"What?!" Mathilde, who was full of confidence just a second ago, was struck dumb by Jacob's announcement.

He waved his arms wildly and ran to the cardinal in a panic, grabbed the cardinal's sleeve, and shouted angrily, "I don't believe it! You must be lying to me!"

Jacob displayed the document, which bore the handwriting of Pope Alexander and the seal of the Cardinal Papacy, causing a stir among the surrounding nobles and completely shattering Mathilde's last shred of hope.

"Why? Why? Why did you do this?!"

Mathilde stared blankly at Jacob, her expression vacant, as if she had lost all hope.

Dion, the head of the Muxi delegation, spoke quietly with Mary. The two glanced at Todd in the crowd, only to see him gently shaking his head.

Due to the church's temporary withdrawal, the nobles began to reassess the situation, and those who had previously supported Prince Mathilde began to carefully consider their choices.

Soon, a nobleman stepped out from the crowd, carrying a sword bearing the family crest, and gently placed it on Sinclair's sword rack.

More and more people began placing their family swords on Sinclair's wooden shelf. Before long, Sinclair's shelf was piled high with all sorts of longswords, while Mathilde's shelf remained empty.

Ten minutes later, each nobleman, representing his family, completed his vote.

Sinclair won by a landslide, a victory that garnered the support of the majority. Yet, he showed no arrogance befitting his triumph. Instead, he humbly greeted everyone, thanked them for their selfless support, and repeatedly promised to repay them.

Looking at the sincere expression on Sinclair's face, Todd felt something churning in his stomach.

If Todd hadn't known beforehand that this guy had a dirty secret agreement with the church, he might have thought he was a pretty decent person. But now, all he felt was an indescribable nausea and disgust.

As everyone celebrated for Prince Sinclair, a nobleman from Holy Guard City ascended the steps of the throne, brazenly looking at the 'former king,' and shouted, "Leoric! Get your ass off the throne! It's time to make way for the new king!"

Leoric did not move.

Todd's hand slowly transformed into a tyrant's form. He first gave Dion and Marie a subtle wink, then looked up at the roof and slowly closed his eyes.

Just as he was about to begin executing his plan, something unexpected happened...

Perhaps angered by Leoric's indifference, the nobleman who walked to the throne reached out his hand, intending to pull the old man who refused to relinquish his throne.

In the blink of an eye, Leoric flipped his hand, and the sword lying on the armrest of the throne, under its master's wielding, was drawn from its sheath and slashed horizontally in an instant. The sharp blade left a slowly widening bloodstain on the nobleman's neck.

The nobleman, whose throat had been slit, pressed his hand to his neck in disbelief as blood splattered like a fountain across every corner of the throne.

With a soft, guttural sound, the nobleman's legs gave way, and amidst the screams of the crowd in the hall, he collapsed down the steps, lifeless.

Dark clouds covered the sky, and the sky outside the palace became completely dark. Lightning bolts, like golden arrows, shot from the dense clouds to the earth, illuminating the entire royal palace in an instant.

Leoric, covered in blood, held a sword in his hand, his silver hair and beard flying wildly in the strong wind that rushed into the hall.

His eyes widened as he looked at everyone present. None of those arrogant nobles dared to look him in the eye.

Leoric swung his sword with all his might, and with a powerful slash, the pedestal representing Sinclair's succession snapped in two, scattering the weapon, a symbol of noble power, across the ground.

"No one can remove me from the throne! Not even God!"

With Leoric's furious roar, thunder rumbled outside the hall, and rain poured down on the city like a waterfall. (https:)

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