“Come over and take a look at a few books, there’s no need to be so nervous, Director.” The voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable air of nobility.
Luca instinctively turned his gaze toward the source of the voice.
At the entrance of the library, he saw a regal woman wearing a crown. It was hard to tell her exact age at first glance, but she seemed to be around thirty.
Her eyes were as calm as still water, and a golden star-shaped mark rested on her fair forehead. Her features weren’t what one would call delicate, but she possessed an unusual charm that was undeniably captivating.
At first, she was just pleasant to look at, but the longer you looked, the more stunning she became, the kind of beauty that grew on you the more you stared.
Standing beside her was a delicate young girl.
It was Princess Raphael, the third princess.
So, this is Queen Matilda?
Luca hadn’t expected to encounter the most esteemed woman in the empire at the library.
Just as he was about to look away, it seemed that Queen Matilda had noticed his gaze. She turned her head toward him.
At the moment their eyes met, Luca suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. It was as though he saw an endless sea of brilliant stars in her eyes, deep, mysterious, and overwhelming!
This person is…
A chill ran down Luca’s spine. In that instant, he quickly averted his gaze, beads of sweat instantly forming on his forehead.
Transcendent level? She’s actually at the Transcendent level?!
Shock flashed through Luca’s eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. With his sharp eyes, he could almost confirm that this Queen of the Clinton Empire was definitely a Transcendent level powerhouse, someone standing at the peak of humanity!
And not just any Transcendent level… but one at her prime!
Although Luca had long suspected that the Clinton Empire must have such powerful individuals.
He never imagined that the first Transcendent level being he would encounter would be the Queen!
Moreover, he could sense a familiar aura emanating from her. It was the aura of the Dawn God Sect!
This Queen of the Clinton Empire… is actually from the Dawn God Sect!
Luca’s mind raced with thoughts.
“Luca, what are you doing here?” At that moment, Raphael also spotted Luca and seemed surprised.
She had been with the Queen earlier and hadn’t gone to the council hall, so she didn’t know Luca was in the library.
“I came to check some materials,” Luca said with a forced smile, making sure his gaze didn’t drift toward the Queen any longer.
Someone like her was not someone he should cross paths with right now. It would be best to avoid any interaction.
But it seemed the Queen had other plans.
Queen Matilda spoke first, “So you are Lord Luca… or rather, should I call you Count now? I’ve heard about your actions in Southwind City. Thank you for saving the empire’s citizens.”
“…Your Majesty is too kind. It was only right for me to do so,” Luca said, forcing a polite smile. Being in the presence of a Transcendent level powerhouse who could crush him without effort was making him feel the pressure. Even he, with his composure, couldn’t ignore the tension in the air.
Having read most of the books he came for, there was no need for him to linger any longer. Luca didn’t want to waste another second in this place.
Not wanting to remain any longer, he quickly bowed and said, “Your Majesty, Princess, I have some matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now.”
“Done so soon?” Raphael didn’t think much of it, merely nodding as she watched Luca leave.
But as she observed his retreating figure, Queen Matilda’s eyes flashed with a hint of contemplation.
Why did it feel like this young man was avoiding her? Did he sense something?
“Quite an interesting young man…” she murmured, a mysterious smile tugging at the corners of her red lips.
…
After leaving the royal library, Luca didn’t linger. He quickly made his way off the island and didn’t stop until he had put a considerable distance between himself and the royal library. Only then did he exhale a long, relieved breath.
The Queen’s appearance had raised alarm bells in Luca’s mind. He suddenly recalled something he had been thinking about earlier.
At the time, Alfred was already one of the top powerhouses on the Eternal Continent. The number of people who could injure him were few and far between. And despite the vast wealth of the Clinton Empire, they hadn’t been able to heal him for more than a decade.
One could only imagine how terrifyingly powerful the person who had wounded Alfred must be.
Originally, Luca had been curious about who could have injured the king so severely.
But after seeing Matilda, everything clicked.
No wonder the king would rather see the royal family and the nobility descend into chaos than allow the eldest prince, the legitimate heir, to take the throne.
It was because the Queen herself was from the Dawn God Sect.
If the Clinton Empire were to fall into the hands of the Dawn God Sect, it would be better to hand them over to the nobility instead…
After all, those lunatics would do anything…
Luca glanced back at the royal library on the island, a deep wariness in his eyes.
Not only had a Transcendent-level powerhouse appeared, but she had also interfered with the internal affairs of the Clinton royal family. Who knew what the Dawn God Sect was planning?
However, Luca wasn’t inclined to get involved. The Dawn God Sect was the state religion of Clinton, worshipping the Goddess of Dawn. But in his past life, the sect had been destroyed long ago.
Although he wasn’t entirely sure about the details, it was most likely that the Dawn God Sect’s plot had failed and was subsequently purged either by Alfred or the later rulers.
So, even if he didn’t intervene, it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, over-involvement might only make things worse.
“I need to leave soon,” Luca thought, his expression growing serious.
Right now, Dawn City was a land of turmoil. With his current strength, if he wasn’t careful, he could easily get caught up in something dangerous. He needed to take Fratis and the others and leave as quickly as possible.
Next, Luca plans to visit the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.
But before he left, he still had one more stop to make: the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.
If he didn’t take that mysterious artifact now, who knew when he’d have the chance to return for it?
With this thought in mind, Luca made his way toward the royal palace.
He had previously asked Sophia about it, and the Divine Ruins Secret Realm was located within the Starry Academy in Dawn City.
This was the most prestigious academy in the Clinton Empire. Though he wasn’t a student there, with the Divine Domain Key granted by the kingdom, the academy staff would surely let him in without issue.
Luca kept walking, quickly leaving the royal palace.
He was just about to hail a carriage when.
Suddenly, the sound of hooves and a familiar voice reached him from behind.
“Didn’t you go to the library? Why are you out so soon?” The carriage window rolled down, and Lucia looked at Luca with a surprised expression.
Through the window, Luca could see Sophia and Fratis, both of whom seemed equally surprised.
“I finished already, so I left. Where are you all heading?” Luca explained casually, then quickly shifted the topic.
Luna answered, “We’re heading to the Starry Academy to visit President Lucia’s mother.”
Luca paused for a moment.
Then, he vaguely remembered that Lucia had been in a hurry to return to Dawn City some time ago because her mother was ill.
He asked in confusion, “Why is the president’s mother at the Starry Academy?”
Luna was taken aback. “You didn’t know? President Lucia’s mother is the head of Starry Academy, Selin Elizabeth. Didn’t you know that?”
“No, I didn’t know,” Luca said with a bitter smile.
He had always known that Lucia’s background was far from ordinary, but he hadn’t known the specifics.
No wonder both Fratis and Ryan had been so respectful to her before.
With that kind of status, walking around the Clinton Empire, hardly anyone would dare to provoke her.
“Well, since I’m heading to the Starry Academy too, mind giving me a ride?” Luca didn’t hesitate, climbing into the carriage without further ado.
“You’re going to the Divine Ruins Secret Realm, aren’t you?” Sophia immediately guessed his purpose.
Luca didn’t hide it. He nodded, “That’s right. I have two remaining spots in my Secondary Professions, so I’m planning to see if I can acquire some legacies in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm.”
“Some?” The moment Luca said that, the others stared at him as if he were a monster.
Luna scoffed, “Over all these years, only a handful of people have been able to acquire a legacy from the Secret Realm. Sophia is the only one who’s managed to clear the entire thing. And you want to get several?”
Luca smiled, “Don’t believe me? How about we make a bet? If I win, you’ll promise to do one thing for me, as long as it doesn’t go against any principles. Of course, if I lose, I’ll do the same.”
Lucia couldn’t help but chuckle, “You really have some confidence.”
Luna raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical, “What can you even do as a mid-tier professioner?” She smirked but shrugged and added, “Alright, I won’t argue with you about this.”
“However, with both the princess and President Lucia watching, if you lose, don’t try to back out of the bet,” Luna warned.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got enough credibility for that,” Luca replied with a laugh. Based on his experience, clearing the Divine Ruins Secret Realm wasn’t difficult at all. It seemed this woman had really stepped into a trap.
The carriage sped through the streets.
Before long, they arrived at their destination.
As the carriage slowly came to a stop, everyone disembarked.
What greeted their eyes was a magnificent academy, its towering gates reaching at least ten meters in height. The gate pillars were intricately carved with strange runes, and golden patterns flowed across them, giving the place an imposing grandeur. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
The vast plaza was paved with white jade tiles, exuding an air of elegance. Occasionally, young men and women dressed in exquisite black-and-gold school uniforms walked by, chatting and laughing. Each one of them had an extraordinary presence, unmistakably not from ordinary backgrounds.
Unlike Red Maple Academy, which was open to all, Starry Academy, the top academy in Clinton, only accepted students from the most prestigious noble families in the entire Clinton Empire. Whether it was their talent or family connections, these students were the elite of the elite. Sophia was one of them.
As soon as they got off the carriage, they instantly attracted the amazed gazes of numerous onlookers. Whether it was Sophia, Lucia, Fratis, or Luna, all of them were stunning beauties.
Of course, there were also plenty of eyes on Luca, sandwiched between the women. But unlike the astonished looks directed at the ladies, the glances at him were more filled with envy and jealousy.
“Who is this person? Why is he with Senior Sophia?” someone asked, puzzled.
Another person nearby shook their head and said, “I’m not sure. But the one next to him is Princess Fratis. I’ve seen her a few times at banquets…”
“It’s probably Luca, the newly appointed Hero Count by the king,” someone informed the group with a knowing look, their eyes filled with envy.
Upon hearing this, both the students and Luca himself were momentarily taken aback.
A Hero Count at such a young age? Could he be from one of those great noble families?