CHAPTER 421: CHAPTER 36 STAY THERE

The leader of the Venice City Council Conservative Party, Speaker Petro, was leisurely sipping afternoon tea in a rocking chair on the balcony, feeling quite content.

However, his good mood was soon disrupted.

"What? The New Party has caught the killer who murdered the former Governor!?" When he learned of this from his butler, he nearly jumped from his chair.

"Yes, sir," the butler said softly, "The Criminal Investigation Bureau has closed the case, and a public trial will be held in Saint Mark’s Square tomorrow."

That demigod is not the killer! A definite judgment flashed in Speaker Petro’s mind.

The killer is a female demigod, and according to internal information from the Pure Blood Monastery, she’s a toxin attribute demigod from the early Fourth Epoch, who once was the Empress of the Ancient Solomon Empire known as the Poison of Belladonna, Agrippina!

And whoever the New Party has caught, it definitely isn’t Agrippina, no matter which male demigod it is.

Of course, Petro couldn’t disclose this information publicly, as the public was unaware of this distinction, and he couldn’t explain his sources of information either (otherwise, he would undoubtedly be criticized for colluding with the Pure Blood Monastery).

On the other hand, the ability of the Lord of Filth to freely alter appearances means that judging based on gender is also unreliable.

Most crucially, in politics, the truth is never important; only interests are.

For the Venice City Council, especially for those neutral, non-partisan members, quickly catching the "murderer" of the former governor of Venice would earn them a great deal of prestige and exposure in front of the citizens, and exposure means votes, therefore...

These numerous fence-sitters have likely already sided with the New Party, waving their flags and righteously demanding severe punishment for the murderer!

As expected, despite holding emergency discussions all morning, the Conservative Party suffered a devastating defeat in the city council vote that afternoon.

Leader of the New Party, Saint Suovino, leisurely stood in front of his seat, reading the proposal of the New Party, his calm demeanor as if he were the one presiding over the city council:

"I propose that we hold the public trial immediately, so that all citizens of Venice can see the consequences of offending the Lion of Mark."

(The Lion of Mark, the symbol of the Venice City State)

"Wait!" a Conservative Party member tried to intervene, "The identity of the murderer has not yet been confirmed..."

"I completely agree!" shouted the non-partisan members in unison, while that Conservative Party member was quickly criticized by other councilors for "trying to exonerate a murderer" and "providing cover for the criminal," eventually leading him to cover his face in surrender.

"Let’s vote," Saint Suovino said calmly.

Unsurprisingly, the New Party won nearly two-thirds of the votes, and the public trial proposal was passed on the spot.

"Regarding foreign affairs with the Church Court," Saint Suovino continued, "we shall, of course, not easily defy the Holy See’s directives, however, up to now, the Church Court has not issued any instructions to Venice. For the sake of mutual trust between our two nations, we should inform the Church Court of the trial results after its conclusion."

Petro’s face was as somber as water, feeling a heavy realization settling in his heart. Clearly, once the news was communicated to the Church Court through public channels, it would be set in stone—a confirmed case, with no further pursuit of the real murderer.

Another round of voting ensued, and the New Party’s proposal was again passed overwhelmingly.

"Lastly, regarding the continuation of policies proposed by the former governor to support high-tech precision manufacturing on the island..." Saint Suovino pressed his advantage.

Outside city council, Lord Aske stood in front of a window on the Sigh Bridge, absentmindedly throwing fish food into the river.

The ladies had gone shopping, naturally wanting to relax a bit after finally completing the Emperor’s task.

Venice was the heart of Mediterranean trade, its variety of goods imaginable, and Aske even anticipated that the team’s funds would significantly diminish, but it didn’t really matter.

As the team members’ average level rapidly approached Lv.10, the various advanced magic potions needed for the final upgrades simply couldn’t be solved with money anyway.

After throwing the last handful of fish food into the river, Aske crumpled the empty bag and remarked:

"Something on your mind?"

"Kind of," Thira’s voice arose from behind him.

The young girl rested her arms on the window ledge, looking down at the quietly flowing river, and said:

"I heard this bridge is called the Sigh Bridge because right next to it is where Venice keeps its most serious criminals. Before they enter the dark dungeon where no daylight can reach, they pass over this bridge and, with one last glimpse of the outside world through the window, their sighs are their final utterances."

"I see," Aske responded, pretending to hear the story for the first time, although he had read it in a primary school textbook.

"Sometimes I wonder," Thira’s voice was soft and somber, much like the river flowing beneath the bridge, "if I had never met you... I mean, if I had never met you all, perhaps I too would have ended up in a secluded monastery, only able to view the outside world through such a window."

"No way," Aske said, "especially if it were in the Sirius Peninsula, considering you also have your grandfather."

"If it were Zoe’s command, grandfather couldn’t intervene," Thira said, "Olympia City couldn’t bypass the Emperor to interfere in politics, and the Orthodox Church wouldn’t allow it."

"So it seems I truly did save you. Is there a reward?" Aske joked.

Ellie fell silent for a moment.

"As long as I can afford it, you can have anything," she said, lifting her gaze with her clear, amber-like eyes fixed on Aske’s.

Aske was speechless for a moment, then he laughed awkwardly, "I just wanted to tease you, but now... I find that I’m at a loss for words."

Ellie smiled as well, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Really? Are you sure there’s nothing you want?"

"Not for now," Aske replied, "How about I owe you one?"

"That’s fine," Ellie said, "But when the time comes, you won’t be able to choose your reward; I will decide for you."

"You’re forcing a sale, Your Majesty," Aske remarked.

"Of course, a fallen princess and an empress restored to her throne can offer very different terms," Ellie said.

"Your grandfather has contacted you again?" Aske asked in surprise. What does this mean, restored to your throne? Are you trying to restore your country?

"After we captured that demigod," Ellie responded, "he wanted to know how you did it."

"You know it was thanks to the Anti-Demon Magnetic Field and Agrippina Poison," Aske replied nonchalantly.

"But even without the Anti-Demon Magnetic Field and Law Poison, you could still defeat and kill a demigod, right?" Ellie asked.

"Why would you think that?" Aske looked out the window.

"Intuition," Ellie said.

Aske fell silent.

"Ellie, level doesn’t completely determine the outcome," Aske said earnestly, "If demigods were unbeatable, then why would we have the Church Court, nobility; they would all be ruled by demigods."

"Special laws, extraordinary swordsmanship, advanced technology, and even the Magic Tide itself, there are many things that can restrain a demigod. How to find a way to win from limited conditions, that’s what we truly need to train," Ellie explained, barely perceptibly sighing. Clearly, she just wanted to compliment the squad leader, to curry favor with him...

"Yes, that’s right. I will study hard," she said nonchalantly.

"Do you have something against me?" Aske asked, half laughing.

"Tch," Ellie pursed her lips, "No."

"But you just clicked your tongue."

"You heard wrong, it’s the sound of water under the bridge."

The two bantered intermittently until they saw Knight Albrecht walking towards them from the direction of the Governor’s Mansion.

"The mission is complete, Lord Aske," he said quietly as he approached them. "Lord Saint Suovino has agreed to secretly join Her Majesty’s campaign against Verona immediately after tomorrow’s public trial."

"That’s great," Aske said calmly, "About the reward..."

"It’s here," Albrecht took out a glass bottle, silently handed it to Aske, "this was the agreed-upon ’Giant III’ Magic Potion, paid for by the Weiding Family on behalf of Her Majesty."

The Magic Potion now, not after returning? Aske was somewhat surprised, but after all, it was their team’s advantage, so he unhesitatingly accepted it.

Albrecht then fumbled in his armor for a while and pulled out another bottle:

"This is the Magic Potion for Miss Eleanor, entrusted to me by the Weisbach Family to pass on to you."

Weisbach Family... Trusting someone else to pass on a Level IV Magic Potion, aren’t they afraid of it being embezzled by the messenger? Aske couldn’t help but admire the Weisbach Family’s lofty trust.

Wait, maybe they have struck some secret alliance with the Weiding Family, thus they trust that Albrecht would not betray them. He thought for a moment and before he could conclude...

Indeed, Albrecht spoke again:

"Also, a message from the Duke of Bavaria: Aske, do you remember that for this potion, you promised to complete a mission for the Weisbach Family?"

"Yes," Aske said gravely, "What’s the content of the mission?"

"Stay in Venice City State, ensure Miss Eleanor’s safety, and do not return to the battlefields of Verona," Albrecht stated.