Pillar of Yita

Zhang Tianmiu frowned deeply as he strode through the corridor, his deputy caught up with him from behind. ”Captain, I’ve pretty much got the situation figured out. Sir Agar mustn’t have made a mistake; it was indeed Princess Briana Karanshir Miaoxing who took the target away,” he said.

He kept up with the other’s pace as he continued, ”The target entered the Continental League by a stroke of luck, apparently due to Elpaxin staff mixing up his identification tag. The person in question is an apprentice alchemist from Kapuka, which matches what we know.”

Zhang Tianmiu stopped in his tracks, reached into his pocket, and fumbled for a cigarette. He placed it in his mouth and struck a match—the flame briefly illuminating his handsome, clean-cut face. He squinted slightly and took a deep breath.

He exhaled the smoke before turning his head and saying, ”So, we’ve lost the target again.”

His deputy couldn’t help but burst out, ”But Captain, that’s hardly our fault, is it? We arrived much earlier than the orders prescribed, but what about those guys? A whole Knight Order couldn’t even stop a kid, not to talk of buying us some time.”

Zhang Tianmiu glanced at him. ”I’m not here to listen to your complaints.”

The deputy just shrugged, indifferent, ”You don’t like hearing it, but there’s nothing I can do. That’s the truth.”

”Quit the chatter and say something useful—”

The latter, unperturbed, merely said, ”Well, our people previously spoke to those Dwarves—the target may have been taken to Avenquin to meet another hero of the Battle of Bain—Kurufen Noveli. You know he is the most distinguished alchemy master among the Avenquin Elves. From what I gathered from the Old Dwarf, it seems Princess Briana values that boy quite highly.”

”And what do you think?” Zhang Tianmiu asked in return.

”I think it’s very likely, considering Princess Briana and the target had no prior contact. She had no reason to suddenly take him away.”

Zhang Tianmiu, however, shook his head and replied lightly, ”You’re wrong.”

”I’m wrong?”

”I’m certain Princess Briana Karanshir Miaoxing had a premeditated plan.”

”What?”

”I checked; the princess’s itinerary for that day did not include the Continental League. It was a last-minute change, and she arrived at the venue just before the start of the contest. Right after the contest ended, she went directly for the target without any redundant actions. That is why Sir Agar was a step slower than her. Thus, her purpose was clear—”

”Wait, Captain, that doesn’t make sense. Princess Briana Karanshir Miaoxing is a hero of the Battle of Bain, an Elf Princess, a bona fide native. She couldn’t have had any contact with the target before then; how could she have possibly known in advance that the target would appear at the Continental League venue?” the deputy interjected.

”That’s precisely the issue,” Zhang Tianmiu said.

He bowed his head, shielding his face with his hand while taking a drag, the ember at the end of his cigarette glowing faintly red amidst the swirling smoke.

He exhaled deeply before saying, ”To my knowledge, before Princess Briana went to the Elpaxin Arena, she had met with three groups of people. In chronological order, they were representatives from the Elpaxin Artisan Association, a messenger from Prince Coleman, and two mysterious persons.”

”One of these three groups must be involved; among them, the staff of the Elpaxin Artisan Association are the least suspicious, followed by the messenger from Prince Coleman. The two mysterious individuals are undoubtedly the most suspect.”

The deputy looked at him with surprise. ”Captain, how do you know this?”

Zhang Tianmiu turned to his deputy. ”Are you an idiot? Of course, it was someone from the Silverwind Knights who told me—”

”What?” the deputy said, mildly irritated. ”Why didn’t they tell me?”

Zhang Tianmiu glanced at him and casually replied, ”If you don’t ask, naturally they won’t tell you.”

The deputy opened his mouth and then closed it, suddenly realizing the sense in those words. He had been at a loss for words. It was generally unthinkable to suspect Princess Briana, a famed native and a newcomer to this world; there appeared to be no conceivable connection between the two.

Only then did he ask, ”So what should we do now?”

”You’re also a member of the Special Preparation Team, not just here to eat. So, let me ask you—if you were me, what would you do?”

”Should we try following Princess Briana? I heard the target has others with him, a Lion Person, and a Papalarian, which should be quite a noticeable group,” the deputy ventured to ask.

Zhang Tianmiu looked at him as if he were an imbecile. ”Follow an Avenquin Elf? You think you’re better than the Guard of Dawn?”

Rendered speechless, the deputy knew the Guard of Dawn was the Imperial Guard of the Avenquin Elf Court, composed of Elves with long lives taught personally by the Sword Saint Masters and chosen through years of rigorous training. They were the top picks in loyalty, martial skill, and vigilance.

In other words, the average level of the Guard of Dawn was Level 35, and in a world of mortals, each one of them was an expert in their own right. Were it not for their limited numbers, they would constitute the most elite force of the first world of Eteliria.

For them to tail the Dawn Guard would be a fanciful daydream. Moreover, given the status of Briana Karanshir Miaoxing, it was unlikely that such action would receive any approval from above.

He knitted his brows in frustration but then slapped his forehead, with a flash of inspiration saying, ”I’ve got it. The target’s official alchemy assessment was completed here, so he must still report to the Angina Temple—”