Lancelot's sweeping victory over the City of Freedom had a far more profound impact than many had anticipated.
Once the relevant footage was released by someone with ulterior motives, it instantly attracted a lot of attention in the Elven Plane.
The Angpeier Family of the Veyin Empire and the Bureau of Anomalous Affairs Investigation are frequently mentioned online, drawing countless praises, after all, they eradicated a cancer that was almost universally known.
Although the Angpeier Family and even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Veyin Empire issued clarification announcements immediately, no one believed them.
Online, everyone's rhetoric is remarkably uniform.
"Ah, right, right, it definitely wasn't the Angpeier Family who did it; someone must have deliberately framed them."
"He really is... I'm devastated. Doing good deeds anonymously—is this the kind of role model for outstanding families in modern times?"
"Ampel: Who else?!"
When the Angpeier Family's top brass saw the heated online discussions, they were dumbfounded. Why didn't anyone believe them?
But... could it really have been done by their own family?
Is my level just not high enough?
Some senior members of the family thought this way.
Inside the main hall of the Angpeier Family headquarters, several family leaders looked at each other in bewilderment.
As the heads of the family, they were certain that the powerful figure who destroyed the City of Freedom was definitely not from the Angpeier Family.
In that case, we should of course refute the rumors immediately.
Despite being hostile to the Ashes Organization, there are some things that should never be taken on rashly without understanding the full story.
What if there's some enormous pitfall hidden inside?
"Tell me your thoughts on this matter," the patriarch of the Angpeier Family said, rubbing his temples. The alternating red and blue scales on his cheeks revealed the turmoil in his emotions.
This is one of the bloodline characteristics of the Angpeier Family; the color of their scales can change depending on their emotional state.
Red represents anger, cyan represents doubt, and white represents indifference...
The nickname "chameleon" is truly fitting.
Of course, members of the Angpeier Family can control these changes freely as long as they practice their family's secret techniques diligently. Therefore, anyone who tries to determine their true intentions by looking at the color of their scales will surely be tricked.
"The key question now is, what exactly is the mastermind behind this grand scheme?"
"What else could it be for? Without a word, they disguised themselves as members of our Angpeier Family and attacked City of Freedom, directly offending the Ashes Organization on our behalf. What do you think Ashes will do next?"
Upon hearing this, the scales on the bodies of the Angpeier Family leaders present instantly turned black, a color signifying solemnity.
"Puka's analysis is correct. The mastermind is most likely an enemy of our Angpeier Family, but not a mortal enemy, because the Serpent Ring Family of Planet Pandora has also been dragged into this."
"So, the real target of the mastermind is the Ashes? And our Angpeier Family has just been used as pawns?"
"That's right!"
"Damn it, don't let me find out who plotted against us, or I'll get my revenge tenfold, a hundredfold!"
"Enough with the useless talk. The key right now is to quell Ashes's anger, prevent the family from being targeted by this terrorist organization, and figure out how to use this situation to our advantage!"
"For profit?"
"Yes, everything has two sides. While this matter has made us mortal enemies with the Ashes on the surface, it has also greatly boosted the reputation of our Angpeier Family. Now, the entire empire is praising our 'achievements'..."
Chief Ampel emphasized the word "merit" heavily.
Those present weren't fools; they understood the implied meaning, and their eyes lit up, their scales switching to orange—a color that represented surprise. "Does the chieftain mean to convert this fame into political prestige?"
"That's right! Right now is a crucial moment for the Third Prince in the struggle for the first in line to the throne. If we can pin this on the Third Prince, we can indirectly gain a lot of public support."
Chief Ampel's eyes flickered. There was something else he didn't say: the third prince, who had taken on this task, could also help the Angpeier Family share some of the pressure from the Ashes Organization.
Clearly, while the Angpeier Family were supporters of the third prince, they did not position themselves as subordinates, but rather as collaborators.
This is normal. In the ancient Veyin Empire, the many powerful families that had existed for thousands of years were the true rulers of the empire. They divided up resources such as population, planets, and technology. Although the royal family was powerful, it could only appease the various families.
Without the support of powerful families, even an emperor cannot govern the country; his influence is nowhere to be found.
This system doomed the Veyin Empire to be unable to expand outwards, because the ancient powerful families were all used to enjoying life and none of them wanted to fight.
However, should any foreign forces invade, the Veyin Empire will unleash tremendous fighting power to defend its homeland.
The clan chief's words opened up new ideas for the people present, and their eyes lit up.
Thinking about it this way, it seems the Angpeier Family actually benefited from the misfortune?
"Then... who will the Ashes Organization send to explain?"
"I'll go myself."
"No, it's too dangerous, Chieftain, you can't go."
"Don't worry, it's just creating a clone of my power. Why would I go myself?"
"I see... alright then."
With the matter settled, the Angpeier Family sprang into action, each fulfilling their assigned roles.
Bang!
A mangled, unrecognizable body rolled on the ground.
Then a giant foot descended from the sky and stomped down hard, sending flesh and blood flying and scales scattering everywhere.
Chieftain Onpel never expected that he would be brutally beaten as soon as he met the Sun Eclipser, before he could even say a word. The clone he had painstakingly created was reduced to a rag doll.
This is completely different from what we expected.
Shouldn't the leader of the Ashes Organization be a cold, emotionless machine, measuring everything solely by self-interest? How could he be so impulsive?
A miscalculation!
On his deathbed, Chief Ampel felt a chill in his heart, realizing that he had encountered a madman, and that his family's plan to turn misfortune into fortune was likely to fail.
"Damn it, damn it! They killed my nephew and still dare to come here and act arrogantly? The Angpeier Family, very well indeed..."
The robes formed by the haze danced wildly, and the Sun Eclipser, like an enraged bull with bloodshot eyes, paced back and forth, waves of fury surging and burning as if to Destruction everything, including himself.
Behind them, the face of the Primordial Evil God Diorus watched the Sun Eclipser figure with a mocking expression, as if examining an amusing toy.
"Interesting. I didn't expect that his nephew held such a significant place in Baliewei's heart. His death actually triggered even more negative emotions in him. Good riddance, good riddance..."
The murmurs of the evil god spread through the void, and countless thin, imperceptible threads extended from all directions, connecting to the body of the Sun Eclipser, Baliewei, further fueling his anger and agitation.
On his finger, a serene emerald light continuously shone, only to be suppressed time and again. Obvious cracks began to appear on the ring, and finally, with a bang, it exploded.
Fragments flew everywhere, and just like that, the Immortal Demigod left behind by Elven was destroyed.
"Ah~!!..."
The Sun Eclipser roared to the sky, its emotions completely erupting.
With the ring Destruction, the Primordial Evil God had no more scruples and frantically poured the remaining evil god power into the Sun Eclipser's body.
On the wall behind the main hall, a hideous and terrifying phantom of a demon god slowly emerged, revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs.
At this point, the Sun Eclipser strangely calmed down and suppressed all its anger.
Only those bright, scarlet eyes seemed to be telling us that the former Mudatuo could never go back; he had completely become a puppet of the evil god.
"Ampel, Ringed Serpent, you're the ones who killed Bennierte and Index. Why didn't you intervene? Were you happy to see my nephew die?"
"Yes, that must be it. Index is Sylvain's partner, and the Serpent Ring Family is his ally. He's using someone else to do his dirty work!"
"I knew it. He's not a member of the Kelaxiweifu Family, and he'll never be loyal to the family. Sylvain, you finally couldn't hold back anymore? You want to seize control of Ashes, you want Planet Pandora, you even want the entire Guta Federation..."
"Yes, that must be it, kill him, kill him..."
With his mind filled with negative emotions and unable to think normally, the Sun Eclipser had become a puppet of the evil god. He completely shifted the blame for the death of the Lord of the Free City onto Sylvain, and even went so far as to concoct a number of unfounded accusations and pile them all onto Sylvain.
Baliewei didn't even consider that if Sylvain truly coveted power, she wouldn't have handed over the entire Ashes Organization to him without a second thought, and wouldn't have tolerated his attempts to seize power time and again.
Keep in mind, this is the notorious shrewdness of Dark Moon Sylvain, known throughout the entire plane!
Is this gradual retreat out of fear?
No, Sylvain long considered himself a member of the Kelaxiweifu Family, and the importance the Dragon-Hunting Spider Clan placed on their kin made him willing to give up power and benefits for the family.
A hundred years ago, the Sun Eclipser, who had just taken over Ashes, was still clear-headed and able to understand these things, so he reserved the number two position in Ashes Organization for Sylvain.
But now, whatever the reason, the trust is gone.
Having completed his psychological preparation, the Sun Eclipser summoned Sylvain, who was overseeing the infiltration and assassination operation on the Planet Veyin, under the pretext of discussing important matters.