[Get that person up here before the Church! Hurry!]

The voice of the Imperial Guard Captain crackled through the intercom.

Even with Kane's intelligence, it took him a few seconds to understand Lockhart's intention.

In short, he happened to be patrolling nearby, very close to the person who needed arresting, and had to act before the Church, with utmost urgency!

"Let's go!"

Kane dashed with his attendant towards the dressing room of the world's number one musician, not daring to delay for even a second.

The members of the Imperial Guard ran, their armor clanging with murderous intent.

At this very moment.

At the world's end, a cold wonderland.

Mika completely ignored Liszt's warning not to stupidly wait around for the coffin to be opened, but to leave immediately once the item arrives, because only God knows what might happen.

His countdown to death had already reached its end.

In Qili's skirts, Mika truly understood everything.

He told Qili what he thought was most important.

"All my life, I've been betrayed, whether by my most trusted friends, or the woman I once considered my only wife.

It's unbelievable, right?

When I came to, I was already a fugitive, yet I found belonging among the scum.

Liszt spent seven or eight years proving to me that only ties bound by actual interests and bloody methods are truly unbreakable.

I no longer trust anyone; purely lust, an indelible instinct, drives me to seek something that doesn't exist.

You're right, I came here only for myself.

And now, I'm doing the impossible for you, willing to die for you.

In your skirts, I found something that shouldn't exist, an unprecedented feeling.

I know what kind of trash I am.

Even my love could be filthy.

But despite that...

Even if my love for you is dirty, raw, unrestrained, a pure desire to just ravish you.

But it doesn't mean it's cheap.

I need a deposit."

Mika stubbed out the cigarette and dropped it on the ground, staring blankly at that stunning creation.

Her gaze was clearer than the spring in the Holy Hall, her perfect form akin to the holy mountain the Martyrs wish to climb.

Leading the viewer to damnation, yet tasting a momentary purity within it.

"Deposit?"

Qili's expression was amusing.

Honestly, among all those who've tried to hit on her so far, this guy, indeed, was the most creative, the most reckless, the most fucking crazy one.

"Yes, a deposit.

I will die for you, take on the entire Evgeny Consortium for you.

This is neither cheap nor without reservation."

Mika said plainly.

The time on the pocket watch had passed half an hour, but bizarrely, there was no anxiety in his heart now, only an odd tranquility, without a ripple, as if he had truly reached the wonderland at the world's end.

"What do you want?"

Qili asked with interest, maintaining a consistent attitude despite repeated questions.

"Next... I'm going to kiss you forcefully."

Mika found it amusing himself; such words were usually reserved for handling musicians' entourages, but now it seemed to fit the situation, yet it was just... the pinnacle of the socialite world.

"But you, as a dying man, don't have time to do that."

"You're right, but there's a slim chance I can survive, and I will use everything to live, you can only choose to believe, isn't that a miracle?"

His countdown to death had already hit zero, and outside, the clanging sound of armor moving quickly could be heard, with many people.

It gave Qili no time to think, only a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"Since it's a forced kiss, what are you waiting for?"

Qili was a bit uneasy too.

Mika's throat moved with a gulp, unable to restrain himself any longer, he embraced Qili, feeling her willow-thin waist, staring at her breathtaking visage.

Their heated breaths collided and ignited.

When Mika's lips pressed forward, Qili clutched his clothing tightly, as if to grasp the fabric's texture.

The heat between their lips and the scent from her hair intertwined into an unbreakable wind.

The frozen rivers began to surge, shattering all barriers of restraint.

It was as if all the suppressed, unspoken things from the first half of his life were burned into this kiss, leaving an indelible mark for the rest of his life.

The exchange was not gentle at all, as if wanting Qili to meld into his very being.

Overheated and intense, their misaligned and endlessly colliding noses seemed to breathe in a suffocated panic.

Qili was having difficulty catching her breath, attempting to push him away.

But Mika wouldn't relent.

Bam!

Kane kicked open the dressing room door, arriving with members of the Imperial Guard.

Only then did Mika release his hold, coming back to his senses.

There was no time for Mika to speak.

Kane had recognized him from the explosive news front-page photo earlier; one of the people was him.

"Take him away, immediately."

Kane dared not hesitate for a second, it was utterly urgent.

The guard soldiers immediately subdued Mika, his hands were like clamped shut, unable to move at all, tightly restrained by handcuffs made of magic energy material.

Meanwhile, the Eternal Sect's Time Sword had already arrived outside, but was always a step behind Kane, being closest and arriving quickly.

These white-robed Dragon Face Helmet figures wasted no words, the Sect's people didn't care about the Military Government's face, directly engaging in combat to snatch the person, and the two Time Swords quickly took down several of Kane's attendants.

Two Imperial Guard members had to continue holding Mika, so Kane had to personally fend them off, but he couldn't hold on long as more came from the Religious Court.

However, Kane had seized the initiative and bought time.

Until the arrival of the Imperial Guard Commander, Lockhart.

"Imperial Guard, on the King's orders, any further action will be considered Igor's treason!"

Lockhart wasted no words either.

Igor was the name of the High Priest on the Church's special seat.

Directly declaring it as war between the Church and the Royal Court held no effect; if they don't fear authority, they don't fear governance, but can they not settle with a High Priest?

A few Time Swords and a large group from the Religious Court, along with Holy Knights who rush over upon hearing the news, were also intimidated by Lockhart's presence.

"Stand aside."

Lockhart had Kane's attendant step aside, checked Mika's handcuffs, and personally took him into custody.

These pirates are goddamn crazy.

Not just crazy, they're mad enough to scratch at the walls with their nails like psychiatric patients.

Is this something a human could do?

Cicero, the President of Aran National Bank, after Lockhart joining the Royal Court had never once shown such anxiety, yet tonight he had witnessed it twice.

The issue had become unprecedentedly severe.

So much so that someone like Lockhart, a past Champion of the Continent Martial Arts Competition, Imperial Guard Commander, had to personally restrain Mika.

That's remnants of the former dynasty, No. 1 Wanted Criminal in Aran, the highest level there is, only below Zote.

The remaining members of the Imperial Guard also symbolically checked on Qili's safety, thinking that such a madman definitely intended to commit some crime.

Qili merely shook her head and said nothing.

"Let's go."

Lockhart pulled Mika, intending to take him to the Royal Special Seat to cover up today's incident.

Qili just watched Mika.

But there was no fear on his face, only a passion that Qili had never seen before.

"I lived... in the best moment."

After Mika said this.

He was taken away from the dressing room by Lockhart, and the sword-clad soldiers withdrew one by one.

Qili clutched her heart, her thoughts unable to calm for a long time.

With hands cuffed, Mika walked through the arena's eerie corridor, surrounded by Imperial Guard members exuding murderous resolve, led through turn after turn, finally seeing the bright light at the end of the tunnel.

A sky filled with flowers and gold leaf.

Or perhaps...

His own execution ground.