Chapter 1250 - Undercurrent (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Amid the light show of fire and magic, the airship began to slowly descend. Hao Ren heard a loud cheer coming from below when the airship was still some distance from the ground. When he gazed at the crowd, which looked like a colored ocean, he could not help but mumble to Morian, “Seems like Veronica is very popular among the people.”

“The people don’t necessarily know what greatness the princess has achieved outside…” Morian shrugged. “But, they will all get a sweet pastry.”

Hao Ren was struck dumb.

After a slight shaking, the airship finally docked on the edge of the rectangular platform built with white stones. The mighty mountain warriors pushed the heavy springboard from the platform to the side of the airship and fastened it with locks. It followed by the Royal Honor squad performing a 22-gun salute on both sides of the red carpet before Veronica and Morian emerged from the airship.

Hao Ren stood on the other side of Veronica, slightly closer to her than Morian was.

After fighting side by side with the princess, twenty of the knights lined up behind the three of them in their triumphal return. The knights had not changed their armors, which were full of scratches and blood stains. Even the swords hanging from their waists had the same battered appearance from the battlefield. Twenty knights walked down the bridge with a heroic presence, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of the people below. More triumphant cheers as people began to shout the name of the Rose of the Battlefield.

Veronica waved to the crowd below, but her eyes stopped for a while at certain spots in the crowd and seemingly nodded to someone.

Hao Ren saw everything. Of course, he could see the hired crowd, and the princess would need some means to maintain her prestige in the Royal Capital and deter the noble faction. But he would not be disgusted or having an opinion on Veronica as he was not interested in all this. Just like any other qualified inspectors, they were mere spectators of these ‘passing sceneries.’

As he watched, he followed the princess. At the end of the red carpet, there was a majestic middle-aged man in gorgeous costumes with a group of nobility standing behind the middle-him.

That should be the king of Taros, he guessed.

Sure enough, Veronica came before the man and immediately bowed, paying respect to his father following the royal traditions and etiquette. But the majestic king had taken a step forward. For the first time in his life, Rudolph III put all that royal customs at the back of his mind and hugged his daughter. “Welcome home, my child.”

“Father,” Veronica said, seemingly to have also expected her father’s action. With a smile, she said, “It is good to see you in good health. I am back, and with me, I have brought an important intelligence.”

“Did you cross the border of Order?” Rudolph III looked at Veronica and the knights behind her, and eventually Hao Ren. Of course, he had noticed the stranger earlier, who was standing in such a conspicuous and important position, which seemed to be even more honorable than Veronica’s royal swordmaster. The king could not help but start guessing who this man in funny clothes was. “And you bring a guest.”

Veronica immediately stepped aside and solemnly introduced, “Father, this is the ancient guardian from Mount Cassouin. He was the one who helped us make it through the realm of Chaos and led us to accomplish all the feats. He is Hao Ren, from the last millennium.”

Rudolph III was visibly stunned.

Probably of all the guesses the king had made, this was the answer that he least expected.

Several close officials standing behind Rudolph III had, of course, heard Veronica’s words, and their expressions were also entertaining. These bigwigs in the corridor of power were no ignorant peasants. They had never seen the ancient books about Mount Cassouin that Veronica had found, they had heard similar stories, and naturally knew what it meant by an awakened guardian of an ancient sacred land. It did not only say that a mighty warrior had returned to the world of Order, but also denoted the recovery of some old technologies and lost history.

But such things would only happen in the stories of bards and lame playwrights.

No one would have thought to encounter such a thing in life. But a few senior officials were relieved when seeing the weary knights behind Veronica: to the celebrated knight princess, the adventure was not that strange after all.

Hao Ren remained silent all this while, quietly observing at the atmosphere of the reunion and the triumphal return of the knights. He had no plan to say anything in this strange kingdom. But at this moment, he felt a pair of eyes were staring at him.