Alien world

Chapter 1819, Section 452: Only Annan wasn't laughing.

I was shocked and excited.

Looking out the window at the streets that were almost under martial law, Annan thought to himself, "No wonder our ancestors were willing to go with me."

To warn those who dare to act recklessly?
Whether it's a staged attack or a real assault, now even the most moderate surrender faction has a reason to fight.

……

The courtroom, the shallow dungeon.

Albek had woken up, and a circle of figures stood around him.

If you look closely, you'll find that almost half of the Imperial Cabinet is here.

After Albek finished recounting the story of the ratmen, the imperial ministers remained silent for a long time before a deep, gruff voice finally broke the silence: "And what about the demons?"

The gray mist silhouette standing next to Albek spoke up: "Annan should have already told you about the demons' actions. The demons are building wonders in the snow mountains to turn them into bridgeheads to the abyss."

At that time, the demons, now with a secure fortress, will be able to launch a massive invasion, starting from the snow-capped mountains.

But compared to that, the potential harm caused by the rat people is far more terrifying...

At that moment, Priest Gandhi strode in and whispered in the vice judge's ear, "Annan Reeves has arrived."

However, in the closed dungeon, this whisper was heard by everyone.

"Let him wait outside," the deputy judge said.

Priest Gandhi hesitated: "No one dares to stop them; they're coming this way."

The vice-judge glanced sideways, as did the imperial ministers.

“Our ancestors are here too,” Gandhi quickly added.

The legends of our ancestors need no further elaboration; to the empire, she was equivalent to a deity in the present world, a guardian of the bloodline.

As for why the guardian deity treats Annan differently... well, that's none of your business.

Whether you say Annam is relying on its ancestor's influence or whatever, in any case, the imperial ministers had no choice but to put aside their duties and personally go to welcome the ancestor... and Annam.

As Annan, who was in a wheelchair, walked down the spiral staircase, he saw several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Military Affairs.

"Lady Elies."

"Ancestor."

They bowed to their ancestors, while Annam stood ramrod straight beside them.

The minister, also called the Ancestor and possessing the bloodline of the Golden Family, asked, "Ancestor, what brings you here?"

Seeing the ministers' somewhat jealous expressions, the old ancestor chuckled and patted Annan's arm beside him: "Little Annan said he wanted to come to the court, and I was a little curious, so I came with him."

Who exactly is the true heir to the Golden Family bloodline?
Annan spoke up at the opportune moment: "Is Albek awake?"

The deputy judge nodded: "Please come with me."

Following the vice-judge and a group of ministers back to the dungeon, Annan saw Albek, who was still a ratman, and Prince Aidan standing to the side.

Why do I see this guy everywhere?
Annan even suspected that Aidan might also have the blood of a sorcerer, like himself.

“Albek, you need to repeat yourself,” the deputy judge said.

After performing the kneeling ceremony to his ancestors, Albek got up and began to recount his story from when he infiltrated the rat-man camp.

He was to undergo a priesthood conversion ceremony presided over by the high priest. Ostensibly a ceremony, it was also a thorough examination of Albek. However, the court had already sealed Albek's memories beforehand. The rat-man high priest found nothing, but the rat-man's cunning and vigilance had left something in Albek's mind.

This forced Albek to feign death to avoid the high priest's perception, and then leave the camp with the help of Annan.

The answer to Annan's most pressing question, "What are the rat people looking for in the far north?" was both unexpected and perfectly logical.

Albek said that the thirteen ratman clans were also searching for the Great Horned Rat, and a certain artifact pointed the way north, while the Stoun ratmen had more detailed information: the far north.

Therefore, the High Priest condoned the ratman elders' dealings with the Free City and personally came to the far north to negotiate with the demons.

Prior to this, the Empire had also taken note of a series of unusual activities by the ratmen and demons.

Annan already knew what happened next: Albek, having obtained the intelligence, escaped the Skaven camp under the cover of twelve Black Watch soldiers and met with Annan.

Annan suddenly realized: "So all of you... knew everything all along, and I was the only one kept in the dark?"

The deputy judge said, "Don't blame us, because you weren't in the 'plan'."

The court announced that hanging Blackwatch was part of the plan, and that Albek's feigned surrender was also part of the plan... From beginning to end, there was no place for Annan.

"You mean I was just being presumptuous, not only failing to help but also causing you trouble?"

The dungeon was filled with laughter and merriment. After the ancestor laughed, the important figures also laughed without any regard for their image.

Only Annan was not smiling.

He felt like he had stumbled onto the set of "The Fall of the Mage Tower," with a horde of rats surging towards him. He was prepared to fight to the death, but as soon as he defeated a group of ratmen, they took off their masks and shouted, "Where are the guards?"

Aidan was more gentle and spoke up for Annan: "You can't say that. It's uncertain whether our plan would have succeeded without you, but we succeeded because you came, so you deserve some credit as well."

"When did it start?"

Albek said, "After learning that Blackwatch had been to the Warp..."

"You planned all of this back then!?" Annan felt that he had been harmed by stereotypes.

Who exactly is spreading rumors that the Empire is a bunch of barbarians? If they are barbarians, then what are we, paramecia?

“We were just speculating at first,” Albek said. “The warp is not a material plane, and even fel energy cannot teleport an entire legion into it. We suspect there is some other conspiracy behind it.”

"After His Highness Aidan sent back the message, the Inquisition confirmed this. Just then, you rescued us and planned to have us put on a show."

"So, you're actually a good person?" Annan looked at Aidan, who had been ambiguous before.

"I just wanted to atone for my past mistakes... It was you who awakened me back then."

“You’re smart enough not to offend me, or I’ll tell the elves you’re still alive,” Annan threatened, pointing at Aidan.

Prince Aidan could only manage a wry smile.

Annan could understand why they didn't tell him—Free City was inhabited by ratmen and dark elves, and there were also several succubi and succubi; such a place didn't seem like the kind of place that could keep secrets. If Annan were in the Empire, he wouldn't tell Free City either.

But understanding is one thing, and experiencing it yourself is another.

He ran around trying to save Albayk, working himself to the bone, but now he's telling people it doesn't matter whether he's there or not?
Although they brought back the six-armed snake demon, it wasn't a wasted trip.

“Annan, you are truly remarkable,” Prince Aidan added. “Baron Kin Kelly was an elite member of the Chaos Cult, yet you managed to reform him.”

It would have been better if he hadn't brought it up, because mentioning the old chaotic sects reminded Annan of the tragic state of Greenleaf Town.

(End of this chapter)