Chapter 215

As the sun sets, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually decreases as the light dims.

"But... I don't want to see Aunt Tianna right now..."

The girl's tone suggested she had something difficult to say.

Chapter Seventy-Seven Tianna, you don't want Lux either...

It was late at night, but Garen had not yet left the Training Grounds of Jarvan IV, the Prince of Demacia.

Not only because their training today lasted from morning until evening, but also because they had just heard something interesting—just as Garen was preparing to go home.

[The outsider who had dominated the Great City Bridge for several days and defeated no fewer than twenty dueling masters and kingdom knights finally suffered a setback today.]

The news came from the Mageseeker Order —several high-ranking members of the Mageseeker Order excitedly reported the matter to the royal family.

Because it was their own Mageseeker Order that thwarted the "powerful outsider"—they suspected the outsider was Black Mage, so they sent out a team to investigate.

I just beat him up while I was at it.

Hmm... at least they said "beat up". Heh, only listen to half of what they say about taking credit.

The phrase "[Mageseeker Order]" has been in the spotlight recently, and Jarvan IV has taken it very seriously.

Upon hearing that it was the Mageseeker Order again, he immediately perked up, even though he was planning to rest.

So Garen naturally couldn't "leave work on time" either—after all, they weren't just superior and subordinate, but also good brothers.

"The Mageseeker Order is really riding high lately..."

Jarvan IV, holding the report delivered by the Mageseeker Order, couldn't help but marvel.

"He's gained power and expanded his territory, and he's also won over a large number of marginal nobles. Today, he gave me another surprise... Eldred, how come I never noticed his talent before? He even 'deceived' his father, haha."

Jarvan IV spoke only words of praise, but there was something amiss in his tone—though the honest and straightforward Garen failed to notice.

The tall swordsman scratched his head and echoed the praise, "Commander Eldred is Aunt Tianna's husband, and he has always devoted himself to Demacia... Gold always shines, right? He has finally gotten his chance."

"Yes, an opportunity..." Jarvan IV squinted, rolled up the report in his hand, and handed it to his brother beside him. "Come and see this powerful newcomer; he solved a major problem that even a Duel Master couldn't handle."

"I've heard of that powerful outsider... Let me see..." Garen took the parchment and began to examine it with great curiosity.

At first glance, it doesn't seem to have any problems.

At second glance, it looked somewhat familiar.

Upon closer inspection, he exclaimed in shock, "Chen Ce?!"

"Huh?" Jarvan IV, startled by the shout, exclaimed, "What's with the sudden outburst... What, do you know this person?"

"I know him! Of course I know him!" Garen tried to keep his voice down, but he was still very excited. "He's the one I recommended to the Mageseeker Order! Just a few days ago! I knew he would definitely achieve something!"

"Huh? You recommended it?" Jarvan IV was even more surprised.

"Yes, when I met him, he was so poor he couldn't afford food or a house... He was very down on his luck then, but I saw he was quite skilled, so I recommended him to Mageseeker Order!"

"So... you only met him a few days ago?"

"Yes."

"Then aren't you afraid of him..." Jarvan IV pointed to a few lines of small print on the report—a description of Chen Ce and his personal information. "Did he come to Demacia with ulterior motives?"

"No, that won't happen." Upon hearing this, Garen patted his chest and assured him, "You know I have a good eye for people. I can tell he's upright and kind, definitely not the kind of person who would do bad things!"

"... Is it possible that you're too easily fooled?"

"Brother, you have to trust me! I even had Lux write to verify his identity! I still have that much caution and common sense."

"...Alright." Jarvan IV shrugged, still seeming somewhat unconvinced.

Seeing this, Garen immediately reached into his pocket and rummaged around. "He was really starving at the time, and he even gave me his best possessions just to get a meal... I'll show you if you don't believe me..."

"..." Jarvan IV looked at that almost bizarre behavior, and then, thinking about the words "[Big Baby]", he felt that something was a little strange.

Fortunately, while what Garen took out was a bit strange, it wasn't anything particularly eerie.

It's a... gun? That should be the name.

"Look at this." Garen waved the uniquely designed revolver in his hand. "It's called the 'Hextech Revolver.' It's the only valuable thing Chen Ce has—he got it from Piltover. He gave it all to me just to get a meal."

"Oh..." Jarvan IV examined the revolver briefly, but couldn't see anything special about it. "These things aren't worth much, are they? Didn't the merchants in Piltover just send a batch of guns to Father as a gift last month? I don't think those things are anything special, just like toys."

"Hmm... what you're saying does seem to make sense..." Garen scratched his head again, "But this one might... could be... different? Chen Ce said this thing is quite valuable."

"Guns are worthless and not very powerful; they're not even as good as arrows shot by a skilled archer."

"That's what I thought at the time too... but Chen Ce said this thing is very powerful."

"So you think it's more powerful than the arrows of the Dauntless Vanguard?"

"Well... I don't think so..."

"That's it then. This thing probably really isn't worth anything." Jarvan IV shook his head. "You've likely been scammed by that young man Chen Ce."

"Ah, this..." Garen carefully examined the revolver in his hand, already sweating profusely—he didn't want to admit he'd been fooled, much less that he'd misjudged the situation.

He's always been good at judging people... He could tell that Chen Ce hadn't come to Demacia to do anything bad.

Even if there's ulterior motive... it's at least to help someone or something, it certainly isn't about harming Demacia.

Ionia has already confirmed his identity...

"I still don't think he's here to do anything bad... After all, what bad things could he possibly do?" Garen shook his head.

"Maybe it's to woo your dear sister," Jarvan IV joked.

"Hey, you're kidding me..." Garen said, unconvinced. "If you don't believe me, let's test the power of this gun right here and now?"

"Give it a try," Jarvan IV said, still appearing nonchalant.

Seeing this, Garen immediately jogged over and dragged a dummy over.

First, place the dummy in the center of the Training Grounds, then put a layer of hard armor on it.

"Shall we use this dummy for the experiment?" Garen said. "Its lightweight armor was just barely pierced by the arrows of the Dauntless Vanguard. If this spear can also pierce it, it proves that it was indeed very expensive to make. What do you say?"

"Alright." Jarvan IV nodded nonchalantly, "But I must warn you, the most likely outcome is that you won't even be able to make a dent in the armor—this is royal mithril armor."

"I have to give it a try...!" Actually, Garen wasn't very confident either, but he couldn't back down now.

So he took his greatsword in one hand and the Hextech Revolver in the other, and put them together.

"Chen Ce said that this thing itself doesn't need any bullets, but I need to do it this way to make it fire..."

"Just making a fuss." Jarvan IV said with a look of disdain.

Then...

BOOM!

The deafening gunshot rang out, making his eardrums ache.

A blinding burst of energy filled the entire Training Grounds, like a cannonball exploding in the darkness.

Garen lost his grip, and the powerful recoil caused the revolver to slam heavily into his face.

It took both of them several seconds to come to their senses.

Then they both looked at the mannequin.

As the dust settled, they could see that there wasn't even a crack in the armor.

Jarvan scratched his ear, just as he was about to notice.

But as the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, he saw it again...

Beneath the flawless armor lies...

Yes...

Clang... Part of the armor fell to the ground.

As for the other part...

Completely annihilated...

Jarvan IV's eyes widened instantly.

"Gay, Garen..."

"Huh...?" Even Garen, who was sticking to his principle of [trusting Chen Ce], was now so confused that his brain was about to shut down.

Jarvan IV almost unconsciously swallowed, then stammered:

"Bring that person here... I want to personally interrogate him...!"

As night falls, it's time for the young girl to go home.

On the way back, Lux remained silent; finally removing her hood couldn't bring back her lively and beautiful smile.

She was even somewhat unwilling to acknowledge the young man beside her.

No matter how Chen Ce tried to talk to her, he only received silence or short, meaningless replies like "um" or "oh".

After being repeatedly met with indifference, Chen Ce simply stopped talking and silently escorted the other person home.

His hotel wasn't far from Lux's house; it would take a little over an hour to walk there at a normal pace.

From afar, the magnificent manor was brightly lit.

Lux stopped just as she was about to enter the manor.

She finally spoke at that moment, "I... I really... don't want to go back..."

"But we've already completed the 'rescue mission,' haven't we?" Chen Ce smiled and shook his head, patiently persuading the noble lady who longed for freedom. "Just like we agreed at the beginning, you're supposed to go home after the 'mission' is over."

"But..."

Lux pursed her lips, as if she wanted to say something. But when the words reached her lips, she closed them with a forlorn look in her eyes.

Even Chen Ce couldn't guess what she was worried about—if it was just that she didn't want to stay at home and learn the etiquette of those noble ladies... theoretically, she wouldn't be like this.

Why was that for...? I don't know.

If you don't tell anyone, how can anyone guess?

"I had a lot of fun today... Thank you, Chen Ce..." After a long silence and pause, Lux slowly placed her hand on the manor gate.

"I'm also very happy to have spent such a wonderful day with you, Miss Lux." Chen Ce gave a chivalrous bow with his hand on his chest, which served as a farewell for the night.

The girl forced a not-so-good smile, and then prepared to go back.

But just then, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out:

"Has our mature and sensible Miss Luxanna finally decided to go home?"

A tall woman stood by the walkway of the manor, her face indifferent.

Upon seeing the other person, Lux's last remaining smile vanished instantly, replaced by fear and frustration.

She slowly uttered the other person's name:

"Aunt Tianna..."

"It seems my orders to you are completely useless, is that it?" The woman in uniform with a sword at her waist walked over slowly, her arrogant face exuding a powerful aura.

The aura of the Grand Marshal of Demacia.

"I told you you were supposed to stay home and learn aristocratic etiquette, Luxanna ... You ran away, and your uncle and I searched for you for a long time, you know that?"

"I... I'm so sorry..." Lux lowered her head completely, looking as uneasy as a little girl who had made a big mistake.

But Tianna wouldn't soften her heart at all because of her appearance.

She strode up, her owner-like demeanor suggesting that the manor belonged not to Garen and Lux, but to her.

Then, she noticed the young man next to Lux.

Her already furrowed brows instantly tightened into a knot.

"It seems our Princess Luxanna has found her knight?" she said, her tone mocking yet laced with deep anger.

"No... Chen Ce, he--"

"Get in!" Tianna rudely interrupted Lux's explanation. "You know I've already found a suitable candidate for you, what are you doing?"