Chapter 524: Little Black's Death

Chapter 524: Little Black’s Death

Above the Summer Sea.

Soon, the approaching Imperial Airship Fleet met Elder Ivan and the two other Dragon Knights riding their giant dragons.

Elder Ivan and the two other Dragon Knights, who were meeting Rayne for the first time, were quickly stunned by Rayne’s youthful appearance and the subtle yet vast psi energy emanating from him.

In fact, Rayne had deliberately suppressed a portion of his psi energy, only allowing the aura of a mid-stage Dawn Wizard to be perceived.

“Sir Rayne, you are younger and more powerful than the rumors suggest,” Elder Ivan said with a smile after his initial shock.

“Thank you, Elder Ivan.”

After some pleasantries, Rayne learned that Elder Ivan had more seniority than Menya. Although not a direct member of the royal family, he was Menya’s uncle. The other two also had distant imperial royal bloodlines, but they were a generation lower than Menya, and of the same generation as the current emperor.

The focus of their visit was naturally on Princess Menya.

So, after a brief dinner, Rayne returned to his cabin, leaving the conversation space to the others.

Midnight, above the Summer Sea shimmering under the moonlight, several Imperial Airships were flying at high speed.

In the luxurious cabin, Rayne’s eyes snapped open, startled awake by the System Prompt:

【Your tamed beast ‘Swift Steed’ has suffered a fatal attack and has now died!】

【Ding! Your pet limit has increased. Current (2/4)】

“Little Black is dead?”

“Has something happened at home?”

“No, if something happened at home, even if Blood Feathers could escape, Lynx War Dog Quiche would have also been in trouble.”

“Since I’m not there, few people can ride Little Black. Claire and Anna are the only ones who can. Could it be that they are in trouble?”

“No, if I’m not there, Claire has a carriage, and Anna can transform. The chances of them riding Little Black are slim.”

“In that case, the most likely scenario is that Little Black was killed in the stables!” Rayne gradually calmed down and analyzed the situation, realizing that things might not be as severe as he initially thought.

“Is it because they can’t easily harm my family in the Imperial Capital, so they killed the horse to create fear and panic?” Rayne’s eyes narrowed.

After a moment’s thought, Rayne opened the door and said to the soldier at the entrance:

“Send a message to the captain’s quarters. Full speed ahead to the Imperial Capital.”

“Yes, Sir Rayne, but—” The soldier’s hesitant expression did not escape Rayne’s notice.

“If Princess Menya asks, tell her it was my order,” Rayne said firmly.

By position, he was not the head of the Imperial Delegation, and the decision to fly at full speed would normally require Menya’s approval.

“Yes, Sir Rayne!” The soldier saluted and ran off.

With the airships flying at full speed,

The Imperial Delegation arrived in Capital Tamriel by 10 AM the next morning.

After a grand welcome ceremony, Princess Menya, surrounded by her entourage, returned to the palace. Rayne, however, said he needed to go home first and arranged to meet Marshal Alfred later, then boarded the luxurious carriage that had been prepared for him.

In the carriage,

Rayne sat across from Lieutenant Colonel Tatiana and Efficient Adult Olena.

“Olena, tell me about the situation at home and in the empire,” Rayne asked, noticing Olena’s relatively calm demeanor, which eased his worries somewhat.

“I have summarized the major events in the empire for you, Sir Rayne. You can review them at any time.” Olena handed Rayne a file folder with a respectful gesture.

“However, about your family…” Olena’s hesitant expression immediately made Rayne’s smile fade as he took the file.

“This… When you first went missing, there were many rumors, so I did not inform your family immediately. I also contacted Lord Luthor and Sir Hallowen, who might know more, and asked them to keep it confidential from your family.”

“I thought it best to avoid causing them undue worry.”

Rayne nodded slowly as he listened to Olena.

Logically, Olena had considered that his parents were ordinary people and chose to keep the news from them to prevent excessive worry and distress. Her decision was sound.

“But I overlooked Miss Claire. She is at the Imperial Royal Academy and has many sources of information. She found out through other channels, and then… your family learned that you were in trouble. Aunt Emma fell ill.”

“It’s not your fault, Olena,” Rayne consoled.

Claire knew it was just an accident and naturally couldn’t blame Olena.

“Thank you, Lord Rayne, for your understanding.”

“Also, last night, there was an incident at your estate where some horses were killed. The Imperial Capital Security Forces have already been involved, but there are no leads yet.”

“Miss Claire had an encounter with the assailant, who seems to be a woman with mysterious movements and strength surpassing Miss Claire’s,” Olena said with a solemn expression.

Rayne nodded.

This aligned with the System Prompt he received last night.

“Do you know the identity of the assailant?”

“Lord Rayne, perhaps I should add a bit more to this.” At this point, General Tatiana slightly straightened her posture and spoke.

“Two days ago, the Crown Prince personally contacted and pressured the Marshal. Quentin, who was imprisoned at headquarters and possesses the Shadow Dragon lineage, has been taken away.”

“I believe the act of killing the horses at your estate as a form of revenge was likely carried out by this Quentin.”

“Crown Prince? Shadow Dragon lineage?” Rayne was slightly taken aback; he hadn’t expected this.

“I understand.”

“Additionally, Lord Rayne, there’s been an incident at the Minstrel,” General Tatiana paused a moment before delivering the second piece of bad news.

“Minstrel? Did something happen to Jennifer and Lagrelle?” Rayne’s eyes narrowed, and a commanding presence emanated from him.

This made Lieutenant Colonel Tatiana’s heart skip a beat!

Lord Rayne’s strength seemed to have improved even further. Initially, when the news came that Lord Rayne and Princess Menya were defeated and imprisoned by the Sea Goddess Hela, it seemed impossible. Now, it was clear that wasn’t the case.

However, the speed at which his strength had grown was truly alarming!

“Mrs. Jennifer and Miss Lagrange were attacked, but they are safe under the protection of the Swordsmen Division and the Church of the Goddess. They are currently staying at the Minstrel Church of the Goddess, and I have already arranged for headquarters personnel to go there,” Tatiana said with a serious expression.

“Duke Minter also sent reinforcements, but they were blocked by an unknown force.”

Hearing that the beautiful matron Jennifer and the barbarian girl Lagrelle were safe, Rayne’s heart eased slightly.

But when he learned that they were trapped in the Minstrel Church of the Goddess and couldn’t leave, his anger began to rise!

“Do you know which force was behind this?” Rayne’s tone turned cold.

“Currently, we are still investigating, but we have identified two of the assailants. They are third-tier crystallized earth wizards, and we are certain they are from Isodrial Academy.”

The Sword Bearers Headquarters had investigated the strong forces within the empire. While earth wizards were not uncommon, those who could crystallize and send two of them at once were few and far between.

Isodrial Academy?

Hearing this familiar name, Rayne’s mind raced, and he immediately understood. “Is this the large wizard school where ‘Carver’ Harold is from?”

“Yes, Lord Rayne, it is indeed them. Only they could easily dispatch two earth-specialized crystallized wizards,” Tatiana nodded.

Rayne nodded.

It made sense.

After he killed the legendary ‘Carver’ Harold, who was known as the strongest, the other side had been talking about revenge. However, after he displayed epic-level strength, those threats had quieted down.

Now, they thought he wouldn’t return and decided to strike back?

“You mentioned two of them. What about the others?” Rayne asked in a stern voice.

“Another two, but we are not entirely certain yet. According to reliable sources, they seem to be Marquis Oren and his bodyguard captain.”

“Also, we have investigated, and Marquis Oren and his bodyguard captain did leave the Imperial Capital the day before yesterday, and their current whereabouts are unknown,” Tatiana reported.

Oren?

Another ‘old acquaintance.’ A significant portion of Jennifer’s shares in the Axeon Auction House came from Oren.

“Are the people you mentioned still in Minstrel?”

“Uh, their movements are quite secretive, but at least one of them is still there.”

“I understand. General Tatiana, please inform the Marshal that our meeting might have to be postponed. Additionally, arrange for a high-speed dirigible to Minstrel in two hours.”

"Lord Rayne, the dirigible is no problem. However, this matter might not be so simple. Both the Bavaria Family and the Sneider Family have been warned by several old, influential noble families of the empire."

"We are fairly certain that the Drum Family is behind this, stirring up trouble."

"Even... there are hints of the Crown Prince's involvement", Tatiana said with a serious expression.

Olena couldn't help but gasp, her hand covering her mouth slightly.

No wonder the Sword Bearers Headquarters had only strengthened the protection around Lord Rayne's residence without making a big fuss about hunting down the killer of the swift-footed antelope.

"The identity of the perpetrator is not important", Rayne said, shaking his head slowly.

"What matters is whether they did it or not."

"Lord Rayne, we have no concrete evidence against the Drum Family", Tatiana couldn't help but interject.

"Evidence is not important. What matters is that I believe they did it. That's enough."

"I will handle this matter."

Hearing Rayne's words, Tatiana and Olena exchanged a glance, unsure of what to say.

However, both of them were clear on one thing: a storm was about to break in the Imperial Capital.

When Rayne arrived at the entrance of his residence, the small figure of Matteo was overjoyed.

But Rayne frowned, having heard the voices coming from the nearby parlor. He waved his hand, signaling Matteo to keep quiet.

"Last night, the attacker was a woman, very powerful. Even I couldn't stop her."

"I feel that her killing of Rayne's former mount, Little Black, was more about instilling fear in the people inside the residence", Claire said, a hint of fatigue in her voice.

Ever since she learned of Rayne's incident, Claire had been deeply worried and chose to stay at Rayne's residence to comfort his parents and his sister, Mint.

At the same time, she received news from home that her father, the Earl of Meister, had been receiving frequent warnings from several powerful noble families.

It seemed that the Earl was under immense pressure, and in his letter, he suggested that she should consider her own well-being, perhaps even reconsider the marquis who had been courting her.

Putting that aside, last night, while resting with Mint, she heard the neighing of the swift-footed antelope, Little Black, in the middle of the night.

By the time she reached the stable, Rayne's former mount had been killed on the spot. She had a brief confrontation with a suspected assassin, a woman in leather armor, and was forced to retreat. When the guards arrived, the assailant had vanished mysteriously.

She left a message, saying she would return tonight.

Although the Imperial Capital's patrol teams arrived, they were at a loss with the case, unable to handle it at their level. The matter was reported, but it seemed to have been shelved by some unseen hand.

All these events weighed heavily on her mind, and she felt she couldn't bear it anymore.

So, today, she had invited Rayne's two good friends, Luther and Hallowen, to discuss a plan of action.

"Miss Claire, from today on, Sir Hallowen and I will take turns guarding the residence. However, based on your description, I fear neither Sir Hallowen nor I have the confidence to capture the attacker."

Luther and Hallowen exchanged a glance, both seeing the difficulty in each other's eyes.

Claire's strength was already on par with theirs. From her description, the attacker seemed to possess some special ability, allowing her to disappear instantly. This made it almost impossible for them to have any assurance of success.

They hadn't expected that just a few days after Rayne's incident, these forces that once feared him like a tiger would emerge one after another.

Not only did they immediately attack the Minstrel's Hammer and Rose Guild, but they also dared to kill Rayne's former mount as a show of force. It was truly outrageous!

"Thank you both. I'll go check on little Mint; she was frightened last night."

Claire had just risen when the parlor door opened, and a familiar tall figure appeared at the entrance.

"Rayne!!!" Claire exclaimed, a mix of joy and sorrow in her voice!

"Lord Rayne!"

"Great, Lord Rayne, you're back!" Luther and Hallowen immediately stood up, their faces showing surprise, joy, and relief.

"Claire, why are you crying?" Rayne smiled, gently wiping away the tears on Claire's face.

"Rayne, I'm sorry."

"Thank you, Claire. Leave the rest to me." Rayne slowly pulled Claire into his embrace.

Ten minutes later, after understanding the situation, Rayne went to the second floor of the villa, to his sister Mint's bedroom.

There, his frightened sister from the night before was now sleeping peacefully, curled up on the Lynx War Dog, Quiche.

"Woof woof!"

Rayne was about to leave quietly, but Quiche, sensing something, immediately barked excitedly.

"Quiche, let me sleep a little longer!"

The commotion from the dog woke Mint. She rubbed her red, puffy eyes and looked toward the door. The next moment, her large eyes widened in shock as she let out a cry.

"Big Brother!"

Rayne smiled as he picked up his sister, Mint, who had rushed over to him. He then rubbed the Lynx War Dog, Quiche, who was rubbing against his legs.

"Big Brother, Little Black is dead", Mint sobbed.

"Shh, I know. I'll make that bad person pay. Be a good girl and don't cry anymore."

"Okay!"

For some reason, seeing her big brother made Mint feel much better. After a few words, she fell into a deep sleep again.

Next, Rayne went to visit his mother, Emma, and his father, Old Rayne.

Seeing Rayne return safely, Emma's condition improved significantly, though not without a lot of nagging and reminders from the old man.

When Rayne returned to his bedroom, he extended his hand and quickly made a complex gesture in the air. A symbol radiating psi energy then appeared in front of him.

"Rayne?"

A few seconds later, Menya's voice came from the symbol.

High-ranking wizards could communicate through psi energy over a certain range if they had exchanged personal communication imprints. Rayne and Menya had done this at Lava Lake.

"Menya", Rayne quickly recounted the situation.

Rayne's intention was to inform Menya that he might have a conflict with Prince Everdon, given that Menya was the prince's great-aunt. It was like telling the parents when you'd hit their child.

"Rayne, since this involves Everton, I'll handle it. Besides handing over the culprit, do you need them to come and apologize as well?"

"Handing over the culprit is enough. There's no need for an apology."

Even if Menya forced an apology, it wouldn't be sincere, and Rayne had no interest in it.

A few minutes later.

In the Crown Prince's residence, on the second floor.

"Bang!!!"

Prince Everdon's face was livid as he slammed his hand onto the wooden desk, startling the white cat that had been napping there, causing it to run away in a flash.

Buchanan, hearing the commotion, knocked on the door and called out, "Your Highness?"

"Come in!" Everton said sternly.

"Yes, Your Highness." Buchanan entered and saw the Crown Prince with a very grim expression.

Having been the Crown Prince's butler for many years, Buchanan was familiar with his master's habits. This expression clearly indicated extreme anger.

"Great-Aunt Menya personally intervened on Rayne's behalf, demanding that I hand over Quentin and apologize in person."

"What!" Buchanan was naturally shocked.

The 'Red Queen' Menya was highly respected in the imperial family, but she was usually very lenient with the younger generation. It was rare for her to act so harshly, let alone demand a personal apology.

"Rayne must have performed exceptionally well during the Imperial Delegation's attack by the Sea God Cult, earning the approval and praise of Great-Aunt Menya." Everton, having calmed down, pondered and then said.

"Buchanan, take Quentin and go to Rayne's residence to apologize."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

"As you command, Your Highness. But... Quentin..." Buchanan hesitated.

Quentin was a rare Shadow Dragon lineage, and among the known members of the Brotherhood of Dragonhide, he had the highest concentration of Shadow Dragon blood. Handing him over to Rayne for punishment was a waste.

Besides, a few days ago, the Crown Prince had personally pressured the Swordbearer to return Quentin.

Moreover, communicating this to Quentin would be difficult, as it essentially meant sending him to his death.

"Hand Quentin over to Rayne, but if he escapes, it will be his problem, not ours."

"Give this to Quentin." Everton smirked and pulled a vial of red liquid with a faint crystalline glow from his pocket, handing it to Buchanan.

"Bloodline Burst Elixir? I understand, Your Highness."

"I'll go now!"

Buchanan took the vial and couldn't help but smile.

Quentin had been rewarded with a 'Dragon Vein Evolution Elixir' upon his return, bringing his strength close to that of an epic warrior. If he took the 'Bloodline Burst Elixir,' his Shadow Dragon lineage abilities would be significantly enhanced in a short time. Buchanan planned to pretend to hand Quentin over to Rayne, believing that Quentin would find a way to escape and return.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end