What are the ways to deal with a person?

  The easiest one was to resort to physical violence, but it often resulted in significant repercussions. In cases where one was unable to resort to violence, waging psychological warfare could be a good alternative too.

  There were many forms of psychological warfare, but the one Sartoni opted for was ‘standard of living’.

  Unlike the Saints Convocation which pursued a more spiritual lifestyle, the Salvation Brotherhood believed in satisfying their material desires. In the midst of seeking greater power, they continuously ceded to their desires, resulting in the gradual erosion of their restraints. Slowly, they spiralled into what most would term as deranged obsession.

  A decadent lifestyle that screwed all stifling morals and ethics—how enticing it was to those who lacked mental fortitude, especially youths who had yet to develop their moral compass?

  Sartoni had long heard about how the Holy Envoys of the Saints Convocation were raised.

  From a young age, they were constantly injected with a special fluid that emulated the bloodline of an ancient lineage. Those who displayed a higher degree of acceptance of the special fluid and were able to survive the ordeal would have a shot at becoming a Holy Envoy.

  Holy Envoys were basically tools to activate the Saints Convocation’s trump cards—and to be more exact, single use tools. Needless to say, it was meaningless to devote resources into developing the abilities of a consumable, so Holy Envoys tended to not be very strong.

  They lived an isolated life in the Saints Convocation’s headquarters, so they had severely limited understanding of the outside world.

  He’s just a countryside bumpkin who knows nothing about life at all. I reckon that he hasn’t even touched a woman’s hand before.

  Amidst the cheering of the crowd, Sartoni walked down the stairs and took his seat at the opposite end of the long table.

  The moment he sat down, the music started playing once more, and the members of the Salvation Brotherhood resumed whatever they were doing earlier. A servant stepped forward and respectfully served him a glass of cocktail.

  In contrast, there was no one to wait on Roel, and the area in front of him was completely empty. It was only when Sartoni finally ‘noticed’ this breach of etiquette that he berated the servants in an almost exaggerated manner.

  “What are you all doing? How could you forget about the Holy Envoy? He still doesn’t have anything to drink yet!”


  The inconsequential reprimand from Sartoni spurred mocking laughter from the other members of the Salvation Brotherhood. The servants simply perfunctorily placed a cup of wine before Roel, not showing the slightest remorse regarding their earlier breach of etiquette.

  Roel shot a glance at the glass of wine that was spared to him as if he was asking for alms. He chuckled softly to himself before raising his gaze to look at the middle-aged man sitting at the opposite end of the table.

  “Mister Sartoni, aren’t we here to discuss a ceasefire?”


  “Yes, that’s indeed our purpose here, Holy Envoy.”


  “Then what’s with this ridiculous banquet? I have only felt insincerity from you thus far.”


  “Holy Envoy, you seem to be misunderstanding our intention. This is our way of expressing goodwill.”


  Sartoni shot a glance at the men and women dancing in the center of the room, who were starting to get passionate with one another under the influence of alcohol, and explained calmly.

  “Our Salvation Brotherhood is an organization that believes in staying true to ourselves. God has granted us strength so that we can pursue a better life for ourselves. This banquet is specially prepared to help us let loose and be honest with one another.”


  “Oh? This is your way of welcoming me?”


  “Yes, I can assure you that this is our utmost sincerity.”


  Sartoni beckoned a beautiful young woman with his hand, and the latter sashayed flirtatiously to his side. He wrapped his arm around her slim waist and forcefully pulled her toward his body. He then turned his head back to Roel and continued with a smile.

  “However, I’ll have to concede that I didn’t think things through properly. I should have known that a revered Holy Envoy like yourself is brought up in an environment vastly different from ours. This must be your first time encountering such a situation?”


  “.……”


  Sartoni’s smile grew brighter at Roel’s silence. He started fondling the young woman’s body, and the latter giggled at his touch, seemingly enjoying it.

  “Mister Roel, do you have any experience?”


  “Experience with what?”


  “Experience with women.”


  Roel’s face turned dark at Sartoni’s explicit words. He took in a deep breath and forcefully pulled the conversation back on track.

  “Mister Sartoni, I don’t like how you’re beating around the bush.”


  “I just think that we ought to first build up a friendly relationship before proceeding with the negotiation. This is the basics of socializing. In fact, this banquet serves a purpose too.”


  “Does it?”


  Roel couldn’t even be bothered to refute the ridiculous argument being made by Sartoni. It was not worth wasting his effort on such petty tricks, so he decided to simply disregard them altogether.

  But clearly, Sartoni wasn’t going to let things rest with just this much. He stood up and made a suggestion.

  “In accordance with the culture of the Country of Scholars, why don’t we share a dance as an expression of goodwill? I know that Mister Roel lives a secluded life, but surely dancing shouldn’t pose a problem to you?”


  There was a mocking smile on Sartoni’s face as he said those words.

  Dancing was completely contrary to the raison d’être of a Holy Envoy, so it would stand to reason that Roel was ignorant of it. That was also the reason why Sartoni made such a suggestion.

  Even in the off case that Roel was skilled in dancing, it still wouldn’t make a difference. Brolne’s couple dance demanded cooperation from both sides, which made it famous as a way for dance partners to subtly express goodwill or enmity toward one another.

  If both partners moved in sync with one another, it would make for a harmonious performance. However, if a person wanted to humiliate his partner, all he had to do was to showcase even flashier moves to render his partner unnecessary.

  Sartoni swept a glance at the steely-faced disciples standing behind Roel, and the corners of his lips subtly crept upward. He turned to look at Roel and remarked flamboyantly.

  “Aww, there doesn’t seem to be any ladies in your group. Shall we find a dance partner for you then? Is there anyone in the room who is willing to dance with Mister Roel?”


  Sartoni turned around and directed the question to the crowd behind him, only to be met with complete silence. All of the women turned their heads away in disgust.

  The atmosphere in the room plunged into awkwardness. Some of the men present even started laughing under their breath.

  Their brazen provocation finally caught Roel’s ire. But before he could blow his top, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from the door behind him.

  “Allow me.”


  “!”


  The unexpected chilling voice in the banquet hall caused everyone to widen their eyes in astonishment. Roel quickly turned his head over, only to see a woman so beautiful that she didn’t appear to be of this world.

  Skin that was fair and smooth like jade, flowing black hair that cascaded like a waterfall, amethyst eyes that glowed with a mysterious gleam, a dignified long dress, and a purple tiara that complemented her eye color.

  Just like at many other banquets in the Austine Empire, Lilian Ackermann awed everyone as soon as she made an appearance.

  The men couldn’t help but gawk at her beauty whereas the women felt their expressions stiffening. Sartoni was so bewildered that he stopped fondling the woman in his embrace. Slowly, his eyes narrowed in fury.

  “Who is she? Where are our soldiers?!” he roared.

  No one was able to answer his questions. Everyone stared at Lilian, but no one knew who she was or how she managed to get in.

  Meanwhile, Lilian directed a sweeping gaze around the room before her eyes finally stopped on Roel. The moment she met eyes with him, her cold aura thawed, allowing a faint smile on her lips.

  “!”


  Roel gasped softly at that sight. This was the first time he saw her smile. The warmth and intimacy she exuded was a huge contrast to her usual stoic attitude, and it made his heart thump furiously.

  It’s Lilian!

  Roel felt such an intense rush of happiness from having reunited with Lilian that he started to feel light-headed. All the worries he had been bottling in his heart were finally released.

  Fervent discussion had broken out in the room, but he was in no mood to bother with what they were saying.

  Before everyone’s eyes, Lilian gracefully walked up to Roel. There was a brief moment of pause before she suddenly offered a hand to him.

  “Senior?”


  “Aren’t you going to dance? You don’t need anyone else now that I’m here.”


  “.…… Yes, you’re right. Let’s have a dance together to celebrate our reunion.”


  Lilian’s domineering words brought a smile onto Roel’s face. Irrepressible joy burst forth from his chest as he rose to his feet, gently grabbed Lilian’s hand, and led her toward the center of the room.

  He initially intended not to go along with Sartoni’s petty scheme—he would have to be actually dumb to allow someone else to lead him by the nose—but since a beauty was extending an invitation to him, it would be impolite for him to reject her as a man.

  Sartoni’s eyes alternated between Lilian and the woman in his arms for a moment before he eventually decided against joining them on the dance floor.

  In the first place, he had already lost out to Roel in terms of disposition and appearance, and the difference was even more pronounced with the gap between their partners. If he insisted on dancing alongside them, it would only spell his own humiliation.

  Having been outdone in the scenario he had created himself, he felt so embarrassed that his ears reddened in shame.

  The only relief for him was that Roel wasn’t in the mood to mock him anymore, for his attention was completely focused on his dance partner.

  The music started playing once more, and the two of them locked eyes with one another. Roel took note of her traditional long dress before changing his arm position to that of the Ancient Austine Empire’s imperial ballroom dance.

  Surprise flickered across Lilian’s face, but it soon gave way to a heartened smile.

  Traditional long dresses were specifically designed for the Ancient Austine Empire’s imperial ballroom dance. Its long hems made it unsuited for most dances, but the specially choreographed imperial ballroom dance worked marvelously with it.

  It was a small gesture, but it did show Roel’s consideration for her.

  The Ancient Austine Empire’s imperial ballroom dance was known to be highly complicated and difficult to master, such that it was eventually greatly simplified in the current Austine Empire. It was just that its aesthetics were also greatly discounted in the process.

  Only those born in noble houses with over a thousand years of lineage and brought up with the noblest of upbringing were able to bring out the true flair of the imperial ballroom dance.

  This rare opportunity excited Lilian.

  Their interlocked fingers seemed to connect their hearts together. Under the accompaniment of music, an elegant and majestic dance came to life in this dark mansion.

  The imperial ballroom dance was soulful but challenging, such that it even had moves that could only be pulled off by transcendents. This was the first time Roel and Lilian were dancing together, but their coordination was so perfect that it looked as if they had done this for years.

  It was also at this moment that the intentional design of the long dress was finally showing through as it fluttered around the dance floor spiritedly as if it had a life of its own.

  The crowd fell completely silent. They were too absorbed in the dance to even speak a word.

  Finally, when the melody came to an end, Lilian returned to her original position, but there was a faint flush coloring her cheeks.

  By the customs of the Ancient Austine Empire, the two dance partners ought to bow to one another and part ways, but to Roel’s surprise, Lilian refused to release his hand. Deep emotions rippled in her amethyst eyes as she suddenly leaned forward to kiss his cheek as reciprocation for the dance.

  Roel was bewildered by this unexpected kiss, and it caused his face to redden.

  Over on the long table, Sartoni shot to his feet as mana began pulsating from him.

  Many years of ceding to his desires had made him a highly impatient man, and he couldn’t tolerate the humiliation he was feeling anymore. The sudden outburst of an Origin Level 2 transcendent was bound to instill fright, but the two people whom he wanted to deal with were ironically unfazed.

  “I heard that the two of you were in the midst of negotiation.”


  “We were, but I’m not really interested in negotiating anymore now that you’re here.”


  “What a coincidence. I was thinking the same too.”


  Lilian chuckled softly. She directed a cold gaze upon those who were staring at them in hostility.

  “Ancient Austine isn’t just known for its long dresses and dance moves. It has a notable history of swordsmanship and bloodshed too.”


  Loud rumbling suddenly echoed from the ground as a deep war horn sounded. The shattering of glass could be heard as an army of knights barged into the room through the windows.