Chapter 418: I’ve only just begun

Xarion certainly wasn’t the type to take the blame for someone else.

"Vangar drank alcohol?" Vincent’s heart skipped a beat, and he anxiously asked Rory, "He didn’t cause a scene with you, did he?"

Rory shook her head. "No, Vangar didn’t act up. He’s fast asleep in my room right now."

At the mention of acting up while drunk, Vincent’s face flushed slightly red.

Yuel asked, puzzled, "Rory, didn’t you say before that you were completely out of alcohol?"

"I brewed some more today," Rory explained to them. "I managed to get on good terms with Bree today, and the Thousand Females Festival is in three days. I plan to invite her for a drink that day."

"You’re treating her to a drink?" Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to see if she’ll reveal her true form once she’s drunk?"

Rory nodded. "Bingo. Since she isn’t human, and I don’t think she seems like an ordinary beastman female either, is it possible she’s a Zerg?"

This was a suspicion that both Vincent and Yuel had harbored as well. However, Bree was incredibly cautious and hadn’t shown a single flaw so far.

"That’s actually a viable method," Yuel said, taking Rory’s hand and walking toward the levitation lift. "It’s just going to be hard on you, having to put on an act with that Bree for the next couple of days."

"Don’t worry, acting is my specialty," Rory replied with a smile.

In truth, Rory wasn’t entirely sure if her brewed alcohol would work on Bree, but it was worth a shot. If it didn’t work, she would just think of something else.

Once they returned to the room, Rory finally reacted. She looked at Yuel and Vincent. "Why did you two follow me up to my room? It’s so late, go get some rest."

"No rush!" Yuel shot Vincent a look.

Vincent walked straight over to the sofa and hoisted up Vangar, who was still dead to the world.

Yuel smiled at Rory and said, "Vangar is drunk, and we’re afraid he’ll disrupt your rest, so we’re taking him downstairs first."

Rory looked at Vangar, who was dangling from Vincent’s grip. The way Vincent was hauling the tiger around was really... Rory felt uncomfortable just watching it.

"Vangar drank it before the brew was fully finished. I’m worried something might go wrong with him later in the night."

"Don’t worry, I’ll have a family doctor come over to watch him. I guarantee he’ll be fine." After Yuel finished speaking, he told Xarion to make sure Rory went right back to sleep. He and Vincent, who was still lugging Vangar along, quickly left the room.

Xarion went to close the door, then came back to hold Rory and guide her to bed. "Female master, Yuel and Vincent will take good care of Vangar. You don’t need to worry."

"Yeah." Rory wasn’t overly concerned either. She knew Yuel definitely wouldn’t let anything happen to Vangar.

Downstairs.

After coming down from the upper floor, Vincent and Yuel dumped Vangar straight onto the floor of the main lobby.

Yuel watched his actions and clicked his tongue. "Back then, I was kind enough to carry you back to your room, yet you just toss him directly onto the lobby floor."

"You didn’t stop me from tossing him, did you?" Vincent sat down casually on a nearby sofa and asked Yuel, "Do you really think Rory’s alcohol can test out Bree’s true identity?"

Yuel smiled and said, "It doesn’t matter. As long as Rory is happy. She’s pregnant with cubs right now and can’t go out to hunt exotic beasts. We have to let her find something to pass the time, otherwise, she’ll get bored."

Vincent played with the feather in his hand. After listening to Yuel’s words, he let out a soft laugh.

"I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you yet. You smoothly passed the evaluation of the Administration Department today. In a few days, I shouldn’t be calling you Commander, but Consul."

Saying this, Vincent walked over to Yuel and lowered his voice near his ear. "I reckon it won’t be long before I have to call you Your Majesty, the Star Emperor."

This guy really hid his depths well. While his body was in the Military Command, his reach had already extended all the way into the Administrative Court.

"We’re all family here, no need to be so polite," Yuel replied with a calm smile. "Even if everyone else bows down to me in the future, you will all still be my family."

"Heh!" Vincent let out a dry, irritated laugh. "If you really saw us as family, you wouldn’t have kept us completely in the dark. Do you have any idea how much danger you’re in right now? Do you honestly think those old fogies won’t try to assassinate you?"

Yuel was well aware that those old men wanted him dead. But once you set foot on this path, turning back is no longer an option.

"Power belongs in the hands of those who are capable," Yuel said with a light chuckle, clapping Vincent on the shoulder. "Are you angry? There’s really no need to be."

He looked at Vincent and continued, "Think about it. I’ve only just begun. If I had to run to you guys for help with every little detail at this stage, it would just mean I’m incompetent. Don’t worry, I won’t keep you in the dark about things moving forward. In fact, I’m definitely going to need your help later on."

"Who says anyone wants to help you?" Vincent scoffed. The way Yuel talked made it sound like Vincent was begging to do him favors. Was he really that desperate?

Vincent honestly felt like throwing Yuel right out the door alongside Vangar. He spun around and headed toward his own room. After taking a couple of steps, he paused, checked his surroundings, and tossed something over to Yuel.

"I’m not helping you. I’m just worried that if something happens to you, Rory will be devastated."

Yuel glanced at the object in his hand with a faint smile but said nothing. A thick, sturdy vine extended from behind him, wrapping around Vangar on the floor. After feeding the tiger one of his own blossoms, Yuel used the vine to hurl him straight out of the castle. Then, pocketing the item Vincent had given him, Yuel turned and retired to his own room.

The next morning.

Out on the open clearing just outside the castle, Vangar opened his eyes to a splitting headache. He scanned his surroundings, utterly baffled to find himself sleeping on the bare ground outside.

His mind was completely blank. What happened last night? Why on earth am I sleeping out here?

Vangar racked his brain, trying to piece it together. He remembered coming back from military headquarters feeling starved. He went to the kitchen to forage for food, found some incredibly delicious fruit, and then...

Nothing. He couldn’t remember a single thing after that.

Pushing himself up from the ground, Vangar gingerly touched his lower back. It throbbed with pain, feeling as though someone had brutally kicked him.

"The Marshal is awake?"

Yuel’s smooth voice suddenly drifted over from the castle entrance.

"Yuel?" Vangar walked over. Noting that Yuel had already swapped out his Commander’s uniform for the official robes of the Administrative Court, Vangar offered a small smile. "Congratulations, Consul."

"Thank you," Yuel replied with a polite nod.

Vangar rolled his eyes. "Alright, drop the act. The Administrative Court is a completely different beast compared to Military Command. The factions backing those old fogies are notoriously difficult to deal with."

"Thank you for the warning, Marshal. I will be careful." With that, Yuel handed Vangar a slip of paper. "We’re family, so let’s skip the pleasantries. Take care of these two guys for me."

Vangar opened the note, took a glance, and glared at Yuel. "I’m your superior officer, not your personal hitman."

Yuel shook his head. "You were my superior officer. Now, we are family. Isn’t it only natural for family members to help each other out?"

Vangar: "..."

Family, my foot.

Yuel then offered a parting reminder. "Last night, you sneaked into the kitchen and ate the fruit Rory was using to brew alcohol. You got completely smashed, threw a drunken tantrum inside the castle, and kept Rory awake half the night. Vincent and I had to carry you out here so you could sober up. Before you handle those two targets for me, I suggest you spend some time figuring out how you’re going to explain yourself to Rory."