261 The truth behind the ambush (1/2)
After Arwen and Kayako crossed the security measures of Ishikara castle, Teru's cousin warned them both.
Unlike the castle in Agoria, Ishikara castle was in top-notch condition and it resembled the shape of pagodas. Kayako tried her best not to shiver since she had nothing but bad memories about this place as Arwen counted the guards roaming around the castle entrance.
Under the gazes of fifty soldiers and a few groups of mages, Arwen and Kayako followed Teru and his cousin into the throne hall where they saw King Noa leisurely sitting on his throne. He wore a red silk gown and a lot of pink powder on his face as well as blood-red lipstick. Kayako noticed the new golden hair wig he was wearing and except for his flat chest and masculine body frame, he looked exactly like a woman, or at least he tried to.
When he noticed Kayako and Arwen who were wearing a magical mask with scholarly robes, he let out a joyous grin as Arwen and Kayako bent their bodies and curtsied him respectfully. Every fiber in Arwen's body resisted to lower his head towards Noa but he didn't want to mess up the mission because of a simple gesture.
”Welcome! Welcome to Ishikara and sorry for the security measures, it's better to be safe than sorry ”
”Your highness, this is Lord Kyle Moore and Lady Nyla Dean, these respected Alchemists are from Elvelon Continent ”
Teru introduced them to Noa and went to stand by Noa's side as Noa signaled Teru's cousin to leave them alone with a glance.
”Please take a seat, Lord Kyle, Lady Nyla”
Arwen and Kayako nodded as they seated themselves.
”Queen Noa, can you tell us why did you summon us?”
Arwen's tone was neither too respectful nor arrogant but he had a little smile on his face while he spoke.
”Not a lover of small talks heh, since you came straight to the point, I should too but before that”
His voice faded as he turned his head and waved his hand. Then, a youth came through the adjacent to the throne hall carrying a tray full of various color herbs.
He paused for a moment near Noa and then walked straight towards Kayako and Arwen.
”My alchemists failed to identify these herbs and pills but I assume it'd be a simple task to Lord Kyle and Lady Nyla ”
Kayako could see he was lying through his teeth but since she had expected this, she calmly took the herbs from the tray and inspected it. She smelled some herbs while took a little teeny tiny bite of some of the herbs before putting them back on the tray.
”Queen Noa, these are ruby cress, fire pepper, pygmy salt, and dream leaves and these are”
She took a handful of red grass and crushed them as they turned into a green powder
”Just wax grass, useless”
”If you have finished your tests, Queen Noa, we'd like to know why are we here”
Since the Alchemists were known to be arrogant and quick-tempered, Arwen sounded like he was irritated by Noa as Noa acted like he didn't notice the change in his tone.
”I heard you have Weludin pill and I happen to be in need of Weludin, so what say you sell that pill to me?”
”We do have one Weludin in our hands, Queen Noa, but someone else had asked first”
The smile on Noa's face quickly faded away and a deep frown appeared on his face
”May I ask who that might be, Lord Kyle? Or is that confidential?”
Arwen shook his head
”Not at all, Queen Noa, it's King Don of Everlight, he ordered us to concoct the Weludin with some other rare pills a month ago, we were on our way to Agoria when you summoned us ”
The mere mention of the name 'Don' sent a chill running through Noa's spine. He was the most powerful man in the rank four kingdoms and even in the top ten of the rank three kingdoms with his peak Grandmaster level cultivation. And if it wasn't for the freaks in black masks who killed him, Noa knew that he would have reached the Heavenly level and become an unstoppable force.
Arwen noticed the slight change in his eyes when he heard Don's name and confirmed that he had helped those creatures ambush his friend and king, Don.
”Why did he order Weludin?”
”He didn't specifically ask for Weludin but if we have to guess, I'd say he want that pill to his collection, he's a collector of rare things”
”And how do you know that, if I may ask?”
”We sold some items to him previously and his men often visit the auction houses in Elvelon ”