Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 651 - 379: The Fifth Prince’s Ambition (2)

Chapter 651: Chapter 379: The Fifth Prince’s Ambition (2)

“Now.” He set down the metal piece, stood up, and swiftly donned his robe.

Lampard walked through the side yard and across the wooden bridge, entering the depths of the estate.

At the end of the stairs, there was only a wooden door sealed with an iron lock.

Lampard raised his hand, and the guard at the door immediately unlocked it.

As the wooden door was pushed open, damp cold air hit him, the basement was dark and silent, like a secret waiting to be uncovered.

Lampard stepped into the shadows and said softly, “Light the lamp.”

The flame ignited, and he walked further inward alone, his expression unchanged.

The deeper he went, the colder the air became, and the passage at the end of the stairs was narrow, with walls on both sides engraved with ancient crown patterns, only here the patterns were inverted, petals pointing downward, resembling an overturned prayer.

The light shone on the ground, revealing scenes that tightened one’s heart.

The entire floor was covered in densely packed “reverse crown demon patterns” of the Golden Feather Flower Church.

Each line seemed carved by a knife into the stone, unnaturally deep, with a faint golden glow between the patterns, pulsing like a living creature.

The walls were filled with inscriptions from the old era, the writings blurred by time, yet carrying certain fervent strokes, as if the inscriber was at the boundary of extreme devotion and madness.

The candle stand burned with a pale blue flame, not a normal fire color, but a symbol of some alien race’s power.

The cold light pressed against the stone walls, making the entire underground space feel immersed in deep sea.

The air carried a faint metallic scent, like remnants left after blood has dispersed for too long.

At the end of the corridor, a round stone platform stood silently.

The platform body was carved from a whole piece of rock, with intertwined patterns spreading across its surface like golden cracks, faintly glowing, as if something within was breathing.

This is a place that would make ordinary people feel an unbearable headache just approaching.

Lampard’s gaze was calm, never stopping.

And in the center of the stone platform, a man sat cross-legged.

He sat barefoot in a lotus position, his figure robust like a boulder carved by mountain wind.

His skin wasn’t just bronze-toned, but faintly emitted a fog-like black aura, slowly escaping from the gaps of his collarbone, arms, and spine, like a bound curse breathing beneath the flesh.

A deep red ritual robe draped over his shoulders, the edges slightly curled where touched by the black aura, losing its original color as if scorched.

Most striking were the golden bone needles on his back, their gold stained and dim, thin black threads continuously seeping from their roots.

The man’s eyes remained closed, his eyelashes motionless.

Yet around him, the air seemed slightly distorted, as if invisible hands were attempting to break free from within.

Lampard stopped before the stone platform, took a deep breath, and his voice respectful yet lowered further, “Divine Envoy, I have come to report the Regent King’s situation.”

He slightly raised his gaze, looking at the unmoving figure on the platform, speaking straightforwardly:

“The Regent King is consuming the Essence Fruit. His current condition… doesn’t appear to be deteriorating as rapidly as two years ago. The Essence Fruit keeps him in a state of… barely maintaining clarity. Weakness seems to be held at bay by it.”

The tone lightened towards the end, he knew well that this should not occur.

According to the initial progression of the curse, the Regent King’s condition had visibly deteriorated monthly since two years ago, from standing during morning court to short sittings for discussions, until now, almost unable to leave the bedchamber.

All of this stems from the Divine Grace Curse personally bestowed by Salomon Divine Envoy: [Curse of Seamless Death].

Divine Grace is the supernatural ability unique to the Golden Feather Flower Church Authority Country, akin to the Empire’s bloodline talent, though Divine Grace is granted by the bishops.

What Salomon Divine Envoy activated is: [Curse of Seamless Death]

This is a curse, invisible, tasteless, undetectable, not recognized by neutralizing spells, untouched by magic potions, prayers, and ritual techniques; it only slowly weakens the target without causing immediate death.

In the center of the court, under the protection of the knights, it can silently kill a Regent King, leaving no trace.

The only two drawbacks are its slow pace and the caster must sacrifice an equal amount of life energy.

Lampard knew this well.

At this moment, he saw the skin of Salomon Divine Envoy exposed outside the ritual clothing, even darker than a few days earlier, blood vessels faintly rising, like ink slowly flowing along the bloodstream.

This isn’t a fabricated miracle, but a real cost, as the Regent King weakens, Salomon descends with him.

However, he understood that this curse was the best method he had to subdue the Regent King.

Poison?

He had tried it once two years ago, planting an extremely covert poison amidst the circulation of dinnerware and exchange of maidservants.

The result only alarmed a few guards, but the Regent King remained unharmed after layers of reagents, silver needles, and prayers, without a hint of discomfort.

The Royal Family possesses the Empire’s best comprehensive detox system, from meals to maidservants, from silver needles to reagents, each stage must be flawless.

Honestly, unless the entire court could be paralyzed, poisoning was merely a joke.

Suicidal assassination?

The Second Prince’s attempt proved its value; sacrificing a high tier transcendent Death Warrior only cost the Second Prince an arm, though it shook the foundation, the cost was too great, and the First Prince is not as frivolous as the Second Prince.

Death Warrior attack?

The Imperial Capital’s guards and defense formations aren’t just for show, losing ten squads wouldn’t necessarily penetrate the royal palace center, instead it would raise everyone’s vigilance.

Only this curse, without traces, untraceable, yet undoubtedly fatal.

This is one of Golden Feather Flower Church Court’s aids to him.

Lampard continued, “I’m worried the curse might be disrupted by the Essence Fruit. Divine Envoy, would this affect… the outcome we pursue?”

Salomon Divine Envoy did not open his eyes, nor did his breathing change, only responded in a barely detectable whisper, “It won’t; it’ll only prolong the time a bit.”

Lampard’s brows furrowed slightly, “How long will it drag?”

“Not more than two years,” Salomon Divine Envoy’s voice was devoid of emotion, “the curse’s knife is in his heart; it will eventually fall.”

Then his lips seemed to twitch slightly, with a almost invisible trace of sarcasm, “What? Can’t His Highness wait?”

Lampard did not immediately respond; he recalled his plans, the church’s arrangements, the future promised by the Golden Feather Flower Country, and the imminent vacancy of the throne.

In his mind, the clues aligned again, not just a simple power grab, but his true plot brewing for years:

Lampard never sought to inherit the Empire, but to divide the Empire.

To lead the Imperial Capital into disorder, every step he pushed was precise and hidden:

Using the curse to wear down the Regent King, depriving the Imperial Capital of its authoritative core, but not letting him die immediately, allowing ample time;

Inciting conflict among the Prince factions, muddling the succession order.

Secretly funding pirates, rebel armies, continually worsening imperial security.

The military department must rupture, so after the Second Prince’s assassination, military power will become leaderless, each faction doing as they please, some legion commanders have already approached him.

The economic chain must break, Duke Calvin willing to support division, if he turns towards him, half of the Empire’s finances would collapse instantly.

Duke Calvin would support the division; he believes the Imperial Capital’s downfall is inevitable, and his second son Eduardo is the core of the Golden Feather Flower Church Court.

Lampard has even begun contacting other provinces in the east, even the Northern Territory… after all, Louis Calvin, is also a “Calvin.”

Ultimately, he aims not to establish an empire but to form the Eastern Empire.

Supported by the Golden Feather Flower Church Court, a church-state unified vassal state.

Because he never had the foundation to swallow the entire Empire, lacking military power, noble alliance, financial and tax base, nor sufficient faction support in the Imperial Capital itself.

Lampard’s only stable backer is the Golden Feather Flower Church Court.

He never intended, nor could he rule the entire Empire; he desired a narrower, yet more secure throne.

Not an emperor, but the church-recognized “Lord of the East.”

The more Lampard recalls, the more he feels the path beneath him solidifying step-by-step.

Thus, Lampard softly said, “Then I leave it to you, Divine Envoy.”