Chapter 41: Grade: ???
Inside the council chamber, the old king looked around at everyone. The situation was now very clear: the Third Prince had secretly allied with the Iron Hand, the Archon Joe Valentine, and others. As for the Kingdom's Legion Commander, Hesterlet, he had originally been a staunch supporter of the Third Prince, but Hesterlet had already departed for the border.
The Third Prince had originally been one of the two most likely candidates to become the new king, but the assassination attempt on the Little Princess had caused his advantage to vanish completely. The Third Prince was deeply unwilling to accept this.
In truth, the Third Prince commanded a large army. If he wanted to rebel, no one could stop him. But the Third Prince did not rebel. In fact, he had always strived to maintain stability in the royal capital. No matter how great his disadvantage in the power struggle, he would never mobilize the troops stationed on the God Wall. He could afford to lose the power struggle, but the God Wall had to be defended. He had always understood which was more important.
Originally, the Third Prince had given up all hope. But then, Rowan Harvey committed treason. Upon learning this news, the Third Prince was both shocked and delighted. Rowan Harvey's treason nearly caused the First Prince's advantage to plummet.
Rowan Harvey managed the kingdom's finances, and the First Prince also held some financial authority. Therefore, the two of them must have had some dubious connection.
When he learned of Rowan Harvey's treason, the First Prince was so frightened he nearly pissed himself. If Rowan Harvey was a traitor, the First Prince would certainly not escape unscathed either. The kingdom's finances were a single entity, not divided into separate parts.
Thus, the First Prince immediately pledged his loyalty, meaning he withdrew from the power struggle and devoted himself entirely to stabilizing the kingdom's finances. It seemed righteous and noble, but in reality, he was just trying to save his own skin.
The old king was not surprised that the First Prince had stepped forward. He knew the First Prince's character well—cautious, refined, yet hypocritical. It was actually very similar to the old king's own younger self, which was why the old king favored the First Prince.
But when the Third Prince also stepped forward, the old king was genuinely surprised. In his view, with the First Prince forced to withdraw, the Third Prince was the most advantageous candidate.
Yet the Third Prince did step forward. Not only that, but he leaped toward the throne.
The Third Prince's leap toward the throne was not without help. That person was Joe Valentine. This henpecked man had just been kneeling before the old king, crying and sniveling, but now he stood behind the Third Prince.
Gratitude for a patron? Don't be ridiculous. The old king had every intention of killing Joe Valentine. Why would Joe Valentine care about gratitude? Royal power is merciless. Do subjects under royal power value loyalty and righteousness?
"Father, I hope I have not disappointed you."
The Third Prince walked toward the old king. He had the potential to be a tyrant—iron-fisted, ruthless, and decisive—yet he was also meticulous.
The Third Prince stepped onto the stone stairs leading to the throne, approaching it step by step.
Inside a luxurious courtyard in the royal capital.
"Kill!!"
Several hundred "Imperial Guards" formed a battle formation, surrounding a young man covered in blood at the center.
"Death Omen."
The young man roared, and an invisible energy spread outward.
"Shield Formation!"
With a clatter, the several hundred Imperial Guards raised their massive shields before them. The invisible energy swept past, pushing them back a few steps, but they immediately stepped forward in unison, tightening the encirclement around the young man.
"Ah!!"
The young man roared in fury, filled with unwillingness. Though his face was smeared with blood, he was a handsome man. He was... the Seventh Prince!
The Third Prince had made his move against the Seventh Prince. Others might fear the Seventh Prince's influence among the Holy Warriors, but the Third Prince did not care. He had an army. Under the dense tide of human waves, any Holy Warrior who dared to cause trouble would die.
Inside another courtyard in the royal capital.
Pfft. Pfft, pfft...
A series of dense stabbing sounds came. Several assassins in black robes, wielding daggers, were furiously stabbing a middle-aged man. His body convulsed, his expensive clothes soaked in blood.
"You... can't... kill me. I control the finances..."
Pfft. Pfft, pfft...
The stabbing sounds drowned out the man's weak voice.
"So what if you control the finances? There are plenty of people in the kingdom. You're not the best at it."
The Fourth Princess, holding a black feathered folding fan, stepped out of the shadows. She opened the small fan, covering her mouth and nose.
"Anyone who opposes Matilda must die. Why did he have to gain so much support?"
The Fourth Princess snorted coldly. Though unwilling, she had recognized the situation and thus survived.
Similar events were unfolding in many places throughout the royal capital.
Inside the council chamber of the royal palace, the Third Prince climbed the stone stairs step by step, drawing closer to the throne.
"It seems that among all my offspring, you are the most like me."
The old king smiled at the Third Prince. The Third Prince paused mid-step, sensing something very wrong with this old lion.
"It took you five years to infiltrate the Imperial Guard. Too slow. I did it in only two."
"Huh?"
Hearing the old king's words, the domineering Third Prince was visibly stunned.
"Your eldest brother is not bad, but his vision is indeed too narrow. Killing him is fine. As for your fourth sister, she might become your ally, but never forget—she is not one to accept defeat easily. And your seventh brother, accepting the title 'Wing of the Kingdom' was asking for death. I actually wanted to eliminate him long ago."
The old king narrated calmly, but the Third Prince could not remain calm. He instinctively took a step back. In that moment, he truly felt the old king's terror. If he had to compete for power with this old lion, he might not even know how he died. He would definitely be toyed with until he doubted his own existence.
"You did not touch the frontline army. That pleases me. As for whatever deal you made with the Iron Hand, I am not particularly interested. But do not forget—if he becomes displeased, your head might roll."
The old king waved his hand, signaling the Third Prince to continue forward. But the Third Prince stood still.
The once domineering Third Prince had been deflated by the old king's simple words. Perhaps he would carry a certain degree of shadow for the rest of his life.
"The Iron Hand... I have seen through them, but I cannot see through you. Although I do not know your purpose, as long as it is not the throne, it is fine.
Whatever your goal, you first helped me eliminate unstable factors, then resolved the undead assassination incident. During the power struggle, you have done many things for me—some glorious, some not. Since you wish to go beneath the throne, then go ahead. That is a place from which there is no return."
The old king looked at Joe Valentine. Joe Valentine instinctively shrank his neck. The current old king was like a dying lion, with a ferocious beast standing beside him. Who knew what deal this old lion and that beast had made? He, Joe Valentine, was at most a watchdog. Even a dying lion, he dared not provoke.
"Bring me a brush."
The old king spoke. Joe Valentine hesitated for a moment but still fetched paper and brush from the side hall.
The old king wrote a few lines on a piece of parchment. Holding the parchment, he looked at Su Xiao.
"Iron Hand, are you certain you want to go beneath the throne?"
"Of course."
Su Xiao reached out to the old king. The old king nodded and handed the parchment to Su Xiao.
The moment Su Xiao took the parchment, his other hand grabbed the old king by the throat.
"Iron Hand, what are you doing!"
Seeing Su Xiao grab the old king's throat, the Third Prince roared in shock.
Su Xiao and the old king both looked at the Third Prince, causing his face to twitch. The Third Prince now understood that compared to the other contenders for the throne, these two were far more terrifying. One seemed to see through everything, and the other had no one he dared not kill.
"It seems your heir is not ruthless enough."
"The throne will make him more ruthless. Finish it cleanly. Killing is what you do best."
"No problem."
Crack!
Before the Third Prince's stunned eyes, Su Xiao snapped the old king's neck. The Third Prince had not wanted to kill the old king—he simply dared not. This old lion was too terrifying.
[Successor to the throne selected: Third Prince.]
[Main mission: Crown of Power completed. Remaining stay time in this world: 12 hours.]
[Prompt: Detected that the Hunter is executing a hidden side mission: Beneath the Throne. Remaining stay time in this world increased to 5 days and 12 hours.]
[You have killed the Old King: Bai Herbert.]
[Bai Herbert was the King of the Saint Sordin Kingdom. Obtained World Source 15.2%. Total World Source obtained: 21.9%.]
[You have obtained a Treasure Chest (Grade: ???).]