Chapter 440: Target of Attack: White Eagle
"Hey, Captain Luluwo, the king just announced that he was critically ill not long ago. Would it be inappropriate for us to do this today?"
"It's okay. We are doing it quietly at home without making a big fuss. It doesn't matter."
"That's right. Let's raise our glasses together, then--"
In a mansion somewhere in Bed City, familiar people gathered together and raised their glasses to the girl in the house.
"Elsa's farewell party begins now!"
The sound of clinking glasses continued, and the musicians began to play, and the music brought the atmosphere of this farewell party to a climax.
Since people had already set up soundproofing magic around the mansion in advance, and even the dazzling lights were covered up with illusion magic, no one would see the Eight-Legged Dance even if it was performed in the courtyard.
This banquet was held at a farewell party for the brave Elsa, organized by the Sky Raiders Group and attended by people familiar with them.
In fact, there weren't too many people. They were basically all members of the expedition team that had gone to conquer Aldridge, including Leon, Dal, and some other adventurers. It could be said to be a small gathering of elite adventurers.
Elsa is leaving today. After leaving here, she will go to other countries for adventure. Her ultimate goal is the border and the western continent.
The time of this banquet was unexpectedly strange, this morning. Who would hold a banquet so early in the morning? This isn't Gensokyo.
Putting aside the scheduling issues of some guests, the main reason why this banquet was held in the morning was because King Ainz III was seriously ill.
The news that the king was seriously ill and could die at any time came out two or three days ago. It is said that he is still undergoing rescue, but the situation is not optimistic.
The residents of the kingdom had expected this day to come, but when the news actually came, they were still a little surprised.
Normally, when the king is critically ill, the residents should feel uneasy or even frightened, but now people are only slightly uneasy.
The reason for this is that Princess Selene has won unanimous recognition from the people in recent days. The princess currently has the support of military generals represented by Eliphis and civil officials such as Minister Oro and a group of officials. The court is unprecedentedly unified. Coupled with the image that the princess has been creating since she appeared in front of the public, people are very reassured about her ascending the throne to become queen.
Some people even expected that only by replacing the king, who had long been insane, with the princess as queen could the country get back on track.
When the news of the king's critical illness came out, Selene came out in person to comfort the people. People clearly noticed the lingering sadness and various negative emotions on her face. How responsible she was to stand up and comfort the people in such a sad situation!
Oro and other ministers and generals who had fallen into coma during the attack also woke up one after another. They spoke in support of Eliphis, proved his innocence, and issued severe condemnations of the Warrior Kingdom.
The response from Warrior Nation so far has given rise to the feeling of "what are you talking about?"
The king is seriously ill, so it would be bad for the people to hold any banquets. At least within the royal city, the garrison strictly prohibits any large-scale entertainment activities, and the night patrols are particularly strict, so Elsa's farewell party was chosen at such a strange time during the day.
"It's very hard to embark on a journey. You have to work hard alone. I hope you can find like-minded companions as soon as possible."
Leon came to Elsa with a glass of wine and toasted her.
"If you encounter any troublesome demons, you can always call us."
Dahl gave her a magic item that could transmit sound, which was in the shape of a wolf's head. He looked eager to try it, and it seemed that if it weren't for the ties to an organization like the Farran Guard pulling him back, he would have followed Elsa.
"This is for you, to commemorate our first meeting."
Tammy brought a picture frame containing a painting, which turned out to be the painting world "Ancient City of Sen" that the two had experienced together.
"I packed all your luggage, and I don't have anything to give you, so I'll just give you a few words of blessing."
The last one was Luluwo. She looked at Elsa, who was smiling a little silly while surrounded by everyone, and couldn't help but sigh.
"I'm really worried that you'll be kidnapped by yourself."
The whole process of the banquet is very simple and can be summed up in four words: eating and drinking. However, the happy mood cannot be summed up so simply.
While Elsa was eating and drinking with the others, Luluwo was scanning the crowd, counting the guests who had arrived.
After a moment, she said to herself, "Where are those Fingley guys?"
The banquet invited members of the original expedition team, including the Hasawi team. However, the invitation letter sent out seemed to have fallen into the sea. When people went to the Hasawi team's residence to look for them, they could not find Fingerly and his team. It was as if they had disappeared in the past few days.
Not only them, but also the gold-level adventurers "Mad Blade" Alice and "Giant Gate" Bala who joined them in the crusade against Aldridge did not reply. It seemed that these gold-level adventurers had discussed it beforehand and disappeared at the same time. I really don't know where they went.
It's okay if they don't come, it's not their fault, but
In fact, after thinking for a while, Banquet also called Sally over, but the other party did not reply.
"Make the music louder!"
Since fewer people came, let the musicians play louder to make the atmosphere more lively.
Luluwo took great pains to give Elsa some good memories when they finally parted.
Soon after, the banquet came to an end, and then came the farewell.
As people watched, Elsa got ready, carrying her luggage, the giant sword and the sword skeleton greatsword, and after waving goodbye to everyone, she walked out of the city.
She didn't ask anyone to see her off out of the city, probably because she didn't like the atmosphere of farewell at the end of the day, and it would be better to embark on the journey before the party was over and the excitement had faded.
Looking at her gradually receding back, people sincerely hope that she will have a safe journey.
"Okay, now comes the most troublesome part, cleaning the house."
Luluwo turned around and looked at the messy mansion, calling for everyone to come and help.
Just then, there was a commotion outside the mansion.
"Lord Eliphis and Her Royal Highness the Princess will give speeches at the Founding Square today!"
At the same time, Elsa, who had just walked out of the city, met an acquaintance from the Light Eagle Group.
They were stormtroopers, one of the few old stormtroopers still in the Light Eagle Regiment.
"Captain," the mercenary seemed to run over. He looked at Elsa and said with emotion, "Vice Captain Sally wants to meet you. The meeting place is at Haiyue Lake."
Elsa was startled, then nodded.
"I see."
She changed direction and headed towards the lake outside the royal city.
Haiyue Lake was where she and Sally often went to rest for a while after they joined the Light Eagle Regiment and eventually stationed near the royal city. The Light Eagle Regiment at that time gave her a homely feeling, and she also left many memories at Haiyue Lake.
But now those memories seem a little distorted.
Choosing that place to meet for the last time is quite consistent with Sally's literary and artistic temperament.
Elsa still wanted to meet this old friend before leaving, otherwise she would not agree to invite him to the farewell party.
Soon after, the slightly humid air near the lake blew in, and Haiyue Lake arrived.
This area is surrounded by forests and dangerous monsters appear occasionally, so it is sparsely populated. The houses built around it are basically of little use, so Elsa and her friends who often come here transformed a nearby cave into a place for leisure and vacation, which feels like a secret base.
"It's been a long time since I came here."
Looking at the cave entrance where a lot of weeds had grown, Elsa felt a little sad. She wondered when did they stop coming here.
"Sally, I'm here." She shouted towards the cave entrance and immediately received a response.
"Hey, you're here so soon? Wait a minute, I'm not ready yet."
There was a hint of panic in the voice, as if the person preparing the surprise hadn't had time to finish preparing it yet.
This is how Sally felt before.
Memories flooded into Elsa's mind and she walked into the cave. The warm yellow firelight made the place full of a warm feeling. She was familiar with every piece of furniture here, and walking in it made people feel relaxed.
The scent of incense was strong, just the kind of scent she liked, and it made her feel even more relaxed, without any sense of alarm.
"I'm not ready yet, why did you come in?" Sally's reproachful voice came from deep in the cave.
The corners of Elsa's mouth rose slightly and she pushed open the door to the deepest part of the cave.
The fire suddenly disappeared.
A dazzling light suddenly burst out from inside the room, as if it was a surprise, and you just needed to shout "surprise".
"What are you doing?" Even she couldn't help but squint her eyes when she was hit by the sudden strong light.
A hoarse and dry voice sounded.
"Elsa?"
It was Sally's voice, but why was it different from before?
It's like a dried corpse that has been exposed in the desert for several months.
Elsa opened her eyes in confusion. In the bright light, she saw a hunchbacked, short, deformed, hairy orc curled up on the ground. He hugged his body as if to block the gaze from the other party, and finally murmured helplessly:
"Don't, don't look at me"
"Why?"
Is it Sally?
No, that look is——
At this moment, a strong warning sounded in her heart, and Elsa felt a pain in her neck, as if she was stabbed by something sharp!
But at the same time as she felt the pain, she grasped the thing that attacked her tightly in her hand, and with a bone-cracking sound that gave her goosebumps, the attacker's true form was revealed.
It was a strange creature with characteristics of chameleon, octopus, leaf butterfly and other animals.
Demons!
This guy used his talent for camouflage to blend in with the environment, and launched a surprise attack when Elsa was immersed in her memories, relaxed her vigilance due to the strong incense, and was surprised to see Sally.
'Something's wrong'
Elsa suddenly felt as if all the blood in her body was burning. All her strength was instantly drained. She fell to her knees involuntarily, her flesh and bones being pulled by an invisible force.
The thing that caused her pain fell from her neck. It was different from the dagger she thought it was.
Needle!
There seemed to be some scarlet liquid still left in the empty syringe.
It was thick blood mixed with animal hair and unknown pieces of flesh and blood.
"Elsa, no!" The short orc tried to pounce, but was tightly bound by the chains behind him.
What happened?
Elsa couldn't even stand up. She saw that her nails were getting longer and fine hairs were growing on the back of her hands.
Beast transformation! ?
“Snap, snap, snap.”
The sound of applause emerged in the darkness. She tried to open her eyes wide and see clearly the man walking towards her.
————————————
At noon, in the royal city.
The Founding Square was bustling with people. Citizens gathered in this square, which was built when the kingdom was first established and symbolizes the glory of the kingdom, and they gathered around the high platform in the center of the square.
At noon today, Princess Selene, General Eliphis, and Minister Oro will give speeches here.
People were very curious about the content of the speech. Could it be that the time had finally come to announce that the princess would succeed the throne to the queen?
A large number of guards protected the platform to prevent any possible attacks.
But in fact, the people had no intention of harming the princess and others. The guards seemed to be standing guard, but in fact, their minds were already wandering.
If you look closely, you can see that there are many familiar faces from the Light Eagle Regiment among the guards.
"What is this for?"
Leon and others also came to the scene, but just stood on the periphery and watched.
"The princess is here!"
The crowd cheered, and Princess Selene appeared on the platform accompanied by the performance of the musicians.
On her left was the young and promising Eliphis, and on her right was the mature and steady Oro, who had just recovered from a serious illness and his eyes looked a little cloudy.
Selene showed the people her usual gentle smile, but the smile contained much more. People understood it as a variety of beautiful qualities such as "strength".
The music gradually died down, and the people spontaneously stopped making noise, looking towards the platform with expectant eyes, looking at the future of the three kingdoms on the platform.
Eliphis considerately wiped the magic sound transmission tool with a handkerchief and made a "please" gesture to Selene.
The latter smiled and nodded, an interaction that made some people cheer and scream.
Standing on the high platform, overlooking the people below, Selene's eyes flickered with complex emotions.
People were cheering and the atmosphere was warm, but she felt like she was in a freezing cold winter.
She glanced at Eliphis, who gave her an encouraging smile.
This man had behaved like a devil during this period of time, and now, he had completely lost the ability to resist.
The other party quickly produced a liquid that could control bestiality and injected it into Selene's body. With just a thought, she would turn into a beast on the spot.
Not only her, but also Minister Oro and General Guillimanbo were all injected with this liquid, and the liquid seemed to enhance the brainwashing effect.
In order to make people more likely to produce negative emotions, Eliphis cancelled all delicious food in the palace and replaced them with crude flavors. Things like roasted whole pig, Slowpoke tail, and Happy Egg were no longer available.
It can be said that he has already taken control of the palace.
And now, with today's speech, he's taking control of the country.
He even has a plan to spread the beast blood widely!
The bitterness and despair in her heart turned into a smile on the surface. Selene believed that the palace was beyond saving, and she had to at least save more people.
The transmission device on the necklace still holds the footage of Eliphis that night, and she wants to release it here. Even if the people who see this don't attack him, they will at least flee, from this country that has fallen into the abyss.
Even if the consequence was that she might be tortured to death by an enraged Eliphis.
Stroking the lion ring from Ornstein on her finger, Selene seemed to have more courage in her body. She said to the magic prop of voice transmission:
"I will be the queen."
The crowd was silent for a moment, then burst into overwhelming cheers.
She pursed her lips.
Behind her, Eliphis, who already knew what the next sentence would be, smiled, and a breeze blew his long silver hair.
People who are about to realize their dreams seem so high-spirited.
Feeling the burning gaze from behind, Selina finally spoke:
"General Eliphis, he..."
Eliphis was smiling, the transmission device emitted a faint light, the people widened their eyes curiously, and the guards yawned lazily.
The flocks of birds flying in the sky were shaken by people's cheers, and the insects on the ground felt the slight vibration and hurriedly quickened their pace.
There seemed to be a flash of light in the air.
"He will be my—"
"boom!!!"
Before she could utter the word "husband", an earthquake suddenly broke out in the Founding Square!
No, it’s not an earthquake, but a powerful fighting skill!
The ground in the square cracked, people screamed and fled, and the guards were terrified.
A huge shield like a towering gate broke out of the ground and surrounded the platform from all sides, like an inescapable cage, separating the guards from the princess and her entourage inside!
The guards were about to rescue them, but at this moment a strong wind blew, carrying a large amount of violent sword energy, and in the blink of an eye, blood spurted out of their bodies like fountains!
The big shield and the sword energy look so familiar.
etc.
Isn't this the signature fighting skill of the gold-level adventurers "Giant Gate" Bara and "Crazy Blade" Alice!
Jin Ji used all his strength, making it impossible for the guards, who had never expected anyone to dare to attack, to cope with it!
Selene opened her mouth in surprise, and the transmission device that was about to react stopped working due to the interruption of magic power.
A flash of golden light flashed before her.
The next moment, warm blood splashed on her face.
Who, whose blood?
She turned her head blankly, only to see a person covered in a cloak suddenly appear behind her.
The long knife in the cloaked man's hand was soaked in blood, and the blade was
It penetrated deeply into Eliphis' neck!
"Why?"
Eliphis did not die on the spot. He turned around and swung a knife-like wind blade at the cloaked man!
The strong wind blew open the hood of the cloaked man, revealing a face that Selene was very familiar with.
"Fingry!?"
(End of this chapter)
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