Chapter 2, The Transformation of the Carnival

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Such a turn of events had no impact on Brother Bu; however, he could fully surmise that Miss Canny was undoubtedly filled with regret. This was because the twenty gold coins that she had been almost certain to obtain had now slipped away.

The non-commissioned officer appeared somewhat complacent as he said, "I am a reserve soldier"

A person as clever as Count Bavadweber is certainly well aware that Count Jeshutesmber is absolutely not to be trifled with

Using this whip to strike oneself is the most intense performance in the parade, as they are truly covered in blood and scream sharply

"Jeshutesm, what do you think?" the king asked

Miss Canny had indeed considered using horses to pull the flower cart, but bringing horses into the city incurs a tax. His Majesty the King did not revoke this tax for the carnival, so the budget-conscious Miss Canny ultimately abandoned this plan

The hall was silent as a grave, and no minister would be foolish enough to make themselves a target for His Majesty's wrath at this moment

The streets of Xiang Shuli Te Avenue are filled with people wearing masks

As far as I know, Marquis Wei Haoleiden has many enemies, and anyone could potentially be the mastermind behind the scenes. The Marquis is certainly aware of this matter, which is why he has always been very cautious, accompanied by a large number of guards wherever he goes

The bishop continuously made the sign of the cross this way and that, while an altar server swayed the censer.

As for transferring knights from the front lines, it is even more impossible, as the time spent on the journey would be considerable

The owners of those vehicles clearly hope to secure the best position to fully enjoy this grand carnival parade

For the treasury, twenty gold coins are hardly significant. Moreover, His Majesty the King is renowned for his generosity; he would not merely select a few. Given his temperament, as long as he is somewhat satisfied, or if a few important ministers, bishops, and the archbishop commend him, it is likely that he would bestow the reward of those twenty gold coins.

Only after the sheriff arrived and moved the float did the parade procession slowly resume its course

In the parade, those who are dressed in ugly costumes, have fierce appearances, and possess imposing figures are in for some misfortune

"Are you a knight?" Miss Canny asked

Because of wearing masks, many actions that one might usually feel extremely ashamed of are performed openly on this day of revelry, under the gaze of the crowd

At the highest point of the float, Miss Canny stood there with a golden spear, exuding grace and poise, her unique beauty captivating the onlookers

The injuries of Marquis Wei Haoleiden have been brought under control, and he should not be in any life-threatening danger. Fortunately, Baron Pingpu shielded him from that fatal blow, one of the ministers remarked

Only in your presence can the guards of Marquis Wei Haileden refrain from following him. Therefore, this is the best opportunity to eliminate him. However, the assassins still overlooked two matters.

When leaving, the sergeant and Miss Canny bid each other a heartfelt farewell, their affection for one another reaching a level akin to a solemn vow of eternal love.

Although His Majesty the King is seething with anger, he has not completely lost his reason. The loyalty of Marquis de Pricot is beyond doubt, and he has long been in charge of the intelligence department, the most important division for the kingdom. Without the esteemed Marquis de Pricot, nothing can be accomplished.

Therefore, if one sees a person adorned with a brilliantly colorful ribbon, truly beautiful, and if that person is not the most devout, deeply reflective of their own actions, genuinely seeking redemption, then they are indeed a thoroughly wicked individual

The law enforcement officers turn a blind eye to all of this; on the day of the carnival, no one will bother with these trivial matters. Once the masks are on, everyone indulges freely, as long as nothing major happens, there is no need to intervene

"Marquis Garedi, you are to allocate a barracks and allow Count Jeshutesm to select a squad of knights from your troops. The specifics will be jointly managed by you, Count Jeshutesm, and Count Bavardwe. I hope to see this newly formed order of knights as soon as possible." His Majesty the King issued the decree

His Majesty the King shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the vast hall: "Do I have such loyal subjects by my side? If that blow had been aimed at me, I would have surely perished long ago." In a fit of anger, the King kicked over the table in front of him

After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately decided to speak candidly: "Your Majesty, although we have not yet captured any of the assassins, based on the information gathered, I have found that the targets of these assassins seem to have originally been Marquis Wei Haoleiden."

In the Kaiser Palace, the ministers anxiously faced the furious king

These unfortunate individuals were escorted by the sheriff to the swiftly arriving prison van

Various types of vehicles are moving in the center of the road. There are rental carriages, citizen carriages, covered wagons, leather-covered two-wheeled carts, single-horse covered two-wheeled vehicles, and even vehicles bearing the insignia of noble members of the House of Lords and ministers.

Since His Majesty the King is so resolute in his intentions, it would be exceedingly foolish to only consider the interests of Marquis Wei Haolei and to strive for benefits for this superior, especially when it would inevitably offend a person of considerable power.

Although the king holds the esteemed position of a sovereign, there are still a few individuals whom he cannot easily offend

In the latter half of the float lies the world of the "coolies"

The atoners are all men, leading the parade.

The penitents adorned their top hats or whips with ribbons, each using their respective colors to represent their distinct sins

At the feet of Boge, two young and beautiful "fairies" leaned against him, one on the left and one on the right. They were the handmaidens of the wine god Osphus, who, according to legend, had many handmaidens.

It seems that he is not a remarkable individual, merely a clerk or a bodyguard, perhaps His Majesty the King will bestow upon him a national flag to cover his body. Such favors are always to be expected. " Blake shrugged and said, "Is there anything else? I still have to patrol!"

The more imposing and commanding figures are the mounted sheriffs, clad in steel breastplates, wielding two-meter-long iron staffs as they slowly advance alongside the convoy on horseback

"I will dispatch fifty royal guards to you," said the king

Miss Canny certainly could not take such matters seriously, and that sergeant was clearly an experienced player in the realm of romance. Brother Bu believes that this promising sergeant only cares for a night of passion.

"Marquis de Pricot, you have worked hard. Have you uncovered any clues?" the King asked patiently

Who has died? Do we need to lower the national flag? the officer asked, as he certainly did not dare to directly inquire whether the king or some prominent figure had passed away

The sidewalks along Xiang Shuli Te Avenue were crowded with onlookers, and the windows of the tall and luxurious buildings on either side of the avenue were filled with curious spectators

Your Majesty, pursuing the assassin is my duty; however, I only have constables under my command, and they are certainly no match for those assassins. Count Jeshutesmber sighed in despair

However, the speed of the convoy did not increase significantly as a result

Quickly summon him to the palace. The king's anger flared up again

Ha! His Majesty the King let out a deafening laugh: "This is truly monumental news. In broad daylight, someone has meticulously orchestrated an assassination, and the target is not the most deserving of such a fate, but rather a minor character standing nearby. This is indeed a tale I have never heard before."

Upon hearing this news, the entire theater troupe breathed a slight sigh of relief, as only one inconsequential person had died, which should not significantly affect the carnival

However, these assassins clearly have significant connections. The sheriff's department that I oversee can at most pursue ordinary criminals and maintain public order. When it comes to such a well-organized group of assassins, which evidently possesses a profound background, it is beyond our capacity to handle.

Counted in detail by Count Bavadweber: "Your Majesty, if a complete maintenance system were to be additionally provided for this knight squad, it would be exceedingly costly"

In fact, if it were not for that officer who was constantly engaging in lively conversation with Miss Canny, the three of them might have already been taken away in a prisoner transport, as every time a group of sheriffs passed by them, they would scrutinize them from head to toe.

As he spoke, he stood atop the float and looked around. After a while, he shouted into the distance, "Blake! Come here! I have something to ask you!"

Although he is not as outstanding as Mith and Bo Ge, Tor is not an unattractive man. His strong muscles are unmatched by the other male members of the troupe, which makes him more popular among the female patrons than the other six male members of the troupe

However, most people have already boarded the float

This year's float parade has been deemed a failure, but it remains uncertain whether the entire carnival celebration will come to a halt

About half an hour later, a heavy sound of footsteps and the clanking of armor echoed from a distance. This time, it was not the sheriff who appeared, but soldiers wielding iron halberds.

However, His Majesty the King clearly did not wish for the grand carnival to become desolate, and the traveling theater troupe along with all the celebratory activities proceeded as usual

They seek to win rewards merely to enhance their capital for boasting during casual conversations at tea gatherings

Count Bavadweber observed the expression of His Majesty the King. Being adept at discerning the King's intentions, he could certainly see that the King had indeed made up his mind to form this temporary knightly order. Otherwise, the King would have outright rejected the proposal of the Chief of Security regarding the sum of seven hundred thousand long ago.

At the forefront of the parade is the procession of the "Redeemers"

After receiving the decree with great joy, Count Bavadwe requested to withdraw from the audience, and His Majesty set a deadline, leaving him quite busy

In this parade, everyone is both an audience member and a performer; each participant in the carnival parade showcases their own creativity while also appreciating the creativity of others

Because the decoration on the float is made of almost weightless cotton, it can be said that this float is the tallest and most eye-catching one on this street, giving a sense of standing out from the crowd. Not to mention other advantages, just the fact that it is conspicuous ensures that the twenty gold coins from His Majesty the King and the *illustration* are almost certainly in Miss Canny's hands.

No one knows what happened, but the entire convoy suddenly came to a halt, casting a shadow over everyone's heart.

Beneath the steps of the court's council chamber, the ministers stood there in sincere trepidation

Fortunately, not much time had passed when a voice announced from outside the hall: "His Excellency, Marquis de Pricot, has arrived"

Upon hearing the words of Marquis de Pricot, the king also calmed down, and his anger over the assassination attempt had long been overshadowed by this inexplicable situation

"Lord Depricot is currently busy pursuing the assassin," said a minister nearby

Of course, I will definitely be able to obtain a promotion soon" The officer appeared extremely pleased

As the convoy was approaching the central square, ordinary carriages and pedestrians participating in the parade were diverted away from the procession.

That unique scenery indeed made him feel exceptionally excited, and Brother Bu was captivated by it.

Where is Marquis de Pricot? The king looked around for a while, clearly the subject of the conversation was not in the hall

However, before attending to these matters, he had something more important to do; he must visit the Marquis of Weiholayden's residence to inquire about his superior's injuries

"Very well, Jeshutesm, you may select the knights you prefer to form a cavalry unit of no more than one hundred men. I will give you two months for this task. Before that, you should recruit fifty knights from the Royal Guard Brigade." The king turned to another minister and inquired, "Count Bawadweber, could you estimate how much funding would be required to assemble such a cavalry unit?"

Therefore, Du Ke can be regarded as the pillar of the theater troupe; unfortunately, despite his remarkable talent, he is appreciated by no one outside of the troupe.

The soldiers and law enforcement officers, with serious expressions, began to search for every possible dangerous element

"Seven hundred thousand in two months..." The king pondered. For a knightly order that was not frequently utilized, spending seven hundred thousand in just two months was indeed excessive. Although he was known for his generosity, he still had to hesitate for quite a while when faced with such a substantial sum.

Some of the onlookers are performers in the carnival parade themselves, while others eagerly join the procession and move along with it. However, the majority are merely standing by, watching the festivities unfold.

Rupnail is home to numerous churches and monasteries, yet only a small fraction of them are able to attend the carnival celebrations and parades, and among them, there are only monks and no nuns. Clearly, nuns like Sister Engbury are seen by the monks merely as a means to expel the sins from the monks themselves

However, the Marquis de Pricot is clearly a stubborn individual who likes to hold onto his opinions: "Your Majesty, as an outstanding knight, your expertise in the military field is well known. In your view, how skilled are those assassins? Do you think it is possible for such an assassin to miss the target by such a wide margin with a full-force strike?"

Some of these vehicles have been meticulously decorated, transforming into unique and distinctive floats for the celebration parade. However, there are also quite a few horse-drawn carriages that parade alongside the procession in their plain and unadorned state.

A knight squad consisting of one hundred knights has a total monthly allowance of approximately ten thousand silver coins. A knight barracks, equipped with a training room and an armory, costs at least three hundred thousand silver coins. Each knight is provided with two warhorses, with each warhorse costing around two thousand silver coins.

It is the women who follow behind the clergy. This is a habit, for women are the most difficult to redeem and are the beings burdened with the deepest sins. Worse still, there is no one who can expel the sins that cling to them. The clergy believe that sins accumulate more and more within women.

As he called out, a distant officer riding a horse and wearing a golden military helmet approached: "What is the matter?"

However, from Brother Bu's position, he could not see Miss Kanni's face, but he was able to appreciate a view beneath her skirt that others could never enjoy

The sergeant standing next to Miss Canny waved his hand and greeted her before allowing the Black sergeant to leave.

After pondering for half a day, the king asked, "In your opinion, what was the purpose of this assassination that I cannot comprehend at all?" The king's anger had evidently subsided significantly; at least he now understood that he was not so detestable, and his life was not in jeopardy.

The crowd from the parade has yet to disperse, and countless floats remain stationed on Xiang Shuli Te Avenue. In fact, without the permission of the sheriffs, no one is allowed to move even an inch; even stretching one's limbs would raise the vigilance of the sheriffs.

Brother Bu need not worry at all, for it seems that, according to the preferences of the sheriff and the soldiers, they will not come to arrest him, the "God of Wine" Ospos. However, the likes of Mith, Tor, and Duke, who are behind the float, may not feel as secure.

"Marquis de Pricot, regardless of whether the assassin's target is me, you bear significant responsibility for such an incident. I hope you can apprehend the assassin as soon as possible and uncover the mastermind behind them. Count Jeshutesm, as the Chief of Security, your responsibilities are also considerable. I hope you can set aside any personal grievances with Marquis de Pricot and work together to pursue the assassin," the King commanded

"What just happened in the square?" asked the officer accompanying Miss Canny.

The door opened, and a thin, withered old man with two long, slender mustaches and a pair of sharp, triangular eyes walked in. He was none other than Marquis de Pricot, who oversaw the entire intelligence agency.

On the scarlet carpet laid in the palace, two heaps of shattered porcelain fragments from broken vases lie, a masterpiece born from His Majesty the King's great fury

Marquess Wei Haoleiden is truly fortunate, for he has a loyal Baron Pingpu by his side, willing to sacrifice his life to protect him. And what about me?

From Ganfeidaoer Street, passing through June Square, then proceeding past Starlight Square, Victory Square, Toledo Cathedral, and Keukenhof Garden, you will arrive at Rupnail Central Square.

Upon leaving the Kaiser Palace, Count Bavardweber headed straight for the residence of Marquis Wehlreden

Secondly, in order to prevent such a situation from occurring, Marquis Wei Haoleiden secretly arranged for the skin in the vulnerable areas of his body to be replaced with "dead flesh," which is particularly resistant to injury and has strong defensive capabilities

That is the endpoint of the entire carnival celebration parade, where all the floats will be personally reviewed by His Majesty the King, who will select a few that meet his satisfaction from among these floats

At the farthest point stands Thor, dressed as Hercules, alongside the fire god Priam and the mighty Metreon, who are brothers in hardship. In addition to them, there is also the equally unattractive water god Postra.

Compared to others, Duoke indeed has no inherent advantages; he possesses a very ordinary and unremarkable face. However, he is the most skilled actor in the troupe, and only he can vividly portray the stubbornness and fiery temper of the fire god, Puli.

Behind them stood the bishop under a magnificent canopy, walking on the Avenue of Champs-Élysées on foot rather than in a carriage. The two high-ranking clergy members holding the splendid canopy followed closely behind, stepping in unison. Accompanying them were alternating clergy members, suggesting that the luxurious canopy was quite heavy.

Mr. Bo has only now truly come to understand Miss Kani's astuteness and exceptional skills

Just as a group of royal guards boarded the float and began to search Mr. Bo and his companions, while those guards were poking around in the cotton pile with their slender swords to prove that there was nothing dangerous hidden inside, a certain officer was standing beside Miss Canny, engaging her in conversation

The Marquis indeed has made too many enemies, and it is understandable that someone would want to assassinate him. However, it is surprising that the Marquis is so cruel to himself; in this state, he is probably no different from a zombie. This is the first time I have heard of someone transforming themselves into a zombie in order to save their own life, a minister who clearly does not get along well with Marquis Wei Haoleiden remarked

The pealing of bells resonated throughout the streets and alleys of Rupnail, announcing to the people that the carnival celebration had begun

The sheriff ran back and forth along the convoy, resembling a pack of dogs herding sheep

Exit the street and drive onto the spacious and bright Xiang Shuli Te Avenue

Every float participating in the celebratory parade, which will be reviewed by His Majesty the King, must undergo repeated inspections by the sheriff and the royal guards

His Majesty the King is evidently in a better mood, and he even has the inclination to joke: "That fellow Wei Haileden, it turns out he has long known he has too many enemies. However, he actually exchanged his physical body for a demonic form; what a fellow who cherishes life. With a body of 'dead flesh', he must be unable to enjoy the pleasures of life at all."

Originally, the Water God intended to replace the male Water God Postra with the female Water Goddess Posti. However, due to Miss Rili, who was most suitable for the role of the female Water Goddess Posti, feeling unwell, it became necessary to have the exceedingly unattractive male Water God take her place

The search lasted for several hours, and in the end, it was unclear whether it was because the prison was filled to capacity with suspects, leaving no room for anyone else, or if the higher-ups sensed that continuing in this manner would be detrimental to everyone involved. Therefore, as evening approached, new orders were finally issued

During the revelry of Rupnail, these vehicles advanced in order, adhering strictly to the sheriff's requirements, one following another as if traveling on a straight track

According to the teachings of the Church, moderation in diet can purify the spirit of a person, cleanse the soul, and enduring suffering and torment can wash away the impurities at the seams of the soul

Miss Canny, seeing the officer beside her so cheerful, immediately seized the opportunity to ask: "What exactly happened in the square just now?"

Only after this group of people has passed by does the crowd of formally made-up participants in the parade appear

In fact, the king's thoughts are quite similar to those of the other ministers, which is truly astonishing and hard to believe

The repeated weighing of pros and cons, the elusive figures of those assassins ultimately dispelled all doubts, and the presence of these assassins hidden in the city of Rupenel is, after all, a matter that causes great unease.

Brother Bu firmly believes that these cotton fibers will be stuffed into their bedding after the celebration. The winter that has just passed proved that their bedding was somewhat too thin, making it necessary to add more cotton. And *illustrated* books

I do not know. The officer saw Miss Canny displaying a look of disappointment and quickly said, "I can help you inquire."

Upon hearing the Chancellor of the Exchequer's remarks, the king's previously furrowed brow relaxed instantly. Although Count Jeshutesmber remained somewhat dissatisfied, having something was better than having nothing.

The mood lightened slightly; at least the danger was not as urgent as originally imagined. His Majesty the King surprisingly found those assassins to be quite creative

The crowd was dispersed by the sheriff and soldiers, and they each returned home, while the parade floats also made their way back.

Although His Majesty is far from being as militarily knowledgeable as the Marquis has claimed, he is not a bellicose king. However, being fond of lively events, he often arranges for his guards to perform combat displays. Being well-informed, he is certainly aware that everything the Marquis de Pricot has said is correct

The prison van has now become more lively than any carnival float, as it is packed with all sorts of "monsters and demons." Coupled with the iron bars, as thick as a thumb, at the back of the van, which lock these living creatures inside, it gives off a strong sense of an apocalyptic judgment.

The heavy stretcher made of high-quality wood requires more than a dozen people to lift it. However, this is clearly the best means of atonement, thus the number of people crowded beneath the stretcher far exceeds the required amount

Brother Bu sat atop a tall flower cart, surrounded by a pile of snow-white cotton, resembling clouds floating in the sky

"How is the marquis now?" the king asked, suppressing his anger

The earl who was named is a short and stout man with a face full of flesh and a bloated belly. The king's stern questioning made him tremble uncontrollably, his entire body quivering with fat.

Although it may seem somewhat clichéd, comedic characters, clowns, and fools remain the most frequently appearing roles in costumes

Your Majesty—" The voice of the Earl trembled slightly: "This is clearly a, uh, premeditated assassination case, Your Majesty. Such an event has occurred... I, I truly cannot absolve myself of responsibility

Brother Bu and his companions are determined to win this reward; however, most of the float owners do not care much about these twenty gold coins, especially those floats that are poorly made and lack creativity. The owners of these floats are likely to be noble young gentlemen of considerable standing.

However, if the Marquis withdraws an entire knight regiment, I can utilize the existing barracks, which means that in two months, it will cost less than 130,000.

Sitting at such a high place, very rarely does something happen that can obstruct his view. He does not need to tiptoe like others or climb the trees on either side of the street; he can easily see the parade participants in the distance.

They have fasted for at least one week, and now they are further whipping themselves to fulfill their sacred atonement

As for the timber used to build the cart, Miss Canny will surely find a way to sell it at a high price. Brother Bu even hesitated about whether to inform Miss Canny that the price of the timber is about to rise.

"Your Majesty, dispatching your guard knights may not be appropriate; your safety is more important than anything else." Count Jeshtusm's capabilities in handling affairs are lacking, yet his flattery is exceptional: "Alternatively, could we not recruit knights from elsewhere? Perhaps we could seek assistance from the Church? The holy knights of the Church are quite formidable. If that does not work, we might consider reallocating knights from areas on the front line that are not under severe pressure; that could also be a solution."

The penitents, in addition to being shackled with leg irons, either bear heavy iron blocks on their shoulders, or embrace the iron blocks with both arms, or are whipped on their backs with a lash

What made Brother Bu feel fortunate was that their float was evidently very popular, as there were quite a number of people advancing alongside it. The beautiful girls on the float were truly the reason for attracting the crowd

Because Rupnair is hiding assassins, all passages leading out of the city have been completely sealed off, allowing entry only and prohibiting exit

Having thought this through, Count Bavadweber immediately presented himself as one who had deeply contemplated and searched his heart to alleviate the king's concerns, saying: "Your Majesty, I have an idea, and I wonder what you think of it? If Count Jeshtusm intends to form a brand new order of knights, then I must rebuild a barracks for him, and in that case, it would be impossible to save the sum of seven hundred thousand.

However, the occurrence of this incident has proven that the capabilities of the Public Security Bureau are indeed insufficient

Although the carnival parade has already begun, their float has not yet joined the procession, so the float parked on the street and the parade crowd remain completely still

This indeed puts Mithe, who plays the male water deity, in a difficult position. Mithe is a handsome young man renowned in the theater, comparable to Boge. However, compared to Boge, he appears more reserved and fragile. His slender, bony physique is quite suitable for portraying the legendary, emaciated water god, Postra.

Leaning against the pile of cotton, Brother Bu felt quite comfortable, fluffy and soft

Below that layer are the other angels and fairies. If there are indeed so many beautiful and enchanting women in heaven, perhaps for most men, heaven is truly a place worth residing in.

The snow-white clouds, the radiant beauty, the stark contrast between beauty and ugliness, the vivid and unique shapes—everything here is far superior to the surrounding floats

He originally did not believe there was any necessity for this, as the entire Fak Kingdom had at least 100,000 law enforcement officers, which was already a very large number

Moreover, even if the first attack had some deviation, do you think it is possible for the subsequent attacks to still have such a significant deviation

Behind the bishop is a long procession consisting of the statue on the litter, along with the priests and the congregation

However, this grand assassination attempt was surprisingly not aimed at him, the monarch of the nation, which indeed left His Majesty the King quite aggrieved

Jeshutesm is well aware of Your Majesty's taboos. In fact, he stated that this lengthy list does not genuinely require assistance in these areas. A few years ago, he had made a related proposal, which was simply rejected.

After a long wait, it was finally time for Brother Bu and their float to join the parade procession

"You are truly remarkable," Miss Canny complimented, although she was well aware that most squires would never be able to become formal knights in their lifetime. However, at this moment, this officer was their shield.

Seeing all of this, everyone understands that something significant has certainly occurred

I comply with Your Majesty's decree, Jashutesm replied

The vehicles in front began to move slowly, but at the street corner, a float broke down, causing the convoy to be stuck in the street

The queen is seated on the chair beside His Majesty the King

The king slightly furrowed his brow, as he had already guessed what Count Jeshutesm was about to say. Jeshutesm had long desired to draw a group of elites from the army to form a small knightly order under his command, a notion that had been in his mind for quite some time

Suddenly, a series of extremely dull, thunderous sounds erupted from the square. This was followed by a string of jarring metallic clashing sounds

Seeing the king's furious demeanor, the ministers could only stand there trembling. This was not the right moment to step forward and proclaim their loyalty, as the thoughts of the enraged majesty were difficult to fathom.

After the king vented his anger, he calmed down slightly and asked, "Count Jeshutesm, as the Chief of Security, how do you explain the occurrence of such an incident now?"

A float designed to resemble a whole fat cow, being pulled by eight black-and-white spotted dairy cows, particularly attracts people's attention. Brother Bu has long determined that this fat cow float is likely their strongest and most formidable competitor.

Soon, a group of mounted sheriffs surrounded the area, no longer wielding long rods, but instead brandishing sharp swords and crossbows with taut strings. The deadly bolts were already set on the tracks, ready to be unleashed at any moment, aimed at their designated targets

Your Majesty, the occurrence of such an event is a failure on my part. I have just arranged for all personnel, and I believe we will soon make a discovery..." At this point, the old man paused, uncertain whether he should inform the king about the strange matter he had uncovered.

As for the other suggestions from Count Jeshutesmber, he will not consider them at all. Seeking help from the Church is simply a joke; today's assassination attempt has already caused him to lose face. If he were to request the Church's assistance again, he would likely be unable to hold his head up high in front of the Archbishop in the future

The court secretary hurriedly ran out of the council chamber upon receiving the imperial decree

The once stunningly beautiful princess of the Kingdom of Ostrava, although still possessing her charm, can no longer attract the attention of His Majesty the King with her mature beauty.

One can imagine that tonight, the Rupranir prison will be the liveliest place.

However, the parade of floats is bound to end in a dismal conclusion

This is extremely important for Brother Bu and the others, as it allows the touring theater troupe to conduct business as usual

Moreover, we did not receive any intelligence in advance warning us of an assassination attempt—this must be inquired of His Excellency, the Marquis de Pricot. Count Jeshutes cleverly absolved himself of responsibility while directing the blame towards the Marquis de Pricot, and after stepping aside, this short and stout man revealed a barely perceptible smile on his face

The old man hesitated for a moment, but after some thought, he decided that those matters were not of much concern to him, and he chose to speak the truth: "Firstly, there is actually a loyal Baron Pimpou beside Marquis Weiholayden. This brave man possesses noble sentiments, and he has defended the life of his superior with his own life.

The other three male members of the touring troupe are currently crawling under the float, their work is no different from that of the cattle and horses

In addition, it is necessary to assign at least two full-time pastors to them, and constructing the most basic church would also cost 5,000 silver coins... Considering this, the knight squad would need to spend over 700,000 silver coins from the national treasury in two months.

There was a float decorated as a knight, and the armor of those fellows clearly looked fake. However, it was unexpected that the lances in their hands were genuine. As the float passed by the podium, all the lances were simultaneously thrown. Fortunately, most were blocked, but it seemed that one person died on the podium, and over ten brothers were injured