This Time, There's Even an Imported CG?

This was a completely different experience from any of my previous Promotion Ritual.

This time, Iver did not wake up from the intense dizziness, but instead found himself in another place.

His perspective shifted to a camera-like overhead view—with even camera movement! In the Banquet Hall of the Silver and Tin Palace, knights dressed in everyday clothes sat upright on either side of a long table, discussing something in hushed tones.

Iver paused for a moment.

This Promotion Ritual... even Imported CG?... It's just that unlike in the game, Iver can't skip it by pressing ESC this time.

The scene then shifts, and Queen Sophia appears around the corner. She appears quite frail, but in good spirits. Her eyes are sharp, and her smile is kind. When passing knights bow to her, she smiles and nods repeatedly.

The old Queen used the Avalon Scepter as a cane, swaying as she walked. The timid and shy Princess Isabel, dressed in her finest attire, stood anxiously beside her Grandmother, as frail as a shadow. She even trembled slightly when people watched her.

Opposite Queen Sophia was a young woman with a stunning figure, captivating beauty, and an elegant and noble demeanor.

She wore Queen inlaid with amethyst and appeared to be only in her early twenties. Only her scarlet eyes revealed her identity as the Child of the Moon.

Behind her followed a boy who looked no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.

You can tell from their similar appearance that he is her son... but because the mother is too young, they look more like siblings.

He had well-groomed short, choppy black hair, and his dark pupils were like black pearls. His faint smile was natural and aloof. He wore a purplish-black tailcoat, the kind only the most elite nobles of the Star Antimony Clan would wear, over which he wore a black ruffled shirt with wavy ruffles falling from the front.

Purple is a difficult color to pull off, but it didn't look bad on the young man. His features were deep-set, and he wore a monocle made of topaz over his left eye. The tuxedo was also adorned with numerous small diamonds, making him look like a dark nebula under the Banquet Hall lights.

More than an aristocrat, he had the air of a scholar studying esoteric knowledge.

"Your Majesty Queen Sophia... My son Lucian and I, on behalf of my husband Alfonso Valentine, heir to the ' Twelve Keys,' pay homage to you and to Avalon, which is protected by the Silver Crowned Dragon."

The woman smiled and gave the old Queen a curtsy, while the young man behind her bowed with his hand on his chest.

The most important title for the King Stibium is that of heir to the "Twelve Keys." In any case, the King Stibium can only consider himself an "alchemist."

Nominally, Valentine I was elected King by the members of the "Twelve Keys"Twelve Keys organization as its leader. Although the Valentine Family has now become hereditary and the "Twelve Keys" of Star Antimony has evolved into an organization similar to a cabinet, this is precisely the undeniable source of Star Antimony's royal power—the joint election of the first generation of top-tier extraordinary individuals.

When Prince Lucian looked up, he glanced at Isabel.

Even though Isabel was dressed so beautifully and adorably, his gaze towards Isabel was utterly cold.

Isabel shuddered in fear, took a half-step back, and hid behind Queen Sophia. Lucian's gaze also shifted, turning back somewhat bored to look at the knights on the table.

"Greetings to you too, Louise. No need for formalities, just call me Sofia in private."

Queen Sophia, leaning on her scepter, smiled and nodded, "It's been more than forty years since we last met... You are still so radiant and beautiful."

"Aging is also a kind of beauty, Sofia."

Queen Louise smiled, then stroked her long, bouncy, and lustrous golden curls.

Then, she looked at Isabel: "Is this Princess Isabel? As expected of the holder of the Path of Beauty... so beautiful."

"... Your Majesty Queen Louise and His Prince Lucian send their greetings."

Isabel had no choice but to step out from behind Queen Sophia, curtsy to Queen Louise, and quickly whispered, "May the Silver Crowned Dragon protect you."

She didn't dare look directly at the two of them, but fortunately Queen Louise didn't react. She simply nodded gently to Isabel. Prince Lucian merely touched his chest slightly in return, offering her a gesture of equal respect.

When Queen Sophia and Queen Louise approached the round table, all the knights rose to their feet.

The knights bowed respectfully to the royal family members, their faces bearing joyful smiles that they tried their best to maintain a calm and reserved demeanor.

"Oh, Your Majesty... please sit down."

Suddenly, a loud voice came from the side.

That was Minister of Trade Charles Drost, with a cheerful smile on his face.

He was old and fat, his round, enormous head resembling either a fathead fish or a toad. His large, bulging belly was like a water balloon, and when he looked down, he couldn't even see his feet. His dress was stretched taut, as if a slight thrust of his belly would cause the buttons to pop off.

The old man's limbs showed little muscle, and his aged, loose skin could barely hold up the flabby fat.

He greeted her with a cheerful smile and helped Queen Sophia to sit at the head of the long table. He also patted Isabel on the shoulder, as if to encourage her.

Princess Isabel stood behind Queen Sophia, unsure whether she should sit down. Meanwhile, Drost moved closer to Queen Louise, chatting about trivial matters in an exaggerated tone, making her laugh incessantly.

After Queen Louise and Prince Lucian were seated, Isabel followed Prince Lucian and sat down.

"... After the two princes get married, Avalon and Star Antimony will become one family."

Minister Drost laughed heartily and waved his hand. A bottle of chilled fine wine was then handed to him.

He showed the bottle to the emperors and princes, boasting, "This is a special supply for the Pope, ' Holy Tree Number One. ' The Eternal Pope only drinks a glass of this wine each time he awakens from his slumber. There is no better wine in the whole world."

"I searched for a long time before finally finding this bottle of fine wine. It is perfect for celebrating the sacred Marriage Alliance between Avalon and Star Antimony—with Prince Lucian, Avalon has gained more than just peace... it has also brought prosperity to both nations and happiness to its people. If the Theocracy were to learn of this, it would surely send envoys to offer their congratulations."

"You're quite generous, Lord Drost."

Queen Sophia chuckled and said, "If it were me, I wouldn't be willing to hand over such a wonderful thing."

"Oh dear, what is there to be reluctant about in order to celebrate this sacred and joyous day?"

Minister Drost spoke as if he didn't care, then turned to a mournful face. "Of course... if I had to say, I would still be a little tempted. If Your Majesty could grant me a cup and let me have a taste, that would be wonderful."

"What's there to be reluctant about?"

The old Queen smiled gently and kindly, looking at Minister Drost as if he were her own beloved child. "You've been busy with all this, and it's been hard work for you. You deserve a share of the celebration at this celebratory occasion."

"That would be perfect."

Upon hearing this, Drost's face lit up with a childlike, joyful smile.

He opened the bottle and poured out the beautiful, ruby-like liquid. A strong aroma immediately filled the air.

First Queen Sophia, then Queen Louise, then Isabel, Louis, and finally myself.

He held the cup with both hands, showed it to the princes, and then drank it all in one gulp. This was to demonstrate that the wine was of good quality.

"Oh dear, I deserve to die. I'm getting a little hungry... and I can't resist."

Even though it was just a poison test, he acted as if he had done something wrong.

Minister Drost, savoring the wine's aroma, wore a look of rapture. "This is indeed... ah, the finest wine in the world..."

"Hearing you say that, I'm getting more and more excited."

Queen Sophia also became interested.

She sighed softly and smiled helplessly, "I still crave wine... After Meg left, there was no one to drink with me. I've never tasted such good wine before. The bottle His Pope Your Majesty gave me at my coronation was all drunk by Meg."

Queen Louise and Queen Sophia clinked glasses lightly, and she smiled and said, "It's alright, from now on Star Antimony and Avalon are one family."

"... If Ms. Meg were still here, she would be pleased."

With that, the group drank the wine in their glasses.

Isabel had just taken a sip when she coughed, choked by the strong liquor. The pungent smell made her cheeks flush, and her eyes welled up with tears from coughing.

Just as she was holding her wine glass and coughing softly, Queen Sophia suddenly collapsed. The glass she hadn't placed flat rolled away and shattered on the floor.

In an instant, the Banquet Hall fell silent.

The knights all looked over, and some of them got up.

Some people saw pity, some saw doubt, some saw shock and anger, and some closed their eyes and remained silent.

"His Majesty has been assassinated—"

Minister Drost roared, "Seal off the Banquet Hall!"

Isabel was startled and swayed as she stood up. She lost her grip on the wine glass, which fell to the ground.

Her mind went blank, and she opened her mouth but couldn't say anything.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard.

A woman named "Isabel," bearing marks of injury and being bound, staggered out from around the corner.

She looks exactly like Isabel.

Isabel stared at her in astonishment, her pupils dilating with shock and fear.

At this moment, the camera shifts to Isabel's somewhat blurry first-person perspective.

She heard a buzzing, increasingly loud tinnitus in her ears.

Isabel's breathing grew increasingly labored, like she was having asthma. Her heart pounded louder, and the world before her eyes blurred. She clutched her heart, unable to speak, and swayed as she steadied herself against the back of the chair.

And that "Isabel" pointed at Isabel and shouted, "She's not me... that's the witch who transformed into me!"

"Etc--"

The Grand Adjudicator, Shafiya, suddenly stood up.

She glanced quickly back and forth between the two Isabel and immediately recognized the Isabel who was clutching her heart, seemingly in pain and unable to speak, as the real one.

"—Capture the assassin!"

Minister Drost completely ignored her and shouted loudly.

At that moment, many of the knights at the banquet suddenly drew weapons from nowhere and attacked their colleagues.

Some reacted and retaliated, while others were caught off guard and instantly critically injured. A battle on the scale of the Fourth Level erupted in an instant, the extraordinary power of the Path of Authority permeated the air, and the banquet table was destroyed in an instant.

Just as Shafiya was about to make a move, she suddenly frowned and looked at Stibium Queen with some apprehension.

Louise wore an undisguised smile of victory, and the two Fifth Level Transcendent who came with her—a gaunt old man in a black robe and an old general with blazing golden flames in his eyes—also stood up from the banquet table immediately.

—Only a very brief delay.

Without her staff, Shafiya ignored the chaos in the Banquet Hall without hesitation.

As the only Fifth Level being present, she picked up the still-dazed Isabel.

Without hesitation, she ran away as fast as she could! A fleeting glimpse of silvery-white light formed wings behind her, and Shafiya, carrying the Princess, flew away with a whoosh.

The torrents dispersed the air, and she crashed straight into the wall—the silvery-gray storm shattered the wall.

At that moment, the old man in the black robe stretched out his right hand towards their departing figures.

A terrifying surge of magical energy stirred up a hurricane, causing the walls of the Silver and Tin Palace to tremble.

Time seemed to slow down at that moment; the movements of the fighting knights slowed down several times over and became visibly slower and slower.

However, at that moment, Shafiya struggled violently in mid-air and managed to turn around.

She carried Isabel on one arm, while her free right hand made a "stop" gesture and pushed forward with her palm! Ding—

Accompanied by a crisp, melodious sound like striking a triangle, a white triangle symbol filled with maze-like curves appeared in front of Shafiya's palm.

It instantly blurred, dissipating into a rainbow of light with a double image. The magical fluctuations that had just appeared were also immediately smoothed out.

The delayed time was instantly restored.

Meanwhile, the two people, who were still flying backwards at high speed, were sent flying out during this gap.

Some knights, inspired by this, changed their plans and prepared to escape.

In the Banquet Hall, which was reduced to ruins in an instant, another "Isabel" stood expressionless, her hands folded in front of her, staring at the hole in the wall, completely motionless.

Queen Louise ignored her and whispered serious instructions to the two Fifth Level "attendants." They neither attacked others nor did the other knights dare to attack them.

Under the protection of two Fifth Level powerhouses, Prince Lucian was drinking and eating listlessly, like an actor who hadn't been assigned a role and had no interest in the task.

Minister Drost's angry expression had vanished, replaced by a cheerful smile as he respectfully poured wine for Prince Lucian.

On the other side, the knights of Avalon were engaged in a fierce battle to the death—some wanted to escape, while others did not want them to escape.

The Queen lay on the ground, lifeless, and no one cared.