Chapter 364
Tara thought Eleanor was asking about her arm, which she was tightly hugging. She looked at Eleanor warily and said, “This is a gift from the Mother Goddess. Don’t even think about it.”
Mother Goddess...
A goddess?
Eleanor felt a wave of absurdity wash over her, but soon, she recalled the inexplicable fear that had gripped her when she first saw that red-haired girl.
No way...
Could it really be a goddess? And in the East District, no less?
...
“Went to the East District?!”
Bang—!
A fist slammed down hard on the antique table in front of him, and the furious expression on his face was directed at the Knight Commander of the Queen’s Sword.
The golden-haired Knight Commander looked slightly ashamed as he spoke, “I followed your orders and kept close to Princess Vita, but she seemed to despise me, constantly hurling insults. So, I switched to a different attendant…”
“Opode!”
Strong Sound took a deep breath, straightened his back, and adjusted his attire slightly. Finally, he managed to calm himself down. He narrowed his eyes at Opode and said, “Now tell me what happened, every detail.”
“Princess Vita said she wanted to see Princess Windsor. I thought, since we were both in the West District and could join forces with the team there, it would provide extra protection for both princesses, so…”
Opode rarely showed signs of nervousness, but now he lowered his head and continued, “So, I followed her to Windsor Palace, and then… Princess Vita kidnapped Princess Windsor… and left a letter…”
“Let a second-tier run away right under your nose?”
Strong Sound scoffed, mocking, “Are you all from the ‘Crown Guard’ just a bunch of useless fools? What happened to the scouting skills you pride yourselves on?”
Opode, still with his head down, pressed his lips tightly together, feeling anger rise within him.
He finally looked up at Strong Sound and said slowly, “Of course, my lord, in the face of the seal you gave to Princess Vita, we truly had no way to stop her.”
Opode, relying on the fact that his father was a prince, shifted the blame back onto Strong Sound, knowing he wouldn’t dare retaliate against him.
At that moment, Strong Sound, observing Opode’s defiant expression, fell silent for a moment before a stiff smile crept onto his face.
“Just as expected from Prince Sadias’s son, a keen deduction.”
Ding—
A clear, single note rang out, sending invisible sound waves crashing into Opode’s mind, momentarily freezing his thoughts.
Strong Sound took out a peculiar music box, slowly winding it up, producing a “click-click” sound. He then placed the music box on the table and released the winding key.
By now, Opode’s awareness had returned, but he still couldn’t control his body. When he saw the music box on the table, his pupils constricted slightly, and black iron armor instantly enveloped him.
A hoarse, chaotic melody erupted from the music box as Strong Sound approached Opode, snatching the envelope from his hand. He quickly scanned it, his heart skipping a beat.
It was that “Subverter”… she took Windsor and Vita?
What does she want with them in the East District?
After a brief moment of hesitation, Strong Sound lifted his leg and strode out of the room, casually shutting the door behind him.
At that moment, Opode was just regaining control of his body. He struggled to turn and reach for the wooden door, but the music box had already reached its final note—the winding mechanism slowly came to a stop, then, as if a motor had been activated, it began to spin wildly.
Endless noise crashed into Opode’s brain like a fevered whisper. He clutched his head in agony, banging his helmeted head against the wall, sparks flying, hoping to alleviate the burden on his mind.
Has Strong Sound gone mad?!
That was the last thought that flickered through Opode’s mind as he struggled to maintain his sanity.
...
“Mmm—! Mmm—!”
Inside an opulent carriage, a girl with her hands bound behind her back and a cloth stuffed in her mouth was thrashing wildly.
Meanwhile, Vita sat calmly in the carriage, seemingly oblivious to Windsor’s struggles, her eyes closed as if she were deeply attuned to something.
Buzz...
A faint echo reverberated.
The Echo Barrier... Strong Sound is already approaching the East District.
I need to hurry.
She quickly grabbed the violin resting beside her, placed the bow on the strings, and drew it swiftly, unleashing a rousing melody. The two horses pulling the carriage, their eyes glowing red, surged forward with all their might, racing ahead recklessly.
Once the music played, her location would be quickly pinpointed... but once they reached the abandoned church, it would mean they had arrived at the agreed-upon place. I hope that “Subverter” keeps her word; she better have a way to deal with Strong Sound.
At the same time, a dreamlike carriage carrying Charles, Amy, and Yulis was speeding toward the West District.
This unremarkable carriage brushed past one emblazoned with the royal insignia. Charles caught a glimpse of Vita inside through the window.
Sorry, Princess Vitalis.
A suitable nemesis will only aid future cooperation.
After continuing for another two minutes...
“Charles…”
Yulis, sitting across from Charles, was about to ask him about Adele when he placed a finger to his lips.
“Shh…”
Another stirring piano piece echoed not far ahead.
The carriage slowed, and the “driver” cracked the whip, bringing the horses to a stop by the roadside.
They made way for a group of armored knights riding warhorses.
At the center of that group, a white-haired figure sat atop a steed, accompanied by the stirring battle music. The commoners, influenced by the extraordinary melody, instinctively stepped aside, while the warhorses galloped at a speed that blurred their forms.
Charles’s ordinary carriage passed by the Queen’s Sword Knights.
“Good luck to you all.”
Charles smiled, offering his blessings to everyone at the abandoned church and those rushing toward it.
He needed to use this time to quickly find the Spiritual Notebook and have Yulis help him decipher it.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t miss the grand finale.
---
Chapter Two Hundred: The Joyous Gathering: “Huh? Did I do that?”
In front of the Vitalis Palace in the Westminster District.
An ordinary carriage passed by this royal residence, heading toward the St. Lawrence District, without raising any alarms from the royal guards.
The St. Lawrence District is the financial heart of Ansu City, home to the Russell Duke’s residence, various banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, and trade company headquarters, including the headquarters of the Dutton Group.
Of course, it also housed Strong Sound’s residence—located on Mayfield Street, just west of the St. Lawrence District.
At this moment, most of the Queen’s Sword’s forces had been dispatched to protect Strong Sound, leaving these palaces relatively unguarded—though it seemed Strong Sound hadn’t considered the need for defense.
The scars on his body revealed that he had used the power of rewind countless times. The fact that he was still alive indicated that he had triumphed each time.
As long as he was alive, he could reset everything; there was no need for defense.
Strong Sound could never have imagined that someone who had also rewound time with him retained memories from before the rewind, leaving him completely unguarded.
The carriage came to a slow stop in front of Strong Sound’s residence, catching the attention of a “Law Officer” at the door, who appeared to be from the Queen’s Sword.
Charles stepped out with Yulis and Amy, walking straight toward the entrance. The “Law Officer” straightened up, lowering his head slightly.
“Princess Vitalis, Princess Windsor, Lord Strong Sound.”
In the eyes of this “Law Officer,” the tall figure walking in front was Strong Sound, with the two princesses following closely behind.
How could they be back so soon?
This question flickered briefly in the “Law Officer’s” mind, replaced by a sense of unease.
Moreover, would Lord Strong Sound really ride in such an ordinary carriage, especially with two princesses in tow?
After quietly waiting for “Strong Sound” to lead the two “princesses” into the residence, the “Law Officer” quickly made his way toward the carriage.
He needed to investigate; this was definitely not normal.
At that moment, Charles watched as a maid opened the grand door of the residence. He smiled at her and pointed to the “Law Officer” who was sleeping against the railing, saying, “Get him a blanket, will you? Don’t wake him up.”
“Yes… yes, Lord Strong Sound.”
The maid nodded repeatedly, and after waiting for “Strong Sound” to pass by, she hurried to fetch a blanket to cover the sleeping guard at the entrance.
Lord Strong Sound is just too kind, being so friendly to an incompetent guard… that was what the maid thought to herself.
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