CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 55: FARCE

The Little Emperor walked ahead, with Su Xiao following behind, moving at an unhurried pace within the Royal Palace.

A metal wire as thin as a strand of hair was tied around the Little Emperor’s neck, this feeling of life and death being in the hands of another made the Little Emperor’s face look unpleasant.

"Your expression is too stiff."

Su Xiao said in a low voice, and the Little Emperor took a deep breath, trying hard to maintain calm.

Looking at the Little Emperor walking in front, Su Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This young boy had little experience of the world and didn’t understand the complexity of human nature.

Su Xiao held a ten-centimeter-long test tube filled with a pale yellow liquid, a concoction given to the Little Emperor by the Chancellor, which he took away casually.

"Royal Secret Medicine"

Quality: Blue

Type: Healing items

Effect 1: Restores 80% Life Value upon consumption.

Effect 2: Increases Power by 3, Agility by 2, and Stamina by 10 within five minutes of consumption, slightly restoring damaged body functions.

Rating: 62 (Note: Blue items are rated from 31 to 70; the higher the rating, the more valuable the item.)

Description: A secret medicine unique to the Royal Family, with the formula known only to them.

...

Seeing the attributes of the "Royal Secret Medicine," Su Xiao felt somewhat speechless. Such a powerful potion might be consumed daily by the Little Emperor merely for recovery...

Sighing at the waste, Su Xiao urged the Little Emperor to quicken his pace.

"You approached General Esdeath with other intentions, didn’t you? Could it be that you’re attracted by Esdeath’s beauty? I have to say, you make quite the pair."

After the initial tension and fear, the Little Emperor surprisingly began probing Su Xiao’s intentions.

"Who knows."

With no guards nearby, Su Xiao also wanted to test whether the Little Emperor had other motives.

"How much farther is it?"

"Almost there. There are many guards there, and even if you have the key to activate the Supreme Teigu, it’s useless. The Supreme Teigu can only be activated by me. If you want me to help you activate the Supreme Teigu, you might as well kill me; I won’t do it."

Su Xiao chuckled softly.

"No need, I just need to hand over the key. Give me the key, and I’ll let you go; neither side will suffer any losses."

The Little Emperor turned to look at Su Xiao, seeming to realize something.

"You used to be with the Revolutionary army, trying to prevent me from using the Supreme Teigu, so that’s how it is."

The Little Emperor was completely relieved this time, as the Chancellor previously told him that Esdeath could handle the Revolutionary army, so there was no need to activate the Supreme Teigu for now.

Quietly, a sense of relief settled in the Little Emperor’s heart.

"Giving you the key is nothing compared to my and the Chancellor’s lives."

The Little Emperor quickened his pace visibly.

"When you killed the assassin in the grand hall before, I admired your bravery. Why not join the Empire? I could appoint you as the head of the Imperial Dark Department. What do you say? It’s much more promising than being in the Revolutionary army."

Su Xiao looked at the Little Emperor with interest; this kid was actually trying to recruit him.

"It’s just the grand hall ahead?"

A not-so-tall, but heavily guarded, grand hall appeared in front of them, guarded by at least hundreds of guards.

"Looks like you’re refusing; what a pity, this is the place."

The Little Emperor walked toward the grand hall with composure, and the guards in front quickly advanced, all kneeling on the ground.

"Welcome, Your Majesty."

The guards’ voices were united, loud and clear.

"Hmm, open the shrine."

This grand hall was the shrine of the Royal Palace, housing the tablets of ancestors.

"Your Highness, does the Chancellor know about this?"

The Guard Captain in front of the shrine looked troubled.

It’s laughable that the Emperor needed the Chancellor’s approval to enter the shrine of his ancestors.

"Hmm, I spoke with the Chancellor before; it was too late, and he went to sleep."

The Little Emperor’s lie was not very convincing.

"Your Highness... I’m afraid..."

The Guard Captain was not ready to let them pass.

"Who gave you the courage? His Highness wants to remember the late Emperor, he cannot sleep at night, and wants to pay homage to the late Emperor at the shrine, and you dare to stop him."

Su Xiao spoke, he couldn’t let the foolish Little Emperor continue talking, the Guard Captain wasn’t dumb.

"Who are you?"

The Guard Captain, dressed in red armor, spoke with a hostile tone, but didn’t act immediately, knowing the palace had too many influential figures.

"Hunter Troop."

Su Xiao showed the identification of the Hunter Troop.

The Guard Captain was shocked, a hint of panic in his eyes.

"So you’re General Esdeath’s direct subordinate, all one family here."

The Guard Captain began giving Su Xiao meaningful glances.

"Move aside, I could completely cut you down for your actions today."

Su Xiao’s voice was cold, and Dragon Slash gradually unsheathed.

"Friends from the Dark Department, don’t get excited, that’s not what I meant. If His Highness wishes to enter the shrine, of course, he can, but he’s always accompanied by the Chancellor each time, I’m just concerned for His Highness’ safety inside the shrine."

The Guard Captain wore a fawning smile, but inside, he was cursing.

The Little Emperor was indeed naive, but he wasn’t stupid; he already vaguely sensed something was wrong. Without the Chancellor, he couldn’t even enter the shrine for his ancestors? But he was the Emperor.

The more the Little Emperor thought about it, the more wrong it seemed, though he couldn’t pinpoint what. Suddenly, a thought struck him: would nobody listen to him if there was no Chancellor?

"Get out!!"

The Little Emperor suddenly shouted, scaring the Guard Captain half to death.

Not just the Guard Captain, even Su Xiao was startled.

"Guards, seize him."

The Little Emperor’s face was icy cold, and Su Xiao’s left arm muscles tensed, ready to cut off the Little Emperor’s head at a moment’s notice.

The Little Emperor was not ordering them to seize Su Xiao; he was pointing at the Guard Captain.

The surrounding guards remained kneeling, unmoving.

"Are you deaf? Seize him, and take him to the dungeon."

Still, no one moved, and the area in front of the shrine fell into an eerie silence.

Kneeling on the ground, the Guard Captain’s face was already drenched in cold sweat; he realized something was very wrong. The Little Emperor was enraged, but his subordinates didn’t move, possibly making the Little Emperor aware that his power had been undermined.

The Guard Captain whispered to the Deputy Captain beside him, "Idiot, capture me."

The Deputy Captain was momentarily stunned but immediately realized the situation.

"Your Highness, are we to seize Captain Mark? I was a bit panicked just now and didn’t hear your command clearly, I deserve to die."

The Deputy Captain looked up at the Little Emperor.

"Yes, seize him."

Joy spread in the Little Emperor’s heart.

"As you command, Your Highness."

The Deputy Captain stood up, and the other guards, realizing what was happening, began apprehending the Guard Captain hectically.

"Your Highness, I’ve been foolish, have mercy, I was genuinely concerned for Your Highness’ safety, have mercy, Your Highness."

The Guard Captain immediately begged for mercy.

"Wait, is what you’re saying true?"

"Absolutely true, Your Highness, do you remember five years ago, I guarded the bedchamber for you, and once you almost fell, but I caught you."

The Guard Captain cried earnestly with regret on his face.

Watching this, Su Xiao sighed at the brother’s acting skills.

"Uh~ Is there such a thing?"

The Little Emperor was somewhat troubled.

"Well... then that’s it, but don’t let it happen again."

Don’t let it happen again? Is this something an Emperor should say?

The Guard Captain was stunned, the Deputy Captain was stunned, even Su Xiao was stunned, what kind of Emperor is this? If he didn’t lose the country, it would be a disservice to his title of a foolish ruler.

"Thank... thank you, Your Highness."

The Guard Captain, both snot and tears flowing, sniffled, and a flicker of disdain passed through his eyes as he lowered his head.