After thoroughly thinking about the pros and cons of staying here instead of going to the Secret Realm, Lucy and Arthur decided to go. The only missing was Makaze, which still wasn't returned to its owner. Although Arthur was unaware of the Nameless Knight's motives, he wished Makaze will be back before he enters the dragon's Secret Realm.

His cultivation will be reduced, so will his stats. Having Makaze will increase the probability of surviving in case something happens.

There's also the Holy Dominion which wouldn't give up so easily. There are so many prying eyes and be discovered will cause a lot of troubles to him. His real appearance must never be known as 'X' will come for him and he isn't strong enough to fight an Overgod. Furthermore, 'X' is an Overgod who excels at manipulating Time, so it's even more troublesome to deal with him.

Currently, Arthur was wearing the bracelet he crafted yesterday and accompanying Lucy. They were roaming the Imperial City and checking the artifact shops, seeking a soul-protecting item. Such a thing is usually priceless and hard to find, even Losha didn't have one.

Thought their efforts were bound to be in vain, they still decided to try, at least. Fortunately, no one recognized them, especially Arthur, so they enjoyed their undisturbed time.

"Customer! Here! Look at this recording!"

An excited middle-aged man presented a recording crystal Lucy, who curiously activated it only to a small three seconds clip of a dark white tiger fighting an old man.

"Yeah! It's as you guessed!"

He licked his lips as he proceeded to talk about the legendary fight that occurred a few days ago. However, Lucy wasn't interested so she quickly left, not wanting to continue hearing the man's rambling. The cute boy following her was awfully silent but his eye would sometimes shine with a beautiful blue light. He resembled a timid young man as he held his big sister's hand and followed her hand.

If one would know the person inside that boy, they would piss their pants in fear.

Though more and more people kept coming to the Imperial Capital, the couple's residence was calm and silent. The two would either enjoy their time in cuddling or meditate. No one disturbed them and the opening of the dragon's lair was approaching.

…

At the entrance of the Imperial Capital, a large group of Holy Knights wasn't able to enter as a short middle-aged man who looked like a homeless person was blocking their way. He wore an old straw hat and was nonchalantly eating an apple.

The leader of this group, who was a beautiful woman, angrily glared at the man named Dan, clearly demanding an explanation. This woman was a Deacon and was in charge of this party. Just behind this woman was a blond-woman who had a complicated expression on her face. It was none other than Delia.

"What? You're staring at me so intensely, I can't help but feel loved!"

The middle-aged man hugged his arms and moaned in pleasure, causing the deacon to feel disgusted.

"Will you be able to handle the consequences?"

Her tone was threatening yet the man still didn't care. He spat some of the apple's seeds at the feet of the deacon while shrugging his shoulders

"Go tell that to his Highness."

Although this group of Holy Knights was strong, they can't force their way with this man's presence. Moreover, even if they could, the prince won't tolerate anyone who dares to act against him.

No matter how influential and strong they are, they can't escape unscathed from the prince's territory.

"We're just here to catch an evil cultivator, in fact, we're doing you a favor. Why are you being difficult?"

Han ignored her as he enjoyed his apple and only after finishing it did he reply

"We never asked you to do us a favor. Evil cultivator or whatnot, you were the guys who caused trouble first when it was clearly known that fighting is prohibited in the capital. Now, bugger off."

He waved his hand, causing more than thirty people to be pushed back more than fifty meters. The deacon kept glaring at him for a few minutes before turning around and disappearing from the area.

Seeing this, Dan chuckled and mumbled

"What a bunch of annoying flies."

**************

Around seven years ago, just when 'X' visited the tortured Arthur and proposed that enticing deal to him, another commotion occurred in a place none other than Heaven itself!

The place was turned upside down when merely two individuals brazenly entered it and shortly arrived at where Fate resided.

Fate, which a thing that controls many things and is behind many events, was actually a woman. A woman whose beauty is unmatchable, the very definition of a fairy or a goddess. Yet this woman was currently breathing heavily as she was suffocating.

Her usually pretty face was flushed red and her neck was being held by a pale hand. The person holding her neck and raising her body above ground showed no mercy as he stared at her with cold and chilling eyes. Even someone as powerful as Fate, couldn't do a thing against him.

Her body wriggled but to no avail, she was like a headless chicken who wanted to escape from a tiger.

"You've got two minutes. You either do it or I kill you."

Hearing this, the woman remained unfazed, she tried chuckling only for an agonizing pain to assault her. A thick black sword impaled her to the wall behind her, piercing her from her upper chest all the way to her stomach, vertically.

"In this world, there's nothing I can't kill."

Just when the young man said that, several angels appeared out of nowhere, each and every one of them was powerful. There was even one who had four pairs of wings. Unfortunately, before they could move or say anything, their heads fell from their bodies.

Just behind the young man, there appeared a tall man with a weird white costume. He was holding a bloodied card while snickering.

The woman, Fate, continuously coughed mouthfuls of blood yet the young man, who was clad in a black armor, didn't seem he was going to remove the sword.

"I c-can't do… th-that"

The Joker, hearing her say that, laughed and retorted

"Sure you can. You've done it many times, so hurry your ass up."

Thirty seconds passed yet the woman remained stubborn. Seeing this, The Nameless Knight let go of the sword, which was still impaling the woman and stretched his hand to her face. Seeing the world suddenly turned into complete darkness, the woman's pale face became even paler.

"S-stop… I, I will do i-it."

His hand stopped mid-way then was retracted. The woman closed her eyes and tried her best to abide by their wishes even when she's in such a critical condition.

What they asked of her wasn't a hard thing but for Fate itself to be ordered like that, it's not something she can accept.

She picked the soul of a man who just reincarnated it and threw it in a specific, cast out world. Just as she threw him in that world, she furrowed her brows and was about to investigate something else only for the Joker to appear before her and…

'SLAP'

"AHHHH that felt good."

He and the Nameless Knight disappeared shortly after, leaving a bloodied Fate, who only got up from that puddle of blood after a long time. She couldn't even remember what happened after throwing that reincarnated soul.

********

"What did Dan say?"

Isadore asked Wrath, who was lazing around, as usual.

"The woman is a White Specter but her relationship with the White Specter Clan is unknown. As for their whereabouts, the woman is still in the city though her appearance greatly changed. Arthur, however, disappeared. There is a boy following the woman but Dan said that it couldn't be Arthur."

Isadore thought for a moment before asking again

"Do you think they'll go to the Secret Realm?"

Wrath shook his head and replied

"Very unlikely. Changing appearance won't work in that place, they'll be exposed and weakened, pretty disadvantageous."

Though Wrath said that, lost in a daze, Isadore mumbled

"Nonetheless, such a possibility can't be ruled out."

The Crown Prince, out of habit, tapped his finger on the table as he pondered.

"What of the Kangs?"

When he heard their name, Wrath suddenly got up and said while gritting his teeth

"They're unusually stubborn. They refused to say anything about Arthur and his wife, Lucy. However, The daughter, Emily, knows a few things about them so why don't you send your sister to investigate, they're good friends, after all."

While smiling, Isadore leaned on the chair and nodded his head as if he was contemplating Wrath's idea. Only after a while did he grab a piece of paper and started writing.

"So, what did you decide?"

Curious, Wrath asked the prince only to receive a disappointing answer

"It's unnecessary. Everything will unfold itself sooner or later, we just have to wait."