ATAPOW Chapter 229
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Chapter 229: Return
“Stop, n-no further…” Seeing the armored figure steadily approaching her, Lil’ Sha’s eyes —full of hatred and fear — seemed to shimmer with ripples of peculiar radiances, the proportions of which were impossible to tell.
Even though the restoration society members did not know what sort of bewitching words the notorious person in front of them had employed to make the vampires change their mind, they were not about to let their guard down in his presence.
After all, there was a strong chance that the event unfolding before them had little to do with him.
If the vampires truly valued his words as law, would he really need to stoop to such shameful and underhanded tactics to murder Princess Felina and steal their lands?
They tightened their hold on the weapons in succession and moved toward where Lil’ Sha was.
Ji Bai paid no heed to that as he continued to move forward without stopping.
With her arms wrapped around Lil’ Sha, Nael watched the armored man gradually draw closer with a complex expression on her face.
Although logic told Nael to forbid Ji Bai from interacting with Her Highness Sha any further, she found herself involuntarily anchored in place, as if roots had sprouted beneath her feet.
“Be a wise queen, and treat your people with love and respect.” After a momentary hesitation, Ji Bai extended his thoroughly battered gauntlet. But just as he attempted to stroke her hair one last time, a hand firmly stopped him.
“What do you think you’re doing, you vile man in magical armor? Lower your filthy hand at once!” Fishbone forcefully held onto Ji Bai’s outstretched hand with a vice-like grip.
“’Is Her Highness Sha someone a filthy human scoundrel like you can lay your hands on?!” Fishbone sneered and viciously punched Ji Bai in the face.
Had this been under normal circumstances, with Ji Bai at his peak condition fortified by his [Radiant Armor], he wouldn’t have so much as quivered from that punch.
But at this moment, the badly damaged [Radiant Armor] had lost nearly all of its protective power and was struggling to retain its form. It was no longer possible to count on it for protection, given the extensive damage it had sustained from the fight against the vampire general earlier.
Just the slow walk alone had pushed him to his limit, so he was naturally no match for the punch, which was delivered at him with full force. He and his battered armor collapsed to the ground with a plop, tumbling several times in the process.
Lil’ Sha parted her lips slightly upon observing such a scene, yet opted to lower her head in the end.
“Hmph, just a lowly race overestimating his capabilities.” Fishbone gleefully taunted Ji Bai, who had fallen to the ground on his behind. Yet unbeknownst to him, Xun was nearby, slowly turning her head to face him. Her calm gaze was so unnerving that it sent chills down the spine of everyone who noticed.
By the time he noticed, the vampire girl was already walking towards him in the corner of his eye. This caused his lips to raise slightly.
‘Is it possible that this young vampire girl had taken a fancy to me? Well, that wouldn’t be too surprising!’
He was a descendant of the Asiatic Cat Kingdom’s nobility and innately possessed an illustrious lineage. Meanwhile, the vampire commander was blessed with a set of enchanting features and had won the favor of a vampire duke at a young age. They were truly a match made in heaven!
“To our esteemed vampire guests who have journeyed far to be here, your generosity will be remembered for as long as we live. It’s an honor to meet you. I am the second son of Duke Yong’an, a founding father and eminent minister of the previous dynasty. We’re immensely grateful to you for understanding the greater picture and returning the jade token of Nolan City back to us. On behalf of Her Highness the Princess, I convey our gratitude..…” Though his heart danced with joy, it was concealed behind a stoic expression as he spoke with reverence.
Xun remained silent as she approached the Asiatic Cat teen, whose solemn exterior belied his chaotic inner thoughts. Then, without hesitation, she unsheathed her longsword.
The swift sound of metal cutting through flesh and bone rang out. A severed arm hit the ground, followed by a splash of blood.
Fishbone’s expression gradually turned rigid, as beads of cold sweat began to stream down his forehead.
“Ughh!…” Waves of pain reverberating from his shoulder wound surged through his nerves, one after the other.
After his brain had recognized and registered his severed arm on the ground, he clasped his gushing wound and incessantly rolled on the ground, howling in pain.
“Aaaah! …M-My arm!? Y-You, why did you… Aaagh!”
Her delicate foot, encased in a combat boot, ferociously stomped on Fishbone’s head.
“This dirty hand was unfit to touch that person, so I’ve helped you get rid of it. Isn’t that the right thing to do?” With an expression suggesting that she had only done what needed to be done, Xun looked at Fishbone incessantly writhing under her heel.
“Ughhh…”
“Seems like you don’t quite grasp your own identity.” Xun’s eyes erupted with fierce killing intent as she looked down on Fishbone.
“You’re nothing more than a dog, maybe even worse than that. Who gave you the courage to sprout so much nonsense?? It’s said that a dog’s courage comes from the strength of its master. Yet, from where I stand, a dog without its leash, like you, barks with even more ferocity!”
The corners of his mouth foaming with blood, Fishbone was so terrified that his face turned deathly white. He remained motionless, not daring to resist.
It had never occurred to him that the vampires would fly into a rage over an inferior species.
Seeing the overwhelming hostility in her mocking gaze, Fishbone realized that his death at her hands would be as effortless and straightforward as killing a dog.
‘Darn it… Why? Why are there so many people on your side?! This is all your fault!’
A trace of bitter resentment flickered in Fishbone’s eyes as he looked at Ji Bai.
Despite their willingness to assist, the members of the Restoration Society, who were watching from the sidelines, felt powerless to intervene. The startling turn of events had surpassed the expectations of everyone on the scene.
They had relied on the other party’s goodwill and worked hard to establish a foothold. It was nothing short of foolish to provoke their anger now. Moreover, the vast difference in combat abilities meant that they would only be inviting a severe beating onto themselves; To expect that the vampires would leave their remains intact was nothing more than a fancy delusion.
At this point, they could only let him fend for himself.
“Men, seize this ignorant cur and sentence him to death on the stake.” Xun coldly commanded, her foot stomping down on Fishbone’s head, causing it to swell.
“Understood!” A few vampire soldiers acknowledged the order. Springing into action, they seized Fishbone and dragged him towards the city entrance.
“No, no, no! I realize my mistake, Madam Commander of the vampire race, Your Excellency Ji Bai! I shouldn’t have offended you! Please, I implore you to forgive me, have mercy!” Upon realizing he was about to be executed, Fishbone thoroughly lost his composure. Not caring about his pride and dignity, he promptly began to plead for mercy in an attempt to save his life.
Paying no attention to the dog ceaselessly barking for mercy, Xun hurried to help Ji Bai, only to see him gesture that her assistance was unnecessary.
“…Cut off his other arm and release him.” Ji Bai said, seemingly with a sigh.
“As you wish.” Xun responded without hesitation or uncertainty, as she carried out Ji Bai’s command to the letter. She instructed two armored soldiers to hurry to the advance squad and convey her orders.
His decision did not come because he pitied Fishbone. He was no saint; He too had emotions and desires, and he could get angry, yet…
His gaze shifted to Lil’ Sha, whose face was marked with melancholy and indescribable emotions.
He did not want her to feel sad anymore.
Ji Bai brushed past her and made his way towards the city entrance.
‘Just how much have you kept hidden from me… and how many times have you lied to me? Is this moment just another part of your act?’
Watching the figure fade away into the distance, Lil’ Sha felt a complex mix of emotions stirring in her heart.
Hatred; She should have hated him. From the loathing caused by his concealment of the truth, through his deepening deceit, to the abhorrence of his actions of murdering Aunt Felina and invading the Asiatic Cat Territory.
‘I should be hating him, down to the every fiber of my soul… I wish my hatred could match the depth of what I feel in my imagination.’
‘But why… Why can’t I bring myself to hate him at all??’
‘Aunt Felina, my Royal Mother… Why exactly did you do all that??’
The armored figure walked out the city entrance, step-by-step, with no one standing in his way.
Only the perceptive Xun noticed the stiffness in his gait.
Upon slowly making his way out of the city gate and rounding a corner, Ji Bai collapsed head-on to the ground as if he had completed his mission.
The dark-silvery armor turned into specks of lights and scattered away like fireflies.
Below, a girl’s silver hair fanned out and cascaded to the ground. Physically and mentally drained, she fell into a deep slumber.
Shortly after, as if she had expected that all along, Xun arrived next to the fainted girl.
She gently carried the silver-haired girl, whose clothes were worn and tattered, with the smallest motion possible for fear of causing her pain.
Due to the ragged clothing on her body, a large portion of the silver-haired girl’s fair, youthful skin was exposed at this moment.
“Keep your eyes in check, or I wouldn’t mind passing you off to her mother for punishment.”
Delivered in a frosty voice, Xun’s admonishment speedily snapped the surrounding armored vampire warriors back to reality. They turned their heads around, and immediately pretended that they were oblivious to the situation.
Her pure-silver hair, coupled with the intangible might of her bloodline emanating from her, allowed even the most obtuse onlooker to infer the identity of the girl before them. Therefore, it was glaringly obvious who her mother was…
As it dawned upon them that their earlier behavior could be seen as violating the princess’ modesty, the group of foot soldiers felt chills run down their necks.
That crime was severe enough that not even putting them and their families to the guillotine could redeem them!
Mindful not to let their eyes stray, the soldiers formed a wall around Xun, with the sole purpose of protecting her and the silver-haired girl in her embrace.
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Within the great hall of Nolan City’s castle.
To the Restoration Society’s members who had been confined to areas outside the inner city, this place was sacred, yet seemingly foreign to them at the same time.
They could tell that the vampire soldiers had somewhat tidied up the once troll-occupied space upon their arrival in the inner city.
The words ‘apprehensive’ precisely summed up their state of mind at this moment.
As the sole surviving member of the Asiatic Cat Royal Family to this day, Lil’ Sha naturally assumed the role of their representative.
To honor her appointment and meet with the commanding officer of the vampire race, she had arrived at this location alongside Nael and the middle-aged man with a red goatee.
They were aware that the arrogant vampire race had no reason to set up a trap and harm small fries like them.
But the sheer intimidation emanating from the heavily armored warriors around them left them feeling uncomfortable from head to toe.
It was a challenge to understand their actions, and comprehending their motives proved an even greater enigma.
Ideally, Nael did not wish to interact with them until their force had significantly increased in strength and power.
But how could that be possible? The initiative was not within their grasp. It was already a stroke of incredible luck they had managed to save their lives. To entertain the idea of coveting anything more was tantamount to inviting their demise.
“Crackle…” The hall was so quiet that only the sound of dry wood burning in the fireplace could be heard.
The atmosphere seemed to congeal, making every second they spent here a grueling ordeal for them.
“Thud, thud, thud…” The sound of approaching footsteps grew nearer, and in the next moment, the wooden door to the great hall swung open.
Xun, adorned in ceremonial robes and no longer in her military gear, sat expressionlessly on the stone throne. With her elbows propped on the armrests, she gazed at the three Asiatic Cats below her.
“There’s no need to be alarmed. The reason I’ve called you three here for a conversation is simply to go over the necessary regulations.”
“Well then, let me make myself clear once more. The Leforno Duchy of the Scarlet Kingdom will provide protection to everyone here for three months. Following that, our troops will withdraw from Nolan City, leaving it under the control of the Asiatic Cat Race. From then on, we’ll no longer have any ties to this city. Are there any objections?”