Novel Full Chapter 873: Troubles
Chapter 873: Troubles
Michael immediately activated his inspect skill.
[Item Name]: Emperor’s Aegis Shell
[Grade]: Extraordinary Grade – ★★★
[Durability]: 92%
[Effect]:
• When activated, the shell releases a defensive barrier that expands into a dome-shaped shield.
• The barrier can withstand attacks equivalent to a Peak Rank 3 for up to 60 seconds at full energy before entering a cooldown period.
[Cooldown]: Dependent on energy recovery. It can be activated as long as there is energy.
[Activation Requirement]: Mana Infusion
[Description]:
A defensive treasure crafted by the Imperial Artificers of the Black Serpent Empire and bestowed upon members of the royal bloodline. The artifact converts mana into a stable layered barrier capable of resisting overwhelming force for a short duration. Though limited in time, its defensive performance ranks among the finest treasures within the Extraordinary Grade.
Michael read through the panel once more before dismissing it.
As for what he did with the treasure afterward, the answer was simple.
Of course he took it.
Heck yeah he took it.
A treasure was a treasure.
Especially one at this grade.
Michael had absolutely no reason to leave something like that lying around. Even if the artifact itself was not particularly useful for him, that did not reduce its value.
Three-star extraordinary grade treasures were not common.
Many would fight over something like this.
Just because he did not need it personally did not mean others would not.
If nothing else, it could still serve other purposes.
He could trade it.
Use it as leverage.
Or simply keep it stored away.
Heck, if he really wanted, he could even give it to his cousin someday.
The thought made the corner of his mouth twitch faintly before he stored the artifact away.
Once the treasure disappeared into his storage, Michael finally turned his attention back to the ruined battlefield.
He swept the area one more time with his perception.
Everything looked clean.
Satisfied, Michael finally relaxed.
Without wasting any more time, Michael bent his knees slightly.
Then his body shot upward.
The wind roared around him as he rose into the air once more.
Within moments, he was already back where Arianne and the others were waiting.
After the empire’s plan was ruined, there was nothing stopping anyone inside the realm from leaving, as the resistance they felt from the realm grew increasingly stronger as the minutes passed.
Outside the realm, a commotion was ongoing in one of the flying ships in the forest.
It was the empire’s ship.
Inside a room within the ship, several figures stared at a projection.
The atmosphere inside the chamber had turned heavy.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then one of the officials slowly turned his head toward the projection figure.
"...Repeat what you just said."
The voice was low but sharp.
"The Emperor has issued a direct inquiry. He wishes to know what happened to Prince Rui that caused his life cycle to extinguish."
For a second, the room went completely silent.
Then another figure suddenly stepped forward, his expression furious.
"Enough!"
His voice echoed sharply through the chamber.
"Eunuch Liang, this is not the time for jokes."
The man’s eyes burned with irritation.
"The prince is still inside the realm. With his means and the strength of the teammates accompanying him, there should not be anything inside that place capable of harming him."
His voice hardened further.
"Let alone killing him."
The man called Eunuch Liang did not react immediately.
His thin eyes swept slowly across the room.
There was no anger in his expression.
"Do you think I would lie about something like this?"
His voice was calm but carried a faint chill.
The officials remained silent.
No one answered.
Everyone in the room understood exactly what the projection represented.
The life cycle was not an ordinary monitoring tool.
It was a special treasure.
Each royal descendant had a fragment of their life essence bound to a corresponding thread within the artifact. The thread reflected the vitality of the individual it represented.
As long as the owner lived, the thread would continue circulating with stable energy.
If the owner suffered injury, the thread would weaken.
If the owner died, the thread would vanish entirely.
The life cycle artifact had been used by the empire for generations to monitor the safety of its most important members. Many great factions across the world possessed similar treasures for the same purpose.
Because of that, there was only one conclusion when a life thread disappeared.
It was almost never a mistake.
Eunuch Liang’s gaze finally settled back onto the projection.
Prince Rui’s thread was gone completely.
Which meant only one thing.
He was dead.
The eunuch slowly clasped his hands behind his back.
"Regardless of your disbelief, the Emperor has already issued his order."
His voice remained calm.
"You will investigate what happened inside the realm."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"By any means necessary."
The projection flickered.
Then it disappeared.
The light that had illuminated the chamber faded, leaving only the dim glow of the ship’s interior lamps.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
The silence in the room was heavy.
Finally, one of the men spoke.
"...This makes no sense."
His voice was quieter than before.
"Nothing inside should have been capable of killing the prince."
Another official frowned deeply.
"Unless something unexpected occurred."
"Or someone interfered," another added grimly.
The room fell silent again.
Someone interfering inside the realm was not impossible.
But it would require strength.
The man who had earlier shouted about the impossibility of Rui’s death rubbed his temples.
"If this news spreads, the imperial court will erupt."
No one disagreed.
The death of a royal prince was not a small matter.
One of the older officials slowly crossed his arms.
"The realm is still active. The participants have not yet fully returned."
His gaze swept across the others.
Another figure nodded slowly.
"We interrogate everyone who comes out."
"No exceptions."
A third man added coldly, "Anyone who refuses cooperation will know our wrath."
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