e-booksonline Where did Chapter 201 go wrong?
Where did Chapter 201 go wrong?
Where did Chapter 201 go wrong?
The following morning, at the Susas Royal Court, at the highest white tower.
Everything unfolded exactly as the prophecy had foretold, with a long red carpet connecting the inside and outside of the tower.
At the end of the red carpet, King Susas sat on the throne that had been moved there.
He was dressed in elaborate and magnificent robes and wore a crown symbolizing the Sussus monarchy.
He lowered his head slightly, exuding an aura of authority.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice the turbidity in his eyes, which is not the appearance of a normal living being.
Grayson stood beside him, alongside two hooded mages belonging to the royal family.
He glanced at the soldiers lined up on both sides, the cheering crowds, the nobles watching the ceremony, and the slowly passing floats, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
He was filled with curiosity.
What piercing screams will these people let out when they witness their so-called "great" King Susas become a puppet of demons?
And how will that colossal mage academy, which has long loomed over the Susas royal family, fall apart?
Thinking of this, the mockery on his face intensified.
"Your Highness, everything is arranged."
A hooded royal mage stepped forward, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.
Grayson looked at the third-tier royal mage who had pledged allegiance to him and smiled slightly: "Master Silas, I will always remember your and Master Andrew's assistance."
"7
A hint of reluctance flashed in the hooded mage's eyes as he spoke, "Your Highness, isn't cooperating with the Demon Cult—aren't these things far too risky?"
A fierce glint flashed in Grayson's eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Master, I am well aware that the Demon Cult is nothing more than a double-edged sword."
But I will never allow them to continue threatening the royal court afterward, nor will I give them the chance to retaliate.
He raised the corners of his mouth slightly and continued, "Of course, for the sake of the royal authority, we must first settle accounts with the academy."
Furthermore, don't you think the position of Dean of the Law School is more suitable for you and Master Andrew?
Upon hearing this promise, Silas exchanged a glance with Andrew beside him, his concerns dissipating slightly. He then bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. We will certainly follow your will."
After saying this, the two stepped aside and stood guard beside King Susas again, their expressions returning to their previous solemnity.
Grayson swept his gaze across the room, still wearing a smile.
He looked at the crowd who were completely unaware and were still waiting quietly, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
According to the plan, once the delegation from the mage academy stepped onto the red carpet, he would have the royal mage secretly administer a magic potion to the king through illusion.
Guide the stigmata ritual into its final step.
After the incident, the members of the delegation will be killed or captured on the spot by the sword dancer, soldiers, and police officers.
At that time, he can take the opportunity to ascend the throne and formally launch an attack on the Mage Academy.
Remove this thorn in your side completely, and then target the duke and get rid of the demon cult.
"Everything is ready."
Grayson remained calm and waited quietly at the end of the red carpet.
As time passed, the noise from the crowd on both sides gradually subsided, and the people began to whisper among themselves.
The soldiers also became restless, their armor clanging, and the sword dancers frowned deeply.
Grayson's smile gradually froze.
All the plots have been laid, but the prey has yet to appear.
Where are they?
He felt confused.
Did the academy discover his plan?
Impossible. Just three days ago, he was communicating with Bella, the dean of the Illusion Department.
There shouldn't be any unexpected changes in just a few days.
Moreover, even she shouldn't know the specific details of the plan.
"Your Highness, several nobles in the Council of Nobles noticed that His Majesty was acting strangely and tried to approach him, but we stopped them with a pretext."
The hooded monk quietly stepped forward and whispered the news in his ear.
Grayson glanced at the several richly dressed nobles and said in a deep voice, "Find an excuse to continue blocking them and not let them get close—keep waiting, the academy delegation will arrive sooner or later."
They dared not break their promise without a valid reason, as that would only put the academy in a passive position.
His tone was firm. The two hooded monks exchanged a glance, then turned and left.
It will come.
Grayson kept trying to convince himself.
Time passed slowly, and the sun rose high overhead, its rays scorching hot.
Many soldiers were drenched in sweat, but the delegation was still nowhere to be seen, and the murmurs among the people grew increasingly noisy.
The agreed time had long passed by an hour.
Grayson's eye twitched, a flash of resentment crossing his eyes.
They—they really didn't come!
Behind him, two hooded mages exchanged a glance and quietly put the potions they were holding back into their bags.
Just then, a mage dressed in a red robe rushed over.
He was covered in injuries, with blood streaming from his forehead and arms, and he stumbled and fell as soon as he rushed onto the red carpet.
The swordswoman immediately stepped forward to help him up. The red-robed mage, looking anxious, cried out, "I am Asler from the Mage Academy! The academy has been attacked by the Demon Cult and the Duke!"
The voice was amplified and spread throughout the entire area.
The crowd was in uproar, the nobles were shocked, the soldiers were in turmoil, and the scene descended into chaos.
Grayson paused, looking at the anxious red-robed mage, and said, "Mage, are you mistaken? Duke Eisenberg is in his territory; he could never have done such a thing."
Asler's face contorted with pain as he replied sharply, "It's Lucas, who is loyal to the Duke! He's a traitor to the Academy, here for revenge!"
Dean Irwin of the Protection Division has been killed in action! Dean Flint of the Prophecy Division is critically wounded! Dean Bella of the Illusion Division has gone missing!
We have suffered heavy losses and implore the royal court for assistance!
The news spread, and the chaos on the field intensified.
The crowd was already impatient because the delegation was late in arriving.
Upon hearing the devastating news, all resentment towards the academy vanished instantly.
The eight deans of the Susas Academy of Mages are a vital pillar supporting the kingdom's standing among the six other nations.
Now that one is dead, one is injured, and one is missing, everyone is filled with fear and unease.
Grayson's face darkened completely.
He knew perfectly well:
Irving and Flint were ambushed by his men; one was killed and the other is missing.
How could they have been attacked by a demonic cult?
Bella was his inside man and the demon cult!
As for Lucas, he was clearly in the duchy and never came to the royal court.
A portly nobleman pushed aside the soldiers, stepped forward, and looked at Grayson, saying, "Your Highness, the academy has been attacked. It will take time for the council to send troops to its aid. I implore you to lead the Royal Guard to its rescue immediately!"
Grayson's face was extremely ugly. Just as he was about to speak in his defense, a series of violent explosions suddenly came from afar.
The loud noise clearly came from the other side of the royal court—the direction of the magic academy.
Everyone was stunned, then realized: the mage tower had been activated.
The last time the Mage Tower was activated was because the Nord army attacked the royal court.
Just then, an old yet powerful voice came from afar, carried by magic.
"I am Hammond, the Dean of the Plastic Energy Branch! We have repelled the enemy's attack at a heavy cost!"
But at the same time, we learned some shocking news—King Susas has been cursed!
curse!
The previously restless crowd instantly fell silent, all eyes turning to the seemingly exhausted king on the throne.
Grayson's face turned extremely grim.
With the academy's testimony, the attention of the noble council, the sheriffs, and the military will surely be focused entirely on King Susas.
If something happens to the king, he, who is unharmed, will undoubtedly become the prime suspect.
Damn it! Where did things go wrong? Who ruined his plans?!
Grayson was burning with rage, but he was helpless and could only watch as the situation spiraled completely out of control.
Amidst the chaos, no one noticed that a subtle, profound meaning flickered in King Susas's cloudy eyes as he sat upon his throne.
Inside Logan Susas's residence at the Mage Academy.
Kane calmly walked out of the room, ate the breakfast handed to him by the maid, and looked at Logan, who looked hurried and tired.
"Is everything arranged?"
Logan Susas gave him a helpless look: "Didn't you hear the commotion outside? Everything is just as you predicted."
She sighed softly, "You had a group of corpse servants dressed in the clothes of demon cult followers, while simultaneously attacking the three mage towers of Evocation, Illusion, and Prophecy, and then creating an explosion that would alarm the royal court."
What exactly are you and your advisors plotting?
-
Kane didn't answer, but simply chuckled, "What's the situation inside and outside the academy now?"
Logan snorted coldly: "Within the academy, whether they are formal mages or apprentices, they all panicked after hearing the news of the three deans."
Fortunately, they later learned that the enemy had been defeated, and with the reassurance of their mentors, things have gradually calmed down.
Outside the academy, the noble council's troops and the royal guards were already stationed to guard against any further enemy attacks.
Kane nodded slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.
This series of arrangements, seemingly a setback for the academy, actually allowed it to completely evade Grayson's conspiracy and successfully turn the tables.
The one who must be having the biggest headache right now is Prince Grayson, who is determined to win.
In doing so, he temporarily saved King Susas's life.
If that Wang were to die now, Grayson would undoubtedly become the prime suspect.
At that time, the situation will only become more chaotic, which will be detrimental to their subsequent plans.
Logan Susas looked at Kane.
"It's okay if you don't answer, but I have another question for you."
"What's the problem?" Kane asked.
Logan looked at him, his tone slightly stiff: "After my mentor returned yesterday, he asked me to communicate with you more in the future."
Did you say something unnecessary?
Kane's lips twitched slightly. He glanced at Logan, stood up, chuckled softly, and pushed open the door to leave.
"Stop right there! Explain yourself!" Logan shouted angrily.
Kane closed the door and walked straight toward the mage tower of the Prophecy Division.
He had changed into an ordinary red mage's robe, looking no different from any other mage in the academy.
His current position is sensitive, so he can only avoid unnecessary trouble by keeping a low profile.
As he passed through the academy's square, he saw apprentices and spellcasters coming and going, all with anxious and bewildered expressions on their faces, hurrying along.
This was completely different from his calm, high-spirited, and energetic demeanor when he first arrived at the academy.
Kane sighed inwardly, but he understood the reason.
The Mage Academy has stood in Susas for a thousand years, and everyone has long recognized that the eight deans are the strongest third-tier spellcasters.
The death, injury, and disappearance of one person have undoubtedly shattered their faith.
While this was a necessary measure to appease the outside world, it also plunged ordinary monks into fear.
"However, compared to the original storyline where they were unknowingly exploited, directly attacked by demons and killed in the academy battle, ending up with no remains of their bodies, this version is different."
This is the best possible outcome.
Kane pondered for a moment, then continued toward the mage tower of the Prophecy Division.
Unlike last night, a squad of mages was now on duty guarding the tower, and several mages wearing the insignia of the Prophecy Division attempted to enter: "How is Headmaster Flint?" "How badly is he injured? We want to see him!"
No matter how the people asked, the monks on duty shook their heads and stopped them with serious expressions.
Upon seeing Kane, the mage leading the group seemed to recognize him and immediately stepped aside to make way for him, saying in a low voice, "Lord Kane, please come in."
This blatant discrimination immediately drew the ire of the surrounding mages, who began to argue, and the scene became noisy once again.
Ignoring the noise behind him, Kane climbed the steps of the mage tower until he reached the top chamber.
Outside the glass windows of the tower's top chamber, an endless expanse of clear sky stretched out, and the sunlight dispelled the chill from the interior.
Flint stood beside the planetarium, his fingertips touching the instrument, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Hearing the door open, he turned around, looked at Kane, and smiled warmly: "You've come. Please have a seat."
A moment later, the two sat facing each other in armchairs, sipping red tea.
Kane frowned as he looked at Flint, whose aura was even weaker than before and whose cultivation had fallen to the first rank: "The price was so high?"
Flint shook his head: "I underestimated the cost of making a deal with that person."
Kane fell silent, unsure how to offer comfort.
Flint smiled and said, "It's alright, this is a gain in itself."
"A harvest?"
"The successive deans of the Prophecy Branch have all mastered this almost forbidden prophecy ritual early on, but very few have actually been able to perform it even once."
As a prophetic mage, to personally initiate a ritual and touch such a great being—isn't that a reward in itself?
Kane remained silent.
He understood Flint's words; for a spellcaster obsessed with magic, to be able to personally experience a forbidden ritual was something extraordinary.
Even if it comes at a huge cost, it's a wish that has been fulfilled.
Flint looked at Kane and said earnestly, "I invited you here today to express my gratitude."
"Thank you? The academy has already provided me with many conveniences, allowing me to freely view spells below the third ring. This reward is more than enough."
Kane bowed slightly, his tone frank.
Flint shook his head slightly: "That was just the academy's reward, not my personal sentiment."
If you hadn't specifically returned to inform me of the news, the academy would probably have already been deeply embroiled in a conspiracy.
And I will never have the chance to avenge my dearest friend Irving.
He gazed at Kane and solemnly said, "Lord Kane, I have a request."
Would you be willing to take over as Dean of the Prophecy Division?
Upon hearing this, and seeing the other person's serious expression, Kane was slightly taken aback.