Chapter 501: Escort
Liang Taibai looked at him deeply, falling silent before saying, “I understand. I’ll immediately contact the palace and gather up those to be escorted. As for the monitors, I’ll leave them to you.”
Liang Taibai had naturally a.s.sumed that Xiao Lin was the leader of the twelve of them, but Xiao Lin smiled and said, “I will let Cheng Ming know. This time, he will need to lead the team.”
“You said that you needed to remain for some private matters?”
“Yes. Have you ever heard about the decennial martial tournament for the dark races?”
Liang Taibai’s expression slightly changed.
In the next half an hour, Xiao Lin explained the matter to Liang Taibai, of course leaving out secret matters such as the Shard of Creation. Ibeiya and her uncle had helped Xiao Lin a lot this time; that shard seemed to have doubled his attributes.
However, there was a limit to that trust and help, which was that it could not affect Dawn Academy, which was why Xiao Lin needed affirmation from Liang Taibai. Liang Taibai had been an amba.s.sador here for almost ten years, so he was definitely more familiar with the political landscape.
Liang Taibai was more and more surprised when he heard it, and took a few minutes to think before sighing, “I won’t ask about your relationship with the St. Claude clan. Dawn Academy has never really interacted with that clan, seeing as it has basically deteriorated into insignificance. No, to be precise, we’ve not really interacted much with any of the clans. We don’t have any direct conflicts of interest with the dark races, so we just don’t interfere with each other.”
Xiao Lin asked, “Then would my help this time affect the academy’s policies?”
“It would if it was back then, but it’s fine now.” Liang Taibai smiled as he sighed again. “This time the higher-ups have many opinions on how Rosa should be handled. Even if the military will negotiate with the rebels, I’m not really fond of it. It disturbs the balance, and will affect our resurrection towers within the Rosa Kingdom. The dark races are like the local mafia, which make the royal family the government. Now that the government is about to fail, gaining the help of the local mafia before the situation settles isn’t a bad idea.
“So, you don’t have to worry about it affecting the academy, but I’m more worried about you. I know of the tournament. I was lucky enough to see it when I first came to the royal city ten years ago. It’s nothing like training in the academy–it’s real combat. No one cares even if people are killed, so you best be mentally prepared.”
“I’m aware of that as well.” Xiao Lin had benefited a lot from the combat training course in the new semester. Of course, he was not dumb; to him the worst that could happen was losing 20 years of his life. The royal city still had a resurrection tower.
...
Early the next morning, Liang Taibai summoned Xiao Lin, letting him know that those on the list had already been gathered, and the carriages and luggage had already been arranged. The efficiency left Xiao Lin speechless. Of course, the royal family knew that the city being taken over was an eventuality, and had been eagerly waiting to head to Dawn City.
Xiao Lin woke the monitors up from their sleep, naturally earning himself a lot of complaints, especially from those that were just rescued the day before. They had been planning on sleeping for the whole day in the comfortable beds.
Once everyone gathered in the emba.s.sy lounge, Xiao Lin said, “Don’t forget, our monthly examination still hasn’t ended! If we leave now, we can still make it to Dawn City. Everyone, pack up and get food. Then, we’re heading out!”
Xiao Lin completely a.s.sumed the role of an officer issuing commands. After yesterday’s rescue, most of them did not really mind it, but they definitely minded the decision.
“The monthly examination? Isn’t it canceled?”
“No one said it was canceled.”
“But we were just captured and tortured. Why do we still need to complete the a.s.signment?”
“Ah, we weren’t really tortured.”
“Bullsh*t! All that food that’s meant for the pigs? How could that not be torture?”
“Xiao Lin, what are your thoughts?” Cheng Ming went over and whispered to Xiao Lin, “Do you really think the monthly examination needs to continue?”
“We are students of the academy, but don’t forget, stepping out of school, we are strictly speaking soldiers. If we have not received orders to stop, we need to complete the mission. I trust no one wants their records to show that they did not complete the mission,” Xiao Lin said.
The arguments died down a bit.
Xiao Lin did not want to waste time. “Don’t head to that flight destination we came from. I feel like the griffins there are a bit strange. It’s a refugee area as well, so we never know what could happen. This is the latest map I got from Amba.s.sador Liang. You’ll depart from this small path. You might need to make a few detours, but it’s fine, you have enough time!
“I’ve given you the information on the royal family. They’re not very powerful, but those who lived in royalty aren’t stupid. On the road, don’t bother with them, no matter what they say. Remember, we’re just escorts, not amba.s.sadors.”
“Xiao Lin, it’s the first time I’ve seen you nag so much,” Chen Dao teased jokingly.
“You?” Cheng Ming noticed something in Xiao Lin’s words. “Are you not coming with us?”
“I’ll stay behind to handle some matters.”
Han Manman questioned him, “Why? I’m sure you’re just planning on lazing off and enjoying yourself here!”
She had held back for so long that Xiao Lin almost thought she had changed her ways, but it seemed like that was not the case. Xiao Lin smiled. “Amba.s.sador Liang agreed to this. If you have any questions, you can ask him.”
Everyone was silent.
Everyone was once again exasperated. Of course, it was not because Xiao Lin was staying back, but rather in admiration of Xiao Lin’s connections. Liang Taibai was basically the highest-ranking person locally, and could order everyone else around, but it seemed like that Amba.s.sador was quite friendly with Xiao Lin.
“I’ll leave it all to you. If I can make it, I’ll definitely catch up!” After tidying everything up, Xiao Lin gave Cheng Ming a few last words before sending the large convoy out from the royal city’s southern gate.
There were a total of 25 people to be escorted. Those that had helped kidnap the monitors had been eliminated from the list. Other than those of royal blood, there were also a few of Rosa’s more reputable ministers. Other than that, they did not bring anything else. Even if the royals could not bear to part with their riches, Liang Taibai’s warnings left them with no choice.