Chapter 168: Secret Meeting in Dubai! Tensions Rise!
When the roar in the sky completely subsided and the last trace of lightning vanished into the clouds, Arthur and the two women, Princess Alice and Erica, returned to the courtyard like ghosts.
The group of scholarly academics from the Sage Council, who had been living in pampered ease, now seemed to awaken from a dream, belatedly realizing that—
Alec had been defeated.
Another Godslayers of this world had fallen!
Arthur ignored the chaotic mixture of fear and awe from the Council members and walked directly into the quiet courtyard behind with Princess Alice and Erica.
Upon confirming the news of her archenemy's demise, Princess Alice was in an excellent mood.
Her face, which always wore an elegant and reserved smile, now bloomed with a genuine hint of joy.
"Alice congratulates my King on his triumph. The Sage Council has mobilized all its power to search for the whereabouts of Marquis Vauban. Please wait a moment."
Seeing this, Erica's crimson eyes flashed with an unyielding sharpness. She knelt on one knee, her voice clear and crisp.
"The Italy Magic Association has fully activated its spy network in the Balkan Peninsula. Currently, there are no signs of Marquis Vauban returning to his territory."
Arthur nodded slightly, his fingertips tapping as information about that most ancient Godslayers flashed rapidly through his mind.
Marquis Vauban, this old man was distinctly different from those "Kings" who guarded a single region.
He was more like a lone wolf, roaming the world day in and day out, in pursuit of prey and battle.
To him, the Balkan Peninsula was merely a temporary lair, never truly taken to heart.
His movements were erratic and unpredictable.
Against such an enemy, the so-called "siege and relief" tactic was utterly unfeasible.
"Since he doesn't value his territory, then we will force him to value it."
Arthur's voice was light, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.
"If a 'Disobedient God' were to descend upon the Balkan Peninsula and turn his territory upside down, even if that Marquis is dismissive, he would at least lose face, wouldn't he?"
This plan, which could be described as utterly disregardful of human life, caused Princess Alice, who was standing by, to slightly contract her pupils and her breathing to momentarily hitch.
Erica, on the other hand, curved her lips into a smile, revealing a hint of someone who enjoyed chaos.
Lancia, holding her long spear, stepped forward. The butt of her spear struck the ground with a dull thud, producing a muffled echo.
"My King, please give the order! Your subordinate is willing to go to the Balkan Peninsula and act as bait!"
Arthur, however, did not even look at the knight who had eagerly volunteered, his gaze playfully falling on Princess Alice, whose expression was complex.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became stagnant and heavy.
Guinevere chuckled, breaking the silence.
"Don't be so tense. The King has no intention of causing too much bloodshed. However, don't make the King wait too long."
The implication was self-evident.
Alice and Erica exchanged glances, immediately understood, and after hastily offering their apologies, quickly departed.
That night, the two major organizations, the Italy Magic Association and the Sage Council, operated like two precise machines pushed to their limits.
Countless pieces of intelligence flowed in like streams, all to find the long-missing 'Wolf King.'
Until dawn, a newly verified piece of intelligence was hastily delivered to Arthur's desk.
"Since last week, a global magic mutual assistance meeting has been held in the UAE."
"Magic Mutual Assistance Meeting?"
Arthur unfolded the intelligence, his gaze sweeping rapidly across it.
The so-called mutual assistance meeting was merely a gathering where various magic organizations huddled together for warmth under the shadow of the Godslayerss.
They exchanged arcane magical secrets and auctioned off idle holy relics and divine artifacts.
"So that's it, a feast gathering holy relics from all over the world…"
Arthur's fingertips lightly traced over the words "holy relics," and a knowing arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Marquis Vauban, who takes pleasure in hunting Disobedient Gods, has no reason to miss this."
He put down the intelligence, looked up at Princess Alice, who was feigning innocence, and teased her.
"You must know that such gatherings are held secretly from all Godslayerss, after all, those reckless fellows would only resort to snatching things."
"And to lure out Vauban, you had to spread the news, completely offending the organizers."
"Furthermore, you also have to gamble that other Godslayerss won't be interested in this, otherwise, a tragedy of national annihilation could unfold at any moment."
Alice lightly covered her cherry lips, blinking her seemingly innocent emerald eyes, and shook her head.
"What is my King saying? Alice doesn't understand at all."
"Your servant merely presented the most probable intelligence after filtering it. As for what happens next, she is entirely unaware."
Listening to her childishly innocent tone, Arthur chuckled and shook his head.
This seemingly reckless open conspiracy had extremely high feasibility.
The 'King of the Underworld' of America rarely ventured out, and the 'Queen' of India and the 'Martial Arts King' of the Central Plains had been reclusive for many years.
Looking at the world, only that ancient 'Wolf King' tirelessly wandered across the globe.
Thinking of this, Arthur suddenly stood up, his aura no longer restrained.
"Prepare the plane. Destination, UAE."
...The Scarlet King's dividing line...
At the futuristic Dubai airport, golden heatwaves rolled in the air, and the scorching sun brazenly kissed every inch of skin.
Arthur, leading Alice and Erica, rode in a car to the hotel, guided by a group of local magic society personnel.
Along the way, layers of encrypted intelligence continued to be transmitted rapidly.
At some point, a slight crack appeared in the confident smile on Alice's face.
"My King, Alice has received an unexpected piece of intelligence… please punish me."
Arthur, who had been holding Fou and admiring the exotic scenery outside the window, calmly turned his head, his gaze falling on her flickering communication device.
"Let me guess, another Demon King has gotten involved?"
Alice first nodded, then suddenly shook her head, offering the communication device with both hands.
"Not a Demon King… but undoubtedly related."
Her voice took on a hint of solemnity.
"According to the latest intelligence, the Lu family from Hong Kong arrived in the UAE before us. The leader is the eldest young master of the Lu family, Lu Yinghua."
Arthur took the communication device, and information about the ruler of the Central Plains appeared in his mind.
"Luo Hao's personal disciple? She herself didn't come?"
Alice gently shook her head: "Luo Hao has been living in seclusion on Mount Lu for over a century; there are few things in the world that can stir her to emerge again."
"So she sent her disciple to travel the world on her behalf?"
Arthur caressed the communication device, smiling faintly.
"It seems that even after learning about the mutual assistance meeting, that Martial Arts Alliance Leader is not very interested in holy relics."
However, this thought was shattered the moment he stepped into the hotel lobby.
In the luxurious and bright lobby, the atmosphere was as cold as frost.
Two groups of people were confronting each other, their swords drawn and bows strung. The magical power in the air was almost solidifying, and the thick scent of gunpowder made it hard to breathe.
Alice stood on tiptoe, leaning close to Arthur's ear, quickly whispering a reminder.
"My King, it's the Lu family from Hong Kong and the Committee for the Compilation of True History from Japan. The two families have been at odds for a long time."
"The Committee for the Compilation of True History?"
Arthur repeated the name in a low voice, but his deep gaze suddenly became as sharp as a blade.
Because the moment he stepped into the lobby, the Salvation God Sword let out a longing hum, as if it had sensed a fated summons!
That aura originated from the person leading the Committee for the Compilation of True History.
That person was hiding a secret treasure capable of resonating with the Divine Sword!