The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 163 - 162. The Wedding (Final Part)

Chapter 163: 162. The Wedding (Final Part)

"Can we knock him down?" Tyler asked in a hushed tone, his eyes narrowing as he watched the cloaked figure move through the room.

"Nope... He’s strong. We can’t take him out in one hit without alerting anyone," Lily replied, her eyes scanning the area for potential traps or alarms.

"Then let’s just leave after he’s gone," Tyler suggested, his voice calm but resolute.

The group remained perfectly still, their Phantom Masks keeping them concealed in the shadows as the cloaked man completed his inspection of the room. He muttered something under his breath, words too quiet for anyone to make out clearly. His presence lingered like a thick cloud of tension before he finally turned on his heel and left, reactivating the array behind him.

---

Moonlight filtered in through the stained glass ceiling, casting a delicate, multicolored glow across the polished marble floor. The hall was vast, its grandiosity evident in every carefully carved pillar and detailed mural that adorned the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and freshly polished wood, giving the room an almost ethereal quality.

"So, this is the wedding hall," Tyler remarked quietly, his eyes sweeping the room.

"Oh! There’s a buffet area—" Mana started to say with excitement.

"Yup, just shut up," Tyler cut her off with a playful grin. "If you want, you can buy any food in this world and multiply it."

Mana pouted, her fingers tapping the edge of the copper pot hanging from his waist. "Eating the same food with the same taste multiple times or eating different types of food with different flavors... Obviously, Mana prefers the latter," she said, puffing her cheeks in protest.

Tyler chuckled under his breath. Even in such tense circumstances, Mana’s obsession with food somehow lightened the atmosphere.

After leaving the king’s chamber, Tyler and Mana entered Ghost mode again, sneaking into the wedding hall. The hall itself resembled a grand cathedral, the ceiling arched high above them with intricate carvings of winged creatures spiraling along the edges. The centerpiece of the room was a massive statue of a woman, standing tall at the far end of the hall. She was depicted as a goddess, her stone features calm and serene. She held a staff in one hand, a glowing orb embedded at the top, and a wide-brimmed witch’s hat rested upon her head, casting a shadow over her eyes.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

The next day, Tyler, Mathilda, Mana, and Lily walked into the grand wedding hall. It had been decorated meticulously, with large, ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and delicate flower arrangements lining the aisles. The air was filled with the scent of roses, lilies, and a touch of magic that made the scene sparkle. Guests were pouring in, dressed in luxurious clothes, their conversations buzzing around the upcoming event.

"Looks like it’s gonna be one hell of a wedding," Tyler remarked as his eyes roamed over the crowd. He spotted several high-ranking nobles, merchants, and a few robed mages among them. The grandeur of the event was enough to make anyone feel small, but Tyler and his group didn’t blend in—they stood out.

The noise and excitement began to hush when the bride appeared. Dressed in an ethereal white gown, her figure seemed to glow under the soft, multicolored light streaming through the stained glass windows. She was like an angel descended from the heavens, every step she took drawing gasps of admiration from the audience. The Prime Minister, Rover, walked beside her, guiding her down the aisle.

"She’s really something," Tyler whispered to Lily, who was seated beside him. Lily simply nodded, her expression unreadable as she scanned the room.

As the bride reached the altar, the crowd waited in anticipation for the groom to appear. However, when he did, murmurs of disappointment rippled through the hall. The groom was wearing a mask that concealed his face entirely, save for his blonde hair that peeked out from beneath. A few of the more curious onlookers tried to pry into his identity using their divine senses, but something blocked their efforts. The air grew tense as people began whispering among themselves, but no one dared to voice their displeasure—after all, the Prime Minister wielded immense power.

Well, almost no one.

"Remove the mask, groom. Are you even the Prime Minister’s son?" A loud voice rang out, cutting through the low hum of conversation.

All eyes turned to the source of the voice, and the crowd parted like the sea, revealing Tyler and his group sitting in the center. The sight of Tyler surrounded by beautiful women only added to the shock, and the attention of the room immediately focused on him. Beside him, a man wearing a hat had his head buried in his arms, appearing to be fast asleep.

"Who—who might you be?" the Prime Minister asked, his tone a mix of confusion and irritation.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Tyler stood up and offered a slight bow. "I am Tyler White, Astrid’s friend and owner of White Crown Galleria."

Gasps echoed through the hall at the mention of White Crown Galleria. While the name was new to some, most had heard of the business. In less than a month, it had become famous across the entire kingdom.

The Prime Minister’s eyes narrowed, but his voice remained controlled. "Due to an omen, the groom is not supposed to show his face," he said smoothly.

Omen. The word hung in the air, immediately silencing any further objections. In this world, omens, fortunes, and seers were taken extremely seriously. No one dared to question the word of a seer, especially not during a sacred ceremony like a wedding.

The Prime Minister continued, "This is my adopted son. He has received all of my teachings, and I can assure you, this country will prosper under his guidance."

The nobles in the crowd nodded their heads in agreement, like chickens pecking at feed, eager to show their loyalty to the Prime Minister.

Tyler smirked, clearly unimpressed. "Nice... Cool... Anyway, Astrid," he said, turning his attention to the bride, "we saw the king yesterday. He’s been poisoned with some kind of soul poison. Your magic is the only one that can heal him."

The hall fell silent, the weight of Tyler’s words pressing down on everyone present.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" the Prime Minister roared, his face turning red with anger. "Guards, throw them out!"

But Tyler ignored him, his eyes now fixed on Astrid. "Please help him," he said calmly as he reached over and removed the hat from the man sleeping next to him, revealing the face of the king. The guards, who had begun to move toward Tyler, immediately stopped in their tracks.

Gasps erupted from the crowd once again as they realized that the unconscious man was, in fact, the king himself.

The Prime Minister’s expression twisted in rage and fear. "Are you declaring war? How dare you kidnap the king?!"

"Nuh uh," Tyler wagged a finger in mock scolding. "We’re just waking up the king."

"Father..." Astrid’s voice was a whisper, but it was filled with emotion. She was already by her father’s side, her hands glowing faintly with magic. Without hesitation, Lily moved forward and unlocked the bracelet on Astrid’s wrist. Prana restraints—devices meant to suppress magic.

"Wow... Restraining the crown princess’s prana, huh?" Tyler murmured loud enough for the crowd to hear. "I wonder who the real rebel is in this situation?"

The Prime Minister’s face paled, but before he could respond, the masked groom spoke up. "Stop them. Capture all of them!" His voice was harsh and commanding, and for a moment, it seemed like the Prime Minister would hesitate. But the masked man’s voice brooked no argument.

"Just do it..." he hissed.

As the guards began to move, Astrid’s hands trembled. "I need more time," she whispered desperately as she focused on healing her father.

"Okay... That wasn’t part of the script," Tyler muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought he’d wake up sooner. Alright, I’ll buy some time."

Tyler stood in front of the guards, arms casually folded, a smirk playing on his lips.

Suddenly, Astrid froze, her magic faltering. She heard a voice—one that sent a chill down her spine.

"Don’t heal him. If you value your little lover’s life."

It was the masked man’s voice, transmitted directly into her mind.

"Lutz..." Astrid’s voice trembled.

"Why did you stop?" Mathilda asked, noticing the sudden change in Astrid’s demeanor.

"Probably because that guy blackmailed her," Lily said, her eyes narrowing. "Hmm... Let me guess, the only leverage he could use against her is... someone named Lutz."

"What are you talking about?" the masked man asked, feigning ignorance.

"Don’t worry, Astrid. Just heal your father," Tyler said confidently. "I’m pretty sure he won’t kill Lutz."

"What do you mean?" the masked man asked, his voice suddenly tense.

Tyler’s smirk widened. "Because that would be suicide. Are you really going to kill yourself, Lutz?"

The masked man took a step back, visibly shaken. Astrid’s eyes widened in shock, and even Mathilda and Mana exchanged surprised glances. Only Lily remained unfazed, as if she had already pieced it together.

"You... are the son of the Hero Evergreen," Tyler said, his voice booming across the hall. "Lutz Evergreen, the one who poisoned the king."

The crowd gasped once again, their whispers turning into a roar of disbelief.

The masked man’s hand shook as he reached up and slowly removed his mask, revealing his true face. His blonde hair turned into brown hair, and his features shifted, revealing a familiar face.

"Lutz!?" Astrid’s shout echoed throughout the wedding hall, her voice filled with a mixture of shock and betrayal.