266: Chapter 263 Each with their own thoughts

Returned to the hotel.

Zhang Mu, in front of the many City Lords, said to Palina through the half-open door: "I have matters to discuss with Soren; I won't be returning to the room to sleep tonight."

Entering the next room, Soren asked curiously: "Lord City Lord, just now you..."

Clearly he was very confused. Zhang Mu didn't explain, just sat by the bed: "It will be very lively in the middle of the night; you guys will have to work hard."

The three of them didn't understand, but every time he put on such an air, it meant he wouldn't explain further, so they quieted down.

After a while, perhaps feeling awkward due to the excessive silence, Domit asked Soren about what he saw and heard at the Royal Palace this morning.

Mihe didn't find it boring, but since they started chatting, he might as well chime in with a few words.

Zhang Mu didn't join them; he fell back onto the bed, closed his eyes, and thought about the King he had seen earlier.

Transformation Technique, it was definitely the Transformation Technique.

When the King first walked out, he felt normal, but as soon as he spoke, he immediately discovered that the other's figure actually blurred for a split second.

Zhang Mu looked up and scanned around; the City Lords all had calm and composed expressions.

At first, he thought this was the King's doing, or a passive effect inherent to a Saint-level.

Glancing at Soren, who also had a calm expression, he then realized the problem lay with himself.

Checking his body once, he almost instantly locked onto the cause—the Transformation Technique.

It was certain that after staying on the Saul Continent for nearly a year, Zhang Mu had never obtained magic like illusion-piercing, nor did he have any similar eye techniques.

And the only magic active at that time was the Transformation Technique.

An illusion that could deceive many Magisters and Magisters, and whose manifestation was also wrapping oneself in a layer of illusion—Zhang Mu couldn't think of anything else besides the Transformation Technique.

Was the "King's" Transformation Technique the same as his?

From the Royal Palace back to the hotel, Zhang Mu pondered all the way, finally concluding that they should be different.

The reason was simple.

His Game panel could indeed break through the theoretical upper limit of magic; however, upgrading also required practice and couldn't increase levels out of thin air.

So after obtaining and learning the Transformation Technique outside Kas Town, it was also Level 0.

He had used the Level 0 Transformation Technique many times.

The Church in Bala City and the two Magic Family heads in the city were all high-level Professionals, the former even being a Magister, yet they still couldn't see through his illusion.

Assuming the "King's" Transformation Technique was also Level 0, it likewise managed to deceive the City Lords whose strength was at the level of Magister and Magister, yet it was noticed as abnormal by Zhang Mu, who was also a Magister Professional.

Without a doubt, it had nothing to do with Professional level, but rather Zhang Mu's Transformation Technique had cracked the other's Transformation Technique.

He thought to himself that while the levels were the same, the effect was completely crushed by his own.

Could there be different grades of the Transformation Technique?

Or...

Opening his eyes and sitting up, the three were drawn by his sudden movement and looked over together.

Zhang Mu didn't mind and asked Mihe: "Have you heard of any... powerful illusion magic?"

"Creating illusions?"

"Yeah."

After frowning and thinking for a while, he said: "The most powerful one I've seen is the kind you use."

"Exclude me."

"Exclude you..." He pondered for a long time under their gazes, "A certain Bishop of the Church once used a potion with an effect similar to yours, also wrapping a layer of illusion around the body."

"What was the effect?" Zhang Mu's eyes lit up.

"Very strong; at least I couldn't find any flaws."

"You saw it with your own eyes?"

"Yes."

"Were you a Magister then?"

"I've been a Magister for many years."

Zhang Mu narrowed his eyes, seemingly pondering something.

Domit and the other were a bit bewildered, not understanding why he was suddenly asking about this.

On the side, Soren had already caught on: "Lord City Lord, are you saying today's King..."

"Yeah, he probably used the potion Mihe mentioned."

Mihe immediately stood up from the edge of the bed: "The King you saw was someone else impersonating him using a Church potion?!"

"I am a Magister, but the other City Lords are at least Magisters, and yet only I could see through it. It's quite obvious."

"Then doesn't that mean..."

Domit also jumped up: "The Church is interfering in Royal Family affairs?"

"Is that the focus?" Zhang Mu looked at him in confusion, "Shouldn't it be that we're about to become enemies with the Church?"

"Lord City Lord, on the way to the Royal Capital, you already said the Church is the enemy."

"Oh, right."

Having long grown accustomed to their Lord City Lord's occasional eccentricities, Soren explained calmly: "The Church has strict regulations; internal members of the Church must not interfere in the internal affairs of various Royal Families."

"Internal members means Believers, so Believers are fine?"

"Those who believe in the God are Believers; the Church has no power to restrain any of their behaviors."

"That's novel." Zhang Mu pressed his hand down, signaling Domit and Mihe to sit: "Don't be so shocked. They made the rules; changing them is just a matter of a single sentence."

Feeling there was some truth to this, the two sat back on the edge of the bed in silence. Mihe asked: "Since the Church has intervened, they must have chosen a successor to support. Who would it be?"

"Need you even ask? It's Andre, of course. Otherwise, could he be so arrogant?"

Seeing the questioning looks in their eyes, Soren explained what happened at the Royal Palace gate, then said: "Andre has gained the support of the Church, so the ownership of the throne... basically won't have any surprises."

"Take it easy." Zhang Mu changed to a comfortable position on the bed, "The Church cannot openly voice support, and using force directly is even more ridiculous."

"They themselves must follow the regulation strictly forbidding the use of force within the city."

Before the three could ask why the Church was getting involved then, he promptly gave the answer: "I suspect the deal between Andre and the Church involves something after he ascends the throne."

"What is it?" Domit asked quickly.

"If I knew, would I still be lying on the bed?"

Feeling his question was indeed a bit foolish, he scratched his head to ease the awkwardness.

"Alright." Soren wanted to ask more, but Zhang Mu raised his hand to stop him, "Without any intelligence, discussing further is a waste of effort. I'll wait for a chance to ask around at the Second Prince's place."

Hearing this, the three said no more and huddled together, chatting about the scenery in the Royal Palace.

Soren's memory was quite good; seeing the two were curious, he vividly recounted what he had seen and heard.

Time passed quietly, night fell, and only scattered lamplight came through the window.

A few more hours passed; it was pitch black outside, and this bustling city had fallen into a deep slumber.

Soren was an ordinary person and was already drowsy by now, but he still remembered that the Lord City Lord had important matters tonight, so he forced his eyelids to stay open.

"You're so sleepy, go to sleep first." Zhang Mu spoke again, despite having been rejected several times and knowing it was useless.

"I can hold on a bit longer."

The result was as expected. Seeing he really wanted to wait, Zhang Mu let him be.

"Knock knock—"

A moderate knocking sound came from the door. Curiously, only Zhang Mu, Domit, and Mihe heard it, and they all looked toward the door at the same time.

Soren, who was on the side and although exhausted was still awake, didn't notice a thing.

Zhang Mu tilted his chin toward the door. Mihe understood and used magic to transmit his voice to the person outside: "Please come in."

Interesting, quite a refined person.

While thinking, a Middle-aged Man pushed the door and entered.

"Please forgive my sudden visit, especially so late at night."

"Not at all, I've been waiting for you for a long time." Zhang Mu stood up with a smile.

He was stunned for a moment, then also smiled: "Mr. Eji is indeed not as he deliberately presents himself."

"Let's skip the pleasantries." Zhang Mu put his hands behind his back, "How should I address you?"

"Just call me Dunn."

"Mr. Dunn, which Highness do you represent?"

"Let me clarify one point first: this is not at the behest of a Highness. I came to find you on my own initiative after witnessing Mr. Eji's bravery today."

After speaking, he paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and said: "I hope Mr. Eji is willing to assist His Highness the Second Prince."

Studying his serious face, Zhang Mu showed a half-smile: "Aren't you worried that Andre and I are just putting on a show for you?"

"Heh." His smile was very helpless, "If it's truly as Mr. Eji says, that would be for the best."

Soren asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"

"It starts from when I received the order from the Royal Family."

City Lord Dunn received the order to go to the Royal Capital to report on his work a month ago.

At that time, he respectfully saw off the messenger riding a Griffin and then casually tossed the envelope aside.

Everyone knew the current situation of the kingdom; why go to the Royal Capital? To seek death?

He had no intention of going to the Royal Capital at all.

One day, after half a month had passed normally, he finished his administrative duties and returned home.

Passing through the front hall, he glimpsed the envelope lying on the wooden table, already covered in a thin layer of dust.

As if possessed, he went over, picked up the envelope, opened it, and took a casual glance.

This glance almost scared the soul out of him.

The first half was the same as in previous years: the City Lord needed to arrive at the Royal Capital by a certain time.

What terrified him was the last sentence—the Church would cancel the religious rule strictly forbidding the use of force in human settlements.

Dunn's original plan was to declare independence once the kingdom fell into chaos.

After waiting for the various parties to compete for a while and the situation became slightly clearer, he would then surrender to the faction with the highest chance of winning.

Who would have thought the Church would suddenly pull this move? Who could withstand that?

The reliance for his daring to be independent was that troops could not be used to attack cities on the Saul Continent.

As long as he stockpiled enough food and drinking water and then shut the city gates, he could nestle under the covers and play games with his wife until the turmoil ended.

But now he was told the Church was no longer in charge and they should settle it themselves.

Isn't this a joke?

Setting aside the truth of the King's serious illness, even if it were confirmed news, with the Royal Family losing its public King, there were surely hidden Saint-level Professionals in the shadows.

On what basis could he, Dunn, resist?

Although he was the lord of a city and a City Lord with real power who held a legion in his hands, he still couldn't stop a Saint-level.

Therefore, after thinking hard for a night, he set off the next morning and rushed to the Royal Capital at full speed.

Don't misunderstand; his night of hard thinking wasn't about whether to go to the Royal Capital, but how to explain why he had dawdled for half a month before starting his journey.

Hearing this, Zhang Mu also understood why the City Lords had all strangely come to the Royal Capital—they would die if they didn't.

Dunn took a short breath and spoke about why he followed the Second Prince.

Except for Zhang Mu, the fake City Lord who was here for the first time, the other City Lords had been to the Royal Capital more than once.

Regarding the Royal Family's First Prince, His Highness Andre, they were naturally not strangers; instead, because they wanted to gain some connections, they had contacted him many times.

Andre left a deep impression on the City Lords—seemingly easygoing, but in reality, extremely arrogant.

He would say, "Don't be formal; coming to my place is just like returning to your own home."

But if you really believed it and acted carelessly or even laxly, you really wouldn't know how you died.

Andre did not allow anyone to be rude to him, even if it was unintentional.

So after witnessing the conflict that broke out at the palace gate this morning, Dunn wouldn't doubt the two were acting based on Zhang Mu's "None of your business."

Zhang Mu nodded in realization and asked again: "What if Andre is willing to?"

Shaking his head with a smile, Dunn indicated that Andre was not only violent but also extremely confident.

He believed his own strength was enough to deal with the City Lords in the Royal Capital, including the other two Highnesses, so he would never sell out his dignity to coax others.

"Being scolded counts as selling out his dignity?"

"For Andre, yes."

Feeling somewhat speechless, Zhang Mu shook his head and asked Dunn why he didn't follow Andre, since he was clearly winning.

Dunn gave a few bitter smiles and slowly explained.

The City Lords currently supporting Andre were those who had joined his side a long time ago or on the day they arrived at the Royal Capital.

As for the rest of the City Lords, they were either still at the hotel thinking about whom to choose or sending people everywhere to scout the strengths and weaknesses of the three successors.

On the second day, they found that Andre was invincible and the other two Highnesses had almost no chance to fight back, so they quickly prepared gifts to go and pay their respects.

But by then, Andre would no longer see them.

So the few City Lords, including Dunn, who chose the Second Prince or the Third Highness, did so completely out of necessity.

If they didn't choose and allowed Andre to become King, everyone's end would still be death.

Since it was death either way, it was better to take a gamble.

Since they were going to gamble, they naturally had to go all out and unite all the forces that could be united.

Zhang Mu, this guy who confronted Andre to his face and had a clear stance, became an inevitable ally to win over.

Zhang Mu actually didn't know why there were City Lords willing to assist the two Highnesses who seemed certain to lose.

The only thing he noticed was that the City Lords had their difficulties.

Now that he had cleared it up, while resolving his doubts, Zhang Mu also had a plan.

"Do you think your hope of victory is high?"

Dazed for a few seconds, Dunn sighed: "We can't just wait to die."

"I have an idea."

"Oh?"

Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Mu closed his mouth again: "I expect there will be City Lords from the Third Highness's side coming. Let's talk tomorrow when everyone is here. By the way, I also need to screen them to see if there are any of Andre's people."

"Then I'll have to trouble Mr. Eji."

Expressing his apologies, he pushed the door and left.

"Lord City Lord, the Church..." Soren hesitated.

Zhang Mu knew what Soren meant; he was worried that if the secret of the Church standing behind Andre was exposed, the City Lords wouldn't just be depressed, they would be in direct despair.

Regarding this, Zhang Mu had his own plans. He comforted him that he had a way, and then said no more.

Subsequent developments did not deviate from his expectations.

For a full two hours, the figures of City Lords appeared in the room, left, and the cycle repeated.

Most ridiculous was that they seemed to have agreed on it; they didn't come together but entered one by one.

Summoning his energy to deal with everyone, Zhang Mu stretched and returned to his own room while instructing Soren: "You remember all the City Lords who just came, right? Find an excuse to approach them tomorrow morning and notify them to gather at my place tonight."

"As you command, Lord City Lord."