Infinite Skill Devourer
Chapter 81: Word From The North Queen III

Chapter 81: Word From The North Queen III

After the battle, Ryuen and Hwa made their way back to the city.

The streets were lively, filled with people going about their day.

The warm glow of the morning sun lit up the buildings, casting long shadows over the streets.

Despite the noise and bustle, Ryuen remained quiet, lost in thought.

He still couldn’t imagine what Hwa had displayed back at the dungeon.

And he was still annoyed by the incomplete notification he had received from the system.

As they walked, the aroma of food drifted through the air.

It came from a line of food stalls near the main square, and Ryuen’s stomach growled in response.

Hwa noticed and gave him a small smirk.

They hadn’t bothered to have breakfast before leaving, and he had just remembered as the aroma hit his nose.

"Let’s get something to eat," she said, pointing toward the stalls, especially those with meat and pastries.

Ryuen nodded, and they moved to one of the stands selling skewers of grilled meat and vegetables.

The vendor, an older man with a friendly smile, raised his tongs and pointed them at him.

"If I would guess, you’d prefer chicken over beef, and you..." he pointed at Hwa, "you’d take a mix—fish, beef, and chicken."

A chuckle escaped his lips when Ryuen nodded, silently surprised by how accurate the old man was.

Minutes passed, and he handed them two skewers each.

The smell of spices and charred meat was comforting.

They paid the man, said goodbye, and walked off.

Not far from the food stalls was a supermarket. Hwa led the way inside, her eyes scanning the shelves.

For things that she would want, or possibly crave at the moment.

She grabbed a few basic items—bread, dried fruits, and a few bottles of water.

Ryuen followed her silently, carrying the basket as she picked out what they needed.

Once they had everything, he paid and left the store, keeping a mental note to get his money back once they got home.

They soon approached the headquarters, standing tall as usual, with one side dark as a result of its shadow.

And the other side directly facing the angle of the sun.

Ryuen and Hwa stepped inside, walking through the dimly lit halls until they reached the meeting room.

She had to drop what she bought at the reception area, warning... No, threatening the attendant not to let anything happen to her stuff.

Inside, the other members were already seated.

Renji sat at the head of the table, leaning against his seat.

Daiki and Yurei sat to his right, speaking in low voices.

Erina was on his left. She sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, anxious about being present when she wasn’t actually a member.

But as soon as Ryuen walked in and sat beside her, she eased up a bit and shifted closer to him for comfort.

The room grew silent as Renji stood, his gaze sweeping over everyone until he sighed.

"I’ve received word from Queen May," Renji began, "Her daughter, Princess Althea, is dead."

That didn’t surprise anyone since they were all present when she died.

And her killer was even present.

"She’s demanding answers," Renji continued. "And she expects us to be prepared when she arrives."

"When is she coming?" Hwa asked calmly, without a care in the world.

In fact, she didn’t even want to know if the queen would be passing by.

She just didn’t want anyone to question her or stand in her way.

Renji looked at her. "She’ll be here in two days. She plans to stay for that time before heading to the West."

Daiki and Yurei exchanged glances, clearly concerned.

Erina, however, remained silent, her calm demeanor unchanged.

Renji turned his attention to Ryuen. "There’s more. The Queen insists that you take the throne of Mirath."

Ryuen’s expression didn’t change. "I’ve already said no," he replied. "Besides, how did she find out?"

Daiki chuckled. "Sora always makes a copy of our guild’s monthly report to send to the rulers."

"So he must have sent that to the Queen too."

Renji sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You can’t ignore this forever, Ryuen. She’s not going to stop until you accept."

"Then she’ll be wasting her time," Ryuen replied and leaned back in his chair.

Hwa glanced at him, then back at Renji. "What does she really want from us?" she asked.

Renji frowned. "It’s hard to say. The Queen is unpredictable."

"But with her daughter gone, she may be looking for someone to blame—or someone to replace her."

As he spoke, he shifted his gaze to Yurei, who just turned away.

Daiki spoke up. "We should be careful. The Queen’s influence is strong, and defying her could put us all at risk."

"Agreed," Yurei added. "We need to make sure everything is in order before she arrives."

Renji nodded. "That’s why we’re having this meeting. We need to be prepared, not just for her questions but for anything she might demand."

The room fell silent again, the weight of the situation settling over them like an anvil.

Ryuen stared at the map on the table, his mind filled with thoughts of the Queen, her plans, and then Hwa.

Erina, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up softly.

"The Queen isn’t someone who forgives easily."

"If she believes we had any part in Althea’s death, she won’t hesitate to act."

Daiki turned to her, his tone cautious. "Do you think she’ll accuse us in an instant?"

Erina shook her head. "I can’t say for sure. But we should be ready for anything."

Renji straightened, his expression serious.

"Then it’s settled. We’ll prepare for her arrival and ensure we have answers to her questions."

The group nodded in agreement, though the tension in the room didn’t reduce.

They weren’t worried about her finding out.

They were more worried about what exactly she would be coming to do, and who she would take as a replacement or put the blame on.

Renji dismissed them, and the members began to file out of the room.

Ryuen stayed behind, his gaze fixed on the map.

Yurei stayed as well, leaning against the table beside him with her arms crossed.

"You alright?" she asked, her voice soft.

Ryuen didn’t answer immediately. He let out a low breath and nodded. "Just thinking."

She smirked. "You’re always thinking. Come on, let’s get some rest. We’ll need it."

"Wanna visit the amusement park?"

"Why?"

"Because you look like you need to get the seriousness in your life off," she said as she pushed herself off the table.

"And take it as my way of saying thank you. At least I am not entirely plagued with this condition."

Ryuen just rolled his eyes and leaned back into his seat.

"If I go, you’d do anything I ask for, no matter how complex..."

"I feel like this is going to have to do with physical touching," she assumed, and one chuckle from him gave her an answer.

"You’re unbelievable."

Ryuen just smiled and rose to his feet. "I know, so let’s get home and prepare."

"It opens at five in the evening."

"More time to prepare!"