"Curse?"
Su Xuan glanced at Roxia's Attribute panel. The Curse displayed on her Status bar left him puzzled.
He tried to find out what kind of Curse she was under, but it showed his affinity was too low to view the details.
"..."
Su Xuan resignedly gave up on the idea and turned his attention to the others present.
Just then, Roxia and Natasha walked into the reception hall. They asked Mei Xing, "What are you doing here?"
"Cousin, Aunt Natasha," Mei Xing replied with a smile. "I was just passing by and started chatting with this gentleman about some of our shared interests."
"If there's nothing else, then you're excused. Remember to practice your Swordsmanship and be fully prepared for tomorrow's selection," Roxia said in a calm tone.
"Yes, I understand." Mei Xing nodded without another word and left the reception room.
After Mei Xing left, Roxia gently closed the door to the reception room.
She then walked lightly over to Su Xuan. Her azure eyes stared deeply into his, her expression cool and aloof as she said in a crisp, calm voice, "Please, have a seat."
They all took their seats.
However, Roxia had taken the seat Su Xuan was in previously.
He was just about to retrieve his coffee. Though the cup looked untouched, the rim still bore his mark.
But before he could stand, Roxia picked up that very cup and took a delicate sip.
This...
Su Xuan started to speak, then stopped. 'Ah, forget it,' he thought. 'It's too late now.'
"Adventurers from a distant land."
Roxia set the cup down. Her azure eyes were fixed on Su Xuan as she said with a faint smile, "Aunt Natasha has told me about you. Thank you for traveling so far to accept this commission and ensure my safety."
As she spoke, Roxia's gaze drifted over Su Xuan and his companions, scrutinizing them.
'Is she trying to decide if the Adventurers Natasha hired are reliable?'
First, there was Su Xuan.
She accurately judged him to be an ordinary person. He had no magical aura to speak of and had likely never received any training in Swordsmanship, riding, or anything of the sort.
Roxia couldn't help but wonder, 'Is this man really an Adventurer?'
His body showed signs of training, but it looked like he'd only done enough to stay in shape. In close-quarters combat, Roxia was confident she could take him down in a single exchange.
Next was Ivsha. Though Ivsha's aura was well-concealed, Roxia could still tell she was a formidable individual.
Her achievements in Magic were particularly notable, but not enough to truly impress her.
But the third person...
Roxia's brows furrowed slightly. She gazed at the figure in the White Robe but couldn't see what lay beneath the hood. What confused her even more was that she couldn't sense any aura from this person at all.
'Strange!'
"Since we've accepted Lady Natasha's commission, we will certainly do our due diligence," Su Xuan replied calmly.
"Roxia, Mr. Su Xuan and his team are exceptional. I'm certain they can keep you safe," Natasha said with a cheerful smile, brimming with confidence in them.
Even though she knew nothing of Su Xuan's true strength, she believed Rosaline could definitely protect her niece!
"In that case, let me brief you on the rules of the White Rose Ceremony and the related security arrangements."
Roxia smiled and nodded at Natasha, then began to explain the rules of the White Rose Ceremony.
"The selection for the Oath Knight will be held under the watchful eye of the White Rose. Each of Sunset City's six Knight Clans will send two young Knights to participate in the selection and undergo the White Rose's trials."
"When the time comes, the White Rose will manifest a Magic Array that only the twelve qualified Knights may enter. Inside the Array, I and the other Knights will be competitors, each in separate trial grounds. You won't be responsible for my protection during that time."
"Your responsibility will be the periods before the selection begins and after it ends."
Su Xuan's eyes narrowed as he listened to Roxia; something felt off. He asked, "Are you certain you won't be subject to any outside interference while you're in the Magic Array?"
'Obviously, the best time to make a move would be during the selection itself.'
"Rest assured, the Magic Array created by the White Rose is incredibly powerful. Aside from the qualified Knights, only an Oath Knight who has already completed the White Rose Ceremony can enter. No one else, no matter how strong, can breach this Array. Unless someone has the power to destroy all of Sunset City, the Magic Array is absolutely secure," Roxia said confidently.
"Other Oath Knights who have completed the White Rose Ceremony can also enter?"
Su Xuan was a little surprised to hear that.
'Doesn't that mean Rosaline could get in, too?'
"Yes, but all the previous Oath Knights have passed away. Their remains were buried long ago," Roxia added.
As she spoke, a flicker of sadness for the departed crossed her beautiful eyes.
Hearing this, Su Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
'I knew this mission wouldn't be simple. Since the enemy Guild accepted the contract, they must have a way to interfere with the Oath Knight selection.'
'But I don't know what methods they'll use, or even who they are. I'm out in the open, while the enemy is in the shadows. This definitely makes the mission more difficult and risky.'
After explaining the details of the mission, Roxia stood up and smiled. "I have some other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave. If you want to know more about the other Knight Clans or the balance of power in Sunset City, you can ask Aunt Natasha. She's more familiar with the city than I am."
With that, she gave Su Xuan and his companions a slight nod and left the reception room.
Once Roxia was gone, Natasha came forward and asked gently, "Mr. Su Xuan, is there anything else I can help clarify for you?"
"Not at the moment." Su Xuan shook his head, then continued, "By the way, Lady Natasha, do you have any leads as to who hired Adventurers to stop Roxia from becoming an Oath Knight?"
"Well..." Natasha shook her head gently. "Not yet, but I do have a clue."
"A clue?"
"Yes. Their goal is also to become an Oath Knight. I imagine it must be a competitor from one of the other Knight Clans," Natasha replied.
"That's certainly possible."
Su Xuan nodded thoughtfully. The theory was plausible.
"I'm sure Mr. Su Xuan can stop those villains and ensure Roxia's safety!" Natasha said with a smile as she picked up the coffee cup Roxia had been drinking from, preparing to take a sip herself.
"Wait, Roxia already drank from that cup…" Su Xuan tried to stop her, but she simply smiled and waved him off.
"It's quite alright. Roxia and I are as close as mother and daughter. I don't mind."
With that, Natasha drank the rest of the coffee without a moment's hesitation.
'Well...' Su Xuan had actually been trying to tell her that *he* was the one who had drunk from that cup.
But now he could only stay silent, thinking, 'Mother and daughter... *cough cough*... They really are close.'
"I'm going to use the restroom. Please wait a moment, Mr. Su Xuan."
After finishing the coffee, Natasha stood up and left the reception hall.
Just then, Ivsha said softly, "I need to use the restroom as well, Mr. Su Xuan."
"Alright, go ahead."
Su Xuan nodded, his reply casual.
A few minutes later, Ivsha suddenly reappeared at Su Xuan's side, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "Mr. Su Xuan, please come with me. I've discovered a very interesting secret."