262: Chapter 259 Who Desecrated the Junior's Grave?!

Back at the hotel, the group didn't go anywhere else and returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Palina changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed, pulling the sleeping Lia into her arms.

Zhang Mu lay on the bed next door. He kept his eyes closed for a long time but couldn't sleep; the figure he had glimpsed at the Second Prince's residence kept appearing in his mind.

At that moment, he had almost been unable to stop himself from rushing into the room and revealing his identity.

But in the end, he restrained the impulse in his heart.

Just as he had told Mr. Solon, moving in the shadows was the best choice compared to supporting his senior on the surface.

Zhang Mu's identity was the Lord of Gur City, a kingdom hero who had recently defeated a neighboring country's invasion, and to the outside world, he was also a Magister.

Combined, he couldn't be called insignificant no matter where he was placed.

If he truly took a clear stance and announced his support for Avril to everyone, it would have some effect.

But that was all.

A Magister was indeed rare, but as long as one's talent reached a certain standard, they could still be produced by piling up resources.

The talent standard was somewhat strict, but in the entire kingdom, it wasn't difficult to find.

Therefore, in the eyes of those in high positions, a Magister was ultimately just a "commodity" that could be mass-produced, with the only difference being whether the price was expensive or cheap.

Saint Rank.

No matter how many resources were invested, a Saint Rank could not be created; they relied entirely on individual talent. They were the existences everyone looked up to, the foundation of a kingdom.

Unable to fall asleep for a long time, Zhang Mu opened his eyes.

The darkness in the room didn't block his vision, and the crystal chandelier on the ceiling appeared clearly before his eyes.

"Lord City Lord, are you not asleep yet?"

The voice coming from the adjacent bed interrupted his thoughts.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's just... will you return to Gur in the future?"

"I will."

As the only territory he currently actually controlled, the construction of the Mountain Gate and Hogwarts had to be carried out there.

Once the project was completed, he would naturally go back to take possession.

"You won't stay for long, or settle down, right?" Palina's soft tone echoed in the darkness.

"Yeah, it'll be like a vacation; I'll visit occasionally and only stay for a little while."

"Will the Lord of Gur City be replaced?"

Once he helped his senior ascend to the throne, there would be no need to go there anymore.

The position of a city's Lord couldn't remain vacant forever; someone would definitely have to be reappointed.

Zhang Mu nodded unconsciously: "Yes."

"Then... you won't be the City Lord anymore?"

Turning his head toward her, Palina was lying on her side with her back to him; he could only see her long brown hair spread across the pillow.

"What's wrong?"

"I was thinking, since you won't be the City Lord anymore, should I, um, change how I address you?"

"If you think it's unnecessary, then I'll continue to call you Lord City Lord."

Her voice became faint at the end, filled with caution, and seemed to hold a bit of nervousness and expectation.

Zhang Mu felt it was a bit funny; it was just a name, was there a need to be so indirect?

"Do you care that much about what I'm called?"

"Well, it's okay.

It's just, always calling you Lord City Lord, Lord City Lord..."

"Feels distant?"

"A little."

"Just call me that for now. As for a name, we'll talk about it later."

"Okay."

The two fell silent. Palina's breathing gradually became steady and long, and Zhang Mu also drifted off to sleep.

The next morning.

Sunlight passed through the window and fell on Zhang Mu's cheek, feeling a bit itchy.

Instinctively scratching his face, he slowly opened his eyes.

Lia lay there with her eyes closed. Perhaps feeling hot, one of her fair little feet was sticking out from under the quilt, and her cat ears twitched occasionally.

There was a rustling sound to his right, and he looked over.

Palina was standing by the table, which had an open suitcase on it.

She was still wearing pajamas with a hem that dragged to her ankles, bending over with her back to Zhang Mu. The silk fabric clung tightly to her buttocks, and the rounded curve made it hard to look away.

"Ahem—what are you doing?" After a failed attempt to look away, Zhang Mu sat halfway up against the headboard, not in a hurry to get up.

"You're awake?" Palina looked back, her hands still rummaging through the suitcase. "Mr. Solon said yesterday that you're going out tonight, so I wanted to help you prepare a set of clothes."

"I don't need them."

"I know you can directly, change?

But the clothes underneath always need to be changed. After a long time, wearing them will feel sticky and uncomfortable."

"I can use magic to clear the dust..." Seeing her continue to rummage with her head down, Zhang Mu waved his hand, "Suit yourself."

Ten minutes later, he went into the bathroom and changed into the loose clothes Palina had picked. Then he knocked on the door next door to discuss the day after tomorrow's debriefing ceremony with Mr. Solon.

On that day, all City Lords had to go to the palace to listen to the King's speech.

After it ended, ministers would be responsible for their debriefing work.

The process was very long; based on previous years' experience, it would last at least a month.

Reporting on the city's situation didn't take long; the tedious part was that the royal family would send a special envoy to the local area for verification and then return with the inspection results.

To ensure that no collusion or bribery led to deception or false reporting, the special envoy would wear a shadow recording crystal to record the entire process of the mission.

With such a process, if the mount wasn't a gryphon, a month probably wouldn't be enough.

Zhang Mu didn't mind the time being too long; instead, he was happy he didn't have to spend effort thinking of an excuse to stay.

After learning about the meeting, Mr. Solon mentioned something he found strange.

First, this year's debriefing was half a month later than usual. If it were last year, the City Lords from various places would already be on their way home by now.

And then.

According to his estimate, not many City Lords would come this year.

The kingdom was about to collapse. As for how to choose in the future, the City Lords were roughly divided into three categories.

One category planned to establish their own independent regimes, while another category served the two powerful Grand Dukes, hoping to save their lives in the upcoming chaotic war.

Finally, there were the City Lords loyal to the royal family, who were also the smallest group.

Theoretically, the first two categories wouldn't come to the Royal Capital.

If the King disregarded his own health and went all out to use the Magic Tower, they would all have to die on the spot outside the Royal Capital.

The strange thing was that all three categories had come for this debriefing.

Otherwise, the hotel wouldn't be fully occupied.

After listening, Zhang Mu explained cheerfully—the half-month delay was pushed for by the three throne candidates together.

The time to announce the new King would be in ten days.

If they followed last year's process, the City Lords would have gone home by then and wouldn't be able to provide assistance in the struggle.

To make the City Lords stay and help them fight for the throne, the debriefing time had to be postponed.

Among the City Lord group, the three candidates each had their own supporters. This matter was in their common interest, so it was naturally settled easily without any obstacles.

Mr. Solon nodded in realization: "So it was jointly brought about by the two princes and the princess?"

"Yeah." Zhang Mu sat on the edge of the bed and crossed his legs. "As for why all the City Lords came... it probably has something to do with the two Grand Dukes of the kingdom."

"What's their reason for doing this?"

"I'm not clear for now. I'll try to ask the Second Prince later."

After the important matters were discussed, Zhang Mu left a sentence, "Mihe will go out with me tonight," and got up to return to his room. While rubbing the Cat Girl's head, he quietly waited for nightfall.

Time passed quietly. When the sky turned dark, Zhang Mu and Mihe walked out of the hotel and rushed toward the north gate of the Royal Capital.

...

"Mr. Haige, good evening."

In front of the church's main gate, the lamp posts on the left and right glowed with warm light. A Believer bowed slightly to Haige and greeted him.

"Mm."

Returning the greeting with a smile, Haige, standing in the light, stepped onto the stairs shrouded in darkness.

When his face was covered by the pitch black, his smile was immediately replaced by gloom.

He had worked hard to be transferred from Bala City to the Royal Capital, originally thinking he could receive his teacher's care, but as a result... he didn't even have a position.

His right hand holding the staff tightened unconsciously, and he cursed inwardly, "Damn it!"

"Listen to what they call me?

Mr. Haige!

How respectful and pleasant to the ear!"

Indignation was like poison, spreading through his veins to his entire body.

At this moment, he missed the good times in Bala City immensely.

At least there, he was a Bishop and could enjoy flattery and power.

In the Royal Capital, the Believers and followers were respectful enough, but no one gave him even a single gold coin.

Because he was the Bishop's assistant, a title that sounded exceptionally resounding, but his actual power was even less than that of the Believers guarding the gate.

Strictly speaking, he wasn't even a Believer with a position in the church now, but a follower who believed in the god and hadn't formally joined the church.

Damn it!

Cursing again, he quickened his pace through the quiet streets and walked toward the north city gate.

If it hadn't been for not having a single gold coin in half a year, he might not have agreed to a stranger who mysteriously came to his door saying he had treasure.

It wasn't that he doubted the authenticity, but the danger of a treasure that even a Magister had to seek help for went without saying.

"If the harvest is rich enough, I must find a way to transfer back to the Holy Mountain of the General Church."

Although the possibility was slim, he still intended to take the risk.

Otherwise, he would be trapped forever in the branch headquarters of the Royal Capital.

The night grew thicker. Haige exited the city gate and walked several hundred meters along the main road before spreading his Mental Energy to find someone.

"Over here." Just as it surged from his mind, the City Lord walked out from the woods on the right.

His Mental Energy circled the man's body and then withdrew. Haige thought to himself that he was indeed a Magister; he couldn't perceive any magic fluctuations.

Even though the City Lord's level was one rank higher than his, and he wasn't in the church and didn't have the direct blessing of the statue of god, Haige still didn't show the slightest humility.

As if he were the Magister, his tone carried a hint of command in its composure: "Let's go."

The two walked on the firm dirt road, which was covered with a layer of silvery-white moonlight.

"Mr. City Lord, how should I address you?"

"You can call me Eji for now."

Haige turned his head to look at his profile: "For now?"

"Yeah, I changed my name in the past due to some matters."

Subconsciously attributing "in the past" to the City Lord's youth a hundred years ago, he asked: "Mr. Eji, you said you came to find me through a friend's introduction.

I wonder what your friend's name is?"

"Dante, the head of the Marvin Magic Family in Bala City."

"Oh, I remember him. Regrettably, he accidentally lost his life in a conflict a few months ago."

"Yeah." The City Lord's face was filled with sorrow. "After he told me about the treasure site and your information, we lost contact. No matter how I called him with the crystal, there was no response.

I only found out he had passed away after I sent someone to Bala City."

"Yes, and what makes me sad is that I left Bala City just a few days ago and didn't see him for the last time."

The City Lord said: "With you in Bala City, those heretics would definitely not dare to cause trouble in the city."

Haige enjoyed this flattery very much and smiled with satisfaction.

"Speaking of heretics." The City Lord's eyes held a hint of inquiry. "The news my people brought back said the heretic died in the chaos. Is that so?"

"Of course, no one can live well after violating the church's rules."

The corner of the City Lord's mouth curled up in a subtle arc.

In Haige's eyes, this was the joy over the death of an "enemy."

They chatted as they walked and soon plunged into a patch of sparse trees.

It was late at night, and the woods were pitch black, but both were High-tier Professionals. Their vision was not obstructed at all, and they steadily avoided the trees blocking the way as they moved forward.

"Bishop Haige." Suddenly, the City Lord spoke, "Do you remember what the heretic from Bala City was called?"

What a sensible fellow.

Hearing the suffix he added to his name, Haige felt even more comfortable, as if he had regained his former glory of holding great power.

"Zhang Mu, a fool with a bit of luck."

"Oh, from your tone, Lord Bishop, he offended you?"

"Hmph." Haige seemed to recall some embarrassing experiences, and his face was covered with a layer of gloom. "He thought he was a messenger of justice, standing up for a group of lowly commoners like an idiot."

"Obviously, he failed."

"Naturally.

In the end, he lost his life in Bala City, and those commoners were also fed to the wolves by me."

"I see... Actually, he might not have failed yet."

Haige was stunned and looked at the City Lord beside him: "What did you sa—"

An Ice Cone pierced through his automatically activated Magic Shield and stabbed into his chest, also cutting off his voice.

The stinging pain awakened his dazed consciousness, and he screamed as he retreated: "Who are you?!"

"Me?" The City Lord's figure was like the surface of water hit by a stone, rippling with waves. "I just told you, Lord Bishop, I'm called Eji for now.

As for before, Lord Bishop is no stranger to it either."

The moment his voice fell, the City Lord's figure shattered like glass, exploding into fragments that scattered everywhere, revealing the man underneath wearing linen long sleeves and pants.

He smiled and said: "Before, I was called Zhang Mu."

Horror climbed onto Haige's face, and a broken scream echoed through the woods: "It's you?!"

How is it possible?!

How could he have escaped alive after using force in the city!

Haige wasn't well-acquainted with the Bishop transferred to Bala City, but he knew of him.

His strength was indeed average, but he was also at the level of a high-tier knight.

Not to mention the blessing of the statue of god in the city, even if they met outside the city, Zhang Mu, who was still an Apprentice Magician at the time, could not possibly have won.

But this person in front of him couldn't be faked, and...

Haige panted, his gaze falling on his left chest.

The Ice Cone had already melted, and the fabric on his chest was soaked, mixed with the blood flowing from the wound, making it exceptionally sticky.

An Apprentice Level magic Ice Cone actually pierced my Magic Shield... a Magister?

Did he meet a god? Promoted from an Apprentice Magician to a Magister in half a year? What nonsense!

While waves surged in his heart, Haige forced himself to calm down.

Now was not the time to care about why he survived; he had to notify his teacher...

Holding his breath, he waved his staff to condense a Holy Light Orb.

Of course, he didn't expect such low-level magic to kill Zhang Mu.

A milky-white ball of light appeared in front of him. Haige threw it out, and while the light was blinding, he reached for the sleeve of his robe.

"Puff—"

He had just touched the crystal and instinctively breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly felt a sharper pain in his mind than before.

Looking down, a circular hole had been pierced through his right chest. His heart was nowhere to be found, and he could see the grass behind him through the hole in his chest.

Before he could leave a single last word, his still-warm body fell backward to the ground.

"Bang—"

Zhang Mu lightly waved his wand, and the Holy Light Orb was swatted aside, exploding on the ground.

Mihe, who had successfully ambushed him, came to his side from the shadows: "You blew up someone's grave."

"Huh?" Looking to the right, soil was scattered everywhere, along with several smooth and flat fragments of a tombstone.

Embarrassed, he scratched his head: "Sorry, sorry. I'll find time to come back and fix it for you."

After saying that, he put Haige's corpse into "The World" and then pressed Mihe's shoulder.

Mihe shook his head and activated the Swift Travel Technique; the figures of the two disappeared from the spot.

Half an hour later.

A furious voice, cold enough to freeze the air, startled the birds in the woods.

"Who destroyed Junior's grave!"