Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 99 - 99 71 Inside and Outside the Celebration

99: Chapter 71: Inside and Outside the Celebration 99: Chapter 71: Inside and Outside the Celebration “Are they really called ‘Atiyas’ people?” Leon asked his companion for confirmation after hearing the slightly familiar pronunciation.

“Mhm, that’s what those nobles call them when they complain in private about how arrogant those robed people are.

I didn’t dare to butt in and chat in detail with them for fear of exposing my identity.”

Seeing the surprised look on Leon’s face, Azeryan couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know about Atiyas?”

The son of a noble had never come across that name in books or on maps.

Leon nodded, this time indeed knowing slightly more than his learned companion.

It was all thanks to the information obtained from the Magician advisor to Count Trosa.

The Mage Empire…

situated far off to the east of the continent…

If the Magician’s words were true, could it be that the robed man who inexplicably stared at Azeryan all day was indeed a mage from a foreign land?

But how had this distant Empire of the extreme East come to the westernmost part of the continent?

Thinking about those black-sailed ships…

Leon’s eyebrows rose in realization.

So, could it be that this Otherworld was also a globe?

Therefore, did the Atiyas Empire really conquer to the edge of the continent as the legends say, then sail across the ocean, round a circle, and finally land in Kantadar?

Of course, it was also possible that they had sailed along the contour of the continent to get here.

Casting aside these irrelevant speculations, he temporarily didn’t care where these foreign people came from.

What he was more interested in was the other intelligence that his companion had pulled out of the mouths of those chattering nobles.

Inside this castle existed a well-known forbidden area; the Atiyas people turned the courtyard in the northeast corner of the castle into their embassy, guarded by special exotically armed soldiers day and night, forbidding any outsiders from entering.

This caused Leon to think wildly.

He remembered very clearly that when he first came to investigate in the Western Port, the sailors coming and going from the docks had said.

The people who disembarked from those mysterious black-sailed ships had a keen interest in the slave trade.

Upon hearing this information, he had even worried about the possibility of the lady being sold overseas.

Right now, it seemed there could be another possibility besides such a dreadful outcome.

Although there were still too many areas of the entire castle his group was unable to access for investigation.

But if it were true that Lokhak’s sister happened to be trapped inside the embassy of the Atiyas people.

Then even if he turned the outside upside down, it would be impossible to find her…

Having made up his mind, Leon shared this speculation with his companion, and the three of them discussed and agreed upon their respective tasks to follow.

…

…Time flew by in the bustling castle.

Before long, the day of the Felcon Family heir’s wedding banquet arrived.

The weather was clear and sunny.

The grand banquet was hosted in the most spacious and magnificent stone hall of the castle.

A long, expensive carpet was laid all the way to the courtyard entrance steps.

Countless nobles and knights in luxurious and expensive attire, either arm-in-arm with a lady or surrounded by diverse high-ranked individuals, streamed into the banquet hall to take their seats.

Music played throughout the hall, poets sang to harp strings, dancers moved lightly and gracefully.

Long tables were filled by servants with an array of fine foods and excellent wines.

The Kantadar nobles’ banquet was not overly refined; in the spacious hall, one could hear the joyous laughter of the powerful and influential.

But everything visible at that wedding banquet had nothing to do with Leon and Lokhak anymore.

Because only Azeryan could enter the main hall of the main castle, he was the only one out of the three who could search for Lokhak’s sister among the busy servants.

And it was difficult for him to leave the banquet before the wedding ceremony ended.

Leon instructed him that if there was an opportunity, he could try to make contact with the nobles of the Felcon Family during the subsequent banquet and ask them whether the embassy of the Athias had ever purchased female slaves locally.

Lokhak headed to other areas within the castle to participate in the common folk activities held by the servants, searching among the group of servants and slaves who had managed to gather.

Leon would join Lokhak later, but before that, he wanted to take a risk and check out the Athias embassy.

Walking along the castle paths, making his way past the noisy crowds, the surroundings had turned into a sea of celebration, and now even the castle guards failed to notice him—an unremarkable young “servant” blending in with the crowd.

On this day, the wedding day, even the lowest of servants had the right to enjoy the grandiose festivities.

The relaxed servants, under the steward’s arrangement, were holding their own feasts in the west and south areas of the castle.

The outdoor dance in the outer courtyard, the wrestling matches, and the banquet where the servants were permitted to enjoy delicacies in their quarters were just as lively with singing and dancing.

Leon, undistracted, made his way through the buzzing courtyards and quietly passed through the now silent and deserted garden.

Remembering the direction from which the robed man had come on that day, Leon quickly spotted his destination.

It wasn’t too hard to find.

After all, although the Athias embassy was off-limits, it stood on the high ground of the castle, and its conspicuous location was no secret.

Just by following the garden paths of the central courtyard all the way, walking to the eastern district of the castle, anyone could find it.

But from afar, he glanced at the two soldiers standing like statues at the gates of the embassy courtyard, clad in black Armor with golden trim and holding axe spears.

Leon faced a dilemma.

There was certainly no way to crash through, not to mention that during the wedding banquet taking place in the castle, even the guests were not allowed to carry swords, and he was unarmed.

Even with weapons and Armor, he couldn’t possibly defeat the twenty heavily armored infantrymen lined up against the high wall, whose excellent Armor was evident even from a distance.

Not even Olivia could possibly break in.

He sighed, ready to give up temporarily and go back to search with Lokhak among the outside servants.

The embassy matter would likely require a more long-term plan.

He stepped back a few paces, ready to return the way he had come.

Just as he had returned to the silent and deserted garden, suddenly, a rustling noise from nearby caught his attention.

Afraid that he had bumped into a patrolling guard, Leon had mentally prepared a cover story about getting lost, but then…

He actually saw a big red butt in the corner of the castle courtyard, wriggling into a bush!

Well, it wasn’t literally a butt sticking out.

That festive red seemed to be the color of trousers.

What’s going on?

Leon was somewhat puzzled.

The wedding banquet had only just started; it couldn’t be that someone was already drunk, could it?

And it definitely didn’t look like a thief—at least no thief would wear such an eye-catching and brightly colored outfit.

Leon crept quietly along the side path.

That wriggling big butt seemed to be stuck, with its legs vigorously kicking the ground, trying to squeeze into the wall of the castle courtyard by the bushes.

Is there a hole behind the bushes?

Leon was curious and tiptoed closer.

Just as he began to hesitate whether to intervene, the person stopped struggling as if he heard Leon’s footsteps.

“I…

cough, well…

I am just looking for the privy, rest assured, I am not some suspicious person.

Hey~ Whether you are a brother or a sister, give me a hand quickly.

Once I’m out, I’ll surely reward you greatly!”

That voice…

it sounded somewhat familiar.