Chapter 395: A Mad Dog Losing Its Mind

Bali Stalim-> Barry Stalim

In the end, Leisha agreed to go to the royal capital with Shien.

Even though, as a wanted criminal of the Kingdom, she should stay far away from the capital to avoid being caught, with Shien around, Leisha wasn’t too worried.

If it were anyone else, they naturally wouldn’t be able to protect Leisha.

After all, Leisha was one of the members of the Old Demon Faction who participated in the large-scale assassination ten years ago, and she even stole important items from the royal palace. If she was discovered by the Kingdom, even the royal family wouldn’t be able to protect her.

If it weren’t for their apprehension about the item Leisha stole, the Kingdom might have already sent the Royal Knights to capture her.

Under such circumstances, anyone who wanted to protect Leisha would be courting death.

But if that person was Shien, it would be different.

Firstly, Shien had Airi by his side.

Secondly, Shien had Lilith by his side.

Thirdly, Shien had Lucy behind him.

Moreover, since his identity as the Hero had been revealed to the Divine Race, Anima and the others likely wouldn’t hesitate to offer him assistance in secret. Would the Kingdom dare to offend someone protected by important figures from the Divine Race, the human race, and the Demon Race?

Naturally, they wouldn’t.

Furthermore, as a Spatial Magic user, Leisha was confident in her abilities. If she couldn’t win, she could just escape. No one could stop her. This trip to the capital, she wasn’t afraid.

Naturally, Shien wasn’t afraid either.

However, it wasn’t because he had people (and they were all women) by his side, behind him, and around him that he was so fearless, but because he was confident that even if Leisha’s presence was discovered, he had a thousand and one ways to escape blame.

Otherwise, did they really think his title of “Scapegoat King” was for nothing?

Besides, Shien wasn’t interested in Leisha.

“I just have my eyes on her maid!”

As long as he said that, there should… probably… maybe… possibly… be no problem, right?

Therefore, before poaching Lasha, Shien could still protect this young lady.

Leisha didn’t know about this. Otherwise, she would definitely turn around and leave, never interacting with Shien again.

Unfortunately, by the time Leisha learned about this, it might be too late.

Just like that, the group accomplished their goal and prepared to return directly to the royal capital.

However, the next day, an unexpected person came to visit Shien.

“What brings you here, Duke Barry?”

Seeing Barry appearing at the door, Shien raised an eyebrow, surprised and amused.

The visitor was the head of the Stalim family, the lord of this territory – Barry Stalim.

Barry appeared here with four high-level knights and looked at Shien with an impassive face.

“I should be the one asking that.” Barry said calmly. “I really didn’t know that Viscount Buztout would come to my territory and even get involved in the Cosmos incident.” ꞦᴀℕỐ𐌱Êṡ

Hearing these words, Shien knew that the visitor wasn’t friendly.

And whether it was a coincidence or not, Shien was alone now.

Airi was sleeping in her room.

Leisha and Lasha, perhaps having sensed the arrival of the Kingdom’s noble in advance, had left the inn using spatial magic to avoid exposing their identities. Their magic power and aura were completely undetectable.

Lilith was also still asleep.

Only Shien, after sensing Barry and several powerful magic auras, woke up from his bed, left his room, and greeted the Duke here.

Shien sat down, looked at Barry standing at the door from across the living room, and said with a smirk, “Just say what you want to say, Duke. There’s no need to beat around the bush.”

These words completely tore away the superficial pretense and politeness, not giving him any face.

Barry’s expression remained impassive, either because he didn’t want to bother with such trivial matters or because he realized that Shien was no longer the adventurer he could easily manipulate.

However, the Duke also walked in unceremoniously.

The four knights behind him immediately followed.

However…

“Bang!”

With a sudden explosive sound, a meteor shower struck, blasting the four knights away. They screamed and collapsed in the corridor outside.

“You…!?”

Barry stopped, his expression finally changing, his eyes filled with shock and anger as he looked at Shien.

Shien maintained his smiling expression and withdrew his hand, which was surging with magic power.

“Sorry, I overstepped.” Shien shrugged. “It seems the attendants beside the Duke don’t understand etiquette, daring to enter someone else’s living room during a meeting between nobles. Such disrespect made me忍不住teach them a lesson on behalf of the Duke. I hope you don’t mind.”

Barry’s face darkened, and anger surged in his heart.

He knew that Shien was trying to intimidate him.

Because of his aggressive approach, Shien realized that he might be an unwelcome guest, so he decided not to give him any face.

He was actually being taught a lesson by a viscount in his own territory?

This was definitely a first for Barry!

And Barry couldn’t do anything to him.

What could he do?

There was a powerful figure from the Demon Race backing Shien. Before figuring out their relationship, no one would dare to offend this viscount openly.

Including Barry.

Barry could only suppress his anger, come to Shien, and sit down.

It had to be said that the Duke was indeed a high-ranking figure. He sat upright, his face cold, his body emanating a ruthless aura that could make ordinary people’s legs turn to jelly.

But Shien naturally wasn’t among them.

“I wonder what brings the Duke to such a place to look for me?”

Shien said casually.

Barry didn’t bother with pleasantries, or rather, he wasn’t in the mood, and went straight to the point.

“I’ve already gathered some information.” Barry said indifferently. “It’s said that Viscount Buztout arrived here before the incident in Cosmos, entered the city, had a conflict with Princess Capeline of the Empire, and even encountered the First Knight Order and the Severed Blade Knights.”

It seemed Barry had indeed learned about the events in Cosmos.

“That’s true.”

Shien didn’t deny it but readily admitted.

“Then I have three questions I hope you can answer.”

Barry narrowed his eyes and said.

“Oh?” Shien seemed interested and asked curiously, “What questions?”

“First.” Barry raised a finger and asked calmly, “Why did you suddenly leave the royal capital and come here?”

“That’s your question?” Shien seemed amused, his tone suggestive. “I was entrusted by the Princess to investigate the Old Demon Faction that appeared in the Stalim Duchy. I already told Captain Treece of the Stalim Family’s Second Knight Order about this when I arrived in the Duchy and reached Jeritte. I also mentioned it to the guards at Cosmos’s gate. Surely, the Duke wouldn’t have missed such information, right?”

Shien’s meaning was simple: he was mocking Barry for asking the obvious.

“Then my second question.” Barry’s expression remained unchanged, not embarrassed at all. He continued to ask, “Since you were in Cosmos when the incident occurred, I’d like to ask, what were you doing at that time?”

“This is another obvious question.” Shien’s tone became even more suggestive as he smiled. “Surely, the Divine Race has already informed you, the Duke and lord of this territory, about what happened in Cosmos through the Kingdom, right?”

Through Anima’s account, the world had learned that the reason Cosmos was destroyed was because an ancient evil god was sealed there, but was released by the Old Demon Faction, causing a disaster.

However, Anima didn’t tell the world how the evil god was dealt with, so everyone thought that the evil god was subdued by Anima, the Goddess of Life, one of the Three Goddesses, and that the citizens of Cosmos were safe thanks to her.

And Shien wasn’t mentioned.

This was to protect Shien’s identity and Lilith’s identity, preventing them from being suspected or exposed.

Therefore, according to the official story, Shien, like the citizens of Cosmos, was transferred outside the city and protected after the incident.

If it weren’t for this, Shien wouldn’t have been able to live so comfortably in this inn. Someone would have come looking for him.

Therefore…

“You’re free to suspect me, Duke, but could you please not ask so many roundabout questions?” Shien, as if he had seen through Barry’s intentions, finally said sarcastically, “Just say what you want to say, Duke.”

These words were almost an outright offense.

“…Then I’ll be blunt.”

Barry was silent for a moment, then looked coldly at Shien and spoke in a deep voice.

“Where are my son, my brother, and my First Knight Order?”

Barry finally revealed his true intention.

Yes.

Barry was here to find people.

“Before the incident, you encountered the First Knight Order and the Severed Blade Knights and even warned them not to approach the area where the evil aura was emanating. I received this information.” Barry said, seemingly suppressing his emotions. “In other words, before the incident, you might have already known about the inside story, but not only did you not leave Cosmos, you even seemed to have approached the center of the incident.”

Barry had gathered this information, which was why he came looking for Shien.

Since Shien knew some inside information from the beginning, Barry naturally wouldn’t believe that this little fox, who had outwitted him more than once, would be so easily transferred out of Cosmos without being involved in the heart of the incident.

Rather than Shien passively leaving the center of the incident, Barry was more inclined to believe that there was some unknown inside story.

And Shien was someone who knew about it, even a participant.

“I want to know what exactly happened that no one knows, and I want to know where my son, my brother, and my most elite knight order are!”

Barry could no longer hide his anxiety.

“Tell me! I want to know everything!”

Barry said these words through gritted teeth.

It was imaginable how much of a blow this incident was to the Duke.

Lim was the future heir of the Stalim family and the one they placed their hopes on, hoping that he could lead them back to the center of power in the Kingdom.

Yuri was also the strongest member of the Stalim family, the number one expert in the territory, an important pillar of the family, and a symbol of their highest combat power.

And the First Knight Order, needless to say, was the top knight order in the Stalim Duchy, the Stalim family’s most elite warriors, their most important fighting force.

This force had now vanished without a trace. How could Barry not be anxious?

This was definitely a disaster that caused the Stalim family heavy losses, even potentially causing them to fall from grace.

Barry could even imagine how the neighboring countries would be eyeing them covetously, and how the lords of the surrounding territories would be restless, trying to take a bite out of the Stalim family.

This had plunged the entire Stalim family into a nightmare, filled with anxiety and panic these past few days.

Barry was the same, unable to maintain his usual ruthlessness, caught in the greatest anxiety and unease of his life.

If it weren’t for this, Barry wouldn’t have come looking for Shien.

He even suspected that Shien was behind Lim and the others’ disappearance.

This was the nature of a villain.

Always scheming against others, they naturally assumed that others would also scheme against them.

Shien understood this, and the smile on his face vanished.

“So, I was right?”

Barry sneered, his fists clenching tightly.

Shien only wanted to say,

“I really have too much time on my hands. Why would I bother with someone like you?”

This time, it was Shien’s turn to be expressionless, even muttering to himself.

And Shien’s appearance undoubtedly made Barry even more anxious.

“Answer me!” Barry stared at Shien, his eyes bloodshot, and growled, “Was it you!?”

Clearly, Barry was at his wit’s end.

It was imaginable how much pressure this incident had put on him.

His heir, his pillar of support, his greatest fighting force, and the future hope of his family, all gone in one fell swoop. This made the ruthless Duke, feared by many, start to lose his mind.

Shien no longer bothered with this mad dog.

“Arguing with someone like you is a waste of time.”

Shien stood up and left as if he had completely lost interest.

At this moment, something unexpected happened.