Chapter 28: Biting the Hook
Su Xiao glanced at the notes, rotten planks, metal fragments, and other items around him. Studying blade techniques was one of his hobbies, followed by concocting potions.
"It's about time to go say hello to that guy. Over the past two days, that old divine stick has been getting more and more anxious."
During the two days Su Xiao spent studying the remnants of the Extreme Technique, the old divine stick had visited over a dozen times. The first few times, he was still enthusiastic, studying alongside Su Xiao and offering his own opinions.
But by the later visits, the old divine stick began to earnestly persuade him, saying things like seizing power was the real priority, and that blade techniques could be studied after becoming king.
In the end, the old divine stick was so angry he trembled. He took the initiative to clash with Queen Sayeto a few times, only to prove he wasn't skilled in power struggles. Seeing this, Sayeto's confidence soared, and she came looking for trouble with Su Xiao last night.
The result was that Sayeto was taught a lesson by Su Xiao, Wufu, and the Minister of Finance. Now she was hiding at home licking her wounds. If she hadn't retreated quickly when she sensed danger, she would have been tied up by Zuosi by now.
The empire's officials were constantly switching sides. They listened to everyone, trying not to offend anyone, because these people knew they had a tainted record. Once a new king appeared, the empire would undergo a major purge.
...
That same noon, in the castle's dining hall.
Everyone was present today: Su Xiao, Amu, the old divine stick, the King with the Ahoge, Princess Pedeira, and Wufu.
Nominally, Princess Pedeira was the leader of this faction, so she sat at the head of the table. But Pedeira clearly didn't understand what that meant, as she was busy savoring a piece of exquisite cake.
Su Xiao sat to Pedeira's right. Since the King with the Ahoge had an excellent relationship with Pedeira, she sat to Pedeira's left. As for how close their relationship was, Princess Pedeira had even developed a sense of dependence on the King with the Ahoge.
It made sense. Su Xiao was drenched in bloodlust, the old divine stick muttered mysteriously every day, and Wufu was the empire's famous iron-blooded commander. The King with the Ahoge, whose demeanor was warmer, was naturally more easily accepted by Princess Pedeira.
"I want to eat that."
Princess Pedeira spoke timidly. From start to finish, she was somewhat afraid of Su Xiao. Seeing this, the King with the Ahoge stood up, brought over two servings of fruit and milk salad, and shared one with Pedeira.
"Sir, this is the freshly arrived shell tower from this morning. Please try it."
Wufu set down a plate of tender white shrimp meat. So-called shell tower was a type of large lobster.
"Pedeira, did you leave the Right Imperial Manor last night?"
"What?"
Pedeira looked at Su Xiao in confusion.
"You just said 'what,' didn't you?"
"Huh?"
Pedeira was even more puzzled. The King with the Ahoge stopped chewing.
"Is there... a problem?"
Pedeira shrank back. Gravy dripped from the dining knife in Su Xiao's hand.
Pfft!
Blood splattered. The dining knife plunged into Pedeira's neck. Warm blood splashed onto the King with the Ahoge's pale cheek.
Clang~
The silver fork slipped from the King with the Ahoge's hand. Her pupils rapidly constricted as she looked at her falling friend, Pedeira.
With a thud, Princess Pedeira collapsed beside her chair, one hand clutching her spurting throat, the other grabbing the hem of the King with the Ahoge's clothes.
"Pedeira never dares to question me. Weak as a little rabbit, she only answers 'yes' or 'no' to protect herself. That's a princess's most basic survival rule in a power struggle."
Su Xiao flicked the blood off his hand. By now, Zuosi had jumped onto the dining table, his gaze fixed on Pedeira. The old divine stick and Wufu were also on high alert.
"Then you didn't... have to stab me, did you? That hurts, hey."
'Princess Pedeira' slowly got up from the ground, casually pulling the dining knife from her neck.
Undoubtedly, the violator had revealed herself. Princess Pedeira hadn't been replaced immediately. In fact, three days ago, the violator was still a distant relative of the Minister of Finance. After discovering Su Xiao's whereabouts, she quickly judged that Su Xiao was the hunter.
Initially, the violator replaced Lena, a woman with some influence in the Duke's mansion but no power over the throne. This was the violator's habit: first, she would figure out the world's power structure, then find a suitable target. Recklessly replacing a ruler had once cost her dearly, nearly killing her.
The violator had entered this world at the same time as Su Xiao. However, just as she was about to replace the young duke, Silver Feather Duke suddenly died. This made her hesitate. Su Xiao had clearly set his sights on the power contenders and had the ability to kill them. If she replaced those people now, there was a high chance of exposure, losing her advantage in the shadows.
But after some covert observation, she found a very suitable target: Dawn Princess Pedeira. She was a puppet but could get close to her enemy.
The only thing the violator worried about was whether this princess was the hunter's R|BQ. She was also a woman and would never tolerate being pinned down by Su Xiao.
After some investigation, the violator confirmed that Pedeira's situation was quite good. So she didn't hesitate. Now, she didn't want power; that wouldn't directly help her obtain the World Core. She had been to the royal palace but couldn't even get through the door. Her current plan was to lurk near the hunter, wait for him to obtain the World Core, then replace the old man beside him to seize it.
As for becoming the new king, the violator knew that was a huge trap. Somewhere needed a new king to suppress it, and she didn't want to be forever imprisoned in this world.
The violator's sole goal from start to finish was to obtain the World Core and escape this damn Reincarnation Paradise. This place was full of madmen. Contractors were, hunters were, and even most arbiters weren't normal.
The violator's biggest regret in life was believing Reincarnation Paradise's lies. Jumping from Apocalypse Paradise to Reincarnation Paradise was like willingly jumping from heaven to hell.
And now, the violator had a chance: using the World Core as a price to leave Reincarnation Paradise. She didn't want to spend another minute in this madhouse. She was used to bullying those miners from Apocalypse, but suddenly, everyone around her was a professional killer. She couldn't adapt. Although she had already killed a few, it severely hindered her progress in getting stronger.
In the previous few worlds, aside from using her special abilities to deal with hunters, she had no energy for anything else. Worse, the hunters sent to clean her up were getting stronger. This time, they had sent someone with formidable combat power and expertise in power struggles.
"Give me back my close friend!"
The King with the Ahoge shouted. Golden energy burst forth. Her clothes quickly changed into a blue battle skirt. The knight's sword, wreathed in golden light, was raised above her head. Her golden hair fluttered.
"Ex... calibur!"
Boom!
Golden energy exploded in the dining hall. Zuosi on the table was sent flying, slamming into the wall and coughing up a mouthful of blood.
The King with the Ahoge was very strong. Aside from Su Xiao and the old divine stick, she had the highest combat power. What was once her ultimate move was now used as a normal attack.
The upper half of the Right Imperial Castle shattered, sending stones flying. Amid the rubble, 'Pedeira' stretched her body, her gaze fixed on Su Xiao not far away.
Everyone landed in the manor's courtyard. Elite soldiers stationed there quickly surrounded them. At Wufu's command, they aimed their weapons at Princess Pedeira, ready to charge at any moment.
"I was hoping to spend a few pleasant days with you, but you had to hit me with the Sword of Oath. How mean. Is the ship of friendship capsizing just like that? Too bad I'm a woman, or I'd take the chance to take advantage of you. You're a otaku's dream, you know. Don't be so rough."
The violator patted the rubble off her clothes, looking at the King with the Ahoge with a smile.
"Villain."
"..."
Su Xiao shifted his gaze. He felt that title sounded familiar.
"Hey, you old yinbi over there. Yes, I'm talking to you, the one with the sword on your waist. Is your brain an octa-core? Why can't I outsmart you? You hunters from Reincarnation Paradise are all freaks. I really miss the Battle Angels back home. At least they could talk to me. Compared to you hunters, they were really good people. I shouldn't have killed them."
The violator crossed her arms, looking like she had no intention of fighting and was completely unafraid.
The reckless Zuosi was about to charge forward, but Su Xiao grabbed him by the back of his collar.
"That's not your real body. If your ability is strong enough, even if the body you're inhabiting is destroyed, your consciousness won't be eliminated at the same time. As for distance, it's at least a kilometer away."
Su Xiao also didn't make a move. He was probing.
"So?"
The violator looked as steady as an old dog, but her attention was always on Su Xiao's wrist. The World Core was there.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't say anything more. There was no need to waste words. Bubu Wang, coordinating with 8,000 frontline soldiers, had already found the violator's real body. This operation had been secretly underway for two days.
"Hey, you're trying to scheme against me again."
'Pedeira' covered one ear with her hand. The fearless expression on her face vanished. Her real body, several kilometers away, sensed something was wrong with the surroundings. It was too quiet.
"But still, I win."
'Pedeira' murmured, then suddenly collapsed.