The Chronicles Of New Havens

Given the time until they reached the Xingyuu Empire, the slave trader did not rush to get even. He wanted to thoroughly plan out how he was going to torture them. He considered returning to the Alzar Kingdom with how he was transporting a person highly wanted by the military. However, he decided against it. He may be able to fool one dunce, but what were the chances he could do the same with the next? More importantly, his pockets were nearly empty. Even if the Whispering Shadow provided a great deterrence, ultimately, money was the key! The greed of humans was unfathomably deep. Since his trump card was gone, he had to forge ahead to the Xingyuu Empire. Once he was there, he needed to thoroughly erase all traces of that girl!

In the days since they encountered the roaming Alzar fleet, they had not met with anyone else. The Maelstrom Gulf spanned a decent portion of the Desterina Ocean, but given the truly enormous scope of the war, even the Alzar Kingdom could not keep their eyes everywhere. Therefore, the trader was not particularly surprised. He thought his luck was fairly good. Unfortunately, when the ship entered Xingyuu waters, a sizable fleet approached them. The trader wanted to flee at first sight, yet he knew this would only draw over more suspicion. The Xingyuu fleet was not like the Alzar fleet. He was confident there was no one onboard wanted by the Xingyuu Empire. As such, he allowed the sh.i.p.s to surround him.

"What can I do for you?" the trader wondered with a subservient bow.

"No vessels are allowed near the Hoigon Bay. I will have to ask you to turn around and leave."

"Of course, may I know the reason why?"

"That isn't up for you to know," the soldier scoffed. "Turn around or we'll sink you on the spot."

The trader gripped his fists tightly. Just as he was about to speak up, someone leisurely walked up and spoke, "I am Imperial Sentinel Huangfu Mu on direct orders from the Imperial Council. This is my identity token. From now on, I'll be taking command of this fleet in my capacity as an Imperial Sentinel." It was none other than the leader of the Imperial Sentinels who captured Elizabeth!

"You…" the trader started to say.

Huangfu snickered and his sword flickered. Before anyone could notice, he had instantaneously cut off the head of the trader! Blood spurted across the deck like a fountain. With a flick of his wrist, he shot the blood off the blade before sheathing it again. The Xingyuu soldiers felt their hearts beating with trepidation. As if all lives were firmly in his grasp, anyone could be killed without resistance! This was the domineering might of an Imperial Sentinel, a Perception Realm expert! Huangfu wanted to keep low-profile until he reached the mainland, but now that the Xingyuu Empire was here to greet him, how could he not take this opportunity? Moreover, the trader was not headed directly to the Yunyun Stronghold. This would undoubtedly be better.

"Besides these four, kill everyone else on board," he said, gesturing to Elizabeth and her friends.

Elizabeth was seething with hatred, such that even the soldiers were feeling some apprehension. But after recalling the sight of Huangfu instantly killing the trader, their reservations washed away. Between a young harmless girl and an Imperial Sentinel, the choice was obvious. The soldiers boarded the ship, brandished their weapons, and promptly slaughtered everyone. The slaves screamed in panic as the soldiers descended on them. Whether they were armed or not, surrendered or not, weak or not, they were executed without mercy. Such was the way of a soldier! Before long, the deck was dyed in crimson red, bodies were strewn everywhere, and the stench of death permeated through the air.

"Good," Huangfu nodded. "Sink the ship, but don't use fire."

Fire would release smoke, which was highly visible in the horizon. On the off chance that the Alzar fleet was looking in this direction, he did not take any chances. As he commanded, he and his captives joined the fleet. Holes were punched into the underside of the ship, slowly filling the bottom deck with water. As time went by, the ship started losing buoyancy before finally sinking to the depths of the ocean. Every trace was thoroughly destroyed!

"With this, even if the Alzar Kingdom catches wind, it'll be too late," he sneered. "Set sail for the Yunyun Stronghold! We'll be returning with a big present!"

***

Two girls were standing quietly on a fortress wall. Their extraordinary beauty and perfectly composed exteriors were unparalleled, such that anyone could not help but feel swayed. Their clothes rippled with exquisite allure, proudly displaying the power and wealth that these two girls commanded. They were staring into the horizon of the Maelstrom Gulf, silently pondering, with a small group of Imperial Sentinels guarding them from quite a distance away. However, the Imperial Sentinels found this act natural and did not say anything. From this, it could be seen that the girls were of an extraordinary background! The Yunyun Stronghold stood behind as a towering symbol of Xingyuu might!

"To think that the heir of the Alzar Kingdom would be found like this," a girl shook her head.

"Sister, are you sure about this?"

"Until we find out who they are, this is the only thing we can do."

"Even so, we know that…"

"Hush, my little sister. We shouldn't speak about such matters so openly," the girl reprimanded.

"Alright, I understand. I only hope that Tai and Chang haven't gotten into any trouble."

After silently waiting for an hour, a flurry of sh.i.p.s began appearing in the distant horizon. Only at this point did someone else approach the two girls. It was a tall blonde woman wearing emerald green dress with a short blue jacket. Forming the colors of the Xingyuu Empire, it was a uniform of the Imperial Council! She wore a sophisticated aura and walked with short, precise steps. With a curvaceous body that did not fail over time, it was a m.a.t.u.r.e contrast to the two young ladies. Her eyes were dark and oddly hypnotic, such that anyone could easily lose themselves in its vivid depth.

"What a surprise to see the two Imperial Princesses here," the woman remarked.

"If there is something that the Minister of Information does not know, that would truly be a surprise," the older sister smoothly replied.

The girl was the second tallest out of the three. She had long straight black hair that was tied into an elegant bun, pinned in place by a golden hair ornament. A second hair ornament made of jade and forged into lotus speared through the bun. She had pale skin as white as snow. A blue dress tightly wrapped around her features from head to toe, amplifying her beauty several times over. Every part of her mirrored the definition of refined. Subtly elegant described her well. Having a disposition of a scholar, she was Princess Ming Tzu!

"Surely you jest," the Minister humbly answered. "Good afternoon to you as well, Princess Xiuying."

"To you as well, Minister Linshi."

The last girl was the younger sister of Princess Ming sporting the same lavish black hair of her sister. Instead of a bun, it was expertly knotted behind her head with three jade hairpins. She wore a loose-fitting blue and green dress, embroidered with golden silk, which helped enhance her voluptuous figure. Unlike Princess Ming who wore a stoic face and rarely showed her emotions, Princess Xiuying's face was gentler and more amicable. One could not help but loosen up around her. A beautifully crafted sabre hung at her side reminded onlookers that she was not as simple as she seemed! She was Princess Xiuying Tzu and together with Princess Ming, the two were the Twin Imperial Princesses of the Xingyuu Empire!

Despite the friendly greetings on the surface, they spoke no more. Xiuying and Ming returned their gazes to the incoming Xingyuu sh.i.p.s as Linshi smiled, joining them. The arctic winds were the only noises, bringing a strangely tense and chilling breeze to the fortress walls. But the three paid it no heed. Below, the sh.i.p.s dropped anchor. Elizabeth had officially arrived in the Xingyuu Empire!