Stop hypnotizing me, villain princess!

Chapter 254 The Farce Ends (6k)

No one knows who started it, but someone suddenly had the idea to tear off a bed sheet from their home, write the four words "Lynn is innocent" in crooked shape with charcoal, tie it to a long pole, and rush to the front of the parade.

Unexpectedly, this simple flag ignited the emotions of the entire city.

"Hurry up, hurry up..."

Old John at the tailor shop was practically smoking from his sewing machine when Lynn killed the real limb-splitter, Burghman, which was tantamount to avenging him for killing his son.

In Old John's hands, the white cloth was transformed into flags, and neighbors spontaneously gathered in front of his shop, some helping to cut the cloth, others writing on it.

If you were to look down from above at this moment, you would see the entire Grossing Tower being swallowed by white.

In Cleric Square, white flags fluttered in the wind like snow; on both sides of the street, residents opened their windows and hung white cloths on their balconies.

The march grew larger and larger.

"Lynn is innocent!"

"Release the heroes!"

"..."

Ultimately, the outcry for Lynn's innocence swept through every street in Grossteen like a tsunami.

The Cleric Square had now been completely transformed into a sea of ​​white. The guards responsible for maintaining order looked at each other in bewilderment, their spears unconsciously lowering their sharpness.

Even Saint Laurent VI, seated in the main seat, was momentarily stunned by the spectacle. Sunlight filtered through the intertwined branches of the sacred tree, casting dappled shadows on his face, obscuring his expression.

But his right hand, which was resting on the armrest, trembled almost imperceptibly.

More than twenty years have passed since Saint Laurent VI ascended the throne.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled the words his father, Saint Laurent V, had spoken to him earnestly on the day of his coronation—

"Public opinion is the sharpest sword."

So many years have passed, and to be honest, he doesn't really have a deep understanding of that statement.

Only today did he realize that the words his father had said to him back then seemed to have truly come to life.

However, given Saint Laurent VI's status and position, even if he were momentarily distracted, no one would notice. Just a short while later, he put on the mask that read "Emperor" again.

Meanwhile, Marquis Fred, sweating and looking embarrassed, looked at Bishop Connor after realizing something was wrong.

Clearly, he never expected that even at this point, things would take an unexpected turn for the better.

No one could have imagined that even in such a perilous situation, the boy would still find the only way to turn the tide among countless dead ends.

Not only them, but at this moment, Bishop Connor's fingernails were completely dug into his palms. Even though his expression remained calm, he could not hide the boundless anger in his heart.

Although they had long been prepared to kill Lynn in advance, they ultimately failed, and everyone's stance shifted to one side.

"Haha, everyone get ready to spend your money."

Unlike most nobles who wore silent, distorted expressions, Marquis Matthew appeared unusually excited and agitated.

Before the trial at the Sacred Tree began, he made a bet with everyone that Lynn would not die that day.

According to the bet, those who bet that Lynn wouldn't be able to leave here alive today would have to lose 10,000 gold coins to him.

"Don't be too happy yet. Although Lynn was not the actual limb restorer, it is an undeniable fact that the Fourth Prince died at his hands."

Lady Olivia said through gritted teeth.

“That’s right. Even if His Majesty can overlook Lynn’s assassination of Councilor Blake, the crime of murdering a prince is still unforgivable.”

The Marquis of Saxton clenched his fists, his face clearly showing his unwillingness.

Upon hearing this, Matthew's lips curled into a mocking smile, his gaze sweeping lightly over the flushed faces of every nobleman present.

"Everyone, we've come this far, there's no need to deceive ourselves anymore."

"Using the Fourth Prince's life to offset the horrific disaster brought by Kushustan's rampage in the capital, what do you think His Majesty would choose if given the choice?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding nobles were immediately speechless and fell silent.

Based on their understanding of Saint Laurent VI, it's likely that His Majesty would actually choose to sacrifice the fourth prince, Joshua.

Moreover, public opinion is already boiling over, with the citizens of Grossington pleading for Lynn's innocence.

Some nobles with a conscience also joined the ranks of those advocating for Lynn, led by the esteemed Elector Duke Tyrus.

In a sense, this is already a formidable force that cannot be ignored.

"That's great, that's really great!"

Seeing that Lynn's seemingly hopeless situation had taken a turn for the better, Eleanor and Afia wept with joy.

Judging from the current situation, there is a high probability that Lynn will be acquitted.

Hilina, however, narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze lingering on Lynn for a moment before letting out a meaningful chuckle.

"Lynn, oh Lynn"

Her voice carried a hint of amusement, but also a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe, as if she were watching a meticulously crafted drama.

Based on her understanding of Saint Laurent VI, she knew that under the current circumstances, Lynn would certainly not be sentenced to death.

Just when almost everyone thought Lynn was able to escape this calamity, another unexpected event occurred.

"Please wait a moment."

As Bishop Connor's calm voice rang out, the entire hall fell silent once more.

He thought everything was foolproof and that Lynn would die in Cleric Square today, but he never expected such a dramatic turn of events.

Fortunately, besides ordering Lynn's assassination, he had another backup plan.

However, it requires him, the one who has been manipulating things behind the scenes, to step into the limelight and completely reverse public opinion.

"Everyone, please be patient!"

The clergy accompanying him, with their rebukes imbued with the power of superhumans, instantly quelled the commotion in the square.

Archbishop Connor walked slowly toward the judgment seat, each step accompanied by a heavy thud of his scepter striking the bluestone floor with a dull "thud...thud".

The sound echoed across the square like a divine prelude, gradually synchronizing with the heartbeats of everyone present, causing people to unconsciously hold their breath and instantly fall silent.

When he reached the front of the stage, he first humbly bowed to Saint Laurent VI. After receiving the other party's approval, he slowly turned around and faced the countless people below the stage.

“Gentlemen,” Bishop Connor’s voice echoed throughout the city, “the Tree of the Holy Spirit has indeed performed a miracle, revealing the truth of the matter to us.”

"Indeed, Lynn was not the limb-splitter Burshman. Many people misunderstood him. He took the initiative, risked being infamous, and even sacrificed his life to take down the King of Cruelty together to prevent the disaster from engulfing Grostine."

"This feat is equally worthy of praise, even celebration!"

When Bishop Connor mentioned Lynn's "self-sacrifice" and "risking his life," a cheer even erupted from the crowd.

Some of the young girls even hugged each other excitedly, tears welling up in their eyes. Old John, who was pressing the sewing machine, stopped, and a hopeful light appeared on his wrinkled face.

"Even Bishop Connor says so, it seems Lord Lynn will soon be acquitted?"

The citizens whispered among themselves, their voices filled with anticipation.

However, just as everyone was filled with anticipation, waiting for Bishop Connor to declare Lynn innocent.

"but--"

"This does not mean we can easily trust someone who has committed a serious crime."

Bishop Connor suddenly raised his voice and slammed his scepter heavily into the ground. A visible shockwave emanated from him, instantly silencing all other sounds.

"The Trial of the Sacred Tree also revealed another truth to us." His voice suddenly turned cold. "During the trial, we clearly saw that Lynn and that cruel king seemed to have a hidden past."

Bishop Connor deliberately slowed down his speech, making each word carry a heavy weight.

At the same time, the sacred crystal at the top of his scepter began to emit a soft light. This was the "faith resonance" that the Tenri Church had inherited for thousands of years, which could subtly influence the emotions of the audience.

Under his instigation and influence, some commotion did indeed arise in the crowd, and many people began to question Lynn.

Bishop Connor, pleased with this scene, continued, "Not only that, but the incredible abilities Lynn displayed in the battle were ones I had never even heard of before."

"How could a young man born into a fallen noble family, with no extraordinary background, possess so many forbidden powers?"

At this point, the Cleric Square erupted in uproar.

Of course, these people were mainly loyal believers of the Church of Heaven, and to them, Bishop Connor was God's spokesperson.

As for those who had initially supported Lynn's innocence, some remained steadfast and unmoved, while others seemed to have wavered. The atmosphere in the square gradually became strange. The supporters of Lynn looked at each other, their joy slowly replaced by confusion.

"What a cunning old fox."

On the high platform, a cold glint flashed in Hilina's eyes. She had probably guessed Bishop Connor's purpose: he had no intention of letting Lynn go.

"That old bastard!!!"

Afia and the others were so angry they gritted their teeth, wishing they could tear Bishop Connor apart with their bare hands.

As Bishop Connor gradually steered the tide, Saint Laurent VI did not speak out to stop him, and naturally no one else dared to object.

"Of course, none of the above are the most crucial."

“The most puzzling thing is—” Bishop Connor’s voice suddenly lowered, “that night in the Soren Mountains a few months ago, when Lynn was just a mortal as far as I know, I’m very curious how he managed to survive the fierce battle between the Creation Demon and the King of Cruelty, two high-dimensional demons?”

This question was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the last bit of enthusiasm in the square.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes turning to the young man who had not yet stepped down from the judge's bench.

"That old codger is really insidious."

Lynn's gaze met that of Bishop Connor, but he still appeared calm and composed.

He understood the fatal nature of this problem better than anyone else—any reasonable explanation would point to that forbidden name, and once the existence of the witch was exposed, it would not only ruin him, but also implicate everyone connected to him, and even the sleeping Yves, who might be directly imprisoned by Saint Laurent VI.

“Lynn Bartholomew.” Bishop Connor stepped forward, his scepter pointed directly at Lynn’s forehead. “I demand that you answer this question before the Tree of the Holy Spirit, before His Majesty, and before all the people of the city!”

At the same time, the crystal at the top of his scepter suddenly emitted a blinding red light, forming a strange rune that hovered above Lynn's head. That was the "Truth Shackles," a secret technique used by the Church of Heaven to prevent those on trial from lying.

Clearly, Bishop Connor is not going to let Lynn leave here alive today.

Lynn was well aware that once the truth was exposed, the hard-won hope of turning the tide would vanish once again.

His chances of turning the tide are now extremely slim.

Because by then, he will be the enemy of the whole world.

As the biggest villain in the whole book, the Witch is far more terrifying than the King of Evil.

If the world knew that Lynn was connected to her, Lynn would surely be labeled and branded as a devil.

It's ironic that before the title of savior could even be spread, he was about to become a demon's henchman.

At this moment, the silence in the square continued to build, and every second felt like a year.

Bishop Connor's wrinkles smoothed out, revealing a confident smile. He knew all too well the devastating power of this question; no matter how Lynn answered, he wouldn't escape the carefully woven trap.

However, Lynn did not intend to sit idly by and wait for his doom.

While the "shackles of truth" of the Heavenly Principle Church are indeed formidable, its liars are no less so.

Especially now, Lynn, who can use a small portion of the End Authority, is even more adept at controlling the Liar Eaters, and his abilities have improved by several times compared to before.
"I"

However, Lynn was about to defend himself against the deadly question posed by Bishop Connor.

The next second, another unexpected event occurred!

This time, it seems even fate disapproves of the Church of Heavenly Principle's ways, or perhaps this mysterious and unknown force is on Lynn's side.

Suddenly, the Tree of the Holy Spirit, which had just finished its trial, burst forth with boundless radiance!

Thousands of golden specks of light, like a shattered galaxy cascading down, each speck of light leaving a trail of light across the night sky, weaving together a flowing golden veil that enveloped Lynn in this dreamlike shower of stars.

Bishop Connor's scepter clattered to the ground, his face filled with disbelief; even Saint Laurent VI, seated on his throne, unconsciously leaned forward, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

This scene may seem familiar to some, especially to Hillina. Not long ago, the Tree of the Holy Spirit had also shone with a similar light, bestowing upon Shia the identity of "savior hero," and causing Hillina to fall in love for the first time, experiencing the feeling of her heart racing for the first time. This eventually led to Shia proposing to her.

According to the prophecy, the Tree of the Holy Spirit will only respond in this way to beings of high moral character and fearless beings with the will of saints.

Sylrina had always believed that Shia was the destined hero, that he was upright, brave, and honorable, perfectly embodying the church's definition of a "saint."

But now it seems that the Tree of the Holy Spirit has reacted similarly to Lynn.

Upon closer inspection, she discovered that ancient runes were even beginning to emerge within the light—a phenomenon never before seen in the long history of the Tree of the Holy Spirit!

The commotion in Cleric Square grew increasingly violent, with countless people kneeling and praying to the gods.

At the same time, the radiance emanating from the Tree of the Holy Spirit reached its peak.

Countless rays of light converged into a pillar of light that reached the heavens and the earth, completely enveloping Lynn.

As the light gradually faded, everyone witnessed an incredible scene—a golden mark had appeared on Lynn's forehead.

That is proof recognized by the Tree of the Holy Spirit, more convincing than any words!
"?!"

This sight caused Hilina's body to tremble involuntarily.

There's no other reason than that it's too familiar.

Just a few days earlier, on that very night, the same Proof of Heroism had appeared on the man who claimed to be "from 100,000 years in the future."

Not only that, but I don't know if it's just my imagination.

Hilina felt that the radiance emanating from the Holy Spirit Tree was now even more dazzling than that of Shia.

As these thoughts flooded her mind, some subconscious changes occurred deep within her, and even the engagement ring that Sia had given her now seemed somewhat gloomy.

At this point, Bishop Connor's face turned ashen, completely devoid of his previous impassioned demeanor.

Not to mention the likes of the Marquess of Saxton and Lady Olivia.

Lady Olivia was perhaps a little better off, since she had no real grudge against Lynn; she simply disliked Yves.

But the Marquis of Saxton is different. He and the Bartleyon family are sworn enemies. Now that Lynn has gained the approval of the Holy Tree, no one can stop his rise. When that happens, his family will inevitably face the most thorough purge.

After all, he did a lot of things to kick someone when they were down after the Bartleyon family fell from grace. Lynn may not know these details, but his sister Eleanor has written them all down in her little notebook.

Of course, at this moment, the Marquis of Fred was even more desperate than the Marquis of Saxton.

He and Bishop Connor meticulously planned and prepared one contingency plan after another, thinking they could completely crush Lynn. However, they never expected that even the great wonders of the country would approve of Lynn's actions.

That dazzling, holy light not only washed away all the stigma surrounding Lynn, but also served as a resounding slap in the face of these conspirators.

Even the Church of Heavenly Principle, the first church of the Saint Laurent Empire, is no longer qualified to pursue the matter further.

Because the will of the sacred tree is above all else!
To defy the will of the Sacred Tree is to be at odds with the very foundation of the Saint Laurent Empire's faith and with the will of the Holy Spirit who has protected this land for millennia.

Things have come to this point in a way that has surprised everyone.

Even Lynn himself.

At this moment, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the figure who remained seated on the throne.

Lynn stood in the center of the judgment seat, his back ramrod straight. Even with the approval of the sacred tree, he remained surprisingly calm and composed.

Because he knew better than anyone else that in the Saint Laurent Empire, the ultimate power always rested in the hands of the one on the throne.

"It's time for this farce to end."

Hilina looked at her father and murmured to herself, seemingly showing no sign of anything amiss.

Even she couldn't quite understand what her father was thinking at that moment.

The next moment, Saint Laurent VI slowly raised his right hand, a simple gesture that made the entire square hold its breath.

Just moments before, the emperor had planned to imprison Lynn for a period of time on the grounds of "murdering a prince." After all, the dignity of the royal family could not be desecrated, even if the other party was a hero who had saved the capital.

But at this moment——

"In the name of the Saint Laurent family," Saint Laurent VI, in the prime of his life, declared in a booming voice, "I hereby declare that Lynn Barthelon..."

He paused deliberately, then glanced at the ashen-faced nobles before continuing:
"Not guilty!"

These two words were like a spell to break the spell, and the Cleric Square, and indeed the entire Grossing, instantly erupted in cheers that made the fountain droplets tremble, and countless white handkerchiefs were thrown into the air like snowflakes.

Old John knelt on the ground and wept bitterly, proclaiming His Majesty's wisdom, while also genuinely rejoicing for Lynn.

Although he had never met Lynn before, Lynn had avenged the murder of his son, and to old John, Lynn was his benefactor.

Finally, when everything settled down, a weary smile appeared on Lynn's lips.

Bathed in the cheers of the crowd, he walked straight toward the viewing area, his pace quickening.

His sister Eleanor, already in tears, ran towards him, lifting her skirt, along with Afia and Milene.

The next moment, everyone hugged each other tightly, cheering and celebrating Lynn's survival!
(End of this chapter)