Chapter 163
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Changed Position
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The city of Bizhou began to buzz with activity.
Festive energy filled the air everywhere you went, and people's faces brimmed with joy and anticipation.
"It feels just like welcoming a triumphant general."
"No doubt. It's an event put on by the Imperial Family, after all. If they're going to hype someone up, they might as well go all out, right?"
"True. It's not every day that royalty officially descends into Blackout, either."
And that was just the start.
Not to mention how their fame had skyrocketed after successfully conquering the Fairy Queen last year—a failure turned triumph.
Come the day the two princes actually arrived, the city plunged into absolute frenzy.
Not only the locals but massive crowds from all over swarmed in just to catch a glimpse of the famous royals.
Soldiers dashed about like their boots were on fire, struggling to control the throngs.
"Ugh..."
Amid it all, the two princes appeared from afar, mounted on a white horse and a black stallion.
They waved leisurely, as if this were routine...
'Well, the Third Prince seems different.'
Third Prince Javier.
Jun's Bright Eyes caught the faint tremble in his legs.
Only after the two triumphant generals paraded through the city and entered the fortress did the crowds finally start to disperse.
"Oh, the mage! I heard you arrived first. How've you been?"
The First Prince, Dexter, was the first to greet Jun and his companions.
"Congratulations on your victory, Your Highness Dexter."
"Hahaha! Hearing that from you makes me blush! If it weren't for all your hard work last year, I wouldn't have this chance."
Dexter seemed genuinely thrilled with the whole affair, showing remarkable warmth toward Jun.
Meanwhile, Third Prince Javier approached after catching his breath in the corner, tension easing from his face.
"Th-thank you... Mother was overjoyed, thanks to you all."
He looked utterly drained, like he'd cleared a massive hurdle, then flashed Aiden a bright smile.
"And how have you been?"
"Well, Your Highness Javier."
With so many eyes around, Aiden's reply was stiff.
But Javier smiled undeterred.
"Haha. I'd love a deeper chat, but not now... Brother, I'll head in first."
"Go ahead, Javier. You did well too. Get some rest."
"Yes."
With that, Javier retired to his room.
Thus ended their second meeting with the princes.
Just as the outside world reveled in festival chaos, the fortress interior hummed with equal frenzy.
Servants bustled to welcome the returned princes after their ordeals, while on the other side, preparations for the banquet were in full swing.
Several hours passed like that.
Then the banquet began—on a scale that made last year's survival ordeal with Jun and the mercenaries feel like child's play.
"Whoa~ The food, the music—nothing falls short of last year."
"Haha, but I think I preferred then."
"Because we were the stars?"
"That too... But all this extravagance just feels burdensome now."
No wonder—Aiden's dark memories were probably resurfacing amid the opulence.
Meanwhile, Eleanor had holed up in her room, claiming magic studies were less stressful.
Maya, figuring no one would recognize her, wandered the hall in her own world, sampling every dish.
"Leader. These meat skewers. Can ya make 'em later?"
"You know how much that meat costs?"
"Nope. How much?"
Jun whispered the price to her dubious expression, and Maya's face lit up in horror.
"With my savings, it'd last a month."
"Exactly..."
"Gotta make back my investment here."
She hadn't spent a dime to get in—what investment?
But Maya ignored the question and dove back into the feast.
Jun, meanwhile, racked his brain trying to recall villainous NPCs from the game...
'Damn. Skipped most of the story, so I can't even tell who's who.'
The game rarely showed NPC portraits, and without standout features like Aiden or Maya, he couldn't match memories to faces.
As Jun inwardly sighed in regret...
"Whoaaa... The rumors didn't do you justice—you're even more dashing in person!"
"Heard you two cleared the raid together!"
"You two seem close."
"That's separate. Word is the central nobles are at each other's throats over it."
The princes' entrance ignited the hall further.
"Your welcome overwhelms us. Great to see you all!"
Dexter, ever the people-person who loved the spotlight, dove in with a cheerful grin.
Javier followed with a mask-like smile, mingling and chatting.
Most exchanges were curt, but Dexter stuck close, guiding his brother.
'Maybe because he realized how the Heavenly Ascension Church stirred trouble last time.'
-Dex...ter... Your High...ness...
The dying words of the coachman behind Third Prince Javier's carriage accident.
The man had no ties to First Prince Dexter—it was the Heavenly Ascension Church's scheme to undermine the Empire from within.
The Imperial Family seemed to counter by flaunting brotherly unity.
'Javier looks uncomfortable... Or more like, he's struggling?'
Dexter, meanwhile, seemed sincerely intent on bonding, tending to his brother all night.
"Oh, my friends! There you are! Haha, come here!"
He even spotlighted the White Whale Mercenary Corps directly.
Only then did guests notice Jun and Aiden tucked in the corner, drawing keen interest.
'Our stock's really risen.'
The guests' sentiments boiled down to three: curiosity, envy, wariness.
A dark horse—nay, a superstar—commanded that much attention.
'I'd rather skip these gigs if possible...'
But dodging forever with illusion magic wasn't feasible.
Time to get used to it.
"You both look splendid tonight."
"Haha, thanks! You carry yourself with real poise. Not used to this, eh? Come here—let me introduce you. This is the head of the Moldar Merchant Guild. And this one..."
Jun built light connections as Dexter made introductions, flashing his salesman's smile and working those facial muscles overtime...
'Eleanor. You said studying's easier than this? You've got it easy.'
Too risky for Aiden, no hope from Maya, and even reliable Eleanor had bailed.
Jun chatted with guests, mentally assigning homework for Eleanor later.
Thus passed the storm-like hours.
"I'm dead."
Only after the princes left late evening did the air lighten enough to breathe.
"Haha... Good work, Senior."
Aiden approached, offering Jun a glass.
Jun downed the clear water in one go and heaved another deep sigh.
"You! Here you are?"
A plump man approached, greeting Jun familiarly.
'Who... Oh.'
Mentally drained, Jun recognized him late.
"Long time, Your Excellency."
"Hahaha! Still calling me that! Good to see you!"
The rotund man was none other than Baron Dortagon.
Last season's early commander at Black Forest Fortress during the Goblin Lord subjugation.
"How've you been?"
"Splendidly! Rather, I should ask you. Your feats defy even 'incredible.' Who'd think His Highness Dexter holds you in such regard!"
A fallen central politician exiled to Blackout by power plays, he clearly grasped the White Whale Mercenary Corps' value.
"Your others didn't join you?"
"Ah, Mardin and Chern stayed at the fortress. Post-Fairy Queen cleanup's a handful."
Mardin and Chern—fellow commanders from last year's raid.
"You probably haven't heard about Commander Jinovan."
"What happened to Commander Jinovan?"
"Plenty! On my recommendation, he headed to Layer 3."
"Layer 3..."
"Voltain Ore Zone. As a marshal, no less! Hahaha!"
"Hmm..."
Voltain Ore Zone.
A famed hunting ground in the game.
Rich in minerals, dispatch miners for tidy profits.
'Promotion from Layer 1 to 3 is good... But Voltain Ore Zone?'
It had an Imperial checkpoint, but remote...
'Not ideal for Commander Jinovan rebuilding his house.'
Marshal title sounded grand, but in remote Layer 3, little honor.
Weak field bosses hindered further climbs.
Practically exile.
'That explains the lack of letters lately.'
Jinovan's passionate gaze resurfaced, leaving a bitter taste—especially since his aid got them here.
'Can't just step in myself.'
Jinovan, honorable despite his fall, might reject pity.
Leveraging status to pull him out? Suspicious optics.
'Risks dragging him into dirty politics.'
Jun's expression darkened; Baron Dortagon swiftly changed topics, but...
"An honor meeting you here, Your Excellency. Until next time."
Jun excused himself.
To shake the foul mood, he needed work.
His destination: Dexter's quarters.