Mystery Paradise: Wishing Power Demon
Chapter 424 - 422: The Death of the Duke

Chapter 424: Chapter 422: The Death of the Duke

On the other side, Mekefa had already leaped into the crowd, his reactions and strength far from human. Casually grabbing a guest and hurling them toward Wilson’s guard was like firing a cannonball. Wherever they landed, blood and flesh sprayed, and even steam-powered warriors clad in heavy armor would topple backward!

Ordinary musket bullets couldn’t seriously harm Mekefa—although his body was covered in minor wounds, none could stop his movement. Only when the steam warriors fired their small-caliber hand cannons did he momentarily avoid them.

"Is the Blooming Excalibur really that powerful?" Dane frowned.

"No... He was indeed one of the best in the Royal Guards, but this strength is definitely beyond what a Grandmaster Level Warrior could possess," Farrelan shook his head. "If the other guards were at that level, the Longjiu Army wouldn’t stand a chance in taking the Royal Capital! Perhaps he has reached the Legendary Level... or even higher, just as he claimed..."

He had crossed the threshold beneath divinity!

After knocking down a swath of guards, Mekefa finally found an opening in the defense—he joined his hands and slashed at the gap between two approaching steam warriors, unleashing a bluish flame from his hands that sliced through them like a saber, nearly reaching the retreating Wilson Longjiu!

Everyone witnessed this shocking scene.

A horrific wound appeared on Duke Longjiu’s back, nearly splitting him from shoulder to waist, the charred muscles curling up to expose the ghastly white bones and writhing innards beneath!

"Father!"

The Longjiu family scion’s eyes were about to burst with rage.

"Hahahaha..." Mekefa burst into laughter. "Your Majesty, do you see? The chief culprit who killed you has been executed by me! What dog-shit Chosen by the divinities, in the end, he is but a mere mortal!"

"It can’t be..." Farrelan murmured.

He couldn’t believe that Mekefa had just assassinated Duke Longjiu single-handedly. He had thought that the Royal Capital would remain untouched by war for a long while, but with the fall of Wilson Longjiu, he felt as though he could see the coming storms, ready to strike like a tempest.

"It’s okay, I’ll let you accompany him..." Mekefa once again raised his arm, transformed into a sword—this time, his target was the heir of the Longjiu Family.

But Bifei suddenly stood out, spreading her arms before everyone.

The moment they saw the Ninth Princess, the Blooming Excalibur trembled involuntarily, and the right hand about to cleave through the air stopped mid-swing.

"You..."

Bifei just stared at him fixedly, her face slightly pale with evident fear, but even so, she did not step aside.

"The assassin is him!"

Another large group of guards charged into the hall, followed by about a dozen steam warriors. Their heavy footsteps struck terror in everyone’s hearts. At this point, no guest cared for the safety of the Longjiu Family—they only feared whether they could survive this conflict.

Mekefa spat disdainfully, retracted his hand, and turned to punch a huge hole straight through the wall! He dove through the breach and sprinted into the room connected to the grand hall.

The spreading dust made the scene even more chaotic.

"Don’t let him get away!"

"Chase after him, we need to see the body!"

Several people were even trampled and overran by the advancing steam warriors, their screams unceasing.

"Now’s the time!"

Dane grabbed him, and the two men crouched down and hid by the wall near the entrance, waiting for all the guards to rush in before quickly running out of the hotel’s grand hall in the opposite direction.

"This way, I know a path that leads to the back street."

"Lead on," Farrelan followed without hesitation. In times like these, his old partner always had an escape plan ready. However, as he ran, the image of Duke Longjiu falling remained etched in his mind.

No matter what, he couldn’t fathom why Bifei would stand up at that moment, and more unexpectedly, why Mekefa had ultimately held back!

Was it out of old loyalty to the monarchy?

No, his absence from the Royal Capital at the first sign of its downfall, his decision not to take part in the final defense itself, spoke volumes.

A Ninth Princess of such low rank could never sway the Blooming Excalibur.

And Farrelan saw it.

The moment he ceased his action, it was not mercy that flickered in Mekefa’s eyes, but fear.

Was he afraid of a minor girl?

Or did he see something else through Bifei?

Too many questions lingered in Farrelan’s mind, leaving him utterly clueless. Yet he knew that the brief peace had come to an end and that a new round of war was destined to disfavor the continent.

No... Perhaps, as Dane had said, the war had already begun.

...

"Father, Father!" Qibo trembled as he knelt before his father, frantically stuffing his own clothes under him, hoping to stanch the relentless bleeding with this method. But this attempt was clearly in vain; the clothes were soon soaked through, and the blood converged into tiny streams, trickling down the platform.

How could this happen?

The Longjiu Family had suffered in silence and worked diligently, standing on the verge of ruling the Kingdom, yet the father, the linchpin of the family, had fallen in a moment, and he was far from ready to take up the family’s heavy burden!

"There’s no need for such efforts..." Wilson Longjiu’s lips slowly parted, whispering, "I’ve said... everyone has their own destiny, and this is mine... destiny."

"No, you should ascend to the throne, become the King, not—"

Halfway through his sentence, Qibo suddenly shut his mouth, the horror in his eyes revealing that the Duke harbored not a trace of anger or reluctance. That acceptance of fate was no hollow statement.

For the first time, he realized he didn’t understand his own father at all.

"Father, please just tell us now... the family cannot be without a leader for even a day, who do you plan to leave the Kingdom to?" Zither couldn’t help but ask.

"Zither, what are you talking about!" Qibo stared back in anger.

"I, I don’t see a problem with my question... Isn’t it said in our family teachings, to always prioritize the survival of the family..." the latter replied through gritted teeth.

Qibo was taken aback to find that his second brother didn’t speak to refute him, but remained silent instead.

Did they all think... choosing the successor was the most pressing matter at hand?

"Qibo, take good care... of Gao Feng Company..." the Duke said intermittently, his usual authority gone, "Zigwey... Zither, help your eldest brother. This Kingdom... leave it to... leave it to that divinity..."

"What do you mean? Father, I’m asking... who will inherit the throne..." Zither couldn’t help repeating.

However, Wilson Longjiu did not answer him again.

He looked at his three children one last time, then closed his eyes.

"My lord, the doctor is here!"

"Get out, what’s the use now! Everyone get out!" Zither Longjiu cursed loudly, "You’re all useless, useless! So many of you and yet none could protect my father, what’s the use of you!"

Qibo felt his father’s chest cease to beat... Although he wished it to be a nightmare, the Duke’s death had become an irreversible fact. And with many witnesses at the venue, it would not be long before the news spread far and wide.

What should he do?

Take care of the company... is taking care of the company enough? What about the Royal Capital? How to deal with the attacks from the east? And what about the lords of the Western Borderlands?

And that statement about leaving the Kingdom to the divinity... what did it really mean?

Just then, Weiden, the butler who had been standing motionless at the edge of the platform, slowly bent down and extended a green key to Qibo, "Go and see, your father had made arrangements long ago. Don’t be afraid, I will always be by your side."