This is the imperial capital of the Star Empire.
The Silent Sisters Square before the grand cathedral was almost packed with people every day.
The change of the imperial throne was something everyone paid close attention to. Moreover, this time the crown war, unopened for over three hundred years, had begun. The thirteen princes entered the secret realm world to compete. This greatly increased people’s interest in the crown war. There were countless betting pools. Almost every discussion centred on which prince would ultimately win.
However, from the start of the crown war until now, nearly a month had passed, yet the final result still had not appeared.
Many people had begun to feel anxious.
Some even pessimistically guessed that the secret realm world, unopened for three hundred years, might have encountered some accident. Now, the thirteen princes might all be dead… But those with connections knew this was not the case. The entrance to the secret realm world had always been controlled by the Star Empire’s church. Though unable to interfere with the crown battlefield rules, the church could use certain methods to detect the situation in the secret realm world.
It was only vague detection, but sufficient to obtain much information. Prince Geller, imperial ministers, and the patriarchs of the five great families had all received enough information from the church. They knew the crown war was still proceeding smoothly. The battles continued. Some princes had fallen, but most princes remained alive.
The church simply could not accurately know which princes had died.
People anxiously awaited.
Finally, on this day, atop the church’s glass bell tower, the massive ancient bell suddenly rang. No one struck it. It sounded on its own.
Dong.
The deep voice transmitted across the entire imperial capital. It was early morning. Countless people were still sunk in sweet dreams. They were all startled awake by this bell toll.
Dong.
Dong.
Fully seven tolls.
This glass bell tower had been built alongside the Star Empire’s founding by the empire’s first emperor, Zaguras. It was closely tied to the crown war. Its bell tolls signified the end of the crown war. It had not rung for three hundred years, until now.
The awakened people, after being dazed for a few minutes, suddenly realised what the bell toll meant. They all hurried towards the cathedral.
The crown war had ended.
The victor was about to return!
Imperial clans, nobles, and commoners of the empire’s capital all gathered on Silent Sisters Street, crowding it until it was impenetrable. The area dozens of metres before the church had been cordoned off. Even so, the positions close to the church hall entrance remained incredibly crowded. Prince Geller and some imperial ministers and family patriarchs stood at the forefront of the church hall.
Their faces all bore anxiety.
The church’s believers and protagonists guarded the church hall entrance, faces showing some bewilderment.
“What is happening? The bell has tolled, signifying the crown war has ended. But why has the secret realm world’s entrance not opened?” Prince Geller urgently asked a presiding bishop.
That bishop was also full of confusion. He said, “The secret realm world’s entrance has already opened. It is just… The people inside seem in no hurry to come out. We do not know what this is about… Could something have gone wrong inside?”
“Then who is the victor of the crown war?” The patriarch of the beastman Joris family, a burly man with a full beard and rugged appearance, eagerly pressed.
This was the answer everyone wanted to know.
The bishop shook his head. “We do not yet know. However… We can now confirm that three princes have died. Over half of the guards have perished.”
“…”
The crowd fell silent. They began to guess in their hearts which princes had died. As for the guards, they did not care.
Prince Geller’s face looked somewhat unpleasant. His aged eyes stared fixedly at the spot where the secret realm entrance would open.
He himself had no strong preference for the crown war victor. But because of his relation to Debbie, he hoped in his heart that Jacob could achieve the final victory. The safety of Ye Dui and the others was also his greatest concern. Three princes dead, over half the guards perished. Among them, he hoped none of those he cared about…
“Nini will be fine, right? That child sneaked in without listening to advice. Truly reckless…” Anduin Hoin, Danni’s father, now stood beside Prince Geller. His face full of worry, he muttered to himself.
“Danni seems to have had some fortuitous encounter. Her abilities now are not weak. You need not worry about her.” Prince Geller comforted, though his eyes remained full of concern.
In his heart, he pondered darkly. Three princes dead. He was most familiar with the princes’ characters. The three dead princes should be the most useless among the thirteen: the second, seventh, and eighth princes. They themselves had the least strength and were treated as cannon fodder extras…
Others mostly shared the same thought.
The crowd anxiously waited.
They waited with eyes that could pierce autumn waters.
The area before the church slowly grew noisy. The noise gradually amplified. Some commoners blocked outside could not help but complain. They usually worked hard. They had planned to learn the result and then continue their day’s work. Waiting like this was too heart-wrenching. It was the scorching midsummer heat. Crowded together in a sea of people, soon some fainted from physical weakness.
Yet the portal ahead remained utterly still.
Some small vendors began pushing carts here to sell snacks and fruits.
Some could not endure and left. But more stayed.
Time slowly passed.
The noise before the church gradually quieted again. As if the people, waiting too long, were too weary to argue further.
The worry in Prince Geller’s eyes quietly turned to a trace of annoyance. To make this old man wait so long… What exactly were they doing inside? Since they could come out, hurry up and do so!
Woken early and rushing here, he had not even eaten breakfast!
The church had arranged some simple food for everyone and brought chairs for the dignitaries to rest briefly. At this time, Prince Geller could not help but complain to those beside him. “This lot would not be eating their fill inside before planning to leave, would they?”
“No way?” The aged grand scholar, already seated on a stool with a servant’s support, face flushed red as if he might faint at any moment, kept fanning himself for cool air. He explained from his mouth, “In every past crown war, once ended, the victor returned immediately. No one has ever lingered inside too long… Since they won the crown war, of course they would return to the outside world at once. Who would continue staying inside?”
“Hmph. If it were that bunch of lads led by Ye Dui, they might just do that.” Prince Geller ate the food provided by the church while casually complaining. At this point, his actions suddenly paused. As if he had realised something: Yes, the ones who could keep everyone waiting outside while eating their fill first before emerging were precisely that unreliable bunch led by Ye Dui!
In that case, the final victor of this crown war was likely the thirteenth prince, Jacob.
Prince Geller chuckled. Then anger rose from his heart. “If it is them, I absolutely will not spare them!”
It was now noon. The sun blazed fiercely.
Most of the waiting populace could no longer stand and sat on the bluestone ground.
People’s patience in waiting was nearly exhausted.
Then at this moment, amid a believer’s cry of surprise, everyone grew excited.
“The portal has opened, opened!”
In the church hall, the magic array on the ground lit up. Rays of light gathered in the air, forming a gate of light. The passage between the outside world and the secret realm world linked thus!
Then, the people guarding outside, full of excitement, first felt… a rush of barbecue aroma!
It was an intensely strong fragrance, as if it could make one drunk within it.
The rich aroma almost made everyone instinctively swallow saliva.
From morning until now, they had eaten almost nothing. Only some simple food provided earlier by the church, which was coarse and hard to swallow. Their stomachs were starving. The originally pampered dignitaries thought that the princes in the secret realm might now be in danger, perhaps also hungry. Since the princes were striving, how could they enjoy delicious food? So they persisted without leaving, awaiting their return…
But the result? When the portal opened, what emerged first was not the princes, but this wafting barbecue aroma?
They, they truly had eaten their fill before setting off!
Through the portal, one could not clearly see the other side. Only vague shadows and some sounds transmitted out.
Some easily recognised it as Ye Dui’s voice.
“Everyone, goodbye. We will come back to visit when we have time… Thank you for hosting this banquet for us. This feast was truly satisfying. Giant whale magical beast roast meat is simply a delicacy bestowed by heaven. Let me tell you, in the outside world, this magical beast meat is very precious. Often, even with money, one cannot buy it… And these secret realm unique flavours of fruits and fruit wine, truly sweet and refreshing, utterly delicious…”
“Ouch, my belly is about to burst. Stuffed to death…” This was Debbie’s voice.
Hearing this, the people outside the church all lost their composure.
Some looked at the dry bread in their hands, bodies trembling with anger.
At this moment, those in the capital standing opposed to Ye Dui harboured unprecedented fury towards Ye Dui’s group…
Even friendly figures like Prince Geller and Hoin had anger levels nearly maxed out.
You, you must not go too far!!!
