“Hahahaha!!! Drink! Drink! Drink!!!” Merry voices cheered through the taverns of the Lantis Republic, particularly the stores near Jerack Port. Hundreds of soldiers returned from the battlefield with the Black Masks. Their bodies were battered and bruised. Some even had five or six layers of bandages wrapping their bodies together. However, even with the massive injury toll, they were all wearing smiles that connected both their ears together, taking on pints of booze in joy. Barmaids walked around their patrons, charming the men with their signature floral smiles. Some sleazeballs that had taken a drink too many slapped on some of the girl’s butts, but they were firmly apprehended by the broad-shouldered bouncers that roamed the streets.

Jerack Port… No, most military bases had a district like this. A place for the soldiers to grieve in defeat, and to celebrate in victory. Fortunately for the brave warriors of the Lantis Navy, it was the latter.

“Hohoho!!! Fuck ‘em Black Masks!!!” One patron threw his pint into the air, causing all sorts of sticky fluids to spill onto the already dirty floor. “They think that they can claim our territory? The East?! Hahaha!!! Fuck ‘em dead!!!”

“That’s right!!!” Another drunk officer slapped his lap and took one fried salted potato chip from the shared bucket. “The Lantis Navy is the King of the Oceans! Ah, if only we could record their faces to preserve them into the world’s memory!”

Downing his pint, the previous patron, nodded furiously. “Ahhh!!! That’s the stuff! Just like this mead, revenge tastes the sweetest! We have avenged those that perished on the Nineteenth Artificial Island! That’s all that matters now!!!”

The whole situation that started this ordeal was the tragedy that fell upon the Nineteenth Artificial Island. All this while, although the Lantis Republic had provided assistance to the Alliance in the war against the Black Masks, it was never personal. They treated the resources they spent as a necessary evil to keep the other two superpowers happy and occupied. And a big reason for their cavalier attitude was because the war hasn’t reached their shores as of yet. All of the tragedies that the Black Masks had unleashed upon the world was mostly in the Terre Continent. Until now, that is…

Thus, it was important for the Lantis Navy to strike back and more importantly, it was imperative that the Lantis Republic came back with a win. If they could show their general populace that the Lantis Navy was one that could protect its citizens, even against the behemoth that had terrorised the entire Terre Continent, the Lantis Republic’s morale would be kept up high, and the chances of people defecting to the dark side would be significantly reduced.

“Honestly, we should really thank the young Prince for his assistance!” The hungry patron yelled out to the crowd. “If not for the young Prince, who knows if we could have won this battle?”

“That’s right!” His drunk buddy added on, with an intoxicated bad breath. “I’d heard that the real reason why the Navy decided to dispatch was due to our young Prince. Not to mention, all of his accomplishments on the field. Summoning the Beast Horde to come to our aid, the Tier 9 Spirit Beast that froze the oceans… Even his consort had fucked with the longboats, giving us space to breathe...”

“Hahaha! We really owe it all to the Prince!!!” One more patron who was eavesdropping swung over to the table with his jug in hand. “It really is our blessing that the young Prince had descended upon our lands!”

“That’s right!!! Fuck all of those High Elders that sit on their thrones, not willing to get their hands dirty! It was the Prince that stood by us, even when his life was in danger!”

“Hehehe! The Celestial Dragon really has chosen the right heir! Come! Let us drink! Let us drink to the Prince that was promised and the Prince that had delivered!!!” The drunk patron raised his glass into the air. Many of the tavern’s guests all did the same, wearing the same jovial expression.

“LONG LIVE THE PRINCE!!!”

The chant hollered out at a decibel that muted every single man, woman or child on the streets. It was so loud that even the drunken cries of men in other taverns were incomprehensible. They were really celebrating Shin’s addition to the Lantis Republic with the joy of welcoming a new addition to their family. Unbeknownst to the drunken soldiers, the target of their worship was currently pushing his head down with a flushed face right on top of their heads.

“Long live the prince, they said...” Kanari placed held her head up with her elbows rested on the dining table before her. Her left hand was caressing the young man’s thigh trying to soothe the youth into a sense of security. However, amid her comforting exterior, there was a hint of impishness in her voice and actions. It has been three years since Shin became a celebrity within the Lantis Republic and he still couldn’t get used to the fame.

“Kanari, stop teasing me...” The young man protested as he took one major gulp of his wine. Reaching adulthood had its woes and its benefits. One, there was much more responsibility on Shin’s shoulders now, and he had to be much more thoughtful of his actions. On the other hand, he could drown those burdens with alcohol, something that wasn’t an option when he was just a mere child.

Everyone seated around him looked over with teasing eyes. The twins, Bingying and Huanyuan, Zishen, and even the iconic angel duo, Lady Seph and the newly promoted Kamaitachi, Bingbing. They were having their celebratory feast in what they thought to be a remote location, far away from the general public. However, who could predict that the decision to come here would bite Shin in the ass?

‘I can’t be the only one flustered...’ Shin instantly sought to take the advantage. He had already downed two vats of Nu’er Hong, so his mental functions had shortcircuited a little. Shin grabbed on Kanari’s waist and pulled her close among all of the peering eyes, and a short yelp flowed out of the maiden’s mouth.

Seeing that his impromptu scheme was bearing some fruit, Shin continued on with a seductive grin. “I’m not the only one that they’re talking about… They’re calling you my consort. How does that make you feel, my princess?”

Shin thought that it was a sure-fire way to gain the initiative. Alas, he had underestimated his opponent. Kanari’s dainty fingers gently held onto the young man’s lips as she leaned in closer towards his face, not caring about the blushing faces of her company. Their faces were now just one inch apart, close enough for the most intimate of interactions. At this distance, Shin could smell her heavy alcohol breath. Looks like Kanari was intoxicated as well.

“Well, if I really am your consort, maybe we should seal the deal tonight...” Kanari licked her lips and moistening her breath. Their faces were red hot, and some could visualise steam coming out from both their bodies. Shin gulped, trying his hardest to hold back his desires. However, the two of them were simply far too close, and their brains were far too convoluted. It was dangerous to leave them alone for now… Which was why…

“Alright, both of you enough!” Lady Seph’s voice echoed into the private chamber as a divine golden light descended upon both their bodies. The fuzziness in their minds was cleared up instantly, and a light of intelligence beamed within their eyes. Realising what they’d done, the couple immediately separated, dropping both their faces down onto the table.

“Hehe, looks like their relationship is still progressing smoothly...” Emma smirked.

“Urghhh, just leave it in the bedroom, please...” Meijing Bingying rolled her eyes and nestled her head on Huanyuan shoulders. “Look at them, they’re not even married yet, and they’re so flirty… One can only imagine what would happen if they really tie the knot.”

“I agree with that...” Xunyu Huanyuan chuckled, not disputing his girlfriend’s claim. However, even though they were teasing the young couple, the two couldn’t help but wear brilliant smiles. They had seen Shin grow ever since the Summit six years back. They knew what obstacles the pair had to overcome to reach this state. So, even though they were disgusted by Shin and Kanari’s public display of affection, they weren’t really disturbed by it.

“...” Ella folded her arms and her nose twisted around in its place. She was feeling uncomfortable, and she just didn’t understand why…

“What’s the matter?” Being her direct twin, Emma was the first to sense her sister’s irregularity. She gently grabbed the young girl’s cold hands and asked with a face of concern.

“I feel that… Something’s not right...” Ella said, her eyes twitching rapidly.

“What could be wrong? We defeated the Black Masks, avenged those who died during the raid on the Nineteenth Artificial Island and most importantly, all of us came back completely unscathed!!!” Emma exclaimed. Everything was right in the world. They had gotten an overwhelming victory, and everyone was celebrating. Very little of the soldiers died in battle, and most of them with injuries were fit enough to join in on the drinking. The mood at Jerack Port was the closest it could get to heaven as possible.

“Hah… Maybe I’m just imagining it,” the purple-haired girl didn’t want to burst on everyone’s mood, so Ella just held back her uneasiness. To further show her intent, the young maiden raised her glass and cried out at the top of her lungs. “Come! Let us drink until we drop!”

“Haha, now that’s the spirit!!!”

Shin’s group continued to take down litres upon litres of fine wine, warming their cores and further flushing their faces. Lady Seph, who didn’t particularly like wine, was busy sipping her tea while examining the Tier 9 Bingbing in her human form. It led to a comical scene where the young girl rushed into Shin’s lap, utterly fearful of Lady Seph predatory experimental eyes.

All was right with the world…

That was until…

“Hah… Hah… Hah…” Heavy pants could be heard from the hallway as a dark silhouette rushed towards the room of drunk men and women. Then, a suave man, who looked to be the older version of Shin, barged through the door. It was the most powerful man in the Longyu Clan, Longyu Dao. Even after three years, the man hasn’t aged a single wrinkle, and in fact, he seemed even more youthful than he did before. Perhaps it was due to all the pleasant dreams that he had after Shin joined the Lantis Republic. The only people who shared the same blood as the Prince was the Longyu Clan and their position in the nation had been bumped up tremendously. Of course, the Clan Master would be ecstatic.

However, there wasn’t a single hint of happiness on his face. All that it had… was urgency and terror…

“Clan Master?! What’s going on?” Shin leapt to his feet and greeted the middle-aged man. Shin was drunk, but that didn’t mean that he was completely impaired. He could tell that something was amiss.

“Shin...” The Clan Master wanted to speak; however, he appeared hesitant. There was anxiety in his voice, as well as an unwillingness to share the news. Alas… There was no hiding the truth…

“Shin… I have some bad news...”

~~~ End of Book 10 ~~~