Chapter 134 : Chapter 134

Chapter 134. Blood-Red Endgame

Old Adjudicator Pross led Federico and Count Bos.

They passed through the somewhat chaotic crowd and arrived at the preparation area specially marked out beneath the dueling platform.

There, someone was already seated.

Marquess Cons Montauban.

He was not as bedraggled as an ordinary prisoner. Instead, he wore a suit of exquisite armor polished until it gleamed, engraved with eagle patterns.

He simply had no helmet on. His graying hair was combed meticulously.

He sat there quietly, his back perfectly straight.

It was as though he were still that Prime Minister of the Kingdom who had once held power over the court, not a prisoner awaiting judgment.

When Federico and his party approached, Cons’s cold gaze swept over them.

There was no fear in those eyes, no pleading, only a calm that had settled to the extreme and hatred that had sunk deep into his bones.

Federico also stopped and looked toward him.

The two old rivals who had once clashed many times at the summit of the kingdom’s power.

At this moment, in this place, their gazes met once again.

There were no words, yet invisible sparks seemed to collide in the air.

A moment later, the two of them moved their gazes away at the same time with perfect tacit understanding, as though even one more glance would taint them.

Pross nervously wiped away his sweat, first nodding respectfully toward Federico.

Only then did he trot over to Cons and ask according to procedure.

“Lord Cons, according to the rules of the duel, you may choose to enter the field personally.

“Or you may appoint a champion to fight in your stead. What is your choice?”

Cons’s gaze remained level before him.

“My honor will be guarded by myself.”

Pross nodded, then ran back in front of Federico and repeated the same question.

“Lord Regent, will you personally enter the field, or will you choose a champion?”

Everyone’s gaze focused on Federico.

If he had been twenty years younger, with the pride and martial strength of the Guardian of the Western Frontier.

He would have chosen to enter the field himself without the slightest hesitation, using the sword in his hand to wash away every slander.

But now, he was old. He was weary. More importantly, he bore far too much upon his shoulders... He could no longer take risks.

He answered calmly, “Count Salo Bos will fight in my place.”

This answer was within everyone’s expectations.

Count Bos stepped forward. Like an iron tower, he silently displayed his powerful martial strength.

Pross nodded again, then turned around and faced the surrounding crowd, which was already discussing among themselves. In the loudest voice he could manage, he announced.

“It has been confirmed! Marquess Cons Montauban chooses to fight personally!

“Lord Regent Federico will be represented by Count Salo Bos!”

The discussions in the crowd grew a little louder, but there was no great surprise.

The contrast in strength between the two sides was visible to the naked eye. Almost everyone believed this would be a crushing battle with no suspense at all.

Afterward, Pross walked onto the ancient and mottled stone dueling platform and shouted loudly.

“May the two duelists take the stage!”

Cons slowly stood up and adjusted his armor.

Then, step by step, he walked steadily up the stone steps to one side of the high platform.

On the other side, Count Bos seemed even more oppressive.

He carried a blood-red greatsword almost as wide as half a man, ascending the high platform with heavy and resolute steps.

His tall and powerful body formed an extremely sharp contrast with Cons’s aged and frail appearance.

A wave of rustling conversation immediately rose below the stage.

“Sigh, how can this even be considered a contest?”

“This is practically a giant fighting a child... Lord Cons is far too stubborn.”

“Are you mad? Keep your voice down! Prime Minister Cons was at least a great noble born from our Royal Domain. He was once...”

“Once is once. Now... look at Count Bos...”

Pross stood at the center of the high platform and interrupted everyone’s conversations in a solemn voice, calling out loudly.

“Everyone, please be silent! According to the ancient traditions and sacred rules of trial by combat in the Kingdom of Orlando.

“May the two duelists swear the oath with me—!”

Cons and Count Bos faced each other and raised the swords in their hands at the same time.

Pross led the oath in a clear voice, and the two men repeated after him. Their low voices echoed through the ancient dueling arena.

“Great Caesar and the gods above, I willingly take part in this sacred duel.

“To defend my honor and innocence... May the holy light shine upon us and bear witness to the fairness and justice of this battle...

“The victor shall be without guilt, and the defeated shall bear no grievance...”

The ancient oath was solemn and dignified, temporarily suppressing the noise below the stage.

Once the oath was complete, the atmosphere at the scene was pushed to its peak.

The moment the oath ended, Pross ran down from the high platform at top speed.

It seemed as though he feared he would be caught in the impending battle if he were even a step too slow.

He ran to a safe distance, took a deep breath, and announced at the top of his lungs.

“I declare! Under the witness of the great Caesar and the gods—judgment begins!”

With a clang, almost the instant his words fell.

Count Bos placed that terrifying blood-red greatsword horizontally before him, assuming a standard attacking stance.

His eyes also locked onto Cons across from him, and powerful battle aura began to flow faintly.

However, strangely enough, Marquess Cons, who stood opposite him, did not move.

He did not even take any defensive stance. He simply continued standing quietly with his longsword in hand.

His gaze slowly swept across the nobles and citizens from the Royal Domain below the high platform.

His voice suddenly rang out, overwhelming the discussions below.

“My fellow countrymen of the Royal Domain!

“Do you know what I, Cons Montauban, have done for this kingdom, for all of you?”

His gaze swept over the crowd, and many people of the Royal Domain who met his eyes instinctively lowered their heads.

Indeed, regardless of how the four regions judged Cons.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, many of his policies had indeed leaned toward the Royal Domain.

He had brought a great deal of benefit and prosperity to both the royal capital and the Royal Domain. This was an indisputable fact.

Cons’s voice carried a trace of grief and indignation as he continued loudly.

“I, Cons Montauban, though born from an illustrious background, also began as a humble minor tax officer.

“Step by step, with diligence and devotion, I finally reached the position of Prime Minister of the Kingdom!

“What was everything I did for? It was merely to restore royal authority and suppress the four frontiers.

“To ensure that royal commands truly came from Orlandia, and to let the people of the Royal Domain live and work in peace, no longer needing to watch the faces of those four regional dukes!”

His voice rose, carrying endless resentment. “All of you should know this!

“The four regional dukes are ambitious wolves, each occupying their own territory. When have they ever truly placed the kingdom, His Majesty the King, or all of you in their eyes?

“My life, my loyalty, were all dedicated to the kingdom, dedicated to all of you!

“And now, I am to be...”

“Enough!” Count Bos could no longer endure it. He let out an angry roar and interrupted Cons’s inflammatory speech.

He could not allow the other man to continue speaking!

The greatsword carried terrifying force and a crimson glow of battle aura. Like a blood-colored whirlwind, it charged fiercely toward Cons!

In this strike, Bos did not hold back in the slightest. He intended to end the battle directly.

Cons seemed to want to raise his sword to block, but he was old and frail, and had long been away from the battlefield.

How could he possibly withstand Count Bos, a titled knight in his prime and famed for martial valor?

“Clang—!”

A piercing sound of clashing metal rang out!

The longsword in Cons’s hand could not withstand the terrifying power of the greatsword at all. In an instant, it was smashed out of his grip and sent flying, spinning before it fell to the side.

His entire body seemed to have been struck by a giant hammer. With a muffled grunt, he staggered backward and was sent flying, then crashed heavily near the edge of the high platform.

Many citizens of the Royal Domain below the stage could not bear to see this scene and closed their eyes.

Some people even had tears in their eyes, letting out low sobs and pleas.

“Count Bos, show mercy!”

“Lord Regent! Please, spare Lord Cons!”

“He has already lost...”

Cons struggled, using his trembling arm to prop himself up. A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

But he seemed not to feel the pain. His gaze fixed firmly on Federico below the stage, who had remained expressionless from beginning to end.

He gave up on the thought of picking up his weapon. Instead, using the last of his strength, he pointed his finger at Federico.

His voice had become hoarse from injury and agitation, yet it reached everyone’s ears clearly.

“Federico! Have you seen clearly where the hearts of the royal capital’s people lie?

“You thief who has stolen royal authority! You sanctimonious Regent of the Kingdom!

“You use your status to oppress the young ruler and monopolize all power! You! You are the greatest rebellious traitor of the Kingdom of Orlando!!

“Everyone! Do you understand now? The four regions of the Kingdom of Orlando have long since drifted away from one another in heart and loyalty!

“Only we of the Royal Domain! Only the royal capital! We are the kingdom’s true loyal subjects! We are the firmest defenders of Caesar’s bloodline!”

His accusation was like a thunderclap, blasting everyone into stunned silence.

After speaking, he did not wait for anyone to react.

Cons lifted the blade of the longsword that had fallen not far from him and placed it directly across the front of his neck.

Count Bos’s charging movement abruptly stopped, and he stared at him in astonishment.

“Lord Cons! Do not!” A wave of startled cries rang out below the stage.

Cons let out the final roar of his life toward Federico.

“Federico! I will be waiting for you in hell—!”

Before his words had fully faded, the hand gripping the sword hilt suddenly pulled hard!

A dazzling line of blood instantly appeared across his neck.

Blood surged out like a fountain.

The light in his eyes rapidly dimmed. His body convulsed violently once.

Then he slowly fell backward and crashed heavily onto the cold stone platform with a muffled thud.

His gaze became unfocused and finally stopped in a certain direction below the stage.

The last thing reflected in his pupils was a blurred figure hidden beneath a hood...

He seemed to have seen... Kane?

“Is... this... an illusion?”

His most beloved grandson... A smile appeared at the corner of Cons’s mouth, and his world finally stopped forever within this illusion.

“Grandfather...” Among the crowd below the stage, a young hooded figure clenched his teeth hard.

His fingernails dug deeply into his palms, and blood flowed out through the gaps between his fingers.

Tears blurred his eyes, but his gaze was like a poisoned dagger, nailed firmly onto Federico.

In his heart, he used every ounce of strength in his body to make a silent oath.

“Federico! For the blood debt of killing my kin, I cannot share the same sky with you!

“I, Kane Montauban, swear that I will make you... make the La Roche Family pay the price!”

Pross finally recovered from the shock of Cons’s earth-shattering accusation and sudden suicide.

His face was pale, and his legs had gone weak.

He struggled to walk back onto the high platform and looked with trembling eyes at Cons, who lay in a pool of blood with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

He swallowed and announced to the silent arena in a trembling voice.

“The trial by combat... has been decided! Cons Montauban... is the kingslayer!”

However, his announcement seemed so pale and powerless.

At this moment, almost everyone, noble and commoner alike.

Had their gazes focused in unison upon the silent Duke of the Western Frontier below the platform.

Upon Regent Federico La Roche.

Cons Montauban had used the most tragic and most decisive method to complete the final political performance of his life.

He had washed the stain of “kingslayer” from himself, and had placed several heavier, even more venomous shackles.

The stains of “usurper,” “oppressor of the young ruler,” and “the man who drove a loyal subject to death” were fastened firmly upon Federico’s head.

In the ancient dueling arena, the sunlight remained as before, yet only the thick scent of blood and the storming waves in the hearts of the crowd below remained.