Chapter 323 Fourth Prince
Chapter 323 Fourth Prince
The Silver City was massive, and the castle of the Imperial Princes was far from the entrance. So, if they were to simply walk, it would take days for the group to arrive.
While the group could move at Hypersonic Speed and reach the castle in less than a minute, it would still generate all sorts of inconveniences for the people, not to mention it would leave them in a bad name for their lack of manners. Although there were vehicles that could help them move, they were still too slow.
Luckily, they had a much more efficient way of transport. Damian guided the group toward a small location full of formations engraved in the ground, and it didn't take long for them to recognize them as teleportation matrixes. There were guards around it since not anyone could use it.
Even Cain, with his title as a Colonel, would need help getting access to them since there was a need for authorization from the Imperial Court, but Damian already had that covered.
The guards moved aside as soon as Damian appeared, and the four got into the teleportation matrix. The next second, the group found themselves standing at the entrance of a massive castle, and just the ground on the exterior was full of wondrous sculptures and majestic plants.
Cain's eyes adjusted to the change of scenery as he saw a middle-aged man, attired in golden battle gear, appear in front of them. This one glanced at everybody, and his eyes remained for a moment on Krane before taking a short bow toward Damian and Cain.
"Prince Damian and Colonel Cain, I am Nastor, assistant to His Highest, Klaus Goldsoul, the Fourth Imperial Prince. Please accompany me; His Highness is waiting for you."
Shortly after Nastor uttered those words, a young woman with the same attire appeared beside him.
"She is Lamir. She can take your companions to their residences."
Nastor was tactful, but his words had a clear intent. Krane and Kira should wait in their rooms as Damian and Cain spoke with the Fourth Imperial Prince.
Cain did not say a word since Krane was his assistant and would do as told, but Damian had to explain to her sister that she would wait until his return. In the end, the duo nodded and went away with Lamir.
"Please." Continue your adventure at empire
Nastor said that before guiding Cain and Damian through the castle. It was truly shocking, with the right amount of treasures and art to make it splendid but not to the point it lost its might and elegance.
Cain did not really care about things like paintings, and he couldn't help but wonder why people would pay a fortune in the Old World for stuff like that, but the ones here made his eyes shine.
There were paintings of fire and ocean that, upon looking at them, he could feel searing heat and freezing coldness, as if they were alive. It was clear they were not made by simply moving a brush through a piece of paper.
Still, he kept his focus until they finally reached the main room. This one was devoid of treasure, but the man in the center shone with an even greater light.
The Fourth Prince had black hair, pale skin, and a muscular body. He wore a golden robe covering his body. An air of prestige around him made ordinary people want to bow in his presence, but his eyes were the most striking.
The man's eyes were completely black with golden pupils, and it was not just for aesthetics. Cain could feel a power in those eyes and knew they were special organs capable of enhancing the Fourth Prince's battle might.
"Brother Damian, I am glad to see you have finally arrived. I was starting to think I would not see you for the Imperial Fest."
"Hahaha, Brother Klaus, I would not miss it. I was waiting for a friend."
Damian walked toward Klaus, and the two shared a hug before nodding to each other. Although looks could be deceiving, especially among nobles, there was clearly a deep relationship between them.
Klaus nodded before his eyes turned toward Cain, and a silver light appeared as he stared at the young man. He did nothing as rude as to inspect the young man with his Ego Wave, but that did not mean he wasn't focused on his aura.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, young legend of the Blood Sea. I was surprised when I heard from Damian that you would accept to be part of my escort at the Imperial Feast."
Cain clasped his hands and performed a small bow toward the Fourth Prince. While his status was not any less than a Royal Prince, he had to pay his respects to an Imperial Prince.
"Colonel Laurifer, I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
Klaus's eyes narrowed as he observed Cain's behavior. To anyone else, it might have seemed like mere politeness, but Klaus perceived the underlying intent to establish a clear distinction.
Although such an attitude might annoy some, it was like a breath of fresh air for Klaus. Due to his status, many sought to form relationships with him, but few were as cautious as Cain, not swayed by the allure of the imperial family's name.
Klaus offered a smile and nodded, appearing to accept Cain's boundaries. He also clasped his hands and nodded.
"The pleasure is mine, Colonel Laurifer."
Damian merely shrugged his shoulders as he watched the interaction between the two. Cain had always maintained a certain distance from him, but he had expected things to be different with the Imperial Prince. It seemed he was mistaken.
"I heard that Colonel Laurifer is here to attend his Arcane Ceremony of Nobility. The first rite should begin in twelve days, am I correct?"
Cain wasn't surprised that the Fourth Prince had this information, as it should be common knowledge among the members of the Imperial Court attending his meeting.
"That is correct. In twelve days, I will embark on the Arcane Route and declare my family's emblem and motto."
The Arcane Ceremony of Nobility consisted of three rites. Normally, several people would participate simultaneously, but for someone at Cain's level, it would be a solitary endeavor. Following that, he would have to wait two more months for the second rite and another two months for the third rite.
The entire process and waiting period were aimed at gaining fame for Cain's name so that a large crowd would gather at the conclusion of the Arcane Ceremony, and his name would resonate throughout the Empire.
"I'm sure you will excel, but it would be even better if you were to gain the patronage of a member of the Imperial Family."
Klaus could discern Cain's straightforward nature and knew he didn't like beating around the bush, so he openly expressed his intention. It would require no effort on his part to patronize Cain, and while his reputation would suffer if Cain performed poorly, he wasn't concerned.
Cain's eyes sharpened, and he smiled. Getting straight to the point suited him well.
"I would indeed welcome your assistance, especially at the conclusion of the ceremony. I wonder how I could repay your generosity?"
Damian was surprised to see the two making rapid progress, but he remained silent. If it worked for them, who was he to meddle in their business?
"Actually, there is indeed something you could help me with, but first, I'd like to know the extent of your Genetic Coding abilities."
Cain was a bit puzzled by this question. Although he was undoubtedly a skilled Genetic Coder with superb abilities, it had been a while since he had demonstrated those abilities in public, so he was surprised that the Fourth Prince was asking about them. Nonetheless, he chose to be direct.
"My current abilities should be at the Pseudo-Saint Grade."
Cain was being modest since his skills should actually be classified at the Saint-level, but he was too strict with himself.
Klaus and Damian couldn't help but widen their eyes upon hearing this. Cain was only seventeen years old, and it was clear he focused greatly on his cultivation and foundation. Yet, he possessed a near-divine talent for Genetic Coding.
There was no shortage of Pseudo-Saint Genetic Coders in the capital, but all of them were elderly men who had reached the peak of their cultivation and could no longer advance, allowing them to focus their minds solely on their professions.
"If those are your skills, then there is something you could help me with. In a month, there will be a small tournament for Genetic Coders. There were three people in my group, but I lost one of them due to a minor issue.
Of course, you will be rewarded according to the level of assistance and the grade the team achieves."
Cain could not help but show a small smile as he heard that. He sought to achieve many things in Silver City, and one of them was to enhance his Genetic Coder's abilities.