Free Web NovelChapter 1649: Unveiling the Queen
Dawn broke over Stoneheart City, lifting a veil of white mist from the earth.
At the gates, a long line of merchants from various races stood quietly amidst the chiming bronze bells of pack oxen. Gabriel and Daniel waited among them. They were in no rush, using the time to observe the unfamiliar crowds and the imposing architecture.
"My lord, the relic points here," Daniel murmured. "This should be our destination."
Daniel served as Gabriel’s lieutenant. The leadership of the Disorder Alliance had exiled them to this remote backwater to establish a new market front.
"So this is Stoneheart City?" Gabriel muttered, gazing at the battlements. The blood-red paint spelling "Stoneheart" was peeling, yet it didn’t look dilapidated. Instead, it bore the heavy weight of history.
They reached the checkpoint. Smiling affably, Gabriel slipped a few coins into the guard’s hand. "A little something for your thirst, Captain."
The giant-blooded guard tossed the Stoneheart coins in his palm, eyeing them up and down. "New in town?"
"Yes, our first time," Gabriel replied smoothly. "We’re just hoping for some pointers so we can scrape together a living."
The guard scrutinized them. Their bearing and demeanor didn’t match typical caravan merchants. Regulars knew the Stoneheart Horde enforced a strict, transparent toll. There was no need to bribe the gate guards; only outsiders bothered.
"If you’re just here to trade, head straight to the Outer City market," the guard advised, glancing at the dozen pack oxen trailing behind them. "You’ll find anything that exists on the Titan continent there."
He leaned in closer. "And if you’re looking to blow off steam afterward, check out the taverns, the arenas, or the Seeker. I highly recommend the Silent Goblet—the dancers are breathtaking. The arena fights will get your blood pumping, and if your pockets are deep enough, the Seeker auctions offer a thrill you won’t forget."
The giant-blooded warrior had started off professional but quickly lost himself detailing the city’s entertainment districts. Gabriel and Daniel exchanged an amused glance, happily indulging his rambling until the merchants behind them began to grumble.
Passing through the gates, they plunged into a thriving metropolis. The streets were a sea of people and wagons, bustling with energy.
"We definitely came to the right place," Daniel noted as the crowds parted and flowed around them like water.
"We’ll sell the cargo first and convert our coin to Stoneheart currency," Gabriel decided. "Then we’ll get a proper look at this city."
Half a day later, following the relic’s pull, the pair stood outside the Silent Goblet. Both men stopped dead in their tracks.
"My lord... unless I’m mistaken, this is a construct of Law," Daniel whispered.
Gabriel nodded. Neither man was ordinary—Gabriel was a demigod, and Daniel an Arch Lord. Their senses were flawless.
"Come. Let’s see what’s inside," Gabriel said, pushing open the doors.
The interior of the tavern was vastly larger than the exterior dimensions allowed. It was undeniably a spatial construct woven from fundamental Law.
"Right this way, gentlemen. What can I get for you?" A veiled succubus stepped out from behind the counter to greet them.
A Legendary level succubus? Gabriel’s eyes swept over her, instantly piercing her disguise to gauge her true strength.
He offered a warm smile. "Two glasses of your finest vintage. And would it be possible to speak with the owner of this tavern?"
The succubus nodded, then shook her head. "Our finest vintage is only served on the fourth floor."
She pointed upward. The fourth floor was an exclusive domain, restricted to powerhouses at the Arch Lord tier and above.
Gabriel already knew the rules of the Silent Goblet. Without a word of protest, he headed for the stairs. Daniel followed closely. Observing this, the succubus manager—and the patrons watching from the corners—realized these newcomers were not to be trifled with.
On the fourth floor, premium wine and four plates of exquisite delicacies were brought to their table. freēwēbnovel.com
"So, you’re the one in charge?" Gabriel asked the succubus, who had escorted them up. Given her strength fell short of an Arch Lord, her presence here meant she held significant authority in the establishment.
"If it involves this tavern, I make the decisions," she replied with a muffled laugh, making no effort to remove her veil.
A heavy silence settled over the table. The succubus waited patiently while Gabriel and Daniel seemed to weigh their options.
Finally, Gabriel sat up straight and unleashed a concentrated wave of his demigod aura, directing it solely at the succubus. She didn’t flinch. Faced with the crushing pressure of a demigod, she merely kept smiling.
It wasn’t an attack, just a probe. Her unshakeable composure confirmed she wielded true authority—or that she had a direct line to the Tian King of the Stoneheart Horde.
"I am Gabriel, and this is my associate, Daniel. We are expatriate elders of the Disorder Alliance," Gabriel said, taking a slow sip of his wine.
"Welcome to the Stoneheart Horde, Lord Gabriel, Lord Daniel. I hope your stay is a pleasant one," she said, offering a slight bow in deference to a demigod’s status.
Gabriel remained silent, glancing at his lieutenant. Understanding the cue, Daniel produced a beautifully crafted deck of cards and handed it over. Gabriel took the deck, performed a rapid series of arcane gestures the succubus couldn’t identify, and slid a single black-and-gold card into the stack.
She watched intently. The rest of the deck was completely blank.
Finishing his prayer, Gabriel stared hard at her, as if verifying something unseen. His stern expression finally softened. He placed the deck on the table and gestured for her to draw a card.
Standing on Stoneheart Horde territory, she had nothing to fear. She reached out and pulled a card.
Instantly, she froze.
[Name]: Delilah
[Race]: Succubus
[Synergy]: Can form a linked synergy with the Stoneheart Titan.
[Skills]: Charm, Twin Souls, Illusion
[Rarity]: 4-Star (Arch Lord)
[...]
Delilah went completely rigid. Even with her vast experience surviving the Abyss, this defied reality. The card gripped in her hand emanated a terrifying, anomalous energy.
"So you are Delilah, wife of the Tian King. It is an honor."
Gabriel and Daniel stood simultaneously, bowing to her—finally returning the respect she had shown earlier. The moment her fingers brushed the card, her true identity had materialized in their minds. This tavern manager was Delilah herself.
Whether the woman standing before them was her true body or merely an avatar, it made no difference to them.
