Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 722 Kindness (Part 1)

I know.

I knew this day would come.

Ever since that verdict was handed down eleven years ago, I knew this day would come.

I left home at a young age, abandoning my family business, and devoted myself to studying, hoping to spend my life in my study. I never imagined that I would be fortunate enough to apply my knowledge to benefit the world and its people. The setting sun has been so kind to me, and I am grateful for the rest of my life without any regrets.

However, human affairs are complex and entangled, and cannot be explained by mere academic study.

For over forty years, I have served as the Grand Judge of Emerald City, experiencing both war and peace. I have never been negligent in my duties, nor have I dared to conceal my personal interests in the name of the public good. Yet, anxiety and pain still torment me constantly. Every time I put down my gavel and take off my official robes, I cannot help but ponder repeatedly:

Do I thoroughly investigate every case I review, leaving no room for oversight?

In every trial, have I remained detached, neutral, and impartial?
In every speech, do I think things through clearly and express myself appropriately?
With each swing of the gavel, have I lived up to my oath and original aspiration, protecting the interests of the weak while restraining the arrogance of the strong, upholding fairness while not failing the law?

Over the years, have I ever made a wrong judgment? Wrongfully convicted an innocent person? Encouraged oppression and exploitation?

Have I ever allowed friendship and loyalty, hatred and anger, interests and gains to cloud my judgment without my knowledge, or have I pretended not to know?

Or is it that for all these years, I have been deceiving myself with righteousness, concealing myself with official position, intoxicating myself with power, seeking refuge under the law, and making excuses for my personal likes and dislikes and my self-righteousness?

Is the dream city that Leinster and I, along with so many like-minded colleagues, are building still just wishful thinking?
If so, if infighting and destruction are inevitable, then is the future woven with blood and fire, conflict and death the eternal fate of all people in the city, and even of all mortals in the world?
If this is the only way to achieve so-called civilization and progress, then are so-called justice, morality, and law merely tools we use to unite ourselves and gather public support? Do they serve to deceive the masses, maintain power, and serve the ruling class? Are their values ​​less than nonexistent, and their significance less than clear?

Then what is the difference between what we learn, use, and follow and the spear in the soldier's hand and the saddle on the horse's body?

Where is the boundary between justice and public interest? And where are those who have the right to interpret them?
However, I am old.

My thinking is no longer agile, my logic is no longer clear, my values ​​are gradually becoming outdated, and I am also nearing the end of my life, with no hope of finding the answers to my questions.

Only when future generations are capable and delve deeper into the subject will they be able to resolve my confusion and bring benefits to the world.

All the old cases and evidence from back then are preserved here. All the strange and controversial things are contained within. Although there are many threads, capable people can sort them out. Although they are very complicated, a virtuous ruler should be able to clarify them.

However, do not commit many acts of killing, thus implicating the innocent.

Upon my departure, I have 29 pending cases, 15 administrative and general affairs, 6 unanswered official documents, and 10 letters awaiting review. All have been numbered and categorized, and each has a note recommending a successor. If there are any issues, I hope my colleagues will be understanding and provide assistance.

The family's remaining wealth includes a mansion gifted by the Duke of Leinster years ago, several plots of land, a collection of over 13,000 books, 206 gold in deposit slips in the Royal Bank, and 30 gold in cash.

The houses and fields were returned to Emerald City, and the books were donated to various academies on the South Bank and even in the Stars.

(The book "On the Way" in ten volumes was borrowed from the study of the Dean of Dragon Kiss Academy before I left office. I took it to Xingchen and have not returned it for many years. If Dean Angus Jerome is still in office, it need not be returned.)
The money is entrusted to the eldest son and eldest daughter for distribution. My son is virtuous and prudent, and my daughter is decisive and efficient. Now that we have each established our own families and careers, we should put aside past grievances, work together, and we will surely be able to resolve the matter properly.

If the household stewards and servants are to be retained, they will remain as before; if not, they will be dismissed with generous gifts.

The gardener in the front yard is seventy-four years old. He was crippled after encountering a wicked master. The maid in the back yard is fifty-five years old. She was abducted when she was young and does not know where she came from. The two of them have served the family diligently for more than thirty years. Our entire family has benefited from their kindness and should treat them as relatives, providing for them and supporting them in their old age without any neglect.

Once I depart this world, regardless of the circumstances, I will not pursue or seek revenge against my children, servants, students, colleagues, or even close friends and acquaintances who have shown me kindness. I will simply accept that my natural lifespan has come to an end and that it is my destiny to return home.

My funeral must not involve any troublesome or costly arrangements; it must not involve any unfounded speculation or disturbance; it must not involve any public or private condolence money or gifts; and it must not violate any laws or disrupt the order of the city.

My remains will not be placed in a coffin, nor will a tombstone be erected, nor will a shrine be kept. I will not keep a wake for mourning, nor will I have any offerings buried with me, nor will I leave any gold to cover my eyes. I humbly request that the officials of the underworld, in accordance with the old customs of the stars, cremate me into ashes, and scatter them along with my wife's remains on the southern shore.

When I first set out for my post by ship, the trials of the sea were severe. The winds and waves were relentless, and my newlywed wife and I fell seriously ill. Now I am returning home on the waves, and my beloved wife should repay my love. The waves become a song, and the ocean currents become a sampan, carrying my wife and me on our long journey home.

If the children think of their parents, they will always be between the sea and the sky.

As for my soul, I do not seek to see the messengers of heaven, nor do I expect to meet my wife and old friends. I only hope that the ferryman will be fair and responsible, and although I have no money to bribe him for my funeral, I hope that he will take good care of me and make sure the boat is steady so that we can reach the shore quickly.

My humble work comprises thirty-one volumes, entrusted to my students and friends. I will keep what is useful and discard what is not.

Emerald has been kind to me, so I have devoted myself to repaying it; I have saved the iris, and it should remember Emerald in its heart.

(Signature)
Born in Dreamland, a lifetime honorary bachelor from Dragonkid Academy, a citizen of Emerald City, Reines Brennan's beloved husband, Johnny Brennan, left a message.

To my successor, please hear me out:

You have been given immense power, therefore you must act with caution, trembling with fear, and mindful day and night.

You are granted immense power, and therefore, when a greater power looms over you, you have a responsibility to withstand the pressure to protect the weak and safeguard fairness.

You have been given immense power, so when you lose it, you must be resolute and decisive, never looking back. Do not be greedy or cling to it, deceive yourself, or lose your mind and fail to live up to the trust placed in you by the jade.

----

After reading this unusual suicide note, Thales put down the letter and looked at everything before him:
A slightly messy desk, documents scattered all over the floor, an overturned chair, a broken wine glass, a stained carpet—and the crime scene marked with chalk after the body was removed.

"Be careful! Walk softly and move slowly, especially around those pieces of evidence separated by numbers. Don't disturb the scene!" Marius's command rang out.

At dawn, in Judge Brennan's residence, his former office and study were bustling with activity, intermittently filled with weeping and questions. A team from the Starlake Guard, with the assistance of local officers and Emerald Guards, was meticulously examining the crime scene.
Komtou dealt with the guards with a smile, gently comforting the Brennan family members who had rushed over and were crying their hearts out, trying to get some information out of them.

Grover observed the layout of the entire study and whispered to Morgan about where the murderer might have broken in from.

DD and Itariano were hunched over the desk, flipping through the documents on it;
Paul stood in front of the broken window, squinting at the outside. Opposite him, Rolf stretched out his hand expressionlessly, feeling the gusts of cold wind coming from outside.

Miranda knelt intently on the ground, scrutinizing every detail on the carpet, occasionally getting up to pace back and forth, measuring the distance between different spots.

It is said that the incident occurred late at night.

As usual, Judge Brennan left a light on in his study and worked overtime on documents. However, the gatekeepers, night watchmen, gardeners, and servants of the mansion, including the neighboring family living next door, were all fast asleep at the same time. Even the butler who went to wake his employer from his slumber collapsed in the corridor, still clutching a tray of supper in his hand.

According to the interrogation, most people inside and outside the mansion had nightmares or pleasant dreams of varying degrees. The dream scenes were so vivid that it was difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion. When they woke up, some were afraid and some were ashamed.

But when the butler slowly awoke, realized something was wrong, and called for someone to break open the locked door that no one answered, Judge Brennan was already lying in the study, lifeless.

It is said that when he died, his eyes were wide open and his expression was one of pain. The large French windows in his study were smashed violently, leaving the doors wide open and only the cold wind blowing in.

“A violent intrusion, a murder, a state of drowsiness where dreams blur the lines between reality and illusion,” Thales frowned, turning to the broken window as a biting wind rushed in, striking his face. “Evil whispers, was it 'him' again?”

The Duke spoke, and the entire room fell silent.

Marius waved his hand and gently instructed the guards and soldiers to take the weeping steward and the deceased's children ("He has sought justice for countless people, and Your Highness must seek it for him as well.") away from the room, leaving only his own men from the Star Lake Guard.

“It looks very much like it,” Miranda stood up from the ground, nodding, knowing perfectly well who His Highness was referring to. “It’s just a pity there are no witnesses.”

“Could it be someone else?” Golov asked, turning around.

Rolf clapped his hands by the window, drawing everyone's attention, but he only stared at Thales, his hand gestures moving:

No, it's him.

“How did you know?” Thales asked.

Rolf pressed his hand to his chest:
【intuition.】

Everyone looked back and forth, frowning in unison. Miranda compared the riddles back and forth, but still couldn't figure out the riddle between the mute and the prince. Meanwhile, DD was on the other side, mimicking Rolf's gestures, shaking his head from time to time, as if he had figured it out.

"In any case, the body had no obvious external injuries and has been sent to the security office for examination. We believe we will have the results soon," added Komto, who was in charge of liaising with the security officer.

Thales lowered his head and looked back at the letter in his hand.

"Then what about this suicide note?"

This suicide note, written spontaneously, is filled with the owner's regret and sorrow, relief and liberation. It is full of mysteries, yet it is also intriguing.

Kommut coughed:
“A few days ago, Mr. Brennan handed a key to his most trusted student, saying that he was unwell recently and should he hand it over to His Highness the Prince if he was unable to perform his duties.”

"I?"

Thales was taken aback:
"what?"

Komto pointed to Brennan's desk, which was covered with countless documents:

"I was just about to report to His Highness when Brennan's student rushed over, crying, and used the key to open the safe in his study. On top were the arrangements and handover documents after the judge's death, private letters, in the middle was this will, and below that..."

“Oh, this is…” DD, who had moved closer to the desk, couldn’t help but start flipping through the documents. He exclaimed as soon as he spoke, “The original case file of the assassination of the Duke of South Bank!”

Everyone was taken aback.

Marius looked at Thales, who pondered for a moment and then nodded.

So the members of the Xinghu Guard stepped forward and carefully laid out the documents found in the safe one by one to examine them.

“Be careful, these papers are quite old,” Marius said, picking up a scroll and reminding everyone.

“But it’s still very well preserved.” Golov unfolded a document.

Everyone pitched in, assigning tasks and reading documents under Marius's direction; the only sounds were the turning of pages and the rolling of scrolls.

Only Thales remained seated, repeatedly reading the will left by the Grand Inquisitor, his expression unchanged, yet his feelings were complex.

[The old case and its remaining evidence... though intricate and complex, should be able to be clarified by a virtuous ruler...]

Thales clutched the letter tightly, recalling the image of the person depicted in the text, the voice and smile of old Brennan, and the fleeting yet memorable encounter he had with him when he first arrived in Emerald City.

As the most respected old judge in Emerald City, he left me with these things, the most crucial key to the current political storm in Emerald City.

An outsider who has no connection to Emerald City and may even have ill intentions towards it.

why?
Thales' gaze became unfocused, and he gradually drifted into a daze.

A few minutes later, Miranda broke the silence.

"So, Brennan was one of the presiding judges back then, in charge of the case of Viscount Sona murdering his brother."

Toledo flipped through the documents one by one, his expression growing increasingly surprised and suspicious:
"And these documents include the attendance sheets of the guard station, case records, investigation logs... as well as interrogation archives, evidence and testimonies, case closure reports... to the trial documents in the courtroom, the judges' discussion records, correspondence with Kongming Palace, and even the weather and harvest records of Emerald City back then, land transactions and asset records, everything is there..."

“This is exactly what we need now to investigate old cases.” Marius looked at Thales thoughtfully.

The group exchanged glances, their emotions a complex mix.

“Some are copies and archives, some are even, possibly, the originals,” the messenger Toledo carefully examined the paper, handwriting, and seals of each document. “This judge, he violated the rules by keeping these things in his own safe for over a decade?”

"why?"

“Like that defense attorney Slimani,” Golov said with feeling, “after the incident in Emerald City, Brennan had a premonition that it would be his turn, so he made preparations in advance.”

“Long before Slimani,” Miranda added. “These documents are from over a decade ago… Back when Sona committed suicide, as soon as the trial was over, Brennan knew that one day someone would come knocking on his door to dig up old cases, so he took precautions.”

DD scratched his chin.

"So, there really was a problem with Viscount Sona's conviction for fratricide?"

“He is the seventh—Lausanne II went through the list and approached them one by one,” Miranda affirmed. “This matter is far from over.”

“That damned Blood Iris, what’s his name, Federico or Federek?” Morgan said fiercely. “Lossan II is his man, he must have orchestrated this. Even if he’s locked up—we’ll find out when we get back and give him a good beating!”

“What if someone else was behind it?” Paul suddenly spoke up after a long silence. “You should know that Federico was just a pawn.”

Everyone tensed up.

"enough."

Marius laid down a witness statement:
"Guard Officer Kommuto, tell the guards that these are important pieces of evidence for His Highness's arbitration. We'll pack them all up and take them with us. We'll examine them carefully back at the palace, and we can't overlook any clues."

As Thales listened to their deductions, his brow furrowing even more as he stared at the suicide note in his hand.

Knock, knock, knock—Rolf tapped on the table, attracting everyone's attention.

Golov leaned closer, followed Rolf's finger and looked down, then pulled a bundle of documents from the safe and spread them on the table: "It's not just case records, Your Highness, look at what he left on the top shelf of the safe."

"what is this?"

DD leaned over and picked up the top few letters.

"Oh, these are love letters he wrote to his wife when he was young. They're a thick stack, touching and cheesy. Ah, how wonderful."

Doyle's smile was complicated. He then looked at the next few letters: "There's also the letter of severance from his father. It seems someone doesn't get along with his family. He abandoned his huge family fortune and left home with nothing... The dean's letter of reprimand seems to be punishment for Brennan helping the students protest against the oppressive system of Dragon Kiss Academy. Ah, it seems he can't get along with his superiors either... There are also letters of thanks from the students. Hmm, at least he's good to the younger generation... Of course, the most numerous ones are, oh, here!"

DD paused, then showed everyone a stack of letters.

"These are letters that Duke Lenster wrote to Brennan back when he was still studying at the Dragon Kiss Academy in the Duchy of Anrenzo?" Miranda opened one of the letters.

"Almost every letter contained heated discussions between the Duke and him, back and forth, covering history and current events, law and jurisprudence, urban construction and governance systems, and everything under the sun. At the end of each letter, the Duke would inquire about his well-being and sincerely invite Brennan to take up a post in the Emerald City."

Paul flipped through letter after letter, read them hastily, and passed them on to the next person:

"Judging from the dates, it must have lasted for several years."

"Unable to refuse their kind invitation, Brennan was moved and set off for the Emerald City." Grover, holding one of the long letters, reconstructed the life trajectory of the murdered judge with the others.

“Sigh, a high-paying job change, less work, more money, and respect—I’d be willing to do it too,” DD sighed, then realized what he was doing under the strange looks from the crowd. His face turned ashen, and he waved his hands frantically in denial. “Uh, I wasn’t talking about myself, Your Highness. I’m very satisfied with my current job! Your leadership is excellent, and Starlake Castle is so comfortable and pleasant… I was just talking about this old judge…”

But Thales' attention was entirely focused on Brennan's suicide note, ignoring his explanations. Rolf slammed another bundle of letters into DD's arms, pressing it down along with his rambling explanations.

At this moment, Miranda, who was reading the letter, suddenly spoke up:
"Even after he arrived in Emerald City, he never stopped writing to the Duke, and his tone was just like that of a longtime friend."

“Look, everyone, this is Brennan’s official appointment letter as the judge of the Emerald City. It has the Duke’s signature and seal on it,” Neshi said in surprise, picking up a framed document containing a neat and ornate page with a prominent iris seal. “It seems he valued it highly, even framing it and carefully preserving it over the years.”

“The greatest fortune in life is to find a true friend, so that one can be of service,” Paul sighed. “And he had both.”

“Not entirely,” Neshi said, carefully holding the frame and studying every detail. “The Duke wasn’t the only one who signed this appointment letter; there were others below him.”

Following his finger, everyone leaned closer to take a look:
"Sona Kevindir, Viscount of Gonghai City?"

Neshi nodded, beaming with pride.

"So, Brennan's appointment was also approved by Sona, and they have a pretty good relationship?" DD scratched his chin, wondering how much of his prince's "high-salary job hopping" comment had actually taken to heart.

"Quite the opposite."

Everyone turned around, and Miranda showed them the two letters in her hand.

"Judging from these two letters, it seems that Brennan once worked with Viscount Sonner, co-tried a case involving a peasant riot..."

“Rebellion, uprising,” Morgan muttered. “Before the Bloody Year, the kingdom was full of them.”

Miranda glanced at him and continued, "It seems that Sona insists on sending all the prisoners to the gallows as a warning to others, while Brennan advocates that accomplices should not be prosecuted and the main culprits should be exiled. The two sides are deadlocked and opposed to each other, which has almost affected the political operation of Emerald City."

DD took the letter, frowning as he read it:

"The Duke, unusually, harshly criticized Brennan... saying that Viscount Sonner was neither indifferent to the cause of death nor cold-blooded and heartless, but that extraordinary measures were necessary in extraordinary times... He also told Brennan to stop spouting nonsense like 'If Sonner is in power, disaster will surely strike the South Bank'... He would also reprimand his younger brother, telling him to learn more about the hardships of the people and to respect the authority and professionalism of the Grand Inquisitor..."

“Even strangers shouldn’t interfere with family matters. As a foreigner who has traveled thousands of miles to take up his post, he actually dares to criticize his lord’s own brother. This Brennan is certainly bold.” Paul said thoughtfully.

“It’s not just courage,” Marius remarked, unusually, “it’s also loyalty.”

Miranda picked up the third letter:

"In the end, it seems that the Duke compromised and ordered that the main culprit be imprisoned in the Bone Prison, while the accomplices were fined and sentenced, forcing the two to compromise and reconcile—at least on the surface."

One after another, the people examined Brennan's letters.

"So to summarize, Brennan had a deep relationship with the Duke himself, even being close friends, but his relationship with Sona was bad, even hostile. They often disagreed and attacked each other, to the point where the Duke had to mediate."

DD gave a sarcastic smile:
"And don't forget, back then, it was Brennan who was in charge of trying the case of Thorner's murder of his brother."

“Take these letters with you as well,” Marius said firmly. “There must be a reason they were left here—Your Highness?”

After a moment of silence, everyone turned to look at the prince.

Thales frowned.

He was initially overwhelmed by the predicament in Emerald City and tried to reach a compromise with Jann, letting him off the hook in exchange for stability. But now, with this case unfolding...

"How's it going outside?" Thales asked slowly, putting away Brennan's suicide note. "What's the whole of Emerald City thinking about this murder?"

Marius glanced at him, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

Miranda, Paul, Golova, DD, Nehi… everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak. Finally, Mario coughed:
"Judge Brennan is highly respected, Your Highness, and the people... are very concerned."

Okay, I understand.

Thales automatically filtered out the embellishments in Marius's words and sighed helplessly:

"Very well, so now Emerald City is in a state of high tension, under the spotlight, and everyone is feeling insecure..."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Furthermore, the situation is getting worse every day, and it's no longer possible for me to gloss over the matter and not investigate the old cases further."

Not to mention reaching a compromise with Jenn.

What a coincidence that it happened at this time.

Thales gripped the Gurtaksa in his pocket, pondering what a difficult day awaited him, just as Kommuto returned to report.

"Your Highness, the autopsy report from the Security Bureau has arrived. The preliminary conclusion is: Brennannai... wait, died by poisoning?"

Thales was taken aback.

"what?"

Everyone was shocked: "Poisoning?"

"What kind of poison? Where is it from?" Marius's expression changed.

Just then, DD's voice suddenly rang out from across the desk, much to my delight:
"My God, this is the 646 Classic Limited Edition Cellar Wine from the Duchy of Anrenzo! It was specially brewed and cellared to celebrate the marriage of the 'Three Beauties of the Geste Family'! Ah, look at the design, this bottle is the Saoirse edition!"

Under everyone's astonished gaze, Doyle excitedly opened the bottle on the table, brought it close to his nose, and inhaled the aroma with rapt attention:
"He actually drank it himself! Tsk tsk, considering the market price of this wine, I don't believe this old man didn't embezzle it—"

Thielston's expression changed instantly!
call!call!
In the blink of an eye, Miranda, nimble as ever, leaped over the desk and snatched the expensive wine bottle from DD's hand!
"Hey, no! I just want to smell it—"

Meanwhile, Golov's figure pressed down like a small mountain, slamming Doyle to the ground!
"idiot!"

Miranda's face turned ashen. Through her gloves, she shoved the bottle cap back into the bottle, pressing it firmly, and then slammed it back onto the desk!
"W-what's wrong? Is something wrong?"

DD, who was pinned to the ground, realized something was wrong.

Marius's eyes flickered, and Custa, with practiced ease, pulled out a cloth and wrapped the bottle of wine securely.

Miranda snorted angrily, carefully and quickly removing her gloves, throwing them on the ground, and then carefully wrapping them in a cloth.

DD stared wide-eyed at the female swordsman's movements, then at the bottle of wine:

"Poisoning! You mean, the wine contained poison!"

No one answered; they just stared at him with strange expressions.

DD's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from Golover's pocket and blew his nose frantically, as if trying to expel the aroma of the wine he had just inhaled. At the same time, he scrambled to break free from the restraints and got as far away from the bottle of wine as possible.

“Go see him,” Thales frowned, “and remember to punish him so he’ll learn his lesson.”

Marius, his gaze somber, nodded.

"Alright, stop crying. It was just a smell, such a small amount is nothing, you were just frightened," Itariano obeyed and stepped forward to check DD's nose. "Do you know how lucky you are? If Commuto had come a little later... Don't pick it, it's bleeding!"

Ignoring DD's tearful lament about his good fortune in surviving a great calamity, Thales returned to the present, gazing at the bottle of wine wrapped in cloth:

"So, old Brennan wasn't murdered by Lausanne II, but instead committed suicide by poisoning himself in his study?"

Marius also frowned, and the others exchanged bewildered glances.

"No, I think King Lausanne II did come."

Miranda put her new gloves back on, lost in thought.
"But for some reason, he failed to handle the experienced and shrewd old judge."

Everyone looked at the female swordsman.

Miranda slowly walked to the opposite side of the desk and patted the overturned guest seat.

“Based on the traces in the room, I think that after Lausanne II used his supernatural powers to break in without any hindrance, he came to Brennan’s study, sat in this spot, opposite the desk, and began to interrogate old Brennan about the old case.”

Miranda paced to the bookshelf, calculating the distance:

"Perhaps due to overconfidence, thinking that an old man who was too weak to even kill a chicken would not pose a threat to him, Lausanne II did not even bind Brennan."

“With his abilities, it doesn’t matter whether he’s tied up or not,” Morgan said, annoyed.

“Chivalry,” Marius suddenly said.

"What?" Miranda was taken aback.

Marius looked toward the gate.

“Apart from Brennan himself, no one in the entire mansion was injured, there was not even any blood or signs of a struggle, and even the guard dogs were asleep,” the Watchman squinted. “This shows that he did not make things difficult for or torment Brennan.”

Thales's eyes flickered upon hearing this.

"impossible!"

On the other side, having almost died young, DD, filled with resentment, repeatedly blew his nearly dried-out nose, muttering indignantly:
"I still remember that innocent mistress, the expression on her face before she died—he tortured her, letting her blood drain off the bed, just to interrogate her lover."

DD blew his nose again before returning the handkerchief. Golov, suppressing his disgust, kindly gestured that he could keep it for himself.

“In the end, the old man raised a ruthless beast who kills without blinking an eye, first his classmates, then the innocent,” Doyle said sullenly, putting his handkerchief back in his pocket. “To hell with the knights.”

Hearing these words, everyone had different thoughts. Thales coughed:
"Mira?"

Miranda nodded, continued pacing, and walked to the desk, pointing to an empty wine glass on it:

"When the old judge regained his senses and saw Lausanne, he understood what had happened. So, while calmly dealing with the assassin to buy time, he walked to the bookshelf and opened the bottle of poison that had been stored away for many years."

Everyone stared in astonishment at the bottle of fine wine that had been wrapped up.

Paul clicked his tongue:
"Knowing that there was no escape, why not just end it all?"

"That's some guts." Morgan's assessment was succinct and powerful.

“Not only that, look here,” Miranda walked to the corner and pointed to an empty wine glass lying there, “the second glass.”

Thales's expression changed.

“Yes, Lord Brennan,” Miranda sighed, glancing at the two glasses on the table and under the floor, “He wasn’t just drinking by himself; he was even trying to invite the assassin to drink with him.”

Everyone was startled.

“As the sun sets, this old man is not only brave, but also a tough guy.” Morgan couldn’t help but change color upon hearing this.

Glov looked at where Brennan had fallen and shook his head:
"Unfortunately, it didn't work."

"No, he succeeded!"

Surprisingly, it was DD who was lying on the ground, examining the second wine glass carefully with disgust and caution:

"These are glasses, and both glasses have lipstick marks on them—the assassin must have been drinking!"

DD's eyes lit up:

"King Losang II, he's been poisoned! A deadly poison!"

(End of this chapter)