Inside the imperial palace, Grand Scholar Li Wei's body knelt before Xing Shi, but all life had left it, and its head had been severed. The white-eyed head rested atop the clean banquet table. Judging by its temperature, he had died only moments ago.
At this moment, the old steward standing outside the door hurried in carrying Hua Yufei's head. He placed the two heads side by side, but a trace of doubt showed in his eyes as he once again asked Xing Shi about the purpose behind issuing this Imperial Edict.
"Why do this? Hua Yufei was merely running some small organization within the imperial capital; killing him would have been enough. But Li Wei was accomplished in 'education,' especially in the enslavement of thought. The system of 'royal bloodlines' throughout the areas surrounding the Ghoul Realm Imperial Capital was chiefly proposed by him. A man like him could still have been of great use to the royal family."
"Hmph... the nation. Old Steward, how many years has it been? Is this still the time to talk about the nation? While drifting through space, you have already seen how much thinner the spatial fluid of the Zero Realm has become compared to the age of Creation. Now, two Apostles have died within a single year. Do you think that is merely a coincidence?"
Xing Shi took out the pocket watch in his hand and sliced away the metal plate on its back, exposing the intricately turning gears within. Every tiny component was an essential part of the pocket watch's precise operation.
"The gears of fate have begun to turn. Something major will happen in the Zero Realm next. We survived back then through a combination of strength and opportunity, but this time, fortune may not favor us at all.