CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 208: WE ARE ACCOMPLICES IN THE WORLD’S DESTRUCTION

"Are you joking? When have those royals ever cared about our safety?"

"But Li Qingping will come. I saw that kid in my wife’s tavern."

"Li Qingping has already left the Royal Court Team. Haven’t you heard?"

"Maybe we should pull back a bit... Don’t panic, it might just be scaring ourselves."

"We can’t retreat." The leading old man said in a low voice.

He was thin and bony, so small he couldn’t even support the armor, yet at this moment, he looked up high, like a wrathful guardian deity.

Everyone looked at his back and silently suppressed their urge to retreat.

However, they waited in fear for a long time, yet saw no sign of a monster. Instead, a long cry fell from the deep blue sky and reached everyone’s ears, making their nerves tense.

The town’s guard squad instantly looked up at the sky, only to see two deer break through the snow and wind, pulling a crimson sled across the sky full of swimming fish.

Through the swirling snow, they saw a young boy with white hair and blue eyes sitting on the sled.

Yaguba had already tucked itself into Cezar’s pocket. It poked out its round head, curiously observing everyone’s expressions.

"Those serpent wolves and horses have been dealt with by me. You guys should go back and rest." Cezar shouted down at the ground from the edge of the sled.

At this moment, the town was brightly lit, with residents holding the commonplace whimsical "Ever-Burning Light Dots" in their hands, like scattered pieces of fluorescence spread throughout every corner of the town. By the faint light and the glow from the Whale’s Belly, they discerned the shadow in the sky.

The white-haired, blue-eyed boy sat on the sled, smiling and waving to them: "Everyone go to sleep."

His white hair fluttered, and in the bright black light, his azure eyes were as clear as a lake.

"Is that the Third Prince?"

"The Third Prince stopped the beast tide for us?"

"Did he manage such a feat all by himself?"

"Don’t forget, last time he won against the Second Prince in the Beast Fighting Arena."

"The Third Prince personally came to protect us?"

The guards inhaled sharply, their voices rising with discussions. Only then did they realize, there were no monsters in the forest as the scouts reported; the real monster was this Third Prince riding on the sled...

The leading old man waved to Cezar, who seemed to have spotted him from the crowd and slowly brought the sled down to the town’s entrance.

The guards unanimously lowered their weapons, half-kneeling on the ground, saluting this young prince.

"Your Highness Cezar, thank you for your intervention," the old man said. "The magical creatures on the mountain haven’t rioted in a long time. Our guards haven’t fought in a while and may not have been able to stop them. Without you, many would have died in this beast tide."

"You’re welcome." Cezar shook his head. "I’m considered a prince after all; it’s my duty to protect the country."

"My name is ’Ivack,’ and the townspeople owe you a favor," the old man said. "If you need help in the future, we’ll do our utmost to assist you, no matter what."

"It’s okay." Cezar smiled, "I’ll be leaving the Terrarium soon anyway."

Ivack was startled: "Leaving the Terrarium?"

Cezar nodded: "Yes, on the first day of next month, I’ll be leaving here and might not come back, so there’s no need to thank me."

Ivack was silent for a long while: "What a pity... At that time, we will come to the Whale’s Mouth to see you off."

Yaguba rubbed its head against Cezar’s pocket and muttered softly:

"Oh no... this must be one of those scenarios, like the guaranteed cannon fodder scenario of a prince’s revenge story."

"What are you muttering about?"

Cezar asked while glancing at the little shark in his pocket.

Yaguba lifted its head and asked in a low voice: "Are you really going to take them along? If a fight breaks out, the Royal Court Team could wipe them all out with a single move."

"It’s okay. Maybe seeing so many people, Mother won’t kill us," Cezar smiled, "Using them as shields isn’t bad. They surely have families, right? If they disappear, it would at least cause a public stir."

Yaguba paused.

It lifted its head from the pocket, blankly looking at Cezar’s chilling smile, thinking it’s over, was there ever any innocent child turning dark? I thought you were dark to begin with?

"Kidding... This is my matter and won’t involve others’ lives." Cezar shook his head, "And with so many people, if a real fight happens, it would be hard for Li Qingping to act freely, which could instead have the opposite effect."

Yaguba let out a sigh of relief, patting its heart with a fin.

"Don’t joke like that."

Cezar hooked his lips at it, shifting his gaze from the little shark to look at the old man named "Ivack."

He spoke: "Mr. Ivack, there’s no need for you to see me off that day, as it could be dangerous. Goodbye then."

Ivack was stunned, just about to speak when a gust of wind and snow blew into his face.

In the long cry, the deer broke through the snow and wind, flew towards the Whale’s Belly, passing through a shimmering school of fish. Amidst the howling wind and snow, the sled traveled unhindered beneath the Whale’s Belly.

Cezar raised his head, silently watching as the whale leapt out of the sea, moonlight flowing like mercury on the Whale’s Belly, covering the entire Terrarium.

He suddenly smiled, taking Yaguba out of his pocket and placing it on his shoulder.

Under the void sky, he loudly asked: "Yaguba, you want to devour the entire world, right?"

Yaguba started: "How did you know?"

"It’s okay, let it all be destroyed, tear apart these mountains, these seas, this sky," Cezar looked up, quietly saying, "Once it’s all destroyed, it will be easy, and we’ll travel the world together, freely."

"But you’ll become a great sinner, a prince betraying his realm."

"Aren’t we accomplices?" Cezar said, "With you around, I’m not afraid."

Yaguba suddenly fell silent.

It lifted its head, staring at the white-haired boy’s innocent face for a long time: "You’re right... Cezar, we are accomplices."

After a pause, the little shark continued to ask: "But what if I want to destroy more than just the Whale Terrarium, but the entire world?"

Cezar paused.

"Destroy the entire world? Your ambition is so grand, Yaguba."

"Yeah, by then, would you stand with Sharky?"

Cezar was stunned for a long while, then raised the corners of his mouth, "I will accompany you. If the whole world is your enemy, then this world is my enemy, haven’t you told me this?"

"That’s good." The little shark shrank its head and said softly, "You’re too naive, Cezar, you might be used."

"Yaguba, are you using me?"

Cezar curiously looked at it, his eyes gleaming under the moonlight.

The little shark shook its head: "No, you’re Sharky’s good friend."

"It’s okay to use me; without you, I would’ve been dead long ago."

"I said I’m not using you."

"That’s good." Cezar smiled, "Let’s go back, it’s time to rest."

"Okay."

In a far-off yard, Li Qingping leaned against a tree, hearing the unrestrained sound of wind and snow from the sky, and yawned as he opened his eyes, silently watching the white-haired boy on the sled and the shark on his shoulder.

"Green tea shark..."

He hugged his shoulders, leaned against the maple tree, slowly closed his eyes, and once again nodded off.