Chapter 147: An Audience with His Highness the Prince

A few days later, in the reception room of Ironfist Castle, Vinigo had the honor of being granted another audience with Prince Nicolai. Naturally, he had requested the visit under Hani’s name.

Prince Nicolai was clearly more interested in Hani, who was his own age. Accompanied by his guard captain and the scribe, he sat with great majesty behind his desk, nodding at Vinigo with a pride that did not lack courtesy.

"Your Highness, this is your commission." Vinigo signaled for Hani to present the wooden box they had prepared. The guard captain inspected it thoroughly, casting a strange look at Vinigo and hesitating over whether to simply toss the box aside.

Prince Nicolai, however, grew excited, beckoning repeatedly for the guard to bring the box over.

"What is this, Your Highness?" the scribe asked, puzzled. "Rocks and grass? Is this your commission?"

"Lucky clover and smooth round pebbles from the Sun Circus. I’ve wanted to go there for ages, but Lord Wilson wouldn't allow it," the Prince said brightly. "This is truly remarkable. It’s hard for ordinary people to even find that circus, let alone bring back lucky clover and smooth pebbles. Wait? Where is the pyramid?"

"Apologies, Your Highness. Acana was a bit too quick and used the pyramid up." Vinigo felt slightly embarrassed as he pinned the blame on the young wolf-girl. She wasn't there anyway.

"Oh, oh, oh! Is that the little werewolf girl?" Prince Nicolai was clearly fascinated by Vinigo’s experiences. He glanced at the scribe and whispered, "Count Taria, let’s not record this part, shall we? Of course, I will explain it to Lord Wilson myself."

The scribe smiled, nodded, and put away his record book.

"Yes. Pyramids are not easy to come by, but fortunately, the reward was quite substantial. The strongman in our group, Ilu, was lucky enough to break the record in the strength game and won a pyramid. Then, Acana used it to trade for a rather nice toy. Would you like to see it, Your Highness? Er, perhaps the Regent would not want you to keep such a dangerous item."

"Let me see it," the Prince said excitedly.

Vinigo glanced at the guard captain, then slowly drew a weapon from a leather pouch, placing it where the captain could clearly see it.

It was a circular ring featuring a complex mechanical mechanism that controlled three sharp metal claws on its rim. Vinigo held the ring and gave it a light flick; the hooks whirred and buzzed violently as they spun outside the ring.

"Your Highness, allow me to demonstrate." After receiving permission from both the Prince and the captain, Vinigo gently tossed the ring.

It flew through the air as if it were a living thing, following a strange trajectory until it landed on a potted plant in the corner of the room. With a buzz, the hooks clamped onto the main root of the plant, and as the ring continued its motion, it emitted a series of crisp, clicking sounds.

The plant was severed in two. With a soft *whoosh*, the ring flew back automatically into Vinigo’s hand, still buzzing and spinning incessantly.

"Very ingenious. However, as a weapon, it is perhaps too complex, which reduces its practicality," Prince Nicolai observed. Though young, he was, after all, the descendant of Catherine and Roland, and under the strict tutelage of Sir Wilson, his eye for such things was sharp.

"Therefore, it is merely a toy," Vinigo laughed. He put the ring away and clapped his hands.

"Still, it looks very interesting. Count Taria, may I keep it in my collection?" the Prince asked, looking at Vinigo’s pocket with interest.

The scribe nodded. Vinigo wisely took out the ring and followed up by retrieving the matching curved dagger, placing both on the silver tray offered by the guard captain.

"This is the launcher used to accelerate the ring, though it can also be used as a short blade on its own," Vinigo explained. "It’s a rather clever idea; although it is a bit troublesome to maintain, it is quite impressive in terms of pure offensive capability."

"I shall reward you. Count Taria?"

"Very well, Mr. Vinigo. You are hereby granted the title of Honorary Lord and five hundred gold coins," the scribe announced.

Vinigo naturally did not decline; he accepted with a smile and offered his thanks to Prince Nicolai.

While an honorary title like "Lord" provided certain privileges, it came with no land and could not be inherited; it mostly granted advantages in formal processions and the size of one’s honor guard. However, Vinigo had no need for land, nor did he intend to pass down any titles.

"By the way, you didn't come to see me just to offer up trinkets, I’m sure. If there is something on your mind, feel free to say it. Although I am young, I am also very busy," the Prince said suddenly.

"Fair enough." Vinigo shrugged. "I know you are not an ordinary child."

"Insolent!" the guard captain scolded.

The Prince, however, laughed and raised a hand to stop the captain’s reprimand.

"I hope, Your Highness, that you will grant me the honor of doing things for you. While winning the favor of Duke Wilson is important, I believe I should not pass up the opportunity to connect with a great person such as yourself, who is destined to rule this kingdom in the future. I hope to have the chance to earn your favor early on," Vinigo said.

"What an interesting fellow," the scribe said with a chuckle. "It’s no wonder the Regent values you so much."

"Eh? Values me?" Vinigo asked in surprise.

"Well, you are still young, and it is indeed possible that you could become a loyal sword or dagger for the Prince in the future. Your Highness, is there anything you would like him to accomplish?" the scribe asked.

"Find my father, King Roland of Enroth," the Prince said without hesitation.

"That is the most difficult task of all. Can’t you start with something simpler, Your Highness?" Vinigo complained.

"Fair point," the Prince nodded. "Then let’s start with... ah, right. The Dark Council of Deyja has been trying to wake up Uncle Archibald, correct? I heard they orchestrated the catastrophic attack on Bootleg Bay."

"You mean the terrorist activities? That was indeed Deyja backing the Silver Helm Brotherhood from behind the scenes," Vinigo replied. "The Silver Helm is now completely destroyed; they have lost the power and purpose for their existence. As for Deyja’s Dark Council, they are far away on the borders of Erathia, and I fear we have no way to sanction them. Besides, we lack the power to do so."

"Duke Wilson once told me that there are still pawns of the Dark Council within the kingdom," the Prince remarked.

"The Fire-Crossbowmen and the Dragon-Rider Thieves' Guild. They also have ties to the Sheep-Bleating Cult. Oh, and a large portion of the thieves and smugglers in Free Haven are also connected to Deyja," Vinigo said, carelessly handing over his intelligence for free. After all, the Prince was never stingy.

"Free Haven... how ironic. The seat of the High Council houses the kingdom’s largest organization of smugglers and thieves," the Prince said unhappily.

"The Pirate’s Nest in the town of New Sorpigal should have already pledged their loyalty to you, Your Highness. While they aren't entirely trustworthy either, using them to keep the other smugglers and thieves in check should be a decent strategy," Vinigo suggested. "Your Highness cannot completely eradicate all smugglers and thieves, after all, some things..."

"That is enough. You need not discuss such matters with the Prince," the scribe frowned.

Vinigo bowed in apology and continued, "The Fire-Crossbowmen, however, have no reason to exist. Not only do they waylay and murder travelers, but they have also colluded with the northern barbarian Malzar people. I despise scum who act as lackeys for foreign races to persecute their own kind. Your Highness, would you like the Fire-Crossbowmen to disappear from this world?"

"Very well, let it be that," the Prince decided. "Count Taria will arrange the specific details for you. You may withdraw. Oh, and Hani, would you stay and play with me for a few days?"

"No, Hani is going to White Cap Town, too," Hani finally found an opportunity to speak up, protesting hurriedly. "Hani still needs to learn new magic from Sir Stone."

"No one wants to play with me, and Lord Wilson won't let me go to the circus..." the Prince complained.

"Your Highness." The scribe offered a wry smile and gestured for Vinigo and his group to withdraw.

Vinigo chuckled and pulled Hani out of the reception room. Led by an attendant, they exited Ironfist Castle.

"Interesting..." Vinigo muttered to himself. "The Fire-Crossbowmen and the Malzars? It’s about time I prepared to level up again."

==The Young Travelers==

The Northern Border. Snowball Outpost.

No one knew who had designed this outpost, but it had been built in a rounded, barrel-like shape. Once it snowed, the top would be covered in a thick layer of snow, piling up like a giant snowball. That was how it got its name.

A border guard squad of fifty men was stationed here, half of whom were veterans who had been exiled here for various crimes. In terms of combat prowess, they were far more ferocious than town guards; they were battle-hardened elites who had survived countless brutal conflicts.

"Boss, something is coming over that way," a sentry whispered to his captain.

"Shut your mouth, I saw it long ago. It’s not the enemy, just a bunch of naive brats," the captain scoffed.

The figures in the distance gradually drew closer. They were indeed all young people; the oldest looked to be only in their early twenties, and the rest seemed to be children who had not yet reached adulthood.

People like this, appearing on the border, at the wind-swept, freezing Snowball Outpost?

"Aiya, aiya, I must be incredibly stupid to have followed you to a place like this," a little girl jumped up suddenly, shaking a thick layer of white snow off her cloak, complaining, "I want to hibernate!"

"Dogs don't hibernate; only bears hibernate," another voice came from under a cloak, clearly another little girl.

Two little girls? Coming to the most dangerous northern outpost? You have to be kidding!