187: Pre-elimination (20) : Banquet

Pre-elimination (20) : Banquet

All the lights were dimmed as a piece of low trumpet music was sounded from the entrance near the raised golden-red throne. From where they were sitting, Juin and the rest had a clear view of the figure who had just walked out from the entrance and who was followed by a group of subservient servants. 2

"Damn…" Juin muttered in a low voice. "He's huge…" 

And he was right.

The adult citizens of Arconis averaged at around 1.90 m, with females at around 1.85 m. While on the way to the palace earlier, Juin even saw a man who was around 2.3 m tall. However, that was nothing compared to the man he was looking at now. 

The blue-haired man with dark blue eyes who had just walked out of the entrance towered at around 2.5 m, and he wasn't just tall… His muscles were tight and big, looking as if he could easily squeeze an adult human's head until it exploded, yet at the same time, he was also proportionately built. 

Juin glanced around, and he saw girls of all ages were all staring at the king, and Maris was even openly… drooling? 

"The last time I saw him, I was still a little girl… At that time, he was only a prince, and King Adam's beauty overshadowed him… But now…" Maris murmured to herself as she stared unashamedly. She then looked over at Juin for a few seconds before looking back at the king. 

With a sigh, she then with a disappointed gaze, "You're just a normal human, possessed or not… There's no way you can get that kind of physique… Otherwise, when you're older..."

She then shook her head slowly. 

"Erm…" Juin hesitated. "O...k?" 

For some reason, he felt a little insulted by her statement, but he kept it to himself. If that had been Luca, he would have retorted with something rude, but since that was stated by a girl… Even if she was a possibly evil girl who might use him to her own benefit… Juin still could not find it within himself to insult her back. 

"Psst!" Someone suddenly nudged him.

Juin turned and gave Cyrus a "what" expression, upon which the little beast pointed to one side.

When they saw that the nobles were standing up, as well as the adults, Juin and the rest quickly followed suit and stood up quietly out of respect as the king walked toward the throne. 

Decked out in a silk black harem pants tied with a red cloth belt, white shirt with half of the buttons opened, and a huge red robe with the royal emblem, a gold shark with crimson eyes, he exuded strength and power with every step he took. 

Juin could see the look of envy on the faces of some of those around him, including Luca and Saville.

"If she's into that, wait till I grow up," Cyrus leaned to the side as he whispered to Juin. "Her lower jaw is going to hit the floor. My people, in human forms, can be even bigger than that king… And in many aspects at that."

"This is not a size bragging competition, Cyrus," Juin whispered back with a chuckle. "There are so many worlds out there, there will be someone big and someone small…"

"I'm just making an observation," Cyrus mumbled and shrugged. He then gave Juin a glance and sneered, "But it doesn't matter in what world, you are still you."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Juin frowned. He gave Cyrus a playful shake, but the little beast merely chuckled at him. "I think you spent too much time with Wesley… When I go back for a visit, you aren't coming with me."

When he mentioned his ex-roommate's name, a sense of nostalgia hit him like a wave, and his face softened slightly. It had been a few weeks since he moved into President Presley's home. Even though he called back every now and then, the feeling was still different. 

At the very least, due to missing him, Wesley had not been calling him names or making fun of him during their calls. Instead, the boy tried to fill Juin in on everything that had been happening in his absence, such as the recent fight between Max and her boyfriends, as well as Wesley's latest project of finding a potential suitor for Mrs. Martin. 

Shaking his head, Juin forced himself to focus back on the king so as to not think more about the people he missed dearly. By now, the imposing man had already walked to the throne and was now standing in front of the chair that was bigger than most humans.

Juin stared at him, or rather, his body. On the man's body, the markings, which were four huge stripes across his abdomen, were glowing in red, showing to everyone that he was part of the ruling family. 

With a charming smile that befitted a king, the man opened his arms wide as he said in an orotund voice, "Welcome, my friends from the another world. It had been five years since I last met up with all of you."

As he spoke, his eyes slowly moved from one side of the ballroom to the other side. "I hope that everyone is doing well and everything is going great for you guys… As you may know by now, my poor brother and sister-in-law, the late King Adam and his queen, had unfortunately suffered an ambush during one of their expeditions…"

He then gazed to the side slightly and stopped his speech a few seconds as if he was trying to control his emotions. After a while, he looked up, this time with a sad smile and a softer expression, as he said, "And sadly… My poor nephew, King Tomas, suffered an allergic reaction when he was out of the palace. Without the proper medicines, the poor boy passed away not long after his parents…"

"Father..." Crown Prince Renaud stood up. He bowed at his father respectfully before he said, "Today is a happy occasion. Let's focus more on the present and the future…" 

And as he said so, he placed a hand on the shoulder of Princess Cecile, who was seated next to him. 

The king looked at his son for a while before he said with a smile, "Yes, you're right, Renaud, we should focus more on the future…"

He then glanced at his niece before nodding at her. He had heard about the battle between his daughter and his niece, so he knew that his niece had overspent her soul power and barely had the energy to even stay conscious at the moment.

After a while, he then looked at his guests and said, "Please, take your seat…" 

As most people came from different countries, even worlds, they all bowed in the tradition of their own origins before taking their seats.

Once everyone had seated down, the king then clapped his hands, upon which, a group of servants holding ocean-themed platters that were heavy with various types of seafood walked in ceremoniously. Accompanied by soft lulling music, these servants moved around gracefully, almost as if they were dancing on water.

Their movements were so smooth that the food on the platters did not even move an inch as they moved about from table to table, delivering one platter on each table that they moved by. 

Once he was satisfied with everything, the king smiled and nodded at each direction before walking down from the throne and sat at the main table where all the important guests and royals were. 

Before he sat, he said loudly, "Let the feast begin!"

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