277: Chapter 272 Who is the Winner?

Hotel suite.

On the wooden table in the center of the living room sat a cardboard box, inside which hundreds of Mobile Phones were neatly stacked.

Soren and the other two gathered around the table, each holding a phone and examining it.

After a long while, Domit held up the phone and looked at Zhang Mu, who was leaning against the wall with his head down, deep in thought. "Lord Marshal, what is this?"

“A Mobile Phone.”

Soren put the thin metal block he couldn't figure out back into the box. "I've flipped through the Church's Record of Divine Gifts; there is no such thing as a 'Mobile Phone' in those books."

“I obtained them by chance in the labyrinth.”

Not wanting to waste any more time, Zhang Mu stood up straight and walked toward the three of them. "Soren, go and deliver one to each of the City Lords in a moment."

“Yes.” He complied, then asked in confusion, “City Lord, what is its use?”

Domit and Mihe both cast curious glances at the same time.

Seeing this, Zhang Mu thought that instead of wasting breath explaining, it would be faster to demonstrate directly.

Taking the phone from Domit's hand, he pressed the button to light up the screen, swiped and tapped his finger on it twice, and then turned the screen toward the three of them.

“This is... Grand Duke Blova?” Soren looked at the two people on the phone screen in surprise.

Mihe also squinted to gaze at it. "The one next to him... without a doubt, is Grand Duchess Pestoya?"

“Yes.”

They fell silent, focused on watching the video.

The video was only a few minutes long, consisting entirely of key content after Zhang Mu had edited out irrelevant dialogue.

He had also spent a considerable amount of time copying the video onto every single phone.

After watching, Domit was invigorated. "With this ph... phone, the City Lords from all over will never doubt that the truth has been fabricated!"

Mihe, however, was more interested in the device itself.

Leaning his head forward until the tip of his nose was almost touching the screen, he stopped. "There are no fluctuations of mana being emitted; it's not a magic item. How does it... how does it record moving images?"

“I'll explain it to you when I have time later,” Zhang Mu said as he channeled mana to light up all the phones in the box at once and pull up the video. "Deliver them to the City Lords and tell them they just need to tap this play button."

He pointed to the translucent triangle in the center of the phone screen. Soren nodded to show he understood and then asked:

“Giving them to the City Lords... won't there be a problem?”

After all, the hundreds of City Lords staying in the hotel were not of one mind; more than half of them were Andre's people.

If even one person leaked this to Andre, it would cause them no small amount of trouble.

For instance, Andre could lead the Guards to forcibly arrest everyone on charges of slandering the reputation of the Royal Family and the two Grand Dukes.

If they didn't resist, once they were in the dungeon, they would be meat on the chopping block.

If they did resist, Jarvis wouldn't even have to wait until the end of the month for his duel with Zhang Mu; he could just use magic to blast them into dust on the spot in the name of 'violating the Church's prohibition.'

Zhang Mu smiled slightly. “Just take them.”

Seeing his City Lord's confident smile, Soren said no more and picked up the box to distribute the phones.

As soon as he left, Zhang Mu immediately instructed Mihe, “Go keep an eye on the hotel's main gate and see how many people leave.”

Mihe nodded but stood still; a second later, his figure slowly dissipated.

“Tsk, the Swift Travel Technique is really useful.”

Domit scratched his head. “Lord Marshal, if you wish to learn it, Mr. Mi He would not refuse.”

“Wasn't I delayed? I'll wait until I'm free.”

Shortly after departing from Gur, Zhang Mu had planned to have Mihe dictate the Swift Travel Technique to him after listening to the intelligence Soren provided.

As it turned out, they first encountered Palina, who had dug a hole to bury herself under the road, waiting for an opportunity to hijack the carriage.

Just as they had her settled, they were immediately blocked by Blova.

After that, all the way to the Royal Capital, he had stayed in the same carriage with him the entire time.

In the end, during the entire month-and-a-half journey, Zhang Mu simply couldn't find the time to learn the Swift Travel Technique.

The two remaining in the room didn't engage in small talk, sitting by the table and waiting quietly.

Half an hour passed before Soren returned with the empty box, stating that he had delivered all the messages.

Another half hour later, Mihe appeared in the living room holding his staff and reported what he had observed.

Ten minutes after Soren finished distributing the phones, a total of five City Lords left the hotel one after another.

According to regulations, City Lords were forbidden from going out during the Debriefing Meeting period, but Andre had given an order—his people could ignore it, so the Guards let them pass.

After hearing this, Soren said, “City Lord, His Highness Andre will arrive in two hours at most. What is the response you have prepared?”

Zhang Mu answered with a question instead: “How long does it take to get from the hotel to Andre's palace?”

“One hour.”

If they flew, it would take ten minutes at most, but flying was banned in the Royal Capital, so they could only walk like ordinary people.

“Fine, I understand.” Zhang Mu stood up and went into the bedroom. “Wait for all the City Lords to come for the meeting tonight.”

The three looked at each other, unable to figure out what riddle he was playing at, but since they couldn't get an answer, they could only follow behind him.

...

The Royal Palace, Andre's palace.

Mora walked slowly forward in the corridor, one step behind Avril.

Looking straight ahead while catching glimpses of the Princess's elegant back out of the corner of her eye, she muttered to herself—they had actually gone shopping for an entire day.

They had left the palace yesterday morning, and it wasn't until late at night when the streets were empty that they had finished visiting most areas of the Royal Capital.

Mora thought the Princess should probably head back.

Who would have thought that even when the shops on the streets were all closed and the lights were out, Avril acted as if she were getting to know this city where she had stayed for over twenty years for the first time, still enthusiastically weaving through the streets and alleys.

Until dawn.

The Royal Capital was too large; Avril ultimately didn't walk through every corner of it.

When sparse pedestrians appeared on the streets at dawn, her shoulders slumped in disappointment, and she turned back toward the Royal Palace.

Upon returning to the palace, Mora was surprised to find that Avril wasn't going back to her own quarters but had come to Andre's palace instead.

It seemed they had made an appointment long ago; the Guards didn't go through the process of stopping them, reporting, and then letting them pass. He stood like a statue, motionless as he let the two enter.

When they pushed open the door to Andre's study and saw Andre sitting behind the desk and the Second Prince sitting to the side, Mora's previous suspicion was confirmed.

They had indeed made an appointment.

“How was the morning in the Royal Capital?” Andre put down the quill he was writing with and looked at the two who had crossed the threshold.

“If you want to know, go see for yourself.” Avril sat down next to Piaou. “Everyone is here. You called us; what do you have to say?”

Andre raised his eyelids and ordered Mora, who was standing behind her, “Withdraw.”

Mora showed no reaction, standing still on her own.

“Mora, go back first.”

“As you command.”

The twin-tailed maid backed out of the room, closing the door as she went.

As the sound of footsteps gradually faded, Andre spoke slowly: “A very loyal subordinate.”

“Cut the nonsense, I'm busy.” Avril's tone was impatient.

Piaou spoke up at the right time: “Brother, you suddenly invited us over; what exactly is the matter?”

He was still somewhat tolerant toward his blood-related younger brother and sister.

Without dwelling on the two's distant attitude, Andre got straight to the point: “The Church's prohibition is about to be lifted. Are you aware of this?”

The two remained silent. He nodded. “I don't need to emphasize the root cause of the Ice and Snow Empire's collapse, do I?”

As a scion of the Royal Family, how the Ice and Snow Empire crumbled was a mandatory course; Avril was naturally no exception.

She pressed her hand against the low table beside her, and an ice mist irritably emanated from her palm. The low table was instantly encased in a thick layer of ice. “I said, cut the nonsense.”

Piaou looked at her with concern; the negative effects of the secret technique had worsened again.

Andre shrugged. “As you wish.”

After deliberating for a moment, he said, “I have confirmed with Bishop Jarvis that the Knight Magic is no longer a taboo. Lake... no, Ice and Snow, the Ice and Snow Empire can expand the Griffin Legion as it pleases in the future.”

“What does that have to do with us?” Piaou felt confused.

“The Royal Family only has us left, and the empire's revival cannot rely on me alone. I hope...”

Before he could finish, Avril decisively stood up and walked toward the door. “Your hypocrisy is truly nauseating.”

Piaou didn't hesitate either, following close behind her as they left together.

As the two figures disappeared from the doorway, Andre sighed. “This is my final mercy as an older brother.”

Heh, do you still expect Potter to return?

The corners of his mouth curled into a mocking arc.

Hypocrisy?

When it comes to hypocrisy, I am far behind Father.

Potter was deceived by him, and the two Grand Dukes were also played like puppets. Father, you really are...

Recalling the inside story Jarvis had revealed to him, even Andre couldn't help but feel a shiver in his heart.

Potter's journey to a distant land couldn't have happened without Blova's help, and Blova was naturally acting under the King's instructions.

When he first learned that Potter would be surrounded and annihilated in a foreign country, Andre found it hard to understand.

After all, he was currently Lake's only Gods Blessing, and he wasn't far from becoming an Epic.

What reason would the King have to break his own arm? And why did Blova agree?

It wasn't until Jarvis contacted him later that he learned it was all a conspiracy personally orchestrated by the King.

The reason Blova agreed was simple: he was tricked.

What the King told him was that they would pin Potter down in a foreign land for a while, and by the time he returned, everything would be settled.

In reality, the King had no intention of letting the man return to the Royal Capital alive.

And the reason he was willing to sacrifice his own power was, of course, because the reward was sufficient.

Someone from that Church had promised to help him become an Epic.

If an outsider heard this, they would surely be puzzled. Compared to a promise from someone that might be broken, wouldn't Potter, a solid peak-level Gods Blessing, be more reliable?

But Andre knew his father all too well.

He was a qualified King.

A King only trusts himself.

Even if Potter loyally served the Royal Family his entire life, the King would never fully trust him.

That was why the blood sacrifice happened, and why that dirty deal was made.

Andre woke from the grayscale memories and let out a deep breath. “You had great talent and strategy, but you forgot that the Saul Continent has gods. The gods have abandoned you.”

“Hehe... blood sacrifice... truly cruel... I'll take it then, without standing on ceremony.”

“Knock, knock—”

The sound of knocking interrupted his fantasy. “Come in.”

A Guard walked in. “Your Highness, several City Lords are requesting to see you.”

At this time?

It was during the Debriefing Meeting. Although he had given them permission to travel, they wouldn't use it lightly unless there was something important.

Andre asked, “Did they say what it's about?”

The Guard quickly repeated the City Lords' words.

After listening, he slammed his fist on the desk. “Hahaha... I thought I'd have to wait until the prohibition was lifted to punish you, but I didn't expect... hahaha, fool!”

Excitedly, he moved around the side of the desk and strode toward the door. “Prepare the carriage!”

“As you command!”

...

The main road of the Royal Palace.

Avril and Piaou stood by the wall at the side of the road.

“Sister, your secret technique...”

“I know my own situation.”

“Alright.” Seeing she didn't want to talk about it, Piaou changed the subject. “Do you think Brother... is he serious?”

“What's the point?” Avril looked at the flag flying atop the main gate. “Even if he's being sincere now, once the empire is stabilized, he won't let us off all the same.”

“True.”

After a brief silence, Piaou asked again, “You spent all night wandering the Royal Capital yesterday?”

Shifting her gaze to him, Avril said strangely, “Since when did you start caring about such things?”

“Sister, you aren't the type who likes to wander around aimlessly.”

She lowered her head in silence, lost in her own thoughts.

The Second Prince, however, saw through everything. “Is it because of that junior of yours?”

Ever since his sister returned from her trip, she always had a person named 'Zhang Mu' on her lips.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't curious about the man who could capture Avril's heart.

So, the Second Prince had privately sought out Mora to find out more.

It wasn't something that needed to be kept secret, so Mora readily told him.

Mr. Potter's newly accepted student.

Piaou was quite amazed, as Potter had long ago declared to the outside world that he would no longer take students.

For this Zhang Mu to make him break his own rule, his talent was beyond doubt.

Thus, even though the two had never met, he was already full of anticipation, wanting to see what kind of genius he was.

But only a month had passed when bad news arrived from afar.

Zhang Mu had been judged by a local Bishop for violating the Church's prohibition.

From 그날 on, Avril's spirit withered at a visible rate, and she stayed deep in her palace, rarely showing her face.

Her subsequent actions also became increasingly frantic.

Piaou was powerless to change it and could only watch helplessly as she gradually became cold and detached.

Therefore, when he learned that Avril had wandered the streets all night, he immediately guessed that it must be because of that Zhang Mu whom he had never met.

Even though there was no evidence.

Facing his doubt, Avril was very candid. “That day is coming soon. After I die, perhaps I'll see my junior? I want to introduce the Royal Capital to him—this city where I was born and have lived my whole life. But when this thought popped into my head, I realized I wasn't very familiar with this city myself. So, I'll get to know it first, then tell him.”

Piaou lowered his head. “He will be very happy to listen to you talk about the Royal Capital.”

“Right?” A look of longing appeared in Avril's eyes, as if she could see the scene of her junior smiling while listening to her confide in him.

After a long while, she turned to look at Piaou. “What about you? Why did you give up your chance to escape and give it to a City Lord you've only met a few times?”

Stunned for a moment, he began to laugh. “City Lord Eji has talent. Even if I cannot become King, I hope he can serve Lake. That way... in the future turmoil, our people can at least suffer a little less. Consider it... consider it the final contribution I, as a scion of the Royal Family, can make to the people.”

“He might...”

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the distance, and the two looked over together.

“That's... Andre's carriage. Where is he going in such a hurry?” Piaou stood on tiptoe, gazing at the flag flying atop the carriage.