C235 - Lani Salome (4)

Of course, the shard of the biological golem's heart alone was not enough to begin waging wars of public opinion, even with Deano Jaglun and the Kollonites behind them.

The minimum requirement to incite public anger against the Zipple was to demonstrate their role in the kidnapping of the Holy King and the placement of a puppet in his stead to deceive the citizens of the Holy Kingdom.

"The Pontiff Montiano, Pontiff Connieu, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Sacred Knights, Sir Vitura, are aware," Lani said.

"Who is the most trustworthy among them?"

"No one." Lani responded sharply and continued, "Pontiffs Montiano and Connieu are definitely sold out. When I realized that the double was impersonating my father, I went to talk to them. But they just laughed and wished me luck in the trial that would take place after the festival, telling me to serve the King well. I can definitely say that they have been bought."

"It can't be known for certain with nothing else but that, don't you think?"

"No, I'm sure. I also brought up my father's finger. They just smiled, instead of giving a response, as if saying that I am completely under their control anyway."

Lani was particularly devastated by their betrayal.

Montiano and Connieu had been Miklan's closest friends, whom he had known since his adolescence, and they were the highest authorities in the Holy Kingdom, surpassed only by Miklan himself.

"I lost all hope when I became certain of their betrayal because Montiano is the supreme Pontiff of the legislation in the Holy Kingdom, and Connieu, of the administration."

The laws of the land and their enforcement were completely under their control. And with the King being a fake double, things were certainly grim.

A thought struck Jin.

'The Holy Kingdom has fallen under Zipple's control. What are the Runcandels doing about it? Are we aware of the situation and letting it happen, or are we still unaware of the current state?'

The latter was more likely.

The news of Murakan and Kadun's battle in Santelle had not yet reached the rest of the world. Since Santelle was nothing more than a small remote town under the control of the Feudal States of Shol, the Runcandels did not have anyone planted in the city.

Jin only became aware of the situation because Murakan was attacked in Santelle and ended up meeting Lani there. If it hadn't been for that series of coincidences, he would never have learned about the state of the Holy Kingdom.

"And the Commander, Sir Vitura?"

He was the last person who knew about the state of the Holy King.

Among the three who were aware of the King's physical disability, he was the only one who was against the King.

"I still don't know Sir Vitura. But he has a long history of political enmity against my father. He used to make extreme statements, claiming that my father should be stripped of his title."

"Is that why you decided not to meet with him?"

"And he always claimed that we should be on better terms with the Zipple. I used to think he said those things out of spite for my father, but it seems he has been on the Zipple's side for a long time."

"The military, legislative, and executive bodies are all in their hands now. This seems quite grim, kid."

"We should meet with Vitura."

"Did you hear what I just said?"

"I heard it. But unlike the two Pontiffs, you haven't spoken with Vitura yet, have you?"

"My father also hated him. In fact, Sir Vitura used to get on my father's nerves even at official events. My father used to complain and try to leave Sir Vitura out of his banquet invitations."

One had to hate the other passionately if they were to do such things as the leader of a nation, and even more so as the Holy King.

Lani was also influenced by her father. She didn't like Vitura either. No, in fact, she despised him.

Jin looked Lani in the eyes as if he had just come up with something.

"Lani, how did your father treat Pontiffs Montiano and Connieu?"

"Well, obviously, he always had them sit by his side, both at banquets and meetings, and always deferred to their advice in governance. In his free time, he also took walks with them."

"What would you do if you were the Holy Queen, Lani? If the Holy Kingdom was being sold out to the Zipple, completely, like now."

"What?"

"If I were him, I would keep close to my enemy's spies, so that they wouldn't know that I found out. On the other hand, I would remain hostile to anyone who could help me, at least on the outside."

Lani blinked silently but then shook her head.

"That might be possible. But my father used to complain about Sir Vitura very often, even when we were alone..."

"It could be interpreted as his suspicion that there are eavesdroppers within the castle. Of course, it's only a supposition. But it won't do us any harm to find out."

"What if I get captured while visiting him? If Sir Vitura is a puppet of the Zipple, he will undoubtedly detain me. They probably decided that I wouldn't escape because they had my father's life in their hands. But now, they will think that I escaped after killing their biological golem soldiers."

Murakan shrugged at her response.

"Why would anyone worry about being captured when I'm around? Do you think the Holy Kingdom's Knights could ever stop me?"

Lani didn't know how strong Murakan had become. It was to be expected, given that her only memory of him was his struggle to stay alive after being defeated by Kadun.

The question wasn't whether Murakan could overpower Vitura and his knights or not.

"That's not the issue. Let's say you two can overpower the Sacred Knights and escape with me. What happens next? We will be on the most wanted list, and my father, he..."

Lani couldn't finish her sentence.

The Zipple had a single purpose in keeping Lani alive after capturing the Holy King. They wanted to use the image of the beloved Holy King and his daughter, admired by the people of the kingdom.

That's why they wanted Lani to read the consecration message at the Ayula Manifestation Festival as usual, with the discreet threat of killing her father if she didn't do well or caused problems like before.

But objectively speaking, it was highly unlikely that the true Holy King was still alive. They practically had the Holy Kingdom under their control and had the perfect double to play his role. They had no reason to keep him alive.

As for Lani, she was a disposable option they could use until the people turned their backs on her, witnessing her mental collapse.

"My father! He's probably no longer in this world."

Lani understood this fact. She had only ignored it because she didn't want to imagine that possibility. Tears filled her eyes.

She wiped away the tears and clenched her teeth. Tears wouldn't change anything.

"I'll go meet with Sir Vitura, as Lord Jin suggested. But promise me one thing."

"Speak."

"You sound like you want to turn public opinion against them. But if Sir Vitura is a traitor like I believe he is, then it will be impossible to drive them out with nothing but public sentiment. I'm sure that's why you also seek to meet with Sir Vitura."

As Lani mentioned, there was a slight possibility that Vitura was indeed a traitor. And if that was true, Jin had to involve other factions in the matter. He thought of the Hidden Palace or the Nameless. Or he could break Runcandel's code of conduct and seek help from Luna.

Jin was also interested in preventing the Holy Kingdom from falling into Zipple's hands, no matter the cost.

"So, if things go wrong, help me restore the Holy Kingdom after becoming the Flagbearer. With that, I'm asking for more than just you and Murakan. I'm asking for the support of the entire Runcandel Clan," Lani said.

Jin nodded.

"I understand."

Calling Vitura was impossible.

Although Lani was indeed the adopted daughter of the King, in terms of rank, she was only a second-class Knight of the Creed Guardian Society. The three of them contemplated this for a while and finally decided to visit his mansion themselves.

Whether he was a traitor or not, it didn't matter if they met him at the mansion or elsewhere. The result would be the same.

"Well, well. If it isn't Lani Salome! The daughter of his mighty holiness, the Holy King, and the troublemaker from the Creed Guardian Society."

Vitura was arrogantly seated in the center of his vast office, with a mocking smile on his face. Behind him stood the Golden Shield Knights, a group of Sacred Knights under his direct control. They stared fixedly at the three.

"And who are these two?" Vitura asked, pointing at Jin and Murakan.

"They're my friends."

"Friends! Ha! They must be the vagabonds who killed my soldiers in the eastern temple and escaped with you. Huhu, Lani Salome. You see, I've been looking for you. You must read the consecration message a few days from now. You can't just disappear, you know?"

We're finished.

Jin and Murakan immediately thought the same thing.

It seemed that Lani was right. Damn it. To think that the Holy King despised him because he was actually a spy for Zipple. Did the Holy King truly lose his power so helplessly, completely oblivious to everything?

However, Murakan had regained forty percent of his powers, so escaping wouldn't be very difficult.

"You should have known that you could easily incur your father's death by acting this way. It seems you came to your senses while you were busy running away, huh? Nevertheless, you made the right decision. Sit down."

Lani sat across from Vitura with an emotionless gaze. Jin and Murakan stayed in their places, trying to find the best moment to escape.

Vitura smiled as he poured himself a cup of tea.

"Kane."

"Yes, Commander."

The Sacred Knight named Kane stepped forward and responded.

"Take those two and lock them up in the dungeon cells. I have a lot to ask them. And tell the Zipple that we've secured Lani."

"Yes, sir."

Kane and the other three Sacred Knights immediately headed towards Jin and Murakan.

They had surrendered their weapons before entering the mansion, though it didn't suggest that they would have trouble against these knights.

'It's going to be a hassle finding my sword on the way out because... huh?'

A sword emitted a sharp sound as it was unsheathed.

But it wasn't the Golden Shield Knights who had unsheathed their swords.

It was Vitura Veltor, the Commander-in-Chief of the Sacred Knights.

It was the sound of his favorite sword being unsheathed.

And surprisingly, his sword slashed at his own subordinates, who had passed by him.

His single strike pierced through the four necks of the Golden Shield Knights. Their helmet-clad heads fell and rolled on the floor with a metallic sound.

Since the Golden Shield Knights were Sacred Knights under his direct command, they were all skilled Swordsmen of Five to Seven-Star levels.

But there was no way they could block the Sword of their own commander, which was wielded swiftly behind them, especially since the Commander in question was a knight of levels nearing the Nine Stars.

The headless bodies of the Sacred Knights twitched.

"Don't scream, Lani. And seriously, you made the right decision by coming to me. You must have suffered a lot all this time."

Surprised, Lani stood up, but Vitura quickly covered her mouth. Jin and Murakan could only stare at Vitura in astonishment.

The Commander-in-Chief of Vankela's Sacred Knights, Vitura Veltor, was not a puppet of the Zipple.

"Please come forward, Lord Jin Runcandel."

In fact, he even knew who Jin was.