In all the commotion, a woman suddenly whipped out a portrait, her voice absolutely stunned:
This is Ember City’s terrifying prodigy, Master Carlos from the Valois Family!!!"
At these words, plenty of women immediately perked up, pulling out their treasured portraits:
"Heavens! It really is Master Carlos!
Even more perfect than in the portrait!!!"
"Look at those calm eyes—so... so captivating!
The portrait doesn’t do him justice by half!"
"What perfect posture! Every move shows off that noble grace!
While the women were completely smitten, the male psychics suddenly remembered something important:
"If... if I’m remembering right, Master Carlos awakened less than a year ago?"
"Yeah, buddy, you’ve got it right.
Word from Ember City says Master Carlos is only 15 years old!!!"
Months back, Carlos’s double win at Ember City’s ’Ember Competition’ made huge waves, with news even reaching neighboring city-states.
What’s more, talented artists had redrawn Carlos’s heroic competition moments.
Anyone who laid eyes on them was amazed—even divine offspring wouldn’t be any better than this.
Compared to news of another terrifying genius popping up from the Valois Family, these portraits obviously spread like wildfire, causing countless maidens and noble ladies to fight tooth and nail for them with supply nowhere near demand.
Rumors said they even turned up in the distant human south (this was the north).
Everyone gasped as one:
"Such mind-blowing advancement speed!!!"
Though they didn’t know Carlos’s exact Spirit level, they could roughly figure it out from those terrifying skeleton soldiers’ auras.
"Genius... no, a monster straight out of the history books!!!"
This... this is just like divine offspring from fantasy tales!!!"
Behind the Shield Guards, Demi heard the watching folks’ exclamations with total disbelief:
The... the lord is only 15!!!"
No way! Absolutely no way!
So powerful! So dependable! So noble!
Her first reaction was flat-out disbelief.
She quietly shifted to get a side view and finally caught sight of the lord’s appearance.
"Oh! Really... really is..."
Demi’s beautiful eyes went starry, too excited to get words out.
It really was the guy from those portraits that countless maidens and noble ladies in the city had gone absolutely crazy fighting over!
Back then, she’d tearfully blown her entire savings but still couldn’t snag one!
So... so she was already this close to him!!!
She suddenly felt that getting framed might not be such a bad thing after all...
The shocked chatter around him kept hitting his ears, especially those portraits in their hands.
Without even guessing, Carlos knew what they were.
Who was sharp enough business-wise to actually peddle his portraits?
When he got back, he had to track this down and put a stop to it!
Well... probably couldn’t stop it...
Carlos felt a headache coming on...
After Carlos spilled his identity, plenty of spies from various factions in the crowd quietly slipped away to pass along word.
One spy was pumped up beyond belief:
"It’s actually Master Carlos that Lady Sabina specifically told us to keep tabs on!
This news has to get back right away!"
Ember City, Flame Exchange, Top Floor
In thick red mist, countless blood bats fluttered around, with gorgeous rose emblems faintly visible on their wings.
On the rose bed, Sabina lazily sat up, looking around with slightly creased brows:
"These artists paint like amateurs!"
Around the rose bed hung portrait after portrait:
Carlos spreading his Crimson-Gold Feathered Serpent Wings and soaring skyward;
Carlos magnificently commanding skeleton soldiers in battle;
Carlos gracefully and nobly climbing the stage for honors...
"Sigh, not even one ten-thousandth of little bee’s real charm."
Sabina sighed and stuck out a rosy finger.
Blood oozed out, actually forming into a lifelike little figure.
It looked exactly like Carlos, even body details perfectly matched.
"Little bee, why haven’t you come back?"
At her fingertip, the blood-red little figure gently patted the woman’s nose as if offering comfort.
"Come back soon. When you get back, I’ve got a big surprise for you!"
This haul from evolving through blood bats way exceeded what she’d imagined.
That previous light gold quality spirit gear was no longer enough to make up for little bee’s help.
Rock Sand City, Before the Garrison Camp
"You’re Iris’s brother?!"
Commander Marin looked floored.
As city leadership, she knew more of the inside story.
Especially that Iris had successfully advanced to Controller months ago, causing huge waves.
She never expected Iris’s brother’s advancement speed to be even more mind-boggling!
Plus this... graceful bearing, flawless looks.
What a perfect good kid!
Her originally cold gaze immediately warmed up.
"Duke Iris’s Silver Sword title is probably known by everyone throughout the north."
Commander Marin’s eyes sparkled with amusement:
"She’s been crowned the strongest of the new generation!"
"Silver Sword Duke?!"
This was the first time Carlos heard his sister’s title from someone outside the family.
"Alright, let’s head inside.
This isn’t the right spot for chatting."
Commander Marin glanced around, her brow furrowing slightly.
After word of Carlos’s arrival started spreading, more and more residents came to gawk.
Marin didn’t doubt that if they hung around much longer, probably the whole city would show up.
"Such an attention-grabbing kid."
The golden sand pulled back, clearing a path.
Carlos followed inside, Shield Guards close behind, and Demi didn’t hesitate to tag along...
"Ah! Where’s Master Carlos?"
"You’re too late! He already went in!"
"Boo hoo! My heart’s breaking so bad!
Without seeing Master Carlos, my heart’s going to shrivel up and die!!!"
"Don’t worry, Master Carlos will definitely come out again!"
"Quick, go set up tents out front.
I’m camping here until Master Carlos comes out so I can invite him to dinner!"
"Hee hee! Master Carlos!"
"...Miss, act like a lady! Act like a lady!!"
After Carlos went in, some of the gawking folks scattered, but plenty of maidens decided to stick around.
Especially those who’d rushed over after hearing the news but missed seeing Carlos—they looked determined not to give up until they saw their dream guy.
The crowd gathered in front of the camp gate just kept getting bigger.
The gate guards felt awkward being stared at by so many people.
"Should we shoo them away?"
You go ahead and try."
"Good luck with that!!"
Nobody made a move. Among the watching crowd were nobles and psychics.
Way too many of them.
They were scared that after going over there, they’d get jumped on the way home.
Let them watch—it wasn’t their problem anyway.