Episode 235 Episode
75. Rani Salome (4)
Of course, even with Dino Jaglan and the natives of Colon, you couldn’t start a public opinion war with just a living golem heart piece.
At least the fact that they kidnapped the king and set up a puppet to deceive the subjects of the castle is something worth trying to prove.
“Sir Vitura, the commander-in-chief of Paladins, High Priest Montiano and High Priest Conyu, knows.”
“Who is the most trustworthy among them?”
“doesn’t exist.”
After Rani cut it off, she went on to say something behind her back.
“The High Priest Montiano and the High Priest Conyu were definitely bribed. After I found out that he was a fake, I went and talked to him, and he laughed and told me to go through the trial after the festival and take good care of the King. Those two are definitely bought.”
“Isn’t that enough to convince you that it was bought?”
“No, I even talked about the finger. Instead of answering, he smiled. As if you’re not in our hands anyway…”
The fact that the two were bought was especially devastating to Rani.
Montiano and Conue were close friends with Miklan, who had been with him all his life since they were teenagers, and were the next most powerful people in the Holy Land.
“…From the moment I was convinced they were on Zipple’s side, I thought there was no hope. Because Montiano is the High Priestess in charge of the administration of the laws of the Holy Land.”
In other words, the current law and administration of the Holy Kingdom are completely in their hands. Even King Seong was a substitute, so the situation was infinitely hopeless.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Jin’s mind.
‘The Seongguk fell into the hands of Ziple, but what is Runkandel doing? Are you leaving it alone even if you know it? Or is it that he still doesn’t understand the situation?’
It was most likely the latter.
Information about the battle between Murakan and Kadun at Santel is currently unknown to the public.
Besides, since Santel is a territory of the Scholl Empire and it is Hanji, it was a land where Runkandel had not planted people.
Jin also figured out the situation thanks to Murakan being attacked near Santel and meeting Rani there.
If those coincidences hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have known the true state of the kingdom.
“Who is the captain of the Paladins of Bitura?”
The last person who knows the physical secret of the King Seong.
He was not the only person close to Miklan who knew the King’s physical secret.
“I have not met Lord Vitura. But he’s been the political antagonist of my father for a long time. Every time, he would make a strong argument that he should be brought down.”
“Is that why you haven’t met?”
“Moreover, he always insisted on having a more friendly relationship with Zipple. I thought it was just because I hated my father, but I think I’ve been working with Ziffle for a long time.”
“All the administration of military law is in their hands. Pretty desperate, kid.”
“Let’s go see Bitura.”
“Did you just hear me?”
“I heard you. Unlike the two High Priests, Vitura, you didn’t check it yourself, did you?”
“My father hated him a lot, too. It is said that even at public events, seeing the Vitura sutra was enough to gnaw one’s teeth. Even when there was a dinner party, he always made a fuss about not inviting Lord Bitura.”
It was an act that a country’s leader, and even a sage king, could not do without quite a lot of hatred.
Rani was also influenced by such a holy king and did not like Vitura. no contempt
As if thinking of something, Jin met Lani’s eyes.
“What was your father like when dealing with High Priest Rani Montiano and High Priest Conue?”
“Yeah, of course… Whether it was a dinner party or a meeting, you always sat next to me and discussed almost everything about governance with them. Whenever we had time, we went for walks together.”
“How would you feel if you were the King? If Seongguk is in a situation where it has been eaten up by the zip from the root like now.”
“yes?”
“If it were me, I would stay close to the enemy’s spies. lest they suspect I’ve noticed. On the other hand, I will antagonize those who can help me. At least externally.”
Lani narrowed her eyes and shook her head.
“It could be. But even when my father and I were alone, he would often say that he did not like Lord Bitura.”
“I judged that there is a hearing ear in the castle. He could also interpret it like this. Of course, it may be a leap. But there’s nothing wrong with checking.”
“What if I go and get caught? If Sir Vitura were Ziffle’s minion, he would of course imprison me. Previously, they thought that since they were holding my father’s life, I couldn’t run away… But now, from their point of view, I would have killed the soldiers who became living golems and escaped.”
Then Murakan shrugged.
“Why worry about getting caught when you have this body? Do you think the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom can stop me?”
Rani was unaware of how strong Murakan had become.
Of course, in her memory, only the sight of Murakan barely surviving after being beaten by Kadun remained.
However, the important thing was not whether Murakan could subdue Bitura and the Paladins.
“It’s not that kind of problem. Let’s say you two can overpower the paladins and escape with me. What’s next? We’re going to be wanted, and they’re going to kill you… you’re going to.”
Rani can’t bear to talk behind her back.
It was no different that Ziple kept Rani alive after kidnapping the king.
It was because he wanted to use the symbol of ‘Seongwang’s wife’, which was loved by the subjects.
That’s why Rani was left with the role of reading the blessings in the Advent of Ayula.
Subtly threatening to kill Miklan if he doesn’t do it properly and has another accident.
But if you think about it soberly.
The possibility that the real King Seong was still alive was infinitely low.
In fact, it swallowed the whole kingdom and even had a perfect substitute, so there was no need to keep it alive.
Rani was a hand that could be used moderately and then gradually discarded by the time the subjects turned their backs upon seeing her collapsed.
“My father… most likely isn’t already in this world… .”
Rani didn’t know that either.
I just turned away because I didn’t want to think about it. Rani’s eyes were watery.
“rani.”
Rani wiped away tears and gritted her teeth. There was nothing to cry about.
“As Confucius said, I will go see Lord Bitura. But promise me one thing.”
“Tell me.”
“It seems that Confucius intends to open a public opinion war, but if Sir Bitura is a spy as I think, it is unlikely that he will drive them out with a public opinion war. So Confucius must also want to meet Lord Bitura.”
As Rani said, the possibility is not ‘not at all’, but if Bitura was a spy, Jin also had to bring in more other forces.
I was thinking of asking for help from Luna, violating the laws of Secret Palace, Nameless, or Runcandel.
It was something that Jin had to absolutely prevent Seongguk from falling over to Ziple.
“So, in case something goes wrong, please help me to normalize the kingdom after Confucius becomes the flag bearer. It means that I want to receive support not only from Gongja and Murakan, but from the entire Runkandel.”
Jin nodded.
“i get it.”
* * *
It was impossible to summon Bitura separately.
Even though she was a foster daughter, Rani was only a second-class knight belonging to the Doctrine Guardian Dawning Society.
After thinking about it for a long time, the party finally decided to find his official residence.
Regardless of whether he was summoned separately or met at the official residence, the result was the same if he was a spy.
“Who is this Rani Salome! Aren’t you the daughter of His Majesty the Great King and a troublemaker of the Doctrine Guardian Dawning Society?”
Bitura sat arrogantly in the middle of the spacious office, smiling blatantly.
The eyes of the paladins belonging to the Holy Knights, the Golden Shield Order, standing behind him were sharp.
“Who are these people who came with you?”
Bitura said, pointing to Jin and Murakan.
“…they are friends.”
“What about friends! They must be the things that killed our soldiers in the Eastern Shrine and fled with you. Whohu Rani Salome. I was still looking for you. After a few days, the person who needs to read the blessing must disappear so suddenly.”
ruined.
Jin and Murakan couldn’t help but think the same thing at the same time.
‘Damn Rani was right. The reason King Seong hated this man was because he was a real spy. Did King Seong really just be defeated by them without knowing anything?’
With 40% of Murakan’s power back, it shouldn’t be difficult to escape.
“You wouldn’t have known that your father’s head could fall off if you acted like that… You must have come to your senses after running away, right? Well thought out anyway. Sit down.”
Rani sat down in front of Vitura with an expressionless face. Jin and Murakan stood still, contemplating when to escape.
Bitura
smiles as she refills her teacup.
“Kane.”
“Yes, chief.”
The paladin called Kane took a step forward and answered.
“Take them out and put them in the dungeon. These guys have a lot to ask. And contact Zipple that Lani has been secured.”
“All right.”
Kane and the other three paladins strode toward Jin and Murakan.
Jin and Murakan had returned their weapons as they entered the official residence.
Of course, there was no problem dealing with them.
‘Wouldn’t it be tiring to bring a sword on the way back… Huh?’
Sreung!
The sharp sound of a sword being pulled from its scabbard.
However, the Golden Shield Paladins did not pull out their swords.
Vitura Belter, commander of the Holy Knights.
It was the sound of his beloved sword being pulled out.
Squeak-!
And surprisingly, the place where his sword was headed was the subordinates who had just passed him.
In a single blow, all four Paladins of the Golden Shield were decapitated.
Heads wearing helmets were rolling on the floor with a clanking sound.
As the Golden Shield was his direct paladin, all of them were at the level of 7 and 8 stars.
There was no way to avoid the general commander’s sword that was swung from behind.
Even more so if the commander-in-chief was a knight close to 9 stars.
The bodies of the paladins whose heads had fallen convulsed.
“Don’t scream. And it really came to me well. How much heartache have you had in the past?”
Rani reflexively raised herself up, and Vitura covered her mouth.
Jin and Murakan were staring at Bitura, somewhat dumbfounded.
Vitura Belter, commander of the Vankela Paladins.
He wasn’t Zipple’s minion.
“Come this close Lord Jean Runkandel.”
He even knew Jin’s face.
