Chapter 398 Ready
late at night.
Tonight the night sky is dotted with stars.
The galaxies and huge shining stars that existed in the past have all disappeared.
A darker night is rare.
It seemed as if something secret was going to happen tonight.
In the royal capital of Southern Cross Island, in the imperial palace in the center of the royal capital.
Outside a large and heavy gate, there were many guards coming and going on duty.
There are knights patrolling around, and this seems to be the most important place in the entire palace.
Inside the gate.
It seems to be a more private reception room. From the decoration and precious decorations inside the reception room, it can be seen that this should be a place where extremely important people live.
Going further in, through a small door, a faint smell of blood came from inside.
The door to the outside was wide open, leading to the balcony connected to the outside.
A tall, burly, serious man was standing straight on the balcony, looking outside.
He has a calm face and never smiles.
He was holding a wine glass in his hand and savoring it carefully.
In the other hand, he was holding a book.
The source of the bloody smell was in the center of the room behind him, where a maid in a maid outfit was lying on the floor with a pale face.
Blood was oozing from her facial features, and from her expression it seemed that she had suffered some kind of mental torture before her death.
"Oh my friend, we meet again." A slightly exaggerated voice came from behind Kriyal.
Facing the corpse behind him and the strange voice, Kriel was not panicked at all: "I don't think I am friends with a demon."
"Don't say that, of course we are friends, we have met each other many times.
And how do you feel about the technology I gave you?"
"If we become friends after meeting a few times, then I have too many friends." Kriel said, with no intention of responding to the latter part of the sentence.
The demon who was hiding his body was not angry and waved his hand slightly. A light green mist was leaking out from the facial features of the corpse lying on the ground, and he inhaled it into his nose, just like inhaling some addictive stimulant.
Anyone who knows the matter can tell at a glance that the misty object is the soul of the poor maid.
And faint red stripes appeared on the maid's exposed skin.
"What do you think of my proposal? I can help you achieve your ambitions, and you just need to cooperate with me.
I even gave you a small deposit to let you know that I have the ability to help you.
Your strength has just reached the fifth stage, and you may still be able to do whatever you want in such a desolate border. But as long as you go a little further in, your strength is just that of a slightly larger ant.
People there look at you like a country bumpkin. I believe you have experienced this a long time ago and you have this humiliation in your heart.
Don't you want to repay this humiliation? Trample underfoot those foreign nobles who once looked down upon you, those mortals who dared to despise you, and let them know who is truly powerful.
Just let me help you, for a small price, I can accelerate your ambition. Why not? "
Creel turned to look at the demon hiding behind him.
Facing the devil's instigation and the words that seemed to strike directly into his heart, he remained expressionless and seemed to not care.
"You say you are a demon, but you seem to be doing things that are more like the devil. It doesn't seem like what an angry demon would do at all."
"Of course I am a demon. I thought you were not a racist. It's just that I am one of the few demons who can use their brains.
Nor will they be like those devils, always playing tricks and schemes.
So I'm cunning and violent, what do you think? "
"No, my answer is still no. I don't have the habit of making deals with the devil. I will rely on my own abilities and strength to get what I want."
Hearing what Creel said, the demon was not surprised or angry at all. He just chuckled a few times, and there seemed to be contempt in his laughter.
"I see you are quite comfortable using the power I gave you, you hypocritical mortal."
Facing this demon.
Kriel remained unmoved, and it was obvious that he had become shameless to a certain extent.
However, this demon still seemed to be behaving like a devil. He only provoked him with a few words and did not actually commit any violent acts.
This is obviously different from his fellow tribesmen.
He stood up from the chair next to him, and a small bell appeared in his hand.
Put the bell on the desk next to you.
“It’s a pity that our cooperation didn’t end happily, but I will give you a small gift.
Just like what I gave you before, I am always so generous, especially to friends.
Of course, you can rest assured that this little gift does not pose any danger. It can just help you when you are in danger.
But my patience is limited. When you want to ring the bell, it means you are willing to cooperate with me, so be careful."
"Hahahaha, then I'll wait for good news." The devil smiled and bowed slightly, and his figure disappeared into the air.
Looking at the place where the demon disappeared, Kriel looked at the bell on the table again and picked up the bell.
After thinking for a while, I threw it into the drawer.
He turned around and looked at the body of the maid lying on the floor.
"The transformation failed? It seems that a strong body is needed. No, it may not be because the male demon ate her soul that the transformation failed.
Don’t rush, take your time.”
He comforted himself casually and waved gently.
A crack in space appeared under the corpse, and the blood-stained carpet fell into it.
As if nothing had happened, he sat on the seat next to him, continuing to drink the wine in his hand and read the book in his hand.
…
At this time, in a dark hut.
Several dark figures in cloaks were gathered here, sitting around a round table. The only light in the room came from a few candles on the table.
At this time, the door next to it opened.
Another cloaked figure walked in, and through the wooden door, the sound of rain could be heard outside.
The figure who came in shook off the water stains on his body, then simply took off his cloak and hung it beside him.
"Sorry, I'm late."
It was Balazs who spoke, and he sat down in an empty seat.
Alka and Narmins, who had just arrived two days ago, were also sitting nearby.
"This is the last meeting before the matter is accomplished. The next meeting will be a celebration of death."
Alka said calmly.
The others nodded.
Except for Alka and the other two people in charge, everyone else still wore hoods, even though they knew that this layer of cloth could not provide them with any concealment.
But it seems that only such a thin layer of cloth can cover up the emotions in their hearts and give them a sense of luck.
"Tell me about your plan, Baraz."
Balazs, who had just come in, nodded and said, "Kriel has many subordinates, and likewise, he has many enemies.
The only good news is that the troublesome team he personally trained died with him on the border island a few years ago."
Hearing this, Alka couldn't help but recall.
What should be said is that when he first met Creel, it was there that he formed a feud with this person.
"If we want to kill Kriel at the lowest cost and with the highest probability, we must try to reduce the number of guards around him.
Reduce the number of guards in the entire palace.
We need a reason to gather more people.”
He turned to look at Narmins and asked, "Do you have any better ideas?"
“As a believer of the Virgin Mary and a prince of this country, at least my identity as a prince has not been taken away from me yet.
Naturally, my return will require a great ceremony in honor of Our Lady."
Narmins spoke his mind.
One of the hooded figures said, "This plan is not feasible, is it? We have all believed in the White Mist Snake since we were young, and I have no intention of offending you. But since your beliefs have long been criticized by these civilians, how could you possibly come to participate in this kind of festival."
"Give out enough free food to throw a dance party for the entire upper class in the name of an individual.
I know the nobles in the city very well. Even if they don't cooperate with me, they have to come to this ball because I will extend the invitation as a prince."
Narmins said that although most officials and nobles now knew that he, the prince, was almost dead in name only.
But until now, his title has not been stripped. No one knows what Creel is thinking, and no one dares to bet.
After all, Kriel has no children until now, and rarely has any scandals with women.
The cloaked shadows around couldn't help but nodded. This excuse was indeed reasonable and effective enough.
“Then I will cooperate with you and try to get more nobles to participate. At the same time, I will also increase the guards for this festival.” Balazs said from the side.
"But Your Highness, you must be clearly aware that once something goes wrong, you will also be in danger." said a cloaked figure.
Narmins nodded: "I am also a knight, and danger is always inevitable."
This has been confirmed. Balazs turned to look at Alka and said, "Then the final and most important battle will be left to you and your companions."
Alka nodded: "Don't worry."
This series of arrangements is mainly to reduce some of the burden on Alka and others and reduce unexpected situations.
At the same time, it is also to reduce the damage caused to the entire country after the battle.
The best thing would be that only Kriel died, but that was obviously impossible.
Everyone knows Alka, and this group of powerful people is the core of this operation.
Everyone is preparing around them.
Similarly, Alka and his team also bear the most important responsibilities and the most dangerous tasks.
"The day the memorial service begins is the day the battle will begin. I will personally meet you at the palace gate and lead you directly to Kriel," said Baraz.
Narmins also turned to look at Alka and said, "Thank you for what you did."
Alka looked at him and said, "No need to thank me, because this is not for you or anyone else. It is for me and my companions.
We just have a common target of revenge."
Everyone exchanged various details in this way, and only left the hut after the communication was complete.
After returning to the boat, Alka told everyone the entire plan and asked everyone to be prepared.
“Put aside your research for a few days, take a good rest, and recharge your batteries.
The enemy is not stupid, we need to use all our strength." Alka said, looking at Simon.
He looked away after seeing Simon nodded.
Everything is quietly waiting for the day when the festival begins.
…
Everyone moved very quickly.
"The prince is back? Are we going to have a ceremony to thank the Virgin Mary?" An old woman who was buying vegetables interrupted the boss and others who were chatting.
"Yes, it should start soon."
"Holy Mother? I would rather believe that the white mist snake in the dream can protect our peace." At this point, the old woman made a prayer gesture.
Watching the old woman's actions, a young man next to her glanced at her and said calmly, "I haven't seen anyone protecting our peace in recent years."
"Hmph, that's only in the palace..." The old woman became angry when she heard this and wanted to retort.
Before she could finish her words, her husband who came with her covered her mouth.
Her husband glared at her in horror: "You want to kill us?"
The woman seemed to come to her senses as well, and she looked around in panic, nodding her head.
"Whether you go or not, we're going anyway. I heard there will be free food and wine to taste." The boss said casually while packing up his stall.
As he spoke, he made a prayer gesture that was full of loopholes.
"Thank the Virgin Mary." The tone was so casual.
"Free?"
"Of course it's free."
"Then we'll go too."
"Didn't you say that you only believe in..."
"Alright, alright, stop rambling. The White Mist Snake won't care about this. The gods will understand my true trust."
Looking at the two people who were leaving in a hurry, the boss smiled slightly.
Such scenes were played out everywhere. In just one day, almost the entire city knew about the opening of the festival and the free food and drinks.
The free stuff attracted countless civilians, who were coming to participate in the memorial service.
The recent depression has left them in need of a chance to relax.
At this time, an altar for memorial services had been built outside the door of the Church of Our Lady.
The priest and the prince stood on the stage, ready.
On the high platform not far away and on the rooftops of various taverns, one can see some dignitaries and wealthy people, sitting leisurely with their eyes fixed here.
"Why do you think our prince would choose to come back at this time? Doesn't he want to live anymore?"
“He is a saint of the Virgin Mary. No one would bother him unless he did anything out of the ordinary.
… It’s not worth it.”
A middle-aged man with a slightly bald head next to him drank the wine in his hand and said: "We just need to wait and see how things develop. It has little to do with us."
"It doesn't matter much?" A noble lady next to him chuckled, with a look of contempt: "When things get bigger and bigger, no one can stay out of it. It's better to make preparations early."
After saying that, she picked up her skirt, stood up and left.
As more and more people gathered, more guards were sent here. It can be seen that some of these guards are elite soldiers from the capital and the palace.
The main position they guarded was not the prince on the stage or the members of the Holy Mother Church, but the area where the nobles were sitting to rest and watch.
This is to prevent these large gatherings of civilians from allowing some dangerous elements to take advantage of the situation and endanger the safety of these nobles.
More and more civilians are gathering here.
As more and more people came, those who originally didn't want to come also looked around with curiosity.
At this time, the entire palace was almost empty except for some servants and necessary guards.
Alka and his companions appeared on the street. There were not many people coming and going on the street at this time, because most of them had gathered around the festival.
Feeling the noise coming from afar, Alka and the others were not affected at all. They walked along the straight road towards the palace in the distance.
Soon they arrived below the palace.
Looking at the largest building complex in the entire royal capital, the gray stone towers were stacked with tall spires.
There are relief carvings of Brahma on it, showing the nobility of this palace.
Gardens, fountains and artistic statues are dotted throughout.
On the low walls guarding the palace, elite soldiers were guarding back and forth.
"Stranger, leave here, this is not a place you can casually set foot in!"
The two soldiers at the gate immediately held their weapons in their hands, staring at Alka and others vigilantly.
Even though Alka and the others didn't come here at all, they were just watching the palace from near the city wall.
"Friend, don't be so angry. I'm just curious about what the palace looks like." Jason spread his hands and said with a smile.
"Now you've seen it, get out of here!"
The soldier looked at Alka with unexpected rudeness.
Jason shrugged. "I did see it. It's really a wild border area. This palace is not even as good as the cowshed at my grandmother's house in the countryside."
Facing this foul-mouthed soldier, Jason retorted bluntly.
"What? You damn it..." The soldier was furious and was about to walk forward with his weapon, but his companion next to him stopped him.
“Don’t cause trouble.”
"You didn't hear him." Before he could finish his words, a figure walked out from the gate.
It was Balazs.
"Dear guests, you are here. Lord Kriel has been waiting for you."
Balazs humbled himself and bowed solemnly while speaking.
Seeing this, the soldier who was furious just now had his eyes wide open. Fear could be seen in his eyes. He turned to look at Alka and the others, and quickly lowered his head.
Alka nodded and walked straight in with a few people .
He walked past the soldiers silently without any communication.
It was not until Alka and the others walked in that Balazs, who was left at the end, turned around and glanced at the soldier.
Feeling Baraz's gaze, the soldier's face was covered with sweat.
"I hope you will have good luck." Balazs said calmly and followed him in.
As soon as the few people left, the soldier immediately collapsed to the ground.
The colleague next to him looked at the soldier and sighed helplessly. He waved to the soldiers on the city wall and carried him away together.
I don't know when a faint pink mist had already wrapped around the city walls and the soldiers everywhere.
As Alka walked, it drifted away.
But these soldiers seemed to be completely unaware and continued patrolling on the city wall, repeating their previous duties countless times.
Numb, stiff, and in a trance.
Alka and others walked through the winding palace without any obstruction.
Under the guidance of Baraz, they arrived at a huge gate.
There were also two soldiers at the door.
These two soldiers were wearing heavy armor, and their strength had reached the third stage of perfection.
Reached the strength limit of an ordinary person.
Facing Baraz who was approaching, he ignored him completely.
Facing the two soldiers, Alka turned around and said to the people behind him: "Pororo, Xiadeti, Matlisa. The three of you come with me, and the rest of you stay outside."
In the face of their conversation, the two soldiers seemed to be deaf and did not hear it at all.
Alka brushed past the two of them, pushed open the door, and walked in with a few people.
The moment the door was opened, the two soldiers' eyes went dark and they fell to the side, falling into obsession.
From beginning to end, I didn't understand everything.
At the same time, the soldiers outside fell down one by one like dominoes, snoring in deep sleep.
