Affinity: Chaos

Chapter 1978: A Ridiculous Lie

The guards were taken aback by the token Grey flashed in their faces.

Being one of the top Families, they were familiar with the tokens of the Royal Family. The Seventh Prince’s token was easily identified due to the bold seven written on it in Gnome language. This token can not be faked as well. The material used for making the Royal Family tokens can only be found in the Royal Capital, and it was monopolized fully by the Royal Family.

“Please come in.” Although the guards were confused, they still invited Grey in. As strong as this Family, they could not go against the Royal Family. Offending the Seventh Prince is no different from offending the Royal Family.

Grey kept the token, walking calmly behind the guard that led him through the gates. Walking past the gates, he was welcomed by a vast expanse of land. The mansion of the Family stretched well over five hundred meters, and it was not the only building in the compound. There were two more buildings, though not as large as the main mansion, they were still quite big.

Grey was led to the building on the right, where he was taken to a small Hall where he was offered some fruits as well as drinks while he waited for someone from the Family to come over and receive him.

On his way to this building, he could sense Void was in the building on the left. Meaning the Principal was there as well. While waiting, the thought of going over to rescue the Principal instantly came to mind, only, he felt it would be safer to try to see if he could use the Seventh Prince’s name to take the Principal away. He was still in the middle of thinking about how to take advantage of his current situation when he heard multiple footsteps approaching the Hall.

In the lead was a middle-aged male Gnome, who was dressed luxuriously with a silver robe that was at least a meter longer than his body. Behind the Gnome were six other Gnomes, all dressed extravagantly. Other than the middle-aged Gnome, there were four other male Gnomes and two female Gnomes.

The two females looked young, around their twenties. Only one of the male Gnomes was young, being a Venerable. The other male Gnomes were all Sovereigns. The leading Gnome was a Peak Sovereign Gnome.

Grey expected this, after all, he came in the name of the Seventh Prince. Even if this was a top Family, they still had to show due respect to anyone sent by the Seventh Prince.

As soon as they walked in, the leading Gnome cast his gaze on Grey, peering at him, seemingly trying to see the face beneath the mask. Waiting for a while, he snorted in displeasure before walking to take a seat.

The young male Gnome walked to the front of Grey, looking at him as he said, “Even His Highness the Seventh Prince will show due respect in the presence of Father.”

Grey was still seated even after they walked into the Hall, which the Gnome found to be disrespectful. Most Gnomes would be severely punished if they did not show due respect to them.

“Oh, I’m sorry if my actions offended you. I’m not familiar with your customs.” Grey apologized, trying to keep the atmosphere as amiable as possible. He was here to take something, it would not be good offending these people over mere greetings.

The young male Gnome wanted to continue reprimanding Grey when the middle-aged Gnome signaled for him to retreat.

“It’s okay..” The Middle-aged Gnome waved his hand, before saying, “You said you were sent here to pick something, yes?”

Grey nodded.

The Middle-aged Gnome continued after getting confirmation from Grey, “I don’t recall the Seventh Prince leaving anything with us. Neither did he mention sending anyone here to pick up anything.”

“It’s normal for you to have no idea about this. Other than myself and His Highness, no one else is aware of this.” Grey replied calmly, taking a sip of the drink placed in front of him. He had to admit, these drinks were delicious. He did not know what they were made of, but they were amazing. This was the first time he was having one like this, and he was blown away by it.

“Oh, something only you and the Seventh Prince are aware of?” The Middle-aged Gnome wore a skeptical expression on his face at the mention of this. Before coming, the guard mentioned how Grey walked past the gates, before coming back a few minutes later. This made him quite suspicious of Grey, and if not for the fact that the guard verified the authenticity of the token, he would have interrogated Grey the moment he walked in. Hearing Grey speak about this being a secret between him and the Seventh Prince made him even more suspicious.

“What can that be, if I may ask?” He did not give Grey the chance to answer his previous question before asking another.

“A person, a Human to be precise.” Grey replied casually.

Hearing Grey’s reply, the Middle-aged Gnome frowned. Why would the Seventh Prince send someone over to pick up a Human?

He could tell Grey was an Eighth stage Sovereign, someone that would be regarded as a top expert even in the Gnome World. Most Late stage Sovereigns can lead their own Families and even Forces. It is normal for the Seventh Prince to have an Eighth stage Sovereign Necromancer under him, the only thing they found strange was that they had never heard of any Eighth stage Sovereign Necromancer that was under the Seventh Prince. All Late stage Sovereign Necromancers are directly under the Emperor.

“We have never seen you with the Seventh Prince, how can you prove your identity?” The Middle-aged Gnome raised a brow.

This Necromancer coming here to demand for a Human was strange, but not as strange as the identity he possessed. They were a Family with close connections to the Royal Family, and they had never seen any Mid stage Sovereign Necromancer by the side of the Seventh Prince, much less a Late stage one.

‘His Highness has his secrets.’ Grey transmitted his voice to the Middle-aged man, before using cold eyes to stare at everyone in the room as he added, ‘And His Highness would like for his secrets to remain secrets, even after our meeting.’

With the Seventh Prince’s token, Grey had nothing to fear. He was aware there was no way for anyone to have this token. As long as he played the card of being the Seventh Prince’s hidden weapon, he was more than sixty percent sure these people would take the bait. His subtle threat was also him showcasing his fearlessness. Only someone with the Seventh Prince behind them would be able to show such boldness.

The Middle-aged Gnome was indeed slightly apprehensive after hearing Grey’s voice transmission. From this, he found it hard to doubt Grey’s identity. The Seventh Prince might be largely recognized as the heir even though he had not been crowned yet, but the power struggle in the Royal Family needed each of the recognized Princes to have their own trusted subordinates.

The Middle-aged Gnome as amazed as the Seventh Prince was not only able to recruit a powerful Necromancer, he was even able to hide him from the eyes of every single person in the Royal Family.

This Family had close ties with the previous Second Prince, they were aware of everything happening in the Palace. The tragedy a few years ago truly shocked them, and seeing Grey appear now, he could not help but wonder if he had a hand in it. Of course, this was only speculation since he could not accuse the Seventh Prince. Besides, the Second Prince was dead, there was no point offending the Seventh Prince who was favored by the Emperor now over a dead Gnome.

“You mentioned you’re here to retrieve a Human?” The Middle-aged Gnome asked.

“Yes, a Human was sent to this City some days ago and you happen to have laid your hands on one that is of importance to His Highness.” Grey responded.

“How are you certain we have said Human with us?” The Middle-aged Gnome asked, a little confused. Why would the Seventh Prince track a Human here? It just did not make any sense.

Grey replied in an indifferent manner, “This Human was marked some years ago by myself. I can feel his presence here.”

“Oh, a Human marked by you?” The Middle-aged Gnome found Grey’s words ridiculous, but decided to indulge him.

“As you can see, I’m Human. Back in my World, I met this person who I marked for future purposes. I told His Highness about this person, and after finding out he was one of the people sent here, I was sent to retrieve him.” Grey continued his lie.

The Gnome was feeling more and more doubt with Grey’s story.