The private room was occupied by two guests. One, leaning back against the window and facing the stairs, was gracefully savoring coffee from a porcelain cup. The other young man seemed to be casually observing the street scene.
Below, the main street was filled with columns of Royal Guards and countless civilians.
The commander of the Royal Guards had initially wanted to seal off the street, but Xiao Xun had stated it was unnecessary. They were soldiers, after all, with nothing to hide, which led to the current situation.
Magic vehicles were arriving one after another at the hotel entrance, and officers disembarked and entered in sequence.
Little did they know that their commander, Prince Sviin, was usually a low-key individual. Why was he so high-profile today, drawing the attention of nearly the entire capital?
If Aaron hadn't led the Royal Guards to manage traffic, the officers under Xiao Xun would never have been able to arrive.
Inside the hotel, the kitchen was a scene of bustling activity. Nearly all the hotel's management, except for the owner who was with Xiao Xun, were stationed in the kitchen. The guests today were too important; any major mishap would spell the end of their hotel.
Those who received news of Xiao Xun's banquet were driven to a frenzy. Tableware was washed repeatedly, and ingredients were meticulously selected for the freshest quality. The chefs had catered to many prominent figures, but they had never felt such tension. They feared that even a slight imperfection in taste would end their careers.
Xiao Xun delivered a toast, then declared, "Tonight, your mission is to eat and drink well. Let us not discuss any military matters."
The guests, relishing this rare moment of relaxation, all nodded in agreement.
As wine and food were continuously served by the waitstaff, the atmosphere of the banquet gradually reached its peak.
Meanwhile, in the coffee shop opposite the Keerxi Hotel, one of the two guests glanced at his pocket watch. "It's almost time. They should be making their move, shouldn't they?"
The young man nodded. "In three minutes."
As the young man finished speaking, a massive roar erupted from across the street.
The first man frowned. "Why has it started early?"
The young man shook his head, indicating he didn't know either.
Upon hearing the roar, the assassins hidden inside and outside the hotel assumed their counterparts had already made their move. Those who were lurking and spying rushed into the banquet hall.
Simultaneously, many civilians suddenly brandished staffs and daggers, engaging the nearest Royal Guards. Caught off guard by this sudden assault, the Royal Guards were taken by surprise. They had never expected anyone to launch a suicide attack in the capital of Saint Roman.
Those who stormed into the banquet hall were dumbfounded. There was no drunken stupor, nor the bewildered reactions they had anticipated.
All the officers had drawn their swords, sabers, magic staffs, and spears, ready for battle.
The commander of the First Legion found himself surrounded by five assassins. Nearby officers, seeing his perilous situation, desperately tried to move closer to him. The commander of the First Legion, however, remained unfazed and roared, "No one helps me! Are you trying to steal my glory?"
The duel between masters was a breathtaking spectacle, with virtually no superfluous movements, each blow drawing blood. An assassin lunged at his right flank. He neither dodged nor parried; his stance was as steady as a mountain. Just as the short sword was about to pierce his right rib, his ribcage inexplicably retracted, allowing the blade to graze past him. The assassin, caught off guard, was impaled by the commander's saber.
His next move was even more astonishing. With a swift kick, he simultaneously drew his saber. The impaled assassin was sent flying a considerable distance, while an assassin behind him had his skull crushed by the pommel of the commander's sword.
Within a mere two minutes, five assassins, rigorously trained in assassination, fell beneath his saber. kanδん
The Twelve Star Envoys stood unmoving and imposing behind Xiao Xun, seated at the head of the table, radiating an aura of formidable presence and murderous intent.
These assassins had received death orders: eliminate everyone in the room at all costs. Even if they couldn't kill everyone, their primary objective was Xiao Xun.
A few of the swiftest assassins entered, their primary target being Xiao Xun. They bypassed many, and when they were only a step away from him.
Bai Yang flashed forward, seizing one of the assassins by the throat and using him as a shield. With a slight tilt of his body, his fingers shot out like bullets, "da da da," a rapid volley of fiery projectiles.
The five assassins in front fell one after another. Bai Yang's left hand exerted force with two fingers, and with a "crack," the assassin's laryngeal cartilage was crushed.
Bai Yang shifted his hand, and with a "slap," the assassin was flung ten feet away. Within tens of seconds, Bai Yang had efficiently dispatched six individuals, a feat so clean and swift that the assassins lurking in the shadows, yet to reveal themselves, sucked in a breath of cold air.
"Good heavens, a born killer. Such ruthless execution, such swift movements... We are no match. We are fortunate we didn't reveal ourselves."
The second commander of the Phoenix Army hailed from a martial arts family and had wielded a broadsword since childhood.
Before the assassin's blade could reach him, his own blade had already sliced outwards. With a "swish," the head of the assassin before him, along with the thick decorative wooden post behind him, was cleanly severed and sent flying over ten feet away. Blood spurted nearly a foot high from the severed neck.
Even the sixth commander, adept at wielding the broadsword, was startled: "Good heavens, the commander's swordsmanship is so skillful. He must have been an executioner."
In the blink of an eye, the second commander had decapitated three more assassins. The scene was terrifying, with blood splattered all over the walls and floor, resembling a slaughterhouse.
The immense broadsword, with its sharp edge, had already swung out, and the blade had reached the man's neck when his wrist was suddenly seized.
He turned to see the Deputy Commander, Delvana.
"You're too violent. Leave a couple for me."
Although Delvana spoke this, her methods were even more formidable. The sword in her hand was a blur, leaving no discernible trace.
She was not wearing armor for this excursion into the city. Her white robes were now stained crimson, making her appear like a vengeful deity from hell.
The two individuals opposite saw a large contingent of Royal Guards approaching from a distance and stood up simultaneously. "Why has it taken so long? Not a single person has emerged."
The other young man shook his head. "Perhaps something has gone wrong inside!"
The first man's brow furrowed. "If necessary, we can detonate the entire building."
The young man grunted. "I'll go detonate it."
They agreed to split up. The young man agreed readily, but as soon as he stepped out, he turned sharply right and vanished into the vast crowd.
Xiao Xun ordered the Royal Guards to surround the entire hotel, meticulously searching everyone, be it guests or staff.
The assassins employed every conceivable tactic, but under Xiao Xun's personal interrogation, they eventually revealed their flaws.
First, locals with identification were allowed through. Then, humans were permitted to pass. The questions posed were diverse, some even being counter-questions; those who answered them paradoxically confirmed their identities as assassins.
Although Xiao Xun knew there were undoubtedly some who had slipped through the net, the majority had been apprehended. The next step was the interrogation.