I Hate Systems

An open place, covered by desert sands, surrounded by sandy mountains where the billowing wind swirled around, creating a dust cloud that acted like a protective barrier around the mountain range.

Such places were numerous in the Burnak Kingdom, and this place wasn't anything special. There was a small city here, inhabited by around three million Birdmen.

Currently seated within a pub was a lady, barely seeming of age, painting a sharp contrast to the adults that filled the pub.

The pub was pretty crowded and what was sold here wasn't alcohol, but a type of worm sap that was specially collected from a variety of ground worms that infested the region.

There wasn't even any free space in the pub due to the crowd, but despite that, none took up the seats surrounding this young girl, as if they hadn't noticed the place all along.

The table was able to seat six people, but she was the only one seated there. It was not to mention the table being situated in the centre of the pub, creating a strange atmosphere.

And truly, none of the people were even aware of what was happening, subconsciously ignoring the table as they proceeded about with their merry.

The girl wore a long one-piece dress, grey in colour, sporting a metallic sheen. She had her hair cropped, almost into a military cut, except for her bangs that covered her eyes, reaching her nose.

Her grey skin shone with a metallic lustre, seemingly indestructible. Even though she appeared damn young, she was anything but that. She didn't eat anything, calmly waiting as suddenly, a middle-aged man from the Birdmen race appeared here, looking around at all the other Birdmen in the pub that seemed oblivious to her presence.

Looking at her, even he felt a tad nervous, asking, "What is Saint Lurra doing in my humble kingdom?"

"I came to ask you about something." The lady addressed as Saint Lurra said, motioning for Bruhat to take a seat, asking in irritation following that, "What the heck is happening in your Kingdom? Why is there so much unrest?"

"What happened to the rest of your Saints?" She glared in anger, "I made a short trip through your Kingdom to confirm my suspicions. And I could only sense your presence in this region."

"Is the Xetuka Kingdom planning to invade us now?" Bruhat asked, glaring at the lady before him, "Is that why they've sent their most respected Saint here?"

"If we planned to invade you, it wouldn't have been me to appear before you." Lurra said calmly, "He would have made an appearance. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about."

"Yes…" Bruhat nodded, noticing that his hands were mildly trembling. There was a terrifying entity among the Xetuka Kingdom Saints that had lived for over a millennium now, by far the most dangerous existence, one that deterred the Saints from the Giant Race of Gormana and the Lizardmen Race of Lethuna from even daring to peep into the Xetuka Kingdom.

Among these four Kingdoms, he was by far the strongest and most overbearing Saint. When angered, cities were razed down lie burning hay. And one of the places in the marshlands of the Lethuna Kingdom continued to burn like a fiery hell to this day.

And indeed, if the Xetuka Kingdom planned to invade their Kingdom, he would have made an appearance.

Sighing, Bruhat said with a sullen tone, "I'm not sure what happened either. I was in seclusion when I heard the news that one of our Saints died while the other two vanished mysteriously. By the time I emerged from my seclusion, there was chaos all over the Kingdom."

"And now, one of our youngest Princes has been kidnapped…"

"One Saint died and the other two vanished?" Upon hearing this news, even Lurra was shocked, muttering, "It couldn't have been the Giants. Their attacks would never be subtle. Among the Lizardmen, if the attacker was a Pugilist, this disappearance might make sense."

"But, the only Pugilist Saint in Lethuna is too weak to kill your Guardian Saint, not to mention cause the disappearance of the other two Saints." She felt a headache.

"Yes, that's what I'm confused about too." Bruhat said in worry.

"As for Prince Boznan Burnak, you needn't worry." Lurra said, "I just received a letter that stated he is kept captive in Tentuna City by one of the local gangs there."

"Then, let's rescue him…" Bruhat was just about to get up when he noticed the visible frown on Lurra's face, understanding that something didn't make sense.

"Right," Lurra nodded, "I've already looked into their situation before coming here. Bilfuren and the two Grandmaster guards had been drugged by a rather potent drug. The person that had informed us of this incident had already helped them. But this is what doesn't make sense."

She continued, "I looked into the drug and its effects. It's called a Mana Capsule and makes one experience the feeling of growing stronger endlessly. It's by far the most potent drug I've ever seen. But this is where it stops making sense."

She said in irritation, "Bilfuren is both a Doctor and a Witch. With his capabilities, he could easily see through the Mana Capsule's effects and neutralise it in a matter of seconds. And, its effect of addiction only became strong enough after a day."

"So, you mean to say that Bilfuren got captured voluntarily?" Bruhat frowned, "That child is of the cautious type. He's not someone that would risk the life of Prince Boznan needlessly."

"There are two reasons I can think of." Lurra said, "First, either he joined a secret organisation and betrayed the Burnak Kingdom."

Lurra noticed Bruhat's foul mood at her words, continuing to speak her mind without being concerned about that, "Second, he had stumbled upon a potential lead that might endanger the Burnak Kingdom in the future and decided to do something about it, even at the cost of risking Prince Boznan's life."

"Hopefully, it's the latter." Bruhat sighed before looking at Lurra, "Since you've come here, Saint Lurra, what is the Xetuka Kingdom's stance on this matter."

"At present, it's not confirmed whether Bilfuren is on our side or the hidden organisation's. And, I'm still unsure as to what this hidden organisation plans to do with such an elaborate plan." Lurra's eyes glinted dangerously, "we'll fall prey to their plans for the moment. Maybe, we'll find the cause of the disappearance of your two Saints through this."