Chapter 255

The sharp spear struck again, Eldred's sword was knocked to the ground in an instant.

Then, the gun barrel slammed heavily onto his chest.

Even with light armor, it couldn't withstand Xin Zhao's powerful and heavy blow.

Clang! A large dent appeared in the armor, and Eldred collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest.

Even so, he continued to laugh uncontrollably.

She was crying and laughing at the same time, and would occasionally let out a scream...

He has completely gone mad.

His beloved Tianna, whom he had only ever longed for and who only wanted to be looked up to, had become a dog groveling at the feet of other men—this was despair; the old king, whom he had plotted to assassinate, now stood alive and well before him—this was hopelessness.

Yesterday... no, just half an hour ago he was dreaming of standing at the pinnacle of power in Demacia, but now...

In just half an hour, he plummeted from the heights of success to the depths of despair.

He went from being a highly respected nobleman to a traitor who rebelled.

Power, money, status... all of it was gone, replaced only by a future where he was destined to be beheaded.

His heart was dead, and his body was about to die too... In that short half hour, how could he not break down, how could he not go insane?

"Hahaha... Hahahaha..."

The eerie laughter continued. The old king shook his head. "Take him away, Xin Zhao... Don't let any of his crimes go unpunished. Deal with him however you see fit."

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Xin Zhao immediately stepped forward and knocked out the laughing Eldred with a chop to the neck, then took him away.

As for where to take it and what will happen to it afterwards...

Those who plotted a rebellion and sent assassins to kill the king could only have one outcome.

Jarvan III's words just now implied that he was not referring to the man who was destined to die, but rather to... his accomplices and clansmen.

Innocent people will not be implicated, but anyone who has even the slightest involvement will be brought to justice—even if it means digging three feet into the ground.

The government has a very poor image among the public, and they must bring someone out to give the public an explanation... The stronger and more forceful the measures, the better.

Xin Zhao gave the old king one last worried look before closing the main hall doors.

Now, only three people remain in the main hall.

A king with no fighting ability, Tianna has become a docile puppy, and Chen Ce with terrifying fighting power.

"Long time no see, Mr. Chen Ce..."

"Long time no see, Your Majesty." The young man sitting on the throne smiled gently, then stood up, holding the chain on his hand.

Tianna remained kneeling like a domestic dog, refusing even a glance from the king.

"What have you thought about it over this period of time?"

"I've thought it through..." Jarvan III nodded, his hair noticeably grayer than before. "During the time you've protected me, I've thought a lot... I know everything that's happening outside, and I've made my choice."

The word "protect" sounds a bit ironic.

Although he was indeed saved by Chen Ce —from those Mageseekers who came to assassinate him—the real reason he was in danger was that Chen Ce knocked out Xin Zhao, who was capable of fighting a hundred men single-handedly.

This period was less about protecting him and more about placing him under house arrest.

They took him to a remote corner of Great City and locked him up, ordering guards to watch over him, and regularly providing him with ample food and information about the outside world...

He knew about the Noxus and Freljord's joint attack on Demacia.

They also knew that northern and eastern Demacia had fallen— the Dauntless Vanguard had gone to reinforce them, but they were all defeated...

Swordsman Garen Crownguard was defeated in public and is now leading the remaining troops back to Great City, while Grand Marshal Tianna Crownguard is even more...

The old king then looked at the two people beside the throne.

This scene is absolutely appalling...

He had always considered the Grand Marshal to be extremely capable and ambitious, but now... he actually...

Well...

"Now I believe what you said before... I believe it all..."

Jarvan III finally understood that Chen Ce's threat was not a pipe dream... He truly could bring about the downfall of Demacia... He possessed the power to completely subdue the entire Demacia...

Given this situation, another theory—the "nonsense" about the future world being invaded by some kind of otherworldly monster—might actually be true...

Jarvan III slowly bent his old back, and his proud head also slowly lowered.

He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he last bowed to anyone... since he ascended the throne... decades? Probably...

He had almost forgotten how to bow... his movements were incredibly stiff. He removed the crown from his head and placed it in front of his chest.

"I can agree to any of your conditions, Mr. Chen Ce... I only ask that you spare Demacia..."

"Can you accept everything regarding the abolition of the ban on magic?" Chen Ce asked softly.

"I will obey..." Jarvan III bowed even lower.

Seeing this, Chen Ce nodded in satisfaction. "So, regarding all policies and supreme directives concerning Demacia's future... you're also willing to listen to my 'advice'?"

"None dared disobey..."

"Very well, Your Majesty."

"We only ask for the troops to withdraw..."

"Of course, I mean what I say," Chen Ce chuckled. "But I'll be opening a few... martial arts schools or something like that in Great City. I hope you don't mind."

"I will do my best to assist you..." Jarvan III would agree to anything now—as long as Demacia could be protected.

"Regarding the trade system and routes with Noxus and Freljord, I'll have someone send over a proposal in a while."

"I will follow your instructions..."

"Very good." Chen Ce had solved another major problem—the supply issue for Noxus and Freljord.

Both countries have enough warriors, but are severely lacking in minerals or food. If they can establish trade relations with Demacia... well, under the threat of the Void's arrival, Demacia won't suffer a loss for long, even if they do.

Besides, if those two countries send human resources here, Demacia might actually be the one to profit.

In short, we must now make every effort to balance the shortcomings between various countries and regions, so that humanity as a whole becomes stronger and more powerful, and then we will have more confidence to face the Void.

Let's try to complement each other as much as possible.

"Come, Your Majesty." Chen Ce slowly walked behind the throne and patted the back of the chair with both hands. "According to our agreement, I will welcome your arrival."

Upon hearing this, Jarvan III raised his head.

He looked at the familiar throne and felt a surge of emotion—he knew what the other person meant.

He took a step forward. Slowly, stiffly.

He climbed the steps one by one as usual, and finally arrived at the throne.

He turned around, his back to Chen Ce.

Then they took their seats.

Chen Ce put one hand on his shoulder.

"I will certainly do my best to assist you when I have the time in the future, my respected King."

Jarvan III remained silent, his eyes filled with even greater desolation.

Chen Ce stopped pressuring him and walked down the steps on his own, leading the dog on its leash.

Tianna followed obediently behind him, her dreamy eyes revealing no trace of the demigod's spirit—she seemed to have perfectly embodied the role.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Chen Ce stopped at the door, ordered Tianna to pick up the armor on the ground, and then slowly closed the door and left.

Inside the spacious main hall, only the old Jarvan III remained, sighing alone...

Lux hadn't seen Chen Ce for a long time.

Since our last parting, Demacia has been in turmoil... First, there was a mage rebellion, then Noxus and Freljord launched a joint attack on Demacia... The whole country has become strange and unpredictable...

She also wanted to go to the battlefield to defend her country, but Garen ordered her not to leave the house even for a moment, and even found members of the Illuminators to watch over her... She didn't even have a chance to sneak out.

She could only wait anxiously... an agonizing wait, a long wait...

They waited for half a month.

She could only suppress her inner urge and continue writing that meaningless "homework"—all sorts of useless things about social etiquette and aristocratic manners.

She was in immense pain.

Until this very moment.

There was a knock on the door.

Garen hasn't returned to Great City yet, Tianna should be busy right now... so the person who came must be looking for her.

But who could be looking for her?

"Chen Ce...!"

Lux's gloom vanished, and her beautiful blue eyes regained their expectant light.

She eagerly opened the door.

The person standing by the door was the one she had been waiting for all this time.

"Chen Ce!"

The girl practically lunged at it.

"Careful, careful..." Chen Ce caught the girl and gave her a long-awaited hug. "Looks like you've been grounded again?"

"Yes! I'm going crazy!" Lux waved her little hands, looking very excited—she had so much to say. "You have no idea, I'm locked up at home every day learning all that etiquette stuff! I can't even go to the Illuminators!"

"Oh... that's really sad." Chen Ce smiled and patted the girl's head.

The latter also thoroughly enjoyed this long-awaited warmth.

But just as she was about to pull the other person into the house, she suddenly realized...

There was another person following behind Chen Ce.

A tall woman with a cold expression.

He was also the person she feared most.

Her stern aunt, Tianna Crownguard.

"Aunt... Aunt...?" Lux panicked instantly—her action of rushing to hug Chen Ce just now was anything but ladylike.

More importantly, she knew her aunt strongly disapproved of her contact with Chen Ce... let alone such intimacy...

Last time, they even...

"Long time no see, Lux." Tianna, dressed in heavy armor, glanced at Lux.

"I'm so sorry...!" Lux quickly apologized for her "unladylike behavior."

The expected scolding did not come.

Tianna glanced at her briefly before looking away without saying another word.

Lux felt uneasy, but even more so, she was filled with doubt.

Chen Ce smiled naturally, "Why don't you invite me in for a seat? Doesn't our lovely Miss Lux welcome me?"

"N-nothing..." Lux glanced cautiously at Tianna again, then mustered her courage and stepped aside. "Please come in, Mr. Chen Ce..."

Tianna still showed no intention of scolding her.

The three of them walked into the living room and sat down.

A flustered Lux hurriedly went to the kitchen to prepare tea and teaware.

In the living room Tianna calmly touched the brace on her neck, and then...

She then revealed that infatuated expression again.

"Was the dog's behavior alright just now...? Luxanna shouldn't have noticed... Master..."