Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

Chapter 166 This is what perversion is like

Queens, King's Road, Parliament House.

In a secluded room, the Prime Minister, having dismissed everyone else, was secretly investigating with Earl Hall.

After hearing Earl Hall's account of his experiences, Prime Minister Lord Agushid Negan's expression darkened, and he solemnly said:

"Count Hall, are you sure it's royalty?"

Agushid was in his fifties, tall and thin, with sparse hair, but with incredibly sharp eyes.

Count Hall countered, "Are there any other possibilities?"

Agusid fell silent, for as Count Hall had said, he could think of no other possibility.

Just a few days ago, Earl Hall had asked him for help in secretly investigating Alfred's transfer order. Now, Earl Hall had been hypnotized, even alarming Archbishop St. Anthony of the Church of the Night. Even if Earl Hall was lying, Archbishop St. Anthony couldn't possibly be playing along, could he?

Agushid gazed intently at the slowly setting sun outside the window and said in a deep voice:

"If that's the case, then our King's ambitions far exceed our expectations. Even my brother's death might be related to the royal family!"

Earl Hall was shaken. Duke Negan's assassination had only happened a little over ten days ago. At that time, Agusid had already pinned the blame on the Aurora Society. Well, after all, the Aurora Society had just assassinated that perverted Intis a few months ago, so it wouldn't be surprising if they did something else.

This is enough to fool the public and minimize the impact of the incident.

And if they want war, they can bring up the past again later. They can bring this matter back to the forefront and tell the people that it was the Fursac Empire that ordered Patrick Jason to assassinate Duke Negan.

They could even fabricate a detailed account for them, presenting seemingly plausible evidence. After all, for hundreds or thousands of years, this northern neighbor of the Kingdom of Rune had always played a similar role, and no one questioned it; they simply considered barbarian behavior perfectly normal.

Even the Prime Minister himself couldn't withstand all the pressure to investigate the truth of the matter. Because at this point, who exactly assassinated Duke Negan was actually no longer so important.

He could secretly investigate the murderer and avenge Duke Negan, but he couldn't reveal the murderer to the public. Because this "murderer" was no longer a specific individual; it had to be someone everyone wanted when needed. After all, Agushid was now Prime Minister, and he had to consider the interests of the nation more than his family.

For most people, the identity of the assassin who killed Duke Negan is irrelevant, and the truth itself is unimportant. But this person, this truth, absolutely cannot be from the royal family!

Although the nobles appeared to have amicable relations, they were also rife with intrigue and backstabbing, and anyone could hire someone to murder another noble. If such a thing was exposed, the standard procedure was to strip them of their titles, and the noble who hired the murder would also pay the price.

But what if the culprit behind hiring a killer is the royal family? Who can strip the royal family of their throne?

Moreover, even if they suspected that the royal family had hired someone to assassinate the Duke of Negan, so what? They had no evidence whatsoever! Even if they went to the palace and confronted the King face to face, George III could simply deny it outright, or even turn the tables on them.

It is no exaggeration to say that such suspicion could even destroy the entire superstructure of the Kingdom of Rune!

"Your Excellency, Earl."

Argus Hidnigan stood behind the large table, his hands resting on the surface, looking solemnly at Earl Hall opposite him, and said in a deep voice:

"Perhaps we need to reopen the investigation into the assassination of the Duke of Negan."

A nobleman who commits murder will be stripped of his title, but if the royal family can hire someone to kill without paying any price, it would be utter chaos. If the royal family can kill Duke Negan today, can they kill Earl Hall or Prime Minister Agushid tomorrow?

The royal family's overstepping of the bounds has undoubtedly broken the rules that have been in place for thousands of years, and even mere speculation is enough to make all the nobles feel uneasy!

"no problem."

Earl Hall replied without hesitation, "I will mobilize all members of parliament to support the Prime Minister's proposal; the real culprit must be punished!"

In theory, nobles were required to be loyal to the king.

But in reality, this applies to every era and every country.

When it comes to opposing the king, apart from the newly emerging nobles who are eager to curry favor with the king to obtain titles, the old nobles can always find common interests!

Earl Hall, hypnotized by the royal family, was undoubtedly both shocked and furious. However, he lacked the strength to confront the royal family alone. That's why he was so eager to reveal this to Agushid; he hoped Agushid would step forward to lead the resistance against the king's tyranny and draw all the nobles onto the bandwagon of rebellion!

The reopening of the investigation into the assassination of the Duke of Negan is just the beginning.

Of course, it could also be the end.

The outcome will ultimately depend on how the royal family responds, and how committed they are to opposing the monarchy.

-

Sodrac Palace, Queens.

Wearing a crown, with a resolute face and a small mustache, George III sat on his throne, looking at the Earl of the Royal Palace before him, remaining silent for a long time.

"Your Majesty, the people from the three major churches are all waiting outside for your explanation," the Earl of the Palace asked, sweat beading on his forehead.

"An explanation? Prince Edsack was seduced by a witch, colluded with a cult, and attempted to rebel—that's the explanation! His plot was exposed, and he has already fled to escape punishment. What other explanation do they need?" King George III suddenly roared in fury.

He took a breath, regaining his usual seriousness:

"Tell them that anyone who obtains a title, by any means, can get a seat in the House of Lords, that property restrictions on elections will be relaxed, and that invalid constituencies will be eliminated. This is an appeasement for those factory owners and bankers."

"Similarly, the Air Pollution Investigation Committee will give its conclusion immediately, the relevant bill will be passed soon, and the minimum guarantee and working hours regulations will also be presented in the form of law in the near future!"

"The Poor Law will be reformed according to their demands... allowing the three major churches to send personnel into the military!"

The Earl of the Imperial Palace was startled when he heard this. "Your Majesty."

Such concessions were beyond his imagination, especially the last one.

George III flew into a rage again:

"That's what we'll tell them! Since they want a new order, then I'll give them a new order!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Earl of the Palace dared not say anything more and left the palace.

King George III sat there motionless for a long time, like a stone statue.

Watching the Earl of the Palace depart, George III coldly gave the following order:

"Georgina, no matter what method you use, find Edsack. He must die!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Grand Duchess, dressed in a black evening gown, bowed respectfully and withdrew from the hall.

"Edsack".

After an unknown amount of time, his expression suddenly softened, and he murmured, "Escaped under the watchful eye of a Sequence 4, and even managed to kill a Sequence 5 Beyonder—that witch alone could never have done it. Or perhaps you have some trump card that even I don't know about? My dear Edsack, you've truly given me a wonderful surprise! But…"

"Why won't you just obediently die?"

-

In a small town on the outskirts of Backlund.

Klein stood in front of the full-length mirror. In the mirror, his black hair was neatly combed to the side, and he had a pair of deep brown eyes. His face was rather thin and angular.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses and had no beard, looking both young and experienced. This was Zhou Mingrui's appearance, modified according to the characteristics of people from the Northern Continent, and it was the energetic look he had when he was in college, before society had made him fat.

Sherlock Moriarty's identity can no longer be used for the time being, but he still needs to return to Backlund first. For example, he needs to obtain a legal identity, otherwise he can only go to sea as a "pirate," which will not only restrict his travels but also hinder his search for mermaids.

Klein had no shortage of ways to acquire a legitimate identity, such as through Ian at the "Braveheart" bar, through Miss Sharon's circle, or through Detective Essinger Stanton. If he were brave enough, he could even ask Ember for an identity related to the "Church of the Night," even a noble one wouldn't be impossible. After all, Ember's identity was forged for him by the "Church of the Night," and he was a nobleman from Wintershire.

-

Red Rose Estate, on the outskirts of Queens.

A dozen or so extraordinary individuals belonging to different sects gathered here, attempting to find some clues from the manor of Edsack, the "instigator" of this incident. However, this once incredibly luxurious and sprawling manor had long since been reduced to ruins by the meteor shower.

The area that was once the manor is now a scorched wasteland, the earth scarred and ravaged, riddled with craters from the meteorite impact, piled-up and compacted soil, and scattered remnants of walls and buildings that survived the direct impact of the meteor shower and subsequent shockwaves. Within a five-kilometer radius of the manor, not a single intact building or living creature can be found. Whether people or plants, everything as far as the eye can see is a scene of utter devastation!

"This is not good news."

In the pouring rain, Ikonser Bernard, the mechanical heart butler wearing a raincoat, sighed softly. They had come to investigate, but anyone could tell that it was impossible to find any valuable clues in the ruins destroyed by a meteorite.

Of course, the Mechanical Heart possesses the sealed artifact '2-111,' which might be able to recreate the scene that occurred and investigate Edsack's whereabouts. But unless absolutely necessary, Ikonser really doesn't want to use this broken mirror.

Just as he was hesitating, Ikonser suddenly heard footsteps.

"Butler Ikonser"

Wearing a trench coat and red gloves, Dunn Smith approached Iconsel and politely inquired, "Do you have any leads?"

Dunn's appearance greatly appealed to Iconsel, but he still shook his head, pointed to the ruins in front of him, and sighed:

"As you can see, all traces have been destroyed by the meteorite; there is nothing here."

Dunn nodded slightly in agreement, but quickly asked again:

"I heard the Mechanical Heart has a mirror?"

"..."

Ikonser's face stiffened, and he said with a bitter expression, "Yes, I was just about to use it to investigate."

Then, he took out a silver mirror from a specially made pocket inside his clothing. Dunn's gaze shifted downwards to the anciently patterned silver mirror in Ikonser's hand. On either side of the mirror were eye-like decorations, set against a black gemstone base, appearing deep and alluring.

But as its user, Ikonser felt extremely disgusted.

Iconsidered for a long time, carefully considering where to begin his question, since the mirror's answer would come at a price.

After a two-second pause, Iconsel took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"Your Excellency Arodes, my question is, what just happened here?"

The surrounding darkness suddenly became hazy, and ripples of water appeared on the surface of the silver mirror.

Soon, an image appeared in the silver mirror:

Dozens of burning meteorites fell from the sky, streaking across the heavens at incredible speeds and crashing straight into the ground, stirring up dust and shockwaves that ultimately destroyed the entire estate, along with the surrounding hills and trees!

Although the question may seem redundant, Ikonser had to ask it to ensure that there was no supernatural influence involved, even though the appearance of the meteorite was already quite unusual.

Just as Ikonser was about to ask for others' opinions, several lines of Old Fussac words suddenly appeared on the silver mirror:

"Based on the principle of reciprocity, it's my turn to ask a question."

"If you answer incorrectly, or lie, you will be punished."

What color underwear do you like your crush to wear?

Ikonser's face flushed red, and she said weakly, "Purple."

"Congratulations, you got it right." New words appeared on the surface of the silver mirror, turning white.

Iconsel thought for two seconds, then asked, "Your Excellency Arrodes, my question is, how did Edsack escape from the manor?"

The silver mirror showed a new image:

A knight of immense height, clad in red armor and wielding a sword and shield, pierced the old steward's body with a single strike. Before him stood Prince Edsac, a maniacal smile on his face.

Ikonser seemed thoughtful, but before he could share his guess, Arods asked again:

In what situations would you like your crush to wear the underwear you like them to wear?

Ikonser's face paled, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "In bed."

Congratulations, you answered correctly.

Dunn and the others had somewhat subtle expressions, but Ikonther Bernard simply ruffled her hair and changed the subject:

"It seems he was taken away by this knight in red lacquered armor. This should be an extraordinary individual secretly trained by Prince Edsak. Judging from his appearance, he is at least Sequence 5, but it is not clear which sequence he is at the moment. Moreover, the armor and weapons he is wearing are also extraordinary, and they are likely sealed artifacts."

"That should be true."

Dunn nodded and kindly asked, "Deacon Iconsel, would you like me to ask the questions next?"

Iconsel's face fell, and he said with a wry smile:

"No, no need, I'll continue."

Iconsidered for two seconds, then asked:

"My question is, Your Excellency Arrodes, what happened to Sherlock Moriarty here?"

Sherlock got involved in this, which is something that can be easily found out with a little investigation.

Since the other party was, after all, an informant for Mechanical Heart, Ikonser needed to find out what had happened to him—not only to ensure the informant's safety, but also to ensure that the other party was unrelated to this matter. If he was involved, then Ikonser himself, who had contact with him, would also be implicated.

Dunn's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and silently looked at the silver mirror.

Soon, the image appeared in the silver mirror:

From Sherlock entering the manor, to his "chance" encounter with Triss as he left in his carriage, to his entering the woods, praying to an unknown being, and even blowing the copper whistle he always carried.

He darted around rapidly beneath the meteor, trying to escape its reach before it struck, struggling to survive. But he ultimately found it all in vain and nearly died within its grasp.

This scene was incredibly distressing for Dunn, but fortunately, at the crucial moment, a figure suddenly appeared and took Sherlock away.

The video then cut off.

"Mr. Azik?"

Dunn immediately recognized the figure: it was Azik Eggers, with his bronze skin and weathered eyes. He was a history professor at Hoy University, which happened to be located in Tingen, and Klein happened to be a graduate of Hoy University, and had an excellent relationship with Mr. Azik.

Now that Mr. Azik has appeared and rescued Klein, was it the same in Tingen before?

Dunn subconsciously guessed:

"Was Klein's family heirloom ring actually a gift from Mr. Azik? And was his 'resurrection' also thanks to Mr. Azik?"

Although it's just a guess, the possibility is very high!

Of course, no matter what, it's good that Klein is still alive.

Just as Dunn was about to speak, a line of bloody characters appeared on the silver mirror:

Would you put the underwear of the person you like over your head?

Ikonser's face paled even more.

-

Inside the Earl Hall's luxurious villa in Queens.

The Earl and Countess Hall and Hilbert were escorted back by Archbishop St. Anthony, who even strengthened their defenses by sending an additional squad of night watchmen for their protection.

Upon his return to St. Samuel's Church, Ember, who had been taking his place at the church, immediately teleported Audrey back to the villa.

The Earl of Hall and his family stared in astonishment at the sudden appearance of Ember and Audrey, speechless with surprise.

"Dad, how is it?"

Audrey was the first to react and asked with concern.

"It's been resolved."

Earl Hall finally recovered, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "Thanks to you this time, my little princess, you saved everyone!"

Audrey revealed a hint of pride at the right moment, which was both a disguise and a genuine expression of pride.

Ash.

Earl Hall approached Ember, his face serious, and said, "The Hall family owes you a favor!"

Earl Hall knew perfectly well that Audrey alone couldn't possibly defeat the mastermind. Even if she discovered the truth, her ultimate fate would likely be an "accidental death." It was only thanks to Ember's protection that she was able to find Hilbert and break his hypnosis.

Yu Jin humbly replied:

"It's my duty. After all, I'm still Audrey's teacher, aren't I?"

"right."

Earl Hall smiled and nodded, then added, "However, I would like to ask you for another favor."

Ember asked, "What kind of help?"

Earl Hall said in a deep voice:

"Protect Audrey, I mean close protection, never leaving her side, her safety must be our top priority no matter what!"

It's unlikely that the royal family will intervene again to hypnotize him, because Archbishop St. Anthony will definitely be watching this.

However, the other party might become enraged and attack Audrey, which is what Earl Hall is worried about.

The highest-ranking member in the family is only Sequence 7, which is not enough to shoulder the responsibility of protecting Audrey. Only Ember has this ability!

Ember hesitated for two seconds, then nodded slightly:

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)