The Kingmaker System
Chapter 275 - 274. Fragmented Truths (3)

Chapter 275: 274. Fragmented Truths (3)

The Pope, Marvoni Venil, opened his mouth to speak the name, but before the words could escape, a grotesque blob of blood erupted from his lips. His body convulsed violently as he doubled over, retching onto the dark, dirt-streaked floor. The crimson splatter painted a macabre picture, stark against the dim light of the cell.

I instinctively stepped back, my gaze narrowing as the blood continued to seep not just from his mouth, but from his nostrils, eyes, and ears. The sight was grotesque, his body trembling as though the curse itself sought to devour him from within.

"So, you’re cursed too," I remarked, my tone icy and detached. My words seemed to strike a nerve as his bloodshot eyes lifted to meet mine, pleading silently for respite from the torment consuming him.

"Quite an irony, isn’t it?" I added, my lips curling into a cold, humorless chuckle.

"P-Please... let me go..." he rasped, the words barely audible as they escaped his blood-stained lips. His voice, frail and broken, was almost drowned out by the sound of his labored breaths.

I glanced at the thick red liquid staining my fingers, the blood still warm to the touch. It felt like a tainted relic of his sins, a token of his vile deeds.

"What happened with the child last night?" I asked, my voice sharp, slicing through his whimpers. "Why can he only recite the blessing and nothing else?"

Marvoni flinched at the question, his trembling form shrinking further as though my words held the weight of judgment itself.

"I-I don’t know," he stammered, his voice weak and fragmented. "He... he simply told me that he was laying a trap."

My eyes narrowed, the pieces of this tangled web still eluding me. "Did he go to see the child?"

Marvoni shook his head, the motion jerky and unsteady. "No... He said that... he could do it..."

His voice grew fainter with each passing word, his energy drained, until he slumped forward, his head hanging limply. Blood continued to trickle down his face, pooling beneath him. He was still alive, but his pallor suggested he wouldn’t recover easily, if at all.

I turned to Lyall, who stood silently at my side, his expression unreadable but alert.

"Get a small diamond," I instructed, my voice calm but firm. "Use it to discern the curse—place it on his head and observe the reaction. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," Lyall replied, his tone resolute as he reached into his pocket and handed me a handkerchief.

I wiped the blood from my hands, the crimson streaks fading into the white cloth until nothing remained but faint smudges. Without another glance at the crumpled form of Marvoni, we ascended the stone steps, leaving the suffocating gloom of the cell behind.

Above ground, the kingdom was in turmoil. The air buzzed with the restless murmurs of the masses, their voices rising and falling like waves in a storm. The sudden disappearance of the kingdom’s most influential figures had sent ripples of panic through the populace, and despite the King’s attempts to reassure them, fear gripped their hearts like an iron vice.

The streets were alive with unease, the tension palpable in the hurried movements of the people. Whispers of conspiracies and dark forces filled the air, each rumor more exaggerated than the last.

But I had no time for the hysteria of the masses. As chaos brewed in the kingdom, my focus remained sharp. I was already several steps ahead, formulating the next move in my plan.

The Dark Mage behind all this—whoever they were—had to be dealt with. They had pushed their hand too far, meddling in realms they had no right to touch.

The pieces were falling into place, and soon, they would regret crossing me.

I decided to break into the castle and the best way to do that was, Damon Lancaster.

I decided to visit him as soon as I was done interrogating Marvoni, but I couldn’t leave without giving the instructions.

"Have someone to keep an eye on him, don’t let him die and also, on Asher. Don’t let him leave until I tell you to." I told Lyall.

"Yes, Master."

"And lastly, make sure no one goes to the third floor. Warn or kill them if necessary, I don’t care who it is. If the child comes out of his room coax him back and tell him I’ve told him to stay in, give him books or toys if need be, all right?"

He understood my need to protect the child and he also knew what would happen if his real form was brought in front of the people right now.

I still had work to do.

It was night time when I reached the Lancaster mansion, I didn’t want to draw much attention and I was also a bit hungry so, I decided to go from the front door.

His butler greeted me, not knowing who I was. I was dressed in full black outfit, and if not for the accessories on my clothes and the stylish black mask to cover the upperhalf of my face he might have thought that I was a commoner.

"Please tell him that Master is here," I told him and he was a bit perplexed.

"Pardon me, but only Master?"

"Yes, tell him it’s urgent."

The butler seemed a bit suspicious but he didn’t let it show on his face as he led me to the reception room and from there left to get Damon.

The maid greeted me and served me some tea and refreshments looking at me with curiosity.

I thanked her before I looked at the tea, I picked up the teacup and the relaxing scent seemed to wash over me. All the work from these past couple of days had me exhausted.

"It smells nice," I complimented.

"Ah, yes... Thank you, my Lord." She flushed.

I took a sip and found the taste to be a bit different than the tea I was used to having. There was something different about it, was it because of some drug? No, if there were a drug I would have already sensed it but it’s something else.

"Is this tea imported from a foreign country?" I asked.

"Ah, yes!" The maid said.

Just then the doors opened and Damon walked in looking as if he had ran a marathon.

"M-"

Before he- the Duke of this nation could address me as Master, I stood up and bowed before him.

"I apologise for showing up unannounced, Your Grace."

He understood the gesture and then looked at the servants.

"I have to talk with this gentleman for a while, clear the room." He ordered and the servants in the room bowed and left.

Once the door was closed, Damon bowed before me.

"We-Welcome to the Lancaster residence, Lord Dragon." He spoke and I nodded.

"Have a seat, I have some things to discuss with you." I said and Damon obliged taking a seat in front of me.

"Is there something going on at the royal palace these days?"

Damon took a moment to answer, as if trying to put together the proper order of the events.

"There’s been a chaotic situation in the palace, His Majesty has been very troubled after the disappearance of Saint, Saintess and Pope and also because of the rumors that we are facing the..." He looked at me cautiously, "wrath of the Dragon."

"High Priest is said to have gone in a catatonic state, he keeps repeating the words that the Dragon’s wrath is upon us and that the nation will be destroyed."

I nodded and he continued, "There is a meeting arranged tomorrow to sort this matter. The Temple isn’t able to function properly because of the missing Pope and High Priest being this such a state so, they are hoping to find a solution while discussing with the other representative of the Temple."

"What about nobles?"

"We’re doing as you said, keeping our side of debate and with the news of the Dragon’s wrath upon us, it is working in our favour as we could bring forth the evidence of the Temple’s wrong doings and prove that this catastrophe is brought upon us because of the greedy Temple’s officials." He explained.

Things sounded so simple when he explained them like this but I knew they weren’t as simple. They were even more complex and layered as far as I could look.

"What’s the agenda of tomorrow’s meeting?" I asked.

"It’s regarding how to solve the problem in absence of the Pope. The people are scared so, we need to first look for a way to put them at ease and then, think of a way to solve this problem."

I pondered over it for a moment before I looked at him.

"I have a solution which I’d like for you to present before the King."

"Pardon, yes?"

I explained him what he was supposed to say and do and he listened carefully, he was a little taken aback with my solution but since it wasn’t too dangerous or far fetched, I knew it would work.