26 Chapter 26-The Antagonist Comes Knocking?
After sharing a moment of intimate exchange, Alan found the experience quite enjoyable. Queen Agatha's breath carried a unique fragrance, unlike any flower, milk, or musk scent. It was an exceptionally rare bodily aroma, akin to a distinctive scent of a maiden.
However, while Agatha's kissing technique was somewhat unpolished, her full, crimson lips suggested the blooming of a flower bud, ripe and alluring, far from the unripened innocence of a lotus.
"This, I learned from a book," Queen Agatha whispered softly after their kiss, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink, making her look irresistibly tender.
Her eyes, filled with indescribable affection, seemed still to linger in the sweetness of their recent embrace, unable to detach herself from the enchanting moment.
The atmosphere in the small teahouse grew increasingly intimate. The air seemed to warm up slightly, and Queen Agatha's complexion turned rosier.
Her gaze towards Alan held a burning intensity. However, their moment was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a bell ringing from a clock tower outside the teahouse.
Startled, Queen Agatha turned to look at the clock tower, her dark brown hair swaying gently. After a moment of hesitation, she turned back to Alan, her expression tinged with reluctance. "I'm sorry, I…" she began, her hands nervously intertwining in front of her.
Alan, still seated, responded with a faint smile. "Is there an issue at the ceremony site? Or perhaps an urgent matter in the palace that needs your attention?"
He then casually suggested, "Then please, go ahead. I should also return to my fellow paladins."
As he stood up, Queen Agatha didn't reply but gave Alan a slight bow before disappearing in a swirl of magical patterns – a kind of teleportation magic.
While not as potent as Alan's light-based teleportation, able to transport only between specific locations, this teleportation magic boasted a high success rate.
Furthermore, this teleportation magic was a creation of Queen Agatha herself.
In a sense, Rivenland's status as a powerful nation among the ancient twelve is largely attributed to Queen Agatha's magical achievements.
After Queen Agatha's departure via teleportation, Alan too exited the teahouse.
He swiftly found himself back in the bustling vicinity of the Ceremony of Divine Grace, immersing himself in the vibrant street life.
At a distance, Elizabeth was spotted holding several novel snacks, astonishingly garnished with fresh flowers. They appeared to be fried balls of dough.
Noticing Alan approaching, Elizabeth instinctively felt a wave of shyness, attempting to put down the snacks and wipe the grease from her hands.
Before she could complete her action, Alan had already reached her, casually taking the fried snack from her hands which were now behind her back.
Unperturbed by the fact that Elizabeth had already eaten one, Alan popped the remaining two into his mouth, maintaining an effortless demeanor, and then incinerated the wooden skewer with a burst of light.
At this moment, a well-dressed individual from the throng of visitors approached their location.
Upon confirming that this indeed was the assembly of Beaconburg paladins, he quickened his pace.
"Greetings, I am Count Rant of Rivenland," said the man with golden-brown hair and gold-rimmed glasses, extending his hand towards Alan.
However, Alan did not reciprocate the gesture, merely observing him calmly.
The self-proclaimed Count Rant chuckled at Alan's reaction but soon adopted a more serious demeanor.
After cautiously surveying their surroundings, he turned back to Alan and said, "Esteemed Paladin General of Beaconburg, there's a matter I need to inform you about."
His expression grew more solemn, his brow furrowing into a 'W' shape.
After glancing at Elizabeth, he leaned closer to Alan and whispered, "Are you aware that you might be targeted by several protagonists in the city?"
Alan raised an eyebrow at this revelation but remained composed.
As a Level 2 antagonist who had recently awakened the 'Invisibility Skill,' his presence was easily detectable by the city's protagonists.
However, they likely couldn't confirm or be sure of his antagonist identity.
Considering he had already eliminated ten antagonists, it was logical for protagonists to suspect someone within Beaconburg.
There hadn't been much change in Beaconburg over the years, and under the protection of the light, even without direct intervention from the Almighty God Alan, the paladins had enjoyed extended lifespans.
The sudden emergence of a male general in Beaconburg, with an unknown background, naturally raised questions. The suspicion from the protagonists seemed reasonable.
Alan inquired the Count, "You must be an antagonist too, I presume. Why are you telling me this? What's your angle?"
Count Rant shrugged and said, "Well, the situation is quite delicate at the moment." He then brushed his golden fringe aside, casting a brief look at Elizabeth before focusing back on Alan.
As a Level 2 antagonist who had recently awakened the skill "Invisibility Skill," Alan knew his presence could easily be sensed by protagonists in the city.
However, it was unlikely that these protagonists could confirm his identity as an antagonist. Nothing is certain, after all, especially since Alan had already eliminated ten antagonists, and these deaths were all related to Beaconburg.
It was logical for the protagonists to suspect the emergence of an antagonist within Beaconburg.
Despite the city's many years under the protection of the light, and even without direct blessings from the God of Light or the Almighty God Alan, the paladins had enjoyed prolonged lifespans due to their bloodline powers and Alan's holy light.
For years, Vina had been the leader of Beaconburg's paladins, and the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar male general was indeed unusual.
Alan gazed at the so-called Count Rant and inquired, "You must be an antagonist too. Why are you telling me this?"
Count Rant shrugged casually. "It's because our situation is quite precarious at the moment," he replied, casually brushing his golden bangs aside.
He then glanced at Elizabeth, seemingly intrigued by her silken white hair that resembled the texture of cocoon silk.
Count Rant, mindful of Alan's position as a fellow antagonist, quickly shifted his gaze away, respecting Alan's presence.
He then faced Alan, who maintained his composure, and began with a tone of slight frustration.
"Listen, are you being deliberately slow or just nonchalant? We are in the midst of the Ceremony of Divine Grace, surrounded by Order Officers, Lunar Knights, Flower Knights, and more."
Rant continued, his voice tinged with concern, "Soon, deities will descend from the heavens to grant their blessings.
Should any anomaly arise at that time, it would be effortless for them to exterminate antagonists or protagonists alike, akin to squashing ants."
He rubbed his forehead, showing signs of anxiety. "Look at us, antagonists shadowed by dark fates. If the deities do arrive, they are more likely to favor protagonists over us."
Alan interjected calmly, cutting to the chase, "Just tell me directly about your findings and your plan."
Rant's insinuations were apparent to him, but the challenges he mentioned were typical for most antagonists, not someone like Alan.
Alan pondered the scenario of the Ceremony of Divine Grace. Even if gods descended, who would dare to stand in his way?
Caught off guard by Alan's straightforward approach, Rant hesitated momentarily before explaining, "My apologies. The number of prominent individuals here makes it challenging to confirm the presence of antagonists, let alone protagonists.
However, we have identified certain organizations where protagonists are likely present."
"For example, the Flower Church, a congregation of the God of Flower's followers, definitely houses protagonists.
The exact number remains uncertain. Additionally, among the royal nobility, particularly those opposed to the Beaconburg paladins, there are likely to be protagonists."
Rant elaborated, "Moreover, the royal court has recently inducted a new batch of magicians. These individuals, most of whom are prodigies from across the kingdom, represent some of the continent's finest in magic.
Given Rivenland's standing in magical prowess, the possibility of protagonists among these newly appointed Court Magi is quite high."
He continued to speak uninterrupted, laying out in detail the potential locations and affiliations of protagonists within Rivenland, their likely places of activity, and the implications of their presence at the Ceremony of Divine Grace.
His analysis was thorough, covering various aspects and contingencies related to the protagonists' involvement.
