Chapter 369- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (08)
Seeing the sorrow in the King’s eyes, Norris opened his mouth and softly called, “Father.” Before he could say anything more, the kingdom’s trumpets sounded. Moments later, a messenger rushed in, reporting that the dragon had already sent an envoy.
“So soon?!” The King’s expression shifted upon hearing the news. He had hoped to keep his son with him a little longer, but it seemed the dragon was impatient to proceed.
Yet, he knew there was no way to resist the dragon’s will. Resigned, the King sighed deeply and walked toward the entrance with Norris.
If it had been any other envoy, he could have ordered them to be received in the throne room. But given that this was a representative of the dragon, even as the King and Crown Prince, they had to meet them at the gates.
However, when they reached the gates, there was no envoy to be seen. Instead, what first caught their attention were rows of ornate chests adorned with gemstones, being carried in one after another—enough to stretch the length of an entire street.
The attendants explained that these were gifts from the dragon for the prince.
The King casually opened one of the chests, only to find it filled with treasures beyond imagination. Gold coins and gemstones, valuable as they were, paled in comparison to the rare and unique artifacts inside. Just one chest was worth a fortune, and the sheer number of them combined represented a wealth that could rival entire nations.
The King, though prepared for the dragon’s intent to take his son, was utterly stunned by the magnitude and opulence of the gifts. He hadn’t expected the dragon to offer such treasures, let alone so many of them. For a moment, he was left speechless.
Meanwhile, Bernice had already arrived at the gates. Feigning a look of sorrow, her eyes were instead fixed with greedy intent on the treasures within the chests.
Bernice clutched an elegant silk handkerchief tightly in her hand, unable to suppress the surge of jealousy rising in her heart. She hadn’t expected the dragon to give her brother such honor by bestowing upon him such a vast array of priceless treasures. The sheer opulence of those jewels would make even her, a princess, feel envious.
But then she remembered that once her brother was taken away by the dragon, he would likely never return. Perhaps his fate would even be grim. This thought brought her some measure of comfort, helping her to reconcile her jealousy.
The countless gifts were carried into the palace one by one, while onlookers whispered among themselves. Even after the last chest had been brought inside, Norris and the King had yet to see the envoy. This left them puzzled.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through, and a figure descended from the sky, borne on the wind.
The figure wore a flowing robe of moonlit white, with long silver hair casually tied at the back. Though there were no extravagant adornments on his body, he exuded an air of nobility and grace. Everyone immediately assumed this young man was a master of wind magic, given his dramatic entrance, and speculated that his magical abilities must be extraordinary.
They dared not show any disrespect and instead whispered among themselves, wondering who this young man was and how he had come to possess such formidable power at such a young age.
As the man landed gracefully, he gave the King a polite nod and said, “I am the envoy sent by the dragon. My master asked me to convey his greetings to you.”
While the crowd’s attention was on the envoy, Mu Jin secretly shot Norris a meaningful glance. Startled, Norris quickly composed himself, hiding the shock in his eyes.
Norris had heard that the dragon was sending an envoy, but he had never imagined that Mu Jin himself would be that envoy. Yet why had Mu Jin chosen to present himself as the dragon’s envoy?
Though Norris couldn’t understand the reasoning, he knew that as a good partner, it wasn’t his place to expose his beloved’s intentions. Suppressing his surprise, he maintained his composure and returned Mu Jin’s greeting with a formal noble bow, inviting him into the palace.
With Mu Jin’s arrival, the royal palace became abuzz with activity. News of the dragon’s envoy quickly spread, prompting all the high-ranking officials and nobles to gather and pay their respects to Mu Jin one by one.
This protocol of gathering to greet the envoy was to show their respect for the dragon, ensuring the envoy wouldn’t report any neglect or disrespect upon his return. After all, if the dragon were to take offense, the kingdom might suffer its wrath.
Among those who came to pay their respects was the protagonist, Gardener.
When Mu Jin saw Gardener openly exchanging flirtatious glances with Princess Bernice, he assessed the young man as someone with a bold and gallant appearance—nothing more. In Mu Jin’s eyes, he fell far short of the charm of his own beloved.
This was the only evaluation Mu Jin spared for the so-called protagonist before shifting his attention elsewhere, continuing to leisurely take in the sights of the palace where his lover had grown up.
However, Gardener’s reaction upon seeing Mu Jin was quite the opposite. The moment his eyes fell on Mu Jin, all his attention zeroed in on him.
It wasn’t love at first sight that captivated Gardener. Instead, the instant he laid eyes on Mu Jin, the system embedded in his consciousness activated and issued a new task: To win over Mu Jin’s heart. If he could make Mu Jin fall head over heels for him, the system promised him unprecedented and generous rewards.
Gardener was, in truth, a staunch heterosexual. He had always been drawn to women and had previously completed similar tasks assigned by the system, but they had only involved winning over powerful or influential women, such as a queen or a princess.
Now, however, the system wanted him to pursue a man. This unexpected directive left Gardener momentarily stunned.
But as he took a closer look at Mu Jin’s face, he found it undeniably handsome and endearing, even charming. Additionally, there was an inherent arrogance that high-level magicians often carried—an air of superiority that stirred within Gardener an inexplicable desire to pull such a person down to the ordinary plane of mortals.
Gardener believed that anyone capable of serving as an envoy for the dragon was undoubtedly no ordinary person. The individual before him must have exceptional qualities.
Even if only judging by the face, this task didn’t seem entirely unmanageable. Moreover, the system’s promised rewards were irresistibly alluring, so Gardener eventually decided to accept the mission.
The king and his entourage returned to the grand hall. Though his sorrow was well-hidden, the king carried himself with precisely the right degree of dignity before Mu Jin.
Mu Jin gave a discreet reassuring glance to Norris, who stood beside the king, silently advising him to remain calm. Then, turning to the king, he formally announced before all,
“I have been entrusted by my lord to deliver these gifts to Prince Norris, and I sincerely hope Your Majesty finds them satisfactory.”
“My lord holds Prince Norris in genuine affection and has instructed me to ensure the prince is well cared for. When the prince marries my lord, my lord will shield the human kingdom from any hostile threats. Furthermore, if Prince Norris one day ascends the throne, my lord will aid him in safeguarding this nation.”
The king, upon hearing these words, looked momentarily puzzled.
“What do you mean by this?” he asked.
The king had assumed that the dragon’s desire for a companion meant taking Norris away. Why, then, was the envoy talking about Norris inheriting the throne and co-ruling the kingdom with the dragon? If Norris were to join the dragon in the depths of the abyss, how could he still govern a kingdom?
Noticing the king’s confusion, Mu Jin’s lips curved ever so slightly in a knowing smile. With a respectful tone, he replied,
“Your Majesty, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding. My lord’s love for the prince is genuine and unselfish. Naturally, my lord will not compel the prince to do anything against his will. If the prince willingly chooses to become my lord’s partner, my lord will grant him complete freedom and offer your kingdom the greatest support possible.”
Hearing Mu Jin’s words, everyone in the hall was momentarily stunned, but soon a wave of joy and excitement swept through them. The royalists, in particular, wore wide smiles, their faces alight with relief and hope.
It was, after all, a promise from the dragon. If the dragon pledged to protect this kingdom, who would dare to invade? Everyone knew this world was far from peaceful.
To the court and onlookers, securing the dragon’s protection was clearly a lucrative trade compared to a single prince. If the prince truly bonded with the dragon and gained its unwavering loyalty, their kingdom would undoubtedly reap countless benefits.
Moreover, the dragon’s lavish gifts today had already demonstrated its immense wealth. Initially, they had assumed the dragon would forcibly take Prince Norris away. Who could have expected such a fortuitous turn of events instead?
Even the king was delighted by this outcome. At least his son wouldn’t have to leave. Though it was a bit regretful that Norris wouldn’t marry a woman and give him an adorable grandchild, the fact that Norris could remain in the kingdom was an unexpectedly positive outcome.
For Norris, Mu Jin’s words filled him with uncontrollable joy. It was clear now that Mu Jin truly loved him. Mu Jin had even said he wouldn’t restrict Norris’s freedom.
Norris had already resolved to accompany Mu Jin and live with him in the abyss, fully expecting that leaving the abyss was an unlikely prospect. Yet here Mu Jin was, standing before him. Norris couldn’t imagine what extraordinary means Mu Jin had used to escape the abyss.
Now, with Mu Jin by his side and the ability to stay in the kingdom, it felt like the best of all possible outcomes. Moreover, Mu Jin had expressed his willingness to protect the kingdom. Deeply moved, Norris looked at Mu Jin with eyes brimming with emotion and gratitude.
Seeing everyone so overjoyed, Mu Jin gave Norris a playful wink. The truth was, Mu Jin’s ability to leave the abyss was thanks to Teng Gen. Among the tasks of suppressing the ghost plague demons, Teng Gen and Qiong Qi were the most adept.
Unfortunately, in the smaller world they inhabited, Mu Jin’s beloved was suppressed and couldn’t assist him. Yet, Mu Jin also knew he couldn’t remain in the abyss indefinitely—there were still plans to prevent the protagonist from indirectly destroying this world.
Fortunately, Teng Gen had offered to find a way to divert some of his power to help suppress the abyss’s miasma without drawing the attention of the world’s consciousness. This arrangement allowed Mu Jin to periodically return to the abyss, providing him with immense convenience.
Still, Mu Jin felt a sense of gratitude he would repay upon returning to the real world. He mused to himself that helping 003 secure such a powerful partner might earn him some thanks from the system.