Chapter 405 - - 402 A Group of Scum_1

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Soon,

Duge gave up the idea of contemplating a fight with the God Spirit.

At present, his influence was limited only to Duke Linqi’s domain, and he did not believe he would encounter a God Spirit so quickly.

Thinking one step ahead could indeed ensure his safety, but overthinking would only add to his worries.

One must eat their meals one bite at a time, and walk the road one step at a time.

Why bother thinking so much when he hadn’t even awakened his skills?

Besides, in this world, there were Evil Gods and righteous Gods.

As long as these God Spirits had thoughts and enemies, they could be used…

Duge believed that there was no mountain of fire that couldn’t be crossed in this world.

…

While Duke Linqi and Saima discussed their strategy,

Duge had Old Gao return to the prison and brought back his followers to the duke’s mansion.

Then, with a burst of effort, he removed the psychic cages for all of them, restoring their combat strength.

By conquering Duke Linqi and using his own power to remove the psychic cages of dozens of people, Duge demonstrated such formidable combat power that it further boosted his followers’ confidence in him…

Not long after,

Saima was brought out by Duke Linqi, her eyes red-rimmed, completely lacking her previous rebellious spirit.

But she also did not speak to Duge, using silence as her form of resistance against him.

Duge was indifferent, he was an upright person, and he wouldn’t bother with a little girl; he even magnanimously chose not to add a psychic cage to Saima Lynch.

…

Secrets can’t be kept forever.

The events that occurred outside the duke’s mansion during Duge’s duel with the duke had already spread throughout White Stone City.

Those nobles who had not left and were waiting to see Holley’s execution all knew the duke’s mansion had encountered a formidable enemy.

It was very likely someone with a ten-star Martial Spirit.

After all,

the reach of Duge’s Sea God Martial Spirit was too wide.

Everyone was speculating about what had happened at the duke’s mansion.

Yet no one dared to approach the duke’s mansion at this time to seek news.

They relied on the breath of the duke’s mansion, but they could not afford to provoke someone with a ten-star Martial Spirit either.

The guards of Prince Nelson, both samurais with nine-star Martial Spirits, also chose to protect themselves wisely during the attack on the duke’s mansion.

However,

the aura of the ten-star Martial Spirit had come quickly and disappeared just as fast, barely causing any disturbance in battle.

Therefore,

these noble disciples changed the direction of their speculations; perhaps the person with a ten-star Martial Spirit was not the duke’s enemy but his ally.

The duke was a Great Sorcerer, already feared by King Lucerne for his status; if he had another ally with a ten-star Martial Spirit by his side, then Duke Linqi would possess the capacity to rival King Lucerne.

To appease the duke, King Lucerne would certainly have to raise his status even higher…

If Duke Linqi harbored any thoughts of rebellion, this would also affect the interests of these nobles.

The events that occurred that day during the banquet, with what happened to Saima Lynch, had already doomed the marriage alliance with Prince Nelson.

This was likely a signal, a sign that Duke Linqi and King Lucerne had broken ties.

When the duke’s mansion remained quiet, everyone grew restless.

To obtain more accurate news, these nobles came with their guards to inspect the situation at the duke’s mansion.

Then,

they encountered King Holley, who was waiting here.

Each and every one,

none could escape Duge’s recruitment.

Soon, all the nobles who were at that day’s banquet became Duge’s prisoners, with psychic cages planted within them, including Prince Nelson and his two nine-star guards.

…

“Holley, Duke Linqi, do you realize what you’re doing?” Prince Nelson demanded furiously, looking at Duge.

“Holley, you better release us. Even if you’ve become a magician, you can’t possibly oppose so many of us nobles at the same time,” bellowed an earl who hadn’t grasped the situation.

“Duke Linqi, there’s absolutely no need for you to do this. We were already on the same side as you,” a marquis called out to Duke Linqi standing behind Duge.

“Duke Linqi, if possible, I am willing to execute Prince Nelson by my own hand to offer you my loyalty…” a viscount said.

…

When Duge defeated them, he hadn’t used his Martial Spirit but had used magic instead.

Therefore, this group of people had no idea that the ten-star Martial Spirit warrior who terrified them was Duge himself.

Being caught in the Duke’s mansion by Holley, who should have been in prison, they had no choice but to believe that the incident at the banquet was indeed a conspiracy against them all.

They suspected that Duke Linqi might want to use this incident to tie them to the ship of rebellion.

By having Holley play the role of scum for over a decade before revealing him in a single move and scheming against everyone, including Prince Nelson, had secretly garnered the alliance of a ten-star warrior, Duke Linqi’s planning was far too deep.

So, after they lost their freedom, they rushed to pledge their allegiance to Duke Linqi.

Only Prince Nelson was full of dread about the future, his pallid complexion, his interrogations – they were merely a cover for his own panic.

…

“You’ve pledged your loyalty to the wrong person.”

Looking at this group who’d walked into a trap and completely misjudged the situation, Duke Linqi felt utterly helpless.

Duge’s threat had been justified. Once he became a corpse, these fellows would do anything to save their own skin, even if it meant dumping all their filth upon him.

Shaking his head, Duke Linqi approached Duge and, after bowing to him, turned back to the crowd, raising his voice, “Holley is the one you all should pledge your loyalty to.”

Those words stunned everyone.

“Holley?”

“Impossible!”

“Duke Linqi, you must be joking with us, right?”

“I admit he’s not scum, but he shouldn’t…”

…

Suddenly, Duge revealed his Martial Spirit.

The moment the Sea God Martial Spirit was unveiled, all the cacophonic noise vanished.

A hush fell over the Duke’s mansion, everyone aghast, staring at Duge.

Duge looked around at everyone stunned, withdrew his Martial Spirit into his body, “That’s right, it’s me. The magician is me, the ten-star Martial Spirit warrior you’re all talking about is also me. This morning, I defeated Duke Linqi, and I have become the new ruler of this land.

“And all of you, every one who participated in framing me, your role today is to help restore my reputation and innocence on the execution platform. Those who do so, I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourselves and pledge your loyalty to me.”

The silence continued as everyone was still trying to digest the fact that Holley had suddenly become a powerful warrior.

“It’s incredible, Holley, how could you possibly be a ten-star Martial Spirit warrior?” a viscount questioned.

Duge glanced at him but didn’t answer his question, instead he said, “Gentlemen, the guillotine is already surrounded by countless onlookers eager to watch the spectacle. You don’t have much time to be shocked or to think. Duke Linqi and Saima have already decided to clear my name at the guillotine. Please make your choice quickly.”

“If we don’t do that, what will you do to us?” the earl who had spoken first asked.

“Send you to the guillotine, and let your blood atone for your sinful souls,” Duge glanced at him and said mockingly, “I believe many are willing to testify against you…”

The color drained from the earl’s face as he stammered, “Holley, I was just asking. I’m willing to testify for you. That night, you did nothing. It was that bitch Saima who seduced you first…”

The expression on Saima Lynch’s face changed immediately.

“That’s right, it was Saima Lynch who seduced you. You hadn’t even taken off your clothes…,” another earl claimed.

“I can also testify that Saima was the first to undress. She surely wasn’t untouched anymore, just looking for a scapegoat for her filth.”

“I can too, Holley. At that banquet, it was entirely Duke Linqi who was forcing us…”

…

Buckets of filth were thrown onto Saima Lynch.

Saima Lynch clenched her lips tightly, trembling all over, and seemed on the verge of collapse as she looked at everyone accusing her. At that moment, she could hardly recognize those who surrounded her, praising and flattering her.

They were even worse than Holley, who at least considered his reputation, thinking of dumping the filth on Nelson…

…

“You truly are a bunch of scum!” Duge remarked, sighing suddenly, “Compared to you, I am practically a saint. What would this damned world do without me?”

“Holley, we can cooperate,” Nelson’s voice suddenly cut through the noise as he fixed a piercing gaze on Duge, “Release me and I can make my father crown you—a true king. Your Martial Spirit, your merit for defeating the traitor Duke Linqi for the Kingdom of Lucerne, deserves the title of a king not of our lineage.”

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