The Bloodslaughter Prince and the Gathering Undercurrents

The envoy from the Saga Kingdom wanted him to travel to their capital, Ashkal, for talks?

Did they not know he had recently survived an assassination attempt by the Froststar Clan and the Venomfang Clan?

How could they still dare ask him to visit their capital?

Something was wrong. Very wrong!

As John listened to Lunebo's report, the whole affair struck him as stranger by the moment.

Under normal circumstances, those beastfolk would never treat a deal handed to them on a platter so seriously. They would demand an outrageous price or agree with a wave of the hand. They would not invite him to Ashkal.

If they meant to ambush him, the invitation was such an obvious trap that he would never fall for it. But if they knew he would refuse and made the demand anyway, things were more complicated. It meant they might have realized his true objective had nothing to do with the Star-patterned Stone in the Windless Wasteland.

They had made the demand to probe his intentions.

If he refused, it would suggest there was something fishy about Faoken's plan to develop the Windless Wasteland.

If he accepted, he would have to prepare for an ambush by a great many powerful beastfolk!

This was plainly a calculated move by the Saga Royal House's envoy—or someone behind him.

And John could think of only one royal with political instincts that sharp and an intellect so far beyond ordinary beastfolk: "The Saga Kingdom's third prince, Robrek Black Abyss."

As the name passed through his mind, John pictured a young crocodile beastman standing three meters and twenty centimeters tall. He was somewhat lean for his kind, though his muscles were sharply defined. His manner seemed gentle and refined, but a closer look revealed a coldness deep in his