Chapter 142: Chapter 122: Blood-Red Banquet_1

Meanwhile, within the royal palace, a banquet is underway.

Under the melody, men and women with heavy makeup and splendid attire all dance gracefully. However, in spite of their actions suggesting that they are enjoying the banquet, their tense eyes and nervous faces show that they are not as comfortable as they seem.

At this moment, their gazes are fixed on the three figures on the stage.

“Elder Brother has recaptured Modheim, indeed a great achievement.”

Admiring the robust young man before him, the Second Prince lifts his wine cup with a smile.

“As it seems now, you being the Imperial Emperor is a well-deserved title.”

“Hmm, naturally.”

The Crown Prince is sitting on his chair, swirling the wine in his cup, his eyes fixated on his younger brother. He has never liked this thin, monkey-like brother of his. Seeing him trying to flatter now, the Crown Prince still doesn’t look pleased.

“Heh, hehe, everyone knows Big Brother is the strongest.”

The Third Prince, on the other hand, is as usual engrossed in enjoying the delicacies and fine wine. His round body, like a ball of skin, is tightly wrapped in the finest silk from Zhen Dan, making him look like a round human ball with short arms and legs.

Two useless beings.

The Crown Prince conceals his disdain deep in his heart and looks at the two once more.

“So, since you both have admitted, according to the agreement, isn’t it time for you to hand over the holy artifacts that you possess?”

“That is natural.”

The Second Prince pulls out a scepter as long as a forearm, studded with white diamonds, and places it on the table. The Third Prince, with some difficulty, stretches out his hand and removes a necklace with a disk from his almost unnoticeable neck.

These are the other two holy artifacts, the Scepter of the Wind God and the Wrath of the Earth God.

Seeing this, The Crown Prince raises his eyebrow, about to reach out and grab them when suddenly the Second Prince grabs the scepter.

“Wait, Elder Brother, have you forgotten something?”

“What?”

“According to the imperial decree, only the one who collects all four holy artifacts is eligible to become the Emperor. I believe the Hammer of Fire God is in your hands… So, where is the Gift of the Water God?”

“….”

Upon hearing the Second Prince’s inquiry, the Crown Prince’s face darkens.

“This is none of your concern. In fact, I think it’s meaningless. Without an heir, it doesn’t matter whether the Gift of the Water God exists or not. Besides, I think that the method of choosing the emperor this way is not praiseworthy. Hence, I plan on reforming the imperial succession system.”

“The system indeed breaks hearts, brothers are forced to stand against each other to become the emperor, it’s really heart-wrenching… But, rules are rules, so I want to see the Gift of the Water God…”

At this, the Second Prince narrows his eyes, a faint smile gracing his lips as he stares at the Crown Prince.

“Could it be that after the grandiose expedition to the City of Silver, Elder Brother didn’t find the Gift of the Water God?”

“…Hmmph!!”

Hearing his brother’s veiled accusation, the Crown Prince snorts. As the Second Prince has said, the Crown Prince’s main reason for leading the army to recapture the City of Silver was to find the Gift of the Water God. According to a clue he obtained through a royal channel, the Gift of the Water God should have been placed in the Temple of the City of Silver. However, when the Crown Prince led his troops to defeat the Plague Followers and the Ratman Army occupying the city, and came to the temple, he found that the Gift of the Water God seemed to have been taken!

Who could it be?

“I must admit, I have my suspicions about this too.”

With a glance at the Third Prince, still engrossed in his feast, the Crown Prince staunchly stares at the Second Prince.

“When I arrived at the Temple in the City of Silver, the holy artifact that should have been there was nowhere to be seen. Both of us know very well that the barrier that guards the holy artifacts cannot be broken unless by someone of direct royal blood.”

“Oh my?”

The Second Prince feigns surprise.

“Going by Elder Brother’s inference, could it be that you think I took it?”

“This is Aldorf.”

The Crown Prince stares at his brother, his tone detached.

“Since you’re both here, I think, you should give me an explanation. No matter who it is, as long as they hand over the Gift of Water God, I will let this matter rest for good. As long as you remain loyal to me, I guarantee that your power and status will not be threatened.”

“But with a single thought from Elder Brother, we’d lose our heads, wouldn’t we?”

The Second Prince smiles faintly.

“Elder Brother, do you think I would just sit idle?”

“You have no choice.”

Staring at the Second Prince, the Great Crown Prince spoke coldly.

“Hehehe.”

Faced with the words of the Great Crown Prince, the Second Prince suddenly burst out laughing.

“Since the beginning, elder brother, you’ve always thought that you do everything the best, so you never care about the opinions of others. Surely you can’t really believe that all of this is a matter of course…no, I think brother also understands that the Emperor has always looked down on you. Otherwise, why would you conspire with the Northern Barbarians to assassinate the Emperor?”

“You——!!”

Hearing this, the Great Crown Prince’s face changed drastically as he slammed the table and rose abruptly. At the roar from the Great Crown Prince, the nobles, who had been trembling in fear, instantly went silent, standing still, not daring to move. Even the music that was playing seemed to have stopped at some point.

However, the Second Prince continued to sit leisurely in his chair, swirling his wine glass and looking at the Great Crown Prince with interest.

“Is it strange? Elder brother, why do you think I know all of this? To tell you the truth, I was shocked when I first learned about this plan. I didn’t expect that elder brother, who has always been so tough, would actually resort to such a shameful assassination scheme.”

“You……”

“You’re wondering how I knew about it? The reason is simple…….”

The Great Crown Prince did not hear the rest of what the Second Prince was saying, as at that moment, a sharp blade suddenly emerged from behind him, aimed at his heart. Years of battlefield experience allowed the Great Crown Prince to instinctively react at the moment the blade was about to strike. He leaned over, and the blade plunged into his back, piercing through his lungs.

“Pugh—-!!”

The Great Crown Prince suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, turning his gaze toward his own trusted aide behind him. At this moment, he was stabbing the dagger into his own body with a ferocious smile.

“You……”

However, before the Great Crown Prince could say anything more, the latter suddenly twisted the blade, accompanied by a surge of intense pain the Great Crown Prince screamed, falling to the ground.

Screams erupted.

The guests present were already shaking with fear, but the Second Prince stood up without concern, walking up to the Great Crown Prince and looking down at him.

“Elder brother, you never expected it, did you? In fact, in comparison to you, an unenlightened idiot, I am the most loyal follower of the God of Changes. You actually thought that you could use the power of the God of Chaos without paying a price? The fact has proven, your stupidity really leaves me speechless.”

“So, you sent him by my side… and… persuaded me to worship the Evil God?”

Glaring at his younger brother, the Great Crown Prince gritted his teeth while the latter appeared relaxed.

“Elder brother’s words are quite unpleasant, what do you mean persuade? I didn’t coerce you into doing anything. You sought the help of the God of Changes yourself, didn’t you? I just utilized elder brother’s plan conveniently… and now, everything is over, elder brother.”

While speaking, the Second Prince bent down and stared at the Great Crown Prince.

“This palace, this country, everything here is mine now…and you, after all, are just a clown dancing in the palm of my hand. Oh, and the Dimension Stone you painstakingly obtained, and the ceremony- don’t worry, I’ll finish the ceremony in your stead and offer the God of Changes the sacrificial gift he desires…”

“Hehehe, hehehe…”

However, before the Second Prince finished his words, he was interrupted by a moronic laughter. Irritated, he stood up and looked at the Third Prince who was still stuffing a chicken leg into his mouth at the table.

“My foolish brother, don’t you understand what’s happening? Or have you become so stupid that you can’t see it all?”

“I, I know, hehehe…”

The Third Prince, his face full of fat, nodded hard.

“But, I don’t like it, hehehe… we… are all brothers, why then… fight each other? We should all lovingly get along, isn’t that great?”

“It seems you really don’t understand.”

Looking at the Third Prince who seemed like a simpleton, the Second Prince snorted coldly.

“But it doesn’t matter, just listen to me obediently, got it? Dumbass?”

“This, this isn’t good, it isn’t good.”

The Third Prince vigorously shook his head.

“Together, it’s good when we’re together, together! Yes, together!!”

“Bang!!”

As the Third Prince continued speaking, suddenly, the huge turkey in front of him exploded. Immediately, countless cockroach-like insects crawled out and scattered in all directions. Meanwhile, the nobles who had eaten the banquet food let out shrieks of terror. They agonizingly tore at their own skin as their well-maintained skin began to swell and decay. Countless tiny flies crawled out their mouths and ears. With each cry, they spread dark green, plague-laden poisonous fog, rapidly filling the entire hall.

Meanwhile, the Third Prince raised his hand high, and with his movement, his clothes and skin began to fall off, revealing his body riddled with pus-filled sores and foul smell.

“Praise the Merciful Father——!!”