Chapter 444 - 301: Treacherous and Unpredictable

The mysterious Xi Ang had suddenly departed while the High Cliff Castle convoy was en route. At the time, the Lord was naturally overjoyed and agreed without a second thought.

Frankly, he had no desire to get involved with such mysterious folks.

He just never expected them to pay a sudden visit. It startled the Lord and made him wonder who on earth they really were.

"Come on, let’s go see what’s happening." Levi clapped his hands, took the lead, and strode outside with powerful, confident steps.

Carrying the lingering hot wind with them, the group poured into a room in the outer part of High Cliff Castle, one designated for receiving visitors.

But the moment he pushed the door open, the Lord froze on the spot.

Sitting in the room was a peerless beauty with a cascade of silver hair. She looked to be twenty-five or twenty-six at most, and her face was a near-perfect match for Sophia’s, as if they were cast from the same mold. It was clear at a glance that they were blood relatives.

A knot formed in the Lord’s stomach. He thought he’d been found out for conning Sophia and almost turned tail and ran.

Fortunately, he had seen enough of the world to steel himself and suppress the urge. "And you are?" he asked, his expression carefully neutral.

She was in the middle of taking a very dignified sip of hot tea. Upon seeing the crowd of people that had just stormed in, she simply offered a faint smile. "Does Levi not recognize me anymore?"

’Where did the boss pick up another woman?’ Zat muttered under his breath. ’I’ve already lost count of the women with complicated ties to the boss; I never thought there’d be another one.’

"Xi Ang?" Levi asked tentatively.

"To be precise, my full name is Sivia Anse Ledesma. Xi Ang is merely the name for another identity." A serene smile remained on Sivia’s face, but her casual words struck everyone present like a thunderclap. She continued, "Thank you, Levi, for taking care of Sophia for so long. She is my daughter."

One by one, the various leaders of High Cliff Castle stared in confusion at Sophia, who was hiding behind them. ’Did her parents just show up?’

Sophia was even more bewildered than they were.

Seeing everyone’s shocked faces, Levi frowned. ’Is this really such a big deal?’ he thought. ’You all look like a bunch of country bumpkins who’ve never seen anything.’ He snapped his jaw shut and waved his hand. "Sophia and Tina, you stay. The rest of you, wait outside."

"It’s over. The boss is toast now." As he was leaving, Zat the Beastman Barbarian said this, gloating. He was then rewarded by the Lord with a kick to the gut that sent him flying into a snowdrift, with only his butt sticking out.

In an instant, only four people remained in the spacious room.

"Mother~" Sophia, who had been hiding in the back enjoying the show, now looked like a small child who had done something wrong. She lowered her head, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, not daring to look directly into the brilliant eyes of the Silver Dragon Queen before her.

After all, it had been almost a year since she had secretly slipped away from Dragon Island to come to High Cliff Castle. Now that her mother had personally come looking for her, it was hard for her not to feel uneasy.

However, the expected scolding never came. Sivia just stroked her head and smiled gently. "Sophia, you’ve matured a great deal. I’m so pleased."

At these words, Sophia instantly and proudly puffed out her sizable chest.

Levi and Baisitina stood to the side, doing their best to look inconspicuous. This was a reunion between mother and daughter; there was no room for them to interject.

The two could only communicate with their eyes, waiting for the right moment to speak.

"To be honest, Levi, you don’t need to be so nervous. Just think of me as a mother who is worried about her daughter’s safety," Sivia said, turning to smile at the Lord.

’An adult Silver Dragon, with frighteningly powerful Magic, at least Legendary-tier... she could destroy half a city with a single Dragon Breath. Who could possibly stay calm in front of someone like that?’

Levi complained endlessly in his mind, but on his face was a slight smile. "Actually, Lady Sivia, you have no need to worry. I daresay there is no place in Debei safer than High Cliff Castle."

"That, I do believe." Sivia gave the young man a long, searching look. He was so young, yet his power was undeniably at the Legendary level.

Even she found herself taking a second look.

"I saw your performance at White Bone Fortress. For a human, you are a genius unlike any I have ever met. I see in you qualities like courage, fearlessness, justice, and generosity. You are truly unique. I’d even say that Sophia has grown so much entirely because of your tutelage."

"Is that so." Even the thick-skinned Lord couldn’t help but blush at the praise. "It’s nothing," he said, waving his hand humbly. "Just a matter of fate."

"Hmph, Levi isn’t generous at all! He’s always docking my pay." Hearing her mother praise Levi’s generosity, Sophia was instantly displeased. Only after she spoke did she realize her mistake and hastily covered her mouth.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Sivia asked, somewhat surprised, "Sophia, you earn a wage?"

"You’ve been away for so long, you must have earned a lot of money, right?"

"No! No!" The Silver Dragon Maiden shook her head frantically.

"Then what are you clutching that little pouch for?" Sivia asked with a beaming smile, her eyes fixed on the small bag on Sophia’s back.

"What do you think you’re doing?" As if guarding against a thief, the deep mother-daughter affection from a moment ago vanished without a trace. The Silver Dragon Maiden jumped directly behind the Lord, poking her small head out with a wary expression.

After all, this pouch didn’t just have the money she earned working at High Cliff Castle! It also had the reward Levi promised her recently—a whole forty-five Gold Coins, eighty silver coins, and sixty copper coins!