The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 158 - 157. The marriage didn’t stop

Chapter 158: 157. The marriage didn’t stop

Tyler kicked the unconscious man with enough force to send him rolling across the room like a ragdoll. He watched him tumble, his expression unreadable. "There is nothing more frightening than a foolish person having conviction and nothing more dangerous than an ignorant person having power," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain.

Lily, standing at the opposite side, didn’t hesitate to add her own strike, sending the man flying back toward Tyler. "From what I’ve heard, this one loves to force himself on women, using his father’s name to escape every crime he’s committed," she said, in bored tone.

Tyler caught the man with another kick, sending him sprawling back to Lily. "Where’s Manhunter?" he asked, almost as an afterthought.

"She went out," Lily replied, landing a final, decisive kick that left the man slumped on the floor, unmoving. "But we don’t really need her now. We already know Astrid’s whereabouts."

"True..." Tyler agreed, but something gnawed at him. He stared at the unconscious man, his mind racing. "It’s odd, though. The prime minister doesn’t seem to care about his son. The marriage preparations are still ongoing."

Lily nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought. "That’s what troubles me too. It means the groom isn’t this piece of trash," she said, gesturing at the man on the floor.

Tyler pulled a letter from his coat, along with an ornate invitation card. "I received this from Mana. It’s an invitation to attend the marriage ceremony."

Lily’s eyebrows rose in surprise, then settled into a thoughtful frown. "Looks like we have to attend it. Not as pirates, but as representatives of the White Merchant Group."

"Hmm... Opening a big business in this kingdom was the right choice," Tyler murmured, considering their options. It wasn’t every day that someone received an invitation to such a high-profile event.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the capital, Isadora Nightkiss, known as the infamous Manhunter, was meeting with a figure in the shadowy corners of the city. She moved with purpose, her every step measured as she navigated the labyrinthine alleys to reach her destination.

She found herself facing the vice-captain of the Silver Eye Pirates, a grizzled dwarf who had a tankard of beer in one hand and a sneer on his lips. "It’s you, b*tch. You’ve infiltrated our ship many times. Now you dare show your face here?" he snarled, his small, beady eyes filled with malice.

Isadora didn’t flinch. Instead, she delivered her news with cool indifference. "I came here to inform you that the Phantom Pirates have kidnapped Prime Minister Rover’s son."

The dwarf’s expression shifted, the weight of her words sinking in. He hurried off to a nearby room, where the Silver Eyed Captain, a man as infamous as he was feared, sat drinking in silence, lost in his own thoughts.

The vice-captain knocked gently, then relayed the situation to his captain. The captain, without even glancing away from the ceiling, spoke calmly, "Tell the prime minister to open the Labyrinth. Or else he won’t see his son again."

A few hours later, Isadora returned to Tyler and Lily, her expression as inscrutable as ever. "It seems the prime minister will open the Labyrinth during the wedding," she said.

Tyler’s eyes narrowed, processing the implications. "So, you told the Silver Eye Pirates because they have a way to contact the prime minister?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

Isadora nodded, her gaze steady. Tyler fell silent, his mind churning with possibilities. If the Labyrinth was going to be opened, it would draw in every faction vying for power. Yet, the idea of kidnapping the prime minister himself flickered briefly in his thoughts before he dismissed it as impractical.

Their goal was clear: they needed to disrupt the wedding and rescue Astrid. But the Labyrinth added a dangerous new variable to their plans.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

As the news of the Labyrinth’s impending opening spread like wildfire through the capital, the atmosphere in the city grew increasingly tense. Pirates from all corners of the sea converged on the island, their ships anchored just outside the capital’s boundaries, waiting for the fateful day when the Labyrinth would finally reveal its secrets. These weren’t just ordinary pirates; they were hardened crews, each with its own reputation for ruthlessness and cunning. Captains whispered in darkened taverns, strategizing their moves, while their crews busied themselves with last-minute preparations, sharpening weapons, and readying supplies for the dangerous journey ahead.

The Labyrinth, an ancient and mysterious structure, had long been the stuff of legends. Some said it was naturally formed, a relic of a bygone era when Immortals roamed the south. Others believed it was a deliberate creation, a test left behind by an Immortal in the North to challenge the brave—or the foolish. The promise of treasure hidden within its depths was more than enough to draw these pirates like moths to a flame. But what truly stirred their greed and ambition was the rumor that an Immortal Spark was buried somewhere deep within the Labyrinth’s twisted corridors.

Yet, it wasn’t only the pirates who were drawn to the capital. Adventurers of all kinds—treasure hunters, mercenaries, and seekers of glory—flocked to the city, eager to claim their share of the riches or carve their names into history. The capital’s streets buzzed with activity as these adventurers formed temporary alliances, bartered for information, and acquired supplies. Every inn and tavern was filled with talk of the Labyrinth, and the anticipation hung thick in the air. Everyone knew that when the Labyrinth opened, chaos would reign, and only the strongest—or the luckiest—would emerge victorious.

Adding another layer of tension to the already volatile mix was the arrival of several Federation ships, their sleek, imposing forms cutting through the waters as they docked at the capital. The Federation, a powerful and authoritarian force, was not there merely to seek treasure. They had a different, more personal mission: to hunt down Isadora Nightkiss, the notorious ’Manhunter’ who had been spotted in the capital. Reports had reached the Federation that she was now with the Phantom Pirates, and they were determined to capture her at all costs. It is the Silver Eye Captain who snitched her out.

But the Federation had another, more covert mission: they too sought something within the Labyrinth. Rumors abounded that their true objective was tied to a powerful artifact or ancient knowledge hidden within its depths, something that could shift the balance of power in the world. This dual mission—capturing Isadora and securing whatever lay within the Labyrinth—meant the Federation was prepared to go to any lengths, including engaging in open conflict with the pirates and adventurers if necessary.

In the dimly lit cabin of the Federation ship, the air was thick with the scent of salt and tension. The Lieutenant, a man with a stern face and cold, calculating eyes, leaned back in his chair, staring out of the small porthole at the bustling capital in the distance. His expression remained unflinchingly bored, despite the gravity of the mission at hand. The Ensign, standing at attention before him, shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the silence.

"We were unable to capture Manhunter on Rich Berg Island," the Ensign finally reported, his voice edged with a hint of unease.

The Lieutenant’s gaze didn’t waver from the window. He let the words hang in the air for a moment before he finally turned his attention to the Ensign. "Sorry, sir," the Ensign added quickly, as if trying to fill the void left by the Lieutenant’s silence.

With a slow, dismissive wave of his hand, the Lieutenant replied, "Don’t worry about it. She’s slippery, but she won’t get far. Just wait for the Labyrinth to open. We’ll hunt her down then."

He paused, his voice lowering as he leaned forward, eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam. "And remember, our mission isn’t just about her. We have something far more valuable to retrieve from that place. There’s a good chance the Labyrinth holds clues about it—’that thing’ we’ve been searching for."

The Ensign, now fully aware of the deeper implications of their mission, nodded firmly. The mention of ’that thing’ was enough to send a shiver down his spine. It was the true reason for their presence here, the elusive objective that had driven the Federation to this remote corner of the world. Capturing Isadora Nightkiss was important, yes, but ’that thing’ was the key to power and influence on a scale that few could comprehend.

"We can’t afford any mistakes this time," the Lieutenant continued, his voice a quiet but steely command. "The Labyrinth is our only lead, and we’ll use whatever means necessary to get what we came for. If we have to go through pirates, adventurers, or even the local authorities, so be it."

The Ensign straightened his posture, determination hardening his features. "Understood, sir. We’ll be ready."

"Good," the Lieutenant said, leaning back in his chair once more, his expression returning to one of cold indifference. "Now, get the men prepared. The moment that Labyrinth opens, we make our move."

The Ensign saluted crisply and turned to leave.

As the wedding day approached, the capital turned into a powder keg, with tensions mounting by the hour. The Labyrinth’s opening would be the spark that ignited a fierce and unpredictable battle, with pirates, adventurers, and Federation forces all vying for what’s within.

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