Two days later, Cleo's carriage finally arrived at the majestic city of Shambhala.
As one of the Saints of the Kingdom, her carriage didn't have to enter the Gate that was meant for commoners. She was given a free pass to the city without too much hassle, and a contingent of guards even escorted her carriage toward the Royal Palace, where their King resided.
"Follow behind me," Cleo stated. "The hallways of the Royal Palace are like a maze. One can get lost in them easily if they are not familiar with the layout of the building."
Lux and Gaap nodded in understanding.
However, what the Saintess didn't know was that Lux had already summoned his Soul Book and was currently mapping the Royal Castle.
Since only those that he had given permission to could see his Soul Book, it hovered in front of him, undetected by the Saintess that was leading the way.
Several minutes later and after many twists and turns, they finally arrived at a giant bronze gate, which was guarded by dozens of Royal Guards.
"Are those the two Highlanders you wrote about in your report, Your Excellency, Cleo?" a man wearing a Mithril Plate Armor asked, as he looked at the two people, who came from the Surface World
"Yes," Cleo replied. "Is His Majesty currently busy?"
The Guard Captain shook his head. "No. But he's not alone in the throne room. News has spread that you will be bringing in two Highlanders, so several High-Ranking 'Nosy' Nobles have come to see our uninvited guests."
Cleo smiled as she had already expected this outcome. For the most part, the Kingdom of Agartha was a peaceful place. Although there were conflicts between nobles here and there, they didn't escalate to skirmishes, and they simply tormented each other through trade and other means.
For them, having Highlanders in their Kingdom was a form of entertainment. Those who had plenty of time on their hands would definitely want to see how their king would handle these people, who had been brought to the capital city for judgment.
"Her Excellency, Lady Cleo has arrived!" the Guard Captain announced.
A moment later, a firm and cold voice passed through the closed gate.
"Enter."
After getting permission, the Guard Captain raised his hand.
"Open the gate," the Guard Captain ordered.
Immediately, four guards pushed the giant gate open, revealing the interior of the ancient throne room of a Kingdom that had existed since time immemorial.
The Half-Elf's gaze then landed on the man seated on the high throne, which was raised several meters high.
Anyone who entered the throne room would have no choice but look up to its king, and its king would look down upon those who entered his domain.
Lux was quite surprised because the King of Agartha looked like a man in his early thirties.
King Septimius Vi Agartha III.
He was the current King of Agartha, and the person who held absolute authority within the Ancient Kingdom that many people above ground didn't know existed.
"It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Majesty," Cleo said as she bowed respectfully to her King. "I pray that you are in good health?"
"My health is good, but my mood is not," King Septimius replied. "You have already interrogated these two trespassers, yes?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cleo answered. "Shall I make my report now?"
King Septimius made a gesture. "Go ahead. My nobles have traveled far and wide to hear the latest gossip in our circles. Make sure to make the story as entertaining as possible, so their journey will be worthwhile."
The High-Ranking Nobles all smiled, knowing that the reason why their King was in a bad mood was their arrival. They had come uninvited, but due to their rank, they were allowed to remain in the throne room and take part in the drama that was about to unfold.
Cleo, who had been given permission to tell the result of their interrogation, started her report.
"The red-headed Half-Elf's name is Lux Von Kaizer," Cleo reported. "The Halfling is his Master, and he goes by the name, Gaap. According to Lux's confession, they arrived at the Terrel Plains by means of…"
Cleo's report lasted for nearly fifteen minutes before she stopped talking.
Lux, on the other hand, could only shake his head helplessly, thinking that his answers shouldn't be considered as confessions. They were forced out of him against his own will!
A minute of silence passed before a soft chuckle was heard inside the throne room.
Everyone's gazes landed on a chubby man, who was wearing extravagant clothes that visually stated his standing as one of the High-Ranking Nobles of the Kingdom of Agartha.
"A Prince Charming from the Surface World has arrived to save the beauty in distress," the Chubby Noble commented. "The only question I have is whether this story will have a happy ending or not."
The other Nobles also smiled after learning why Lux came to Agartha. They looked at him like all the other young men and women who had become infatuated with this generation's Misfortune's Beloved, who had nearly brought the entire kingdom into a state of emergency.
While the nobles were looking at Lux with various gazes, the King of Agartha, Septimius narrowed his eyes and looked at the Half-Elf with a solemn gaze.
"I want to see this Key that allowed you to arrive in our Kingdom," King Septimius stated. "Show it to me."
Cleo then glanced at Lux, giving the Half-Elf the "what are you waiting for?" gaze.
The Half-Elf knew that there was nothing he could do but obey the King's orders, for any kind of resistance might end badly for him and his Master.
Lux took out the Key of Agartha from his storage ring and showed it to the King who was looking at him with a serious gaze.
King Septimius made a gesture and the key floated towards him.
The key stopped a meter away from his face, giving the King a good look at it.
However, when King Septimius tried to hold it, a red lightning bolt hit his hand, making him pull it back rather quickly.
Cleo and the other High-Ranking nobles who saw this were all surprised. None of them missed the brief look of pain that appeared on their King's face, which they had never seen before.
Although it only lasted for only a second or two, the fact remained that the strange key was able to hurt a Supreme, which was something that very few artifacts in the world could do.
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