https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-763-Lanchi-s-Final-Shadow-World-Challenge/12585301/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-764-Shadow-World-The-Eternal-Punishment-Unending-Part-2-/12585303/
Chapter 764: Shadow World: The Eternal Punishment Unending (Part 1)
Chapter 764: Shadow World: The Eternal Punishment Unending (Part 1)
The warm afternoon sun bathed the grand Salem Palace in a golden glow.
Lanci slowly opened his eyes, taking in the sight of the ornate carved wooden doors that stretched before him, forming a corridor. The scent of polished wood from the antique furniture and the fragrance of fresh flowers filled the air, while the sparkling crystal chandelier cast a kaleidoscope of colors that danced upon the golden-rimmed porcelain and silver cutlery on the dining table.
"..."
Lanci leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the unfamiliar yet familiar dining hall.
He had returned to the Northern Empire of Pelant, where he had once served as prime minister.
This was the residence of the Emperor of Pelant, the Salem Palace.
Originally built as a grand urban mansion for a certain duke, it had later been acquired by the royal family and gradually expanded over the years into the majestic structure it was today.
The dining hall of Salem Palace held a special memory for Lanci, as it was where he had once shared a meal and held talks with Empress Kexia.
After experiencing a chaotic darkness, the first rays of dawn piercing through layer after layer of shadow, his vision gradually returned to light, revealing this familiar yet long-unseen setting.
The Cat Boss was comfortably perched on his lap, while Ace, the Mad Demon King, remained with him, their connection unbroken.
"It seems that in the timeline of the Shadow World, I've been in the Pelant Empire for quite some time now," Lanci mused. "Even my familiar, Little Black Coal Ball, can be summoned at any time."
"Who's Little Black Coal Ball, meow!" The Cat Boss protested.
Little Black Bread Bun had endured Lanci's previous choice of name, assuming it was a mere whim, but now it seemed that the name had stuck.
"Where are we?" Talia's voice echoed in Lanci's mind.
"This is the Pelant Imperial Family's dining hall... It's not a fixed tradition in the Empire, but rather one of the informal meeting formats in Pelant's constitutional democracy. It provides an informal setting for the Emperor and the Prime Minister to discuss important national affairs and policy matters in a more relaxed atmosphere." Lanci explained to Talia.
In the constitutional system of the Pelant Empire, Empress Kexia played a largely ceremonial role, while the actual administrative power rested with the Prime Minister and their parliament.
Lanci's head remained still, his gaze moving around the dining hall, taking in every detail that bore the marks of time's passage.
His field of vision was somewhat obstructed, as if something was blocking a large portion of the light.
On the walls hung paintings depicting the most brutal historical battles, as if engraving the nation's past glory and suffering upon the very fabric of the palace.
Judging from the changes in the details of the dining hall, many years had likely passed, yet everything about Salem Palace remained strikingly similar to his memories.
Even the talks with the empress remained unchanged.
Empress Kexia maintained a deep interest and influence in national affairs, and the prime minister's regular reports to the emperor were a longstanding political tradition of the Pelant Empire.
However, this time, he no longer carried the scent of tobacco, and neither his pipe nor his matches were anywhere to be seen.
More importantly, he was no longer dressed in the black suit of a prime minister.
Instead, he wore... a white outfit?
Before long, Lanci's attention was drawn to a framed item hanging on the wall.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a painting.
It was a newspaper, dated three years ago.
Even after all this time, it had been cherished by the empress, framed, and hung in Salem Palace—
"[Holy Pelant Theocracy, Year 611, January 8th, Front Page of the Pelant Morning Post: 'The Surrender of the Honing Empire, The End of the Century-Long War']
[Pelant News: Yesterday, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Alex Osborne, accepted the unconditional surrender of the Honing Army at his headquarters, the Northern Iron Fortress of Oberron.]
[After nine years of war, the Southern Honing Empire's dictatorial regime has finally crumbled, and the continent of Sevilia welcomes the dawn of peace.]
[Prime Minister George Te Weifuli gave a speech: 'After countless sacrifices and arduous struggles, we finally usher in the dawn of victory. The threat of the Honing Empire has been completely vanquished, and justice has triumphed over evil. Let us pay our highest respects and gratitude to all the warriors and people who participated in this great endeavor.']
[On the 30th of last month, Honing Emperor Rukewuke II committed suicide. The Allied Forces subsequently advanced from the eastern and western fronts into the heart of Honing, pushing the Honing Army back at every turn, capturing large numbers of enemy soldiers, and finally forcing their surrender under the overwhelming might of the Allied Forces. Honing Foreign Minister Hansen Hoffman signed the surrender document on behalf of the Honing Army.]
[This marks the end of the century-long war that has ravaged the continent for nearly thirty years.]
[The capital, Helsalem, and the Allied stronghold of New Sinox, among other places, erupted in mass celebrations, with people singing and dancing in joy. Helsalem Palace Square was filled with revelers, singing the national anthem in celebration of Emperor Kexia's victory. Prime Minister Te Weifuli and the royal family waved to the crowd from the palace balcony, and even the Holy Pelant Pope attended this grand celebration.]
[Through this unprecedentedly cruel war, the Pelant Empire has paid a heavy price to defend freedom, justice, and humanitarian values. However, the wounds of war will take time to heal, and the task of rebuilding is daunting. May the post-war order, guided by the principles of the 'Oberron Convention', ensure that such tragedies never recur, and may the flower of peace forever bloom on the continent of Sevilia.]"
Lanci scanned the walls, taking in the newspapers and artworks cherished by the empress, and slowly pieced together this new timeline.
Twelve years had passed.
Nine years after the Pelant Empire, together with the Demon World and the Northern Nations, officially declared war on the Vampire Honing Empire, they had achieved a hard-won victory.
Three more years had passed since that victory.
The newspaper then went on to describe another event: during the post-war elections, everyone believed that Wilford would win. His campaign rallies were unprecedentedly grand, and even the intelligence agencies in the Demon World thought that Wilford would triumph with a majority of over 80 seats.
But Wilford lost. The enthusiastic crowd was actually bidding him farewell.
After years of war, military service, sacrifices, bombings, death notices, rations, and famine, the people were weary.
Seeing their ravaged homeland, the people felt lost, while Wilford's campaign platform remained ideological, asking the people to continue striving and highlighting Pelant Empire's obligations and duties.
But the people were tired.
Wilford asked for more sacrifices, but the people had already given so much in 602.
This was a manifestation of the people's waning morale in the post-war elections.
Instead of the responsibilities of a major Northern power, the people needed food rations to be relaxed, more lenient fiscal policies, and more public housing.
So, when Wilford stood before them after the war, a gentleman of the Pelant Empire, a leader during the conflict, asking the people to embrace the nation's greatness and shoulder its responsibilities, they applauded him enthusiastically.
His defeat, then, became a glorious moment immortalized in the reportage.
"So, I'm no longer the prime minister," Lanci thought with a sense of liberation.
He wasn't very surprised by this outcome.
"Why?" Talia protested in his mind.
"Because the people are suffering," Lanci gently explained to Talia. "No one wants to endure more hardship, and they shouldn't have to."
Prime Minister Wilford's exit was quite respectable.
He remained true to his principles, and the people showed him their gratitude.
Moving further to the right, the wall no longer displayed the reportage on copper-plated paper but instead returned to a few memorable oil paintings.
They depicted the most important moments in the Pelant Empire in recent years.
The largest painting depicted a central figure clad in a luxurious white robe; an elderly pope with a golden crown on his head and a scepter in his hand. His silver-white mask exuded an aura of authority.
He stood on a high platform made of marble, with dragons in the clouds blowing horns. Below him knelt the nobles and commoners of the Northern nations. The pope blessed them, while Empress Kexia, kneeling on one knee, received his blessing.
The pope's right hand rested on the empress's head, and in his left hand, he held a copy of the 'Trinity Canon'. He bestowed true imperial power upon the wise and courageous empress who had led during the war.
Seeing this, Lanci understood one thing.
Strictly speaking, this place could no longer be called the Pelant Empire.
Its new name was—
The Holy Pelant Alliance.
Led by Pelant, this alliance included neighboring countries like the Kingdom of Bliss, the Kingdom of Fucklo, and the Kingdom of Edis, all Northern continent nations that had formed a union after the war.
Empress Kexia remained the emperor.
But the Pelant Empire now had an additional figure—the mysterious Holy Pelant Pope.
Lanci found himself at such a juncture, entering an entirely new Shadow World.
"Meow."
However, the Cat Boss was still curiously examining the newspaper.
It discovered that the Pelant Empire had successfully abolished the constitutional monarchy and the bicameral legislature, restoring imperial power and the concept of divine right after the war.
The former Prime Minister of the Pelant Empire had retired.
Some said his health had deteriorated, and he could no longer fulfill his duties. Others claimed that in times of peace, his presence was more harmful than helpful. There were even rumors that he had been a ghost from the start, his name and identity mere disguises, as if he were a messenger sent by the gods to save mankind.
No one knew the truth behind the perpetually masked, white-haired pope.
His true identity beneath the mask—
"Your appearance remains that of a youth," Empress Kexia's light voice startled the Cat Boss on Lanci's lap, making its fur stand on end.
It had been so focused that it hadn't noticed her arrival.
At some point, Kexia, the empress of Pelant, had entered the dining room.
She sat in her usual place—across from Lanci.
"Your Majesty Kexia," Lanci set the cat aside and prepared to stand up to greet the empress, who had just entered.
Twelve years had passed, and the once-young Kexia was now approaching forty, exuding maturity and warmth while retaining her captivating beauty.
"No need to stand on ceremony," Empress Kexia said gracefully, extending her hand to indicate that Lanci should sit at the other end of the long table.
Her demeanor exuded nobility, her satin brown hair adorned with dazzling jewels, and her clear blue eyes seemed to see through the silver-white mask on Lanci's face, though they also conveyed a sense of cautious distance.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lanci bowed slightly, and the hem of his cloak drew a light arc on the carpet before he sat down again.
He lifted his head and met the empress's gaze.
The dining room fell silent, filled only with the ticking of the clock and the crackling of the fireplace.
Despite the warmth of the fireplace, the dining room exuded a wintry atmosphere, with frost mist creeping in through the windows, and no birds in sight.
The two sat in silence, as if waiting for a meal, or perhaps choosing their words carefully.
As the sovereign of a nation, Empress Kexia rarely had opportunities for such private conversations, apart from necessary public appearances, due to her busy schedule.
Following the customary practice of a former prime minister, Lanci should have been the first to initiate the conversation, briefing the empress on the parliament's policy directions, domestic and foreign developments, and future challenges.
But times had changed, and this lunch was no longer the same as their previous meetings between emperor and prime minister.
It was more like...
Just a meal between old friends.
After a moment, Lanci broke the silence with a sudden question, startling both the empress and the Cat Boss perched in his lap.
The Cat Boss vaguely remembered that the first time Lanci met Empress Kexia in the Salem Palace of the Shadow World, he had asked the same question.
Are you so used to Tata that you see everyone as Tata?!
The Cat Boss suspected that Lanci's database had been contaminated ever since his dates with Tata, and now even when facing a normal girl, he subconsciously associated "dating" with "eating," as per Tata's rules.
"Hmm."
This remark caused Empress Kexia to chuckle softly.
Last time, they had been silent because they were unfamiliar with each other. This time, they were silent because they knew each other too well.
But he still started with that opening line.
"It seems the Pope still has a hearty appetite?"
The empress replied with a playful question of her own after a moment's thought.
A hint of amusement played on her beautiful face.
"On the contrary, I had a good breakfast, and now it's already lunchtime. Instead of eating, I think it's more important to have a good chat with Empress Kexia."
Lanci shook his head, a tired smile playing at the corners of his lips.
He had already figured out that the man in the painting, wearing a white robe and a mask, was himself.
As for the Cat Boss, it was so startled that it jumped up in surprise.
It looked up at Lanci in his white robe and the silver mask on his face.
He's really the Pope?!
This guy has become a religious fanatic!
"You're being especially polite today, just like when I first met you. It makes me quite nostalgic."
The empress lowered her head and replied,
"What, have you given up? Or do you really plan to retire this time?"
Her expression softened as she spoke sincerely to Lanci.
"... "
Lanci remained silent, not quite understanding what Empress Kexia meant.
Empress Kexia's eyes shone with insight as she gazed at the enigmatic man she had known for over a decade.
"Lanci, I'm glad to see you again. Every day, I worry that I'll hear some bad news about you.
(End of Chapter)
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