Inside the palace.
The trusted subordinates that Lucas had left behind in the palace had already been dealt with by Alvin. The only person left was Luke, the captain of the Royal Guard.
"Speak. Where is Queen Ella?"
Alvin's gaze was cold and indifferent. He stepped on the heavily injured Luke, who was coughing up blood. The Demon Blade Chronicle rested against Luke's neck.
After Alvin entered the palace, Luke knew he was no match for him. Even so, he had continued shouting in fear, ordering the Royal Guards to attack Alvin.
Alvin did not even need to think to realize that this man was loyal to Oro. Naturally he would know where Queen Ella was imprisoned.
Luke looked at Alvin with terror in his eyes. Feeling the terrifying killing intent coming from the blade at his neck, his entire body began to tremble violently.
The shaking became so intense that he even lost control of his bladder.
Alvin frowned in disgust and covered his nose.
He pressed the Demon Blade Chronicle down slightly. A deep and horrifying wound immediately appeared on Luke's shoulder and foul smelling blood began flowing out.
"Ah!"
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"Queen Ella and the remaining royal family are imprisoned in the Ice Palace!" Luke shouted in panic, no longer able to endure the fear.
"Where is the Ice Palace?" Alvin asked coldly.
"Deep underground beneath the palace!" Luke hurried to answer.
"The entrance is in King Oro's bedchamber. But that door weighs fifty tons. Without the mechanism it cannot be opened. Only King Oro knows where the mechanism is located."
Earlier he had planned to resist a little longer and stall for time until King Oro returned. That way he could avenge his brother Lucas.
But now he no longer dared to delay.
Just as Luke thought revealing Queen Ella's location might spare his life, the Demon Blade Chronicle had already cut across his throat.
The pain was overwhelming.
So this was what death felt like.
In the final moment before his consciousness faded away, he could even feel his head rolling across the ground.
Alvin soon arrived at King Oro's bedchamber.
Inside the room he quickly found the enormous fifty ton ice door.
For ordinary people, opening this door would require the hidden mechanism.
But Alvin did not need such things.
With a heavy grinding sound, the massive ice door was pushed open by Alvin with ease, revealing a staircase leading downward.
Alvin did not hesitate.
He stepped down the stairs as the crisp tapping sound of his shoes echoed through the icy passage.
Before long he arrived at the underground palace.
It was an ancient ice crystal palace hidden beneath the royal city.
Strange glowing insects surrounded the Ice Palace, illuminating the entire area as if it were daytime.
"Who are you?"
The guards stationed there immediately raised their weapons and stared at Alvin with vigilance.
Clearly these were the guards Oro had assigned to watch the Ice Palace.
Alvin had no interest in wasting time speaking with them. He quickly incapacitated them all.
After entering the Ice Palace, he released his Observation Haki and sensed the presence of living people deeper inside.
He immediately walked in that direction.
Soon he saw two elderly figures dressed in ornate clothing, a man and a woman.
Behind them stood a young girl about ten or eleven years old. She was around one meter fifty six tall.
The two elders protected the girl tightly while looking at Alvin with fear.
The girl however stared directly at Alvin. Her childish face carried clear resentment.
Alvin guessed that these were the only remaining members of the royal family.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not one of Oro's men. I came here to cooperate with Queen Ella. Can you take me to her?" Alvin said casually.
"You are not Oro's subordinate? Then how did you get here?" the old man asked cautiously, his eyes full of suspicion.
"I fought my way in," Alvin replied impatiently. "But I don't feel like explaining. Just take me to Queen Ella."
"I'll take you to my sister."
At that moment the little girl stepped forward and spoke firmly.
"Ellie!" The two elders immediately became nervous when they heard her speak.
"Father, Mother, this is our only chance to escape!" Ellie said seriously as she turned to look at them.
Alvin grinned slightly.
"Smart kid. Ellie, right? If you take me to your sister I'll give you candy."
"I'm already eleven years old. I don't eat candy," Ellie replied seriously.
"Follow me. I'll take you to my sister."
After speaking she immediately turned and began walking in another direction.
Alvin followed behind her.
The two elders remained where they were.
They looked toward the entrance of the Ice Palace for a long moment. But after thinking it over they still did not dare to leave.
Ellie led Alvin to an ice door.
She pointed at it and said, "My sister is locked inside by Oro. But we can't open the door. The people who deliver food are Oro's trusted subordinates and they keep the key."
Alvin did not reply.
He simply reached forward and pushed the ice door open.
Ellie's jaw dropped.
Her eyes widened like round bells and her mouth opened wide enough to fit an entire egg.
Alvin ignored her shocked expression and walked inside.
Soon he saw the graceful back of Queen Ella.
"No wonder. Sea Stone..." Alvin muttered in slight surprise.
Queen Ella was imprisoned inside a Sea Stone cage that covered more than twenty square meters.
"Sister! I finally get to see you! Are you alright?" Ellie shouted excitedly as she rushed forward and grabbed the iron bars.
Queen Ella slowly turned around.
She first gave Ellie a gentle smile. Then her expression immediately became cold as she looked toward Alvin.
"Hiss."
"As expected of a queen. Truly beautiful."
The moment Alvin saw Ella's face he praised her without hesitation.
She had clear ice blue eyes that seemed as cold as frozen lakes. Her cheeks looked like flawless white porcelain under the Moonlight. Her lips were naturally pale beneath a straight elegant nose.
She wore an ice blue fitted outfit along with elegant high heels. Around her slender neck hung a necklace made of ice crystals that emphasized her noble and distant aura.
Her figure was tall and perfectly proportioned. Her full chest and graceful hips created captivating curves, giving her a natural air of authority.
"Who are you?" Ella asked with a slight frown.
This man's gaze was far too direct and unrestrained, which made her feel somewhat displeased.
"You can call me Alvin."
"I'll speak directly. I came here because I want to cooperate with you. Do you want to kill Oro? I can help you."
Ella's eyes flickered slightly.
A trace of hatred flashed through them before disappearing again.
She parted her pale red lips and spoke calmly.
"If you were able to reach this place then your strength must be considerable."
"What are your conditions?"
"The condition for killing Oro."
Hearing this, Alvin smiled.
"It's very simple. You place a bounty on Oro."
"And then I will kill him."
"That simple?" Ella asked with clear surprise.
"That simple," Alvin replied firmly.
But Ella clearly did not believe him.
This man had gone to such effort just to find her.
Was it really only to ask her to place a bounty on Oro?
If that were the case, would it not be easier for him to kill Oro directly and then loot the royal treasury?
Why would he need her to issue a bounty first?
Human logic continues to amaze me. Pirates demanding official paperwork before committing murder. Truly a masterpiece of strategic thinking.
...
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