Chapter 345: The Prince’s Inquiry

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: The Prince’s Inquiry

Mia had barely vanished into the shadows with the assassin when a heavy knock echoed through the suite.

The women tensed.

Damon raised a hand, signaling calm. He turned toward the door, his expression neutral.

"Who is it?" he called out.

"Prince Alex Solaris," came the reply. "I’d like a word with the Azure Dragon Sect’s captain."

Damon’s eyes flickered toward Lumina.

She stood frozen near the window, her disguise intact but her breathing shallow.

He looked at the floor where the assassin had lain moments ago. A single drop of blood remained.

Damon moved.

He crossed the room in three steps, his foot sliding across the stone to smear the blood into nothing. His hand dipped into his spatial storage pouch, and he pulled out a small jade box.

Then he knelt and pressed his palm against the paralyzed assassin’s chest.

The man’s eyes went wide.

Sorry, Damon thought. But you’re evidence I can’t show yet.

He activated the pouch’s suction.

The assassin vanished into the spatial storage pouch without a sound.

Damon stood, smoothed his robes, and nodded to Ariel.

"Open it."

Ariel pulled the door open.

Prince Alex Solaris stood in the hallway, flanked by four imperial guards in golden armor. He wore a white and gold robe embroidered with the Solaris crest, his silver hair tied back with a simple black ribbon.

He smiled.

It was a practiced, charismatic smile. The kind that had opened countless doors and disarmed countless opponents.

"Captain Damon," he said, stepping inside. "I hope I’m not interrupting."

"Not at all, Your Highness," Damon replied. "We were just discussing tomorrow’s match."

Alex’s eyes swept the room.

They passed over Ariel, Mio, Mia, Seraphina, Flare, Alena, and Selene. Each woman stood at attention, their expressions carefully neutral.

Then his gaze landed on Lumina.

She stood near the window, her head slightly bowed. The disguise necklace hummed with power, projecting the image of a lean young man with sharp features and short golden hair.

Alex’s smile flickered.

For a moment, his eyes narrowed.

Then he looked away.

"I’ve heard impressive things about your team," Alex said, walking toward the center of the room. "Ariel’s water mastery. The twins’ shadow and void techniques. And you, Captain, apparently wield Sword Aura."

Damon didn’t flinch. "The rumors are exaggerated."

"Are they?" Alex turned, his pale blue eyes meeting Damon’s golden ones. "I saw your match against Kai Reventon. You didn’t even break a sweat."

Damon said nothing.

Alex laughed softly. "Modest. I like that."

He continued his circuit of the room, stopping in front of Ariel.

"Miss Aquaria," he said, bowing slightly. "Your performance today was breathtaking. The Sea Princess bloodline suits you well."

Ariel blushed. "Thank you, Your Highness."

Alex’s eyes drifted toward Lumina again.

He took a step closer.

"You must be Lark," he said. "The Sect Leader’s direct disciple. I’ve heard you’re quite skilled with the sword."

Lumina bowed stiffly, her voice pitched low and masculine. "You honor me, Your Highness."

Alex stood inches from her face.

Lumina’s heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it.

But her expression remained calm. Her breathing steady. Her posture perfect.

Alex studied her.

For three full seconds, he said nothing.

Then he smiled.

"You remind me of someone," he said softly.

Lumina’s blood ran cold.

"But I’m sure it’s nothing," he added, stepping back. "The mind plays tricks under pressure."

He turned to Damon.

"Captain, I came here to deliver a warning."

Damon’s expression hardened. "I’m listening."

Alex’s smile faded.

"The Royal Family has received reports of demonic cultivation in Solaris City," he said. "Dark techniques. Forbidden arts. We will not tolerate them within our borders."

He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air like a drawn blade, the silence stretching between them.

"Some say the Reventon family is involved."

Damon said nothing, his golden eyes fixed on the prince with unreadable stillness.

Alex’s eyes locked with his, searching for any crack in that stoic facade.

"If you know something, Captain, now would be the time to speak."

The room fell silent, the air thick with unspoken tension.

Damon met the prince’s gaze without flinching, his expression carved from stone, his breathing steady and calm.

"I know the Reventon family tried to poison our water supply tonight," he said. "I have the assassin in my storage pouch as proof."

Alex’s eyebrows rose.

"I was going to hand him over to the tournament officials," Damon continued. "But since you’re here, Your Highness, consider it a gift."

He pulled the spatial pouch open and dumped the paralyzed assassin onto the floor.

The man landed with a thud.

Alex stared at him for a long moment.

Then he laughed.

"Captain Damon," he said, shaking his head. "You are full of surprises."

He gestured to his guards, who grabbed the assassin and hauled him out of the room.

Alex turned back to Damon.

"Consider this matter handled," he said. "The Reventon family will face consequences."

"Will they?" Damon asked. "Or will they buy their way out?"

Alex’s smile returned, but there was no warmth in it.

"That depends on what you find in the finals," he said. "Win the tournament, Captain. Then we’ll talk."

He walked toward the door, then paused.

"Oh, and Captain?"

Damon looked up.

"Keep your people close," Alex said. "The Reventons aren’t the only ones who play dirty."

He stepped out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor before fading into silence.

The heavy wooden door clicked shut behind him, sealing the suite off from the outside world.

The room fell into a thick, suffocating silence.

The only sound was the crackling of the fireplace and the soft rustle of Lumina’s robes as she trembled.

Damon let out a slow, controlled breath, feeling the tension finally begin to drain from his shoulders.

He rolled his neck, working out the stiffness that had settled there during the confrontation.

Across the room, Lumina’s hands were shaking. Her knuckles were white, her fingers curled into tight fists against the fabric of her robes.

Her disguise held, but her pale blue eyes were wide, unfocused, haunted by the near miss.

Damon crossed the room in three quick strides and gently took her hand, his warm fingers enveloping her cold, trembling ones.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his golden eyes searching her face.

She nodded, though her voice came out as barely a whisper. "He almost recognized me. I could see it in his eyes—he was so close."

"But he didn’t," Damon said firmly, his thumb tracing soothing circles on the back of her hand.

She looked up at him then, her cool blue eyes shimmering with deep, heartfelt gratitude. The fear slowly melted away, replaced by something warmer, something vulnerable.

"Because of you," she breathed. "You saved me again."

Damon squeezed her hand, a reassuring smile touching his lips.

"Always."