As a grand event on the continent, like the World Cup or the Olympics, it served to showcase the demeanor of Aran. Naturally, the desire of the Gione nobles to visit the backstage area of the competition was readily welcomed.

The Imperial Arena was by no means a dirty and chaotic underground fight club—the backstage preparation rooms were all quite clean. Contestants who applied to compete for redemption from the great prison even had temporary accommodations, as well as fully equipped training rooms.

Now, the identity assumed by Liszt and his companions was that of attendants to the Gione nobles.

Liszt didn't mind this at all. After all, he had killed plenty of nobles. But for people like Galen, it was genuinely a show of status. Even if it was temporary, they had stepped out of the bottom ranks and were now accompanying a Lord—or rather, a Lady. Suddenly, they felt as if they had blended into high society.

The group walked with a swagger that made Liszt feel a bit idiotic, like a painfully obvious undercover agent.

Inside the corridor of the backstage preparation room at the competition.

The staff were receiving Isis, walking and introducing things to her all the way.

Isis was uninterested in these things; she was merely doing Liszt a small favor. She had been dragged to the competition by her companions.

After wandering around backstage, they saw no sign of Rag Head.

Liszt had no choice but to actively inquire about the matter.

"Oh, you mean Rag Head? Just now, a naval officer came looking for him, and he has already left the competition area. It seems he will be going straight to the finals in the Imperial City. Rag Head is quite a big deal; he used to work for a Court Mage, but no one knows which Mage. It's really strange... that a Vice Admiral of that rank would show him such respect."

The staff member was puzzled; Court Mages were plenty in Aran, and in terms of status, they were far less significant than the Military Master.

Liszt's expression turned grave. Hearing this news was better than seeing the person himself. It was confirmed beyond doubt that there couldn't possibly be two anomalously shaped specter-like Executioners in the world, both having worked for a Aran Magician.

Isis looked back at Liszt, seeking his opinion on whether to end the tour.

"So it seems there's nothing more to see here."

Liszt's mind was flooded with thoughts. That strange man would be in the finals, but that was during the Stargazing Festival three and a half months later. What to do? If he were killed in the martial contest by someone else, would that count as Liszt having achieved his revenge? Or would the last eight years have been for nothing?

Or maybe...

Should he participate in the Continent Martial Arts Competition himself?

Suddenly he felt an intense sense of powerlessness. Even with his current identity, there was too much he could not do.

"Indeed, the annual grand event is well done. We won't disturb you any further,"

Isis said offhandedly.

The staff member inwardly sneered, envious that this noble daughter actually listened to a man. He wished so much to grovel before a female noble, but alas, he did not have the means.

On the current ranking of influence, Royal Knights were at the absolute top tier, the kind that would make female nobles swoon and have their children. Following them were renowned Minstrels and Tower Alliance council members, making up tier one.

As for someone like him, a receptionist, he was bottom of the barrel.

But what he didn't know was that Liszt was a pirate, part of the Earth Core Profession.

At 7:30 in the evening.

The summer nights turned dark later, with the departing sun bleeding red and the twilight staining the sky.

Having heard that Isis's destination was also Aran Imperial City, the center of the world, its inspection would undoubtedly be much more stringent than the coastal areas.

The best method would be to have Isis take him into the Imperial City, pick up Sharon, and then leave Aran under the guise of a Gione noble identity.

At a sky restaurant atop a high-rise building in Chenxi Port. But to put it plainly, it was just an outdoor dining establishment on a high floor that happened to provide a good view, allowing one to overlook the seascape of the port.

Galen and the others were quite considerate and didn't interfere or play the third wheel. They did what Liszt instructed, waiting in the inn for a message from the adventurer, to see if there were any relatives of Mika Brookner in the city.

But Isis's accompanying servant was inseparable.

If a noble from another nation died in Aran, it would be an international scandal. The likelihood of something happening to Isis was virtually zero, but even so, it was necessary to have someone close at hand in case of emergencies.

Liszt hadn't covered his face with a scarf but wore the gift from Isis—oversized shades that masked most of his face.

Thankfully, Liszt was also grateful he had left a long beard when he was showing off in the past. The public's impression was still that of a traditional pirate with a braided beard, so he wouldn't be easily recognized.

The two sat at the edge of the open-air pavilion, waiting for the waiter to serve their meal. Having spent the afternoon together, they had become more acquainted. They didn't sit opposite each other but on the same side.

"Where's your little brother? The tens of thousands of murderers... sigh."

Isis whispered to herself and then covered her mouth, pausing for a while before letting out a long sigh. The women in her circle were all quite rebellious; it was common for them to have several male concubines. She considered herself more traditional, but it seemed now that she was in fact the most rebellious one.

Her finger traced a circle on Liszt's rough hand before she quickly withdrew it, not daring to even think about the fact that the person sitting next to her was one of the most dangerous people in the world.

Liszt remained silent. These noble daughters were nothing special, just spoiled little girls. These years had passed, and he wondered if Isis had ever reached that point.

"It's complicated, for various reasons, I must go to the Imperial City alone."

"Okay, okay, no need to stress it further."

Isis rolled her eyes. Her servant had warned her that having a meal with Liszt was one thing, but if she were to wander around with him as her attendant, the label of harboring a major criminal would be firmly attached to her.

But Isis didn't care.

"I'll take you into the Imperial City, don't worry. It's just that you coerced me using some means, I'm the victim here. After all, you're so wicked, whatever atrocity you commit, people will believe it."

Isis pulled a nail file from her expensive handbag, working on her meticulously groomed nails with confidence in her father's influence. Although it was somewhat disrespectful to her "ex-boyfriend," Aran would not fall out with a representative figure of the Gione Royalists over a mere thief.

Although she didn't understand current affairs and politics, she used to listen to her dad and those old men talk nonsense every day in Gione; international situations were complex. Aran couldn't handle a one-versus-four situation, facing off against Gione, Pedan, Gureg, and Lostra, all in search of potential allies, working secretly in their schemes.

The so-called "foster distant relations and attack nearby."

Gione is located at the most western part of the continent, to the west of which are many fragmented West Sea island countries, and then, there's the Ancient Divine Continent.

The relationship between Gione and Aran wasn't bad.

Liszt's criminal case could not escalate to an international incident.

"Is that so? I might really end up committing heinous deeds," he said, turning his head to look at Isis. Her chestnut curly hair and dark brown eyes were typical of the sweet sisterly type.

On closer count, it was dramatic—he almost had a complete collection: Kagome Kikyo was about to explode, a mad woman, a pure love ferris wheel, a rebellious iron T-shirt with thorns tattoo, a seemingly valiant but actually submissive swordsman, a daughter of the underworld, and an intellectual country fellow.

Plus, there were those still pending: an investigator pending, a Dragon Car pending.

Now a noble daughter had joined the ranks.

Thinking of this, Liszt remembered that Alanee from the Astalia Family hadn't exposed any of them, the Emperor's niece. She must be deeply in love with General Fen.

He only had a few Golden Dragons on him, nowhere near enough to get by in Aran.

Asking Isis for money would make himself seem foolish.

Suddenly, he thought of someone else.

An upstart from Duguli he had met who had left a contact, the one dealing in iron ore, wasn't he?

Damn.

That caveman had such a grandiose tone, freely gifting artworks worth hundreds or even thousands of Golden Dragons, no wonder.

He had devoured the benefits of the "Continent Transportation Law" and the Advancement Movement, becoming an upstart.

The plan was very clear.

After dealing with Mika's matter here, it would be just the right time to head to Duguli in Cast Province, borrow some gold from that upstart, and then go to the Imperial City.

"Have you ever been to Duguli?"

Liszt asked Isis.

Isis shook her head.

"I'll take you around."

He said calmly.

Isis, who was not too fond of the violent Continent Martial Arts Competition and had little expectation for her trip to Aran, sparked interest.

She had completely forgotten that she was betrothed.

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