Chapter 235: Rani Salome (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235: Rani Salome (4)
Even with Dino Jagrun, the natives of Colon, and the fragments of the bio-golem’s heart, they didn't have enough to win a war of public opinion.
At the very least, they had to prove that the Zipple Clan had kidnapped the Holy King and installed a puppet to deceive the citizens of the Holy Kingdom.
“High Priest Montiano, High Priest Conu, and Sir Vitura, the Captain of the Holy Knights, are the ones who know,” Rani said.
“Which of them is the most trustworthy?”
“None of them.”
Rani spoke firmly before elaborating.
“High Priest Montiano and High Priest Conu have definitely been bought out. After I realized the King was a fake, I went to speak with them. They just smirked, told me to accept my trial after the festival, and to serve the Holy King well. Those two are certainly compromised.”
“Is that enough to be certain they were bribed?”
“No, I also mentioned the finger. They just smiled instead of answering. It was as if they were telling me I was already in the palm of their hand…”
The fact that those two had been bought was a particularly devastating blow for Rani.
Montiano and Conu were Miklan’s childhood friends who had been with him since their teens. After Miklan himself, they were the most powerful figures in the Holy Kingdom.
“…I felt like there was no hope the moment I realized they had sided with the Zipple. Montiano oversees the laws of the Holy Kingdom, and Conu manages the administration.”
In other words, the law and administration of the Holy Kingdom were now entirely in the enemy's grasp. With the Holy King himself an impostor, the situation was utterly desperate.
A thought suddenly crossed Jin’s mind.
If the Holy Kingdom has fallen into Zipple’s hands, what is Runcandel doing? Are they just watching, even though they know? Or do they simply not realize what’s happening yet?
The latter seemed more likely.
No information about the battle between Murakan and Kadun in Santel had been released to the public. Furthermore, Santel was a remote border territory of the Scholl Principality—a place where Runcandel hadn't stationed any agents.
Jin himself had only grasped the situation because Murakan had been attacked near Santel and they had coincidentally met Rani there. Without those lucky breaks, the true state of the Holy Kingdom would have remained a mystery.
“What about Vitura, the Captain of the Holy Knights?”
He was the last person who knew the secret of the Holy King’s body. Among those who knew, he was the only one who wasn't a close confidant of Miklan.
“I haven’t met with Sir Vitura. But he has been my father’s political rival for a long time. He constantly made aggressive arguments, claiming my father should be removed from power.”
“Is that why you haven’t met him?”
“Moreover, he always insisted that we should establish a more friendly relationship with the Zipple. I thought he was just doing it because he disliked my father, but he might have been working with the Zipple all along.”
“The military, the law, and the administration have all fallen to them. This is quite bleak, kid,” Murakan remarked.
“Let’s go meet Vitura,” Jin decided.
“Did you hear what I just said?” Rani asked.
“I heard you. But unlike the two High Priests, you haven’t confirmed Vitura’s stance yourself, have you?”
“My father disliked him a great deal as well. He would grind his teeth at the mere sight of Sir Vitura in public. Even during banquets, he’d make a fuss about not wanting to invite him.”
For the leader of a nation—especially a Holy King—to act that way suggested an immense dislike for the man. Influenced by her father, Rani didn't like Vitura either. In fact, she despised him.
Jin met Rani’s eyes, a new thought occurring to him.
“Rani, how did your father treat High Priest Montiano and High Priest Conu?”
“Well, naturally… he always had them sit right next to him at banquets and meetings. He discussed almost everything regarding governance with them. They even went on walks together whenever they had time.”
“What would you do if you were the Holy King, Rani? In a situation just like this one, where the Holy Kingdom was being devoured by the Zipple from the inside out.”
“Pardon?”
“If it were me, I would keep the enemy’s spies close. I’d do it so they wouldn't suspect I’d noticed anything. On the other hand, I would publicly antagonize those who could actually help me. At least, that’s what I’d do in public.”
Rani blinked, then shook her head.
“That’s a possibility. But even when my father was alone with me, he often spoke of how much he disliked Sir Vitura.”
“He might have suspected there were ears in the walls. That’s another way to interpret it. Of course, it might be a stretch, but there’s no harm in checking.”
“What if I get captured when I go to see him? If Sir Vitura is a Zipple henchman, he’ll obviously imprison me. Before, they probably thought I wouldn't run away since they held my father’s life in their hands… but from their perspective now, I’m someone who killed their bio-golem soldiers and escaped.”
Murakan shrugged.
“Why worry about being captured when I’m here? Do you really think the Holy Knights of this kingdom can stop me?”
Rani didn't know how much stronger Murakan had become. Her only memory was of him barely surviving his defeat by Kadun, so her skepticism was natural.
However, the important thing wasn't whether Murakan could overpower Vitura and the Holy Knights.
“That’s not the issue. Let’s say you two suppress the knights and manage to escape with me. What then? We’ll become high-profile fugitives, and they’ll… my father will…”
Rani couldn't finish her sentence.
The reason the Zipple had kept her alive after kidnapping the Holy King was simple: they wanted to use the beloved symbol of the ‘Holy King and his daughter.’ That was why they had left her in charge of reading the prayer of blessing at the Ayula Advent Festival. They had subtly threatened to kill Miklan if she didn't perform her role perfectly or caused any trouble.
But thinking about it coldly…
The possibility that the real Holy King was still alive was extremely low. They had essentially swallowed the Holy Kingdom whole and had a perfect double; there was no reason to keep him alive. Rani was a card to be used as long as she was convenient, only to be discarded once the citizens turned on her after seeing her spirit break.
“My father… is likely no longer of this world…”
Rani wasn't unaware of this. She had simply been avoiding the thought because she couldn't bear it. Her eyes welled with tears.
“Rani.”
Rani wiped her tears and gritted her teeth. Crying wouldn't solve anything.
“I will go meet Sir Vitura, just as you suggested. But please, give me one promise.”
“Speak.”
“It seems you intend to wage a war of public opinion, but if Sir Vitura is a spy, as I suspect, there’s no chance of driving them out that way. I imagine that’s why you want to meet him, too.”
As Rani said, while the possibility wasn't zero, if Vitura was a spy, Jin would have to bring in other forces. He was prepared to seek help from the Secret Palace, Nameless, or even break Runcandel’s laws and ask Luna for assistance. Preventing the Holy Kingdom from falling to the Zipple was an absolute necessity.
“So, if things go wrong, please help me restore the Holy Kingdom after you become a Flagbearer. I mean, I want the support of all of Runcandel, not just you and Murakan.”
Jin nodded.
“Understood.”
*
Calling Vitura out separately was impossible. Though she was the King's adopted daughter, Rani was merely a second-class knight of the Dawn Order of Doctrine Protection.
After much deliberation, the group decided to visit his residence directly. Whether they called him out or went to him, the result would be the same if he were a spy.
“Well, look who it is. Rani Salome! The daughter of His Great Majesty the Holy King, and the troublemaker of the Dawn Order.”
Vitura sat arrogantly in the middle of his vast office, wearing a blatant smirk. The eyes of the knights standing behind him—members of his direct unit, the Golden Shield Society—were sharp.
“And who are these people you’ve brought with you?” Vitura asked, pointing at Jin and Murakan.
“…They are my friends.”
“Friends? Nonsense. They must be the lowlifes who killed our soldiers at the Eastern Temple and ran off with you. Huhu, Rani Salome. I was looking for you anyway. How could the person meant to read the blessing in a few days just vanish like that?”
It’s a bust.
Jin and Murakan couldn't help but think the same thing.
Was Rani’s judgment correct? Damn it. To think the Holy King hated this man because he really was a spy. Did the Holy King just get played by them without knowing anything?
Since Murakan had recovered about forty percent of his power, escaping wouldn't be difficult.
“You must have known that acting like that could cost your father his head… I suppose you came to your senses while on the run? Regardless, you made the right choice. Sit.”
Rani sat in the chair across from Vitura, her face an expressionless mask. Jin and Murakan stood still, calculating the best moment to make their escape.
Trickle…
Vitura smiled as he filled a teacup.
“Cain.”
“Yes, Captain.”
The Holy Knight called Cain stepped forward.
“Take those two out and throw them in the dungeon. There is much I need to ask them. And contact the Zipple Clan. Let them know we have secured Rani.”
“Understood.”
Cain and three other knights strode toward Jin and Murakan. The two of them had surrendered their weapons upon entering the residence. Of course, even without them, dealing with these men wouldn't be a problem.
It’s going to be a pain to retrieve our swords on the way out… wait?
Shing!
The sharp sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard rang out.
However, it wasn't the knights of the Golden Shield Society who had drawn their blades. It was the Captain of the Holy Knights, Vitura Belter.
Squelch!
To their astonishment, his sword swung toward his own subordinates who had just passed him.
In a single strike, the necks of all four Golden Shield knights were severed. With a heavy metallic clatter, their helmeted heads rolled across the floor.
As members of his direct unit, the Golden Shield knights were all experts at the 7-star or 8-star level. But they stood no chance against their captain’s surprise attack from behind—especially when that captain was a knight bordering on the 10-star realm.
The headless bodies of the knights convulsed on the ground.
“Don't scream, Rani. And truly, you did well to find me. You must have suffered so much.”
As Rani reflexively stood up, Vitura covered her mouth to keep her quiet.
Jin and Murakan stared at Vitura, stunned.
Vitura Belter, the Captain of the Vankella Holy Knights. He was not a Zipple henchman.
“Come closer, Young Master Jin Runcandel.”
He even knew Jin’s face.