After returning to Roman Lane,
Leo asked, “What on earth is your relationship with the Undead King?”
Ning Busan said, “Do you really need to ask that? Just use your brain and you'll figure it out.”
Leo lifted his skull cap, pointed at his empty skull, and said, “I don't have a brain right now. Got it?”
Ning Busan rolled his eyes.
“Since you could use the soul core to order them to stand down, I'm guessing you're the First Undead King.” Leo suddenly had a wild idea. “So, once you die, I can follow you and conquer the Undead Realm!”
“Do I absolutely have to die?” Ning Busan asked helplessly. “Can't you wish me some good luck for once?”
“Speaking of which, how did you end up getting involved with my descendant? Louis, cradle-robbing... you're really something!” Leo clicked his tongue.
“But if that's the case, you'll have to call me great-great-great... great-great-great-grandfather in the future.”
“Don't talk nonsense, she and I are just friends. You should worry about yourself instead!” Ning Busan mocked, “The great Emperor Leo, who used to play among thousands of flowers, is now just a pile of bones. I'm afraid you won't have any luck with women anymore.”
Leo never suffered from self-doubt: “What's wrong with being a skeleton? Even as a skeleton, I'm still the most handsome!”
Ning Busan asked, “Is there any way to break the curse on you?”
“I'm already like this, do you think I can still turn back into a human?” Leo said nonchalantly. “At least we're both still alive, aren't we?”
Ning Busan nodded. “Yeah, you have a point. What are your plans next?”
Leo said, “Isn't the Empress you chose about to ascend the throne? Since she's my descendant, as her predecessor, I've decided to teach her some statecraft before her coronation.”
Ning Busan said, “As long as you don't expose my identity, do whatever you want.”
Leo snorted in disdain.
How much longer do you think you can keep this a secret, Louis?
...
The night was as dark as ink.
The moonlight stretched the shadows of the two statues, casting them onto the cold ground like two silent guardians watching over the quiet square.
A figure completely hidden in a black robe slowly walked up to the two statues and sighed with emotion, “As expected of something I carved myself. Truly magnificent!”
The newcomer was indeed Leo.
Leo walked up to his own statue and chanted a low spell, causing a small black vortex to appear on the statue's chest.
He reached inside and pulled out a red crystal.
To be precise, it was a heart encased in crystal, lifelike and completely intact.
Leo's jaw parted slightly, revealing neat, cold teeth, as if in a silent sneer.
He stuffed this heart, along with the soul core, into his own rib cage.
Having done all this, Leo slowly turned around.
He seemed to sense something. Tilting his head slightly, the ghostly green flames in his eyes suddenly flared up with greater intensity.
But he did nothing, merely pulling down the brim of his hat and quietly slipping away like a ghost.
The Central Square was empty once more, with only the wind swirling a few withered leaves around the bases of the statues.
Ning Busan stepped out from the shadows, his dark eyes as calm and indifferent as a deep, stagnant well.
If he were Louis, he would have believed every single word Leo said without reservation.
But he was Ning Busan.
Ning Busan did not fully trust this undead who had been asleep for ten thousand years.
...
The palace.
News of Novalia's upcoming coronation had already spread throughout the empire, and even the date had been set.
Worried that something else might happen, Ning Busan paid a special visit to the palace.
Novalia was pleasantly surprised. “Why are you here?”
“Just came to see you.” Ning Busan asked, “No unexpected incidents in the palace, right?”
“None.”
“What about the King? Any updates on his end? Has the Demon King of Greed appeared again?”
“He hasn't shown up again. As for the King...” Novalia paused, then said, “The Queen sent people to rescue him once, but they failed. The entire palace is under my control now.”
“That's good. By the way... has Leo been coming over often to guide you lately?”
“Yes. Emperor Leo truly deserves his reputation as a wise man. His insight and wisdom are far superior to mine. Just a few pointers from him make me feel like I've benefited immensely.”
As she spoke, Novalia's eyes shone with genuine admiration for Leo.
“It seems you two are getting along quite well.” Ning Busan smiled. “There's one more thing. I mentioned before about having the King write a decree of self-reproach. Has he done it?”
“...Not yet.”
“What about the abdication decree?”
“...He hasn't written that either.”
Ning Busan said, “Since I'm already here, let's pay him a visit together and get this resolved.”
It wasn't that Novalia was soft-hearted. After all, she was the King's biological daughter; she couldn't exactly hold a sword to her own father's throat.
Humans in this world still valued filial piety quite highly.
Inside the palace, the candlelight flickered, casting a glow on the King's pale, twisted face.
He sat on the throne, his gaze locked onto the blank scroll before him as if it were a sword hanging over his head, ready to sever his dignity and power at any moment.
Upon seeing Ning Busan and Novalia, the King gripped the armrests tightly, his knuckles turning white from the exertion.
The King roared, “I will never agree to abdicate! If you have the guts, kill me!”
Ning Busan walked forward slowly, asking with a smile, “Do you think I wouldn't dare?”
The King looked at Novalia, his voice so sharp it almost pierced the air. “Novalia! Not only did you commit matricide, but do you want to commit patricide now too?”
Ning Busan paused in his tracks.
He remembered William mentioning this before, and felt like he was about to witness some serious drama.
“Shut up! You have no right to mention her!” Like an enraged lioness, Novalia rushed forward and grabbed the King's collar. “You don't deserve to mention her at all.”
“Haven't you always wanted to know how your mother was poisoned?” the King said. “If you're willing to kill Ning Busan, I'll tell you.”
Novalia gritted her teeth and asked, “Was the poison that killed my mother actually administered by you?”
“If it were really me, would you have found absolutely nothing back then?” The King leaned forward slightly, speaking urgently.
“I'm not lying to you. As long as you kill Ning Busan, not only am I willing to tell you the truth, but I'll also write the abdication decree immediately.”
Novalia let go of him, her voice filled with suppressed rage. “I don't need you. I will uncover the truth myself.”
The King's eyes were bloodshot. “Novalia, Ning Busan is the murderer who killed your brother!”
“Instead of thinking about avenging William, you're running around with his killer! Are you not ashamed to face your brother?”
Novalia sneered and countered, “When William sent demons to kill me, did he ever treat me like a sister?”
She knew all too well how biased this father of hers was, so her emotions didn't fluctuate at all—she didn't even feel disappointed.
She had long since given up hope, so how could she be disappointed?
Rate on N.U.
