Chapter 152: You flatter me, I am merely a god

After a moment of contemplation, Louis decided that he still had to go.

It was of great significance and well worth the risk.

Not only were there some precious magic books waiting there, but once that matter was settled, the issues concerning the Grand Engineer Lant and the fleet would be resolved as well.

"I will help you, Archie—don't forget to submit the application. Let's count this as the very first business venture of my 'mystical nursing home'."

Archie made an OK gesture. Turning around, he noticed the King looking over in their direction, with Count Crowley also smilingly nodding at them. "Once I've settled things with the councilors of Solondo and the Magic Council recently, I'll contact you."

With that, Archie suddenly pointed at Louis's knee with a bizarre expression. "Cough, Louis. It's a banquet today, how come you're still carrying..."

Archie made an exaggerated gesture. "How come you've tucked such a long stick in a place like that? Hurry up and take it out. If the two Witches... cough, if the Queen and His Majesty see it, it will be terribly impolite—someone might even think you're trying to assassinate somebody."

"Damn it, damn leeks!" Louis hastily arched his back, thrust his hand into his pocket, and fumbled around for quite a while before bending over to adjust his trousers.

When Louis raised his head again, he found Archie staring at him with his mouth wide open in a daze, so shocked that the cigar in his hand had dropped to the floor.

...

After Louis finished talking with Archie, Stewart walked over. This former royal chamberlain had been pulled back to the King's side once again after returning to the kingdom with the princess. The King hadn't given him back the post of chamberlain, but instead assigned him a sinecure.

Stewart did not know that the King was actually his former boss, but his impression of Yige seemed exceptionally favorable, inevitably stirring a sense of lingering emotion. Having a position made it quite convenient for him to serve by the princess's side and enter and leave the court at any time.

However, the "King" always habitually thought of Stewart whenever anything came up, frequently bossing him around casually.

This made Stewart feel slightly surprised, considering he was the princess's personal eunuch. Yet, because of his former mistress, he still felt a deep sense of familiarity toward Yige in his heart. Whenever he ran errands for the King, he always had the lingering feeling of running errands for Her Majesty, Francesco, back in the day.

Louis had not mentioned Francesco's affair to Stewart.

Because of the incantation, Louis understood everything about it just as clearly as his own shadow, and Stewart's loyalty to Louis was absolute, incapable of refusing any command.

Still, Louis did not plan to share this matter with Stewart. On one hand, Louis enjoyed watching the spectacle; on the other hand, Louis believed that the fewer people who knew this secret, the better.

Of course, the most crucial reason was that Louis was also considerate of his lackey's feelings. He didn't want to put his lackey in an awkward position in future endeavors—even though, due to the "Demon's Decree," Stewart would end up doing it anyway. But a boss still had to look out for his underling's emotional well-being.

Right now, Stewart did not know that the King was not actually a king, but Queen Francesco, so if he ever had to dispatch Stewart to scheme against his own mother-in-law in the future, Stewart would carry it out quite happily.

"My lord," Stewart whispered a reminder.

Louis nodded. At that moment, Oseclis also walked over. She linked her arm through Louis's, signaling that it was time for them to go to the King's side.

Numerous princes, dukes, and high-ranking officials were gathered over there, chatting smilingly with the King. Upon seeing the princess and Louis approaching, they voluntarily made way and revealed benevolent smiles. Unlike earlier in the day, when everyone looked at this mysterious prince from the Cloud Realm this time, there was no longer any suspicion in their gazes, replaced instead by profound respect.

No matter what this outsider's identity was, or whether the Moon Court bishops had taken money to pull strings, it no longer mattered. To put it another way, this hero who had stepped forward today to spare the Cape District from disaster and the baptism of artillery fire was someone the nobility was more than willing to overlook background and status for, acknowledging and respecting him from the bottom of their hearts.

Seeing his daughter walking over with her arm linked through Louis's, Yige felt her heart skip a beat—as dance partners, linking arms was normal. Yet she harbored a peculiar sensation, feeling as though her daughter's subconscious already centered entirely around this student of hers.

Who on earth did she take after? Why were the people of the Isolde family all so lacking in agency? Did they all need a backbone to feel a sense of security?

Francesco felt a faint, secret displeasure in her heart.

The Witch Queen also cast a few glances at Louis. The scene of Louis lecturing the mages earlier today had shown Delphinia this outsider's erudition, but unlike her mother, given her own breadth of knowledge, she never believed that a wizard with "paucity" of magic (90 was considered paltry in the Witch Queen's eyes) could possess any real prowess.

Even if he summoned a Gundam, even if he piloted a Gundam, it was nothing more than a clever trick. If her mother hadn't been there today, this brat would have been dragged out of the cockpit by the wizards to have his corpse whipped.

Just like earlier in the day, Louis was once again introduced publicly. The only difference was that although the content was identical to what Crowley had spoken of during the day, the person introducing Louis this time was Her Royal Highness the Princess.

The princes and nobles broke into murmurs once more, but this time, the chatter stemmed from curiosity—not about how much money the bishop had received, but about what kind of king this "King of Nine Dragons Suppressing the Seas" truly was.

Since it was a royal banquet, everyone's positioning was somewhat chaotic; some were drinking, while others had just finished dancing and crowded near the King to cozy up and join the fun. With a new topic introduced, the sound of discussion became rather noisy.

"Silence," the Grand Eunuch Stewart raised his voice and shouted out instinctively. Afterward, he felt slightly awkward. He didn't know why he had shouted out like that, but he simply felt as though the King was about to speak.

Sure enough, this pair of former master and servant still retained a deep tacit understanding.

Once the clamor of the surrounding crowd subsided, the King smiled faintly and said:

"So you are the nephew of the North Sea King. How has the North Sea King been doing in recent years?"

At these words, the surrounding crowd froze slightly, then resumed murmuring in low voices.

Some ministers experienced moments of sudden realization—back when Queen Francesco was still alive, the King and Queen had gone on numerous voyages and visited the Cloud Realm. No doubt this North Sea King truly existed, and even knew the King personally!

Oseclis couldn't help but look at Louis in astonishment, while Louis wore a blank expression.

[It seems that the person before you is acquainted with that crooked-mouthed Dragon King uncle who forcibly claimed kinship with you.]

[The situation appears a bit awkward, and it seems you won't be able to bluff your way through this. You decide to...]

[A. "You ask me, me ask who?"
Completion Reward: Faceless Identity Unmasked *1, Alliance of Wizards and Muggles *1, World Boss Instance Seat *1]

[B. "That old uncle of mine is living quite exceptionally well! The crooked-mouthed Dragon King is wildly arrogant, overbearing, and cool, holding absolute authority in his territory without a soul daring to challenge his supremacy, nor anyone ever making a fuss day in and day out. He's never worn a worried expression even for a single day."
Completion Reward: Faceless Identity Unmasked *1, Alliance of Wizards and Muggles *1, World Boss Instance Seat *1]

Louis directly ignored the two trash suggestions, A and B, provided by the storybook, and made a Panda-man Liming gesture—he cupped his fists, and said in a Cloud Realm dialect: "Your Majesty, I made a fool of myself before you during the day. Your junior was blunt and spoke many rash words, and I beseech you to calm your wrath."

The surrounding crowd could not understand these words and looked in bewilderment at the King and Louis. But the pupils of the "King" shrank fiercely.

"The King of Nine Dragons Suppressing the Seas... is he a newly enfeoffed dragon god? What domain does he govern?"

"You flatter me, Your Majesty. This humble one cannot be considered any 'Sea-Suppressing King'." Louis cupped his fists slightly, then clasped his hands behind his back, raised his head, and said with an air of proud arrogance: "Entrusted by my uncle, this minor deity looks after the 'Nine Dragons River,' the 'Nine Dragons River Customs,' and the 'Dark Swamps of Tahiti' on his behalf, holding the offices of 'Envoy of Wind and Rain, Envoy of Sea Suppression, and Envoy of Demon Suppression'—(cupping fists toward the direction of the Cloud Realm and the North Sea) Though bestowed with rank and title by His Majesty the Emperor of the Cloud Realm, my reputation is obscure, enjoying the incense of merely a few minor shrines. The so-called king is nothing more than a few characters carved onto a clay idol by the common folk inside a temple. It can hardly be counted as being a true 'king'."

[You suddenly triggered option C: 'Did I actually bluff my way through?']

[Magic Power +3]

[Experience +150]

[Presence +300]

Francesco nodded strangely, remaining silent for a long time.

A moment later, Francesco cast a peculiar look at Louis.

She had once gone to the Cloud Realm with Yige and had indeed laid eyes on such a "minor deity." He also had a clay idol, a gilded clay idol—back then, right before her and Yige, he had introduced himself with this exact same modesty before waving his hand and parting the great river right before their eyes!

Given the level of this King of Nine Dragons Suppressing the Seas, his clay idol might very well be gilded as well.

And perhaps in certain regions over there, there were even dedicated festivals for this "minor deity" who governed the Nine Dragons River and a stretch of the sea.

.....