CHAPTER 176: END OF THE OUTBREAK

While the people sent by the Marquis were all brutally beaten to death, Mirelle held zero sympathy.

These were all fence sitters who refused to lend a helping hand in times of crisis. Yet once the crisis was over, they would be the first to jump in and accuse the heroes.

"The Marquis is rotten, but Lord Wesley is also the same." Nobody knew who said this in the crowd, but the agitated crowd started to realize that Wesley was equally terrible.

Who didn’t know how powerful Lord Wesley was?

His influence and power far surpassed that of the Marquis.

Despite this, Lord Wesley hadn’t lent a helping hand to the people of Velastra.

A massive outbreak, but only a few city guards were deployed.

Lord Wesley’s private army had not been deployed and remained stationed in their own camp.

Only the Crown Prince was magnanimous and personally sent his guards to commence a rescue operation.

"The Crown Prince should take over Velastra!"

"Only the Crown Prince can bring prosperity to Velastra!"

After these statements were made, the majority of the crowd started to clamor for it.

They remained clueless and unaware that the ones who made these statements were all Crimson Guards members who disguised themselves.

Similar to how the Marquis could plant people, Leonard could also follow suit and plant his own men to shift the public opinion.

Some might call this a terrible and manipulative trick. But Leonard was only following the momentum.

The ultimate root of how the crowd could be easily swayed still stemmed from the fact that Velastra had long been rotten for these lower classes.

They simply kept their aggrieved emotion suppressed, afraid of the repercussions they would face.

However...

That changed the moment Leonard revealed himself to the public.

These tragic and grief-stricken people finally had a powerful backer that they could lean on.

If they still didn’t latch onto this backer and grasp the opportunity to cause a change, then when will they act?

While the atmosphere had reached its peak, inside the hotel, Elise approached Leonard. "Master, the crowd’s emotion and opinion have been swayed. They are now calling for you to cleanse the filth in the city."

Leonard nodded. His hands were extended, allowing Nadia to help put on the Crown Prince’s gown for him.

He was now fully dressed in the Crown Prince’s outfit. His demeanor and aura also resembled that of the Royal Family.

"Since the crowd is beckoning for me, then I shall grant them my presence!" Leonard declared, his eyes glinting in a cold light.

’Marquis Darius and Lord Wesley. I bet the two of you hadn’t realized how rapidly you have lost your influence and control, right?’ He had planned for this ever since he set foot in the city.

Who could have imagined that an outbreak would occur and help him push the plan into motion?

This outbreak alone had saved him so much time and effort!

Sometime later, the hotel’s door opened, and the crowd collectively went silent.

Not a single individual dared to utter a sound.

As the door opened, and light shone directly at the center figure, the crowd all bowed their heads in respect.

Every single one of them recognized the royal gown that Leonard had worn.

"We greet the Crown Prince of Aldros!" They all greeted him with utmost reverence.

In response to their fervor, Leonard held an indifferent expression.

To control the crowd and maintain his dignity, he needed to stay detached.

Otherwise, the public could easily start to think he was doing this for selfish reasons.

His other eldest and little brothers had all used similar tactics, only to backfire.

As he stepped toward the center platform, Mirelle and the rest promptly retreated to the background, giving him the spotlight and attention.

"Everyone, get up." Leonard calmly said.

"I now declare the end of the outbreak! I will have the magic formation around the city to become functional again, to restore the ruined buildings and streets! As for this tragedy... I will also make sure to give a response to you all!"

"Thank you, Crown Prince!"

"All hail the Crown Prince!"

"From now on, we will only obey the Crown Prince’s order!"

Satisfied with the reception, Leonard knew it was about time to topple the powerhouses in the city.

News of his declaration and promise soon spread across. It didn’t take long for the news to reach the Merchant Guild and into Lord Wesley’s ears.

"Interesting. The Crown Prince really knows how to control and manipulate the public." Wesley received the information and mused.

"It’s just a pity that he’s only doing this toward the lower classes. What could these people amount to?" He shook his head and found the Crown Prince still a bit too green.

If it were him, then he would have done it for the middle classes, especially those who control the food supplies and economy of the city.

Only by controlling these two could one be certain of their power being solidified.

"Should we eliminate these lowlives?" Ethan proposed. These pests who dared to hinder and slander Lord Wesley didn’t deserve to live.

"No can do." Wesley raised his hand and rejected the suggestion.

"These lowlives aren’t worth risking an open fallout with the Crown Prince. Moreover, there is still another force that is trying to place its hands in the city."

"Another force?"

Ethan appeared visibly confused and surprised.

Wesley didn’t bother to explain much and simply threw him an envelope.

A few seconds later, Ethan opened the envelope and read the letter.

Once he finished reading the letter, his pupils constricted.

"Impossible... So this was the reason for the Crown Prince’s arrival?" Ethan could never have imagined that the root of this was because someone plotted against the Crown Prince and escaped to their city.

"Marquis Darius doesn’t have the ability to vanish a person from thin air in the city," Wesley commented.

"And for them to do it under my surveillance, where I remain clueless as well, it’s not hard to guess what type of power is involved."