Chapter 846: Ceremony or Execution? (Part 1)
Chapter 846: Ceremony or Execution? (Part 1)
What's going on? Why hasn't Magpie returned yet?
From the early morning until the sun reached its peak, the Blessing Monks performed seven rounds of blessings with their chests exposed, yet there was still no sign of Magpie. The Tale of Illusions' brows furrowed tighter and tighter as the wait continued.
According to the "plot points" he had set, Magpie, in the form of a white cat, should have been on stage by now. The Sorcerer King was about to hand the crown to the "false queen" when Magpie, in the form of a white cat, was supposed to pounce and snatch the crown, disrupting the ceremony and delaying until White Serpent delivered the gloves.
However, the Sorcerer King had already risen from his bed and completed the ritual incantations for the Sorcerer King's Ritual. He was about to transfer the crown containing the Great Hall's Heart. If Magpie didn't make it back in time, this plot point would be missed.
What's more, Magpie wasn't a "locked" target. He had voluntarily entered the story as a "resource" by putting on the sleep cap. Aside from sensing that he was alive and still providing "fuel" for the Bedtime Story, his control over Magpie was weak.
Unless he was willing to give up the power Magpie offered and turn him from a "resource" into a "target" like the God of Food, he couldn't force Magpie to follow the story. He could only wait for Magpie to slowly make his way back... What if Magpie had fled at the last moment?
"Residents of Arcane City, members of various societies, and citizens of Mystical Kingdom!"
Just as the Pyramid Sorceress, the embodiment of the Tale of Illusions, was considering whether to slightly alter the story to lower the binding strength and skip the crown-stealing plot point, a loud voice from the temporary platform in the center of the square interrupted her thoughts.
"Please maintain silence."
The main officiant, his face painted with brown, solemnly surveyed the surroundings before announcing with gravity:
"Next, Princess Caitlyn will receive the crown from His Majesty King Bingsaier in front of the guests, completing the most crucial part of the ceremony..."
Is it starting already?
The Tale of Illusions followed the voice and saw that the Sorcerer King had already completed the process. With a smile, he removed the crown from his head and placed it on a silver tray lined with luxurious silk cloth. He was personally applying the red and white facial markings to Princess Caitlyn.
Having witnessed the Sorcerer King's Ritual many times, the Tale of Illusions knew that this was the final step before inheriting the Sorcerer King's position and inheriting the Great Hall's Heart. Once the facial markings unique to the Sorcerer King were applied, the ritual would be complete.
If Magpie didn't make it back before that, not only would this plot point be skipped, but even the Bedtime Story he had set up would be on the verge of collapse due to missing crucial conditions!
Damn it, Magpie! I'll have to stall for now!
The Pyramid Sorceress closed her eyes slightly and assessed the situation around her. She leaned against the outer wall of an inn and took out the storybook representing the Tale of Illusions. She slowly closed her eyes.
Immediately, a smoke as black as ink flowed out from between the pages of the open storybook. Taking advantage of everyone's focus on the ceremony, it drifted along the dark corners and shadows of the alleys, heading towards the main platform.
Perfect! As long as I get the crown, I can keep stalling! Until Magpie returns!
Below the main platform, a black raven materialized. With a flap of its wings, it soared towards the tray holding the crown. Amidst the crowd's exclamations, it snatched the wooden crown, now gilded with gold, and soared into the sky!
Hmm? Wooden?
"Bang!"
Lionheart Prince took out a sniper rifle from the mirror world and blasted the raven and the fake crown above his head. As he wiped his beloved rifle with a handkerchief, he explained to the confused main officiant, "It's just an encore. Don't mind it."
"But... the crown..."
"Here, take it."
With a casual gesture, Prince Leon produced the real crown and handed it to the stunned High Priestess. With a mischievous grin, he explained, "The Great Witch King is getting on in years, and her cervical spine isn't what it used to be. This pure gold crown weighs several pounds, and I was afraid it would hurt her old neck. So, I made a fake one as a gesture, and you can just continue with your duties... Oh, and by the way."
Looking up at the raven that was reforming in the sky, Prince Leon gently pushed the High Priestess aside from the center of the main platform. He then waved to the guards standing on either side of the platform.
"Let's pause the ceremony for a moment. Bring everyone up here!"
"???"
Amid the bewildered gazes of tens of thousands of people in the square, the guards brought up several dozen individuals whose hands were bound with ropes and heads covered in black hoods.
"Excuse me."
Removing the badge that amplified his voice from the High Priestess's chest and attaching it to his own collar, the Evil Prince stepped forward in her place. Facing the confused and questioning eyes of tens of thousands, he announced, according to his role in the bedtime story, with a face full of malice:
"Taking advantage of the time when the Great Witch King is drawing the facial tattoo for Princess Kateline, I want to use this opportunity to announce a verdict and deal with some despicable criminals who dared to resist me!"
Verdict? Criminals?
The people of Arcane City were baffled by this sudden pronouncement, looking at each other in confusion, not understanding what was happening. But the raven, whose body had reformed above the main platform, was startled and then looked at the "criminals" with eyes wide in horror as they struggled incessantly._
1, 2, 3... 39_
There were thirty-nine criminals, tied to wooden stakes by the guards, their heads covered in black hoods, from which incessant moans could be heard. This number matched the number of true gods he had summoned! Could it be... Could it be that...?_
"Alright, take off their hoods!"
After glancing at the circling raven above, Prince Leon ordered the guards to remove the hoods of the "criminals" while secretly signaling to the attendant beside him to seal off the square and not allow anyone in or out until nightfall.
As the guards removed the hoods, the attendant, having received the order, mixed in with them and stepped down from the main platform. The Evil Prince, with a calm demeanor, approached the first "criminal" and pulled the rag out of his mouth.
"You damn lunatic!"
The first "criminal" seemed to have some backbone, and his first words after regaining his ability to speak were full of crazed shouting.
"You think you've won? The True Gods are immortal! Even if you capture me, it's only..."
"Bang!"
Prince Leon, amidst the shocked cries, shot the first criminal in the mouth with the barrel of the sniper rifle, blowing half of his skull away. Without changing his expression, he pronounced the verdict:
"His original charges are not worth mentioning. The current charge is for howling at the execution ground and openly obstructing the course of justice... And now, for the second one."
"You bastard! How dare you?!"
The second "criminal" looked at the first wooden stake, which now had a large hole in the back of its head, and shouted in anger as the rag was pulled from his mouth:
"You despicable human! A short-lived species like an ant! You lowly..."
"Bang!"
"The charge is for insulting the executioner, and... for using an outdated translation style."
After wiping the barrel of the gun on the second prisoner's clothes, Prince Leon, amidst the terrified gaze of the third criminal, or the third True God, pulled out the rag that was stuffed in his mouth. Frowning, he asked with some dissatisfaction:
"Why aren't you talking? If you don't speak, how can I convict you?"
(End of Chapter)
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