It's so hard being a hero!

He gave a cold laugh.

"Of course the Papacy would say that. If they didn't, how could they have a reason to interfere in the affairs of the Empire?"

Upon hearing this, Clem's eyes narrowed immediately.

"General Karen, are you questioning the Papacy's judgment? Or are you questioning His Holiness the Pope?"

"I am not questioning the Vatican, nor am I questioning the Pope."

Karen shook her head without hesitation.

“I mean, the Holy See should not interfere in the internal affairs of our Delos Empire.”

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Leo.

"And Your Highness, you said His Majesty the Emperor is being controlled? Fine, that's simple. As long as His Majesty personally intervenes, we will withdraw our troops immediately without hesitation."

"But His Majesty himself did not come forward. He only said that you unilaterally announced the dethronement of His Majesty. We cannot accept this."

As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of agreement immediately arose in the square.

"Yes, let His Majesty come out and say it himself."

"We want to see His Majesty."

"The Crown Prince cannot make decisions before His Majesty."

Leo stood still, looking at the excited faces of the crowd, his expression unchanged.

He knew this would happen.

Those military generals said nice things, like we wanted to see His Majesty, but they were just stalling for time and pretending to be confused.

Because they knew perfectly well that the old emperor would never say those things.

But they wanted to use that reason to shut him up.

Leo wasn't angry.

He's way past the age where he gets angry over things like that.

He simply looked at Karen and a few other generals and said slowly.

"You refuse to obey my orders?"

Karen puffed out her chest, her tone still firm.

“Your Highness, unless His Majesty speaks for us personally, we will only obey His Majesty’s orders.”

Leo nodded and said nothing more.

He turned his head to look in the direction of the palace gate.

Griffin remained standing at the palace gate, motionless, like a statue.

Leo knew that this matter couldn't be resolved with words alone.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the square, a figure was silently approaching.

It was a figure dressed in light gold armor, with a silver longsword hanging at his waist, and short orange hair that shone warmly in the setting sun.

He walked step by step through the crowd and soon arrived at the front.

The person who arrived was none other than Vic.

His gaze fell on Griffin, he sighed softly, and then walked over.

The nobles and generals who were arguing in the square made way for him as he approached.

Vic's reputation speaks for itself.

One of the Empire's Twin Stars, a Holy Knight of the Papacy, and a Saint Realm Flame Swordsman, he was a figure of great importance even in the eyes of these arrogant high-ranking military officials.

Vic walked through the crowd to the palace gate and stood in front of Griffin.

The two stared at each other from a distance of several meters.

Griffin's expression remained as calm as a mountain, but his eyes flickered slightly the moment he saw Vic.

"Vic, you've arrived."

Griffin spoke first, his voice carrying a hint of complexity.

Vic replied.

"Senior Griffin, you'd better step aside."

The old emperor had previously ordered Vic to be relieved of his post in the Imperial Capital Military Department, but as one of the Empire's top combat forces, no one could stop Vic from going wherever he wanted.

"Are you here to help His Highness the Crown Prince?" Griffin asked.

But if Sophia were here, she would definitely be able to hear the barely perceptible weariness in his tone.

"Yes."

Vic did not deny it.

Griffin nodded, as if he had expected this answer, and then slowly raised the heavy warhammer in his hand.

"Then there's nothing more to say."

Vic looked at Griffin and suddenly smiled.

“Senior Griffin, we both understand that His Majesty is no longer coming back.”

Griffin did not answer, but simply gripped his warhammer tighter.

Vic didn't say anything more.

He slowly drew the silver holy sword from his waist, and a warm golden-orange light shone on the blade, like a ball of flame compressed to its limit flowing on the edge.

The two stood facing each other at the palace gate.

The air around them seemed to freeze, and even the people who had been arguing in the square just moments before fell silent.

Griffin looked at Vic's still somewhat youthful face and spoke in a low voice.

"I've watched you grow up to where you are today."

"From the day I met you, I knew you were the kind of person who wouldn't give up once you made a decision."

Griffin continued.

"You're standing here today because you're prepared not to regret it, right?"

Vic nodded.

"Yes."

Griffin was silent for two seconds, then sighed softly.

"Then let's go."

As soon as Griffin finished speaking, the ground beneath his feet suddenly exploded.

He charged towards Vic like a silver-gray cannonball.

The warhammer, taller than himself, drew an arc through the air, whistling as it tore through the air, and slammed into Vic's face.

Vic did not back down.

He dodged to the left, and the warhammer grazed his shoulder before slamming into the ground.

With a muffled thud, a large crater several meters in diameter was smashed into the stone slab, sending rubble flying everywhere.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Vic stepped forward and swung his holy sword diagonally upward, leaving a scorching trail in the air as the golden-orange flames wrapped around the blade aimed straight at Griffin's waist.

Griffin reacted extremely quickly.

With a twist of his wrist, he quickly retracted his warhammer, its head held horizontally to his side, precisely blocking Vic's sword strike.

The moment the sword and hammer clashed, a piercing metallic clang erupted.

Sparks flew everywhere, and shockwaves spread outwards, sending rubble and dust flying all over the ground.

The nobles and generals watching involuntarily took a dozen steps back, making way for a large open space.

The two separated immediately after touching each other, each taking a few steps back.

Griffin glanced down at the faint sword mark on the surface of the warhammer, his brow twitching slightly.

"Your sword is even faster than it was back then."

"The senior's hammer is still just as heavy."

Vic replied.

But both of them had very serious looks in their eyes.

Griffin didn't reply, but picked up the warhammer again.

"Let's settle this today. The last time we fought was more than 20 years ago."

Vic gripped the holy sword tightly, and the golden-orange flames on the blade were even brighter and hotter than before.

"Then let's give it a try."

Before the words were even finished, the two of them moved at the same time.

This time, they didn't fight on the ground. Griffin pushed off with his feet and soared into the sky.

Vic followed closely behind, his figure transforming into a golden streak of light as he chased after him.

The two faced off hundreds of meters in the air.

People on the ground looked up and could only see two blurry lights flashing and colliding among the clouds, each collision accompanied by a thunderous roar and blinding light.

Griffin's warhammer was enveloped in a thick, earthy-yellow aura, and each strike was so heavy it seemed capable of crushing a piece of the sky.

Vic's sword, on the other hand, was much more agile, with golden-orange flames dancing and leaping across its blade, each swing accompanied by a scorching wave of air.

The two transformed into two streaks of light, colliding fiercely in the high sky.

On the ground, Archbishop Clem and the others looked up at the battle, their brows furrowing slightly, before their gazes returned to the royal knights who were standing ready inside the palace gates.

He remained silent for a moment, then turned and spoke to the knights of the Papacy behind him.

"Once the Holy Swordsman wins, he will immediately advance."