Solo Swordmaster

#230. Pretty, but scary.

* * *

“Huh…”

Herman couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

After getting on the plane almost half-forcibly, I was stunned by the fact that I was treated with all sorts of lavish treatment in the cabin.

But humans are creatures of adaptation.

The embarrassment had all but vanished as we boarded the plane for several hours.

He was also known as the world’s best sculptor. In his heyday, he had the experience of receiving all sorts of lavish treatment.

But at this moment.

The sight that unfolded as soon as he got off the plane was enough to make Hermann look dazed again.

Yuna-kyung, who was sitting on Limon’s shoulder, was no exception.

[…what the hell is this scene?]

“What is it? Welcome.”

[Meet me? Is this?]

Yuna-kyung was taken aback.

Then, after looking back at the surrounding scenery, he asked with an even more confused face.

[Isn’t it like a welcome event for state guests?]

It was a joke question, but for Yuna-kyung, it was 100% sincere.

From the runway that was empty before they landed, to the colorful carpets that are spread widely in the airport.

On top of that, there was an honor guard in a green outfit lined up on the left and right of the carpet, flowers scattered in the air, and a limousine at the end of the carpet.

At this point, it was a treatment that only a top-level state guest of a country with a reputation could receive.

Limon looked at Yuna-kyung with pitiful eyes.

“It’s not a state guest, but if you’re a more honored guest, there’s one here.”

[Ah.]

Yuna-kyung looked back with new eyes.

And as if he was familiar with this level of illusion, he blankly looked at the black-haired girl watching with a calm face.

I forgot because I saw it so often, but when I think about it, Li Qingyu is the Black Dragon Princess.

As one of the seven owners of the Seven Dragon Group, she was a true ‘princess’ who could receive state guest treatment in any country in the world.

[…I can see why you forcibly left the White Dragon Princess sister behind.]

“Don’t talk about trouble. Do you want to see this airport explode?”

[I guess so.]

Yuna-kyung was convinced.

Among the princesses of the Seven Dragons, Li Qingyu, who has less outside activities, visited alone.

If Ainsha, who is famous as a world-class singer, had come with her, the airport might have exploded with only the fans and the welcoming crowd.

[I don’t think this happened when the princess sister or the white dragon princess sister came to Korea…]

“That was an unofficial visit, right?”

[This is an official visit, right?]

“Otherwise, would you have come riding on something so slow? It must have come by teleportation.”

Limon snorted.

No matter how modern an airplane is, it is slower and more inconvenient than space movement.

Nevertheless, the reason Li Qingyu dared to visit this place on a private plane was to publicize this meeting.

That’s when Limon whispers with Yuna-kyung.

Standing in front of the honor guard, a woman with long green hair and a strangely exposed red outfit politely bowed to Li Qingyu.

“Barbara of the Green Dragon Clan greets the descendant of the Wei Black Dragon God.”

“Nice to meet you, Barbara.”

“First of all, as the person in charge who was instructed to entertain the Black Dragon Princess, I apologize for the lack of welcome because I was preparing urgently.”

“no. Preparing this much in one day is great enough.”

“It is an overestimation.”

Yuna-kyung tilted her head.

It was because, contrary to her polite words and attitude, Barbara’s gaze toward Li Qingyu was quite disrespectful.

As if resenting the wrongful damage.

Still, he continued with a respectful attitude, except for the look in Barbara’s eyes, probably because he was an elite who had come to meet him on behalf of his clan.

“The princess is waiting at the headquarters. We’ve prepared a separate vehicle for the attendants…”

But in the middle.

Barbara suddenly shut up.

Then, narrowing his eyes, he looked behind Li Qingyu and asked quietly.

“Excuse me, but are all the people in the back the Black Dragon Princess’ attendants?”

Her question was valid.

Even Herman, who is not a member of the Black Dragon clan, even Limon, who is wearing a blue bird on one shoulder.

Everywhere he looked, he looked suspicious to be an attendant.

However, Li Qingyu did not answer Barbara’s question.

I just smiled and asked.

“If you know that this is rude, then you also know that I am under no obligation to answer that question.”

“…sorry for the rude question.”

“Never mind. It’s a natural thing.”

Li Qingyu calmly passed Barbara’s question.

It was familiar that the Black Dragon clan was suspected by other clans.

But she did not lose sight of the fact that Barbara’s gaze had lingered on Limon for a long time before she asked herself that question.

‘As expected.’

It was worth forcibly handing over the documents to Yo-in, who looked troubled, and Wei-ling, who was stunned, and came directly.

While muttering that in his heart, Li Qingyu did not bother to show that he had noticed it.

He had only been guided by Barbara and boarded the limousine with Limon Hermann.

There was, of course, no immigration check.

Did you even control traffic in advance?

In the limousine gliding along the empty road surrounded by numerous motorcycles and escort vehicles, Yuna-kyung muttered blankly.

[Chief, aren’t they BOPE? An organization dedicated to high-level players, similar to our country’s PAB.]

‘To be exact, it’s a bit higher than PAB. Even if the average level is similar, the level of armed and training is different.’

[It’s amazing to have such kids attached as ceremonial escorts.]

‘Of course this is enough.’

Limon snorted.

Brazil is the homeland of the green dragon clan.

At least in this country, there’s nothing they can’t do and no one can go against them.

Watching Limon speak mockingly, Yuna-kyung muttered softly.

[…You say it as if Brazil is the property of the Green Dragon clan.]

‘It’s not like that. It’s true.’

[Yes?]

As if he didn’t understand the meaning.

Limon did not bother to explain in detail to Yuna-kyung, who blinked.

I just looked at the empty street without a single person with frowning eyes, as if I was so displeased.

Even while Yuna-kyung looked at Limon and wondered, the limousine continued to move along the empty road.

Is it because of that?

They were able to reach their destination in just a few minutes.

Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo.

A strange building with two towering buildings twisted in a spiral in the middle.

And Barbara, who got off first in front of the building with its unique and majestic exterior, bowed once again and greeted Li Qing-wi politely.

“Welcome to the headquarters of Quetzalcoatl, the world’s number one pharmaceutical company.”

* * *

“Arbella of the Green Dragon Clan greets the descendant of the Black Dragon God.”

Chief Research Officer of Quetzalcoatl.

Arbella gracefully lifted the end of the white gown as if it were a dress and greeted Li Qingyu and the party.

And he spoke in a respectful manner.

“I prepared a banquet with all my heart for the Black Dragon Princess. You may be tired from the long trip, but please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

[…?]

Yuna-kyung inadvertently blinked.

It’s obviously a polite response to an elegant tone.

For some reason, like Barbara, there was a strange sense of incongruity in his tone.

“They even prepared a banquet, but as a guest, I cannot refuse.”

Didn’t you feel that discomfort?

Li Qingyu nodded calmly.

And with Arbella’s guidance, they gladly headed for the banquet hall.

[Wow.]

The moment I entered the banquet hall like that.

Yuna-kyung involuntarily admired.

It was not a lie that it was prepared with care, but the scene of the banquet hall was not usually splendid.

Beautiful red lanterns and silk hanging from the ceiling decorate the four sides of the banquet hall.

Terracotta Warriors standing tall everywhere.

Hundreds of dishes are served on tables that stretch left and right around the green throne on the innermost platform.

On both sides of the wall, musicians tearing chilhyeongeum, beating drums, and plucking pipas.

From there to dozens of beautiful dancers dancing in the space between the tables in breathtaking costumes.

For a moment, it was to the point where I couldn’t tell if this was Quetzalcoatl’s headquarters or the imperial palace somewhere.

[They really did a lot of preparation.]

Yuna-kyung admired that this splendid banquet was prepared in just over a day.

but she didn’t know

Limon with a frown, Li Ching-wee with a strange expression, and even Herman were looking at the banquet hall with trembling eyes.

“I specially decorated it in the style of the Seventy-seven Chinese Federation. How is it?”

It was a while to watch the banquet hall with strange eyes.

When asked by Arbella, who was quite confident about the banquet she had prepared, Li Qingyu smiled and answered.

“What a grand welcome.”

“It’s not such a big deal. As Princess Green Dragon’s chief aide, this is the right thing to do.”

Seeing the proud Arbella, Hermann puts on a more bizarre expression.

In the end, Limon, who could not stand it, stepped forward and opened his mouth.

no i tried to open it

If it had not been for Li Qingyu, who had gently reached out a hand to stop Li Mon, and signaled with a wink.

‘Be patient.’

‘Are you going to just move on? What is this absurdity?’

‘As a guest, embarrassing the owner is not the right thing to do.’

‘It’s not polite for the owner to insult a guest like this.’

Limon frowned arrogantly.

Unlike Yu Na-kyung, he was familiar with the culture of these banquets, especially the Chinese Seventy-seven Federation, and he could see how messy this banquet was.

Just seeing that there was only one throne prepared for the head seat right now, it was like that.

If it was intentional, it’s an insult.

If it’s not intentional, it’s a mistake.

Either way, it was impossible to welcome the same princess of the Seven Dragons.

‘I don’t know if it’s just a guest, but we’re in the position of a guest who came to ask for a favor.’

However, Li Qingyu, as always, conveyed his thoughts with a round smile.

It seems like this is a familiar thing.

Or, rather than quarreling with the green dragon clan over this, it seemed that he would just accept the insult.

Limon looked at Li Qingyu, who was always calm, and finally nodded reluctantly.

‘If you go that far, I’ll just let it go.’

‘Thank you for your consideration.’

‘It’s not something I should be thankful for, it’s not something you should be thankful for.’

Receiving Li Mon’s connivance, Li Qingyu smiled and took a seat in the audience seat that had been prepared opposite the throne.

And so the banquet began.

whether fortunate or unlucky

Despite Limon’s harsh criticism, the atmosphere at the banquet went well.

Yuna-kyung, who doesn’t know how to look, was excited to peck at the food prepared separately by the attendants, and Hermann also admired the rare delicacy he had never tasted in his life.

Li Qingyu also praised the preparation of the banquet and made Arbella smile through appropriate conversation.

The appearance of Limon, who was alone with his arms crossed and not touching the food, was all the more foreign, but no one cared about it.

It was a common sight at the banquet of the green dragon clan.

But that was until then.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall could have been good.

profit.

“Maia, a descendant of Poison Green Dragon Medicine Army, eats it.”

The moment the door opened and Barbara’s voice resounded, the banquet hall, which had been lively until just a moment ago, fell into a deadly silence.

A musician who stopped playing.

A dancer who stopped dancing.

silent servant.

The banquet hall where everyone stopped breathing and hardened with frightened faces.

In the still air, she appeared.

* * *

‘Pretty…’

The moment I first saw her.

Yuna-kyung thought, ‘It’s thin’.

Like an ice decoration that is thin enough to break at the slightest touch and melts at the touch of a breath.

Her milky skin, her slim waist, and her pale complexion, which made her look almost transparent, naturally made me think of that.

‘…but I’m scared.’

but right after that.

What she felt was ‘danger’.

A terrifying sensation, as if facing a venomous snake with its mouth wide open.

Above all, those sharp eyes and gloomy green eyes like a swamp stimulated her animal instincts and made hair grow all over her body.

That’s why Yuna-kyung held her breath without realizing it.

fragile but dangerous

beautiful but sharp

That bizarre contradiction, together with her sickly beauty, made her unique dangerous atmosphere stand out even more.

Like a flower that looks all the more beautiful and alluring because it contains dangerous poison.

gulp.

It was clear that Yuna-kyung was not the only one who felt that way.

If that were the case, other musicians and dancers, as well as Hermann, wouldn’t have been swallowing dry saliva with such a tense face.

There are only two exceptions.

She slowly stepped into the banquet hall, where everyone except Li Mon, who had a sullen face, and Li Ching-yu, who smiled, had lost their breath.

jerk jerk.

A body as light as a feather.

Even so, the sound of those steps is felt as clear as thunder, perhaps because of the toxic silence.

Or maybe it’s because of her heavy atmosphere.

Creating unknown answers, she crossed the banquet hall and stood tall in front of the platform where the throne was prepared.

“…”

For some reason.

Stop moving any further and stare at the throne for a moment.

Turning her head and taking a quick look at the banquet hall, she opened her mouth after a brief silence.

“Barbara.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Did you prepare this banquet?”

“That’s…”

Barbara was startled, but couldn’t answer properly.

Instead of her, it was Arbella who triumphantly stepped forward.

“I’ve prepared it, princess.”

“I should have left Barbara to prepare the reception for the Black Dragon Princess, but why did you, Arbella, prepare the banquet?”

“As the princess knows, Barbara is not good at preparing banquets.

As the Chief Research Officer of Quetzalcoatl and an aide to the princess, it was the right thing to do.

At Arbella’s self-assured words, Barbara made an indignant expression.

In fact, she had prepared the protocol and ceremony neatly, but she hadn’t even thought of preparing a banquet so splendid.

“Then, does that mean that you, Arbella, are entirely in charge of this banquet?”

“Your princess.”

“Okay.”

Maia slowly nodded at Arbella’s confident answer.

and right after that.

Damn!

The body of Arbella, who had been slapped on the cheek, bounced to the side.