Chapter 56: The Imperial Princess's Grand Assist

"You specifically mentioned both clothes and underwear. Could it be that you have some subconscious thoughts about it? Planning to make a move behind the scenes?"

Yelin was quite familiar with Kary, though her personality was rather erratic and her thoughts untamed. Still, the good figure, long legs, and a certain heroic demeanor forged in the Lawless Zone that belonged to a native of Empyrean were qualities not easily found in ordinary women.

"Get real. I haven't made a move on Seria or Tana, let alone Kary."

Yelin let out a scoff. His lack of morals was an open and aboveboard affair; sneaking around like that was the work of a despicable villain. There was still a tiny, minuscule difference between a gentleman and a pervert.

Even if his brain ever short-circuited and he suddenly found himself in desperate need of such an item, he would definitely walk right up to Tana, look her dead in the eye, and demand unashamedly, "Strip and hand it over! Right now!"

Especially in Kary's case, she wasn't even in his consideration. What he aimed for was to become strong enough—or at least strong enough not to be kicked to death in bed by Kary—before ever letting her take a step that required leaning against a wall for support.

The two of them bantered back and forth casually. Time ticked away second by second, and Maelu and Yuna had yet to return.

"Suddenly thought of a question: what if Sharan or Kakoon aren't around? Maelu and the others might not be able to find anyone."

A sudden complaint dropped out of nowhere, and afterwards, both of them fell silent...

Sharan was a mage dispatched by Queen Mayia of the Dark Elves, serving as the headmistress of the magic academy, with prominent figures like the Pandemonians and Lorian under her command.

Kakoon was the most exceptional Magaton pilot and also a master blacksmith. One could imagine he was kept quite busy every day as well...

What now? How could they have forgotten about this detail!

He had wishfully assumed that as the guardian of the West Coast magic barrier, Sharan certainly couldn't sit idly by while an undying Lord of Lightning, who was also a subordinate of the Dragon King Bakal, remained alive, because there was no telling when Seghart might decide to puncture the magic barrier.

This line of thought wasn't problematic in itself, but Yuna and Maelu were strangers in a strange land. They only knew about the magic academy because the carriage driver had mentioned it briefly on their way in, knowing little more than its general location.

Just as the two of them were beginning to fret, two extremely unexpected yet entirely logical figures appeared on the suspension stairs of the lower level.

Bane and the Third Imperial Princess Isabella!

"Control yourself. He wouldn't dare make a move against us. The Castle of the Sky is fraught with peril everywhere. Compared to you, Bakal's Castle of the Sky is far more interesting to the Empire."

Grasping Xiat's trembling hand, the two of them quietly stood near the entrance, watching with great composure as Bane and Princess Isabella approached.

"Lord Bane, is this where the Iron Wolf Knights suffered their losses? It seems to be nothing more than a pile of rubble."

Isabella wore a rather bored expression. She had actually wanted to see what kind of monsters could manage to trip up the illustrious Four Sword Master Bane.

Clad in an exquisite blue and white martial arts uniform, wearing a headband, possessing a radiant face, with slender and powerful legs owing to her cultivation of brawler skills, she stepped into a pair of long white boots.

Isabella possessed an adventurous spirit, burning curiosity, and a fondness for traveling in disguise to play around. Her brawler class had also been cultivated to an exceptionally high level.

She was super wealthy, an absolute tycoon. To her, gold coins were merely a number; any problem that could be solved with money was no problem at all, and if a problem couldn't be solved with money, it simply meant the amount offered was insufficient.

However, being a woman after all, she had very little resistance against exquisite handicrafts and exorbitantly luxurious gowns.

"It must have been these two adventurers who cleared the area. The passage to the upper level was also opened by them."

Acting as though he didn't recognize Xiat at all, Bane smiled and briefly introduced the situation to Isabella.

For him, locating Isabella and then reconnoitering the Castle of the Sky constituted a great achievement already; there was no need to hopelessly lock horns with an unstable wanted criminal possessing the power of transference.

As for whether Isabella recognized Xiat, the princess was a clever person and would naturally be able to sort out the ins and outs of the situation on her own.

"What truly powerful adventurers. Seeing you two holding hands, could you perhaps be lovers?"

Isabella teased playfully.

"As you can see, Your Highness the Princess, it is quite dangerous here."

Squeezing Xiat's hand slightly to signal her to remain silent, Yelin bowed slightly with his right hand placed across his chest, offering the customary greeting due to the princess of the Dros Empire.

"How did you know I am a princess?"

Isabella raised an eyebrow. She loved playing the game of traveling in disguise with her best friend, Celes, rarely wearing imperial garments or badges. It was just that Celes had matters to attend to and hadn't come today.

"Lord Bane had previously inquired of me regarding your whereabouts."

"I see..."

Isabella nodded lightly. However, her gaze immediately lit up upon noticing the garments worn by Yelin and Xiat, which instantly piqued her interest.

The exquisite and soft fabric, the just-right decorations, and the unique tailoring—this was clearly the handiwork of a master craftsman!

Just as she was about to inquire further, Bane frowned and said, "Your Highness, we have reached the entrance. Perhaps we should return now to regroup the Iron Wolf Knights before making further plans."

After finding Isabella in the lower levels, she had insisted on seeing the legendary golden stone golem. When he told her the golden stone golem was already dead, she had then demanded to come and inspect the entrance passage.

Such an unruly temperament was truly one of a kind among the princes and princesses, yet Isabella happened to be the most favored one of all.

How did the saying go? Those who are favored act with impunity.

"Oh my, what is Lord Bane in such a rush for? As an Awakened individual, shouldn't you be scouting the environment yourself? If the Iron Wolf Knights suffer any further losses, those nobles might start whispering in my father's ear again."

Isabella waved her hand dismissively. Of course she knew the Castle of the Sky was dangerous, and Bane had mentioned the mysterious sights as well, but as the Third Princess of the Empire, her own combat prowess was commendable, and she possessed a whole arsenal of secret treasures.

"This..."

Bane instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Yes, an expedition of this sort was indeed better undertaken alone.

Other nobles might not care about the lives of a few soldiers or individuals, but he, Bane, certainly could not afford such carelessness!

As the youngest and fastest-rising noble in the history of the Dros Empire, whilst also possessing the strength of an Awakened one, those two facts alone were enough to make those nobles view him as a thorn in their side.

Meanwhile, Yelin was internally ecstatic, wishing he could blow a kiss to Isabella. He had been racking his brains over how to get Bane to climb the suspension stairs, and the princess had just provided a brilliant assist without even realizing it.

"Then I must ask Your Highness the Princess to return to the knights' encampment first."

Bane cast a subtle, unnoticeable glance at Xiat. The princess's strength should be roughly on par with Xiat's, but the power of transference residing in the latter's arm was a force the Empire itself feared.

"Fine, fine, fine. I'll head back right now."

After saying this, Isabella actually turned around and began walking back, until she descended the suspension stairs and vanished from view.

However, according to the reconnaissance of the RX-78 Pursuer deployed by Yelin, the princess was currently squatting on the stairs to eavesdrop and had no intention of returning whatsoever.

With a flick of his cape, Bane grasped his short sword and rapidly ascended the suspension stairs, stepping cautiously upward one cautious step at a time.

"The princess is right beside us, so the self-destruct robots on the suspension stairs cannot be used. We can only use the pursuers in the Dark Corridor," Yelin whispered softly.

"Mmm..."

Xiat's mind was in utter turmoil. That sensation of finding Yelin reliable, steady, and composed had now appeared for the third time, following the encounters with Bone-Red and the Song of the Sword Empress.

"He has no morals. It's an illusion, an illusion, definitely an illusion."

Having grown accustomed to Yelin's flippant and unserious demeanor, seeing him act so serious and remain completely unfazed even in the presence of the princess created a stark contrast that left her feeling delightfully dizzy.

However, the moment a certain hoof-like hand released her hand and redirected its attack toward her plump flesh, that familiar feeling instantly rushed right back...

"Shameless, perverted!"

After Bane stepped onto the suspension stairs, Isabella indeed emerged from her hiding spot, smiled, and said, "Why aren't you two going up? Being able to defeat the golden stone golem means your strength must be extraordinary as well."

"We're waiting for someone, two of our teammates."

"I see. Could you tell me where you bought your clothes? They are truly exquisite and beautiful."

Isabella was immensely interested. Could it be that West Coast actually harbored a hidden master artist?

"In Heaton Marr, at a newly opened tailor shop. Not only is the proprietress an absolute beauty, but I even saw a Wind Runner inside the shop!"

Suddenly...

Boom!

Clang~~

Crash...

"What is that sound? It's awfully noisy upstairs."

This remark wasn't uttered by Isabella; rather, Yelin seized the initiative to express confusion, which would give the princess the illusion that they had never been up there.

As for the truth, it was the detonation of the RX-78 Pursuer, which had triggered the guardian unit of the defenders and prompted them to begin cornering Bane.

"The Castle of the Sky is fraught with danger everywhere. Lord Bane has perhaps run into a tiny obstacle, but it doesn't matter; he is an Awakened one."