Crayon Shin-chan: As someone who's traveled through time, all I want is a huge reward!

At this moment, Shin-chan looked curiously at King El's red robe and whispered, "Uncle King, your clothes are so beautiful! Are the patterns on them embroidered?"

King El was amused by Xiaoxin's innocence. He squatted down and patted Xiaoxin's head. "Yes, this was embroidered by the best embroiderer in our kingdom. It depicts flowers from the valley."

At this moment, a woman in a long blue dress walked over. Her hair was very black and she had a gentle smile on her face. She held a shawl in her hand and draped it over King El's shoulders. "It's windy outside, don't catch a cold. The children must be tired from their journey. Let them come into the hall and rest!"

"This is my mother's doing," Zhu Zhixin introduced. "Hello, my name is Yusha, and I am the Queen of the Kingdom of Bribri."

Yu Sha looked at Lin Yu standing to the side and said, "You must be Lin Yu. Thank you for saving Zhu Zhixin. I heard the guards talking about you earlier, and now that I see you in person, you really are a remarkable person!"

[Ding! You've met Yu Sha.]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained a white treasure chest]

[Ding! Yu Sha's favorability has increased; a green treasure chest has been obtained.]

[Ding! Yu Sha's favorability has increased; you have obtained a blue treasure chest.]

Lin Yu smiled and said, "It was nothing, thank you for your hospitality, King and Queen."

The Queen smiled and said, "We are delighted that you have come as our guests. Please come in; a banquet has been prepared in the hall!"

The group followed King El and Queen Yusha into the main hall.

The hall was very spacious with a high ceiling, from which hung a huge crystal chandelier. The chandelier reflected light, making the entire hall as bright as day.

The walls of the hall are covered with many oil paintings, all depicting the scenery and historical events of the Kingdom of Bribri.

In the center of the hall was a long mahogany dining table, covered with a white tablecloth and set with silver cutlery and an exquisite vase filled with fresh wildflowers.

"Please, everyone, have a seat!" King El gestured to the chairs beside the dining table. "Make yourselves at home!"

The guests sat down one by one, and the guards began to serve dinner.

The first course was honey-roasted venison, roasted to a golden brown and drizzled with honey sauce, exuding a sweet aroma. The second course was wild fruit pie, with a crispy crust and a filling of sweet and sour fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. There was also a soup made with mountain mushrooms and chicken, with a delicious flavor...

Shin-chan picked up a piece of venison with his knife and fork, stuffed it into his mouth, and his eyes immediately lit up. "Wow! This is so delicious! It's even better than fried chicken from fast food restaurants!"

King El smiled as he looked at Shin-chan and said, "Eat more if you like it. The chef in the castle can make a lot of delicious food. Tomorrow, I'll have him make you what you like."

During the banquet, everyone chatted happily. King El asked about Zhu Zhixin's experience after getting lost. Zhu Zhixin briefly recounted how Lin Yu rescued him and how he defeated the crocodile.

King El was even more grateful to Lin Yu after hearing this. "Mr. Lin Yu not only kindly saved Zhu Zhixin, but he was also so brave. He is truly a rare talent!"

Lin Yu also took the opportunity to ask about the treasure. King El patiently replied, "The story of the wishing vases is very ancient. More than 2000 years ago, the Kingdom of Bribri discovered those two wishing vases in a cave while they were out hunting."

King El took a sip of his drink and continued, "Those two wishing vases are not the same. One of them is guarded by a kind pig god, so he poses no danger. But the other wishing vase is different; the evil god is the other way around. To take the evil vase away, you must defeat him, otherwise you will be cursed and become part of his nourishment. And the key to defeating the evil god is..."

King El did not finish speaking.

At that moment, a man dressed in a black robe walked in. He bowed his head and held a golden tray in his hands. On the tray was a sealed letter. "Your Majesty, this is an urgent letter from the border guard captain. He says he has something important to report to you."

King El frowned as he took the letter, opened it, and his expression gradually darkened. Seeing his look, the Queen asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? What happened?"

King El handed the letter to the Queen and sighed, "The grain warehouses at the border have been robbed, and a lot of grain has been stolen. Moreover, the captain of the guard said that there have been strangers appearing at the border recently, as if they are inquiring about the castle!"

Lulu immediately tensed up. She stood up, clenched her fists, and said, "Your Majesty, I request permission to go to the border to investigate! I am a member of the Royal Guard, and I am sure I can find out who stole the grain!"

King El shook his head. "Lulu, you just came back with Zhu Zhixin and you must be tired. Rest for the night and we'll discuss this matter again tomorrow." He paused and looked at Lin Yu. "Mr. Lin Yu, I know you want those two wishing vases. If you can help the kingdom overcome this crisis, I will assist you in defeating the demon god and give you a portion of the treasure."

Lin Yu nodded and said, "It would be great to have the King's help." He didn't know how to defeat the Demon God, and even if he was strong, he might not be a match for the Demon God. However, if he could help King El overcome this difficulty, defeating the Demon God might be much easier.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Yu shared his thoughts with King El: "It's still hard to determine who stole the grain, but grain warehouses are usually guarded. The fact that they were able to steal such a large amount of grain means that either someone inside knows the situation well, or someone outside has a detailed plan. Moreover, the fact that strangers are asking about the castle is very likely related to the theft of the grain. We need to be extra careful!"

After listening to Lin Yu's words, King El nodded. "You're right. Everyone should get some rest tonight, and we'll discuss countermeasures in detail tomorrow."

"Someone, please take all the guests to their rooms to rest."

“Yes, Your Majesty.” A guard stepped forward and gestured for Lin Yu and his party to follow him. “Distinguished guests, please follow me.”

The group followed the guards out of the hall and headed towards the castle's guest rooms.

The guest rooms are on the second floor of the castle. Wall lamps hang on both sides of the corridor, providing soft lighting. The walls are covered with light-colored wallpaper with small patterns.

The guards led them to the doors of several adjacent rooms. "These are the rooms prepared for you. There is hot water and clean clothes in the rooms. Please feel free to call us if you need anything."

"Thank you!" Lin Yu nodded and pushed open his room door.

The room was spacious with a large bed covered with soft blankets. There was a desk and a chair by the window, with a lamp on the desk. Outside the window was the castle courtyard, with a fountain and sycamore trees in view.

Lin Yu walked to the window and looked at the lights in the courtyard, thinking about what King El had just said. It seemed that the only thing to do now was to help King El get through this crisis.

Meanwhile, in another room of the castle, the man in the black robe who delivered the letter was standing in front of a man in silver armor, his head bowed and his voice low, "My lord, the grain has been stolen, and the people at the border have been arranged. It seems that King El has not yet suspected us."

The man in silver armor stood with his back to him, gently wiping the blade of a sword. "Very good," he said coldly. "Keep an eye on King El and those outsiders, especially that Lin Yu. I've heard he's very powerful. Be careful not to let him ruin our plans!"

"Yes, sir." The man in the black robe replied and turned to leave the room.

The man in silver armor turned around, revealing a gloomy face. He was Sencano, the commander of the royal guards of the Kingdom of Bribri. For many years, he had been dissatisfied with the rule of King El.

He felt that the king was too benevolent and could not make the kingdom stronger. This time, he colluded with a force on the border to steal grain in order to create chaos and seize power.

Senkaino looked at the moonlight outside the window and a cold smile appeared on his lips. "El, your good days are coming to an end. The Kingdom of Bribri will soon be mine!"

The next day, sunlight streamed into the room through the window, waking Lin Yu up with a blinding ray of light. He got up and walked to the window.

Several servants were cleaning the courtyard, the fountain was still tinkling, and a few small birds were chirping on the sycamore tree. Everything seemed normal.

Lin Yu finished washing up and changing his clothes before leaving the room and ran into Guangzhi.

Hiroshi yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Lin Yu, good morning! How did you sleep last night? The bed in this castle is really comfortable, much softer than the one at home!"

"Good morning, I slept pretty well!" Lin Yu smiled. "You're up so early, do you want to take a stroll around the castle?"

“Yes!” Guangzhi’s eyes lit up. “I want to see what the castle looks like. After all, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” Lin Yu nodded. “Alright, you go and take a good look first. I’ll go find King El to find out what happened last night.”

Just as the two finished speaking, they heard Shin-chan's voice, "Dad! Yu! Come quick! Shin-chan brought me to see his toys!"

Shin-chan was seen running from the other end of the corridor, pulling Suke-chan along. Suke-chan was carrying a wooden box in his hands.

"Brother Lin Yu, Uncle Guangzhi, these are my toys. There's a little rocking horse, little soldiers, and a bow and arrow my dad made for me. Would you like to take a look?"

Before they could answer, Shin-chan opened the wooden box and found various toys inside: a small wooden horse, toy soldiers, and a bow and arrow. However, the arrowheads of the bow and arrow were all covered with resin, which showed how much King El loved Shin-chan.

Just then, Misae and Lulu also came over.

Misae was holding a small basket filled with wildflowers she had picked in the garden that morning. "Good morning! You're all up! I just picked some flowers in the garden; I think they'll look nice in the room!"

Lulu said to Lin Yu with a serious expression, "Lin Yu, I just asked the guards and they said that someone seemed to have been to the west tower of the castle last night, but the guards found nothing when they checked."

Lin Yu frowned, clearly unaware of what Lulu meant by the west tower. "West tower? What's that place?"

Suke no Shin thought for a moment and said, "The west tower is where the kingdom's historical documents and some old weapons are kept, but it is rarely visited."

"Someone went to the west tower but left nothing behind?" Lin Yu stroked his chin. "No one usually goes there. Maybe that's where they met with their accomplices."

After listening to Lin Yu's analysis, Lulu thought it made a lot of sense, and then said to everyone, "By the way! Breakfast is ready, everyone can go downstairs to have breakfast."

Lin Yu, however, silently memorized the name "West Tower" and planned to go there to investigate after breakfast.

Chapter 258 Clues in the West Tower

When Lin Yu followed the others downstairs, the morning mist over the castle had not completely dissipated. In the courtyard paved with bluestone slabs, servants were sweeping the sycamore leaves that had fallen the night before with long-handled brooms. The "swish swish" sound was particularly clear in the quiet morning.

The silver eagle sculpture atop the fountain is glistening with dew, and sunlight refracts through the mist to create a delicate rainbow. Yet, beneath this tranquility lies an unseen tension, like an arrow taut on a bowstring, waiting only for the command to be released.

Breakfast was served at an oval oak table in a side room next to the main hall, which felt more inviting than the long table from the previous night.

On the table were freshly baked wheat cakes with golden and crispy crusts, exuding the aroma of wheat and butter. A ceramic bowl held warm goat milk with a thin layer of milk skin floating on the surface. A plate was piled with fresh wild fruits: red strawberries, purple blueberries, and fist-sized yellow apricots, glistening with water droplets and looking especially tempting.

Queen Yusha was already seated at the table when she saw everyone enter. She stood up, smiled, and waved, "Please sit down. Freshly baked wheat cakes are the most fragrant; they won't taste good when they're cold!"

Today she changed into a light purple long dress, her black hair was tied up in a bun and adorned with a silver hairpin with a small valley flower carved on the tip, exactly the same pattern as the one on King El's robe.

Zhu Zhixin pulled Xiao Xin to sit down first, grabbed a piece of wheat cake with his little hand, stuffed it into his mouth, and said with a smack, "Mom, today's wheat cake is even tastier than yesterday's!" Yu Sha shook her head helplessly, picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth, "Eat slowly, no one is going to take it from you!"

King El put down the parchment scroll and looked up at Lin Yu, his eyes showing some fatigue but still gentle. "Mr. Lin Yu, did you rest well last night? This morning the head guard said there was something unusual in the west tower. Was anyone injured?"

As he spoke, he gestured to the maid to hand Lin Yu a piece of honey bread, the honey on which was still steaming and sprinkled with a few sesame seeds.

"No, we slept very well last night!" Lin Yu took the bread, took a bite, and the sweet but not cloying aroma spread in his mouth. "However, I've been thinking that to be able to tamper with the tower's locks right under the guards' noses, one must either be extremely familiar with the castle's structure or have an inside man. Your Majesty, do you know of any suspicious individuals lately?"

Mentioning the suspicious person, King El pondered, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. After a while, he actually remembered something: "Senkaino is the commander of the Imperial Guard, responsible for the castle's defense. Recently, he said that the border is not peaceful and has transferred a lot of Imperial Guards to patrol the border."

Upon hearing King El's words, Lin Yu began to have some doubts about Senkaino. "How come I never heard that the border was not peaceful before? This kind of thing happened in the kingdom as soon as he transferred the Imperial Guard. I'm afraid he transferred the soldiers to create an opportunity for people to steal grain."

Queen Yusha then interjected, her voice soft but tinged with worry, "Senkaino has served the King for many years. It was the King who promoted him to commander of the Imperial Guard. How could he..."

“People’s hearts can change.” King El sighed. “He always said I was too kind and that the kingdom needed to be strong through force. I didn’t take it to heart before, but now it seems he had ulterior motives all along.”

At this moment, Zhu Zhixin put down his milk cup and whispered, "Uncle Senkaino once gave me a small sword and said he would teach me how to fight when I grow up. How could he do something bad?"

Upon hearing "little sword," Shin-chan immediately leaned over. "Shin-chan, is your little sword as powerful as a bow and arrow? Bows and arrows can hit birds!" As he spoke, he raised his toy bow and arrow and gestured at the sycamore tree outside the window. The resin of the arrowhead accidentally touched the tablecloth, leaving a faint stain.

Misae quickly went over and took the bow and arrow down. "Shin-chan, don't play in the restaurant, you might hurt someone!"

Lulu put down the food in her hand and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I will go with Mr. Lin Yu to explore the west tower. I am familiar with the structure of the tower, and I have even gone with the royal guard to clean up the old weapons inside before."

King El nodded. "Good! Be careful, the old documents in the tower are very valuable, and there are also some weapons left over from the wars back then. Don't damage them."

As breakfast was drawing to a close, the captain of the guard rushed into the dining room. He was wearing silver armor and looked anxious. In his hand was a crumpled piece of paper. "Your Majesty, the scouts on the border have reported that a large amount of stolen grain has been discovered in Blackwind Valley, fifty miles from the castle, and a group of strangers dressed in black who look like Locke's men!"

"Locke?" King El jumped to his feet, nearly dropping his silver cup. "Didn't he flee to a neighboring country three years ago? How could he be back?"

Lin Yu immediately asked, "Who is Locke?" Queen Yusha explained, "Locke used to be a soldier in the kingdom. He was punished by the king for robbing villagers' grain and then fled. I heard that he gathered a group of deserters in a neighboring country to make a living by robbery!"

Lulu gripped the short sword at her waist. "It must be Senkaino colluding with Locke! They stole the grain so they could trade with Locke and get him to help them attack the city!"