Chapter 249: Banquet

Later that night...

Montrelle City pulsed with life, bathed in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Strings of glowing lights crisscrossed the streets like woven constellations, while the Grand Plaza had transformed into the heart of a grand celebration.

The air was filled with the melodies of bards and street musicians, their instruments singing joy into the night.

Everywhere one looked, there was laughter and movement, a stark contrast to the tearful reunions that had taken place in the Hall of Awakening just hours earlier.

Now, joy had taken root.

Cheerful voices mingled with the fragrant scent of freshly cooked meals.

Long banquet tables stretched across the plaza, heavy with a bounty of dishes both hearty and exotic.

Families gathered around them, sharing plates and laughter, their eyes still misty with the afterglow of relief and reunion.

Chefs moved like dancers behind their stalls, working with flames and spices in practiced grace, ensuring that no plate remained empty.

Steam rose like mist beneath the starlit sky, carrying the aroma of roasted meats, spiced broths, and sugared treats.

In a quiet corner of the plaza, somewhat removed from the noise yet still surrounded by light, Regis, Pandora, Aurelia, Patti, Auryn, and Killian sat together at a round table, arranged in that very order.

They watched the revelry unfold in contented silence, their expressions a mix of peace and weariness as they exchanged small talk and shared quiet laughter.

In the distance, Aurum and Martha stood side by side, their fingers interlaced as they held hands while conversing with members of the City Council.

Townsfolk approached in waves, offering thanks, embraces, and tearful gratitude— gestures the couple received with warmth and grace, their faces softly illuminated by the lanterns swaying above.

At that moment, Killian asked with a wide smile, "Everyone, let’s tour the streets! What do you think? Auryn and I heard there are wandering bards singing tales about Grandella, and of other races like dragons, elves, beastkin, dwarves— and the many regions across the continent!"

"It will be fun. There are lights everywhere, music in every corner, and so many things to see!" Auryn added brightly as she looked around the table, her eyes sparkling.

"I’d really like to, but dispelling my gift drained all my energy..." Aurelia said apologetically, her face marked by exhaustion.

Regis noticed that Killian was looking at him with a special gaze, ’What the hell is he thinking of doing now?’

After a moment, he said with a slight smile, "I’m quite tired as well..."

"I’ll stay with Brother and Aurelia." Pandora promptly replied before returning to the dessert on her plate.

It was a pie filled with peaches and mangoes, its golden crust warm and fragrant, the sweet aroma tantalizing.

Patti’s face was filled with curiosity, "Count me in!"

A subtle twitch could be seen at the corner of Killian’s mouth, but he ultimately smiled, "Then I guess it’ll be just us three."

He then added as they got up from their seats, "We’ll get food for you on the way back!"

Regis and the others who remained at the table waved Killian, Auryn, and Patti goodbye.

"Is it just me or Killian’s acting a little strange?" Aurelia said after a while.

Pandora merely glanced at her and shrugged, while Regis could not help but let out a chuckle.

"Eh? Is there something funny, Regis?"

"No, nothing. It’s just that Killian may become your brother-in-law in the future..."

"Huh? What do you mea—" It did not take long before Aurelia put two and two together as her face froze.

The festivity continued well into the night, with music, laughter, and dancing filling the Montrelle Grand Plaza.

It was only a few hours past midnight when the celebrations finally began to fade.

The once-bustling plaza gradually quieted as lanterns dimmed and the last notes of the bards’ songs lingered in the cool evening breeze.

***

In a secluded part of Montrelle City, where the warmth of celebration could not quite reach, and the glow of lanterns gave way to lingering shadows...

A guard yawned as he glanced toward the distant glow of the city lights and grumbled, "Tch, just my luck! Of all nights, I had to be on duty tonight— missed out on all the food and fun!"

At that moment, a group of patrolling guards passed by in front of him.

They exchanged nods in silent greeting.

"Well, I guess it’s fine... I’m not the only one who missed out." The guard muttered to himself after a moment.

He was currently designated to guard the Montrelle City Prison to prevent any problems from arising.

Just as he was feeling sleepy, he heard footsteps from inside, jolting him awake.

"There’s a problem!" The guard’s voice from the other side of the door had an obvious sense of urgency and panic.

The guard outside frowned, "What happened? Did one of the prisoners escape?"

"N-No, but... It’s about the new prisoner."

"New prisoner? Puglee Crypto?"

"Yes... Puglee Crypto is dead!"

***

The next day, in the Midas Mansion...

Regis rubbed his eyes as he yawned while making his way downstairs, ’Last night was fun...’

Thinking about the various stories about Auryn and Patti that he had heard, he could not help but think that the Midas Family was quite special.

"To think Auryn would have been Grandella’s student at sixteen, had she not been turned into a golden statue back then..."

Regis muttered to himself.

"Oho? It’s a pleasure to be in your thoughts this early in the morning~"

He froze as he turned to his side and saw Auryn with a teasing smile, yet still somehow retaining her temperament as a noble lady.

Regis spoke as a relaxed smile appeared on his lips, "I was just surprised, since Grandella had also been my goal from the beginning..."

’Yes, although I can visit Dahlia, she’s still studying in the Royal Academy, hence it will not be suitable for me to meet her in person just yet...’

Along with these thoughts, his smile unconsciously deepened as he recalled his recent exchanges with Dahlia through their letters.

Although the Grava Familia had promised to sponsor some of his letters so he could send his projection, the rare materials needed for the special paper were so scarce that, counting all the times he had used Scriptum Vivens, he had only managed to send his avatar a total of five times.

This was only possible because they substituted some of the rarer components with materials less rich in mana, which meant his avatar could last for less than an hour.

It did not take long before they arrived at the living room, where Aurum sat at the cushioned couch with various documents littered over the low table in front of him.

Sensing their presence, he looked over and greeted them with a smile, "Good morning, Ryn, Regis."

"Good morning, Dad!" "Good morning, Uncle."

The two responded one after the other as they made their way to the seats on either side of him.

"You seem to be bothered. Did something happen?" Regis asked as he noticed the minute changes within Aurum’s face.

Hearing him, the other party could not help but smile helplessly, "I really can’t hide anything from you. It’s just that something is bothering me..."

Without waiting for Regis to ask, Aurum took one of the papers and showed it to him, "What do you think of this?"

With a scrutinizing gaze, the person in question took the paper and examined it.

Soon enough, a frown appeared on Regis’s face,"He died just like that? The investigation didn’t find anything?"

"No, it only seemed like it was due to a sudden heart attack."

"Should we investigate it?"

Aurum shook his head, "It’s fine. I got the City Council and the Adventurer Guild to further investigate this matter. Besides, we can’t delay our return to Harmonia."

"Okay— Oh, and by the way, we’re also planning to push ahead with setting up the adventurer corporation once we get back." Regis said in passing as he ruminated over the papers before him.

On the side, Auryn’s ears perked up as her gaze turned towards him, ’Corporation?’

At that moment, Martha’s voice called from the nearby kitchen, "Hon, it’s too early in the morning to drown yourself in bad news. Let’s have breakfast first. And Ryn, can you get Lia and the others from the underground training room?"

"Alright, Hon. Let me help you." "On it, Mom!"

Aurum quickly tidied up the papers on the low table onto a neat stack, while Auryn got up cheerfully and went to the basement.

As Regis was left sitting alone on the couch, he could not help but think over Puglee’s case.

’It’s too convenient for him to die of a heart attack; there must be some powers involved. Hmm, the evidence that Gerald had submitted to Uncle mentioned something about cults... Is it only small-time cults or is one of the major cults of the devils involved in this matter?’

Thinking of the major cult of the Devil of Death and Extinction that they had battled in the Bakurad Fortress, The Children of the Last Silence, Regis could not help but frown as thoughts surged in his mind.