Sub-Divine Artifact

For example, in a backward African tribe from Edward's previous life, a college student who had studied in America emerged from among the people. Instead of staying in America or continuing his studies, he resolutely returned to his backward hometown. After returning, he did not throw himself into the chief's family in pursuit of some official post. Instead, he inherited the family business and opened a blacksmith shop and a small shop.

The chief's family, rich enough to have mines at home, had a Doctoral Daughter and a Master's Cousin who had studied abroad. Curious, they went to browse the college student's small shop, only to discover that he had tinkered together a Mark 3 Iron Suit in the blacksmith shop. Then, with a neurotic look on his face, he asked, "It's only 500,000 Dollars. Are you buying?"

Having tested the Iron Man suit, the chief's daughter had dearly wanted to say: Buy it. But you're selling it too cheaply. I'll give you a million—except I didn't bring any money today...

That was exactly how Princess Andrea felt right now. She had not brought any money today, and even the money for snacks had been paid by her cousin. Her cousin's Spatial Ring probably did not contain that much money either. She was wondering whether to persuade her cousin to leave the Spatial Ring here as collateral and go back for the money, or leave her cousin here as collateral and go home for the money. After all, she did not want to be separated from that sword for even a moment, afraid that it would fly away the instant it left her sight.

At that moment, she caught sight of a group of soldiers resembling tin cans running over outside the huge display window of Smith's Alchemy Shop. At their head was a Young Knight sitting upright on a warhorse, his expression arrogant.

"Cousin, it's Reinhardt!" Alice came to her senses and grabbed Andrea, who was still agonizing over her choice. "Let's hide! That guy must be here to arrest us."

But it was already too late. Reinhardt took the lead and kicked open the alchemy shop's Glass Door, shouting at the same time:

"City Guard inspection! Everyone, get your ID Cards ready! Bring out your Business Licenses, Health Certificates, and all that!"

Immediately afterward, a large group of "tin cans" squeezed inside as well. At this point, Reinhardt still did not know that the Grand Duke's daughter, Princess Andrea, and her cousin had slipped out.

After all, this was hardly the first time the princess had done such a thing. Whenever her personal maid heard that she wanted to "rest" in broad daylight, she knew that the princess was going on an Incognito Tour again. She covered for her well, and no one noticed. Even the Grand Duke turned a blind eye to such matters. The New Continent did not have as many rules as the Old Continent's nobility. The Grand Duke had raised his daughter like a wild girl. Even when the princess did not wear a dress at formal occasions, the Grand Duke merely grumbled a few words.

That morning, Reinhardt had returned to the Duke's Mansion and reported to the Grand Duke and several Council Members who had arrived at the same time. During this visit to Several Southern States, the princess had merely been a mascot. The actual affairs had been entrusted to Reinhardt, the princess's nominal captain of the knights and the Deputy Commander of White Hawk Duchy Army. After his report, the Young Knight had listened to someone's instigation and come back to settle a score.

After all, Edward's Ten-Thousand-Crack Firecracker had utterly humiliated the young captain of the knights today. The originally grand and solemn Princess's Return Ceremony had been thrown into complete chaos by that Alchemist.

Yet the Grand Duke's family had governed with an approachable image ever since the nation's founding, adhering to the principle of not disturbing the people. Such a matter would never be treated as a crime. So the captain of the knights, together with the person who had offered him advice, gathered a squad of soldiers and hurried toward City Gate Street.

What surprised the captain of the knights was that his kick, infused with Battle Qi and intended to shatter that Glass Door and give the Alchemist a show of force, had only covered the seemingly fragile door in cracks. There was no scene of glass shards flying everywhere.

What surprised him even more came next. The petite Alice was dragging her cousin, who was a head taller than her, behind the counter, while the princess still clung reluctantly to the longsword stuck in the floor, trying to pull it out.

Upon seeing this, the young captain of the knights instinctively dropped to one knee and saluted. "Greetings, Your Highness Princess Andrea. Greetings, Miss Alice." The group of tin cans following behind him froze for two seconds before dropping to their knees in a rush.

This made a certain silver-haired, baby-faced pastor, who was still standing at the back of the group and had not entered, look especially conspicuous. He subconsciously narrowed his eyes and sidled toward the back of the Golden Arch outside the shop.

"Ahem, rise, loyal and brave knights." Andrea rose and recovered her Aloof Demeanor. Though she was dressed in ordinary Male Clothes, she still exuded the air of a Domineering Female CEO.

After returning everyone's greetings, Alice immediately spotted the baby-faced pastor slowly sidling behind the archway. She shouted:

"Elwin, stop hiding! I know it was you, you guy, who tipped them off!"

The baby-faced pastor could only awkwardly reveal himself. Rubbing the back of his head, he laughed and said:

"The weather is really nice today. What a coincidence, Miss Alice. You came out shopping too? I have something to do, so I'll head back to Holy Light Church first..." As he spoke, he turned to leave.

"Don't run! I'll beat the crap out of you..."

Alice squeezed through the crowd and chased after the baby-faced pastor. One chased while the other fled, and they disappeared around the street corner.

Only then did Edward and the Family of Three still eating Hot Pot in front of the counter realize what was happening. They hurried forward to salute the princess on her Incognito Tour. Edward thought, Not bad, not bad. She's even a Maiden Knight. That fits the Character Design even better...

Reinhardt was embarrassed beyond words. He quietly stepped before Andrea and asked in a low voice:

"Ahem, Your Highness, what should we do now...?"

"Have your men go back first. You can stay here and accompany me. Also, send someone back to fetch 1,000 Golden Eagle Coins. I'll wait here."

Reinhardt did not ask any further questions and immediately ordered his subordinates to go back for the money.

Seeing that things were turning bad, Delton's family stopped eating their Hot Pot. They hurriedly greeted Edward and followed the disorderly knights out the door.

Edward smiled as he saw off the family of three, then unhurriedly put away the Hot Pot and everything else on the counter into his Spatial Ring. He cast another Cleaning Spell, and the air inside the shop immediately became much fresher.

He invited the princess and knight to rest in the Customer Lounge on the east side of the entrance. The Young Knight blushed and refused to sit, Standing by beside the seated princess. Meanwhile, the princess hugged the longsword and sat on a Light Gray Simple European Style Fabric Sofa.

At first, the princess had not cared much about this strange sofa. After all, the Duke's Mansion had sofas too, all of them with elaborate Carved Patterns and Spring and Cotton Cushions. They were very comfortable to sit on. Yet surprisingly, this inconspicuous Wooden Sofa, with only a cushion and a backrest, was even more comfortable than those carved spring sofas.

"Reinhardt, come sit and try it too. This sofa is so comfortable." Seeing that there was no one nearby, the princess no longer kept up the act of an aloof female CEO. She bounced up and down on the cushion and called for Reinhardt to sit.

Seeing this, Reinhardt walked around the seat of honor where the princess sat and took a seat on the Single Sofa to the side. But the captain of the knights, clad head to toe in iron, could not feel much. He only felt himself sink in as soon as he sat down, making it difficult to stand back up.

Edward emerged from the back carrying a tray. He placed a Teapot, Cups, a Sugar Pot, an Evaporated Milk Pot, and a plate of golden-brown Cookies sprinkled with Chocolate Chips on the Glass coffee table. Then he poured a cup of Black Tea for both the princess and the knight.

"Please enjoy the Black Tea. Add milk and sugar according to your preferences." Edward smiled. They were major customers, after all, so he had to treat them to good tea. He had heard the princess order 1,000 Gold Coins rather than 500 Gold Coins, so he knew he had met a Local Tyrant.

He handed the princess an extravagantly designed Sword Sheath and said, "This is the Sword Sheath for that sword. At present, it only has the function of blocking the sword's Natural Mana Breathing. It may help while you are not yet proficient with the sword. If you do not like it, once you are more skilled with it, I can make another Sword Sheath according to your requirements that will be easier to carry. Please excuse me. I'll go repair the Glass Door first." With that, he turned and went to fix the door.

When Reinhardt heard the words "Natural Mana Breathing," he was startled. He turned and looked at the Knight Princess in surprise, asking in an extremely low voice:

"This sword of yours is a divine...?"

The princess hurriedly made a shushing gesture, then silently mouthed three words exaggeratedly to her captain of the knights: "Sub... Divine... Artifact!"

Having received the answer, the captain of the knights was so shocked that his jaw dropped. He nearly crushed the tea cup in his hand. Splashed tea soaked his clothes, and he hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe himself down, using it to hide his shock.

Andrea sheathed the longsword and carefully played with the Precious Sword. She found a line of small words on the Sword Sheath: Avalon—The Ideal Land Far from the World of Dust (Imitation). (One day, I will create the true Avalon.)

"Boss, you even gave the Sword Sheath a name? How strange."

"It is truly impolite that I have not introduced myself after all this time. I am Edward Smith, an Alchemist Apprentice. You may call me Edward." Edward, who was putting on a show of drawing an Alchemy Array with chalk before the Glass Door, turned back and replied respectfully.

"Please just regard it as one of my little personal amusements. There is no need to pay it any mind."

"You certainly have quite a few strange amusements." The princess answered with a grin, then turned her attention to the Cookies laid out on the Glass coffee table.

Andrea picked up a cookie and sniffed it near her nose. She had never seen those black bits before, but they smelled of cream and Cocoa Beans. She knew of the Cocoa Beans produced by Southern Highland Castle, but Hot Cocoa had to be drunk with Spices and Chili. Its thick, spicy flavor was truly hard to praise. She cautiously took a bite to taste it.

With just one bite, the rich milky fragrance mixed with the aroma of cocoa exploded on her tongue, and an intensely sweet flavor filled her taste buds. An inexplicable sense of happiness descended upon her. The Knight Princess narrowed her Emerald Green eyes. As the light from outside the window reflected in them, it seemed as though Late Autumn Lake Water flowed within those beautiful green eyes, with Shining Stars scattered across that lake water...