"Are you a summoner?" Bai Xun posed a question, upon spotting the thunder lion, which was constantly absorbing ether energy from Mark.
This is the difference between a summoned beast and a tamed beast.
The tamed beast or mount is independent of its own ether energy but it stays and sleeps at a stable just like others. If it dies, then, it dies.
On the other hand, a summoned beast of a summoner is immortal. Even it dies in battle it will be resurrected after a couple of days. It also resides within the mindscape of its host but the manifestation of its physical body will consume ether energy from its host/master.
This is why Bai Xun was sure that Mark is a summoner. Despite not being able to sense ether energy, he had his suspicions about it, mainly because of how he constantly takes a huge tank out of nowhere.
Now, he confirmed it.
However, for Mark, it wouldn't matter as he decided to be high profile in this matter to improve the fame of the store. He wanted everyone to talk about the store, now.
Crossing his legs on his knee, Mark replied, "what does it matter, Commander Bai? Does the situation change whether I'm a summoner or not?"
"No, it wouldn't." Bai Xun frowned upon hearing his response. He proceeded to announce, "On the orders of the Emperor, I'm here to apprehend you for your disobedience to the Imperial Decree. Come peacefully. Don't let me use force."
"In this store, I'm the God and everyone else is a mortal. Can you accomplish your task?" Mark let out a sneer as he caressed the lion. It understood its master's feelings and stood on its legs and growled at him.
Bai Xun clenched his fist. Of course, he knew that very well.
"If that's the case, then, I'll have to destroy the entire store from outside." Bai Xun warned him. He further added, "Because you look like someone I know, I was trying to be patient. This is your last chance."
Mark knew that even if the entire army come here and attack together, they can't destroy the store, which was protected by the system. But, he didn't say it as he wanted the fight, himself.
So, he provoked him further, "If you try to destroy the store, then, my siblings won't sit by and watch. And once I bring the big weapons, the entire neighborhood will bathe in flames. Do you want to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of commoners for the sake of capturing me?"
"Don't go too far." Bai Xun got angered by Mark's statement. Taking hostages and threatening him is the most despicable method. Except for the Emperor, no one in the Imperial family care about the lives of the commoner. But sacrificing them like this will bring birth to a rebellion. He wondered whether this was why this man was so confident.
*Roar*
The thunder let out a roar as Bai Xun unknowingly stepped forward towards its master with an intent to kill.
As Bai Xun came to senses and planned to silently leave, then, return with the army, which will evacuate the place, Mark proposed a deal as if he read Bai Xun's mind, "how about this? I'll give you one hour. Evacuate the neighborhood.
After that, we'll keep the fight between ourselves. My younger sister will fight on my side and you, on the other side. I will not interfere with bringing out those big weapons and your drake or any other third party must not interfere on your side.
Win against them and I will surrender myself. Or else, you must accept your defeat and return to the palace. As for the public trial, I already told that eunuch and his two soldiers, I will attend for sure. So, no worries.
Oh, if you are worrying about leading you to a trap. Then, no. There's no such thing as that. Alina is also at rank-6, I mean at Upper Elite realm (six-circle), maybe at advanced stage or peak stage, I don't know.
So, if you can't even win against her, I don't think I should listen to your nonsense."
Mark tried to provoke him even further by telling him that he's fighting against a weaker person and he succeeded at it.
"If you are so confident in your sister's strength, fine, I'll play your game and will also show you, why people call me the guardian of the Phoenix Empire."
He turned around to walk through the exit.
Mark stood up from the seat and walked forward and closed down the shutter now that he met with Bai Xun.
"Good job in intimidating him, Leon." He caressed the lion's mane and dismissed it, before climbing upstairs and sitting on his comfy bed.
"System, make the screen bigger and can you increase the distance? It kinda hurts when concentrating on this close." Mark spoke to the system.
In the next moment, the holographic screen that was floating before him increased its distance and went up to the wall, then, became a 100-inch screen. It was Allen's vision as Alina is going to be the one that fights Bai Xun.
"Damn, I should have brought corn from the market to make popcorn. It would have been good entertainment." Mark decided to enjoy the live battle as a spectator. Of course, he wasn't confident that Alina wins against an Exalt realm expert like Bai Xun and he never planned to keep his word either.
There's already a backup plan ready with Allen on standby. So, he wasn't worried that something bad is going to happen.
Meanwhile, on the outside, Bai Xun jumped high and landed on his Drake mount.
He continued to stand on its back and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he used a sound technique, projecting his voice to every part of the neighborhood.
Everyone is already tense when they saw the appearance of the Drake. Now, after the warning, people just started to run away from the place, some cursing the Imperial family and the nobles while others cursing Mark who brought the attention of nobles to their tiny neighborhood ever since he settled down here.
Fifteen minutes later, the entire 1000 meters around the store was deserted. There might be a few people who refused to leave their homes despite Bai Xun's reassurance of compensating them. There might be elderly who couldn't leave because of their conditions.
But, in a world where strength matters, where one's birth status matters, who would care about such people?
Bai Xun's attention was on the peerless beauty, of course, to defeat her. And Mark cares less about the lives of anyone be it a child or an old man.
Looking at the both of them, he said, "Lu Zhen made a mistake, and he's bound to suffer because of his arrogance. I heard that both of you are very strong. I know nothing about your origins but I respect your strength as well as your potential and give you one last chance. Step aside from this matter and leave Lu Zhen, you won't be implicated.
Stand in my way and you will be the accomplices of Lu Zhen's crimes."
"What a fool." Mark broke out into laughter as he watched the screen.
"System, pass a message to Alina, to take him down."
*Ding! Affirmed, says Alina.
As soon as the notification appeared, Alina disappeared from her spot and teleported behind Bai Xun who was standing on the drake. A kick was planted on his back, all of a sudden.
He crashed onto the roof of one of the stores.
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