughter died, but it's a good thing; I can see Derein again. It's been months since I last saw her.' Anon thought as he looked at Fiona.
"You can't say no to this... so Charlie, get him a good uniform," Fiona spoke as she looked at Charlie.
"As you order, my queen," Charlie spoke as he bowed down.
"Mr. Jule, your next match is coming up in 30 minutes.... do you need anything?" One of the members of the Matching committee came up to Anon and asked.
"Wait, I have another match?" Anon asked with a confused expression.
"Oh yes, you are my candidate... you have to engage in 3 different matches every day in three different fields. Now get ready to win," Fiona spoke.