The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　This incident may also be a conspiracy among nobles.

　"Um……"

　Theresa thought for a moment.

　After Ramalyn appeared, many people began to condemn her.

　“Before I show myself to argue, Theresa, do you remember who first started blaming the Sarkaz?”

　"...Lady Veronica?"

　"Fool, it's that old goat."

　Lamarle tapped her sister's forehead with her finger.

　"Yes, that old man said that phrase was in the Sarkaz language... Ramaren, is that true?"

　Theresa had heard of Tikaz's language, but she could understand what Qilin was saying, except for that particular sentence.

　“It’s true…it’s the language of the ancient Sorceress’s court…it’s like a dialect.”

　The language is real, and the bone whistle spell is real too...

　That's why Ramalyn couldn't refute those people's questions.

　All fingers are pointing at you; you're the culprit, if not the murderer.

　"Understands the Sarkaz language and knows Sarkaz magic, yet is not a Sarkaz..."

　"Can we go and ask Lord Horn?"

　Theresa looked at Anesse, wanting to know from her what privileges she possessed.

　"Not bad. You girls are very smart."

　Agnès didn't say much, but he made it clear that asking others was not a restriction.

　"Whether or not it has anything to do with that old goat, Horn Hochberg knows the other party better than we do."

　But it's banquet time now, and if they want to find each other, they'll have to rely on the Qilin Overlord's name.

　"Hmm? Okay, I understand... Gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment."

　Horn listened to the whispers of his servants, first apologized to several electors, and then hurriedly left the banquet hall.

　"Ladies, what are the Celestial Venerable's plans?"

　"...We are acting on the orders of the Heavenly Venerable to assist you in capturing those who disrupted the banquet and restoring the honor of the Hochberg family. Lord Horn."

　Since they've already started using the tiger's might to intimidate others, they might as well go all the way and carry on with it.

　Theresa directly linked their missions with the reputation of the other family.

　“I see. I understand. The Hochberg family’s territory will allow the two ladies free passage.”

　"Thank you, Lord Horn. I have some questions I'd like to ask you."

　"please say."

　Theresa organized her thoughts and tentatively asked him what he thought of the old goat and the little deer girl.

　"The Lancaster family, where Lady Veronica lives, has been close friends with the Hochberg family for thousands of years. I watched Veronica grow up. Alas, that poor child first suffered a curse, and then encountered such a terrible thing. I hope it won't leave any lasting trauma on her."

　"Lord Zoros is a learned scholar with profound knowledge of the history of Letania, and therefore he also harbors hatred towards the Sarkaz who persecuted Letania. I apologize to the two ladies on his behalf for what happened earlier."

　"Hmm... Lord Zoros's family"

　Are they allies with the Hochberg family as well?

　"Haha, madam, the Electors of Letania have been in contact with each other since the beginning of the alliance."

　After some awkward small talk, Horn returned to the banquet, citing that he had been out for too long.

　"What a cunning fellow! He's not Elafia at all; he's a real old fox."

　After asking him for a while, this guy's answers were watertight, showing neither hatred nor love. He was completely businesslike, showing no respect whatsoever. I'll report him to the authorities when I get back.

　"No, that's not right... Lamaren. He actually told us a long time ago."

　Theresa frowned, her mind replaying Horn's words, when suddenly she noticed an extremely obvious problem.

　"Ok?"

　"Do you remember the first question we asked him?"

　"remember."

　"He only said that Hochberg and Lancaster were friends, but he was vague about the Zoros family, only talking about how Zoros was a person."

　The so-called love and hate were already very clear from the very beginning.

　"That means..."

　"It's very likely that he was an assassin hired by Zoros... Only someone who is also an elector could remain unscathed in such a farce."

　The purpose was to prevent Lancaster and Hochberg from forming an alliance.

　Finding a lead is a good thing.

　But how do I get in touch with the other person?

　"Perhaps we can find a solution in Veronica and Horn."

　Lamarle thought for a moment and then told Theresa what she had just secretly done.

　“I left a surveillance rune on that Horn to pinpoint his location. If the killer's aim was to disrupt their alliance, then after Veronica's death, when everyone's attention was focused on the Sarkaz…”

　"This is the best time to make a move against Horn."

　After exchanging glances, Theresa and Ramalyn showed expressions of affirmation.

　Chapter Sixty-Four: The identity of the murderer is...

　“…Damn Hochberg!”

　The old goat wasn't cursing Horn for causing trouble, but rather for suddenly finding a mysterious and powerful backer without anyone else's knowledge.

　If he hadn't suddenly produced such a secret treasure, Veronica would have surely died.

　The death of Veronica Lancaster, and the downfall of an electoral family, will become the beginning of Letania's return to glory.

　"The golden melody is above."

　He looked to his left and right, then asked:

　Where are the advisors?

　"Lord Zoros, the advisors are already waiting for you."

　His bodyguard immediately reported the situation.

　"Bring the advisor along..."

　The man in black robes entered the room under the protection of two knights. At a glance, he saw the old sheep who was so anxious that he almost banged his head against the wall.

　"It seems things are not going according to plan, Lord Zoros."

　"...Yes. Veronica didn't die."

　"Not only did they not die, I also heard that two Sarkaz disrupted the plan and shifted public opinion away from the Sarkaz."

　"Yes... even that music emperor protects them."

　The other party was highly respected, and Zoros couldn't forcefully convict the two Sarkaz. Moreover, Veronica, the victim, seemed naive, but after the two Sarkaz appeared, she stopped saying anything about how the Sarkaz killed her or that she had to take revenge.

　While there were reasons why Horn, who was on good terms with her, endorsed the two Sarkaz, the bigger reason was that the little girl's blood had returned to her brain, making her thinking clearer.

　Generally speaking, when an assassin shouts "I am so-and-so, and I want to kill you," the person he is talking about can already be cleared of most suspicion.

　"Advisor, why are you using a succubus as a reason?"

　Although they were both Sarkaz, Zoro couldn't understand the other's last-minute change of heart. Wouldn't it have been better to just pin the title on any Sarkaz, according to the original plan?

　"It just so happened that a banshee was there. So he took advantage of her a little. Wouldn't that make it seem more real? But Lord Zoros, didn't you use the excuse of Hochberg and the Sarkaz colluding to manipulate public opinion?"

　“Of course they did. But they are not ordinary Sarkaz… that banshee is the heir to the Banshee Royal Court.”

　"Oh? The heir to the Deathstroke Royal Court? With her status, how could she be in Letania? Could she have been sent here by those liches...?"

　"Who knows. The key point is the person behind her... Horn and the Emperor clearly know each other. I heard them call each other 'Your Majesty,' could they be foreign royalty?"

　To receive such courteous treatment from Horn, to have the audacity to interfere in the affairs of Letania, and to have the heir of the Banshee Royal Court as a servant—that's all thanks to the Sarkaz…

　Zoros suddenly pulled out a hair from his beard.

　"Why has Lord Zoros gone to such lengths?"

　"Advisor... do you think it's possible... that the Gauls are behind this?"

　Zoros's gaze fell on the advisor in front of him.

　When they arrived, they came from Gaul, claiming to carry Gaulish friendship. Could someone be two-faced?

　"No. Gaul is currently busy consolidating their power and has no time to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries."

　"Oh? The consultant just made that decision?"

　"I know everything, Lord Zoros. Besides, the Banshee's Court has no reason to associate itself with Gaul."

　As for establishing a relationship, given the Gauls' arrogance, they would never consider the Sarkaz as servants. And befriending them was even more out of the question.

　"Um……"

　Since the other party was so certain, Zoros could only put aside his guess for the time being.

　"But who exactly is supporting Hochberg behind the scenes..."

　And there's also the... secret treasure they mentioned.

　Zoros was over seventy years old, and lately he felt increasingly powerless. Yet, Letania remained surrounded by greedy beasts, and this couldn't allow the Letanians to die peacefully to the strains of a requiem. He only wanted to witness Letania's eventual rise to glory. Therefore, when this advisor appeared, he resolved to take drastic measures.

　"It's alright, Lord Zoros. I'll handle this."

　"Then I'll leave it to the consultant."

　After the advisor left, he summoned his attendant.

　"Your Majesty the Celestial Venerable."

　When the Great Emperor returned, the Qilin Overlord was taking a nap.

　What is it you wish to say?

　"Those two little girls before..."

　The Great Emperor pondered for a moment, wondering if dragging himself into this mess was also something the Primordial Celestial Venerable needed.

　“Theresia isn’t stupid. She knows to use my name to exonerate Sarkaz.”

　In the past, Chen Lingxu would have praised her for being clever, but now his interest had shifted from the two little slaves to the person who had created this farce.

　"You saw it too, Your Majesty."

　Yes. I saw it.

　Not only the Emperor saw it, but Anesse and Dori, who were also unaffected by that magic, also saw the person's appearance.

　"The spell that summoned nightmares created a blinding curtain of darkness, and the banshee's bone whistle mimicked the appearance of a Sarkaz... The methods were varied, and the actions were swift, precise, and ruthless..."

　The emperor recounted his actions one by one.

　"This action was probably a last-minute idea. Because she saw what that little banshee, Lamaren, looked like, she changed her plans and pinned all the blame for the assassination of Veronica on the banshee."

　"What do you think her purpose is? To go to such lengths to shift the blame to the Sarkaz."

　The Emperor looked at Chen Lingxu and knew he wasn't really curious, but the necessary answers couldn't be omitted.

　"She probably wanted to use one tiger to devour another. Just like... how she used those ponies to completely shatter the divine people's hegemony."

　The emperor had one more thing on his mind that he dared not say.

　And then there's the most classic moment... driving the beastmen to destroy Tikkaz.

　“Indeed. I knew it; her goal this time was Kazdel.”

　Chen Lingxu knew what she was thinking the moment he saw what she was doing.

　Even if the Emperor had endorsed Hochberg, the situation in Letania would have been completely altered after this 'successful' assassination, without Chen Lingxu's presence.