A Game of Chess

Southern city gate.

Even after the strange, maniacal laughter gradually subsided, no one attempted to disembark from the carriage.

Inside the carriage.

Han Dong stopped smiling and solemnly discussed some things with his teammates.

"This matter involves a power struggle between Mr. Black and White and the Association President... Since it has already involved the Supreme Council and a verdict has been issued, Captain Lucius and you may all be stripped of your knighthood, or even forcibly exiled."

I'm already very grateful that you've been able to help us this far; please try to distance yourselves from us as much as possible.

If I fail to hand over the evidence to Mr. Black and White, thus failing to expose the true identity of the mastermind, Demps and I will be taken to trial.

Mr. Black and White should be able to help us secure a chance for exile.

As long as we are not executed, Demps and I will have no problem living outside the city.

"Seniors, Abel, you get off first... Demps and I will get off later."

"OK..."

In this situation, there's no question of being pretentious or not.

Even if the leader intervenes, it won't help since the Supreme Council is involved. This situation is beyond their ability to change... As for the power struggle between the big shots behind the scenes, the only thing they can do is to protect themselves as much as possible.

Before Abel stormed off the bus, Han Dong grabbed him and gave him a private talk:

"Abel, don't act rashly... Since the Supreme Council has personally pronounced the verdict on my and Demps's crimes, there is no need to involve Commander Kaimon."

Since the chairman was prepared.

"Mr. Black and White must have made preparations as well, so don't worry."

"Given my grandfather's relationship with Mr. Black and White, even if I didn't say anything, he would definitely interfere in this matter..."

And so, only Han Dong and Demps remained in the carriage.

Han Dong, on the other hand, looked relaxed, rubbing his fingers slightly, and looked up to ask Demps, "If Mr. Black and White loses this game, Demps, do you have any backup plans?"

"Of course..."

"Then there's no problem. Sorry for dragging you into this."

"What do you mean by 'involved'? You're a big tycoon who owns two land deeds."

Some people are so eager to curry favor that they don't care about me... Since such people exist in the Holy City, it was only a matter of time before I was reported.

Like Han Dong, Demps remained relaxed despite the urgency of the situation.

However, one could still see obvious signs of fatigue on Demps's face; the side effects of mastering the "Rubik's Cube" were not something that could be easily eliminated.

When are you getting off the bus?

"Wait a minute, our people are here... Let's go."

Heavy footsteps echoed from the Street District, signaling the arrival of another force in the Holy City.

And at that time...

Han Dong and Demps stepped off the carriage at the same time, smiling, completely unfazed by the imposing presence of the hundreds of black knights.

A powerful and authoritative voice echoed through the air:

"Hahaha! Marcus, what are you doing here with your Black Night Watcher instead of doing your job... Get out of the way right now."

These words were spoken.

Marcus's expression changed slightly, and a hoarse, deep voice emerged from beneath the skull mask:

"The Great Plague Lord..."

Commander Moglenni Scourge, leading three hundred Elite Knight of the Plague Knights, arrived at the southern city gate... A Black Crow circled above the Knight Order, silently observing everything at the city gate.

The Great Plague Lord the most severe.

Everyone knows that the natural disaster attribute corresponding to the Great Plague Lord has extremely high lethality.

The Black Rose Knights dared not step forward to stop them, and could only make way for the Plague Knights who had arrived.

The bald-headed council members, with their eyes stitched up, ignored the Great Plague Lord and shouted:

"Commander Moglenni, this arrest and escort decision was made by the Supreme Council. The Black Rose Knights will be responsible for escorting the main personnel. All unrelated personnel should leave immediately... otherwise they will be held accountable."

"The council made a decision? Why didn't I know about it... I'm an adjunct professor in the Mysticism Department. Shouldn't Mysticism Department students be notified in advance if they're involved in betrayal?"

"The trial tomorrow will naturally be communicated to all the Knight Order and academy representatives."

Upon hearing this, the Great Plague Lord flew into a rage, "What kind of bullshit rules are these? Acting first and reporting later? If you can't produce concrete evidence, no one will be able to take my students from the Mysticism Department away today."

He slammed the giant axe he was holding into the ground.

As a ripple spread out, it felt as if the air at the South Gate had become thinner, making it harder to breathe, and even the sunlight coverage of the Holy City seemed to have decreased.

Just then, a special person stepped out from the crowd.

"The Great Plague Lord is indeed quite irritable. The Supreme Council's judgment is naturally based on solid evidence and facts."

The evidence is right here; please, Great Plague Lord, take a look.

The long-hidden Association President among the Knight Order appeared at this moment, lifting his hood to reveal the curly white beard of a 'great Europe writer'.

He possessed detailed intelligence that definitively proved Han Dong and Demps to be traitors, and even some clandestine photographs taken through unknown means, including photos of Han Dong using his 'tentacle' ability during the Secret Stone Incident.

When the Great Plague Lord finished reading the so-called evidence, he showed a look of disdain.

"In the written files, 'speculation' accounts for 50%, along with a lot of illogical reasoning... As for these photos obtained through magic and dye, don't try to fool people."

"Oh? Does the Great Plague Lord mean that the councilors responsible for reviewing evidence are all incompetent? Are you questioning the highest executive of the Holy City?"

Upon hearing this, the Great Plague Lord was also suddenly shaken! He wished he could kill this person on the spot.

At this moment, the crows circling in the sky descended and perched on the Great Plague Lord 'Great Plague Lord shoulder, secretly transmitting their message to him while suppressing his anger.

"No... I mean, the inferences given by President Stephen are insufficient to prove that my student is a traitor."

According to the instructions in the Supreme Charter, only 'humans' possess basic civil rights. 'Non-human' races are incapable of interfering in the Holy City's internal affairs or providing the Council with fabricated evidence filled with lies.

"Does the Great Plague Lord mean that I, Stephen McNoughsky, am not human? Hahaha..."

Just as the Association President let out a mocking laugh.

"Hahaha! Ah~ Hahaha! (Laughs wildly)"

Surrounded by the crowd, Han Dong suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, his eyes revealing absolute disdain for the chairman.

Han Dong quickly reached out and pressed his hand to his face to stop laughing.

"I'm sorry... I just couldn't help myself. Please continue, don't mind me."

Han Dong's maniacal laughter drew a murderous glare from the chairman.

Han Dong nodded slightly, indicating to the president to remain calm...