Chapter 72: Kindred

“So, I’ve somehow become a noble?”

Amidst the insincere applause of the nobles, Li En returned to the sidelines, still as if in a dream.

Looking at the knight’s medal on his chest, Li En still felt something peculiar.

The rank of Third-Class Knight is the lowest noble title, non-hereditary, with no fief or exclusive trading rights, but it still grants entry into the kingdom’s upper echelons.

“This… should be a good thing?”

From now on, Li En’s path will be far less troublesome.

For example, personal tax exemptions, easier access when seeking favors, and open doors when dealing with government offices.

Even opening a small shop to earn some money means reduced taxes and no fear of trouble knocking at your door.

Even today, when the royal family is weak and noble titles are being granted indiscriminately, a noble title is not easily obtained—let alone.

“Isn’t this Princess Daneya’s first knighting?”

“Of course, Li En and his group are the princess’s people. No wonder Viscount Sudar is so protective of him.”

The surrounding nobles’ murmurs made no effort to hide themselves.

From the moment Li En stormed the slave market, received Sallyman’s support, and announced his marriage, he was seen as the princess’s man.

But now, by accepting this knighthood and title so openly, he has politically locked himself in—Princess Daneya was truly unscrupulous, acting first and informing later. What should our side do now?

Li En glanced up at the little girl still confidently speaking on stage, seemingly never considering the possibility that this “commoner” might refuse the knightly title right on the spot and leave her embarrassed.

A normal commoner would never refuse; beside him, Talia clearly wore a smile—she would have far more freedom to act afterward. But Li Ensu, the transmigrator, was another matter—he might genuinely refuse outright.

“Sigh.” What else could be done? Forgive her. After all, she’s so adorable.

In any case, Li En must pick a side—and for now, the royal faction is clearly the only option.

“Pfft! I’m working for my daughter! Unfair! It’s over!” Kuku still chuckled maliciously.

“Shut up.” Li En seemed slightly flustered.

The knighting ceremony ended; next came the recognition of those who contributed to the eradication—various officials and soldiers, some known to Li En and others not—stepped forward, and the applause grew much warmer, even though most in the audience likely had no idea what they had done.

But this was still only the beginning. At the right moment, Daneya herself ascended the stage for her first public speech.

“Our kingdom has always stood amid storms, and this crisis may also be an opportunity…”

Daneya held this ceremony to meet face-to-face with the city’s nobles—not merely to knight a few common heroes. They weren’t worthy of such a grand spectacle.

This was effectively Daneya’s—and by extension, the royal family’s—formal meeting with Huicheng’s elite, even tantamount to direct royal interference in Huicheng’s internal affairs.

Many nobles came to show support, but they were really here to watch the show. Yet now, things seemed off.

“Even Pastor Kain showed up.”

“Isn’t that Soroda, vice-chairman of the Explorer’s Guild? He retired years ago—why is he here supporting the princess?”

Behind the princess stood too many powerful figures, including several big names from transcontinental organizations.

While Li En was busy, Daneya hadn’t rested a single moment.

At her position, the considerations were far more complex; every move risked ambush from anti-royal factions.

Once she truly acted, it had to be thunderous.

“As for those cultists, we shall exterminate them utterly. If they hide in noble mansions, strip their titles and burn their homes. If they lurk in temples, revoke their clerical positions and hang them. If they cower in basements, drag them into sunlight and let them bake to death.”

Above all, it was the unwavering stance against the Beast Cult—clearly establishing the kingdom’s official position.

Regarding the Beast Cult, most international organizations held the same view: kill them on sight wherever found. The princess merely quoted a famous saying from a past elder.

With these words spoken and powerful figures standing behind her, it meant that from tomorrow onward, the Beast Cult would truly become the kingdom’s mortal enemy, hunted down at every level.

But even this alone wasn’t enough to warrant such a grand spectacle.

The fact that nearly half of Huicheng’s elite and major nobles were invited meant there was a bigger prize at stake.

“Over the next six months, the kingdom will undertake comprehensive development of Huicheng’s underground ruins. We will encourage and support all explorers, offering additional rewards.”

This, then, was the true main agenda.

The other Hero Candidates, knowing the “Beast” beneath was about to awaken, would not regard it as their primary threat.

They would instinctively assume it was the kingdom’s responsibility and focus instead on leaking the information to the authorities.

But Daneya was the authority.

She had no intention of delegating this responsibility—she decided to handle it herself!

“This will not be the kingdom’s action alone. Eleven transcontinental organizations—including the Explorer’s Guild, the Physicians’ Guild, the Alchemists’ Guild, the Artisans’ Guild, the Magic Guild, and the Magical Girl Fan Club—will co-lead. Six true god churches, including Huishield, will provide full support…”

Wait, wasn’t there something strange in there?

While Li En’s group battled evil in the dock district, Daneya fought her own battle—against the true god churches and international organizations.

To truly resolve the underground problem, relying solely on the kingdom—now shattered into fragments—was impossible.

She had to throw this issue out, drawing in the strength of multiple parties to intervene and act together.

Rather than letting the “Beast” break free in two years, as a diligent and competent politician, Daneya sought to crush it early—this was her duty to the kingdom and its people.

But from another angle, this might also be an opportunity for internal factions within the kingdom to regather—and Daneya openly called it an “opportunity.”

Now, using the knighting ceremony as a pretext, she had summarized and defined past events, elevating the fight against cultists to the kingdom’s campaign against the “Beast.” Ordinary people and even common nobles might not understand—but the true god churches and major organizations understood perfectly.

They knew the danger of the Beast and did not wish to see it break free and trigger a global catastrophe.

But no one had surplus resources; crises blazed across the entire continent, and how much each could contribute was a matter for negotiation.

Who knew how many visits Daneya had made, how many talks she had held—but now, with this list of signatories—even if only nominal support—it was a major victory for her.

Under these circumstances, she simply had no spare energy to focus on Li En’s side.

In fact, even if Li En’s squad were wiped out, it wouldn’t affect what she planned next—but if they succeeded, it would be a perfect opening win.

Or, from her perspective, personally bestowing the knighthood and binding them to the Wangquan faction was also a way to protect these “seeds of the kingdom’s revival.”

“This girl looks exhausted.” Seeing the dark circles beneath Daneya’s powdered makeup, Li En felt a pang of sympathy.

The underground ruins were troublesome, but with so many organizations involved, there was now at least a chance of resolution.

Li En even guessed what would happen next—he suspected his group would be recruited by default.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Her Highness requests your presence. Please wait briefly in the side hall.” Sure enough, after descending the stage, a maid led Li En’s group to the side chamber.

But Li En received an unexpected escort.

“Knight Li En, please wait a moment—someone wishes to see you. The princess knew you would arrive late.”

Even the princess could wait? Who could this be? Li En had a hunch—this was likely the true high-ranking figure who had specifically requested to meet him.

In another private room reserved for confidential talks, Li En met her.

Dressed in an overly ornate spellcaster’s gown of vivid purple and red, the “girl” before him—no older than Daneya—smiled, offering a hallucinatory visual experience.

Most striking were her serpent-scale hairpins and the great serpent coiled around her staff.

Li En studied her carefully, yet saw nothing clearly—he couldn’t even recall her face, only that she must be beautiful, adorable.

She seemed to gaze past him.

“Indeed… it’s the scent of the ‘Beast’—but yet…”

In the next instant, she stood before him, smiling as she lightly sniffed at Li En’s neck.

This was not Talia’s searching—it felt like some unknown, friendly ritual.

“Hello… fellow.” The woman smiled, her forked tongue alluring.

(End of Chapter)