Final Lord

Chapter 314 Undercurrent
When the cuckoo on the gilded clock chimes for the ninth time, the spy returns once more:

"A spy reports! At 9:30, when Pietro left the mansion, his sword sheath was empty—his Crimson Emblem Sword was left in the Duke's study!"

Even more strangely, the two elemental fire pigeons flew simultaneously from the Duke's mansion to the outskirts of the city.

Charlie suddenly crushed the wine glass, the shards of glass mixing with the wine, leaving a blood-like stain on the cashmere carpet.

He was all too familiar with this trick—back when they launched their northern expedition against the Principality of Rock Beach, it was the Crimson Flame Sword Saint who used the same method to simultaneously mobilize the vanguard and the ballista units, thus saving the defeated army at the front.

“I can understand mobilizing the Crimson Flame Guard, but mobilizing… the Flame! Sword! Army!” The king spat out these three words through gritted teeth, his pupils beneath the gilded crown growing even colder. “What is Lord Crimson Flame trying to do?”

At 9:36 a.m., the third secret military intelligence report, accompanied by the rusty stench of blood, burst into the council chamber.

The spy's leather armor still clung to the dew from his night patrol, and as he knelt on one knee, wisps of cold air seeped from the gaps in his armor: "Crimson Flame Guard Captain Gordon rode his thoroughbred warhorse into the Duke's mansion. Fifteen seconds later, Flame Sword Army Commander Morey appeared in the secret passage of the Duke's study."

"Investigate again!" Charlie's voice was already somewhat cold.

"Yes!"

……

At 10:20, the spy reports again!

"The Crimson Flame Guard's armory is distributing Demon-Slaying Arrows overnight."

A sudden clap of thunder boomed outside the window, and the flash of lightning illuminated the detective's deathly pale face in every detail.

His trembling finger pointed to the map of the capital: "The Yan Jian Army, under the pretext of a bandit suppression exercise, has sealed off six core districts, including Emerald Street and White Deer Square—"

The six scarlet marks on the parchment map formed a perfect encirclement, placing the palace right in the center. The spies' report came to an abrupt halt as the twelve crystal chandeliers on the dome of the council chamber suddenly shattered simultaneously, shards of glass raining down at King Charles's feet like hailstones, reflecting the dark vortex churning in his eyes.

"Hahahahaha!"

Charlie suddenly burst into a manic laugh, the sound of which made the crystal chandelier jingle.

"What a loyal and courageous family, the Crimson Flame Clan!"

King Charles's laughter abruptly froze in his throat, turning into a hiss like a venomous snake. His bloodstained fingertips slowly traced the secret report, the winding bloodstains on the parchment writhing as if alive, reflecting an eerie purple light in the candlelight. The still-wet blood droplets suddenly boiled, etching deep, bone-revealing grooves into the paper—burning the words "Crimson Flame" into charred, hollow holes.

The gilded crown's beaded curtain jingled and clattered before his eyes, each crystal bead reflecting twelve awakening figures—the shadow behind the throne was like a veil torn open by an invisible hand, and dark purple evil light surged across the scarlet carpet like a tide.

Twelve suits of jet-black armor emerged from behind Charlie!
The armor emitted a sticky, metallic wriggling sound, and the evil eye gems embedded in the center of the breastplates lit up one after another, like twelve demonic moons rising at midnight.

The armor at the very front suddenly tilted forward, and black mist with a sulfurous smell gushed from its joints. When it knelt on one knee, spiderweb-like corrosion marks appeared on the ground.

Charlie said coldly, "Chi Yanqing is a genius at the Epic Rank 9. I'm definitely no match for him in a head-on fight. The task of protecting me is entrusted to you."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. A muffled sound came from inside the armor. If the Crimson Flame Sword Saint dares to rebel, he will surely not return alive!"

Charlie nodded, walked through the study, and headed towards the palace.

Charlie nodded slightly, the beaded curtain of his gilded crown swaying gently before his eyes. He strode steadily through the dimly lit study corridor, his gilded boots making a dull thud on the scarlet carpet.

The portraits of past stag kings on the walls on both sides are faintly visible in the candlelight, their majestic gazes seemingly watching his every move.

As he pushed open the gilded gate, the night wind carried the distinctive smell of rust from the capital city.

Charlie took a deep breath, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He snapped his fingers, and twelve palace guards in silver armor immediately knelt on one knee, the clanging of their armor ringing out crisply in the night.

"Pass down the order—" Charlie's voice, sharp as an icy blade, was exceptionally clear in the silent night, "Immediately summon Minister of War Howard, Minister of Finance Vladimir, High Priest Albert, and all nobles of earl rank and above in the capital. They must arrive at White Deer Hall within one hour for a meeting."

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the stag-embroidered sword at his waist, and continued, "At the same time, order the entire Stag Cavalry Regiment to don their armor and assemble at Emerald Square, awaiting orders. Have the city defenses strengthen the palace's security, and all arrow towers must be doubled in their anti-magic arrows."

At this point, Charlie suddenly turned around, the moonlight casting a cold, silvery glow on his sharply defined profile. He spoke in a deep voice to the shadows, "Also, send the fastest messenger to Leviathan Fortress, and order the border governor to return to the capital immediately to report for duty."

The captain of the guard was about to take his orders and leave when Charlie added, "Remember, all orders must be sealed with royal sealing wax." His gaze swept across the swaying shadows of the trees in the courtyard, and his voice lowered further, "Tonight, no accidents are allowed in the capital."

As commands spread like ripples, lights began to illuminate the palace. In the distance, the neighing of warhorses and the clanging of armor echoed; the slumbering beast of the Stag Kingdom was slowly awakening.

Charlie stood on the white jade steps, watching the inner city streets gradually illuminated by torches, a meaningful, cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

At this moment, the capital of the Bucks resembled a winding, underground river. The gilded palace lanterns still shone brightly like stars in the night, the babbling of drunkards drifted from the taverns, and the shouts of vendors echoed on the stone-paved streets—in the eyes of the common people, it was just another ordinary night.

However, beneath the surface, the undercurrents had already begun to surge wildly. The Crimson Flame Guard's Demon-Slaying Arrows trembled uneasily in their leather sheaths, while the Flame Sword Army's iron boots silently ground against the cobblestones of Emerald Street;
In the palace cellar, the gems on the chests of numerous evil spirits' armors glowed with an ominous purple light; while the blood dripping from King Charles's fingertips had etched spiderweb-like scorch marks onto the secret letter.

Behind the curtains in the noble district, pairs of eyes were fixed on the unusually frequent messengers on the street. In the Chancellor of the Exchequer's secret room, the clattering of abacus beads could not mask the eerie loss of gold coins; in the Minister of War's sword case, the sword that had not been drawn for many years was now faintly emitting a dragon's roar tonight.

The shrewdest gamblers have quietly put away their chips, and the most astute spies are burning crucial files. Even the carp in the moat have unusually sunk to the bottom.

The duckweed on the surface of the underground river still swayed with the waves, but the whirlpools in the deep water had opened their gaping maws to devour everything.

dong dong dong...

As the clock struck, a flock of crows, startled by the sound, cawed and flew into the sky, disappearing into the night.

(End of this chapter)