Linley Captured

In early December, Yale and the others waited at an inn at the end of Greenleaf Road.

Just as they were preparing to move Linley, a guard reported, "Young Master, His Majesty the King was attacked by a demon at Lord Linley's residence. The palace guards, along with knights from many noble families, have gone to protect His Majesty."

Then one piece of bad news after another arrived. That demon had slaughtered many people, but in the end, he was captured by the Radiant Church.

Even Yale, who was waiting for news at the inn, ran into Bei Bei. But the grief-stricken Bei Bei left again as soon as he saw Yale.

Yale then summoned the other brothers and explained the situation.

Linley had openly attacked King Clyde, killed over a thousand elite kingdom soldiers, and even provoked the Radiant Pope into personally taking action.

Even when Yale notified his father, Monroe Dawson, and had him personally petition the Radiant Church on Linley's behalf, he failed.

Arnold analyzed the matter. To the Radiant Church, Linley was clearly more important than a kingdom's king. Linley had actually been able to transform into something resembling a dragonman, so he must have awakened the renowned Dragonblood Lineage of the Baruch Clan. Without question, within a few decades, Linley would enter the Saint Domain. Yet even so, the Radiant Church still refused to release him.

Earlier, Yale had explained why Linley had tried to assassinate Clyde. Clyde was the enemy who had murdered Linley's mother. But Arnold wondered whether the Radiant Church was actually Linley's true enemy in his mother's death, and whether that was why the Radiant Pope, who knew the reason, refused to release him.

After Arnold shared his analysis with the brothers, Yale and the others became even more troubled. For the moment, they could think of no solution.

It was not until the next day that Yale's father received a letter from the Radiant Pope. The Radiant Church intended to secretly execute Linley. Yale refused to believe it and desperately begged Monroe, hoping to give up some of Dawson Commerce's interests in exchange with the Radiant Church and save Linley.

But Monroe understood perfectly well that there had to be more to Linley's enmity with the Radiant Church. Otherwise, the Radiant Church would not want to execute such a genius.

Even Arnold was deeply frustrated. Someone like Linley was actually about to be executed in a few days. Arnold felt that his analysis could not be wrong. Linley was absolutely one of the continent's favored sons. Something unexpected would surely happen, allowing him to survive. Yet no matter how hard Arnold racked his brain, he could not imagine how Linley could escape alive.

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day: January 1st, Year 1 of the Yulan Calendar. That day, the snow that had blanketed heaven and earth finally stopped. Whether noble families or ordinary commoners, everyone celebrated the arrival of the Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Orchid Festival in their own way that morning, especially the Radiant Temple.

The holy city of Fenlai City became an ocean of joy that day.

From the third floor of a restaurant, Arnold and the other three looked toward the Radiant Temple Plaza in the distance. The plaza was packed with people, a true sea of humanity.

The wedding banquet of Kalan of the Debs Clan was being held on Jade Orchid Festival. It was an auspicious day, and countless people throughout Fenlai City were probably holding weddings that day. The wedding banquet began at noon and lasted until nightfall.

The four decided to attend the wedding banquet at the Debs Clan—not to offer blessings, of course, but to cause trouble.

Greenleaf Road, Fenlai City, Debs Clan residence.

While Kalan was conversing with Duke Bernard, the kingdom's most influential Left Prime Minister, Yale and the other three arrived.

"Young Master Yale of Dawson Commerce has arrived!"

At the sound of that announcement, Duke Bernard's eyes immediately lit up. Even Bernard, Kalan's father, headed outside with him. The nobles of the Fenlai Kingdom naturally could not compare with the Dawson Clan. The Dawson Clan of Dawson Commerce was one of the most powerful families on the entire Yulan Continent.

Yale wore a sharply tailored black formal suit. Renault wore a handsome blue formal suit. George wore a white formal suit patterned with faint checks. As for Arnold, he was the least conspicuous, dressed in a light gray formal suit.

All four were magi, and their distinctive bearing naturally made the surrounding nobles' eyes light up.

"Young Master Yale, welcome. And these three are?" Bernard immediately determined that the two beside him were certainly not scions of ordinary families, while Arnold looked more like a commoner.

Yale smiled faintly. "These three are my good brothers from Ernst Magic Academy."

Renault politely said, "Mr. Bernard, I am from the Dunstan Clan of the O'Brien Empire. You may call me Renault!"

"The Dunstan Clan?"

Both Bernard and Duke Bernard were startled. The Dunstan Clan was a powerful family in the O'Brien Empire, one that controlled a formidable legion.

"Young Master Renault, our Debs Clan warmly welcomes your arrival!" Bernard said excitedly.

The arrival of a young master from the Dunstan Clan naturally brought Bernard great prestige. Kalan beside him also bowed respectfully.

"And this gentleman?"

George smiled. "Mr. Bernard, I am from the Huashi Clan of the Magnolia Empire."

"The Huashi Clan?"

The hearts of the surrounding nobles clenched again. The Huashi Clan was an ancient family with a history spanning several thousand years. It wielded powerful influence within the Magnolia Empire, on roughly the same level as the Ryan Clan of Dixie and Delia.

"Welcome, Young Master George. Our Debs Clan is exceedingly honored by your arrival." Bernard's attitude was extremely humble.

Whether the Huashi Clan or the Dunstan Clan, both were top-tier families among the four great empires, massive clans capable of influencing an empire's internal decisions. Even before its decline, the Debs Clan could not compare with them, much less the Debs Clan of today.

"And this gentleman?"

"Mr. Bernard, I'm merely a classmate of Boss Yale's. You needn't pay me any attention," Arnold said casually.

Hearing Arnold say this, Bernard did not pay much attention to him.

The Debs Clan's wedding banquet was exceedingly lively. Noble young ladies constantly came over to speak with Yale and the others. Naturally, Arnold was left out, but he did not mind.

Once Kalan's legal wife Rowling and Alice entered, Yale immediately made several cutting remarks. With Yale, George, and Renault's statuses before him, Kalan did not dare say anything despite being filled with rage. He could only use the excuse of going elsewhere to offer toasts and immediately led Alice and Rowling toward the other tables.

Renault, George, and Yale merely cast them cold glances. Thinking that Linley might already have been executed made the injustice in their hearts grow even stronger. Arnold watched coldly as well, but he had concluded that Linley would likely survive this great calamity, so he did not feel quite as indignant.