Chapter 321 : Chapter 321

Chapter 321. Blood Withering Again

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍two of them looked at each other and smiled. In the reception hall, the heavy atmosphere that had previously congealed from bloodshed and conspiracy miraculously eased.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that, the two of them began discussing other topics.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍spoke of the successive kings of the Astrelia Kingdom, then of the flourishing magitech industry in the Northern Territory, and then of the unique training system of the Valeria Empire’s Battle Mage Corps.

Logaris’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍profound insights into military technology, as well as his advanced concepts of industrialized warfare, filled even Dorg, a former heir apparent, with sincere curiosity and admiration.

Just ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as the conversation was about to end, Logaris suddenly changed the subject.

“Can ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you let me take a closer look at the curse afflicting you?” There was a trace of unquestionable scholarly persistence in his tone. “I have always been very interested in these obscure forms of ancient witchcraft.”

When Dorg heard that, a bitter smile appeared on his face. He tugged at the corner of his mouth self-mockingly. “Go ahead. It is not as though one more person looking will make any difference.” Eight years had passed. So many people had examined it, and so many had been helpless against it. He had long since grown numb.

He once again undid his bloodstained silk nightrobe, revealing his pale, gaunt chest.

At the position of his heart, a pitch-black mark, dark as ink, was entrenched there. Countless fine black threads extended from it like venomous vines, piercing into every inch of his flesh.

The mark seemed alive. It pulsed slowly and rhythmically in time with his heartbeat, and every pulse seemed to draw away his life.

Logaris leaned in to observe. When his gaze focused on the details of those black threads and he sensed their unique mana fluctuation, one that devoured vitality, he seemed to fall into some kind of memory.

For the first time, the calm ease on his face vanished, replaced by a complex expression mixed with surprise, doubt, and realization.

“I seem to have seen this curse somewhere before...” Logaris murmured to himself.

He extended a finger, gathering a wisp of pure arcane energy at his fingertip, and carefully touched the edge of the black mark.

A cold, decaying, corrosive power specifically targeting the source of life traveled through his fingertip.

Familiar.

This feeling was far too familiar!

“...This is the Corruption Church’s ‘Blood Withering’?!”

Logaris abruptly raised his head and stared fixedly at Dorg.

“You know this curse?” Astonishment appeared on Dorg’s sickly face. In eight years, this was the first time someone had been able to call out the curse’s name in one breath and accurately identify its source.

“More than know it.”

A sharp gleam flashed through Logaris’s eyes.

In his mind, the scene of his first encounter with the demi-human prince Alectos in the Dragon Mountain Range instantly surfaced.

At that time, Alectos had also been afflicted by a similar curse. His vitality had been continuously corroded, driving him into a desperate situation.

It was exactly the same!

The same curse, the same method!

At that moment, all the clues suddenly connected.

“The Corruption Church... so that is how it is!” Logaris’s gaze became incomparably sharp, and the clues in his mind instantly linked together into a single line. He stared hard at Dorg and said, enunciating each word, “I have only ever seen this vicious curse in the hands of heretics from the Corruption Church. And your current symptoms are almost exactly the same as Alei’s when he was cursed back then!”

“The person who poisoned you at the court banquet back then was not some conservative noble at all! They did not have the channels to come into contact with such a taboo, let alone the nerve!”

“It was Moran! It could only have been him. As a Seventh-Tier Mage with countless ties to the Corruption Church, he had always intended to seize control of the kingdom’s government.”

“Only he had both the motive and the absolute strength to accomplish all of this right under everyone’s noses.”

BOOM!

Dorg’s pupils suddenly contracted to their limits.

A surge of violent fury instantly rushed to his head, flushing his pale face red.

“So it was him...”

Dorg abruptly clenched both fists.

He used so much force that his knuckles let out brittle cracks under the unbearable strain.

He gnashed his teeth and growled, his chest heaving violently, while overwhelming hatred burned in his eyes, as though it would devour everything.

“That bastard! I will never forgive him!”

Eight years.

Eight full years of days and nights spent in torment worse than death now transformed entirely into killing intent toward Moran.

Logaris looked at the furious Dorg, and suddenly, a brilliant flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

Wait.

If that was the case...

Logaris rapidly calculated in his heart.

Sylvia had said earlier that they could completely treat this as the truth. All they needed was a little “careful wording.”

For example: Prime Minister Moran had secretly attempted to murder First Prince Dorg, colluded with the Corruption Church to curse Dorg, and then engineered the Redleaf Manor massacre.

The logic formed a perfect closed loop. There was not a single flaw.

But Logaris thought more deeply.

Since the source of the curse was Moran...

Since this “Blood Withering” could be cast...

Did that mean it could also be removed?

Alectos’s curse had merely been temporarily suppressed by the power of the ancient dragon. It had not been thoroughly eradicated.

And Moran, as the caster and a high-ranking figure in the Corruption Church...

In his manor, or in some secret alchemical laboratory...

Could there be core research materials related to this curse hidden away? Perhaps even... a method to lift it?

...

Outside Redleaf Manor, the night rain had not stopped. Cold raindrops struck the stone-paved road, splashing up muddy water.

Sylvia stepped through the mud without holding an umbrella, letting the rainwater flow down her silver-gray hair. She walked to an abandoned textile factory two blocks away.

When she pushed open the rusted iron gate, the scene inside the factory was completely different from the dilapidation outside.

The air was filled with the smell of ozone after a high concentration of mana had burned. On the ground, the giant Spatial Anchor Point that Logaris had arranged in advance was slowly going out. Pale-blue arcane radiance illuminated eight hundred towering steel silhouettes.

Eight hundred elite Northern Territory infantrymen wearing Third-Generation Magitech Armor had already completed their formation.

This elite army, which had fully realized magitech modernization, made not a single sound after completing an ultra-long-distance teleportation across several hundred kilometers.

Heavy metal boots pressed against the gravel-strewn ground, and the sound of breathing was suppressed by the helmets’ filter masks into low hissing.

Personal Guard Captain Akash wore an even larger fourth-generation armor and stood at the very front of the formation. Captain of the Shadow Guard Esmeralda lightly leaped down from a factory beam and stood within the shadows.

“Your Highness.” Akash lowered his voice. The metal mask gave his voice a mechanical, cold quality. “All personnel have assembled. Weapon charging is normal.”

Sylvia swept her gaze across the army, then abruptly drew the sword at her waist, 【Star’s Judgment】. Rainwater slid down the fuller of the blade and dripped onto the ground with a soft sound.

“Tonight, the remnants of the traitorous Prime Minister Moran attacked Redleaf Manor.” Sylvia articulated every word with extreme clarity, making sure that each word reached the soldiers’ ears. “His Highness First Prince Dorg was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt, and the kingdom’s core nobles attending the banquet suffered heavy casualties. Our current mission is to arrest every suspect lurking in the Royal Capital.”

Those words directly draped the coming operation in the most legitimate and irrefutable political cloak.

“Akash, I will give you the list. You will lead the main force to seize control of the city defense hub and the remaining noble manors. If anyone resists, kill them on the spot.”

“Esmeralda, take your people to the magitech communication tower. Before daybreak, I do not want even a single messenger bird flying out of the Royal Capital.”

“As you command.”

The eight hundred elites swiftly transformed into several black torrents and merged into the rainy night of the Royal Capital.