Crossover anime, and you call this a slice-of-life story?

A crisp slap rang out, and the slap, imbued with the aftershocks of battle aura, sent the guard captain, who possessed the strength of an Earth Knight, flying through the air.

His figure crashed heavily to the ground, his cheeks instantly swelling up, and he spat out several bloody teeth, but he didn't even dare to scream. He just knelt down again in terror.

Chapter 267 An existence that even gods revere?!

"What are you all good for?! Huh?!" Lord Alec roared, his voice hoarse from his injuries and rage.

"One person! Just one person! He just swaggered into my city lord's mansion like it was his own backyard! And you couldn't even stop him?! What use are you to me?! I might as well keep a bunch of goblins!"

Although this matter has nothing to do with the guards, if a god wants to come in, who can stop him?

But this did not stop him from venting his anger on his subordinates.

Alec paced back and forth, his fierce gaze sweeping over each of his trembling subordinates.

"And you too!"

He pointed sharply at the butler, who was slumped on the ground, his face ashen. "What kind of butler are you?! Why didn't you warn us sooner when someone broke in?! Why didn't you call for more guards?! Why did you let him rush straight into the main hall?! I almost... I almost got..."

He couldn't continue. The thought that he had just attacked a god sent a chill down his spine, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

The steward was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading, "My lord, please calm down! My lord, please calm down! I'll call the guards on duty right away."

Aside from trying to calm the other party down, the butler didn't know what else to say.

More guards?

Even if an entire city's population stood in front of the enemy, they still wouldn't be enough to kill them instantly!

Being a butler is really tough for him...

Before long, a guard stumbled in, his face pale, and begged for mercy: "Lord City Lord, spare my life!"

"Get out! Tell me now if any special family... beings were let in today?!" Lord Alec roared.

The guard swallowed hard, trembling as he said, "I...I encountered two strange people. They entered the city this afternoon when I was on duty. Lord City Lord, please spare me! I really don't know anything!"

"Two? Are you sure they are two unidentified people?!"

Alec ignored the other party's pleas for mercy and instead frowned.

Could it be that another deity has also arrived?

The guard's face showed an extremely strange and incredulous expression, as if he had recalled something extremely absurd: "It was... a young man with black hair, who looked very young and was dressed very plainly... I don't know what happened when that blond powerhouse looked at me with just one glance."

Oh, right, that blond man acted like a servant, personally leading the pack animal for the young man! His attitude... his attitude was incredibly respectful! I found it strange at the time, but after being glanced at by that blond powerhouse, he... inexplicably let them into the city..."

"What?!!"

Lord Alec was struck dumb, staggering back two steps and crashing into the wall to regain his balance. The color drained from his face instantly!

The blond man—isn't that the deity who just displayed his divine power?

The other person was actually... leading a pack animal for another young man like a servant?!

And they were incredibly respectful to that young man?!

He wanted nothing more than to hang the guard up and interrogate him to see if he even knew what he was saying.

How could a deity be so respectful to another person?

Unless... the other party is an even more powerful god!

This news made Alec tremble all over.

Who is that young man with black hair...?

How could such a powerful deity be made to act as a servant?

Lord Alec felt a chill run from his tailbone straight up to the top of his head, and his scalp tingled!

He originally thought that offending a god was already a disaster, but he never expected that there was an even more unfathomable being behind him, one that even gods had to bow down to!

Ironforge... what kind of monsters have arrived?!

He was actually thinking about revenge? He even wanted to use someone's head for entertainment?

Thinking of this, Lord Alec's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground again.

Intense fear and lingering dread extinguished all his anger and humiliation like ice water, leaving only boundless awe and... relief!

Thankfully, the deity seemed to have only come to collect something and didn't intend to wreak havoc! Thankfully, I'm still alive!

"Where...where are they now?" Lord Alec's voice was extremely dry and trembling violently.

"Reporting to...Reporting to my lord, after they entered the city, they went directly to the 'Heart of the Furnace' Inn..." the guard hurriedly replied.

Go to the inn? Lord Alec's heart skipped a beat.

An extremely tempting yet extremely dangerous thought popped into my head uncontrollably—should I…prepare a generous gift and personally visit the inn to apologize?

If we could establish even the slightest connection, even just a tiny bit of understanding, perhaps...

But the thought was quickly suppressed by an even greater fear!

No! Absolutely not!

How could he possibly fathom the thoughts of such beings?

The deity had clearly only come to retrieve something and had no intention of getting entangled with him further, nor had he revealed his identity.

If I rashly go to disturb them, and my flattery backfires, I might anger them again, and I wouldn't even know how I died!

The best way to handle this is to act as if nothing happened! Absolutely do not show up in front of the other person again!

As for the map and intelligence... well, they've been given away!

Being able to exchange a priceless treasure for his life was already an incredible stroke of luck! He didn't even dare to have the slightest thought of taking it back or seeking revenge.

Lord Alec took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and tried to restore some of the usual authority to his voice, although it still trembled slightly:

"Listen!"

He scanned his men, who were still in shock, in a tone that was more stern and solemn than ever before.

"Everything that happened today, including the existence of that blond man and the black-haired young man, is to be kept a secret from me! Anyone who dares to utter a single word of it will have their entire family wiped out! Do you hear me?!"

"Yes! Yes! My lord!"

All the guards and servants nodded frantically like chickens pecking at rice; they were so terrified that they dared not utter another word.

"in addition!"

Lord Alec continued to issue orders, his voice low and deep.

"Pass on my orders! From this moment forward, the entire city's alert level... no, no alert! Instead, relax it! Pass the word down: all city guards and patrols, whenever you encounter those two... those two gentlemen, no matter what they're doing or where they're going, keep your eyes peeled! Absolutely! Absolutely no obstruction, questioning, or even spying is permitted! Let them do whatever they want! Even if they tear down Ironforge, you'd better be smiling and hand them the tools! Understand?!"

Although the men were shocked by the city lord's almost humiliating order, upon recalling the terrifying scene they had just witnessed, they immediately and without hesitation responded in unison, "Understood, sir!"

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

Lord Alec waved his hand wearily and irritably.

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they scrambled out of the messy main hall, leaving only Lord Alec behind.

He slumped against the cold wall, staring at the still-wet bloodstains on the ground and the broken wall, his face filled with lingering fear, bewilderment, and a lingering shock.

The labyrinthine treasure he had painstakingly treasured, which he regarded as his hope for a rise to power, was taken away so easily.

He didn't even have the right to resent.

“Gods… servants… black-haired youth…” he murmured to himself, feeling that the world had become incredibly strange and dangerous.

He struggled to his feet and staggered back to the luxurious palace.

The viscountess was already huddled in the corner of the bed, trembling with fear.

Lord Alec didn't even glance at her, simply waving his hand wearily: "You get out too."

He needs to be alone to process today's terrifying experience, which could upend his entire life.

Soan, having obtained what he wanted, dared not linger for a moment and immediately returned to the "Heart of the Furnace" inn at top speed.

Chapter 268 The Labyrinth of Eris

With the magical metal box containing the map and scrolls in his arms, Soan returned to the "Heart of the Furnace" inn as quickly as possible.

He carefully made his way through the quiet corridor to the door of the most luxurious suite on the top floor, which at this moment made him feel extremely oppressed.

He took several deep breaths, trying to calm his still somewhat rapid breathing and wildly beating heart. He straightened his slightly disheveled robes, making sure his posture was humble and respectful enough, before gently knocking on the door.

"Your Excellency, your humble servant has returned."

His voice was very low, filled with utmost reverence.

The door opened silently, as if it had been waiting for him.

Inside the room, Shangguan Yun remained seated on the soft couch by the window, relaxed and at ease, as if he had never moved.

Upon seeing Soan return, he gave a faint "hmm".

Soan quickly bowed and entered the room, carefully closed the door, then stepped forward and held the magic metal box high in both hands, presenting it to Shangguan Yun.

"Your Excellency, the map and entrance information for the 'Eris Labyrinth' you requested have been retrieved from the City Lord's Mansion. Please review them." His tone was filled with relief at completing the mission, yet he dared not show the slightest smugness, maintaining absolute respect.

Shangguan Yun then slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the box.

He didn't take it immediately, but casually glanced at it, and his divine sense had already penetrated the box, reading all the map and scroll information inside.

"good."

He made a casual comment before taking the box and placing it on the coffee table beside him, as if it were not some treasure containing earth-shattering secrets, but merely an insignificant trinket.

Soan felt a sense of relief, as if he had received a great compliment, and quickly said humbly, "It is my honor to serve you, Your Excellency."

He hesitated for a moment, but decided to give a brief report on what had happened at the city lord's mansion to show his honesty: "Your Excellency, the city lord of Ironforge was initially a bit... ungrateful. I had no choice but to show a little divine power and punish him slightly before I could get the item. But please rest assured, I did not harm him."

He carefully observed Shangguan Yun's expression, afraid that the other party would be displeased because he had laid a hand on her.

However, Shangguan Yun's reaction was completely unexpected.

Shangguan Yun didn't even raise an eyebrow, as if he had only heard casual conversation like "the weather is nice today."

He picked up the cup of fragrant tea that the maid had prepared, which was now slightly cool, and took a small sip, his tone calm and indifferent:

"Yes, that's good."

That nonchalant attitude made it seem as if he didn't care at all about the life or death of that city lord.

"It's...it was my fault for being so talkative." Soan quickly lowered his head.

"Now that we've got the items, let's go check out that so-called 'Eris Labyrinth' tomorrow." Shangguan Yun put down his teacup and made his decision. "You've had a hard day, go and rest."

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

Soan was overjoyed, not only because he had completed the mission, but also because the other party told him to rest, which seemed to be a tacit approval—to allow him to follow temporarily? This was incredibly good news for him!

He bowed respectfully again before carefully leaving the room and gently closing the door behind him.

Arriving at the equally luxurious suite next door, Soan closed the door, leaned against the cold door panel, and finally relaxed completely, letting out a long sigh of relief.

The experience of those few hours was far more exciting and thrilling than his previous hundreds of years of divine life.

He looked down at his hands; his palms were still damp with lingering fear. But his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I bet on the right thing...it seems like I really did bet on the right thing!"

He muttered to himself, "This esteemed one's strength and status are probably even more terrifying than I imagined! Even His Majesty the God-King might not possess such majesty... If I could follow him forever, even if it was just as a errand boy..."

Soan's mind started working, and he began to seriously consider how to better play his new role as a "servant".

Silent all night.

The next morning, Suo An waited outside Shangguan Yun's room early.

When Shangguan Yun pushed open the door, he had already prepared an exquisite breakfast and items that Shangguan Yun might need, his attitude extremely respectful.

Shangguan Yun remained noncommittal about Suo An's attentiveness. After a simple breakfast, he said, "Let's go to that 'Silent Canyon'."

"Yes, Your Excellency, please follow me."

Soan immediately led the way.

The two left the inn. Suo An wanted to prepare a mount, but Shangguan Yun stopped him.