"Hoodwink will do," Hoodwink shrugged his shoulders. "As for meeting you. I was in the neighborhood. So I thought I might as well meet the heroes who have come to slay the great demon that has been tormenting their lands."

    Jace raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Great demon? So you even see yourself as a villain." Sёarch* The N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hoodwink chuckled, "of course I do not. I am only doing what is necessary for the survival of all people. I am preparing for a war that will happen at some point in the future. You were at the Labyrinth, and I know you saw it. The writings in that room."

    Jace frowned as he looked at the prey of his hunt. Wishing he could reach across the table and throttle the man. Instead he tapped at his watch a few times and sent a message to the Anvil. "So you are trying to make a weapon that can stand up to the creatures that exterminated the much more scientifically advanced Requiem."

    "Requiem?" Hoodwink blinked for a moment before he nodded in understanding. "I see, I remember hearing that is what you call them in the Vexical Empire." He then waved down another slave that was attending to guests at the party and asked for a drink. "Yes, I do suppose it is a daunting task."

    "Then why do it in this part of the galaxy when you are a prince of the Imperium." Jace asked with a raised eyebrow and watched for Hoodwink''s reaction. He had been given the intel only a few hours before flying down to the planet. Hoodwink was a prince of the Kaiser Imperium Krieger. Or more specifically he was a prince, but he was now believed to be dead. There was not much else they could dig up without a more in depth investigation which was already underway.

    His face morphed into one of surprise and then anger and then he relaxed. Hoodwink sighed in exasperation, "because for the last roughly twenty years that part of the galaxy has been embroiled in a state of civil war. They are good about keeping it suppressed and hidden from the commoners. Just as good as they are about keeping each other in a state of war."

    "So what? You fled to the old Grand Hexarian territories to find test subjects to use without being constantly on guard against the other factions?" Jace asked with doubt. The man was clearly about to spout some sob story.

    "Well I had to avoid distractions so I could peacefully conduct my experiments." Hoodwink answered.

    Jace shook his head. "I doubt that. I am betting that despite all the horrible experiments going on over there, you ended up crossing the line and were chased out. Probably even faked your death since you did not want them to focus on you and they saw you as a common enemy."

    Hoodwink stared at Jace for a moment before he leaned back in his chair and chuckled. "You are right." He rested his head on one of his hands that he propped up using the arm of his wheelchair. "Those irredeemable hypocrites chased me out of the Imperium. I had to fake my death and then smuggle myself out. But I am curious, how could you tell?"

    "Some do-gooder-noble does not run into foreign territory with several crates of experimental weapons technology. I am guessing you had to bargain for help from the anthro-goat smuggler?" Jace asked in suspicion.

    "Actually it was his parents. I gave them technology I had already dissected and understood. Things I had no need for. So the boy still had all of that technology all this time later?" Hoodwink chuckled. "I must say you are holding yourself back pretty well. Are you not worried I will just hide in Leonair territory?"

    Jace smirked and shook his head. "You may be under the protection of the Leonair royal family but the moment you step out of the territory we will kill you. Even if you claim to be part of an ambassadors group."

    "Ha… that is… terrifying." Hoodwink sighed before motioning for Miss Yang to turn him around as the King cleared his throat to catch the occupants in the ballroom''s attention. "Fortunately, the Vexical Empire has enough on its plate. So they will not declare war on this Kingdom. Otherwise, I would be in big trouble."

    Jace looked toward the King as the music in the room and the party goers went quiet. The King stood at the top of the stairs with a scepter in one hand while his other hand rested on a jeweled sword that hung at his hip.

    "My most noble and honorable citizens of this great Kingdom and other honored guests." There was a chorus of chuckles through the room before King Leos continued. "We are here to celebrate the coming of age of my heir and your Crown Prince."

    There was another chorus of claps from the people in the room which the King let continue for a minute before he turned to the Prince who walked up next to him. Joining him at the top of the stairs.

    The King raised his scepter in the air and then turned to the Prince. Who bowed and crouched on one knee. The King brought the scepter over the Prince''s head. "With this the Crown Prince can no longer be referred to as young and will take over my position upon my death."

    The King then handed off the scepter to an attendant and took a chalice from another attendant. "Stand my son." The Prince stood. "Now from my own cup, you will have your first taste of pleasure of being an adult." The King then took a swig of the wine from the glass. Jace could smell the strong scent from the glass. After taking a swig he handed the chalice to the Prince. "Now finish it."

    The Prince then brought the cup to his lips and drank the rest of the wine that was in the Chalice. Tipping his head back as he finished it. After he brought the chalice down from his lips he had to steady himself and shook his head to ward off the dizziness that Jace was sure was hitting the Crown Prince. There were chuckles in the audience at the sight of the dizzy Crown Prince.

    In the Leonair Kingdom the drinking ceremony is a key part of a royal''s coming of age party. It symbolizes and recognizes that even royals are imperfect especially after taking their first drink of alcohol. As well as seen as the only time anyone can make fun of a royal. Before this ceremony, the royals are strictly forbidden from even touching an object that is containing alcohol.

    "With his first drink of alcohol we can now get the second half of this party- KHOFF!" The King was interrupted mid sentence as a spurt of blood launched from his mouth. Then he began hacking and wheezing as more blood poured out of his mouth. At the same time Jace could see blood begin to leak from his eyes, ears, and even his nose.

    The rest of the room was silent as the King collapsed to the ground and then rolled down the stairs. Leaving a trail of blood down the yellow and purple carpet.

    "Father!- KHOFF!" The Crown Prince yelled in surprise as he processed what had just happened. But before he could do anything he began coughing up blood as well. While also bleeding from his eyes, ears, and nose.

    He stumbled toward the nearest guard and grabbed onto him. "Help- KHOFF -me!" The Crown Prince of the Leonair Kingdom yelled in desperation before he collapsed to the ground and then began convulsing.

    The Queen who was still standing by her throne was blinking in surprise but as they began reacting by calling for a physician and other people to help she collapsed and fainted. Some of the guards immediately came in and carried her away.

    Then a man in a military uniform walked up to the top of the stairs and called out for the guards to secure both the King and Crown Prince. As the commotion was occurring several more guards began appearing at the various doors and exits to the ballroom.

    Jace looked over at Lord Hoodwink. The expression on his face was one of pure disbelief. "Should I assume you have nothing to do with this?" Jace asked Hoodwink quietly while glancing back at Nina who was no longer focused on Miss Yang but was instead assessing the room and quickly sending a message to the Anvil.

    "No." Hoodwink blinked and shook his head. "They were my very cultivated protection against the Vexical Empire. Why in the world would I kill them? How about you? Was this your doing?" Hoodwink asked in turn. At the same time he quietly pulled a device from a pocket and began tapping on it.

    "No, assassination would trigger the defensive pact that the Leonair have with the Circle of Yuri, the New Hexarian Republic, and the Holy Empire." Jace answered with a sigh. "This is the work of someone who does not fear retribution from those nations."