Chapter 105: The Broken Desk
The heavy wooden desk groaned in sheer agonizing protest before splitting perfectly down the middle under the dense crushing weight of Leon’s raw kinetic power.
The terrified imperial registrar violently flinched backward knocking his gilded chair over as the solid oak violently splintered scattering expensive inkwells and glowing registration parchments all across the polished marble floor.
Leon kept his handsome face perfectly stoic refusing to break eye contact with the trembling bureaucrat while the surrounding Imperial Executioners subtly shifted their stances radiating dark lethal energy.
The heavy Intimidation Aura rolling off Leon’s massive muscular frame forced the elite guards to hesitate rather than instantly attack recognizing the terrifying physical threat standing before them.
"The rules clearly state a proxy fighter must present a physical metallic crest marking their registration," the terrified official stammered wiping cold sweat from his pale forehead while actively refusing to look at the ruined desk. "You carry no such item sir."
Leon did not argue with the pathetic bureaucratic loophole. He reached down into the scattered mess of paperwork and casually picked up a blank solid iron badge typically used for identifying low ranking servants.
He channeled a massive surge of his monstrous Strength directly into his right thumb and aggressively squeezed the thick metal.
The solid iron groaned loudly as Leon effortlessly bent the badge folding the edges backward before firmly pressing his thumb directly into the center of the metal.
He tossed the modified badge onto the surviving half of the registrar’s desk revealing a deep flawless thumbprint permanently indented into the crushed iron.
"There is my crest," Leon announced his deep resonant voice echoing off the towering palace walls. "Log it into your official ledger before I decide to register my grievances against your face."
The official frantically nodded his hands shaking violently as he scribbled Leon’s name onto the glowing parchment deeply terrified by the magicless brute who could mold solid iron like warm clay.
He waved them through the heavily fortified checkpoint gesturing weakly toward the towering golden doors of the grand ballroom.
Seraphina walked proudly beside her warden projecting her flawless mask of fierce highborn superiority while hiding a deeply possessive smirk. She thoroughly enjoyed watching the arrogant capital officials tremble in pure unadulterated fear every single time Leon decided to stop playing the polite servant.
They passed through the massive golden doors and entered a breathtaking expanse of imperial wealth that defied all logical reasoning. The grand ballroom was large enough to house a small town featuring towering crystal pillars that pulsed with a warm ambient magical glow.
A massive enchanted glass dome formed the ceiling projecting a flawless illusion of the starry night sky while hundreds of wealthy nobles mingled below wearing vibrant silk gowns and heavily jeweled military uniforms.
The center of the colossal room contained a sunken circular fighting arena paved with indestructible white starstone heavily reinforced by glowing defensive wards.
Surrounding the arena were tiers of luxurious velvet seating where the major political houses gathered to watch the violent proxy duels.
The moment Seraphina stepped onto the grand staircase leading down into the ballroom a heavy suffocating silence aggressively rippled through the massive crowd.
Hundreds of hostile calculating eyes snapped toward the silver haired noblewoman and her towering dark suited escort.
Whispers erupted like venomous snakes weaving through the crowd as the capital elites realized the rumored assassination attempts had failed.
"Keep your head high and your hand close to your sword," Leon murmured softly leaning slightly toward her ear so only she could hear his calming magnetic voice. "They are staring because they are deeply afraid of you Seraphina."
Her lie detector aura flared projecting a warm confident hum that instantly settled her racing heart. She led him down the grand staircase walking directly toward the VIP tables surrounding the fighting pit while aggressively ignoring the harsh mocking glares originating from the vibrant green delegation of House Vane.
Standing near the edge of the fighting pit was a tall thin man wearing luxurious purple robes adorned with heavy golden chains.
He possessed a sharp weasel like face and a highly condescending smirk that instantly irritated Leon’s violent instincts. This was the Royal Chamberlain the man actively holding the imperial throne hostage behind a wall of fake quarantines.
"Ah the resilient Lady Seraphina," the Chamberlain announced loudly his voice amplified by a subtle wind spell to ensure the entire ballroom heard his mocking tone. "We are so deeply honored you could drag yourself out of the eastern wilderness to join civilized society. I see you brought a rather unrefined brute to carry your bags."
The surrounding nobles chuckled softly enjoying the blatant political insult aimed directly at the struggling Sterling family.
Seraphina stiffened her violet eyes blazing with pure violent fury as she prepared to deliver a scathing verbal rebuttal that would echo through the history books.
Before she could open her mouth Leon smoothly stepped in front of her massive frame heavily shielding her from the Chamberlain’s condescending gaze.
"We apologize for the late arrival Chamberlain," Leon stated projecting his deep voice without needing any magical assistance. "We were heavily delayed on the road because we had to clean up a few pieces of pathetic green trash left rotting in the street."
The verbal strike hit with the force of a swinging battering ram causing the entire House Vane delegation to abruptly stop laughing.
Isolde Vane stood among her family members her pale cheeks burning with a fierce furious red flush as she remembered exactly how effortlessly Leon had tossed their four ton carriage into a muddy ditch.
The Chamberlain narrowed his eyes his fake smile cracking slightly under the sheer terrifying confidence radiating from the magicless servant. He raised his thin hands clapping slowly to signal the beginning of the evening’s violent entertainment.
"Very bold words for a man standing in the imperial court," the Chamberlain sneered signaling to the heavily armored guards near the fighting pit. "Let us hope your combat skills are as sharp as your tongue. The martial exhibition begins now."