Chapter 173: Lance Bids Farewell to His Friends

Four days had flown by in the blink of an eye. The morning of the final day in the Shadow Realm had arrived. The moon had set, and the glow of the dawn began to spread across the horizon, draping across the sky like a sheet of fine silk.

At five o'clock in the morning, the tower of Lichten's Castle was surrounded by a quiet autumnal mist. The castle's tower pierced the clouds, rising high into the sky. A few young men and women stood silently at the summit, their figures faintly visible in the dawn's early light.

The Model Citizens Team and the trio from the Petras Trading Company stood there, savoring a moment of tranquility and beauty that was fleeting. This was a sight that might never be seen again.

"Mr. Lance, I hope to see you again."

Over the past five days, the frivolous young master had transformed into a determined young man. He was like someone who had been lost, but now found their direction and understood the kind of life he wanted to lead. Lance was the mentor and friend who had guided him there.

"Who knows when that might be?" Lance smiled faintly.

Standing atop the tower and looking down at the forest beyond the stone balustrade gave him a feeling of profound connection to the land. It was an experience of clarity and wonder distinct from the routines of everyday life.

Although the young master hadn't contributed much during fights, he had been the most cooperative challenger during the early stages, when Lance and Frey were rooting out the Traitors.

The Kingdom of Cambella and the Kingdom of Hutton were leagues apart. Cambella lay in the western part of the Southern Continent, while Hutton was situated at its far eastern edge. Consequently, long-distance magical communication between the two required relaying signals through stations in several intermediate nations, making regular contact difficult.

The young master mused aloud, "Perhaps in two years?"

The Southern Continent United Council held an annual celebration in Cambella, with minor celebrations every five years and grand celebrations every ten. Two years from now would mark the next decennial milestone, which was an occasion that would be celebrated with great pomp and ceremony.

In addition to the throngs of tourists from nations across the Southern Continent, official invitations from the Southern Continent United Council would be sent to royals, high-ranking nobles, academic luminaries, Platinum and Crystal Licensed challengers registered with the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association, and specific certified card makers.

The young master of the Petras Trading Company was certain that Lance would not miss an event of this caliber. It would be another chance for them to meet again in the real world.

Lance patted the young master on the shoulder as he said, "See you then."

In two years, provided everything went smoothly, he would be retired. A trip to the Kingdom of Cambella sounded like a fine idea for that time.

The young master nodded. After a moment of silence, he said, "Mr. Lance, is there anything else you could teach me?"

He truly cherished every opportunity to converse with Lance.

Rather than looking at the young master, Lance gazed at the distant horizon and said, "Pay closer attention to the people around you. If you like a certain person, don't keep her waiting too long."

Hyperion, standing nearby, felt a sudden twinge of PTSD after that piece of advice. Lance had said something very similar back at the Card Maker's Association when he ran into Prince Ainor and Lady Sophia.

The result? Ainor had nearly embraced Lance right then and there, completely leaving Sophia in the lurch!

Just as Hyperion was worrying about this, the young master turned his head to look at the young woman who was serving as his bodyguard.

He simply gazed at her quietly, saying nothing. The female bodyguard stood there, equally dazed and speechless. Atop the tower, wreathed in morning mist, silence spoke volumes.

Sunlight pierced the clouds, bathing Lichten's Castle in a golden glow that seemed to drape every object in radiance. In the distance, the mountain ranges displayed a rich tapestry of layered colors, while dew glistened on the nearby trees.

"Bye-bye." With a smile, Lance took his leave. He, Frey, and Hyperion began the walk down from the tower to the castle's fifth floor, content to leave that fairytale-like setting to the other two.

As they stepped into the corridor, the air grew noticeably warmer. The sound of their light footsteps echoed against the stone walls, and the atmosphere was filled with a sense of joy. They moved with careful, hushed steps as they left, wary of disturbing the pair back at the tower.

Hyperion whispered to Lance, her voice filled with surprise, "That young master isn't dense at all. He understood exactly what you meant!"

Could it be? Is this guy actually a little angel who loves playing matchmaker?

"Mediating disputes is my specialty. I also find setting up dates or matchmaking to be a breeze. Handling all sorts of civil matters is right up my alley." Lance grinned with satisfaction. He simply loved playing cupid and bringing a little sweetness into people's lives.

Hyperion found herself thinking that, from this perspective, Lance really seemed like a fine young man. So, where exactly was the problem...?

The male bodyguard had also left the tower with them. He walked them to the staircase on the fifth floor, stopped there, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude, "Mr. Lance, thank you so much for looking after us."

Lance nodded. "Farewell."

The bodyguard said, "See you in the future."

After saying their goodbyes, the three of them—Lance, Frey, and Hyperion—descended the spiral staircase, which featured gleaming, mirror-like copper railings. Their light footsteps echoed through the stairwell, harmonizing pleasantly with the tolling of the bell from the distant sanctuary.

As they passed the bend in the corridor, the occasional birdsong drifted in from a distant window mingled with the surroundings to form a symphony of the dawn. Soon, they arrived at the castle's ground level.

At the foot of the stairs, a stately gate stood before them. The gilded patterns inlaid on its massive panels caught the light from the stained glass windows, shimmering with a divine radiance.

After pushing open the doors, they were greeted by the faint scent of candles wafting from the sanctuary. Inside, the three members of the clergy were conducting their morning prayers. They knelt side-by-side before the altar beneath the sanctuary's rose window. Their heads were bowed low, and they had their hands clasped as they softly murmured prayers.

The air in the sanctuary was filled with an atmosphere of serenity and harmony. Bathed in natural light, the massive chandelier hanging from the high ceiling appeared all the more majestic in the quiet space, illuminating the entire hall. The whispered prayers of the clergy and the occasional flicker of candlelight defined the peacefulness of the morning.

Lance and his two companions stood quietly to the side, observing the devout prayers without interrupting until they concluded. The three clergy then walked toward them.

The leading priest offered a respectful salute as he said, "It would be wonderful if we could meet again in the Northern Continent someday."

All of them held important duties. With the Northern Continent currently in turmoil, they could not simply abandon their posts. Only once stability returned would there be any possibility of a mission taking them to the Southern Continent.

Lance smiled and spread his hands. "Who knows? Fate guides all things."

Hyperion remained silent. In truth, she and Lance were actually scheduled to head to the Northern Continent in three months' time. She simply hoped she wouldn't run into these three there. By then, the two of them would be traveling incognito, posing as other people. An encounter between law enforcers and questionable outsiders would surely be incredibly awkward.

They exchanged their final farewells. With only a few minutes remaining until half past five in the morning, the Shadow Realm challenge was drawing to a close. This dreamlike five-day vacation was finally coming to an end.

Glancing at the large clock, Lance said, "By the way, I'm going to check on the imperial princess."

Hyperion and Frey nodded. "Go ahead. We'll meet you in the liminal space."

When the Shadow Realm dungeon concluded, all challengers would be returned, based on their teams, to the specific Void Gate entrance they had used to enter. Each team would then arrive in their own liminal space to finalize the results and distribute rewards.

***

In the second floor of the castle, in Bedroom 201, Princess Alexia sat quietly on the bed, gazing out the window. A gentle breeze stirred the golden leaves, creating a soft, rustling sound. Morning mist swirled around the castle, draping the valley and forest in a veil of mystery.

If she had the choice, she actually didn't want this Shadow Realm challenge to end, because she dreaded returning to her nightmarish reality that was overrun by vampires.

She would gladly remain trapped in this room forever within this Shadow Realm dungeon, for it was a place where she felt truly at ease. Hearing the sound of the lock turning, she looked in surprise at the opening door and then at Lance, who was walking in.

Lance greeted her, though his words were also a goodbye. "Your Imperial Highness Alexia, I must bid you farewell for now."

Alexia asked, "Did you come alone?"

"I thought you might feel more at ease if fewer people came," Lance said with a smile.

Alexia hesitated for a moment. Deep down, she had indeed hoped that only Lance would come, as he was the one who had seen her when she was at her most vulnerable, crying her eyes out.

"I usually come across as a cold, aloof princess. It's only because you've seen me at my most undignified moments that I can be so casual with you." She spread her hands as she spoke, sharing a small secret like a young, innocent girl. "So, if you see me in private again and I remain cold and distant... it means that the situation is dangerous."

As she said this, Alexia regained the regal, commanding aura of an imperial princess. Her expression turned stern and resolute. Basically, she was telling Lance that if they met again and she had already become a puppet of the vampires, he should no longer trust her.

Without a moment's hesitation, he answered immediately, "Princess Alexia, please do not let your cover be blown and do not yield to the vampires."

Alexia fell silent. She was clearly struggling with something. After a long pause, she finally said, "Lance Wilford."

"Yes?"

She slowly said, "I'll be waiting for you in the Krati Empire."

In other words, it was a plea for him to come. Yet, Alexia could not bring herself to outright say, "Please, you must come and save me."

By the time she opened her mouth, it had transformed into something else.

A white silhouette, Lance's retreating figure, had already begun to vanish beyond the doorway. Yet, his calm, unwavering voice remained clearly audible. "I will definitely come."

At that same moment, as the hands of the sanctuary's great clock pointed to five-thirty, time seemed to slow to a crawl, as if awaiting a transformation.

The imperial princess of the Krati Empire sat there, dazed. She reached out a hand, gently and as if pleading for rescue, toward the hazy figure disappearing into a sea of white.

"This time... the demon that used to cloud my emotions isn't here. So why...?" Alexia murmured softly, frantically wiping away the tears that kept spilling from her blurry eyes.

Even though she remained confined within this room, a fragile glimmer of hope had taken root in her heart. A soft, luminous mist swirled around, and the entire castle began to rise and dissolve like a fleeting bubble.

A faint, delicate sliver of dawn's light stole silently through the vanishing walls and into the sanctuary. The Banquet of the Sanctuary Villains had spanned five days and five nights, and it had finally reached its moment of reckoning.