Published at 11th of April 2020 05:15:06 AM
Chapter 969: 969
The sheepskin scroll had many small and cramped words scribbled on it along with a drawing of a map . Merlin did not care much about it at first, but upon carefully reading the contents, his expression slowly became solemn .
It turned out that it was a mysterious Nourishment Pond that Count Altadin’s powerful ancestor had spent countless painstaking efforts to create by utilizing all the materials collected in his lifetime .
According to the ancestor, this Nourishment Pond contained terrifying power, and one could only use it if their almighty beast’s will was at least peak mid-tier . Once it was used, it would increase the probability of the Host becoming a full-shifter .
The Nourishment Pond was to increase the probability of becoming a full-shifter . Merlin had not heard of anything like this before . After all, becoming a full-shifter depended almost entirely on luck .
After Merlin carefully studied the map, there seemed to be a hidden place outside the Holy Dragon City . However, it was almost entirely the rebels’ territory outside of the Holy Dragon City . It would be difficult to enter those areas without notice .
“I’ll put this aside first . I’ll think about it after meeting the royal family . ”
Merlin had many things to deal with . He had to sort them out, but he was not in a rush . He felt that visiting the royal family had more to it than just the act of inheriting the title of Count .
Thus, after putting away the sheepskin scroll, Merlin returned to the manor .
On the second day, Merlin had breakfast as usual and dressed in a fine aristocratic cape . With the maid’s help, he put on a pair of long riding boots . Only then did he leave the manor and got into the carriage .
The carriage rode on the limestone road, causing rattling noises . Merlin noticed that even the coachman seemed nervous . After all, they were going to the royal palace .
Although the royal family of the Holy Dragon Empire was declining day by day, to ordinary people, the royal family was still a colossus . Ordinary people would not even imagine entering the royal palace .
Merlin was not nervous . He would not be surprised even if the will of the Almighty Beast World appeared in front of him, much less the royal family . However, he wondered what the purpose was for the royal family to invite him to the palace other than inheriting the title of Count .
“Halt . ”
A palace guard stopped the carriage . Merlin handed him Count Stanwin’s identification and the invitation letter sent by the royal family . Such treatment was not something that ordinary nobles could enjoy often .
Therefore, after seeing the invitation letter, the guard showed respect to Merlin and asked, “Is the honorable Count going to the main hall? Some nobles are waiting to register there . ”
“Then I’ll go to the main hall . ”
Merlin was not very familiar with the royal palace either, so there were naturally guards leading the way . He sat quietly in the carriage since he was not interested in the scenery .
“Creak . ”
Suddenly, the carriage jerked lightly . The coachman’s voice sounded, “Master Leon, we’ve arrived . ”
Merlin lifted the curtain of the carriage and walked out . Currently, the sun was shining brightly overhead, making him feel warm . The hall was very large, and there was a huge statue of a beast outside . However, Merlin did not know what beast this sculpture was .
“This is the Sacred Lion Beast . ”
The guard standing by the side seemed to see Merlin’s surprise and could not help but explain .
“Is this the Sacred Lion Beast? Have you seen it before?”
Merlin was somewhat surprised and turned to the guard .
“The honorable Count is jesting . How would I have seen the Sacred Lion Beast? There are many such statues in the royal palace, and everyone says that those are the Sacred Lion Beast . Furthermore, many famous almighty beasts don’t look like that . ”
Merlin nodded thoughtfully . A mere guard was indeed not qualified to see the real Sacred Lion Beast . Merlin could not help but look at the statue again . Ever since he entered the palace, he developed a strange feeling as if he was being watched .
After entering the main hall, Merlin found several people dressed in aristocratic attire talking in low voice . When Merlin came in, they looked at him curiously and continued talking with their heads down . They must be aristocrats who came to register and inherit noble titles for various reasons .
The hall seemed gloomy and cold . Merlin wrapped himself in his overcoat and closed his eyes . No matter how noisy the outside was, it had nothing to do with him .
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“Leon!”
Suddenly, a cold voice sounded . Merlin opened his eyes and saw that everyone’s gazes were fixed on him .
“That’s me . ”
Merlin glanced at the newly appeared man in the hall . He nodded slightly and took out a directory . Then, he began to recite what was written on the directory, “Lord Leon, you’ll be the Count of Boulder City, and inherit the title from Count Stanwin . ”
Merlin nodded . Inheriting the title was just a formal procedure . Boulder City was recaptured thanks to his efforts . If he did not agree, then no one could take away the territory .
After completing the procedure, Merlin did not plan on staying either, so he went outside and return to the manor . However, the man from earlier hurriedly went after him .
“Do you need something from me?”
Merlin frowned and asked without any trace of politeness .
However, the man did not get angry but replied kindly, “Count Leon, the Princess Royal has asked to see you . ”
“The Princess Royal?”
Merlin recalled carefully . He had never known any Princess Royal . He knew that there were princes and princesses in the royal family, but most of the actual power resides in the prince’s hands . Although Her Highness also held some power, it was far less than the prince’s . There were only a few princesses who could rival the prince, and among them was the Princess Royal, who had sworn in front of His Majesty the King that she would never marry . Therefore, she could continue to live in the palace and command part of the imperial army . She was a princess who held actual power .
“What does Her Highness want from me?”
Merlin asked in a low voice .
“I don’t know either . If Her Highness wants to see someone, I only need to notify the person . Count Leon, please follow me . ”
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Merlin was also secretly on guard against this strange man . He was not familiar with the royal palace . If anything happened, it would be troublesome, so Merlin was alert of strangers .
After all, he had not reached the point where he could walk alone in this world . There were still many others who were stronger than him and could threaten his safety .
Following the man, they walked through layers of corridors before arriving at a beautiful garden .
“Please wait a moment while I inform them of your arrival, Count Leon . ”
Merlin’s eyes narrowed slightly . After the man had entered the room, Merlin looked at the garden around him . It truly was a beautiful garden . There were all kinds of rare and strange fauna that Merlin had never seen before . The air was also full of an extraordinary fragrance .
However, Merlin suddenly frowned as if he had sensed a hint of danger . It was as if a pair of eyes full of killing intent had locked onto him .
“Roar…”
Without hesitation, Merlin immediately unveiled his fourth-form . With a spread of his wings, the wind howled as his huge body quickly flew to the sky .
“Whoosh . ”
However, a large net soon fell from the sky . It was a spider’s web that was tightly woven and covered in poison . Although the toxicity could not kill Merlin, if it touched his body, it would be enough to paralyze him for a while .
As a result, Merlin could not rush out . Instead, he immediately fell to the ground and stared at the palace in front of him . Then, he charged directly into the palace .
“Boom . ”
The huge palace shook and crumbled as if it would collapse at any moment . Merlin’s gaze was fixed on a woman in the palace .
This woman was very beautiful . Her chest was puffed and she was dressed in chiffon that hid her fair skin . She was an extremely charming woman .
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However, beside her was a ferocious and terrifying giant spider . It stared at Merlin as if it would attack the moment Merlin moved .
“Princess Royal, is this how you treat your guest?”
Merlin had already guessed that this charming woman was the Princess Royal who had invited him . As for the sense of danger before, it was most likely only a test or a warning .
This spider had made Merlin feel an unprecedented sense of threat . It was a peak mid-tier full-shifter and was much stronger than Merlin . It was enough to rival Hert the Ursus King and was perhaps even more powerful than Hert .
The Princess Royal said with a charming smile, “It was just a test . I’m relieved that Count Leon possesses great power . The royal family needs strong and loyal aristocrats like Count Leon to ensure the stability of the royal family and the empire . ”
Merlin smiled in his heart . Was the Holy Dragon Empire still considered stable?
However, since he knew that it was a test, he did not need to maintain his transformation, so he immediately changed back to his original state and sat down in front of the Princess Royal .
The giant spider had also turned into a doddering old woman and kept close behind the Princess Royal . Merlin was secretly on alert . The royal family’s strength was terrifying . Even a Princess Royal had such a powerful personal guardian .
Someone like the Ursus King Hert would be a hegemon no matter where he went . It would not be difficult to start up a small country . However, to willingly becoming the Princess Royal’s bodyguard had shown how deep the royal family’s methods ran .
That or perhaps the royal family provided enough benefits for this old woman to be a loyal bodyguard .
“Pray tell what the Princess Royal wants from me?”
Merlin looked at the Princess Royal and asked calmly .
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