Martial Arts Worlds

The music in the ballroom turned melodic and slow—the people on the dance floor started to do a slow dance, holding the hands of their lovers and swaying gently to the music.

In the midst of dancers, Julian and Raquel danced elegantly, but it was clear that Raquel was taking the lead as she was more accustomed to Nightingale's dancing customs.

However, she enjoyed seeing Julian's clumsiness on the dance floor. He was desperately trying not to stomp on her feet.

While most of the people were lost in the music, Zeus looked at Bella and Kiernan, who were just staring at each other.

"So you two know each other." Zeus said with a smirk. "Interesting."

Bella looked over to him and said coldly,. "Zeus, why don't you go ask one of these fine ladies for a dance?"

"Huh? Why the heck would I do that?" Zeus asked. "Dancing is lame."

"Because I am telling you." Bella said coldly. "Go."

"Tch…" Zeus raised his arms in surrender and walked over to the dance floor.

Bella then sat down where Zeus had been sitting only moments prior and looked over to Kiernan with a smile.

"I know you have some questions. So do I."

"A few," Kiernan said. 'I shouldn't drop the bomb that she is a mother so suddenly.'

"Go ahead," Bella said.

"Why did you come to look for the kidnappers?" Kiernan asked. "And how did you find out?"

"I've grown restless with the incompetence of the detectives. The detectives of Nightingale are a branch of the World Detective Association, so we had high hopes for them, but they've already lost trust in people.

"Apparently their top detectives are working on a big case that just came up—the Black Curse case—which is why they didn't think the kidnapping was a priority whatsoever.

"Thus, some second-rate detectives were looking into the kidnapping.

"They weren't completely useless. They found out about the burned toast smell in the crime scenes, so they believed that the culprit was a martial ability user.

"However, their thinking was shallow. They believed that the culprit must be operating on nearby islands to avoid the energy detection method.

"They've been searching those islands lately, but I knew that this island had one place where it is possible to completely hide the martial rank of a user.

"The Game.

"I told that to the detectives. They went to check it out. Found nothing. Therefore, they leaned even closer to their first idea.

"But I was wondering if there were more caves like the Game. No one had ever truly mapped the entirety of Nightingale's mountains.

"I was going to look, but then I saw your friend and the girl running in the forest."

Kiernan listened and nodded a couple of times.

"You thought about the same, right?" Bella asked with a smile. "I want to know how you found them."

"Well, Julian and I spent the day at the Game, but when we came back, we found out Raquel was missing. Julian was really broken about that, as he clearly cares about the girl.

"We decided to check out her room and found no sign of forced entry. We then smelled the burned toast smell and knew it was the doings of a martial ability user.

"I came to the conclusion that the person's martial ability must've been invisibility. He most likely scouted the area for a good escape route, then kidnapped the target when the opportunity presented itself.

"I found some wheel marks in the back alley, knew that the culprit worked outside the city, and I came to another conclusion.

"What if the Game's cave is not the special thing about the mountain—but the mountain itself."

"Ah~" Bella smiled in enlightenment. "Invisibility? That's an interesting theory. How did you find that specific cave, though? The mountain is quite big."

"Honestly luck. Julian happened to see someone climb the mountain earlier that day. The climber looked like she was unconscious, so we came to the conclusion that she must've been carried by an invisible person.

"We searched the area where he saw them climb and happened to find the cave."

"Luck, maybe destiny." Bella said with a smile.

She then stood up from the table.

"I invited you here—please enjoy the party."

"Where are you going?" Kiernan asked as she noticed her intention to leave.

"Hehe," Bella giggled and looked around the ballroom. "I am not the biggest fan of these grand parties. I prefer being alone. Thus, I am going back to my room."

"There is something else I'd like to say to you." Kiernan stood up. "Alone, maybe?"

"Huh?" Bella raised an eyebrow. "I don't think that would be a good idea. These nobles like to spread rumors if we happen to leave the party together."

"You leave first, and I'll follow after a few minutes. Just tell me where to meet." Kiernan said.

"Hmm…" Bella looked at his dark eyes.

"Sounds like you have something important to tell me. The courtyard then. When you leave these doors, just walk straight down until you arrive at an open hallway; the courtyard will be on your right."

"Thank you." Kiernan nodded and sat back down.

Bella walked away, smiling at the guests as she passed them, and then left through the doors.

By the throne's seat, Karl-Michael watched as his youngest daughter left the party early. It really didn't matter to him, but he then looked back to the young man, who conversed with her.

'What is she up to now?'

Buzz!

Kiernan frowned and checked his phone.

His father sent him another message.

[Karma: Have you talked to her yet?]

'I didn't take him for an impatient person. I guess he is nervous.'

Kiernan replied with, "Not yet," and then pocketed his phone. Find adventures on empire

After checking that three minutes had passed since she left, he made sure that his suit was buttoned well, then stood up and started to head for the doors.

None of the guests paid attention to him, and he left without any noise.

"…"

Karl-Michael watched as he left and narrowed his eyes like a hawk.