Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 1938: The Banquet

Ning was invited to a small banquet taking place inside the palace, which he accepted.

He arrived at the banquet wearing a dark formal suit prepared by the Conjoran delegation, although he kept his mask over the upper half of his face to keep his anonymity.

The banquet hall was elegant without being excessive, filled with round tables carrying food from several nations while musicians played quietly near the windows and the gathered representatives spoke in small groups, making the event feel less like an official summit gathering and more like an opportunity for everyone to become familiar with one another before the serious discussions began.

President Morstell noticed Ning soon after he entered and called him over.

"Who is looking after the cases?" she asked in a whisper.

"No one. I’ve placed them somewhere safe that no one can find. Don’t worry," he told the woman.

The president hardly seemed confident in what Ning had said, but she didn’t bother to question him at the moment. She instead began introducing him to representatives from the nations that had already arrived.

The first was Ambassador Edrin Vell of the Kelmic Isles, a short blue-skinned man with webbed fingers and thin scales along his neck, who appeared especially interested in Ning’s ability to fly and casually suggested that someone capable of carrying damaged ships would be extremely useful to an island nation.

"I’ve never carried a ship," Ning said.

"Wouldn’t hurt to try," the ambassador replied.

The next was Chancellor Veyra Dorn from Restane, a tall silver-skinned woman with elf ears and a calm expression, who told Ning that her government was interested in him as the only Rank 9 person ever recorded.

"I wouldn’t mind visiting Restane once in a while, Chancellor. But if you’re expecting me to leave Conjora for it, I’m afraid that won’t be happening."

Rather than becoming offended, the chancellor smiled and said she appreciated people who spoke more honestly than politicians usually did.

President Morstell introduced Ning to several others after that, including ministers, military officers, researchers, and nobles from smaller nations, most of whom asked vague questions about the limits of his power and received equally vague answers in return.

Lightspeed had already gathered a crowd around himself and was enthusiastically telling a group of foreign nobles about a rescue involving a collapsing bridge, three buses, and an explosion that Ning suspected had grown larger every time the story was repeated.

Meanwhile, Stonewall remained near the food and steadily emptied every tray the servants placed before her.

Farhand stood closer to the walls, watching the doors and windows even though the event was supposed to be harmless.

Prince Tarian eventually approached Ning and led him toward an older woman standing near the windows overlooking the sea.

She shared the prince’s golden-brown hair and green eyes, although hers had been braided with thin silver chains, while the pale green dress she wore was decorated with small stones that shimmered whenever she moved.

"My sister, Princess Elowen Valecrest," the prince said. "She oversees several of the royal family’s charitable and awakened-affairs councils."

Princess Elowen studied Ning’s mask before offering him her hand.

"Sir Blackfang. I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time now."

Ning raised an eyebrow. "Can Her Highness see the future and knew I was coming?"

The princess paused before laughing. "It was a foregone conclusion that a man of your status would be joining the Conjoran delegation during this year’s summit, after all."

Ning smiled and nodded. "That makes sense."

His eyes moved past the princess. Two women stood beside her.

The first was Captain Maelis Thorn, a horned Beastwoman who commanded Elowen’s personal guard and watched Ning with the suspicion of someone who trusted almost no one, while the second was Minister Piri Lell, a tiny fairy who managed the royal household and carried a glass nearly as large as her body.

Princess Elowen asked whether Ning would be participating in the summit demonstrations.

"I don’t think I’ll be involved, but who can really say what the future holds? Maybe my president has something planned for me."

The rest of the night was simple, where Ning didn’t get to meet many different people, as half the members of the delegations were tired and did not wish to interact with others just yet.

The banquet ended not long afterward because it had never been intended to last deep into the night, and once Prince Tarian thanked everyone for attending, the delegations slowly began returning to their assigned parts of the palace.

Ning left alone after President Morstell remained behind to speak with several officials, while Lightspeed went elsewhere with some foreign heroes, Stonewall returned to her room, and Farhand stayed near the president.

The palace corridors had become quiet by the time Ning reached the wing assigned to Conjora, where guards still stood at every entrance and allowed him through without question.

He gave a nod to the guards standing by the door. Just as he was about to open it, one of the guards grabbed his hand.

Ning looked toward the guard. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes," the guard said in a feminine voice. "I’m afraid you cannot survive before the promised day arrives. You must die today."

Ning’s eyes narrowed. "Are you Tritus’ Numbers?"

The guard looked up, dark reptilian eyes visible from beneath the visor. Ning could tell that this was a Lizardman.

"Number 4, thank you," the woman said.

Ning raised an eyebrow. "Okay," he said, not particularly caring. "How do you plan on killing me exactly? I hope you are aware that I’ve killed Number 3, 5, and 7 already."

The woman let out a harrumph. "We’ve learned that direct force isn’t the way to go against you. This is the only thing that will help."

She brought out a blade from her belt.

Ning smiled. "I hope you know that you can’t stab me."

The woman let out a snort. "No, but this can work."

She lifted her palm and made a clean slit.

Just as she did that, Ning felt something in his own palm. He looked at it and saw a similar wound to hers had emerged.

"Oh, that’s interesting."