Hellbents
Chapter 60: Prince Igoceolon

Ezra's journey towards the kingdom of Berloi had no significant obstacles. He still regrets Rina, a priceless asset with an even immeasurable potential out of his grasp. But the beginning of his adventure was not bad either. Although she had not been able to recruit alchemist-flagged herbalists and monster tamers, she had already hooked up a priestess who possessed magical healing skills. Al and Roy, a pair of assassins, never left his side as loyal servants.

Maybe it's time to find long-distance fighters, medium-range fighters, or tankers, the reproduction class is also quite useful.

But he wouldn't refuse if there were other kinds of diamonds voluntarily rolling on him.

Ezra sipped warm lemon tea in silence, watching the star sprinkles accompany his solitude while thinking. "Are you satisfied with the drink my nephew made?"

Ezra's facial features did not change even though the heart in his chest had wanted to jump out. The general ability of an assassin was indeed settling down, their presence would be difficult to detect if one did not have special skills or keen senses. Over thirteen years Al had accompanied him, but the aura of the man was indeed so thin that it often shocked him until now. "A little too sweet for my taste," Ezra replied calmly.

Roy on the other hand, although since the baby has been trained as a hitman or waitress, he is not wholeheartedly carrying out his role or Roy just does not have talent in these fields. Ezra already knew that Roy did not fit in with such a lifestyle, but he was in need of personnel in the army he made, so the prince did not suggest anything to Al, let Roy live his forced life even longer, at least until Ezra safely occupies the throne.

"Tomorrow we will reach Berloi," he murmured while looking away.

As usual Al answered flatly, "Right, sir."

Berloi, although within the same Meridianam continent, has an environment inversely proportional to the forest-filled and air-conditioned Igoceolon. Berloi is a desert kingdom that always winds up dry. In addition to the objective of looking for someone with high potential to be recruited, Ezra also intends to solve the problem that occurred in one of the big cities in Berloi, as expected, drought.

He did not have a thousand water-styled mages to create the spring's source, but he had a hereditary artifact from his mother's side, the Second Queen, that was expected to help, he said, at the same time add credit score that he will get.

Ezra just wishes he hadn't crossed paths with his other brothers, especially Christopher, the first prince, the oldest of the four brothers and the dirtiest of his ways.

Chris who was born and came from the First Queen always felt that the throne was his right, his rotten brother continued to tour the palace as if he had become king. Even so Chris does not have the talent that can foundation his confidence. Everyone knows how incompetent he is, but no one has spoken out because Chris is also famous for his senseless punishment. Sneeze in front of Chris, whip five times. Speaking while looking into his eyes straight away, prison. Not enough bending, drag with the horse. Of course, all of that was only aimed at middle or lower-tier people, servants or soldiers from the background of commoners or low-status nobles. Chris was smart enough not to look for trouble with people related to the Count or above.

Igoceolon has three queens. The first queen with Chris as the eldest child. The third queen gave birth to a son as the second child. Then, the second Queen, Esmeralda, her birth mother, of course had a third prince, Ezra himself, and a princess who could only run last month.

His mother once forbade Ezra to interfere in royal politics, but just as easily handed Igoceolon into the hands of a tyrant. He would grimace whenever he imagined Chris as the throne holder, the country would only become a mess. In addition, Chris, who sees the other brothers as only an obstacle, convinces Ezra that he will try to get rid of them once his power is confirmed to be absolute.

Bad future, really bad.

Ezra was not too fond of falling into the thorny political conflict, but the second prince, Garret, had absolutely no intention of seriously attending the Maturite Ceremony. Garret is a history buff, preferring to dig up evidence of ancient civilization rather than being king. His sister is also very young. Thus, there remained Ezra who could bear the life of all the people of Igoceolon so as not to fall into misery.

A heavy burden.

However, life does not always go the way it wants.

"Welcome, my beloved brother!"

Ezra just pulled the corner of her lips to force a smile.

Chris was in front of him, grinning while opening his arms wide, as if inviting Ezra to cuddle, even though the two of them were never that close.

And it seems that Chris has no intention of hiding his identity as the prince of the next kingdom, judging by the dozens of iron-armored soldiers when the temperature in the desert can fry raw eggs in the sand, unfortunately they were roasted in their own protective uniforms. In addition, there were also dozens of people dressed in blue robes.

By the way, in the execution of the Maturite ceremony, the adventures of the princes and princesses of the kingdom are required clandestinely, so there is no utilization of status when they want to collect scores. But Ezra knew the rule would not be perfectly adhered to, from the history he read many candidates who made various agreements with the status of the royal family as capital, Ezra was also not so holy as to press Rina or River to follow him as an early member of his throne-wrestling squad. But nothing is as clear as Chris.

"If I may ask, who is this, Your Majesty?" The man who only reached Chris' shoulder with a four-times larger abdominal circumference was discouraged, despite heavy sweat pouring from his bald head.

"Ah, this is my sister! Third one!" Ezra was used to ignoring the mocking tone whenever Chris referred to him as "the third". Since their true identity is known, every member of the kingdom should also remain formal in the presence of his subject or others who are still not familiar.

Chris is notoriously disobeying the rules.

"Oh, Prince Ezra! Greetings! It's nice to meet you!" Only then did the fat bald man greet him with voracious eyes.

"It's nice to meet you too. I spoke to whose master?"

"Geez, where's my manners? My name is Phillip Nielsen, a merchant."

Ezra knew the name. Phillip Nielsen, calling him a merchant is not wrong, but the name is also famous as the chairman of the Nielsen Guild. Guilds ranked 15th in the world guild ranking, which were also famous for only accepting mages as their members.

Blue-robed mage, water attribute?

Where did Chris have that kind of money to rent a dozen mages?