Vol 3. Chapter 32: The Banquet
Night.
Inside the Grand Guest Hotel in the center of Skyvault City.
The welcoming banquet was about to begin. It was a grand event that representatives of every major power would attend.
Naturally, the Asumos Church was no exception.
For the evening banquet, Archbishop Nick had specially commissioned an exquisite evening gown worth tens of thousands of Origin Stone Coins and even hired professional stylists to come to Mengxi's room. This banquet was an important diplomatic occasion, and as the face of the Asumos Church—
The Child of Destiny naturally had to be dressed to perfection!
She absolutely could not disgrace the Asumos Church.
Because of that,
Although Miss Mengxi resisted with all her might, several hours earlier she had still been surrounded by a group of female attendants from the Asumos Church and forced to remain in her room while they launched a full-scale makeover...
—
Inside Mengxi's room.
Like the other female attendants, White Yama was dressed in a blue backless evening gown. The moment she saw the graceful silver-haired girl standing in the room, her eyes immediately lit up. Wearing an excited expression, she clasped her hands together, hurried over, and took hold of the girl's fair, delicate hands.
"Wow, Mengxi! You're unbelievably beautiful after getting dressed up a little!"
At that moment,
The silver-haired girl standing before White Yama was wearing a pure white V-neck evening gown embroidered with golden patterns. Elegant silver threads formed intricate, powerful branches across the fabric, while azure threads embroidered blooming snow lotuses that stretched from the hem all the way to her waist. A broad black sash cinched her slender waist, accentuating her graceful figure while giving her an air of refined elegance without sacrificing nobility. Draped over her shoulders was a delicate translucent shawl bearing the crest of the Asumos Church. Every movement she made caused faint ripples of light to flow across the fabric.
Mengxi's hairstyle had also been subtly changed.
Her beautiful silver-white hair had been braided into a long plait, while the remaining hair was gathered neatly behind her head, perfectly revealing the graceful beauty of her snow-white neck.
Her long, delicate bangs were arranged neatly, her willow-like eyebrows lightly outlined in charcoal black, making her already flawless skin appear even fairer and smoother. A gentle touch of pink blush gave her lovely face a healthy rosy glow, while a faint layer of soft red lipstick added a trace of mature charm to her otherwise pure and holy beauty.
She had already been a beauty without equal in the world.
After such careful preparation, however...
She had become utterly breathtaking.
Even White Yama, who had spent so much time with Mengxi, found herself staring blankly for several seconds.
"Wow... Standing next to you, even your big sister is going to be completely overshadowed~"
White Yama said teasingly.
Although her eyes were filled with admiration, there wasn't the slightest hint of jealousy.
Instead, her face rapidly filled with overwhelming satisfaction.
After all, she had personally helped design this gorgeous outfit for Mengxi~
"Thank you, Sister Bai. It's really beautiful... I like it very much. But... doesn't this make me stand out a little too much?"
Never fond of attracting attention, Mengxi couldn't help showing a worried expression.
White Yama immediately patted her chest enthusiastically.
"It's fine! You're supposed to stand out! Let those people get a good look at the Saintess of the Asumos Church!"
A masterpiece she had worked so hard to create naturally deserved to be shown off properly~
The smug smile on White Yama's face only grew wider.
Mengxi could only sigh helplessly.
"...The problem is... if I look like this, won't a lot more people start staring at me...? I really don't like that..."
Seeing through Mengxi's worries, White Yama patted her shoulder encouragingly.
"Ah, Mengxi, don't worry about that! As long as I'm around, those guys won't dare keep bothering you or trying to flirt with you~"
"...Really?"
Mengxi looked at her skeptically.
White Yama confidently pounded her chest.
"Easy! As long as I'm here, you can relax!"
Mengxi: ...
"...If you say so, Sister Bai... then... alright..."
—
Reality proved...
What a joke.
At that moment,
Inside the lavishly decorated, brilliantly illuminated banquet hall overflowing with luxury, it had been less than a minute since Mengxi entered alongside Archbishop Nick—
And she was already completely surrounded.
"Miss Mengxi, I am Xiongdoli, the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Kaluomu. May I have the honor of getting to know you?"
"Lady Child of Destiny, is it really true that you defeated the leader of the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church?"
"Miss Mengxi, rumors say that you have an indescribably close relationship with His Majesty Xue Tianao. Is that true?"
"Miss Mengxi, the moon is especially beautiful tonight. Would you allow me to invite you to admire it together?"
...
...
Listening to the crowd of people noisily talking over one another around her, Mengxi's expression gradually darkened.
'Sister Bai! Could you be reliable for once?!'
She screamed inwardly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced toward a nearby closed door.
Beyond it was the special entertainment area the Empire had prepared for distinguished guests.
Including...
A casino.
Apparently,
The instant White Yama noticed there was a casino, after "protecting" Mengxi for all of thirty seconds, she had happily slipped away while avoiding Archbishop Nick's gaze and disappeared inside.
Without White Yama's overwhelming presence to keep everyone away, all the people harboring designs on Mengxi rushed over in droves.
Already hating this kind of exhausting socializing, Mengxi could feel a fire building inside her.
"My apologies, everyone. Please excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, she immediately slipped out of the crowd and found Archbishop Nick.
"Your Grace... Sister Bai has gone gambling again."
That's right.
For the sake of finally getting some peace and quiet, Mengxi decisively chose to report her.
Just as she expected, the moment Archbishop Nick heard the news, his expression changed dramatically.
After all, having one of the Church's Heavenly Apostles addicted to gambling was a serious stain on the Church's reputation.
Without another word, he interrupted his conversation with one of the leaders of the Holy Tower, stormed into the nearby casino, and promptly grabbed White Yama by the ear...
—
A few minutes later.
White Yama stood beside Mengxi with her arms folded, cheeks puffed out in grievance, occasionally shooting resentful looks toward the silver-haired girl beside her, who looked completely uninvolved.
"Seriously! Mengxi, you're so mean! You actually tattled on me! I was this close to winning all my money back!"
"...Sigh."
Mengxi shook her head helplessly.
"Come on, Sister Bai. You say that every single time, and every single time you lose everything."
"This time was different! I really was going to win!"
"Alright, alright. Whatever you say..."
...
Mengxi helplessly dealt with White Yama's complaints.
Still, listening to White Yama complain was far better than dealing with that huge crowd of annoying people.
Once White Yama returned to Mengxi's side...
And activated her invisible "Keep Out" domain...
Aside from a small number of Crimson Leaf Empire nobles who were personally acquainted with White Yama, hardly anyone dared approach them anymore.
After all, although Mengxi viewed White Yama as nothing more than an easygoing, somewhat airheaded older sister...
In everyone else's eyes, this Heavenly Apostle was basically a terrifying she-devil.
As a result, those people had no choice but to crowd around Archbishop Nick instead.
Finally left in peace, Mengxi leaned quietly against the windowsill with a glass of wine in hand beside White Yama, silently observing the distinguished guests already present, along with the representatives of the various factions who continued to arrive.
Nobles from the Crimson Leaf Empire.
Ambassadors from the Lomari Federation.
The President of the Adventurers' Association.
An envoy of the Dragon Clan.
...
Even the heads of enormous merchant families had arrived.
And even a Venerable of the Holy Tower had personally come.
An Eighth-Tier Venerable normally never attended events like this.
Yet this time, one had come in person?
As if sensing Mengxi's gaze, the white-haired man dressed as a high-ranking mage, who was currently speaking with Archbishop Nick, slowly turned around and offered her a friendly smile.
Mengxi naturally returned it politely.
A smile was one thing.
But when it came to those magic fanatics who endlessly pursued truth and lived for experimentation...
She instinctively wanted to keep her distance.
So the Holy Tower had come.
However...
The Red Moon Tower, another sacred land of mages, didn't seem to have sent anyone.
Hmm...
Still...
"Xue Tianao really does have incredible influence..."
Mengxi muttered inwardly.
Then again...
He was the Child of Destiny foretold in prophecy.
He had even accomplished the feat of "defeating" Flame Prison.
It was only natural that so many powerful figures would take an interest in him.
Of course...
Quite a few of them were probably more interested in Flame Prison instead.
?!
Just as Mengxi was lost in thought...
The grand doors of the banquet hall opened once again.
As the master of ceremonies announced the new arrival, Mengxi's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Representative of the Sadik Empire... Yu Black Rose has arrived."
Mengxi: "Huh? The Black Rose Family? And... Yu?"