Chapter 208

The balance of offense and defense shifted, then shifted again, and then shifted once more... It almost turned into a turn-based battle.

The morning sun rose high into the sky from between the mountains.

Sweat soaked through the two soldiers' clothes, and they finally decided to stop.

Garen's greatsword struck Jarvan IV's head, while Jarvan IV's spear was pressed against Garen's neck. They were evenly matched.

Just like the previous 974 matches.

"Huff... huff..." The nearly hour-long battle had left Garen completely exhausted; he collapsed to the ground, panting. "Prince Jarvan... he's still so strong..."

"Huff... huff... you're not bad either..." Jarvan IV was also panting heavily, and was also laughing heartily.

After a short rest, Jarvan IV got up to pack his gear, but Garen quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

"I can handle this, Your Jarvan..."

Such a polite attitude made the young prince frown. "Garen, I've said it before, you don't need to address me like that in private."

"Ahem... it's... a habit." Garen looked embarrassed.

"But I've reminded you so many times—including when we first met today... never mind." Jarvan IV shook his head—of course he knew it wasn't a habit, it was duty.

They're past the age where they can go outside arm in arm to catch bugs... They need to face the real challenges they face.

But... things can be accomplished by human effort.

"You're being so polite to me, could it be that you deliberately let me win in the previous competition?" Jarvan IV asked with a stern face.

"No, no!" Garen quickly waved his hands in denial. "How could I dare to lie to you?"

"Real?"

"Certainly...!"

"Garen, oh Garen..."

Jarvan IV shook his head, looking quite disappointed.

But just as the honest and simple-minded Garen was racking his brains for an explanation, he suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hahaha... you really can't take a joke, Garen."

"Your Highness...?" Garen was taken aback.

"I was just kidding—don't I know your skill level? If you let me see it, I'd know right away." Jarvan IV smiled and extended a hand to the other man.

After hesitating for a moment, Garen still grasped the other's hand and then stood up with the other's pull.

"Stop making jokes like that... I'm getting a little..."

"In exchange, you won't add any suffixes to my name anymore—at least not when it's just the two of us." Jarvan IV shrugged. "At least... today?"

"Hmm..." Garen scratched his head.

As childhood best friends, he didn't want to make the other person seem too distant in his address, but...

Okay... just once...?

"Brother, I hope this doesn't seem like I'm overstepping my bounds." Garen extended a Riot Games.

Jarvan IV bumped fists with him. "We're best of brothers."

The two smiled at each other and then sat down to rest.

They chatted for a little while, then Jarvan IV suddenly sighed.

"What's wrong, my brother?" Garen asked with concern.

"Great City getting tense lately..." Jarvan IV shook his head, "Even... the whole of Demacia?"

"You mean... the House Buvelle?"

"Hmm... Uncle Barrett was Father's best friend, and his sacrifice kept Father awake for weeks..."

"This is terrible..."

"What's worse, Father wants to..." Jarvan IV paused, then continued in an uneasy tone, "Father wants to grant the Mageseekers even greater power... He's blaming all the magicians for Uncle Barrett's death..."

"Hmm..." Garen nodded thoughtfully. Well, he didn't quite understand the pros and cons and the intricacies involved.

He just felt... aren't magicians supposed to be the targets of attack? What's wrong with giving Mageseekers more power?

This swordsman, who wasn't very politically astute, didn't understand.

The young prince, however, thought of something else entirely. "And... Sona Buvelle. Do you know? She was kidnapped by a Black Mage... She's Uncle Barrett's adopted daughter. This is a devastating blow to the House Buvelle... a series of devastating blows..."

"That's bad news... but I think the Mageseekers can find her—His Majesty the King has given them power, so they can do more." Garen thought it all too naturally.

Jarvan IV's lips curled into a bitter smile, but he said nothing more.

"Anyway... Garen, we're going to be busy from now on..."

Chen Ce was awakened by a dream.

Yes, being woken up by a dream... It sounds unbelievable, but it really happens.

He was having a very ordinary dream—like most people's dreams—vague, chaotic, and disordered, until a gentle and melodious voice entered his dream. It felt like a voice heard from the depths of his own heart; it was truly wondrous.

[Get up... Get up...]

Then came a blurry, beautiful figure.

Then Chen Ce woke up from his dream.

As soon as I opened my eyes, Sona's gentle and beautiful smile was right in front of me.

Of course, there's also the even more eye-catching 36D... well... even a men's oversized shirt can barely contain it...

Sona woke the sleeping man with her unique "language"—using magic to directly transmit her "voice" into his mind, even into his dream. It was like directly intruding into Chen Ce's dream and calling out to him.

She wore an apron and prepared breakfast in advance.

Chen Ce didn't stand on ceremony and enjoyed the cozy breakfast after washing up.

After that, he had to go out to "go to work".

But before that... he had something very important to do.

"Miss Sona." Chen Ce called out into the house as he was about to leave.

Sona, who was washing dishes, immediately poked her head out.

[What's the matter?]

"Could you come over here for a second?" Chen Ce beckoned.

The girl walked forward with a puzzled look in her eyes, still wearing her apron.

"I'm going to 'work' with the Mageseeker Order now. I'll bring you clothes and other daily necessities when I come back later—I'll go get them from Mrs. Lestara," Chen Ce said as he approached.

"So, before I leave... can I have a hug?"

[Eh...?] Sona was clearly flustered. A hug wouldn't be a big problem, it's just... a bit too sudden?

Suddenly wanting a hug... it feels a little strange...?

"This will give me more energy for the whole day." But Chen Ce had already opened his arms, his slightly curved eyes fixed on the other person. "Is that okay?"

[Hmm...] After only a moment's hesitation, the kind-hearted Sona nodded slightly. [If Mr. Chen Ce would like a warm hug... of course.]

"Then..." Chen Ce went to meet him.

The girl also opened her arms wide.

Chen Ce felt very satisfied as her full breasts pressed against his body through her apron—not because of the embrace itself, of course.

Instead...

His eyes were fixed on the girl's 36D breasts.

Or rather, a magic mark on a 36D.

Clang! The sound of the Heartsteel triggering, audible only to him, was so melodious.

"Miss Sona is so soft and smells so good..." Chen Ce reluctantly let go of her embrace. "I wish I could hug her every day."

If you stack Heartsteel once a day...

[Hmm...] Sona lowered her head instinctively as she hugged a man for the first time, her somewhat introverted nature causing her cheeks to flush.

But she also felt... that hugs and stuff... were actually quite comfortable...

It really makes people feel good...

Hugs are really a wonderful thing...

[If Mr. Chen Ce wants, hugging every day is certainly no problem... Sona also finds hugs very heartwarming.]

"Then... every morning?" Chen Ce felt that his Heartsteel had a chance again.

[Mmm... okay...] Sona pursed her lips shyly.

Watching his retreating figure, she stood obediently by the door, like a newlywed wife seeing her husband off.

She paused to reflect on what had just happened.

Mr. Chen Ce, he...

Does he have feelings for me...?

Chen Ce quickly arrived at the Mageseeker Order's camp.

The usual greetings, the usual casual chats with other Mageseekers, and the usual... just hiding in Jonathan's office drinking tea.

The squad leader was exceptionally polite to him, and he wouldn't be criticized at all even if he wasn't training.

The two chatted idly.

But Chen Ce felt something was off... Jonathan seemed to be testing him... about something.

Regarding last night's "investigation"...

"I wonder if the Black Mage we initially tracked down is the same one who abducted Sona Buvelle..."

Jonathan took a sip of hot tea, his eyes seeming somewhat unfocused.

"It's hard to say, it's quite possible." Chen Ce calmly took a sip of tea. "I chased that Black Mage for ages last night, but unfortunately I couldn't catch him in the end... It was my fault for leaving the team without permission, and I'm willing to accept the punishment."

"You were just too eager to catch him, why punish him?" Jonathan chuckled. "Besides, no damage was caused, right? It's good that you're alright—always remember, safety comes first in our line of work."

"Yes."

The two continued drinking tea.

Jonathan kept a close eye on the other person's eyes throughout this time.

Just as he was about to ask some more questions, one of his subordinates came running in, muttering to himself.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked.

"More trouble than before!" The Mageseekers shrugged. "Someone over at Great City Bridge suspects there's a magician there."

"Great City Bridge?"

"Yes, an outsider has 'occupied' that bridge and keeps clamoring to have a fight with someone."

"What does this have to do with magicians? Isn't this a patrol's business?"

"But he's too strong," the Mageseekers said boastfully. "He defeated more than a dozen knights in a row, and they didn't even touch the hem of his clothes! So some people suspect that he actually used magic."

"I see..." Jonathan nodded. "Have you gathered any information about that person?"

"Of course." The Mageseekers took out a parchment from his robes and slowly read aloud:

"The man was only about 1.67 meters tall, wearing a thick, long coat, completely hidden in shadow... and a hood and a strange mask. Purple."

"His weapon was a... stick? Some say it was a street lamp or something, anyway, it looked very strange—even absurd, didn't it?"

"He would often snort after defeating his opponents and mutter sarcastically, 'None of them are any good'... Seriously, he was so arrogant."

Finally, he claimed to be...

"Jax."