Uncle here isn't your average office worker!

Roy sighed deeply. In the past, he wouldn't have even had to think about such things. If the sky were to fall, Xuan Tie, that tall guy, would naturally hold it up. Even if Roy had humiliated most of the Business Federation's board members in a single match, almost tearing the sky apart, Xuan Tie would have helped mend it. Unfortunately, such a protective boss was nowhere to be found now.

Perhaps mistaking Roy's sigh for something else, the usually taciturn and aloof beauty Skadi surprisingly spoke up:

"It's okay, I'll give you a push next time too."

Roy was stunned for a moment before realizing that Skadi was referring to the push he hadn't been able to react to when the Witch King launched his first sneak attack.

Without that push, Roy wouldn't have been seriously injured and near death, but he would definitely have lost the initiative in the attack and wouldn't be as relaxed as he is now.

Skadi's current statement was undoubtedly a signal. This was the first time Roy had received pure goodwill from Skadi outside of a mission. His previously somewhat gloomy mood brightened considerably, and he nodded, saying:

"Then I'll have to trouble you with the future."

After speaking, Roy paused, as if waiting for Skadi's response. But half a minute passed, and Skadi simply stared at Roy expressionlessly, showing no sign of taking the bait. This made Roy feel quite uncomfortable.

The atmosphere is a bit awkward. I guess I underestimated Skadi. She definitely won't fall for such an obvious trap.

"Alright, we've already been dragging this out for quite a while. Miss Ye Tan and Miss Margaret told us to wait here. Let's go back first and not let them find out."

Breaking the silence, Roy, carrying the unconscious silver-haired girl who was the instigator of the explosion, turned around and walked back the way they came.

Skadi finally reacted, snapping out of her silence and following behind Roy, her eyes slightly unfocused, lost in thought.

He had only taken two steps when a slightly annoyed voice shouted to stop him:

"You two, please stay!"

Holding a black cane, his slender figure wrapped in a thick black trench coat, and wearing a silk top hat, he looked more like a noble gentleman than a scientist—Lussel von Stenberg blocked Roy and Skadi's path not far away. Behind him stood none other than Margaret and Nightfall, who had followed them all the way.

There was no more noise, no more singing, and no more of the mysterious and powerful Originium Arts fluctuations hidden within. Russell's expression was as black as coal, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He stared at Roy's tattered protective suit, his chest exposed, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by a fiercer rage. He shouted:

“People of Rhodes Island, how dare you enter my experimental site without my permission! You have violated the laws of Letania, and I will file a complaint with the City Council to have your office expelled from Violet City.”

"Before you have completely angered me, put down the body you are holding now, and I can allow you to leave with dignity."

He has never liked to resort to violence. Although he prides himself on his magical skills being no less than those of some well-known tower sorcerers, since he can achieve his goals by using the rules in a fair and dignified manner, why resort to violence that damages his appearance?

He considered Rhodes Island insignificant, but he didn't believe this diversionary tactic was Rhodes Island's idea. He was more convinced that Rhodes Island was being used as a pawn by someone with ulterior motives. The two women were trying to stall him while this man stole the body; their target was also the Witch King. Could the mastermind be another faction, also descendants of the Witch King?

The possibility that the twin queens secretly orchestrated this cannot be ruled out. Those two seemingly respectable usurpers, while remaining tight-lipped about everything concerning the Witch King, diligently studied his documents, his magic, and the secret of his ascension that he had kept hidden until now. They might not be entirely without ambition regarding their own research—of course, they wouldn't be foolish enough to believe that everything they did was absolutely safe. Even in this "Lawless Land" of Violet City, the emperor's authority was merely hidden in the shadows; they still existed, undiminished.

Even if Rhodes Island was insignificant, he couldn't allow an organization that had jeopardized his grand plans and could potentially be exploited by others to continue operating openly in Violet City. They had to be eliminated; that was a done deal in his mind. As for the man before him, if he was sensible and obediently relinquished his possession of the Witch King's descendant, then Russell wouldn't want to waste time arguing with such a minor figure. If he wasn't, then the process of Rhodes Island leaving Violet City and even Letania might not be so dignified.

Roy naturally noticed Margaret and Nightfall behind the middle-aged man who was robbing people on the road. Feeling a little guilty, he avoided their surprised and questioning gazes. Just as he was about to ask who this aristocratic-dressed bandit was, Skadi drew her sword first.

"give it to me."

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke softly, her tone brimming with confidence. As if deliberately trying to impress Roy, she added:

"One minute is enough."

Luselle was provoked.

Veins bulged on Russell's forehead. One minute? Never before had anyone dared to so blatantly disrespect him, a pure-blooded Lythanian magic master.

He raised his hand, and the cane he never parted with was actually a specially made magic wand. A flash of blue light appeared, and a gale arose, gathering at the tip of his wand into a vortex like a tornado.

At the touch of a hair.

Volume One: Chapter 188 Golden Laws and Guardians

The wind howled, whipping up rubble and dust, as if a small sandstorm had been unleashed.

Roy was somewhat surprised. Russell had quite the temper, too. Skadi was straightforward, but why was he so quick to resort to violence? Weren't the Letanians supposed to be polite and elegant? Shouldn't you be more courteous to a lady?

Well, scholars who worship the Witch King and even resurrect him are probably not very normal. It can only be said that if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too, and they worship the Witch King.

He didn't really want to clash with Russell here. It wasn't that he couldn't beat him; Russell wasn't some kind of mechanical monster like an inside guard. If it came down to a fistfight, Roy wouldn't even need to lift a finger. Ten Russells might not be a match for Skadi. Sometimes, the difference in statistics is just that dramatic. But judging from Margaret and Nightshade's expressions and their earlier hints, Russell clearly had some kind of background, which made things different.

As the saying goes, it's better to mess with a gentleman than a petty person. Given Russell's narrow-mindedness, there's no guarantee that a mere flick of the finger from Roy now wouldn't result in a full-blown brawl tomorrow. Roy can act so arrogantly in Kazimierz because he also has powerful backers. But this is still Letania territory, and Roy's entry permits were obtained through connections. If he offends them, they might call in the police—or rather, the government. He doesn't want to put his usually friendly fan, Ye Tan, in a difficult position.

Should we hand over this readily available descendant of the Witch King?

Although Roy was reluctant, he figured there wasn't much to lose. He didn't know Originium Arts and had no desire for the Witch King's insane magic. The girl was cute, and had silver hair that suited Roy's tastes, but she was still the enemy who had just tried to kill him. Even though it was the Witch King possessing him, he still felt a bit uneasy. It was the same reason Roy felt uneasy about Talulah before his transmigration. Even if you have your reasons and your initial intentions, we just had a fight, a life-or-death battle, and my people were injured and killed here. Even if you suddenly come back to life and repent, I can't just accept you like that.

Fine, take it. I don't want to get involved in Letania's mess right now. I'm here to wait for Rhodes Island. I need to prioritize. I'll give it to you to build a good relationship. You never know when it might come in handy.

Besides, who says I can't just report it when I get to the island? The Twin Queens would probably be interested in you and a little girl who's been possessed by the Witch King, right? I just wonder if there's a reward for reporting it.

After a very realistic weighing of the pros and cons, Roy's face immediately showed a peacemaker's smile. He reached out and gently patted Skadi's shoulder, deliberately speaking in a voice that Russell could hear clearly to soothe the situation:

“If the two countries can make peace without fighting, then Mr. Roussell should just hand this person over to us. Why resort to force and cause unpleasantness? Don’t forget, we still have things to do.”

These words were ostensibly addressed to Skadi, but if Russell hadn't lost his mind, as someone who could speak for himself in the Citizens' Council, he would naturally understand Roy's meaning.

Skadi had no doubts upon hearing this; in her heart, promises were the most important. One was Roy's promise to her to find the other Deepsea Hunters, and the other was her promise to Roy to protect him in the future. She would take action for the second reason, and after hearing Roy's words, she was naturally willing to back down for the first reason as well.

Without any warning, Skadi sheathed her sword as if it were the most natural thing in the world, looking at Russell with an innocent gaze, which made Russell, who was still holding his staff, feel a little awkward.

Although he didn't say it outright, he was genuinely on edge. His wind spell wasn't actually prepared, but rather already released. Normally, a person under such a spell should be blown around and unable to stand, but after secretly looking around, he saw that Roy and Skadi in front of him, as well as the seemingly ordinary Margaret and Nightshade behind him, were all completely unaffected. They weren't even swaying or reacting at all.

These guys are all ridiculously strong. It seems like they're being a bit impulsive by resorting to violence, and things might backfire!

Lussel felt a surge of panic. Fortunately, the other side seemed to think he was just in a standoff and hadn't actually started fighting yet, so they hadn't made a move. Otherwise, his lifelong reputation would probably have been ruined here today.

Now that Roy had stopped his female companion from making a move, he breathed a sigh of relief. His staff, which he had been holding up for show with a slight tremor, was finally lowered as Skadi did, no longer needing to be held back. A relieved smile appeared on his face.

“What this gentleman says is right. Hand over the bodies you have to me, and I will naturally not make things difficult for you. Not only that, I can also help you mediate with the City Council. Rhodes Island is a qualified and legal medical company that has made many contributions to Violet City. A few mistakes should not affect our cooperative relationship.”

Why are you suddenly so agreeable? You weren't this compliant just now. I still prefer your rebellious self.

Roy couldn't quite figure out what the guy in front of him was thinking. But it didn't matter; this outcome was undoubtedly acceptable to everyone. Russell took the girl away, Roy helped Rhodes Island solve a problem, and Rhodes Island didn't get involved in Letania's chaos too early. Everyone got what they needed and everyone gained something.

He carried the girl in his arms, walked forward, and placed her on a large ruined wall a few steps away from Russell. Russell nodded, indicating that Rhodes Island could leave on its own, and was eager to take her over. However, before he could touch the girl, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, landing not far in front of him and forcibly stopping him in his tracks.

Russell looked up at the source of the power spell.

In the heart of the city, where the Violet City Council is located, beyond the iconic, majestic Spell Tower of Letania overlooking everything, a golden-grey figure stands atop the tower, gazing upon this place.

The figure was draped in a dark gray robe, with a mysterious gilded magical mark on his chest. His face was covered and hidden by a golden mask, and on his head was a particularly eye-catching, huge, jagged horn that was completely different from that of ordinary Letanians.

"Golden Law Guardian".

Russell's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. Roy, with his back turned, showed an expression that suggested he had expected this.

From the very beginning of his battle with the Witch King, he could sense the mysterious gaze emanating from the tower. He guessed then that it might be the Twin Queens' spies hidden within the city. Yet, even when he encountered Russell and nearly clashed with him, he remained completely silent. His plan was clear—he wanted to wait for Roy and Russell to weaken each other, then eliminate the two who knew the secret and reap the benefits.

Regardless of his strength, Roy would never let him have his way.

Now that Roy and Russell seem to have reached a consensus and made a deal, this man finally couldn't sit still any longer.

“People of Rhodes Island, the City Council allows you to move freely within Simon Avenue to help the injured. Afterwards, you can come to the council to claim reimbursement. As for Mr. Russell, please come to the tower and explain tonight’s ‘accident’.”

Volume 1: Chapter 189 The Empress: I'll go take a look

Letania, the voice of the Queen.

All the kingdoms of Terra have their own capitals, except for Letania. The existence of the elective monarchy and the struggle between the seven electors meant that the country never had a city that could be called a capital, at least not before the Witch-King.

As many of the Witch King's remnants claimed, before the Witch King was placed on the throne by the seven Electors, no self-proclaimed wise Letanian could have imagined that a monarch could truly elevate what was mostly a symbolic position of suffering into a truly supreme one. The Witch King's power allowed him to break a millennium-old boundary. During his reign, Letania was no longer a fragmented entity; it had a capital, a unified government, and a complete system of governance, rather than a state within a state where the various Elector territories levied tariffs on each other.

He concentrated all power in his own hands and used extraordinary magic to monitor the entire territory of Letania. Especially after the War of the Four Emperors, the prestige and rich war profits brought by defeating Gaul made him almost transform Letania into a centralized state.

Unfortunately, a nation built on the shoulders of one person can inevitably crumble in an instant when that person falls.

The Witch King's reign of terror and his short-sighted ambition ultimately led to the worst possible outcome. Unwilling to relinquish power, the Electors took a desperate gamble, choosing the seemingly impossible task of assassinating the King. The secrets surrounding this event have now been erased from history; people can only know from the annals that on that day, the supreme Witch King fell from his tower, his eerie and dangerous horn severed and held aloft like a trophy by the Twin Queens. From that moment on, Letania was freed from the nightmare that had haunted it for nearly a century.

After that, the Twin Queens abolished almost all the laws of the Witch King's era, the Electors regained their power, the newly built cities were exiled to the border, and the capital, the political center of the Witch King's reign, completely lost its status and became an ordinary city. In its place was a super-large landship that the Queen used to tour the entire territory—the Queen's Voice.

Although it also had considerable political significance, it ultimately lacked all the elements required of a capital city. If one had to describe it, it was more like a temporary palace for the Yan emperor during his tours, merely a luxurious residence with a group of soldiers.

"That's why I'm so wary of every remnant of the Witch King's faction. They may no longer be able to cause any trouble, but what they possess is exactly what I need."

A graceful lady sat before her dressing table, her mature and elegant face reflected in the mirror. Her voice was steady, and her description of the Witch King's remnants made them seem like a disorganized rabble unworthy of much attention. Only the glint in her rose-red pupils sent a sense of danger through the air.

She didn't turn around; the curtain behind her separated her from Jin Lufawei, leaving only a blurry golden figure of him.

"What do you think should be done about Russell and that child?"

She asked, as if seeking the opinion of the Golden Lawyer.

The Golden Law Guard, dressed in a gilded grey robe over light knightly armor, felt a surge of pressure and answered without hesitation:

"Interrogate, then kill."

"He probably won't say anything. Russell is a tough nut to crack. He dared to conduct those forbidden experiments openly in Violet City, not because of his loyalty to the Witch King. He has someone else backing him..."

The blonde, elegant woman seemed to have thought of something; her voice suddenly stopped, then turned into a long sigh:

"Ugh......"

Seemingly sensing the deep helplessness in that sigh, Jin Lufawei couldn't help but say:

"Your Majesty, please trust in the loyalty and ability of Jin Lufawei. We will risk our lives to protect you from all dangers."

The woman addressed as Her Majesty simply shook her head slightly.

It wasn't that she didn't trust the loyalty of the Golden Law Guards she had personally selected. But she was also well aware that their abilities were far from sufficient.

What were the Witch King's guards like back then? They walked through the cities of Letania, known as the Black Death. Even the Elector's army had to give way to them. Their magic was so powerful that they could even manipulate the heavens and unleash lightning.

But what was the result? The Witch King is still only able to be briefly resurrected using the body of a descendant girl, and he was even angered to death on the spot by a Kazimierz who illegally entered the country.

The current strength of the Golden Law Guard is far inferior to that of the Electors' Legion of yesteryear, let alone the Electors who divided most of his legacy and remained hidden after the Witch King's death. She, the Empress, seems to be walking on thin ice. The so-called flexible political maneuvering and diplomatic measures touted by the outside world, and the great power image of Letania that she maintains, are nothing more than what the Witch King forged back then. Ultimately, the word "mediation" is, in a political sense, almost synonymous with "compromise."

Only at times like this would she feel a touch of nostalgia and admiration for that tyrant. At least he was the only emperor in Letania who didn't have to be subservient to others.

In the long silence, her fists clenched and unclenched several times, and the golden empress finally decided on her course of action: