Although they can stand out among hundreds of people in the competition, they are only the top 32 who can actually enter the palace and be received by His Majesty Larvin. And not all of the top thirty-two will appear. Foreigners like Rego left long ago after being eliminated. The remaining people are basically talents that the Hawke Empire can accept and absorb.
The Military Intelligence Agency also put a lot of effort into investigating the backgrounds of these people, but strangely, people with mysterious origins like Regner and Kordak were not expelled by the Military Intelligence Agency. The report that Larvin received only showed that they were mercenaries who came to the Chino continent from the Lance continent, and did not explain their relationship with the Moon Shadow Thieves Guild and the Mystic Eyes.
Therefore, the people from Regnar's circle who entered the palace this time include Regnar, Kordak, Eberron and Goethe. The four of them got ready early in the morning, and then entered the palace under the leadership of the attendants.
"Oh! Is that statue made of gold? Oh my god, they put it outside for decoration, aren't they afraid of someone stealing it?" Eberron shouted to Regnar in a low voice.
"It's a pity that I wasn't allowed to take the weapon with you this time, otherwise I would have cut off a small piece and no one would notice." Regnar responded with a look of regret.
"Huh, idiot, these things are just gold-plated. If they are really gold, they would have been stolen by those attendants. Then it is your turn to do it?!" Kordak said with a look on his face, "Brother, I am a man who has seen the world. These little brats really don’t understand anything.”
"No, those are really gold. But no one will steal it, because this is the palace, and those attendants would not dare to do anything here even if they are crazy." Goethe finally could only give the standard answer with a look of helplessness, He suddenly realized that it was a bit embarrassing to go out with these three mountain cannons...
"Oh? How do you say this?" Kordak pretended not to be angry when Goethe exposed him, but asked curiously. To be honest, since it was pure gold, he was actually a little tempted. If he could take a piece back with him, he might be able to pay for his food next month.
"Did you see that there?" Goethe pointed to a very tall building with an imperceptible movement, and he continued: "There are people from the palace guard there who are always watching us, and maybe there are members of the Palace Mage Association. .With them here, I’m afraid they will know if you pick a leaf secretly.”
"..." Kordak was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. As a mercenary, he had always had a very keen intuition. From the moment he entered the palace, he always had a strange feeling of being watched. Now after Goethe's guidance, he Only then did I realize what was going on.
"Brother, how do you know so much?" Eberron suddenly asked.
"I have lived in Merindl for a long time, so I still know this." Goethe responded casually. He pulled Eberron, who was still reluctant to leave, and said, "Okay, let's go now. It’s best to say less at first and just do as they say.”
…
Regnar and the others were taken to a very wide hall by the guards, where many people were already sitting here and there. Regnar searched around and found that they were all contestants, but he did not see them. Annelotte.
A few people found a place to sit down, and then started chatting with the people around them.
I don’t know how long it took, but the guards came over to inform them that Emperor Larvin was coming. The contestants who were joking and laughing quickly stood up and put on a serious and respectful look.
When they first met the King of the Hawke Empire, surprise and disappointment flashed through the eyes of almost all the contestants. Is this the man who rules the northern territory of the Chino Continent? Just such a fat guy
Yes, Emperor Larvin's appearance is indeed a bit unflattering. He was tall and fat, and his originally golden hair had begun to fall out, leaving behind a sparse Tianling Gai. Although this guy has thick eyebrows and big eyes in appearance, his broad cheeks and plump lips completely ruined his round face. Regnar couldn't help but feel pity when he saw him. If he could lose weight, he might look like a top-notch middle-aged uncle.
Following Ralphin was Joffrey, the eldest prince of the empire who was in much better shape than his father. He inherited Ralphin's length, but was very lucky not to inherit Ralphin's width, so he was a tall and handsome young man with blond hair. He had a faint smile on his face, and he looked like he would be very popular with girls.
Then there is a slightly thin man, his appearance is unremarkable, and basically no one will notice him. But Regnar was a little surprised, because that person always gave him a somewhat familiar feeling. But he didn't have time to think carefully, because there was another person behind the thin man. She has long ice-blue hair, and she is Annelotte.
"Annie..." Regner originally wanted to take a step forward, but Goethe and Kordak held him back forcefully.
"Look at the occasion, this is not a place for you two to reminisce." Kordak reminded in a low voice, and Goethe on the side also shook his head seriously at him.
Regnar looked at the two of them and finally had no choice but to give up. Yes, she is the proud daughter of the empire and a super star of the Court Mage Association. And what about yourself? He was just a wild kid who accidentally reached the semi-finals due to luck. Now want to speak to Annelotte in front of kings and princes? That would be overestimating one's capabilities!
Obviously they have a very good relationship and are very familiar friends, but because of the presence of some people, he is not even qualified to step forward and say a word. Is this the status gap between people
Regnar stared at Joffrey, who had been surrounding Annelotte and whispering to her. He clenched his fists tightly, and unknowingly, an emotion slowly brewed in his heart. Power and status? If you really need it, go for it!
Larvin led several people to sit at the highest seat in the center of the hall, while Joffrey sat next to him, followed closely by the thin man. Annelotte resumed her identity as a contestant. She walked to both sides of the hall and found an empty spot. I don’t know if she meant it, but the location was right opposite Regna.
The Frost Girl raised her head and glanced at Regnar, then looked at Emperor Larvin silently.
"Okay, stop standing and sit down." Ralphin's tone seemed very easy-going.
"I believe you are all surprised how the king of the empire can be such a fat-headed guy." Larvin first made a self-deprecation.
But no one below dared to laugh at Ralphin's self-mockery. The king looked at everyone, and then said: "Okay, you don't have to be too nervous. Although I have read your information, it is still difficult for me to distinguish the faces of people from With the names matching, please introduce yourselves again, starting from left to right."
"Goethe Müller, the chief instructor of Melinder's Black Steel Martial Arts School, a fourteenth-level fighter, the top thirty-two in this competition." Goethe was the one with the first left hand. He stood up calmly and said respectfully to Larvin After bowing, he introduced briefly.
"Oh? I didn't expect that there could be hidden dragons and crouching tigers in a martial arts gym. As a martial arts instructor, you are a bit underwhelmed." Larvin said with a smile.
Next came Regnar, who knew that Goethe's initiative was actually to set an example for himself. So he followed Goethe's example and introduced: "Lei, a former mercenary from Lance Continent, a level 14 assassin, one of the top four in this competition."
"You are able to have such abilities at such a young age. Your potential is unfathomable. I think besides our champion Annie, the second talent in this competition should be you." Ralphin looked at Lei Genna seemed to say something profound.
Only when Regnar and the fat man looked at each other did he realize the emperor's unruffled aura. Those eyes seemed to be able to see through his own heart, which made Regnar's heart skip a beat. He responded and quickly sat down.
"Kordak, a former Lance continent mercenary, a fifteenth-level warrior, one of the top sixteen in this competition." Kordak also spoke forcefully. He knew that this was Larvin's intention to let them show off themselves. So he also worked very hard.
"Although I didn't watch it, I heard about your game. Your spirit is respectable and your performance was very exciting." Emperor Larvin looked at Kordak with a bit of admiration: "I Remember you were only at level 13 when you competed, and now you are at level 15? Have you made a breakthrough?"
"Yes." Kordak nodded: "I made a breakthrough after that serious injury. I was very lucky to reach a high level."
"Very good, strong strength, and excellent leadership skills... If you are willing, the empire will very much welcome talents like you." Larvin directly invited him, but he was not in a hurry for Kordak to give an answer. , then said: "The next one."
"A... Eberron..." Eberron received the achievement "The First Person with Stage Fright", he stammered: "Twelve-level Ranger... Top eight."
"It seems that our young man is a little nervous." Larvin joked with a smile: "You are also great. I remember that you are the only one among the top eight who is not level 14. This is also very rare."
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty!" Eberron straightened up and said loudly, while Regnar, Kordak and Goethe on the side silently covered their faces.
In this way, every time a person introduced himself, Larvin would say a word or two to him. Either praise or comment on his game. What surprised everyone was that although Larvin didn't say much, every one of his comments was very clear and accurate. This couldn't help but make everyone a little more cautious and reverent towards him, because Ralphin seemed to convey a meaning to them intentionally or unintentionally, that is: I know you, each of you, very well.