Chapter 741: The Bird and the Anomaly
Chapter 741: The Bird and the Anomaly
What a plump bird!
Standing on the balcony of the royal palace, overlooking the garden, a blue-haired young man with a resolute and valiant demeanor couldn't help but smile in satisfaction as he watched the large snow chickens pecking at grains in the garden below.
Previously, Melis had brought these snow chickens from Hexagonal Snow Mountain, insisting on keeping them in the garden. At the time, he had found her choice of pets annoying, wishing he could throw out these fat, noisy chickens that clucked all day long.
However, recently, while she was away on a diplomatic mission, he had the kitchen staff catch a couple of them to cook. To his surprise, Melis had an exceptional eye for taste, as these fat chickens proved to be exceptionally delicious.
Recalling the rich flavor of the stewed chicken he had tasted before, Harvy, the current king of the Northern Kingdom, couldn't help but swallow as his throat twitched slightly.
Hearing strange noises coming from the blue-haired youth, an elder in lavish attire who had just arrived at the door, saw the youth standing with his back to him, and his forehead instantly broke into a cold sweat.
King Harvy had given him a stern order to find the source of the anomaly in the Underground Hot River at all costs. If he failed, the king had threatened to make things "interesting" for him.
Given King Harvy's reputation for harsh measures, not unlike the previous king, the word "interesting" was not an empty threat. Resigning in shame as the Minister of the Pipeline Bureau would be the best outcome for him; otherwise, he might face execution for dereliction of duty.
Despite leading a team to investigate the shallow layer of the Underground Hot River for an entire week, he hadn't found a single clue. That damned river continued to swell uncontrollably, threatening to overflow through the pipeline furnace and flood the city.
Just as the situation reached a critical point, King Harvy summoned him, standing with his back turned, gazing at the pipeline furnace within the palace, which was now spewing water. The king's unspoken message was clear.
"Your Majesty!"
Understanding that he would be punished regardless of whether he took action or not, the elderly man in elegant attire, his legs trembling, stumbled a few steps into the room. With a heavy heart, he admitted his mistake:
"Your Majesty! I... I have failed you."
Hmm?"
Hearing the elderly man's mournful cry, the blue-haired youth, who had been watching the chickens, was momentarily startled. Reluctantly, he averted his gaze from the plump snow chickens and turned back with a smile, saying:
"Sir Isaac, you're being too hard on yourself."
Too hard on myself? What does that mean? Is it that the situation isn't as bad as I thought, or... am I not worthy of such trust?
The elderly man, his heart filled with anxiety, looked up at the blue-haired youth, only to see a gaze more intense than before (yearning for the chicken). His face paled.
It's over. He's clearly speaking sarcastically!
"Your Majesty! I've been doing my best to investigate!"
Recalling the fate of those who had failed in their duties and tried to deceive the young but shrewd king, the elderly man in elegant attire dared not make excuses. He raised his hands, pale from being soaked in the river, and pleaded:
"Your Majesty! I've been in the Hot River for days, sleeping less than three hours each night. I've searched everywhere I could, but although I haven't found the cause of the river's flooding, I..."
You've done your best, and according to the old man, this matter involves the enemies of the Purification Bureau, something beyond the understanding of an ordinary person like you... But do you really need to be this afraid? Am I that unreasonable?
Seeing the elderly man's terrified state, the blue-haired youth felt embarrassed. Clearing his throat, he reflected on whether he had been too harsh on his officials. He walked over, helped the man up, and forced a smile of encouragement:
"Sir Isaac, you misunderstand. I'm not blaming you."
You're not blaming me... Does that mean you think it's no longer necessary?
Hearing the words of comfort from the "Cold-Blooded King Harvy," the blue-haired youth, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, stood before the elderly man in luxurious robes, who, instead of relaxing, grew even paler.
The blue-haired youth, the ruler of the Northern Kingdom, was known for his stern demeanor, harsher than the storms on the Northern Ice Plain and more unforgiving than the glaciers of Hexiao Snow Mountain. While he rewarded capable subordinates generously, he was merciless in punishing incompetence and mistakes.
Even for minor errors, he would summon the offender for a stern reprimand. Yet, faced with a dire situation that could bring disaster to all of Hot River City, he was offering comfort and assurance that it wasn't the elder's fault...
Impossible!
The only explanation for this situation was that either he had gone mad or the blue-haired youth had lost his mind. No, the latter must be it! He must have been driven insane by anger long ago!
Despite the illogical nature of these thoughts, the elder's mind was overwhelmed with tension and fear. His emotions surged, and he strangely ignored all inconsistencies, jumping to a final conclusion.
I'm doomed!
"Sir Isaac, this matter is beyond your capabilities. You can't handle it."
After two attempts to help the elder stand, the blue-haired youth furrowed his brows in confusion. Giving up, he stood and explained, "The situation in the Underground Hot River is unique. I've called upon others who specialize in such matters to handle it. You can go back and wait. Take some time to think about what to do if the pipeline furnace is truly damaged... Dismissed!"
The blue-haired youth, usually cold and distant, showed a rare moment of warmth as he looked at the strange, terrified expression on the elder's face.
However, with his mind in turmoil and blood rushing to his head, the elder's vision blurred, and his ears rang incessantly. He could only make out fragments of the blue-haired youth's words.
"Sir Isaac... you can't... I... found... someone else... go back and wait... think..."
Why? Why me?
The elder, still on his knees, clenched his teeth and raised his head. He glanced at the blue-haired man, whose cold expression declared his death sentence, and then roared as he lunged forward.
To the blue-haired youth's astonishment, the elder's thin, pale hands, wrinkled from the steam, exerted an incredible force, gripping the youth's neck tightly. His fingernails dug into the skin of the youth's neck.
"If I'm to die, you'll die with me!"
"???"
Caught off guard, the blue-haired youth choked as he tried to pry the elder's hands from his throat. With bulging eyes, he struggled to speak, "You... who... said you could die?"
Strangely, in the elder's eyes, the blue-haired youth, despite having his neck constricted, glared back with a sinister vow to exterminate his entire clan!
"Then I'll kill you first!"
As the elder tightened his grip, a commotion erupted below the balcony in the garden. The flock of snow chickens, which had been peacefully pecking at grains, suddenly became aggressive, their well-fed bodies engaging in a vicious fight.
The fat chickens, with unfocused gazes, struggled to find opponents, yet they pecked and clawed at each other, their snow-white feathers turning red with blood, and their combs torn. Their frenzied expressions mirrored the madness in the elder's eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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