Chapter 152: Concerned Individuals
Chapter 152: Concerned Individuals
Solomon dragged his boots across the stone floorboards of his assigned room. He unbuckled the leather strap from his chest and let Eden’s Penance clatter onto the ground. A deep ache settled into his bones.
His Convergence talent had finally exhausted its stamina tax, leaving him craving rest for the first time in days.
He grabbed a fresh change of clothes and walked toward the small washroom. "I am taking a shower right now," Solomon told the hovering owl.
He grabbed its wings and hauled it across the room so by the time it reached Solomon, he had already closed the door. And since he was in the proximity, it didn’t use the summoning function to materialize.
Stepping under the spiritual showerhead, Solomon let the scalding water cascade over his skin. He scrubbed the dried sweat and grime from his arms while his mind raced through the events of the day. The looming threat of the Nether Fiend Sect gnawed at his thoughts.
He leaned his forehead against the damp tiles and considered warning Pavilion Leader Jin about the remaining spies hiding in the sect.
’If I tell the instructors, they will probably lock down the mountain again. Solomon closed his eyes against the running water. The sect administration already assumes they captured and imprisoned every single infiltrator. If more spies still operate within the walls, they must possess a strong background with the Azure Dragon Sect. Those traitors are an integral part of the faculty, knowing everything about the inner workings to avoid suspicion.’
He wiped the dripping water from his face and let out a tired sigh. Informing anyone about the impending prison break would easily tip off the moles hiding in plain sight.
’Alerting the traitors will cause Corvus’s sting operation to collapse and fail.’ Solomon turned off the spiritual shower. ’They will never find out who the hidden spies actually are. Corvus definitely brought other operatives for the sting operation, so I do not need to worry about them right now.’
He grabbed a woven towel and dried his skin. The cultists’ current objective focused strictly on extracting their captive ally from the holding cells rather than killing the royal and noble students. The best way to find them was to catch them red-handed during the extraction tonight.
Solomon dressed in his fresh black combat trousers and a clean spider-silk undershirt before stepping back into the bedroom.
[1Fizzy: the stream is back online.]
[James_hayes: bro looks dead on his feet.]
[Mezz_3863: go to bed Solo Man.]
[Fatal_Beauty: he actually looks exhausted for once.]
He collapsed face-first onto his mattress and let his limbs spread out over the blankets. "I am going to sleep." Solomon waved at the camera lens.
[LazyCat: goodnight king.]
[GoonLord: REST WELL AND DREAM OF THE PRINCESS!]
[BloodKnight: A warrior must rest his flesh to fight another day.]
[Chi_Master: i don’t remember when bro last slept. well earned.]
His eyelids fluttered shut as a wave of fatigue pulled him under. "I should have this training routine every day so I can sleep soundly." Solomon whispered into the pillows.
The morning sunlight flooded through the high windows of the Iron Hearth Dining Hall. First-year disciples crowded the long oak tables to consume their breakfast before the daily training classes commenced.
Arthur Vance adjusted his thick frames and scooped a spoonful of broth into his mouth. Maximus Thunderstrike sat directly across the table, tearing a large chunk of meat off a roasted bone.
The two boys exchanged tips regarding the basic sword formations they learned yesterday, chuckling at a shared joke about their instructors.
In the far corner of the dining hall, the Third Princess of the Bririth Kingdom sat entirely alone.
Elizabeth kept her posture perfectly straight while staring down at her plate of white rice. She tapped her manicured fingers against the polished wood. Her piercing red eyes darted across the bustling crowds of academy students.
She scanned the rows of gray uniforms, visibly searching the entire room for a specific face.
Finding absolutely no trace of silver hair, she picked up her wooden chopsticks. She brought a small portion of rice to her mouth and ate in complete silence. She cleared her plate just as a loud bell chimed across the pavilion.
The disciples immediately pushed their chairs back and gathered their belongings. They formed large groups and marched out of the double doors to report to their assigned pavilions.
Elizabeth exited the hall alongside the crowd. She stopped near a stone pillar just outside the entrance and crossed her arms over her chest.
She monitored the stream of teenagers flowing through the courtyard. Her red eyes finally locked onto a boy with thick glasses walking beside a muscular Vanguard student.
She pushed off the pillar and marched directly into the middle of the stone path. She planted her boots on the cobblestones right in front of Arthur.
Arthur halted his steps and widened his eyes. He offered a polite nod and attempted to walk around her right flank. Elizabeth instantly shuffled her feet and raised her arm, placing her hand directly in his path to block his route.
She stared directly into his eyes and remained completely mute. Her intense gaze bore into his face for several seconds.
Arthur rubbed the back of his neck and clutched the strap of his training bag. "Why are you standing in my way?"
"Where is Solomon?" Elizabeth asked, dropping her hand to her side. "He is missing from the breakfast hall today, and he skipped dinner last night."
Arthur shifted his weight to his other boot. "I honestly have absolutely no idea where he is."
Elizabeth furrowed her brow and stepped an inch closer. "Isn’t he your friend? How do you possibly not know his whereabouts?"
"He is my friend," Arthur replied, gesturing toward the towering mountain peaks enclosing the Azure Dragon Sect. "However, Solomon never actually does anything on time or by the rules. He is probably off training by himself in some secluded area or breaking a dozen sect regulations right now."
Solomon’s viewers, who had switched to other streams, commented on Arthur’s stream.
[LazyCat: Arthur speaks the truth.]
[GamerGuy: Solo Man is literally built differently.]
[1Fizzy: the princess is tracking his schedule lol.]