The news of the raid and the capture of the infamous gang had spread like wildfire across the entire state and even into neighboring regions. Marquis William's swift and decisive action had bolstered his reputation immensely, painting him as a hero in the eyes of many.
Spark sat in his chair in a quiet residence, a deep scowl etched on his face.
"It seems he really wanted to catch the three of us," Spark muttered, his irritation palpable.
Sitting comfortably beside him, Yuna couldn't help but giggle at his frustration.
"You seem rather annoyed," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Mobilizing the elite force was a bit much, don't you think?" Spark retorted.
In the raid, Marquis William had used his elite force, which included a squad of ascendants, to capture the three of them, which seemed to annoy Spark.
Trying to shift the conversation, Yuna turned to Zhao Shi. "Is that shabby man still there?"
Zhao Shi nodded, his expression calm and collected. "If Miss Yuna believes he can be trusted, then I have faith in him too."
"And do you still have some left?" Yuna inquired.
Zhao Shi raised his left arm, revealing a bracelet on his wrist. "There's still a large amount stored in here."
This bracelet was no ordinary piece of jewelry. It was a storage tool, imbued with spatial laws that allowed it to hold vast quantities within its small frame. Such items were rare, even among the wealthiest nobles.
Zhao Shi had watched in awe as Yuna had effortlessly crafted it in front of him with a mere flip of her palm. Her abilities never ceased to amaze him, adding layers to the enigma that was Yuna.
He recalled the events of the previous night vividly. After subduing the gang's leaders, Yuna had muttered strange incantations, causing time to seemingly rewind.
The shattered furniture, the damaged walls, everything in the room had reverted to their original state as if untouched by the chaos, except for the injuries on the gang members themselves. Zhao Shi could only assume this was a high-tier ascendant spell, something far beyond his own abilities.
Finding the gang's treasury had been a simple task with Yuna's guidance. Once inside, she had crafted the storage bracelet right in front of him, and within moments, the entire room's wealth had been transferred into it.
Later, they visited a dilapidated hut on the outskirts of the city. Through a window, they saw the shabby couple sleeping peacefully with a dim candle burning nearby.
"Will he remain honest when faced with so much wealth?" Spark had asked.
"He will," Yuna replied confidently, her gaze fixed on the sleeping man.
Silently, Zhao Shi had placed a large sack filled with gold and silver inside the hut. He left it along with a note written by Yuna, which read, "Always help those in need."
Back in the present, their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the main gate. As the house's butler, Zhao Shi went to greet the visitor and returned shortly with a white piece of paper bearing a seal.
"It's a letter from Marquis William," Zhao Shi announced, handing it to Spark.
"A letter from the Marquis himself?" Yuna asked, curiosity piqued. "Has he discovered something about us?"
"He's a blockhead; he wouldn't figure it out," Spark replied dismissively, breaking the seal and opening the letter. "Hmm, what's this about?"
As Spark read the contents, a grin spread across his face, amusement lighting up his eyes.
Seeing his reaction, Yuna leaned in to read over his shoulder. "What is it?"
"It's another invitation to a party," Spark replied, his tone laced with irony. "But this time, we have a special guest."
"A special guest?"
"A princess from a neighboring empire," Spark said, folding the letter with a flourish.
…
Marquis William's mansion was a blend of grandeur and lavishness, fitting for someone of his status.
He sat in what appeared to be his private office. The desk before him was cluttered with a mountain of letters, each vying for his attention. He rubbed his forehead, overwhelmed by the sheer volume.
Since the raid the previous night, letters had poured in non-stop. Most were from adoring fans and hopeful suitors, eager to congratulate him on his bold action against the infamous gang. Only a few were from other states, acknowledging his achievement.
Although he enjoyed the praise, it was becoming too much. He hadn't intended to catch the gang; it was an unexpected consequence of chasing those three mysterious, masked intruders.
"We searched everywhere but couldn't find the masks. Furthermore, these people deny any involvement in sneaking into the marquis's mansion," an attendant reported, standing by his side.
"In the end, we couldn't capture the three," he lamented, sighing deeply, the frustration clear in his voice. He leaned back in his chair, contemplating the bizarre turn of events.
"What should we do with the captives, my lord?" his advisor asked, breaking the silence.
"Now that we've caught them, and with the news spreading so widely, we can't simply let them go. Throw them in prison," William decided. He knew that as the heir to his father's state, maintaining a strong, positive image was crucial. Demonstrating his capability by cleaning up the local gangs would bolster his standing with the people.
As he pondered his next steps, the door to his office burst open. A guard rushed in, causing a mountain of letters to tumble off the desk.
William's expression turned to one of anger at the sudden intrusion. "Why did you barge in?"
The guard, clearly anxious, handed him a sealed letter, bowing deeply.
William was about to dismiss it as just another one of those letters when he noticed the seal. A small lotus emblem adorned the envelope—a mark of the imperials.
His irritation vanished, replaced by a sense of urgency. He quickly took the letter, carefully examining the seal to ensure its authenticity.
"It's without a doubt from the imperial capital," he muttered, breaking the seal with deliberate caution.
As he read the letter, his eyes widened in surprise. Without wasting a moment, he passed the letter to his attendant and hurried out of the room.
"We have to prepare for a welcoming," he declared, his voice filled with urgency.
The attendant, perplexed by the marquis's sudden panic, began to read and noted the key details.
{A princess of the neighboring empire will be passing through the marquis's state shortly. During her stay here, she is to be treated with the utmost respect.}