Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1531: Chapter 258: The Powerless Pharaoh and the Helpless Princess

As for the original plan to select a husband for the Princess during the celebration banquet… who dares to mention it now?

The monster that was reverted to its original form by the High Priest is currently still locked in a cage, placed at the banquet site, guarded by more than a dozen extraordinarily brave White-robed Guards!

The aristocrats and ministers quickly found various excuses, hurriedly left the Royal Palace with their offspring—they were the first group to receive the Sacred Water from the High Priest, and were naturally anxious to return home.

Even Princess Yamanlana, the pride of the Kingdom, was successfully swapped by the beast’s transformative ability, so did those who accompany them daily by the bedside already…

Once thinking that the moving silhouette beside them was very likely the monster in disguise, these aristocrats dared not move, despite the martial customs prevalent in the City of the Sun.

Yet, regardless of how brave one might be, if the name of beast master spreads… we’d better meet at the city wall!

Thus, the lively Royal Palace that had been bustling throughout the night suddenly quieted down… The Princess was escorted back to the sleeping palace early by Elite White Robe Guards under the guise of being frightened tonight.

The Pharaoh of the Kingdom was discussing with the High Priest about how to handle the beast that impersonated Princess Yamanlana… Their conversation was isolated from everyone… only the guards standing outside could occasionally hear the Pharaoh’s angry voice.

Probably out of anger at Princess Yamanlana being attacked by the monster… the guards secretly thought.

…

“Xie Jiatu!! I entrusted Yamanlana to you, and you nearly let her be killed by the monster… my tolerance for you is reaching its limit!”

The Pharaoh of the Kingdom sat firmly on the throne… In front of outsiders, this Pharaoh appeared somewhat lacking in presence before Yamanlana, yet unexpectedly exuded extraordinary aura—the true Pharaoh of the Kingdom, pinnacle of power unmatched.

“I couldn’t foresee such a thing happening.” The High Priest said calmly, “Of course, I’m not shirking responsibility… It was indeed my fault. From now on, I will keep a close watch on the Princess.”

“Do not allow her to seek out the monster again!” The Pharaoh of the Kingdom said in a firm tone once more.

The High Priest… Xie Jiatu replied, “You were the one who initially agreed to her going after the monster… If you disagree, you can only tell her yourself.”

The Pharaoh huffed coldly, “Didn’t I know Yamanlana’s personality? She’s just like her mother, once she decides something, not even ten warhorses can pull her back!”

The High Priest Xie Jiatu suddenly glanced deeply at the Pharaoh, then slowly said, “Since you are aware of her nature resembling her mother… Did her mother ever heed my advice?”

“You…” The Pharaoh of the Kingdom glared hatefully at the High Priest, yet soon sighed, his body relaxing as if fatigued… He waved his hand, “Let’s end it for today… Regarding the ban on Yamanlana seeking out the monster, I will issue the order to the ministers tomorrow… I’ll find a way to handle Yamanlana myself, without needing you!”

“Then…” The High Priest Xie Jiatu said calmly, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to the Temple… I will also take the monster outside with me. This monster with transformation abilities is very special, I need to study it thoroughly.”

Speaking of this matter, the Pharaoh of the Kingdom was probably similar to the hurriedly departing aristocrats, worried about possibly having become a beast master himself, he opened his mouth hesitantly and stuttered, “Xie Jiatu, is your Sacred Water really effective?”

The High Priest, seemingly understanding the Pharaoh’s thoughts, responded indifferently, “Rest assured, your new Princess has no issues whatsoever.”

“I didn’t mean that… never mind.” The Pharaoh of the Kingdom shook his head, “Quickly take that monster away… the longest night is almost upon us, and now suddenly a monster with transformation abilities has appeared, whether it’s good or bad is unknown. This time when Yamanlana returned from the expedition, the scouts who returned early already reported that the size and number of Desert Behemoths seem to have increased again… this longest night?”

“God will still protect this City of the Sun.”

The High Priest’s voice seemed to still echo within the grand hall, but the Pharaoh of the Kingdom could no longer see his figure… The High Priest had left, only the elder remained sitting on the throne.

“God?” The Pharaoh of the Kingdom murmured softly, “Even God’s desire to take away my… I will spare no cost, to take God…”

He sighed yet again, realizing more than himself the divine power… mortals simply cannot rival, especially within this City of the Sun.

At this moment.

The vacant throne hall suddenly reverberated with a voice: “Your intentions towards God are to be what?”

The hall remained vacant, the startled Pharaoh of the Kingdom scanned around, seeing nothing—yet he was certain he’d heard something!

“Who’s there! Come out!” The Pharaoh of the Kingdom abruptly stood from the throne, though long no longer youthful, even old, yet seemed to grow several inches… His muscles were still robust, and his stature concealed beneath helpless appearance.

He slowly drew the Treasured Sword from within the Scepter symbolizing royal power.

“I merely arrived here unintentionally as a traveling merchant…”

The voice sounded again, “It’s your heartfelt desire that guided me here… I felt a pure and great emotion. As a father, might you consider purchasing something from me… Pharaoh of the Kingdom.”

Accompanying the voice, before the Pharaoh’s eyes, a figure slowly emerged from the air… The Pharaoh’s mouth opened wide.

What he saw was a young person in Royal Guard attire.

The Pharaoh of the Kingdom hesitated at first, then furrowed his brow… His eyes quickly narrowed, and he asked in a deep voice: “Are you Yiben… the one chosen by Yamanlana?”

The young guard… Boss Luo blinked, then realized, pondered for a moment, and said: “So that’s how it is… Pharaoh, your relationship with that High Priest seems more intricate than I imagined.”

The Pharaoh simply remained silent, his gaze unblinking, staring intensely at Luo Qiu, and after a long time suddenly asked: “I don’t care who you are… Just answer my question, can I trust you?”

Luo Qiu thought for a moment, stayed silent, and slowly took out the earrings Princess Yamanlana had given him.

The Pharaoh of the Kingdom suddenly became excited, stepped forward… Even descended several steps from the platform, suddenly halting.

His lips moved, his voice even turned somewhat hoarse, softly saying, “This… this is something belonging to Yamanlana’s mother, the only thing she left me.”

“The biological mother of the Princess?” Boss Luo nodded, “I inquired, and it seems the Pharaoh currently has only one Princess… The Empress doesn’t appear to be mentioned by anyone.”

The Pharaoh of the Kingdom shook his head, slowly sat down, no longer on the throne, but on the steps leading to it… Even looking somewhat unsteady.

His voice, beyond simply hoarse, was filled with sorrow, “She… she eventually turned into a pile of sand, right in my… my eyes.”

The Pharaoh of the Kingdom at this moment slowly closed his eyes, sighed deeply, seemingly lost in some sorrowful memory…

…

…

“Princess, the High Priest has given orders that you must rest well here tonight and are not allowed to leave.”

When Claudia attempted to leave the dormitory, she was blocked by two White-robed Guards—she certainly didn’t have the bravery and strength of the real Princess Yamanlana, who could take on ten White-robed Guards at once and still hold her ground for a while.

Claudia estimated that she’d be defeated in under three seconds… So this “Princess” could only retreat sheepishly, but in her heart, she continuously cursed the High Priest!

Even though this High Priest looked exactly like her father, Professor Xie Jiatu, Claudia knew at this moment that this High Priest was not as wonderful as the people in the City of the Sun claimed!

This High Priest had actually personally transformed the real Princess Yamanlana into a monster, and had her imprisoned!

Claudia was well aware that she was the impostor— the High Priest had probably recognized her when he saw her climbing down from the attic!

But why hadn’t the High Priest exposed her, and why had he made the real Princess Yamanlana drink the Sacred Water to become such an ugly monster?

What were his true intentions?

Claudia paced anxiously in the room… The keyword “Sacred Water” continually floated in her mind!

“Does he want… does he want everyone in the city to drink the Sacred Water?” Suddenly, a terrifying suspicion occupied all of Claudia’s thoughts!

It was heard that this High Priest had left the Empire’s Temple for some time and his whereabouts were unknown. He suddenly returned today during the victory banquet…

“He didn’t expose that I am the impostor… he used the Sacred Water to turn the real princess into a monster, calling her a beast.” Claudia gradually felt a chill run down her spine, “He wants everyone to drink the Sacred Water… If drinking Sacred Water turns them into monsters, then wouldn’t everyone in the City of the Sun turn into… monsters?”

In an instant, Claudia realized a shocking conspiracy and gasped in a low voice: “Could it be that this High Priest is the real monster transformed? Is his aim to destroy the City of the Sun from within?”

At this moment, a figure quietly slipped into the room.

“It seems you’ve encountered something not meant to be talked about.”

Claudia was startled and followed the voice. She saw a figure leaning against a pillar with folded arms.

It was none other than Mr. Otto, who had quietly disappeared into the crowd before the banquet began!

“You scoundrel, you actually have the nerve to… wait, how did you get in?” Claudia frowned instantly!

To prevent her from leaving, the High Priest had obviously stationed incredibly powerful White-robed Guards around the dormitory!

“Of course, I walked in fair and square,” Mr. Otto said nonchalantly, “The two guards outside your door seem to have fallen asleep.”

Claudia didn’t believe him. She quickly went to the door, opened it, and saw two White-robed Guards indeed lying on the ground. But they were obviously not asleep; they were unconscious… She could tell it was the posture of someone struck and knocked out.

This Otto had quietly knocked out these two White-robed Guards…

“Where on earth did you go?” Claudia turned around and hurried to Mr. Otto’s side, “Do you know that many things just happened?”

“I have a general idea of what happened,” Mr. Otto nodded and said, “The Princess transformed into a terrifying monster under everyone’s eyes… right.”

Claudia nodded, “Moreover, I suspect that this is the High Priest’s conspiracy, his actual purpose is…”

Mr. Otto raised a silencing gesture, “Claudia, right? Professor Xie Jiatu’s daughter.”

“What’s wrong?” Claudia was taken aback… Oh yes, this Mr. Otto wasn’t the one who traveled with her; he was someone who emerged from the Oasis, having lost part of his memory… is it the Otto from half a year ago?

“I’m not really interested in what you discovered,” Mr. Otto said indifferently, “Nor am I greatly interested in what will become of the City of the Sun. Because… remember, no matter what it becomes, no matter what happens, we don’t belong here. We are merely travelers lost in this strange land… as simple as that.”

Otto’s words left Claudia with no reason to rebut… Why care about what happens here?

Why worry about the residents of the City of the Sun?

Is it just because she looked like the real Princess Yamanlana… but she wasn’t the real princess of the Empire!

“Let’s leave here immediately!” Claudia snapped to her senses, blurting out.

Mr. Otto smiled slightly, “A correct choice indeed… Yes, we definitely should leave this place.”

Taking advantage of the night, and before the two knocked-out White-robed Guards at the door could wake up, Mr. Otto and Claudia quietly left the Princess’s dormitory.

…

Thumping, banging… roaring.

Imagine a lion on the grasslands suddenly trapped in a cramped cage… that’s the appearance of the monster in the cage now.

Monster… Princess Yamanlana.

Its eyes were murky, devoid of any spiritual light.

It kept desperately trying to destroy the cage imprisoning it… Its roars sounded like wind through a canyon, immense and terrifying.

But here… in this Temple deep within the Royal Palace, such sounds couldn’t attract anything outside—the Prison Lay beyond, attended by the Temple’s Elite White Robe Guards, standing straight as statues, unmoving.

Only when the High Priest finally arrived did they react, slowly opening the large door to the Prison Lay behind them.

The High Priest silently walked into the depths of the Prison Lay, standing before the cage, quietly watching the frenzied ugly monster inside.

The monster, upon seeing him, became even more frantic… Its hands gripped the iron bars of the cage tightly, its gaze suddenly turning blood-red.

“Don’t hate me, Yamanlana…” the High Priest finally spoke slowly.