CHAPTER 494: CHAPTER 426: FORCING THE PALACE (TWO IN ONE)_2

"Why?"

"Because you are too wealthy, you don’t have to worry about survival, and your spiritual world is so mature, and your lifespan is so long, that you collapse due to reason, and fall into crisis because of reason."

Hearing Po Han’s explanation, Prince Rowley pondered for a moment and couldn’t help but deeply agree.

The reason people from Logos had crossed the vast ocean to this new land beneath their feet was precisely because they no longer had much pursuit of survival.

"Perhaps... the Nus Kingdom is not corrupted."

Prince Rowley whispered, sharing his thoughts with Po Han,

"The priests have countless times depicted the corruption of Nus, even saying that divine punishment would one day befall them.

Even those from Nus among the people of Logos firmly believed these words and believed that my father would ultimately fulfill God’s mission and receive the promised blessing.

But my father... was bewitched."

Upon hearing this, Po Han continued to ask,

"Then... when can King Nimirda complete the mission?

What has bewitched him, so that he has not yet been able to... like King Dertulian?"

Po Han stopped there, not asking further.

Even as a Merfolk, he also believed that King Nimirda bore a mission and equally wondered why King Nimirda had not yet completed the mission.

Truly as Prince Rowley said... was he bewitched?

Prince Rowley and Po Han tirelessly sought the answer to the problem.

What bewitched the Holy King of Logos?

Those loyal to Prince Rowley tried their utmost to help him find the answer, knowing that King Nimirda was bewitched was not only Prince Rowley’s thought but also the belief of countless Exiles.

Those Exiles had personally experienced the beauty of Nus, and although they did not completely scorn it when they left Nus, they had once had limitless yearning for the kingdom beneath their feet, but now... when the cold reality was confronted, they no longer had the ability to denounce the corruption of Nus.

Increasingly deepening was the Exiles’ nostalgia, aspirations for their homeland, and longing to return to the Holy Land.

Because what they were experiencing now did not feel like the trials proclaimed by King Nimirda but rather seemed like punishment from God.

The suffering of reality brought confusion and wandering within them; today’s people of Logos could not afford to lose Nimirda, they revered him as a representative of God, but they, too, wanted to find an answer.

Yet, both Prince Rowley and Po Han couldn’t find that answer.

They could see, King Nimirda managed countless affairs, tirelessly working for the land beneath his feet; he woke earlier than the farmers, dealt with mountains of governmental affairs, he inspected the kingdom monthly, disciplined incompetent priests or other officials, and faithfully prayed to God. Every festival, he personally presided and offered countless sacrifices to God.

In King Nimirda, they could find no signs of bewitchment, nor any negligence.

His character was undoubtedly that of a virtuous king.

Even Prince Rowley, initially certain his father was bewitched, began to doubt after various investigations...

"My father... has he really been bewitched?

He remains so wise, never negligent in governance or faith..."

Even Rowley saw that in recent times, his father was far more industrious and devoutly religious than ever before, like a craftsman fervently repairing something.

As if in doing so...

God would see his service and devotion and grant the blessing promised in the Scriptures.

"Perhaps... he was bewitched long ago?"

Po Han speculated after various investigations.

This statement struck Prince Rowley’s mind like a bolt from the blue.

Since no signs of bewitchment could be found in King Nimirda now, could it be that his father had been bewitched long before?

And that "before."

How long ago was that?

"God, what has bewitched my father that he has strayed from your path?"

Prince Rowley prayed, asking,

He had searched for far too long, never finding the answer; he could only seek help from God.

What was it that bewitched his father?

Was it the Gods that King Dertulian had seen back then?

Or were it the tormented souls who died along the way?

Prince Rowley believed that it must be some kind of inexplicable force beyond mortal reach that had bewitched his father.

And his father’s current actions, his current efforts to govern diligently, and his current devout reverence to God, all seemed like a form of atonement, like bearing the consequences of past mistakes.

Gradually glimpsing just the tip of the iceberg, Prince Rowley felt he must do something.

He couldn’t stand by and watch his people continue in confusion.

Prince Rowley harbored expectations, and in his heart, a very bold plan was taking shape.

As long as he did something, everything would develop in a better direction, wouldn’t it?

............

A decade had passed.

To have more settlements, King Nimirda held an expedition every five years, sending out teams to pioneer new lands; mostly, however, the gains had been minimal—this continent wasn’t yet ready to nurture civilizations; most of the territories colonized were mere villages.

And this time was almost the same.

The only difference was that Prince Rowley participated in this expedition.

He requested his father to allow him to lead their people to establish new strongholds, and King Nimirda saw it as an opportunity to train his heir, gladly consenting.

Just as other races had no curfews during their grand celebrations, this kingdom of the Exiles also lifted curfews during dates such as Ascension Day, Rebirth Day, Sacrificial Festival, and Manifestation Day.

At those times, there were no Guards patrolling the streets with lights; the weary people of Logos finally had the chance to stop and rest, celebrating all through the night.

Prince Rowley had prepared for a long time for that Ascension Day.

Ascension Day was an ancient festival inherited by the people of Logos since the ancient times. It was said that on that day, Prophet Al climbed a high mountain and finally saw God’s face, listened to His oracle, and became the first Prophet.

On that day, streets and alleys would resonate with songs about Prophet Al. Priests would pray all night, offering their devout faith to God.

It was also on that day that the expedition teams, after opening new city-states, would return to the Kingdom.

Thinking of the nearing Royal City, Prince Rowley’s hands slowly clenched.

As the leader of this expedition team, he was adored by his soldiers; he wore the same clothes as them, carried the same packs, hunted the same beasts with the same spears, and even personally farmed in the villages established by the expedition.

Although it had only been five years—a mere drop in the ocean compared to the long lives of the Elves—his soldiers loved him even more than the distant King Nimirda.

As night fell, the expedition team camped on the coast outside the Royal City, only a day’s distance away from it.

Late at night, the Merfolk Po Han emerged from the waves and came into the encampment of the expedition team.

Prince Rowley received him, noting that, unlike the age-resistant Elves, time had left many more marks on the Merfolk.

"Do we really have to do this, Prince Rowley?"

After some pleasantries, Po Han asked slowly.

Prince Rowley replied with a determined gaze,

"For this day, I have prepared too much, and my people have waited too long!

We can’t wait any longer; tomorrow, I will get an answer from my father!"

Long before Prince Rowley joined the expedition team, Po Han, as a Merfolk, had been privy to Prince Rowley’s plans and had long earned Rowley’s trust.

A palace coup...

Using the return of the expedition team as a chance, taking advantage of Ascension Day when the curfew was lifted, to force his father into a corner!

He must know, must find out from his father’s mouth, what had bewitched the Holy Sovereign of Logos!