Perhaps it was inevitable that a huge fuss would ensue when his identity as the owner was revealed. Almost all of those under the Snowdrifts’ employment are the fans of their young master.

His exploits in both combat and commerce, are nothing short of legendary. It took the attendant a superhuman level of self-control to only ask him for an autograph, right on her robes.

Of course, if he were willing, she would have given him a great big hug right there and then.

“Ple…please sign it as big as you can!”

Her stupefied behaviour quickly attracted the other patrons, and after identifying Kairos, quite a few threw praises and words of admiration towards him for his shop.

“Hey, isn’t this Young Master Astroire? I love your products!”

“Well done on your services to the empire!”

“Thank you for your contributions!”

“Oh boy, he looks younger than I thought. I wish my son could be even as capable as a strand of hair on his head.”

“Mom!”

“Mister Kairos, my dad told me to seduce you. What does seduce mean?” a little girl that could barely walk properly tugged at his robes.

*Cough*

“S…ss..sorry…! Please forgive my idiot husband.”

Kairos speechlessly watched as the girl, looking no older than five, ran back to her mommy’s arms. An embarrassed gentleman next to them is visibly trying to avoid his eyes. He must not have expected his little girl to treat his words so seriously.

The attendant quickly ushered the father and son pair in to prevent the crowd from growing bigger. But as they were about to go, someone shouted, “Don’t leave… Please tell us how did you subdue the Unknown Flame Sovereign?”

It was the answer that the entire empire had been searching for, and of course, the others did not want him to go either. After all, only one person in the world could answer them.

“The Snowdrifts shouldn’t hog the flame all to themselves! You are rich enough already!"

"Why don’t you tell us to better your fellow men?”

“Yes, you should offer your knowledge to the public, I know that young master Kairos isn’t a selfish child.”

“Those in front, don’t let him go!”

*Enough*

A booming voice silenced everyone. When they searched for the source, they found the Gilded Snow’s stoic, no-nonsense, master blacksmith was staring at them.

“If it’s not at the expense of our guild, we will certainly release the information. Otherwise, just buy our products like the rest, or apply to join the Snowdrifts.”

His voice was completely devoid of hostility, yet everyone stilled when they heard him. Those that wanted to refute looked at the powerful muscles bunching up on the smith and decided to swallow back their words.

Siegfried stood there oppressively, challenging the people with a deadly glare. He allowed them a good moment to weigh their options, and just as expected, everyone wisely backed away.

Granted, he was only a C ranker, and that is after using the training resources that are included in the stipend of every employee. But a single look at his massive stature was enough to make the others think twice.

After all, it was impossible for them to tell what his Physical Rank was by his aura, and besides, Kairos is standing close by, and everyone knows that the Earl might only be B ranked, but he has Titan Ranked physique.

The crowd were more than begrudging to let him leave, but it’d be a joke to think they can hold him down with brute force. Besides, the other party is a Red Robe bearer, and this is his shop. If they start something here, it will only give the Snowdrifts an excuse to apprehend them and pass them to the constables.

The attendant stayed behind calming the crowd, while Siegfried, Vouno, and Kairos, headed into the Gilded Snow.

No one noticed that the shadows all around appeared a little dark than it should be. Kairos’ 15 disciples had been ready to step in should any trouble arise. It was fortunate for the few who changed their minds in the last minute from taking action.

The three of them turned towards a less crowded area and entered the employees’ section through a door.

Hidden glyphs immediately lit up, checking the identity of the group. All personnel would have registered their imprints to enter certain areas in the shop, as well as to be able to lock up for the night. Intruders would trigger an alarm, and simultaneously a barrier would be cast on the area.

In addition to preventing people from entering, the glyphs also stop outsiders from listening in and thwart anyone trying to sneak a peek. These security functions are part and parcel for all the top-of-the-line shopfronts thanks to a barrier crystal installed.

At this place where it is safe to converse, Kairos immediately asked Siegfried what had just transpired. It wasn’t an understatement to say that he had locked himself away from the world with his training and researches, that he became woefully unaware of the craze his purple flame had caused.

Although Lord Yue had given him a heads up, he did not know what a big mess things had devolved into.

Everyone wants to know what seals Kairos used to subdue the celestial flame.

“Looks like work really had been piling up. The truth is, the Unknown Flame Sovereign is extremely dangerous. I am only able to make it into my Alchemic Flame because of special circumstances. But it is most probably impossible for others.”

The Beast’s Flames had come from a divine Lightning-Fire Dragon that is not only a highly destructive and wild form of energy. It disdains being bounded and used by mere mortals.

If not because it met the terrifying dragonlings within Kairos, it would not have been easy to make it into an Alchemic Flame successfully.

Siegfried nodded solemnly.

If this is the case, then it will be infeasible to leave things as it is.

Not everyone will take the boy’s words seriously, and few can believe that a 12-year-old B ranker might succeed while others couldn't. They will need to deter the crowd by using other methods, one which Kairos immediately provided, "Spread the news that the Unknown Flame Sovereign requires special kind of constitutions to claim."

Kairos did not feel there is a need to hide the truth. He explained to Siegfried that only those that could suppress and tame the violent beast flame could have any chance to subdue the thing. What's more, the method to defeat the scorching celestial flame is by using one's own body.

When people hear of this, they will definitely have doubts, but once enough people get their fingers burned, their unsuppressed desires will have no other choice than to be dismissed. One has to ask oneself, which alchemist or pill master has a combat-type constitution that is powerful strong enough to suppress a raging beast made of flames running rampant in one's Dantian?

“Would you gather the craftsmen?” Kairos said after fixing the huge uproar like it was nothing.

“In the common room, young master? When would you meet us?”

“Yes, in about half an hour from now.”

“Half an hour… alright. We’ll be there.”

The blacksmith had rightly concluded that the time given is deceptively short. If all the craftsmen leave their posts, many sections would be unmanned, and they could not continue to conduct businesses.

Siegfried did not have to ask to know that because of the crowd that is demanding to see Kairos, it is better to close for the day.

And with so many patrons in the Gilded Snow, they barely have time.

Meanwhile, Kairos and an overly curious Vouno went searching for Relestia.

They easily found the little princess hanging around Ling’er who had recovered enough to form basic responses.

Nurtured by Relestia’s power, her fragmented soul had mostly pieced itself back again and is on the way to full recovery. In time, even without the princess’ soul mending abilities, Ling’er will once again return to the cheerful girl she once was.

Unfortunately, as a non-practitioner, her soul’s strength is incomparably weaker than those who cultivate and until she fully recovered, she would find it hard to speak more than a few words at any time and will have trouble doing the simplest of things.

But, not being able to control her body is only a small part of the problems.

Being trapped in her own body, Ling’er is very much imprisoned. Without the princess frequently soothing her, and the care her mother and aunt Lyla had given, the merinthophobia that are relentlessly growing larger in her would have swallowed her completely.

It is not surprising that she was in danger of losing her mind even if she recovered.

The princess immediately noticed the two. A radiant smile erupted from her lips, and she turned to Ling’er and whispered that she would be right back. Then, she bounced up and rushed towards them from far.

“Kairos!”

Her voice was like a refreshing wind, the joy of seeing him grossly unconcealed.

Likewise, the leader of the Snowdrifts gave her a goofy smile. He seemed to have put down his burdens and returned to become a 13-year-old boy once again.

He knows that this is because of her ability, but it is something that he welcomed. It is not a form of mind-alteration, manipulation, or even suggestion. Those with the soul-mending gift would naturally mingle with others with her own soul, in a contactless way of interaction.

What made Kairos always feeling a pure joy around the princess was because of how bright her soul is. There isn’t anyone that wouldn’t smile when touched by her innocence. Seeing such a person saddened, even others would become depressed.

*Ahem*

A timely cough interrupted the two that appeared to have created a bubble and almost disappeared into their own world. Relestia immediately blushed like a blossoming rose . She quickly curtsied and stuttered, “V… v… viscount Vouno!”

“Call me uncle,” Kairos’ old man chuckled.

“Y…y.. yy…yes!! Uncle Vouno!”

She was far more nervous than when she addressed the entire Beast Taming Class, instructor and academy staffs included.

After all, this is her hero’s father, and she must give him a good impression! Right?

Vouno wanted to take a look at this girl whom he had never heard before from his son and tagged along. When he first laid eyes on the little princess, his eyes had already enlarged to the size of rattan balls.

Now, seeing her shy reaction, he was completely in disbelief. He pulled Kairos aside and whispered in his ears, “S... s… son… My son! Where did you meet this little beauty? When are you bringing her home? Is she blind?”

“H... hold up! There’s something wrong with that last part…! And… what’s with your reactions, dad? A..and ..and… And… what do you mean by bringing her home.”

“She’s blind right?” he ignored the questions and asked again, “She must be… that poor girl…”

“Wha.. what do you mean? She is obviously looking at us!”

“But that look in her eyes. She’s definitely in love with you, I’ve seen that look at me in your mother’s eyes. I can’t be wrong… What drug did you feed her?”

“I didn’t drug her! Dad, I have serious things to talk to her… didn’t you want to try out the beverages that Uncle Laksa made?”

“Hah! You little twerp. Are you getting upset at your father for bothering you and your little date? Fine, fine. I’ll excuse myself and go get a drink.”

Kairos barely managed to curb himself from rolling his eyes thanks to the filial piety values instilled in him since young.

Though his old man was curious about why this girl - whose beauty would surely have all the men in the Empire eating out of her hands once she grew up - liked his dull-looking son, he curbed his curiosity and left.

In all of Saint Empire, perhaps only Vouno could say Kairos is plain.

Giving Kairos and Relestia a wink, he went upstairs with a small smile on his face, sighing to himself, “Ahhhh, youth is so wonderful.”

The boy suddenly felt overwhelmingly flustered.

“Lets… go sit down,” he pointed at Ling’er’s side, and the two awkwardly made their way over.

Ling’er had been waiting excitedly for them, and before they even reached, she looked at Kairos and smiled, “A.aa…aaaaaahhh…. Kai…. Ahhh… roost!“

“She’s really happy to see you, Kairos.”

“Ho Ling’er, I’m back for a while, and… heh heh… I’ve got a present for you!”

“Aaaaaaaaaah Ahhhhhh!”

Ling’er trying to express her excitement was not lost on the two, and they burst into smiles.

Then, Relestia looked at Kairos with wide, doe-like, eyes, “Do I get one too?”

“Haha, of course. No one is forgotten!”

In Kairos’ hands, a small frost Kirin and a miniature Greater Water Elemental appeared.

Just staring at how gorgeous the two creatures are, made their eyes sparkled with delight. Adorable and beautiful pets are irresistible for most girls, and Kairos truly wanted the two to be happy.

“… Ummm… Isn’t this the Kirin that followed Calculus down the Beast Taming Mountain?” Relestia who managed to snap herself out of her reverie whispered in Kairos’ ears.