177 Youre Not a Gentleman (1/2)

”What are your orders, General?”

The soldiers stood erected on the wall with stern expressions as if a war was about to happen.

Hendrick stood at the hem and peered into the distance lands, obscured by a veil of darkness.

Vision was limited, but the general marquis did not seem bothered. It was time to test a new ability, he named [Whispers of the Wind]. With this ability, he could detect the presence of all life within a certain radius by listening to the wind, hence the name.

Eyes closed, the atmosphere began to stir as the wind direction changed and gathered towards the general marquis subtlely. All sound within a mile radius were picked up by the wind and delivered to him.

He could hear everything, from the soldiers breathing to the swaying grass, the rustling of leaves and even the movements of the clouds.

Just when he was about to confirm the zero presence of other beasts, he picked up the sound of a pair of beasts battling at the edges of his range.

Hendrick brows knitted at the beasts' abnormal behavior of tearing at each other's flesh in a frenzied manner.

Shortly after, the presence of both beasts disappeared. They had both died.

”There's no need to be alarmed. There is no ambush lying in waiting.” Hendrick stated.

The soldiers sighed with relief.

”Your orders to head down and collect the bull-type beast carcass, General.” A soldier saluted.

”No need.” Hendrick shook his head.

He pointed at the beast carcass at the foot of the Great Wall and flicked upwards.

”Up!”

Along with his command, a spiral column of wind lifted the beast carcass and shot up into the air, before landing on the wall.

”Deliver it to the research team to study.”

”Yes, General!”

Afterwards, Hendrick linked hands behind his back and began leaving with a pondering look.

Something strange was happening in the Wildlands. What kind of enmity would cause two beasts to fight each other to the death in such a savage and brutal manner?

He didn't know what it was, but it was an ill omen.

”I hope the Human Domain won't be affected by whatever is happening out there…”

…

Within the courtyard of the prince, Leon was seen in the middle of a session of pill refining.

In one corner of courtyard, his personal guards were seen quietly playing cards with a depressive mood.

There was once a time, when they felt proud to be palace guards, to be 9th step Awakeners, but not anymore. Their impression of the prince had gradually transitioned from respect to awe, then from awe to self-ashamed.

They were already in their mid-30s, but they were still stuck at the peak 9th step of Awakener Realm.

Back when the prince was in the 8th step, he already possessed the battle power to surmount a level and fight with 9th step Awakeners.

After numerous spars, they were no longer a match for the prince.

Now that the prince was at the one-star level, his battle power must be even greater. As the prince's personal guards, they felt useless and no longer needed.

If there was an enemy that even the prince couldn't handle, then it was even more so for the personal guards!

They were simply not capable of protecting the prince from stronger opponents, while they weren't needed at all against weaker foes.

”Ahh…” Howard issued a sigh as he thought about this.

”It's your turn, Howard. Just say pass if you can't beat it.” Jeffrey impatiently reminded.

”Hm? Oh right. Sorry.” Howard shoved the depressing thoughts behind him and focused on the card game.

Jeffrey had just played a pair of aces. He glanced at his own hand. There were only three cards left; a pair of twos and a three of clubs.

With a smirk, Howard said, ”Looks like drinks won't be on me this round. Double two.”

Howard played the pair of twos and proceeded to play his last card as the chances of others beating a pair of twos were small in this particular set of card game.

”Hold it!”

Unfortunately for Howard, someone just happened to hold that small probability in their hand.

”Chop!” Cain immediately slammed down a double combo capable of beating a pair of twos.

Howard froze with wide eyes. What were the chances!?

Stuck with the lowest card in the deck in his hand, he painfully watched on as the other three finished their hands.

”Aish… cursed my bad luck! Alright, drinks are on me!” Howard grumbled.

…

Leon completely ignored the palace guards' activities and focused wholeheartedly on his pill refining. He had permitted their activity out of kindness. In his opinion, standing guard all day against the zero possibility of threats would make a person bored senseless.

”It's done!”

Leon's eyes suddenly snapped open as the cauldron lid removed itself to revealed nine pearly-white pills inside the pill cauldron. These were the Tier-1 Soul Mending Pills.

”With this, my father can finally awaken from his 17-year long coma!”

Taking a whiff of the pills, Leon smiled.