A Small Request

At the same time, the moment Leona cast her spell, the leader of the black-clothed men had been secretly chanting a spell of his own.

"Control Element: Metal Armor!" A white ball suddenly emerged from the surrounding dimensions forming a rough armour made of pure metal which reflected most of the Bastian's crew attacks.

This happened at such a fast speed, that the bystanders could only react after the armour had been formed.

With their leader's safety guaranteed, the two black-clothed men focused their attention back on the isolated member of Bastian's crew.

On Bastian's side, there were five men including Bastian fighting the leader and the black-clothed men while on the other side, it was a single member of Bastian's crew versus two men from the black-clothed group.

The situation was dangerous for him. Three of his fellow crew members that had failed to ambush the leader of the black-clothed gang immediately sprinted back to protect their comrade.

Fortunately, they arrived in time and gained back their advantage over two black-clothed men, making it three men from Bastian's crew versus two men from the black-clothed group.

The situation became a stalemate for both parties. One man from Bastian's group was unconscious due to his heavy wounds while the other party had one fatality at the hands of Bastian.

.....

Meanwhile, from Desmond's view, he witnessed the magic battle between the people in this world for the first time. His emotions were a mixture of nervousness and curiosity about what would happen in the next moment.

At the same time, a transparent screen was hovering on the side of his view. The screen contained each of the attacker's stats.

[ Name: ??? , ??? , ???

Gender: Male, Male, Male

Age : 30, 31, 32

Race: Human, Human, Human

Class: 1st Swordsman, 1st Swordsman, 1st Swordsman

Occupation: Imperial Empire Assassin, Imperial Empire Assassin, Imperial Empire Assassin

Unique Energy: 10.95, 11.31, 11.68

Strength : 22.00 , 23.00, 21.00

Agility : 20.00, 20.00, 20.00

Stamina : 2.00, 2.00, 2.00

Trait Effect :

* Greed (Common)

*Cruelty (Common)

* Lust (Common) ]

Most of them had the same class as his father and his crew, but to his surprise Desmond discovered the duo who fought five of his father's crewmates were actually 2nd class swordsmen.

The situation was now reversed, his father and the rest of his crew were healed by his mother's magic. Even the deep wound from the dagger had magically vanished.

But, the Imperial Empire Assassins?! Desmond was stunned inwardly.

The matter of his family offending the higher ups in this kingdom seemed to have reached a crucial point, to the point of sending assassins after them.

Suddenly Desmond's memories flashed with words from the assassin's mouth. He tried to remember again and finally realised.

A former noble!

His whole guess was wrong from the start. It seems like his mother carried something important to the point where a kingdom hunted her and her family.

"Expert Spell: Magic Break," Suddenly a voice sounded from outside the dimension. The dark sky that enveloped and separated the real world began to collapse.

When Bastian and his group returned to the real world, they and the black-clothed men were surrounded by several soldiers with their weapons pointed at them.

"Surrender now!" An old man was seen standing in front of those soldiers. He was wearing a robe that revealed his muscled chest. His white hair fluttered in the air while he caressed his white beard and looked between Bastian and the black-clothed men.

"What an interesting party. What are these dogs from the Imperial Empire doing in my kingdom?!" The old man spoke and glared at the leader of the black-clothed men.

Suddenly as if they were afraid of him, one by one those assassins started to run, the leader was chanting a spell but in the next moment, something happened that shocked and made the people look at the old man with admiration.

"Expert Spell: Bind!" A chain formed from the surrounding natural white energy. It tied the entire body of the leader and made his complexion instantly pale. He looked at the old man with killing intent as the energy refused his command every time he tried to chant.

"Soldier, catch the rest!" the soldiers that surrounded Bastian and his family instantly vanished from the spot. Instead of vanishing, they were actually running at a fast speed, comparable to the speed of a superhuman.

Desmond was staring at the old man with mixed emotions. He was rather doubtful whether to scan him or not. But on second thought, he was just a baby which makes it impossible for him to be a suspect, right?

System, scan that person, Desmond commanded with uncertainty.

[Scanning the target...]

For the first time Desmond was nervous while waiting for the scanning progress. Maybe because the old man gave him a strong impression of how powerful a powerhouse in this world is.

"Hello, Lady Leona." While Desmond's mind was occupied, the old man greeted his mother who looked nervous and glanced at her husband.

"Hello, Grandmaster Weston. It is nice to meet you," Instead of Leona, Bastian stepped forward nervously. He understood his wife's feelings and could not help but ready himself for a sudden battle while signalling his crew to prepare for a battle.

The name 'Grandmaster Weston' had widely spread among the humans. No one could forget how his appearance was and how his achievements had elevated him to such a status.

"Hoho, you know me, young man," On the other hand, Weston lightly chuckled. He peeked at Leona and found her bowing to him.

"I'm sorry for the discomfort. We have been careless this time, letting the dogs of the Imperial Empire dare to cause a mess in our territory." As Weston spoke, he also glanced at the little girl hiding behind her father.

"May I know your name?" Weston added.

Maybe because they were too afraid and cautious of Weston, Bastian even forgot a basic manner in conversation. "My apologies. My name is Bastian, Leona's husband and these are our children, Alice and Desmond."

At that very moment, while Leona was casting her spell, the enigmatic leader of the black-clothed men concealed his actions with a clandestine chant of his own.

"Control Element: Metal Armor!" The incantation echoed through the air, and in a flash, a brilliant white sphere materialized from the depths of the surrounding dimensions. It swiftly took shape, forming a formidable suit of armor crafted entirely from gleaming metal. The armor's surface mirrored the assault of Bastian's crew, deflecting the majority of their attacks with ease.

The astonishing speed at which this transpired left the onlookers momentarily stunned, their reactions lagging behind the swift manifestation of the protective armor.

With their leader now shielded from harm, the two black-clothed men redirected their attention towards the lone member of Bastian's crew who stood isolated and vulnerable.

On Bastian's side, five determined men, including Bastian himself, engaged in a fierce clash with the leader and his accomplices. Meanwhile, on the opposing side, a single member of Bastian's crew valiantly confronted the two menacing figures donned in black.

The situation grew increasingly perilous for the lone crew member, and with a sense of urgency, three of his comrades who had initially failed in their ambush sprinted back to shield their imperiled ally.

Fortuitously, their timely arrival granted them a renewed advantage, outnumbering the black-clothed adversaries. The scales now tipped, with three of Bastian's crew pitted against two members of the sinister faction.

An impasse ensued, both parties locked in a precarious stalemate. One of Bastian's men lay unconscious, grievously wounded from the battle, while the black-clothed faction suffered the loss of one of their own, felled by Bastian's unyielding hand.

Meanwhile, Desmond, an observer from afar, bore witness to his first-ever magical skirmish in this unfamiliar world. Nervous anticipation mingled with a curiosity that compelled him to wonder what would unfold in the ensuing moments.

Simultaneously, a translucent screen materialized before Desmond's eyes, displaying detailed information about each combatant involved.

[ Name: ??? , ??? , ???

Gender: Male, Male, Male

Age: 30, 31, 32

Race: Human, Human, Human

Class: 1st Swordsman, 1st Swordsman, 1st Swordsman

Occupation: Imperial Empire Assassin, Imperial Empire Assassin, Imperial Empire Assassin

Unique Energy: 10.95, 11.31, 11.68

Strength: 22.00 , 23.00, 21.00

Agility: 20.00, 20.00, 20.00

Stamina: 2.00, 2.00, 2.00

Trait Effect:

* Greed (Common)

* Cruelty (Common)

* Lust (Common) ]

To Desmond's surprise, most of the combatants shared the same class as his father and their crew. However, his astonishment peaked when he discovered that the duo who had fiercely battled five of his father's crewmates were, in fact, second-class swordsmen.

In a stunning turn of events, the tides had shifted. His father and the rest of the crew had been rejuvenated by his mother's enchantments. Even the deep wounds inflicted by the dagger had mysteriously vanished.

But the Imperial Empire Assassins! The revelation left Desmond dumbfounded, a storm of emotions raging within him.

The gravity of his family's transgressions against the kingdom's higher echelons seemed to have escalated to a critical juncture, prompting the dispatch of assassins to hunt them down.

Suddenly, fragmented memories surged through Desmond's mind, piecing together the words he had heard from the assassin's lips. He strained to recall, and finally, it dawned on him.

A former noble!

His initial assumptions had been completely askew. It appeared that his mother carried something of paramount importance, a burden that had triggered the kingdom's relentless pursuit of her and their entire family.

Then, piercing through the suspense-laden air, a voice from beyond the dimensions reverberated, commanding attention.

"Expert Spell: Magic Break!" The declaration resounded, resonating with a mix of authority and audacity. As the words materialized, the once ominously darkened sky that cloaked and isolated the realm began to crumble, giving way to a cascading collapse.

As Bastian and his group materialized back in the real world, their surroundings were transformed into a tense tableau. They found themselves encircled by a contingent of soldiers, their weapons poised with unwavering determination.

"Surrender now!" commanded an elderly man who stood at the forefront of the soldiers. Clad in a robe that exposed his robust chest, his white hair billowed in the air as he stroked his flowing beard, his piercing gaze shifting between Bastian and the black-clothed men.

"How intriguing. What brings these hounds of the Imperial Empire into my kingdom?!" The old man's words dripped with a mixture of curiosity and contempt as he locked his eyes on the leader of the black-clothed men.

Yet, in an unexpected turn of events, a sudden fear seemed to grip the assassins, causing them to scatter one by one. The leader desperately attempted to cast a spell, but the next moment sent shockwaves through the onlookers, their gazes now filled with awe and reverence directed towards the old man.

"Expert Spell: Bind!" With an authoritative decree, a chain materialized from the surrounding ethereal white energy. It swiftly ensnared the entirety of the leader's body, draining the color from his complexion in an instant. Despite his piercing glare filled with murderous intent, every attempt he made to invoke his powers was futile, as the energy rebelled against his commands.

"Soldiers, apprehend the others!" The soldiers who had encircled Bastian and his family seemed to vanish in a blur, their movements akin to those of superhumans as they sprinted with astounding speed.

Desmond found himself gazing at the old man, his emotions in tumultuous disarray. Uncertainty gnawed at him, torn between the urge to scan the enigmatic figure and the awareness that, as a mere infant, he posed no real threat.

"System, scan that person," Desmond commanded hesitantly, his voice betraying his trepidation.

[Scanning the target...]

The wait for the scanning results proved to be a nerve-wracking experience for Desmond. The mere presence of the old man had left an indelible impression of sheer power and prowess, creating a sense of apprehension within him.

"Hello, Lady Leona." Amidst Desmond's internal turmoil, the old man greeted his mother, who appeared visibly anxious, stealing glances at her husband.

"Hello, Grandmaster Weston. It is a pleasure to meet you," Bastian, understanding his wife's unease, stepped forward nervously. Aware of the tense atmosphere, he subtly signaled his crew to prepare for any sudden escalation, their senses heightened in anticipation of an imminent battle.

The name 'Grandmaster Weston' had reverberated throughout human society, his reputation far-reaching. None could forget his imposing figure or the magnitude of his accomplishments, which had earned him his exalted status.

"Hoho, you recognize me, young man," Weston chuckled lightly, his gaze shifting towards Leona, who respectfully bowed in his presence.

"I apologize for the disturbance we have caused. We were careless, allowing the Imperial Empire's dogs to wreak havoc within our borders," Weston spoke, his gaze momentarily falling upon the young girl concealed behind her father.

"May I inquire as to your name?" Weston inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Caught off guard by the weight of the moment and the overwhelming presence of Weston, Bastian momentarily forgot the most basic etiquette in conversation. "My apologies. I am Bastian, Leona's husband, and these are our children, Alice and Desmond."

Bastian's heart skipped a beat as Weston's inquisitive eyes lingered on his daughter and son. His gaze instinctively shifted beyond Weston, where an imposing array of soldiers stood, fully clad in armor, their weapons trained on them, silently conveying a warning against any rash actions.

It appeared that the initial misunderstanding had been resolved, and the captured assassins were now under the control of the soldiers, their weapons lowered in a sign of newfound peace.

However, Bastian couldn't shake the feeling that something significant hung in the air when Weston's piercing gaze shifted towards Desmond, his son.

"Hoho. Your son seems to possess a unique destiny intertwined with our kingdom. How about we engage in a conversation about your family's future plans?" Weston suggested, a glimmer of intrigue dancing in his eyes.

Bastian's parents exchanged a meaningful glance, their unspoken communication conveying the weight of their predicament. It was evident to Desmond that they had little choice but to accept Weston's proposition.

They found themselves in unfamiliar territory, with Weston having just come to their aid against the assassins. It would be deemed impolite and unwise to reject his seemingly modest request.