CHAPTER 362: CHAPTER 224: VISITOR TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE, THE STRONGEST GENERATION-LEVEL IN HISTORY

The Hacker fell silent.

"Tong Zizhu, go with the Hacker into the Imperial Palace to find the White King’s Staff. If necessary, disguise yourself as the Third Prince to approach the King," Urushibara Osamu said expressionlessly, "I’ll stay here and entertain these two princes."

"Alright."

Tong Zizhu put one hand on his hip, then raised a hand to cover his fox mask, his figure instantly twisting like a frame-skipped character on TV, then disappeared in a blur.

"They’re after the staff!" Cosimo shouted.

"Dear brother, we must look after ourselves now and protect Mother," Lorenzo said in a low voice.

Lorenzo and Cosimo stood up simultaneously, shielding the Empress, as countless flocks of crows surrounded the pavilion like a storm. From within the pavilion, all they could see was endless darkness. They were isolated and completely surrounded.

...

...

At the same time, within the floating Royal Court Hall.

Bernardo walked step by step into the Royal Court Hall, behind him a mass of guards lay like an army. They clutched their own throats as they fell to the ground, blood seeping from their noses.

Since most soldiers had gone to Whale’s Mouth for support, the defense of the Royal Court Hall was significantly weakened, granting Bernardo an opportunity.

Lights turned on one by one, eerie blue fireflies illuminating every corner of the Royal Court Hall.

Looking up, generational-level Anecdote Fragments were embedded in the crystalline grooves. The marble walls above the grooves were filled with magnificent oil paintings corresponding to the legends of the Anecdote Fragments, each stroke breathtakingly beautiful.

"Then... all these treasures are mine."

Bernardo adjusted the single-sided mirror on his face, a slight smile creeping up his lips.

....

....

Meanwhile, within the King’s chamber inside the Imperial Palace.

The frail old King suddenly opened his eyes, awakening from his bed, his entire body tense, and black veins pulsing.

He clutched his chest, looking towards the vibrating crystal compass on his right: "Has the Royal Court Hall been invaded?"

Whenever the Royal Court Hall was attacked, the compass would wake him from his slumber.

The compass held a hidden switch connected to the Royal Court Hall, designed by former kings to prevent Anecdote Fragments from falling into wicked hands: as long as the King activated the switch, the Royal Court Hall would collapse and self-destruct instantly.

The old King took a deep breath of turbid air, bit through his right index finger, letting the blood flow, then extended his right hand, feeling every corner of the compass until he found a groove.

He inserted his blood-stained fingertip into the groove, and the compass trembled violently before shattering.

"That’s good..." the old King said softly, "The fragments of the Royal Court Hall must not fall into thieves’ hands."

At that moment, the distant lights of the Royal Court Hall suddenly dimmed once more.

Inside the hall, Bernardo removed the single-sided mirror, staring blankly upwards in the darkness, looking around.

"What’s happening..." he murmured softly.

The ground began to tremble violently, as if an earthquake hit, yet clearly it was in the sky!

Bernardo frowned, summoned the Anecdote Atlas, and crushed the Anecdote Fragment "Invisible Hands."

A fleeting white light appeared and numerous transparent long hands emerged behind him, reaching toward each generational-level Anecdote in the grooves.

But the moment the Invisible Hands touched the fragments, they suddenly all burst with orange-red light, then flew towards the exit like meteorites.

"The fragments flew away?"

Bernardo turned his head abruptly, whispering in disbelief.

An instant later, the exit doors fell, and the entire Royal Court Hall suddenly collapsed.

Bernardo wanted to summon the skeleton frenzy of the "Undying Plague" to shield him from the falling debris, but only then remembered the skeletons were currently fighting against Laine.

"Why? Why?!"

Bernardo howled at the sky as the collapsing ruins crushed his flesh into a mist of blood.

At this moment, within the towns on the sea island, whether fishermen or messengers, no matter the task at hand, they all raised their heads amidst the massive commotion and chatter, staring in shock at the sky.

Beneath the blood-red sky, the majestic Royal Court Hall gradually shattered, turning into debris. Its remnants plummeted abruptly into the sea, creating colossal waves that engulfed passing fishing boats.

As the waves receded, the fishermen yelled on the rolling sea, grasping the overturned boat’s stern, struggling to climb aboard.

...

...

Meanwhile, in the King’s sleeping chamber.

The old King stood with his back against the bed’s headboard, turning to look out the window as innumerable orange lights flew through the sky like meteors, landing in his hand - these were countless generational-level Anecdote Fragments from the Royal Court Hall.

These Anecdote Fragments combined, forming a massive ball of light. As the light faded, a card emitting a faint glow appeared in the sky.

The King reached out and grasped the dim card.

He knew in his heart that since its creation, the Royal Court Hall had existed for countless years, accumulating endless belief, hope, and legendary color in the hearts of the people.

So when the Royal Court Hall collapsed, the world’s most powerful generational-level Anecdote Fragment - the "Royal Court Hall" was born.

The old King lowered his eyes, taking a final look at the brilliantly lit crystal palace engraved on the card, then with all his strength, crushed the card.