Chapter 3: The Simmons Family Is Here!
"Oh no the envoy from the Simmons family has arrived!"
The door was flung open with a near-violent thud as the young palace maid, who had just finished redressing Luo Tian's bandages, dashed into the room, her face flushed with panic and worry.
Before she could even take in the situation properly, two agents in black uniformsmembers of the elite covert unit, the Shadow Corps appeared behind her like phantoms. A large hand clamped onto her shoulder; the maid barely had time to gasp before she was spun around violently and slammed to the marble floor. Her wrists were yanked behind her back with brutal precision. Pain shot through her limbs so fiercely that her eyes welled up with tears.
But what she saw next made her freeze in terror. The entire room was filled wall to wall with masked figures clad in shadow-black. Nearly a hundred elite agents, reminiscent of the World Government's CP0, surrounded the chamber in silence. Two of them had flanked her without a sound and were now pressing her face to the cold floor, one of their glimmering Hanguang daggers resting lightly but threateningly on her neck.
"Wh-Who are you people?!" she cried, her voice trembling as her body shook.
This display of silent, overwhelming power paralyzed her with fear. Luo Tian, sitting upright, finally grasped the misunderstanding and quickly stepped forward.
"She's my maid. Release her."
His voice was calm but commanding, and though Luo Tian's tone was gentle, his eyes flickered with an icy gleam especially when his gaze swept across the two Shadow Corps operatives. His resolve to gain control over his own destiny perhaps by unlocking the mysterious Bloodline Lotteryn only solidified.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The two agents obeyed instantly, vanishing the next moment. The maid stumbled to her feet, her face blank, her mind racing to make sense of the spectacle she'd just witnessed.
"You may all return to the shadows," Luo Tian said, rubbing his temples as he cast a glance at the still-shaken girl. "Stay hidden unless I call on you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
White Fang, commander of the Shadow Corps, gave a slight nod before signaling his men. With a gust of wind, the black-clad figures vanished in a synchronized blur—so swift they left whirlwinds dancing through the room.
"Invisible… and insanely fast," Luo Tian murmured in awe.
He turned toward the maid and, with an amused smile, ruffled her hair.
"They're gone. What are you still staring at?"
"Ah! Y-Your Highness!" the maid stammered, her cheeks flushing as she instinctively stepped back. She blinked in disbelief and looked at Luo Tian's chest. "Your wound… it's… it's healed?!"
Luo Tian chuckled. "No need to fuss. I'm fine now."
With that, he strode toward the door.
"Let's go."
The maid hurried after him.
"Your Highness—where are we going?"
Luo Tian grinned. "Didn't you say the Simmons family envoy is here? I'm curious to see what that dog has to say."
"Y-Your Highness… those people just now…"
"You'll understand soon enough."
Royal Palace – Drawing Room
In an opulent chamber adorned with silk tapestries and marine crystal chandeliers sourced from the Chambord Islands, a man clad in a sharp black suit sat on a velvet couch, sipping tea with a casual air of arrogance. His hair was steel-gray, cut short, and his face bore a scornful expression.
He was Eric—a high-ranking envoy from the Simmons family, one of the most powerful noble clans outside the World Government's direct control.
Facing him were three of the Fielding Kingdom's top ministers. Royal guards stood around the perimeter, stiff and silent, though their eyes betrayed their rage.
"Hehe… Mr. Eric," said the plump Minister of Finance with a forced smile, presenting a gilded box. "A token from Missile Island. A treasure I hope befits your taste."
"Pfft. That trinket?" scoffed the slender Minister of the Interior, stepping forward with his own offering. "Mr. Eric, please accept this—it was brought directly from the prestigious Chambord Islands."
"Indeed… but I believe nothing pleases you more than beauty, yes?" the brawny Minister of Defense interjected. He clapped twice. A line of palace maids walked in, all trembling with fear, faces pale as snow. None dared defy.
Eric accepted the material gifts with a faint smirk, then turned to glance at the women. A flicker of hunger lit his eyes, but he masked it behind another sip of his tea.
"Yes… I see your kingdom's sincerity. But we of the Simmons family are here for one thing and one answer."
The ministers immediately seized the opportunity.
"As long as your family supports me as king, the Fielding Kingdom will pay tribute annually and submit fully!" declared the Finance Minister.
"I'll swear fealty to your house the moment you name me king," said the Interior Minister quickly.
"We may be a small kingdom, but we're rich in women and loyalty," barked the Defense Minister, casting a smug look at the maids.
Eric watched them quietly, a look of disdain hidden beneath his smile. Petty men of a petty kingdom, he thought. In front of the Simmons family, you're nothing.
"Enough," Eric said at last, raising his hand. "The Simmons family is pleased… but as to who will be king…"
He leaned back, eyes gleaming. "That depends on who shows the most sincerity."
"Oh? So the throne of the Fielding Kingdom… is yours to bestow now?"
The room froze.
The calm voice came from the entrance. All heads turned. Luo Tian entered with the still-nervous maid trailing behind him. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes burned with quiet rage.
The ministers' faces turned pale.
Isn't he supposed to be bedridden?!
"Your Highness!" the guards and maids exclaimed, saluting immediately.
Eric narrowed his eyes.
"And who are you?"
Luo Tian ignored him. Instead, his gaze fell on the frightened maids lined up in a row, then on the groveling ministers. The implications of the scene and their words—were clear.
His jaw tightened.
"Ministers," he said coldly. "Excellent. So this is what you've been reduced to—selling our kingdom for your petty ambitions."
A deadly chill swept across the room.