Mystery: The Last Shepherd

Chapter 387 Bombarding the Palace
Luze descended onto the giant, armored ship.

He was in very bad condition, his face was pale, and his body was swaying. Only his eyes were still clear, radiating cold anger and hatred.

His robe was deep red and heavy, as if it were formed from countless drops of blood that had settled after being stained with rust and gunpowder.

"call--"

A strange wind billowed his robes, spreading out some kind of invisible energy.

The soldiers and officers on the entire warship were thus affected; they vaguely sensed a call to glory and rushed onto the deck. Every face was etched with fervor, with anticipation for war and a thirst for victory!

They didn't know how this sudden emotion came about, but they knew they desperately needed to vent!
The entire crew was gathered on the deck, a chaotic mess, their faces flushed. Today, the ship's leadership had all left, either to attend the New Year's Eve party at the palace or to go out and have fun, leaving only them. Unrestrained and in complete disarray.

"Soldiers! We are the glorious Rune Navy!"

At this moment, the highest-ranking officer in the crowd, a colonel, ran out and shouted.

"Yes!"

The soldiers cheered together.

The colonel was in high spirits. He didn't have a specific topic for his speech; he just jumped out on impulse and, riding the wave of his emotions, kept shouting incoherently, "Our ships are invincible!"

"Yes!"

We will defeat all enemies!

"Yes!"

"We crave victory, from one victory to the next!"

With each shout from the colonel, the soldiers opposite him erupted in cheers. Everyone was caught up in the fervor of war; despite being the kingdom's capital and the surrounding streets being perfectly safe, they looked as if they were about to head to a glorious battlefield.

Lu Ze watched them quietly.

"So, we must."

The colonel suddenly stopped speaking at this point.

Of course he would run out of words, because they had no purpose whatsoever; they were simply driven by inexplicable emotions.

"You must pursue victory and destroy the enemy."

Lu Ze whispered a reminder from the side.

"Yes, destroy the enemy!"

The colonel continued, shouting, "We can only win by defeating the enemy!"

"Your enemy is in Sodrak Palace."

Lu Ze added.

But the colonel hesitated and looked confused upon hearing this. Not only him, but the soldiers present also showed signs of sobering up upon hearing the words. After all, Sodrak Palace was the residence of the royal family; wasn't the royal family the place they were supposed to serve?

We still need to increase the effectiveness.
Lu Ze shook his head and continued to urge a certain "lamb" within him to activate its power.

"cut."

Within the space inside his body, Medici sneered contemptuously, but still, according to his will, emitted another invisible wave.

The "hunter" approach: incitement!
The authority of the "Angel of War" targets soldiers directly involved in the war, and its purpose is to instigate combat, so the resulting effects are extremely astonishing.

An invisible ripple spread through the crowd, and soon, suspicion and unease vanished, replaced by fervor and excitement on everyone's faces.

"That's right! The enemy is in the Sodrak Palace!"

The colonel rallied and shouted, "We'll destroy it!"

"Destroy it!"

The soldiers also shouted together.

"Bomb it into the sky with a cannonball!"

"Bomb it into the sky!"

"Action!" the colonel practically shouted. "Start the Pritz, sail up the Tasok River, all guns aimed at the Royal Palace!"

"Yes--"

The soldiers saluted in unison, then dispersed.

Joy and a sense of honor filled their hearts. They felt that their battle would be an incredibly glorious and noble undertaking. Even sacrifice would be worthwhile!
"What are you trying to do? Are you all crazy?!"

At this moment, an extraordinary individual dressed as an officer rushed onto the deck. Upon seeing everyone's posture, he flew into a rage, shouting, "Moving a warship without orders is a violation of military discipline!"

His aura was different from others; he was a Sequence 6 Extraordinary. Perhaps because he was an Extraordinary, he was not assimilated by the atmosphere.

"Everyone, stand still!"

The officer shouted, his words carrying an unyielding authority, but the soldiers ignored him completely, simply scattering to do what they needed to do.

"Stop!"

The officer flew into a rage and began to seriously activate his abilities, shouting, "This area is off-limits!"

Before he could finish speaking, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from his mouth. Lu Ze was already in front of him, a single chop through his body piercing him, his hand crushing his heart. His eyes widened as he stared at the figure in the red robe before him.

Blood Cultivator!
He wants to seize the ships!

A similar thought surged through the officer's mind; he felt he had to relay this important message to his superiors. However, his shattered heart could no longer sustain his vital signs, his body gradually weakened, and his consciousness faded away. He died.

The busy soldiers around them paid no attention to the two of them, but instead carried out preparations, sorting shells, adjusting the direction of the cannons, and maneuvering the giant ship to turn into the river.
"Set off, towards glory, onward!"

So the warships left the port and sailed along the wide channel of the Tasok River toward the palace.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Meanwhile, at Sodrak Palace.

The palace is brightly lit and resplendent tonight. Firstly, to celebrate the New Year; secondly, to welcome a distinguished young lady as she comes of age and formally enters the social scene.

That's right, the young lady was Audrey Hall.

To the poor of the East End, the aristocracy's rules seemed excessive. Their children struggled to survive, starting work before reaching adulthood. Meanwhile, the aristocratic children had to go through so much unnecessary formality for their coming-of-age ceremony—the ostentatious displays and the selection of introducers—it all seemed ridiculous.

But for many nobles, their entire lives consisted of these hierarchical distinctions and elaborate rituals. It seemed that only in this way could they prove their difference from the common people.

When the Queen led this stunningly beautiful young woman by the hand and brought her before the crowd, she was bathed in a variety of gazes, including those of amazement, envy, and disbelief.

But the party had to go on, and even if Miss Audrey Hall was beautiful, the focus couldn't always be on her. The lively ball began, and couples danced gracefully to cheerful music.

After dancing a few dances, Audrey excused herself that she was tired and went to rest on one side of the hall.

She coldly observed everyone in the hall.

A luxurious palace, a dazzling dance floor, clinking glasses, soft laughter, and golden light illuminating everything around.

The elegantly dressed ladies covered their mouths and chuckled, their fair skin adorned with exquisite jewels and expensive gowns; the gentlemen, with their distinguished bearing and composed demeanor, seemed to be pillars and foundations of the nation.

Many people could hardly hide the joy in their eyes. Audrey knew it was because the royal family's compromise had brought them many benefits. This ball was more like a victory celebration after the spoils had been divided.

As for the deaths of the poor, they had long been forgotten in this intoxicating atmosphere.

What a prosperous, yet ironic scene!

As Audrey watched, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"boom--"

Just then, she heard a rumbling sound coming from outside. The sound was initially deep and loud, then gradually became sharp and loud, and quickly approached.

"Has the fireworks display started?"

She thought to herself, "Why is it so early this year?"

The next moment, the palace shook violently!

(End of this chapter)