---
title: "Chapter 273: Rumors"
slug: "ch-273"
novel: "Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100"
number: 273
views: 0
likes: 0
wordCount: 1216
createdAt: "2026-04-13"
---

Max walked calmly through the vast, golden halls of the Sun Palace, his presence blending seamlessly with the nobility and elite who roamed the corridors.

His attire had undergone a complete transformation—no longer wearing the distinct black-and-hoodie dress code of the Black Lotus Guild, but instead donning a well-fitted, midnight-blue suit with a tie.

This was no ordinary suit—it was the same one Alice had chosen for him, meant for the King of the West's birthday celebration.

And now, ironically, he was using it to move unnoticed or blending completely with other guests.

With the addition of a sleek, blue mask covering his face, he looked like an entirely different person. The mask was smooth, featureless, and again completely without holes for eyes or a mouth, giving him an unreadable, mysterious presence.

There was another effect of the mask. It could change his hair color to any he liked the most.

And currently it was deep red.

This mask was one of the treasures of he had obtained in the treasury in the temple.

And with everything—

Even if someone were to suspect his identity, there was no way they would connect him to the Black Lotus Guild.

But Max wasn't arrogant—he knew better than to let his guard down.

'The Phoenix Order Guild is on the other side of the Sun Palace. I need to be cautious.'

With a quiet mind, he continued walking, following the golden-paved corridors with steady, measured steps.

The halls were lively, filled with guests from all across Valora Continent. The laughter of the wealthy, the whispers of politics, and the subtle negotiations of alliances filled the air.

Max ignored all of it.

Every conversation, every gaze, every fleeting curiosity—he disregarded it all.

Some curious individuals approached him, perhaps recognizing the suit's royal fabric or sensing the aura of someone important.

Or perhaps due to curiosity of the mask.

Whenever they did, he simply gave a small, polite nod before continuing on his way—never engaging, never stopping.

Then—

Max felt it.

Through his Three-Dimensional Body, his senses sharpened—and he noticed Alice moving.

His steps halted for a brief moment.

Instead of rushing forward recklessly, he observed her movements carefully, tracking her location, speed, and direction.

Through his heightened perception, he mapped out the entire Sun Palace in his mind.

And then he found it—

A large garden, intricately decorated with vibrant flowers, glowing lanterns, and elegant stone paths.

There were many guests there, casually roaming the area, laughing and enjoying their time.

Max's eyes narrowed slightly.

'This garden… it's connected to almost all the mansions inside the Sun Palace.'

He processed the layout instantly—this wasn't just a decorative space.

It was a central gathering place.

A place where all guests—regardless of status—could interact freely.

Aside from the Grand Chamber, which was still inaccessible, this was one of the most important locations for social interaction.

Alice was heading there with Anton.

And so, without hesitation, Max followed.

After several minutes of walking through the golden hallways, Max arrived at the entrance of the garden.

Above the arched gateway, a carved wooden board displayed its name in flowing golden letters—

"Serene Lake."

Max took a step inside.

The moment he did, his gaze swept across the crowd—and he was immediately taken aback by the sheer number of people present.

It was far more crowded than he expected.

Everywhere he looked, there were high-ranking guests engaged in conversation.

He even recognized several familiar faces among them—figures he had encountered in the East Region, people he had fought alongside or against.

But he had no intention of interacting with them.

His focus was entirely on one person.

Alice.

Max's gaze locked onto her instantly.

She stood near a cherry blossom tree, her back straight, her face calm, her long hair flowing with the evening breeze. Her red dress clung to her frame in an elegant yet understated way, its fabric shimmering subtly under the warm glow of lantern lights.

Beside her stood Anton—her brother.

But what caught Max's attention wasn't just Alice or Anton—

It was who they were talking to.

Princess Aveline of the West.

The princess was engaged in friendly conversation with Alice and Anton, her laughter light and casual.

For a moment, Max remained still.

He knew that one of Alice's main reasons for coming to the West was to visit her close friend, Princess Aveline.

So it made sense that she would be spending time with her.

Max decided to wait.

If he approached now, it would be too risky.

Too many eyes. Too many ears. Too many unknown variables.

So instead—he quietly found a spot near the garden's edge, where he could watch without drawing attention.

As Max stood in silence, waiting for the right moment, his ears caught snippets of conversation around him.

"Have you heard? Max betrayed the Phoenix Order Guild and joined the Black Lotus Guild?"

A whisper.

A murmur.

A statement said casually, as if it were nothing more than a passing rumor.

"Yeah, it's old news. But who would have thought he'd actually betray the Phoenix Order?"

Another voice.

A different group.

Max's eyes darkened slightly as he continued listening.

"You know, it's becoming a trend in the Phoenix Order Guild… first, it was Freya, and now Max."

"You're right. Two of the East Region's top geniuses were from the Phoenix Order Guild… and both betrayed them."

"I wonder what really happened to make Max betray them?"

Max remained still, his expression unreadable.

It wasn't the first time he had heard such talk.

Ever since he had left the Phoenix Order Guild or should he say he was betrayed by Aurelia, rumors had spread like wildfire.

The Black Lotus Guild's intelligence network had already informed him about it months ago.

But still—he was mildly surprised by something.

Despite all the whispers and speculation—

Not a single person mentioned the word 'Voidwalker.'

They spoke of his betrayal.

They spoke of his defection to the Black Lotus Guild.

But no one uttered a word about his true identity.

Max's thoughts turned inward.

'Has my identity as Voidwalker not been revealed yet?'

It was a possibility he had never considered.

He had assumed that once he was branded a traitor, the Phoenix Order Guild would have also exposed his true nature to the world.

But from what he was hearing now—

That hadn't happened.

And there was only one person who had the authority to keep that information hidden.

Aurelia.

'Why? What is she planning? Why didn't she expose me when all she wanted was to kill me?'

A heavy thought settled in his mind.

There was more to this than he had initially believed.

But for now—he had another priority.

His gaze flickered back to Alice, his resolve unwavering.

The time was almost right.

Soon—

He would finally meet her again.

However—

Just as Max kept his silent watch from the edges of the Serene Lake Garden, a shift in the atmosphere drew his attention.

A group of young men strode forward, moving with an air of unrestrained arrogance, their steps filled with a sense of entitlement that made them stand out even among the elite guests.

Their presence alone disrupted the harmony of the gathering, as if they cared little for the decorum of the event.