"You'll handle it? Alan is a friend you invited? Then indeed, it should be you who takes care of this matter!"
Audrey's face was cold, her clear eyes carrying an unrelenting chill.
Everyone present knew that Miss Audrey was truly angry!
That Alan was absolutely detestable!
Under Audrey's icy gaze, the second prince stiffened and turned to glance at Alan.
Standing next to the second prince, Harris began breathing heavily.
If the second prince handled this matter impartially, he might earn Alan's favor!
The second prince pondered for a moment and was just about to speak when his sycophantic entourage couldn't wait any longer to chime in.
"Miss Audrey, please don't misunderstand. How could the prince associate with such a coarse and vulgar individual?"
"Indeed, Alan dared to disrupt the banquet—what insolence!"
"Your Highness, I suggest we expel him from the banquet hall at once!"
The advisors were all fired up, spouting insults.
The second prince, unwilling to offend Audrey, glanced at Alan and found him utterly unremarkable—no comparison to Audrey at all. Without hesitation, he shook his head and said:
"Miss Audrey, this is my first time meeting him today. I didn't expect someone so arrogant to offend you."
At these words, Harris shook his head slightly, though he had already expected this outcome.
Audrey had a powerful background, and the second prince had long been enamored with her. Alan, on the other hand, appeared to be an ordinary person with no influence.
Of course, the second prince would side with Audrey without a second thought.
Still, seeing the prince so decisively sever ties with Alan left Harris a little disappointed.
As the second prince expressed concern for Audrey, Alan remained indifferent, shielding Isabella behind him.
"This banquet is hosted by the prince for prospective students of Lioncrest Academy, yet this guy sneaked in for a free meal. Outrageous!"
"Exactly, he was eating the whole time and brought down the banquet's class!"
Following the prince's declaration, his advisors launched a barrage of mockery.
Harris frowned, growing more disappointed in the prince. Stepping forward, he cleared his throat and said:
"Everyone, Alan is my guest at this banquet. If there's any inconvenience, direct it at me, Harris!"
With that, he walked to Alan's side, giving him an apologetic look.
"Alan, I'm really sorry. I didn't expect things to turn out this way."
Alan shook his head nonchalantly. "Harris, you meant well. The real problem is that narcissist over there."
Harris sighed, then looked at the second prince with a complicated expression.
When Harris stepped forward, the second prince already sensed something was amiss.
"Harris, what is the meaning of this?"
He couldn't help but question the man who had always supported him.
Harris offered a polite smile but said nothing. Then he prepared to leave with Alan.
Harris had abandoned him!
The second prince's face darkened, and shock flickered across his heart.
Why?
He was the second prince of Plantagenet Kingdom, a likely heir to the throne!
Countless people sought to curry favor with him.
Harris, as the head of the Light Guild, was a significant ally.
Yet now, in front of everyone, Harris chose to stand by Alan!
What made Alan so special?
The onlookers were equally stunned.
The head of the Light Guild, Harris, was forsaking the second prince—for Alan?
Even seeing it with their own eyes, they found it hard to believe.
Could Alan have some shocking background?
As everyone remained in shock, Audrey let out a cold snort, her piercing gaze fixed on Alan.
"You think you can come and go from this banquet as you please?"
Harris, unwilling to see Alan escalate tensions with Audrey, who was both talented and influential, paused and addressed her earnestly.
"Miss Audrey, could you do me a favor and let this go?"
Audrey's icy stare didn't waver. "The head of the Light Guild deserves respect, of course. But he can only leave after performing a strip dance here to entertain the guests."
Harris's polite smile froze.
Performing a strip dance at such a formal occasion was a profound humiliation, even more so for Alan.
As the tension rose again, Annie sighed, stepped in front of Alan, and apologized:
"Alan, this is my fault. If I hadn't looked at you a bit longer, Miss Audrey wouldn't have been so playful and caused all this."
"Annie, what are you doing?"
Seeing Annie stand by Alan, Audrey's face filled with anger.
Annie was her friend!
With firm resolve, Annie looked at Audrey. "Miss Audrey, you're my best friend. If you consider me a friend, can we end this here?"
Audrey clenched her elegant fingers tightly.
Alan!
It was still Alan!
What made him so special?
"You think you can insult Miss Audrey and leave unscathed? Did you ask me first?"
Suddenly, a harsh voice cut through the air.
A towering young man with tanned skin, wearing a loose white training uniform, strode toward them.
The crowd's expressions grew serious at the sight of him.
"Wilson! He's a renowned Arcane Warrior—adept in both magic and martial arts, and an expert in earth elements. Among his peers, he's known as the strongest in defense and has already caught the attention of a Lioncrest Academy mentor!"
Many recognized this prominent figure of the capital.
In the Plantagenet Kingdom, most talents gathered in the capital, all striving to enter Lioncrest Academy and become its students—ascending to greatness.
Wilson, however, had already been recognized by a mentor!
After entering Lioncrest Academy, his status will be far above that of ordinary students!
This alone was enough to prove the extraordinary nature of his talent and strength.
After all, becoming a student of Lioncrest Academy was no easy feat for most magical prodigies.
When Wilson approached, Audrey glanced at him coldly and said, "What are you doing here? This has nothing to do with you!"
Audrey's distant attitude didn't surprise Wilson. She had already rejected his advances many times. With a faint smile, he replied,
"Miss Audrey, as your guardian, anyone who opposes you is my enemy!"
As he spoke, he brought his bandaged fists together in front of his chest, creating a shockwave of intense energy.
The icy, murderous intent surged toward Alan.
"Kid, I hope your bones are as tough as your foul mouth. Don't crumble after just one punch!"
With that, he took a step forward. The dense earth element, like golden sparks, surged up from the ground. His muscles swelled, and he charged at Alan, throwing a powerful punch.
Tier-Bronze, late stage!
Feeling the oppressive force barreling toward him, Alan clenched his fist. The abundant elements coursing through his body gathered like a rushing river, and he struck back with his own punch!
Boom!
Under the gaze of countless spectators, their fists collided with a thunderous impact that echoed throughout the hall.
Alan staggered back several steps, while Wilson's arm went numb.
His legs dragged along the ground, leaving two deep black marks as he retreated dozens of steps before stabilizing himself.
The crowd widened their eyes in disbelief.
Alan had gained the upper hand?
Even the second prince's eyelids twitched.
Wilson was one of the prodigies he needed to recruit—an elite Tier-Bronze, late-stage warrior, excelling in both magic and martial arts.
In physical confrontations like this, there were almost no peers who could match him.
Yet just now, he was overpowered by Alan.
Wilson clenched his aching fist, unwilling to accept the result, and charged at Alan again.
Alan shook his head faintly.
Though his rank was lower than Wilson's, he was already at Tier-Iron, level 10, and his body had undergone unimaginable tempering.
As a swordsman, his physique had been honed to perfection, far beyond anything Wilson could fathom.
Even magical beasts, famed for their physical strength among his peers, weren't a concern for Alan.
If Wilson attacked again, it would only humiliate him further.
In the next moment, Alan launched another punch, meeting Wilson head-on.
Another deafening shockwave rippled outward.
This time, Wilson was sent flying backward even faster. His body slammed into the wall, embedding deeply, as he fainted, frothing at the mouth.
Alan glanced at the stunned crowd, then turned to leave with Isabella and the others.
"Alan!"
Suddenly, a voice filled with authority called out.
The second prince's cold gaze locked onto Alan as he questioned him sternly:
"Alan! What do you take this banquet for?!"
"First, you insulted Miss Audrey. Then, you injured Wilson. Do you think this place is your playground?!"
"Apologize to everyone present! Earn their forgiveness before you leave!"
The second prince's words snapped the crowd out of their daze, and many began to chime in.
"His Highness is wise. Alan is arrogant and disrespectful, completely lacking gentlemanly manners. He must be dealt with severely!"
"Exactly! Associating with someone so lowly tarnishes this banquet!"
The crowd grew increasingly indignant.
The second prince nodded. "Alan's behavior is unacceptable. He must give an explanation to Miss Audrey, Wilson, and everyone here!"
Then, with a serious expression, he added, "This is the capital, a royal banquet, not your backwater hometown. Learn the rules!"
Alan snorted. "Second prince, isn't this just your attempt to win people over? Why dress it up as something noble?"
The second prince lowered his gaze and replied indifferently, "At this point, you should focus on how to gain everyone's forgiveness."
As he finished, royal guards began streaming into the banquet hall, surrounding Alan completely.
Each exuded an icy aura, filling the room with suffocating pressure.
"If you don't earn everyone's forgiveness today, you'll never leave here alive!"
Since the confrontation was now out in the open, the second prince abandoned all pretense, offering Alan no room for retreat.
This move was both an attempt to curry favor with Audrey and Wilson and a means to suppress dissenters.
Alan saw through the second prince's intentions clearly. He couldn't help but chuckle and turned to Harris, Carter, and Annie.
"I'll have to trouble you three to look after my sister."
Seeing Alan preparing to act, Harris pondered for a moment before nodding.
Annie said nothing but stood resolutely beside Isabella.
"Take him down! Alan insulted Miss Audrey, injured someone at the banquet, and defied the kingdom's laws. Kill him!"
The second prince's cold order rang out.
Immediately, the royal guards unleashed their full aura, becoming merciless killing machines set to tear Alan apart.
At that moment, a figure descended slowly from the third-floor balcony, walking through the air.
Her steps were unhurried, but as she appeared, countless eyes turned toward her, filled with shock.
Duke Alice!
The royal guards who had surrounded Alan quickly knelt on one knee, placing their right hands over their chests in a gesture of respect.
"Greetings, Duke Alice!"
Alice gave them a slight nod and walked up to Alan. Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, she smiled faintly and said with a hint of seriousness:
"It's been only a few days, and your strength has grown to this level. Alan, shall we head upstairs for a chat?"