Eternal Thief-Chapter 575: The Emperor Palace
The Emperor Palace covered half of the Imperial Domain, it was lavishly made with rare ores, and herb guardians were everywhere, which made the Qi here refreshing and denser.
Every member of the imperial family had their small castle here, including Ronan.
The castle given to him was named Demonic Seal Castle, which was at the west edge of Emperor Palace.
At this moment, servants in black and white attire were standing outside the Demonic Seal Castle in two rows. All of them wore black and white masks.
They were the Imperial Servant, and those black and white masks on their faces were slave items placed on their faces the moment they were born, and they could not remove them.
This symbolized these demons' everlasting servitude toward the imperials, and they weren't allowed to interact with outsiders and could only live in the Emperor Palace. The moment they left a certain perimeter, they will die because of the slave item backlash!
They also had another name in the Imperial Domain, Puppet Servants!
At this moment, Ronan's carriage entered the gate and slowly stopped a few meters away from the Demonic Seal Castle's Main gates.
A Puppet Servant quickly opened the carriage door and placed a golden staircase in front of the open door.
A demon placed his step on this small staircase and slowly disembarked the carriage. It was naturally Ronan.
Following Ronan appeared Black Demon, and after they disembarked the carriage, it moved on its own and left toward the back of the Demonic Seal Castle.
Ace looked at those puppet servants and their listless eyes exempt from emotions and couldn't help but frown slightly at the Imperials' ruthlessness. They were simply too paranoid and distrustful.
They didn't want anyone to come in contact with their secrets, and they trusted no one, even their close aids. Everyone around them was a thrall who couldn't go against them.
Even those Imperial Council Demons weren't allowed to leave here before taking oaths and signing confidential soul contracts.
However, it was also because of this exact reason that the Imperial Domain remained untouchable for countless years.
Until now, no one had any idea that the unbreachable Imperial Domain had already been breached, and this breach was already reached the Emperor Palace no less.
At this moment, a puppet servant approached Ronan and Black Demon, he wore the same black and white attire, but there was a golden star emblem on his shoulder, which meant he was the head Puppet Servant, which was like a butler of Demonic Seal Castle.
They didn't have names but numbers.
High-ranking Puppet Servants were given numbers between 1 to 1,000, and it never changed unless a high-ranking puppet servant died. These puppet servants were like guards of the Emperor Palace.
Then there were Middle Ranking Puppet Servants who were given numbers above 1,000 to 10,000, and they were like the head maids, butlers, and chefs and could also command Low Ranking Puppet Servants.
Low Ranking Puppet Servants didn't have any number and did chores and other minor staff in the Emperor Palace. Furthermore, these low puppet servants weren't allowed to cultivate until they were promoted to middle ranking.
But it was also challenging since those Middle ranking puppet servants were allowed to cultivate to River Core Realm, which meant their lifespan was 1000 years.
While the low-ranking puppet servants could only live up to 200 years if they weren't get killed by some unhappy imperial first.
The puppet servant with the golden star was a middle-ranking puppet servant, NO.8,430, and he took care of the day-to-day matters of the Demonic Seal Castle.
Every prince or princess could only have five middle-ranking puppet servants, but Ronan didn't like to be spied upon since these puppets could reveal everything at the Emperor's behest.
So, he only had one.
NO.8,430 quickly kneeled in front of Ronan, and the other low-ranking puppet servants followed suit. He respectfully spoke, "Welcome Back, Your Imperial Highness!"
The other puppet servants followed suits in unison, "Welcome Back, Your Imperial Highness!"
Ronan merely nodded, "Rise."
The low-ranking puppet servants quickly followed the order, while NO.8,430 remain in his position.
"Do you have anything to say?" Ronan coldly asked.
Ace knew the puppet servants had their own will, and they could bypass the imperial children's orders if the order were from a higher title than theirs, like the Empress or Emperor!
NO.8,430 respectfully revealed, "A decree came this morning from the Emperor's Palace for your highness!"
Ace frowned and coldly spoke, "Where is it?"
A golden scroll appeared in NO.8,430 hand at this moment as he presented it to Ronan respectfully.
Black Demon also kneeled when he saw the pitch-black goat face sealed on the golden scroll, it was the seal of the Demon Emperor, and anyone had to kneel in front of the decree of the Demon Emperor except for the Imperial Children.
Ace's frown deepened as he received the scroll but didn't open it, or more accurately, he couldn't open it!
"Let's go inside. I'll read it alone." Ronan coldly uttered as the golden scroll vanished into his storage ring before he walked toward the open gates of the castle.
The others closely followed behind.
When they entered the grand hall,
Ronan commanded, "You, Number Slave, lead me toward my room. Black Demon, you're dismissed for now. I'll call you if I need you."
Black Demon bowed, "As my prince command."
NO.8,430 also didn't dare to delay and quickly led Ronan toward his private chamber while the other puppet servants were dismissed for now.
Everyone thought that Ronan wanted to be alone when he opened the decree because the decree with a black emperor seal could only be opened by a member of the imperial family.
Because it required a drop of their blood to break the seal!
However, when NO.8,430 opened the doors to Ronan's chamber, something struck NO.8,430 from behind before he lost consciousness!
A few miles away the south of Demonic Seal Castle was the Demonic Wing Castle, where lived none other than the Second Imperial Demon Prince, Reginald!
At this moment, inside a closed room, Reginald was listening to Killer.
"... lastly, the Fifth Prince entered the domain half an hour ago." Killer finished his report.
Killer was Reginald's birth guardian, and he collected information for Reginald in the imperial demon domain since Reginald didn't need any protection in Imperial Domain.
Reginald coldly uttered at this moment, "What is he doing here when the new year is about to start in the royal demon institute?"
"I just received the news. I'm afraid only the Fifth Prince knows the reason for his return." Killer respectfully replied.
"Hmph, he's not essential as long as he's not graduated. He could only stay temporarily and couldn't do much. So, he might be here for more resources to suppress Fourth Brother.
"Invite him to Demonic Wing Castle. I might as well help him and let him hinder Fourth Brother." Reginald sneered coldly.
"I'll go personally." Killer agreed.
"What about the current status of that hateful Thief? Did Devils find him yet?" Reginald's voice was laced with hatred and killing intent when he mentioned it.
How could he not hate Ace for making a fool out of him, time and time again?
Although it looked like he escaped any responsibility for what happened in the Life Demon Auction, he still lost the Myriad Hex Manual which he borrowed from Imperial Treasury.
So, as a punishment, he was also forbidden to leave the imperial domain until he reached the Soul Manifestation Realm!
This naturally made Reginald resent Ace, and he also inquired about his whereabouts daily.
The appearance of Devil Envoys wasn't a secret in the imperial domain, but it had been months since they started searching for the Thief with two Demon Elders, and later Fiery Grand Demon Duke also joined them. But there's still no news.
Killer replied with a hint of helplessness, "It's the same, Your Highness. I'm afraid we all underestimated that Thief too much. He's probably escaped the continent."
"Cowardly Bastard, I'll skin him alive if I got my hands on him!" Reginald cursed with hatred. He just couldn't accept this!
On the east of Emperor Palace was the Demonic Spear Castle. Here lived the First Imperial Demon Prince Martin!
Martian also received the report of Ronan's return from his birth guardian, a demoness with crimson eyeballs standing in front of him. She was called Dagger.
Martian impassively said, "Invite little Ronan for a meal. It's been a long time since we had a brother-to-brother talk."
He also had the same thoughts as Reginald and wanted to help Ronan to cause trouble for the Fourth Prince.
"At your behest, my prince!" Dagger's emotionless sweet voice rang in affirmation.
"Do you find the whereabouts of Leona?" Martian voice laced with indignation when he asked this.
"Third Princess still hadn't returned to her Wisdom Castle from the Emperor Palace!" Dagger replied with a hint of fear.
"Just why those two couldn't let her go even after she threw our face into the mud!" Martian murmured as his voice was full of resentment and zeal!
