Chapter 138 - 113: The Hero Who Declared War on Green Shade Territory, the Creed Clan, and the Empire Prime Minister (Part 2)

Chapter 138: Chapter 113: The Hero Who Declared War on Green Shade Territory, the Creed Clan, and the Empire Prime Minister (Part 2)

"His Majesty the King has already acknowledged Catherine’s right to inherit and even sent the Knight Order with his congratulations."

The Empire Minister, Oppa, who had been silent on the side, suddenly spoke.

Although he disliked Lian, he despised Mary even more.

He was a loyal subordinate of Augustus, and all of Augustus’s staunchest followers detested Mary.

They had even proposed that Augustus launch an attack on Mary, but all such proposals were rejected.

Mary glanced at Oppa, who raised his chin arrogantly.

Because he felt he was representing Augustus Frank, the supreme leader of the Empire, how could he possibly bow his head to Mary?

"Grand Priest Kosem also personally gave Catherine his blessing just now."

Oppa added, implying that the Church Court also stood with Catherine.

The color drained from Lorne Jackson’s face. He had a faint, ominous premonition.

"Oh? So if everyone acknowledges Catherine, then Lorne Jackson must be the hypocrite who forged the document."

"Trying to steal everything that rightfully belonged to your sister... oh, how despicable."

"You even deceived me, getting me to help you come to the Blue Moon Territory. You’ve truly disappointed me. I cannot tolerate such a despicable person continuing to live in this world."

"How about I give your head to Catherine as a gift? What do you think?"

Mary said slowly, her gaze turning sharp.

Overcome with shock, the wine glass in Lorne Jackson’s hand slipped and fell to the floor, shattering.

He never expected Mary to actually offer him up.

In an instant, his survival instinct made him abandon all semblance of noble dignity and fall to his knees.

"Mary, you can’t do this! I’m still valuable to you. I... I-I didn’t forge the document."

Catherine clutched the hem of her dress, her body trembling slightly. Lian thoughtfully steadied her, giving her confidence and Power.

"If you didn’t forge the document, then was it Catherine?"

Mary asked, raising an eyebrow.

At some point, Lorne Jackson’s eyes had reddened. Out of sheer terror, tears began to stream uncontrollably down his face.

He could feel Mary’s killing intent.

Mary truly intended to kill him in front of everyone.

He could only look up and beg Catherine to plead for him.

But if Catherine pleaded for him, it would imply they were close, and he would become leverage Mary could use against Catherine.

’Mary is using my life to threaten Catherine. Only if Catherine is willing to give up her right to inherit the Blue Moon Territory will Mary spare me.’

’But even if I do become the Lord of Blue Moon Territory, Mary still won’t let me go.’

As Lorne Jackson thought of this, he was plunged into despair.

"Mary, I don’t need this gift," Catherine said.

"No one can refuse my gifts. Whatever I want to give you, you must accept. Unless you admit that Lorne Jackson is not an Ambitious usurper, that the Inheritance Document in your hand is the forgery, and that you are the despicable one who should be sent to the gallows."

Mary said in a tone that allowed no argument.

Catherine froze. She found she could no longer say no, because she couldn’t admit to being a despicable person.

Mary was forcing her to abdicate, to hand over the Blue Moon Territory, in order to save her only living relative.

If she chose the Blue Moon Territory, she would have to accept Lorne Jackson’s head.

If she chose to back down, she would be plunging herself into a bottomless Abyss.

"Of course, if you admit your mistake, I believe Lorne Jackson, doting on his little sister, wouldn’t send you to the gallows. Besides, you are the fiancée of Lord Lian of Green Shade Territory. You can go back with Lord Lian to the Green Shade Territory."

Mary added, deliberately leaving Catherine a way out.

Mary’s knight drew his longsword and placed it on Lorne Jackson’s neck, putting a countdown on his life.

Lorne Jackson wanted to live so badly. Even living for just a little while longer was better than dying immediately. He looked at Catherine, his face streaked with tears.

"Save me! Save me, Catherine! I don’t want to die."

Khrish, the Governor for Yusofa, who had been hiding in the shadows and waiting for an opportunity, took advantage of everyone’s focus on Lorne Jackson. He suddenly rushed out, wanting to deal a fatal blow to his mortal enemy, Mary.

However, before he could get within three meters of Mary, he was beheaded by her Chief Knight, Yaxin Matic.

Khrish’s head rolled to a stop at Lian’s feet.

The nobles screamed, but the scene did not descend into chaos. Even those who wanted to escape in the confusion couldn’t do so.

Because the Grand Priest was still sitting there, rock-steady. Because the Empire Envoy was still sitting there, his expression unchanged. Because the Southern Dominator was still sitting there, completely unmoved.

It was as if three great mountains were pressing down on them. No matter how terrified they were or how much they wanted to flee, they didn’t dare make a rash move.

Even their screams became very restrained.

Lian frowned. ’This loyal subordinate I spent so much time conning just threw his life away so recklessly.’

Lian released Catherine’s hand. He squatted down, picked up Khrish’s head, cradled it in his arms, and began to stroke it gently.

Everyone was drawn in by this scene. They were also shocked, having no idea what Lian was about to do.

In an instant, Lorne Jackson went from being the protagonist of the drama to a side character, losing the focus of everyone’s gaze.

"Oh, Uncle Chris! My Uncle Chris! When I was down and out, you saved me. You gave me a warm bed and hot milk. You had your daughter serve as my Maid, and your son teach me Swordsmanship. You even introduced me to your niece, Catherine, giving me a perfect fiancée. My father, Moria, abandoned me, but it was you who taught me to read and write, you who taught me the Knight’s Path, and you who helped me reclaim the dignity and confidence of a nobleman. You were a second father to me, and today, I have lost you."

Lian had instantly channeled his inner Hamlet, full of tragic sorrow.

Everyone was moved and touched by his words.

Except for Catherine.

Catherine knew it was all lies. ’When did Uncle Chris ever introduce me to him?’

Except for Mary.

Mary knew it was all lies. ’Khrish would make his own daughter serve an Illegitimate Child? That’ll happen when pigs fly.’

Except for Grand Priest Cosme Pizarro.

The Grand Priest knew it was all lies. He had personally witnessed Lian wipe out Khrish’s entire Knight Order earlier. ’If this is how Lian treats a father figure,’ he thought, ’then his father is truly unfortunate.’

Most of the others, however, were moved by Lian’s words. His excellent delivery and overflowing emotion were worthy of the title "Best Actor of the Holy Empire."

Even Yaxin Matic, the Six-star Knight who had just casually killed Khrish with a single sword strike, was stunned.

’I killed the father of the Lord of Green Shade Territory?’

The beautiful Maid, Nancy Scalia, stared with her mouth slightly agape.

’Why does this man seem so over-the-top?’

"You."

Lian’s emotions suddenly switched from sorrow to rage. He pointed at Mary’s Chief Knight, Yaxin Matic, and said,

"You killed him! My dearest Uncle Chris, my savior, my second father, the adopted son of Duke Lane Moria! This is a declaration of war against me, against the entire Green Shade Territory, against the entire Moria Clan, and against the Creed Clan as a whole!"

Lian remembered Old Deng once telling him that he was an Illegitimate Child of the Moria Clan, and that the Moria Clan was one of the Seven Great Creed Families of the Empire.

Old Deng’s father, Lane Moria, was a noble Duke and also the Empire Prime Minister.

’This identity... when it’s time to use it, you use it.’

Lian felt that now was the time. By bringing up the Creed Clan and the Empire Prime Minister, not even Mary would be able to protect this Six-star Knight.

Yaxin Matic was completely and utterly dumbfounded.

’I just killed an Assassin who was trying to ambush Lady Mary. How did that suddenly make me some Hero declaring war on the Green Shade Territory, the Creed Clan, and the Empire Prime Minister?’

’The Green Shade Territory is one thing, but the Creed Clan and the Empire Prime Minister are people at the absolute pinnacle of power in the Holy Empire. Declaring war is out of the question; they’re existences that no one dares to offend.’

Faced with the monstrous accusation Lian had suddenly thrown at him, the well-muscled but simple-minded Chief Knight could only turn a pleading gaze toward Mary.