Before the King Selection Assembly began, Oni Rakshasa had already arranged for his forces to take control of the city defenses. Large numbers of fully armed soldiers stood ready, prepared to seize power by force if he lost the election.
Likewise, Oni Yunjie had made preparations for battle. The soldiers under Kuki Kohaku's command had already gathered secretly near the Iron-Cast Palace.
Every Monster watched the hand Oni Rakshasa had raised.
The moment it came down, the entire Iron-Cast Palace would become a battlefield.
The murderous atmosphere in the Council of Elders was nearly suffocating. Weaker Monsters were already struggling to breathe under the pressure.
But Oni Rakshasa still didn't give the order. A flicker of hesitation showed in his eyes.
He had originally enjoyed an overwhelming military advantage, and his chances of seizing power by force had been high.
But that depended on Kuki Kohaku remaining neutral and staying out of it.
Now that Kuki Kohaku had openly taken Oni Yunjie's side, Oni Rakshasa's military advantage was gone.
He could no longer be sure he would win.
Oni Yunjie stood closest to him and clearly caught the subtle change in his expression.
She suddenly spoke. "Rakshasa, you know full well what a civil war would lead to. Win or lose, the Iron-Cast Palace would be divided."
"That suits me just fine."
Oni Rakshasa swept his gaze around the Council of Elders.
Aside from the military, he couldn't see a single supporter of his.
He was deeply dissatisfied with the Ghost Lord's policy of accepting every kind of Monster. He had long wanted to build a nation made up purely of the Ghost Clan and Ghost Samurai.
Oni Rakshasa turned back to Oni Yunjie and said something that stunned everyone. "I'll build a new Iron-Cast Palace of my own."
At