Hidden genius: Black belly snake

Chapter 114: A crack on the iceberg Part1

"What did you just say? She just casually walked away after hearing about the expulsion?" 

Marvin shook angrily, the fat in his body trembling along with him. He couldn't accept what he had just heard.

"This This" He angrily stuttered and chewed on his nails.

He wanted her to be devastated and humiliated. He wanted everyone to shun her and point fingers at her.

But how the hell did she not have any reaction at all?

He stood up ramrod straight and jumped forward to land a tight slap on the palace aide, the poor messenger of the bad news.

And just as he slapped him, Marvin's mood only got worse because he was reminded of the slaps that were landed on his chubby soft face.

Tang Yue had touched his bottom line. His absolute low point. His soft spot. Pride and reputation were a touchy thing for Marvin.

Because even though he was the Grandmaster's only son, a person who should have been originally worshipped and revered, he was always treated with disdain and disgust and labelled as a cripple.

And Tang Yue's deliberate actions had mercilessly poked in this same wound, the sore spot that never quite healed.

"Whatever. Get lost." Marvin yelled at the unlucky palace aide. 

"She is an outsider after all. She might not have understood the gravity of this situation." He harrumphed coldly.

"Heh. This is even better. I like feisty women. I will break you down bit by bit every day you foolish bitch."

Marvin pushed away the wooden chair he was sitting on with a loud thud and prepared to execute the next phase of his plan.

This time he was directly going in for the kill!

"Announce to his highness. I demand a meeting with him today." He barked out instructions and left in a huff to eat his lunch.

About an hour later, a maid returned back from the royal palace.

"Young master, his highness is in the courtroom for another couple of hours and he said that you were welcome to meet him amidst the courtroom."

"Hmph. Okay." Marvin nodded, slurping the tea cup next to him.

"Of course. I knew that he would agree to meet with me. How could he not meet the grandmaster's son?"

"Dumb bitch. This right here is my status. Even the ruler of this land doesn't dare to refuse my visit." Marvin grunted arrogantly and strolled out.

Though he had blurted out quite a few courageous words, he knew that he had to hurry and meet that angry monster, otherwise who knows when his mood will change.

Marvin quickly got ready and summoned his mount from the stables to visit the royal palace.

The flame panther's speed and agility were top notch and the duo arrived in the vicinity of the palace gates within a few minutes.

Marvin jumped down hurriedly and then lifted his chest and stomach, to adjust his robes and tuck in his pot belly.

He then harrumphed coldly, striding towards Xander's courtroom, with his chest proudly jutting forward.

But once he reached the courtroom, the attitude he was wearing earlier had visibly toned down.

"Greetings, your highness." Marvin bowed and announced his arrival.

Xander looked up from his crystal throne, disinterestedly cocking his head to a side. 

"Hmm." He waved his hand casually in response to Marvin's greetings.

Marvin immediately nodded his head and walked over to a side of the courtroom to wait for his turn.

This was typically the practice. One had to patiently wait for their turn in the courtroom at least until the current discussion came to a closure.

After Marvin retreated to a corner of the courtroom, he curiously looked around here and there. The courtroom was unusually crowded today.

The prince rarely allowed personal courtroom meetings. So he was surprised to see these many big shots gathered together.

Even the 20 famed Generals were present. They were Xander's personal army commanders and royal council members.

Definitely, something huge was going down!

Marvin slowly began to rethink the purpose of his visit today. 

Maybe I should come back another day? He chewed his nails and stared at the clear marble floor in deep contemplation.

"Ahem. Coming back to the point of discussion. Your highness, in my humble opinion, I think we should personally select different teams for the labyrinth."

"This is a very special opportunity and I think it would be wasted if someone useless ends up receiving the treasures or the artifacts."

Nidaros, one of the twenty Generals voiced his opinion.

Marvin's ears immediately perked up after listening to the words treasures and artifacts. 

He pulled the elf closest to him, one of Xander's palace aides, and whispered in his ears. "What is going on here?"

"Ah." The palace aide hesitated a bit but since the crown prince had allowed Marvin to remain in the courtroom during this discussion, he explained things without reservations.

"Young master, a few days ago when the tribulation lightning struck the land, all the major forces of the nine countries visited our eastern forests and searched the entirety of the vast mountain ranges from top to bottom."

Marvin seriously nodded. He as well knew about this. In fact, he was in the forest during this time.

"However, even after searching and scouring the forests for days, they were unable to find the source of the tribulation lightning."

"But fortunately, the trip was not wasted."

"While searching for the tribulation lightning heavenly treasure, they serendipitously stumbled upon an ancient labyrinth."

"The monstrous maze extends several acres underground, even going as far as into the ocean."

"The labyrinth is also guarded by a strong defensive spell. It requires the collaboration of several experts and the presence of numerous souls to split open."

"So all the major powers agreed to join hands in this endeavor."

"The dwarves, the orcs, the fairies, and our own teams will meet together at the beginning of the next lunar cycle after thorough preparations and enter the labyrinth together."

"His highness is discussing right now about the order of things, selecting teams and etcetera."

Marvin's eyes flew wide open as he fervently nodded in amazement. "Such a heaven defying opportunity! I must grab this!" He clenched his fist.

He had almost forgotten the main reason why he walked over to the courtroom today.

Marvin gulped and started thinking about things. "This seems to be a huge thing. I have to go and talk to my father. He would most likely participate in this exploration." He murmured and keenly paid attention to the discussion in the courtroom.

A few more minutes passed and the Generals argued one after the other, no one accepting the other person's idea, and Xander silently stared in front of him.

His cold calculative eyes had an unfathomable glint within them. His thin lips were sealed tightly and he looked as if he had no intention of participating in the chaos brewing inside the courtroom.

His cold silence slowly spread across the courtroom and the Generals soon stopped arguing. 

They had discussed all the potential permutation and combinations and various different options for this occasion and now it was up to the Crown to announce the final verdict.

Everyone silently and patiently looked at Xander, awaiting his response.

A cold chuckle escaped his lips and the madman parted his mouth. "Are you all done?" His threatening voice reverberated.

"Yes, your highness." The Generals simultaneously bowed and answered him.

"The relations between the races are strained as it is. We will not be implementing any special schemes in this trip."

"Fifty teams are eligible to enter from the elven nations. We will be selecting forty teams from the royal army."

"The remaining ten teams will be open to the Eldorian citizens and commoners." 

"Select outstanding experts from various associations."

"Hold a contest and present the winners with the choice to participate."

Xander lifted his hand and casually laid out an elaborate plan for the Labyrinth exploration as if he was conducting an orchestra.

Commoners? Everybody was slightly taken aback.

Nobody expected that these precious entry slots would be shared with mere commoners.

But the Generals nodded and the other council members silently nodded. No one dared to argue or question the tyrant's decisions. They quickly excused themselves to carry out the orders.

Xander as well prepared to leave when his eyes fell on the fat chubby mass in the corner of the courtroom.

A subtle smile danced on his lips as he sat back down on the exquisite crystal throne.

"Young master Marvin! There you are! For what do I owe this rare pleasure?" His cold voice sounded, thundering in the courtroom.

There was even a hint of amusement in his voice.

Marvin awkwardly scratched his head in confusion. By chance, does he already know about this? What if the rumors are actually true? Has this madman finally taken an interest in a woman? 

Several questions suddenly popped up in his brain and a small fear cropped up in his heart.