The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 696  Rules and Customs

Dana leaned against Karlʼs side and smiled.

”I wonder how many people fall for the maid bit? Well, Iʼm sure sheʼs actually doing the job. But even I can see through her power shielding.” She giggled.

Karl shrugged. ”Well, sheʼs a Commander Rank Mage, which isnʼt too shocking. Arenʼt Ladiesʼ Maids supposed to be like guards in cute uniforms, when soldiers or male bodyguards would be inappropriate?”

The General chuckled and shook his head. ”How much do you know about the Royal Family that didnʼt come from a Palace Drama novel or movie?”

Karl thought about it for a second. ”Add the four, carry the one... That would be precisely zero.”

That didnʼt shock him. The Royal Family had been quiet for a long time.

”The current King is an Overlord Rank mage, classically trained. The Palace itself is more akin to a mage tower in function than the palaces in storybooks. You wonʼt see any imperial harem, no gathering of useless fluff Nobles. Instead, Ranking is strictly power-based. While you are there, you will be accorded courtesy due your ranks as Royal and Monarch Ranked Elites, second only to the Elders and the Royal Family themselves.

Despite all our efforts, the Royal Family has proven to be incompatible with the System, with few exceptions. I believe you met Prince Axel, who is now an Overlord after advancing during the defence of Burlowbig.”

Karl almost didnʼt recognize the town name. Nobody used the actual name of the Capital. Honestly, they really should just change it at this point.

The General continued.

”There are a few minor Princes who have System compatibility, but none of them have managed to make it past Ascended, which seems a waste at their age. So, without System links, it could be difficult to judge relative power rankings. Many struggle, so we are used to it. Very few will take offence if you get noble rankings a little wrong as an outsider.

If someone does take extreme offence for some reason, standard international rules apply. You can request a Champion to represent you in a duel to first blood. It would be unthinkable for the men to challenge one of the ladies, but attempting to flirt or pressure a pretty woman into a marriage contract does lead to the occasional fight.

It might seem uncivilized, but it is a time-honoured tradition to show off for their peers.”

Dana laughed. ”Oh, that could end badly. Are you privy to the events surrounding the first Commander Rank anomaly in Newbon?”

The General shook his head. ”I have the clearance, but I am afraid I was never given a briefing.”

Dana nodded in understanding. It wasnʼt that he wasnʼt allowed to know, it simply wasnʼt relevant to his job.

”Suffice it to say that challenging Monarch Karl to a duel will only lead them to crying bloody tears of rage.”

Now both the General and the driver looked intrigued.

Karl winked at the General and shrugged. ”The current strongest ability I have is [Nullify], and I have the physical strength to open-handed slap a Royal Rank Hill Giant to death in a single unarmed strike.”

The driver began to laugh. ”I can see it now. The mages would fail to do anything at all before they were slapped unconscious. Utterly humiliating, and it would crush their chances to impress the ladies.”

Lotus giggled. ”Thatʼs assuming that he gives them enough time. Compared to the rest of us, he is insanely fast. Not even my cuddle bear can keep up.”

”I heard that!” Ophelia shouted from the back of the bus, presumably the bedroom where she was changing.

She came out a moment later with a golden chest plate over the black dress that Rae had given her, and golden Vambraces visible under the sleeves. Karl could see the outline of leg armour under the skirt, so there was a full suit of armour, not just the decorative bits, and her boots were similarly gold armoured with a low heel, though still taller than most riding or military boots.

Karl smiled because he knew that heeled boots with armour was a pet peeve of hers, and Ophelia had likely refused to wear this particular armour set for some time just on those grounds. The maid bowed to the General. ”Sir, all guests have brought appropriate attire of their own. No distribution of assets was necessary.”

Then she turned to Karl. ”Sir, your party is ready for the meeting in the Throne Room once you arrive. Please maintain these outfits with weapons in your inventory or in their scabbards. Exposed weapon scabbards will be sealed at the gates with a ribbon, and checked on your way out.”

That would make it obvious who drew their weapons, without actually stopping anyone. A sensible precaution, should there be some issue. Logic said that it would be prohibited to draw weapons under most circumstances in the Palace.

Karl smiled at the maid. ”What might your specialty be? I am curious about the training you have had to qualify for such a position.”

The phrasing was awkward, but the Maid didnʼt take offence. ”I graduated from the Academy three years ago. Since then, I have served at the Palace. My specialty spell is invisibility. That is true of all the Maids, and a requirement for the job.”

Karl nodded and activated [Follow Me Little One] at once to offer the mage [Silent Movement].

She slowly smiled. ”That is quite the gift you have, Monarch Karl.”

”It really is, isnʼt it. I just need to make time at a Skill Library to gather a few more spells, and it will really shine.”

The General was lost, and looking expectantly at the pair.

”The Monarch transferred me a new spell. Silent Movement. Incredibly useful for my job.”

The General sighed and ran his hands through his thinning hair.

”Great, just what we need. They already sneak up on me all the time,” he muttered.

The maid winked at Ophelia, who was struggling not to laugh. ”You will need to practice your poker face, Princess. Your hearing is far beyond average, and itʼs polite to pretend that you canʼt hear people talking to themselves.”

The General harrumphed and then turned to look out the windshield, where Hawk had swooped low, nearly a kilometre ahead of them.

He was just terrifying mice for fun, nothing that might be a threat to the bus had been found along the route.