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“I’ve already covered for you, what are you doing here?” Xerath floated in the air, looking at Renn as if he were a dead man.

"I'm just here to remind you to keep things quiet. If you provoke your enemies, I might not survive, and you probably won't fare well either. I heard you're not going to die, but you can always be sealed or something, right?" Renn said with a hint of threat in his voice.

“I know these things better than you do,” Xerath replied calmly.

"That's good." Ryan said, turning to leave. He had only come to check if his bait had escaped. S.H.I.E.L.D. and Xerath were both baits in his plan. Once those two were released, those guys would definitely not have time to deal with him, and he could easily escape.

After Renn left, Xerath seemed to have listened to him and stopped making a fuss. He floated in mid-air and quietly looked in the direction of the stairs.

Beneath the secret chamber, beneath materials mixed with vibranium that Rein trusted implicitly, pale blue magic circles were operating normally, drawing magical energy from the base's underground veins and transmitting it into Xerath's body via remote transmission.

If this barrier were made entirely of vibranium, Xerath would really have no way to stop him. But since it only contains a small amount of vibranium, it still wouldn't stop him. The abilities of a legendary member of the Witchcraft Society are not limited to simple electric discharge.

Chapter 117 Where Did King Arthur Go? (Bonus Chapter for First Subscription)

"Boycott the release of the movie 'King Arthur'!"

"The Celts are not worthy of being heroes of the British Empire!"

"King Arthur was a coward! He didn't dare to say anything even when his wife was stolen from him!"

A large group of protesters marched down the street, holding signs with the words "King Arthur" crossed out with a big X and chanting slogans in a completely disordered manner, effectively blocking the entire road.

These people are the citizens of the United States, driven by public opinion, and they are even more outrageous than the masterminds behind the scenes; they don't even want the movie to be released.

Just as they were getting tired and taking a break, another group of people came from another street holding signs.

Just when both sides thought the other was an ally, their eyes swept over the sign the other was holding up.

On one side, there was a big cross over the words "King Arthur," and on the other side, there was a big cross over the words "Saxon."

That's right. No matter how public opinion is guided, there will always be opponents. Whether they are doing it for the sake of being different or because their ancestors were Celts, these people are protesting the government's inaction and the metaphors of Celtic heroes in the official statements.

After staring at each other for a few seconds, the two sides immediately began shouting loudly, as if whoever had the loudest voice would win the encounter.

However, the number of opponents was significantly larger than that of supporters, and the supporters' voices were quickly drowned out after only a few shouts.

Just then, a stone flew out from the crowd of supporters and hit the opposing sign.

In an instant! The entire situation escalated, turning from a verbal dispute into a physical conflict. It's only because firearms aren't as prevalent in the United States as they are in the United Kingdom that a gunfight could have broken out.

Just as the two sides were locked in a fierce battle, an inconspicuous figure crept out from the supporters' ranks, preparing to flee.

Whoosh! A thick steel bar grazed his face and shot into the wall next to him.

Before the troublemaker could react, a figure darted to his side, grabbed his neck with one hand, lifted him up, and slammed him against the wall.

The energy flowing from his palm immediately entered the troublemaker's body, locking him in place and stabilizing his vital signs, ensuring he could not commit suicide.

"Speak! Who instructed you to stir up trouble!" Lanlost stared intently into the other's eyes, his expression as if he wanted to devour him.

"We've searched the area, but there are no accomplices. It seems this is a suicide mission. Lanlost, be careful not to kill him, otherwise it will be even harder to find out who is plotting against the King."

Gawain landed behind Lanlost and spoke to him, having jumped from the rooftop and landed without making a sound.

When the assassins saw Gao Wen jump from the rooftop, which was dozens of meters high, they realized that the people in front of them were the mysterious figures their boss had mentioned.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'll make him talk. If he doesn't, he'll have a hard time dying."

As Lanlost was about to unleash his power, a surge of energy suddenly erupted from the assassin's soul, directly dispelling the control Lanlost had placed over his body.

Lanlost's arm also received a shock, and he instinctively pulled back a few meters.

Sizzle... Boom!

As soon as he retreated, blue lightning crackled across the assassin's body before blasting him into a firework.

Looking at the dead soldiers, who were reduced to ashes, Gawain shook his head, not wanting to say anything. He had said he would take over the control duties, but Lanlost refused. Now look what happened.

"It's alright. At least we've obtained some information. The person behind this is probably a mage, and they're using arcane energy. I've already noted the fluctuations. I'll send them to the Clock Tower later to see if they have any records there."

Gawain comforted the gloomy-faced Lanlost, "Besides, there's an even bigger march tomorrow, and I'll keep these guys in check then."

Lanlost nodded, but didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, five spirit orbs fell directly from the sky, surrounding the two of them in the middle.

Gawain and Lanlost reacted swiftly, summoning their weapons and instantly donning their armor, ready to face any enemy.

The sound of the scepter striking the ground came through the air.

Zhao Ling'er, holding the Nuwa Staff, approached Gao Wen and the other person.

Lanlost immediately recognized the woman in front of him as Zhao Ling'er, the wife of the head of the Shu Mountain sect and one of the most outstanding members of the Nuwa clan in modern times.

In that case, the five spirit orbs that trapped them must be one of the most precious treasures, the Five Spirit Orbs.

"Zhao Ling'er! Why did you trap us?!" Lanlost asked sharply. He was certain that Zhao Ling'er was not one of the masterminds behind this, not only because the systems were completely different, but also because if the Heavenly Court or Shu Mountain really wanted to target Artoria, they wouldn't have waited until now, let alone resorted to such methods.

“The situation in the Kingdom of John has attracted much attention, and I am here on behalf of the Heavenly Court to resolve these matters,” Zhao Ling’er said softly.

"This is the Kingdom of John Bull! It's the territory of the Knights of the Round Table! I appreciate your concern, but you've overstepped your bounds!"

Lanlost remained in a defensive stance, even though he estimated that he wouldn't last more than a few moves against Zhao Ling'er, who possessed a supreme treasure.

"Lanlost, it seems we've also broken away from the Knights of the Round Table..." Gawain whispered behind Lanlost.

Lanlost glared at Gawain. What was this guy up to at a time like this?!

“The Silver Knight is right. Only Artoria has the right to question me now. Where is she?” Zhao Ling’er smiled at Gawain.

She had heard that Gawain, the Silver Knight of the Knights of the Round Table, was a bit of a ditz, and now that she had met him, it was indeed true. For someone thousands of years old to still have this trait, she really didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot reveal the king's whereabouts without permission!" Lanlost refused decisively.

Gawain paused, wondering if they knew where King Arthur was. "No," he replied.

Could it be that they all knew but just didn't tell me? That would be incredibly unfair.

Just as Gawain was about to ask about Artoria's location, Lanlost seemed to know what he was going to ask beforehand, nudged Gawain with his elbow, and mouthed to him—Shut up!

Seeing their expressions, Zhao Ling'er knew that these two former members of the Knights of the Round Table were probably also looking for their king, so she raised her hand and put the Five Elemental Pearls back.

"I apologize for my rudeness. If you are able to meet King Arthur, please tell her that the bigger picture is more important."

"Of course, it's not about asking her to repay evil with kindness, but rather that such things can be done in secret rather than in the open, which makes things easier to handle."

Zhao Ling'er continued, saying that she really supported Artoria purging the current United States, as long as it wasn't done in public.

Chapter 118 Merlin as a Passerby

While everyone else was anxiously searching for Artoria, the protagonist was leisurely strolling through the streets of Northern Ireland in casual clothes.

Sniff sniff~

Artoria suddenly smelled the aroma of batter and green onions, and her nose twitched involuntarily.

Turning her head to look in the direction from which the smell was coming, Artoria saw an old woman fiddling with something on an iron stove, holding a rectangular wooden stick in her hand.

"Auntie, what are you doing?" Artoria, her mouth watering by the aroma, walked over and looked curiously at the pancakes turning from raw to cooked on the griddle and the pile of ruined pancakes next to them.

"It's a snack I learned to make from a vendor when I traveled to China. It's called Jianbing Guozi. Would you like some? Give me one!" The old lady enthusiastically took out a prepared pancake from the box next to her.

Artoria took the jianbing guozi. It wasn't very well made; the outer layer of the jianbing was torn, and the filling and sauce had spilled out, but it still smelled delicious.

Artoria took a bite, and the crispy pasta, mixed with sweet and spicy sauce and diced meat, burst in her mouth, incredibly delicious. The potato strips mixed in also suited Artoria's taste perfectly.

"How is it? It tastes good, right?" The old lady seemed to know Artoria very well, and before Artoria had finished eating, she put two more pancakes on her plate.

"No, thank you, I can't eat that much." Artoria waved her hand politely.

"It's alright, young people are still growing, eat more and don't worry about gaining weight," the old lady said with a smile.

This harmonious scene was quickly broken by shouts and cheers as the Northern Irish march passed through the street in front of them.

Seeing this scene, Artoria slowed down her chewing speed considerably.

Although most of the people who walked past her were still her supporters, the fact that she was marching was not a happy thing for her.

"Hey, these people don't do anything productive all day, they just shout slogans here, are they disturbing you?" The old woman put down her tools. "Don't worry too much, there are relatively few conflicts around here."

"..." Artoria was silent for a moment, "Auntie, what do you think of the King Arthur they're arguing about?"

"How do you judge? I don't really know." The old woman rubbed her hands together on her apron. "But when evaluating a person, you have to consider the historical context."

"Hmm." Artoria felt a little down.

"In that era, the population of the United Kingdom of John was small, and it faced both natural disasters and man-made calamities. Odin's Asgardian army, the sword of Damocles, was also hanging over their heads. King Arthur's role was more military. As long as she and her Knights of the Round Table were there, the people did not have to fear waking up the next day to become slaves from commoners, nor did they have to worry about their savings being wiped out overnight."

The old woman leaned against the stove, tilted her head and looked at Artoria, saying, "When a country is small and force plays an absolutely decisive role, a dignified, unsmiling king with absolute authority is essential."

"However, with the evolution of the times, this one-man rule model has been gradually eliminated in the world of ordinary people. The role of the king should be more about management and setting the general direction. No matter what, it is impossible for one person to know all aspects of knowledge."

"Therefore, communication has become one of the most important skills. Simply put, a king who speaks his mind like before, keeps a cold face and keeps his distance from his subordinates, and does not communicate is no longer suitable for this era."

"Even on the mystical side, with the increase in personnel, the ancient kings are no longer suitable for this era. It's too much of a personal heroism for one person to bear all the responsibilities, isn't it?"

Artoria slowly turned her head and looked at the old woman who was just like any other ordinary person.

The old woman seemed to think Artoria hadn't understood and continued, "Those Knights of the Round Table who temporarily left weren't blaming the King's decision. They just wanted the King to realize one thing: the times have changed, and one person no longer needs to bear everything. That would be too tiring and inefficient for the King and for everyone else. Besides, one person no longer has that ability; a collective..."

At this moment, Artoria suddenly punched the stove, smashing it in two.

Whew! The old lady, who had narrowly escaped the attack, patted her chest, looking like she had just gotten away with it, and was still marveling at her good luck.

"Little sister, what are you doing?"

"Merlin! Stop pretending!" Artoria resumed her serious demeanor.

Do they really think she's stupid? An old woman on the street would know about things from two thousand years ago? And know so much about them?

She even knew that the Knights of the Round Table left because of one of her decisions, and very few people on the mystical side knew all of this.

Just think about how someone can bypass their own senses, know themselves so well, and still manage to disguise themselves as a passerby to spout profound truths.

Artoria could only think of one person like that.

That's Merlin, utterly tasteless!

"Oh dear~ I think I've said too much~" Merlin returned to his original appearance. "Little Lia, it's been a long time. Last time I came to visit you, you wouldn't let me in. I was heartbroken for many years."

Artoria took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to use the Sword of Victory to kill this shameless guy with a single strike.

"Didn't you join the Clock Tower? What are you doing back here?!" Artoria glared at her angrily.