Chapter 91: Permanent Sage Mode! Vastayashai’rei

Over the past month, Raven and Susan had been responsible for developing the company, so Orion Cross naturally had not simply sat around waiting for missions to refresh. He had summoned Yuumi several times and used the Book of Thresholds nearly ten times before finally arriving in a small coastal country very close to Ionia. That was also the destination of this trip. According to the locals, as long as he went to the harbor and took a boat, he could reach Ionia in less than an hour.

"Orion, it’s almost time. We can leave now!"

Orion Cross had said to gather at one o’clock, but Natasha and Skye knocked on his bedroom door at twelve-thirty and began urging him. Orion Cross opened the door and found that both of them were fully armed, wearing skintight suits and carrying all kinds of agent equipment.

"Natasha is one thing, but why are you dressed like this too?"

Orion Cross looked Skye up and down. Dressed like this, she did somewhat resemble her appearance in S.H.I.E.L.D.

"I’m worried I’ll drag you down, so I asked for some things to defend myself."

Skye patted the special pistol and micro-shock grenades at her waist.

Seeing that the two of them were so well prepared, Orion Cross nodded. "Let me remind you both. The place we’re going is called Ionia. Its culture is very similar to the Asian cultures of our world. The people there have their own beliefs and traditions. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t destroy anything, and don’t provoke trouble. I have something to do this time. I’m not taking you there for sightseeing."

The two of them listened carefully to Orion Cross’s words, committed them to memory, and nodded at the same time. "We understand. Watch more and talk less, right?"

Just as the two of them tensed up and stared at Orion Cross, waiting for him to begin the teleportation, Orion Cross suddenly remembered something else and stopped. "The coordinates I’m teleporting to are inside the royal palace of a small country. Be careful when we arrive. If we’re discovered, we’ll just rush straight out."

Every time Orion Cross teleported using the Book of Thresholds, he had to confirm his own location. If it was a large city, he could immediately determine the exact direction, but if it was a small city like this time, he either had to ask someone or find a local map. In the small kingdom where Orion Cross had landed, ordinary civilians were mostly illiterate, so he had simply broken into the royal palace, found a map to confirm his position, and even encountered a maid who told him how to get to Ionia.

"A kingdom? What did you do there last time?"

Natasha looked at Orion Cross in surprise. Had he gone there to steal treasure? Or to steal a queen? Surely not...

"Get ready."

Orion Cross did not answer Natasha’s question. After glancing at the two of them, he activated hyperdimensional teleportation.

The towering castle gate at the center of the kingdom was smashed open by a tall swordsman clad entirely in armor. After entering, the swordsman stood to the side of the doorway and made way. Behind him, the general of this war, Darius, the Hand of Noxus, strode in with the Black Cleaver resting on his shoulder.

"It’s over. Hand over the crown, and there’s no need for any more killing."

Darius walked into the light and looked at the aged king on the throne, along with his few remaining guards, as he spoke.

"The crown was mine from birth. Noble royal blood flows through my veins..."

The king looked at the soldiers walking toward him. His voice grew lower and lower until the crown was finally taken from him. He could only watch helplessly as the crown symbolizing his royal power was about to be thrown into the furnace.

Thud.

"Why is it so hot here? Is it summer already?"

The moment Orion Cross landed, he tugged at his collar in confusion.

"A mage capable of group teleportation? Who are you?"

Darius looked in surprise at the three people who had suddenly appeared, tightening his grip on his massive axe.

"Huh?"

Orion Cross turned and glanced at the furnace. Only then did he understand why it was so hot. They had almost fallen into it. Orion Cross hurriedly pushed Natasha and Skye two steps forward.

"You can use magic, so you’re not Demacian... Judging from your appearance, could you be Ionian?"

Darius planted his great axe on the ground. "Noxus and Ionia have already ceased hostilities. For now, we are not enemies."

"I’m just a traveler passing by. Can I leave?"

Orion Cross glanced at the old king on the distant throne and instantly understood the cause and course of what had happened, but he did not want to waste time here. After all, he only had twelve hours. After deducting the time needed for the boat and walking, he estimated he would only have around ten hours left.

"Wait a moment. We..."

"Ah!"

Everyone’s attention was focused on the suddenly appearing Orion Cross and the other two. A maid who looked to be in her teens suddenly rushed out, picked up a freshly forged iron sword, and slashed at the soldier who had taken the crown.

The soldier was struck at the least-armored joint and immediately dropped to one knee. The maid took the chance to pick up the crown and return it to the king.

"A little girl really is hard to free from servility."

Orion Cross watched as the little maid who had told him how to get to Ionia last time recklessly courted death and could not help shaking his head, preparing to act.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Darius, as the commander, stopped the other soldiers from counterattacking and calmly watched everything unfold.

"My crown! It was taken back by my slave!"

The aged king excitedly snatched the crown with one hand, placed it on his head, and stood up. "Do you see? This is my kingdom! Otherwise, it will be buried with me! Go! My slave, offer your life for your king!"

The maid stared blankly at the king, who seemed to have gone mad. Then she glanced at Orion Cross, remembered some of the things he had casually said to her last time, gritted her teeth, and refused. "No!"

"How dare you!"

Seeing that even a mere slave dared disobey his order, the king’s eyes widened in fury. He drew the sword behind him and slashed at the maid.

"Ah!"

The maid looked at the sharp sword, her legs going weak with fear as she collapsed to the ground.

When Darius saw this, he lifted his axe. But before he could act, Orion Cross was already one step ahead.

The chains of the Blades of Chaos were flung out by Orion Cross. One blade stabbed into the king’s forehead, while the other beheaded him. With a pull of the chains, the king’s head, along with the crown, flew into the furnace.

"Can we leave now?"

Orion Cross turned to the stunned Darius and asked.

"Go ahead."

Darius waved his hand, making the soldiers clear a path. Then he walked over to the young girl, who was staring blankly at the king’s corpse, and extended his hand. "The king used inherited authority and an empty title to force you to kneel. Noxus wants you to stand!"

Half an hour later, Darius returned to the military tent and summoned a scout.

"That mage really did go to Ionia. But who exactly is he? Why have I never heard of him before?"

Darius placed his crossed hands on the table, thinking with a heavy expression. A mage had teleported here with two ordinary people, then taken out two chained short blades and beheaded the king in a single strike. Just the strength Orion Cross had displayed in that instant was enough to amaze him.

"This matter must be recorded and submitted to Swain... No, he probably won’t know either. Have Commander Swain contact the Faceless."

Darius gave the scout his order. Noxus was currently ruled by the Trifarix, a council of three: Swain, who represented vision; Darius, who represented might; and the Faceless, who represented guile. As for why the third person was called the Faceless, it was because no one knew her true identity, not even the two of them.

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