Chapter 403 - - 400 Starts a War for Justice _1

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“Sophistry, that’s what this is, sophistry!” Duke Linqi’s face turned beet red.

“Whether it is sophistry or fact, Your Grace knows best in your heart. Time reveals a man’s heart as the road tests a horse’s strength. At first, some may have misunderstood me, but I believe that as time goes on, everyone will acknowledge the truth of my words,”

Duge said with a smile, his bearing dignified and righteous.

Indeed!

Magic is meant to defeat enemies. What does that have to do with whether or not a person is upright?

I kill people, I set fires, I lie through my teeth, I use the Seven-Hole Touch, but that doesn’t prevent me from being an upright person…

At that moment,

during the process of persuading Duke Linqi, Duge felt his own thoughts elevate; he had discovered the truest way to use uprightness.

Duke Linqi fell into a prolonged silence, finding himself unable to convince a stubborn madman. What alarmed him the most was the sensation that this madman’s words seemed to hold some semblance of truth.

“Who exactly are you?” Duke Linqi, having steadied his emotions, asked.

“Holley Alaus,” Duge replied.

“What is your relationship with the Sea God?” Duke Linqi tried a different approach.

“I have awakened the Martial Spirit of the Sea God,” Duge answered flawlessly. His response wasn’t for Duke Linqi, but for the audience of Pan-Universe Entertainment. He felt he had perhaps overplayed his hand and ought to patch things up before entering the arena.

“One who possesses the Sea God’s Martial Spirit could not manipulate water as flawlessly as you do,” Duke Linqi stated.

“That’s because I am also a magician,” Duge said with a smile, continuing his explanation, “Your Grace, don’t let your life experience constrain your thinking. Just because you haven’t seen something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, much like you don’t understand who Holley once was.

You must learn to see the essence through the phenomenon. When you grasp this level, perhaps you too can awaken a powerful Martial Spirit or further advance your magical abilities.”

Don’t let my life experience constrain my thinking?

At least I have life experience, what do you, a mere kid, have?

Suddenly,

Duke Linqi started, his gaze on Holley’s young face sinking him back into contemplation. The various changes Holley had undergone flooded his mind—was he really just a kid?

Duke Linqi swallowed and forcibly stabilized his emotions before asking, “Holley, what do you want me to do?”

“Prove my innocence before all the spectators at the execution grounds,” Duge said.

“I can do that.” Duke Linqi looked at Duge and nodded. “You defeated me and may make a demand of me; it’s a promise I intend to keep.”

“Also, restore Old Gao’s reputation,” Duge continued.

Acknowledging one action could suggest coercion, but by bringing up another of Duke Linqi’s misdeeds, Duge was solidifying his character.

With the previous publicity and his own current transformation, the reputations of both men would undergo a fundamental change—it was as though he was stepping over Duke Linqi’s body to reach a new height of integrity.

“That can be arranged,” said Duke Linqi, nodding again.

“You must admit your intention to rebel,” Duge pressed on.

“Holley, don’t overstep,” Duke Linqi jolted, a scoff escaping him, “So this is your ultimate goal!”

“Indeed, this is my ultimate goal,” Duge affirmed with a smile.

“So, you are King Lucerne’s man, colluding with Prince Nelson, all to stage this act?” Duke Linqi’s gaze turned icy.

“No, I am my own person, with no relations to King Lucerne,” Duge said, “Your Grace, my reason for having you admit your intention to rebel is because I intend to become a new king.”

“A new king?” Duke Linqi was once again stunned. Holley’s news was more explosive each time, always catching him off guard. And true to Holley’s words, his life experience was entirely inadequate here.

At this moment,

the sun had completely risen.

Duge stood on the water’s surface, conjuring a mist with a thought, bathing himself in sunlight. Due to the refraction of light, a rainbow even formed behind him, making his figure all the more divine.

He looked at Duke Linqi and nodded seriously, “That’s right, a new king. Your Grace, I’ve already explained my past actions to you. I’ve always strived to save this world. But this world is filled with people like you, creating chaos, without fairness, without justice, as if people live in darkness.

For years, I have racked my brains, managing to save but a few.”

Despite that, I myself was splashed with a layer of pitch-black ink.

While in prison, amid life and death, I suddenly understood a truth, that saving the world could not be done by the power of one. But leading by example and awakening the conscience of the majority was possible.

Making myself a new King was the most suitable path.

In fact, I had already done so.

Duke, your prison, where you kept me, was full of vicious criminals, but now, every one of them will follow me, learn from me, and hail me as their King.

Duke, you only need to send a confidant to inquire in prison, and you will know what happened last night. So, you needn’t misunderstand my relationship with King Lucerne or the Pope.

If we must be related in any way, then we are enemies."

For a moment.

Duke Linqi truly would have been moved by Duge, had he not known the truth.

He looked up at Duge and said loudly, “Holley, you are inciting a war.”

Yes!

If I don’t incite a war, how can I divide this country?

I have two key words!

I can’t just throw one away without using it.

Duge muttered to himself, and said, “Duke, this is a just war.”

Madman!

He is just a selfish lunatic who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Whatever about being noble or righteous, it has nothing to do with him…

Holley is definitely possessed by an Evil God.

Duke Linqi took a deep breath, “What if I don’t agree?”

“If you don’t agree, the evidence of your rebellion and plundering of Stephen Gao’s magic achievements will be displayed along with your corpse on the execution platform.” Duge glanced at him and said indifferently, “Your disciple Morris and Saima Lynch will personally attest to your sins. Of course, there are also those nobles who punched and kicked me at the banquet that day. I believe they all belong to the group that knows the truth… "

“You dare to kill me?” Duke Linqi was both shocked and terrified.

“Duke, I gave you a chance at rebirth. If you don’t cherish it, I will judge your sins in public,” Duge declared righteously. “To punish evil is to promote good. Duke Linqi, to have come this far, you must not have been as open and honest as I am, and Saima Lynch may not possess your mettle.”

Threatened!

Damn it!

Duke Linqi was trembling, his face completely drained of color, “Holley, you are an Evil Demon.”

“Duke, thank you for the compliment. In the eyes of evil men, I am indeed an Evil Demon,” Duge replied nonchalantly with a smile. “So, Duke, which path will you choose?

Actually, I would prefer you cooperate with me. In that way, I will have less trouble and can save more people.

With your talent, after a Change Looks and starting anew, you will certainly quickly claim a ducal position again. Perhaps by then, the Duke will have even better repute.”

Is that a promise to me?

It’s just the two of us here. Is there any need to sugarcoat it?

Duke Linqi clenched his fists underwater and glared at Duge, his sharp gaze practically wishing to tear him into pieces.

He was filled with hatred, hating himself for not having torn open the scroll of cataclysm.

Linqi knew that dealing with the Evil Demon would doom him forever.

But now, he could not make any other choice.

In Duge’s sincere and eager gaze, Duke Linqi eventually admitted defeat. He closed his eyes in humiliation, “Fine, I agree to your terms.”

Duge smiled. He controlled the water to pull Duke Linqi out and grasped his hand firmly, sincerely offering his blessings, “A reknit bone grows back stronger. Duke Linqi, the moment you made this decision, you awakened the conscience within you. Congratulations, Duke, you’ve made the right choice.”

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