You promised to wreak havoc on the dungeon, but instead you've got Dragon Slime!

The lord's retreat at least alleviated some of the suffocating feeling of being overwhelmed.

A fleeting hint of displeasure crossed Bacchus's face, but it was quickly masked by a torrent of flattery:

"The Great Lord's considerations are thorough and far-sighted! This action is the most just!"

This shameless flattery drew scornful glances from many nobles.

"Then, let's begin the vote."

The fire demon Lagos issued the order.

However, just as everyone was preparing to write, Bacchus suddenly stood up again.

"Your esteemed High Lord—"

His slender frame leaned slightly forward, carrying the cunning characteristic of the Sartre people, and his voice was smooth and lilting:

"If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion."

The fire demon Lagos turned his crimson eyes toward him, paused for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement.

All eyes were once again focused on the count who had stirred up the storm.

Bacchus's gaze swept across the arena, finally lingering for a moment on Cedric's ashen face before he spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Your Highness, the lord of the Black Whisper Caves is Duke Cedric's daughter, Miss Lilith. Therefore, the Duke himself is a relative of the relevant party!"

He spoke faster, emphasizing the so-called injustice:

“It would be unfair to participate in the vote! To ensure fairness and impartiality, I implore Duke Cedric to temporarily…remain uninvolved.”

After speaking, he smiled at Cedric, his tone full of hypocritical provocation:

"Your Grace, the Duke, is a man of great wisdom and understanding; surely... you can comprehend this?"

"Bacchus!"

Cedric stood up like a lion, his anger almost tearing his chest apart.

His clenched fist nearly crushed the gemstone on the armrest of the seat.

"The right to vote is granted by law! When has there ever been a ridiculous rule requiring recusal based on kinship? Your proposal is completely fabricated and your intentions are despicable!"

Bacchus was prepared for this furious outburst. He shrugged slightly, as if to say, "I expected this."

"Your Excellency is wise; Duke Cedric's reaction is understandable. However—"

His tone shifted meaningfully:

"If the Adventurers' Guild finds out that the defendant's father is actually in the voting seat, the fairness will be questioned! If it triggers the same thing that happened back then... then the fiefdoms of everyone present will also be doomed."

His gaze swept coldly across the faces of all the nobles in the room, silently conveying this terrifying threat—

This isn't just about Cedric; it concerns everyone's wallet!

The poisoned bait was cast, and the fish immediately took the bait.

“Ahem… Duke Cedric, for the sake of the bigger picture, you should indeed avoid suspicion.”

A timid yet clear voice rang out from a corner.

"Seconded……"

"We should avoid suspicion!"

The voices of agreement spread like a plague, and one nobleman after another stood up and coldly demanded that Cedric be removed from the game.

The voices defending Cedric are thin and isolated.

Earl Martel, his friend Duke Stanislav, and a handful of staunch allies.

Others, well-versed in the art of self-preservation, simply ignored the proposal and abstained.

The overwhelming voices eventually coalesced into an insurmountable wall.

The Balrog Lagos looked at the isolated Cedric, his deep voice tinged with regret:

“Duke Cedric, I have great faith in your character. However, respecting the majority… I apologize.”

All the power was instantly drained away.

Cedric slowly sat back in the large chair, his shoulders slumping slightly, as if he had aged ten years, and said dejectedly:

"...As you all wish. I... am withdrawing."

Bacchus couldn't help but curl his lips into a victorious smile.

Obstacles completely removed!

The activation of anti-testing mechanisms is now a foregone conclusion!

If the cheating is proven, Ron is finished, Lilith's reputation will be ruined, and Cedric will be permanently nailed to the pillar of shame.

Kill three birds with one stone!

A surge of overwhelming joy welled up within him:

He had no deep-seated hatred for Cedric.

But destroying him would mean that the ducal seat would be vacant!

The ironclad rule of the underworld: Only ten dukes can be appointed!

How many powerful earls longed for this?

We've been waiting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

This was the ultimate temptation that drove him to bite the throat of his former colleague.

"Now, please vote formally."

The voice of Lagos, the Balrog, marked the beginning and end of this power struggle.

The tickets fell like knives.

As expected: Bacchus's side unequivocally "agreed"; Martel and Stanislav, out of consideration for their friendship, voted "opposed".

The statistics have been finalized.

"Thirty-five votes in favor."

Lagos, the Balrog, announced.

Bacchus's brow furrowed instantly, and his heart nearly skipped a beat—

This number doesn't guarantee a win!

A faint spark suddenly ignited in Cedric's dim eyes because of this number.

Is there... still hope?

"No votes: twelve."

"Lagos the Fire Demon continued."

Bacchus's lips curled into a smile again.

Lagos, the Firelord, delivers the final, and fatal, blow:

"Abstentions: Thirteen votes."

"With the highest number of votes in favor, the proposal is passed."

The last spark was extinguished by ice water.

Cedric felt a wave of dizziness.

He had naively overlooked the significance of those who abstained!

"hey-hey……"

Bacchus's barely suppressed, triumphant laughter sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall.

"Thank you for your trouble, High Lord. Now we can bring out that... Dungeon Lord and Designer. It's time to tell them... the final result."

He deliberately emphasized the key words.

The Balrog Lagos nodded to the guards standing to the side, their bodies covered in lava-like armor.

In a small, temporary room next to the conference hall, the air seemed to freeze.

Lilith's slender fingers clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white, her eyes fixed urgently on Ron:

"Ron! You have to tell me the truth! Did... it really happen..."

"Cheating?"

Ron remained as carefree as ever, shrugging his shoulders:

"It's not necessary."

Through Lilith's retelling, he learned about the "anti-testing mechanism," something that didn't exist in the game.

Then I was speechless with disappointment.

So you report me because you can't beat me?

Adventurers, perhaps you are among them.

"Little things!"

He even whistled off-key, trying to calm the nervous girl in front of him:

"The maze I designed is so easy you could crawl out with your eyes closed, you can rest assured."

Lilith stared at his confident, almost frivolous face, her father's heavy words echoing in her mind.

Was that confidence genuine, or just a bluff born of despair? Her mind was in turmoil.

The heavy sound of the door hinges turning suddenly rang out.

Heavily armored guards stood at the entrance, their voices as cold as knives:

"Please move to the next room; the decision has been made."

Chapter 66 Lilith's Decision