No King Will Flee Tonight

"Grandma Laila, what's that thing in the sky?"

"That's a magic trick, child, let's go..."

Countdown to Corona trigger:

[23:50]

The unusual celestial phenomenon attracted the attention of the entire town.

People gradually walked onto the street.

The lit kerosene lamp could not illuminate the colors in the air.

Someone reached out, curiously examining their own red nail polish that the goddess had suddenly applied.

"Is this a new device from the city hall? I read about it in the newspaper last month; someone apparently created a machine that uses steam to project words onto the clouds."

"I don't know, sir. The police station did not receive any notification of a drill this afternoon."

"How beautiful... It's as red as the velvet curtains of a grand theater. What wondrous sight must this be from some Mystical Artifact?"

People around nodded in agreement, making sounds of admiration.

But most people remained silent.

People who are curious about the unknown are usually lucky.

Most people are more likely to feel fear towards the unknown.

Just then--

A middle-aged man scrambled out of the door.

Everyone knows him.

This is Moran, a scholar who lives at the end of the town.

He usually lives a secluded life and is in a consistently cheerful and energetic state.

He wasn't even wearing shoes; he ran wildly to the middle of the street, lay on his back, and burst into laughter.

"What's written in the book is true!"

"Crimson Corona... This is the scene when Crimson Corona is triggered!"

"Two hundred and twenty years ago, it swallowed up Karen Fortress during the War of the Three Kings! Everything within a ten-mile radius was obliterated, and the land sank to become a lake!"

The chatter on the street stopped.

Everyone stared at the mad scholar with astonishment and uncertainty.

Moran suddenly knelt on the ground, crying and laughing at the same time:

"The Seven Ultimate Artifacts... the Royal Bell of Flames! To die at the hands of such a divinely crafted weapon, to witness the countdown firsthand, my life has been worthwhile! Worthwhile!"

A patrol officer stepped forward and said, "Mr. Moran, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you want to come back to the police station with me?"

"Go back to the police station? Hahahaha!"

Moran shook off the patrolman's hand, grabbed his collar, and pressed his face almost against his:

"Don't you understand? In twenty-four hours, everything here will be burned to ashes! Run! Why aren't you running? Run out of the city!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd stirred.

Is he telling the truth or not?

"Karen Lake... I know that story. That fortress was wiped off the map overnight..."

"I'm a little panicked. I'd better go home and gather my gold pounds before heading to the train station!"

"Yes, let's go to the train station together!"

Moran shook off the patrolman and burst into laughter again:

"You can't escape! You can't escape! Hahahaha!"

As they talked...

He started tearing off his clothes and began to dance wildly:

"Once the Crimson Corona deploys its force field, no one within a ten-mile radius will be able to escape! The barrier has already been lowered! Let's go crazy for the last twenty-four hours! After twenty-four hours, no one will remember us! Come on... let's go crazy!"

Moran quickly stripped naked and danced wildly in the street.

They were dancing and laughing at the same time, their laughter was so intense it gave you goosebumps.

The crowd was terrified and rushed home, locking their doors and windows.

Most people are still maintaining a decent life.

But how long can this facade last as night deepens...?

Mondel Military-Controlled Dock.

There were seven or eight corpses dressed in black robes lying on the ground.

Sheriff Sanders led fifteen patrol officers through the checkpoint and quickly dispersed behind the cargo container.

The patrolmen were equipped with old-fashioned firing pistols, their muzzles pointed directly at the freight warehouse.

soon,

Captain Carter emerged with about twenty rebel soldiers from the third line of defense.

Sheriff Sanders said with a grave expression:

"Captain Carter! You are surrounded! Lay down your swords, disarm, and surrender immediately!"

Carter raised his hand to stop the soldiers behind him who had drawn their guns.

He raised his head and said, looking slightly tired:

"Sanders, stop wasting your energy. You can see that thing in the sky. The Crimson Corona has been activated. If we don't find Empress Charlotte within 24 hours, we'll all die here. I suggest you cooperate with me, mobilize all the patrolmen under your command, and work with my troops to seal off the entire town and find the red-haired girl..."

Sanders was taken aback.

--Empress? What Empress?

He frowned, but the muzzle of his gun didn't move down an inch.

" In Mondel Town, there is only Imperial Envoy Lady Caroline, not any Empress as you claim! Carter, you colluded with the rebels, massacred the garrison and royal guards, committing the grave crime of treason. The police department will never cooperate with the rebels. Lay down your weapons and surrender!"

Carter found it too much trouble to even say another word.

He drew his gun at lightning speed!

With a bang.

Bullets whizzed through the air.

Sheriff Sanders was completely taken aback by the suddenness of the attack!

In the critical moment, he dodged to the side, and the bullet grazed his left shoulder blade, tearing off a large chunk of flesh.

"Ugh!"

The excruciating pain caused Sanders to groan, and as he cowered behind cover, he gritted his teeth and roared:

"Counterattack! Counterattack! Open fire on the spot!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The two sides immediately engaged in a fierce battle!

The rebel soldiers were prepared.

They have better equipment and more mature experience.

Gradually gaining the upper hand...

Chaos is brewing on the streets.

The docks were engulfed in gunfire.

Is there any place in town that is exceptionally quiet?

Perhaps only the governor's private residence remains.

Charlotte remained silent, recalling the Royal Capital Privy Council.

That day, the chief elder, whom she regarded as an elder and mentor, personally handed her the royal scepter and leaned down to whisper in her ear:

"Your Majesty, the person sitting on the highest throne cannot trust anyone around them..."

yes.

--You proved this to me today with your actions.

Charlotte was so exhausted she didn't even want to sigh.

In fact, she had already noticed the unusual activities of the Privy Council and the nobility before leaving the capital.

The statement she made to Li Mo earlier, "There won't be such a 'what if'," seemed like wishful thinking on the surface, but it was actually just her last-ditch effort.

The kingdom's northern defenses are strained, the Black Swamp Legion has suffered more than half its casualties, domestic merchants are seizing land, and nobles are controlling the military. The kingdom is already beset by internal and external troubles and is teetering on the brink of collapse.

She transported the ultimate creation to the Mondel military dock for two reasons: first, to buy the front lines a respite, and second, to fish.

Look.

Isn't this the biggest fish we've ever caught?

Chief Elder of the Privy Council, Tutor to Two Emperors:

His Excellency Anton Prescott.

Charlotte's sadness gradually faded.

Since she dared to get involved and stay in the same town as Crimson Corona, she must have already prepared a backup plan for her escape.

Two hundred and thirty years ago, when the Great Sage triggered the Crimson Corona, he discovered a method to open a rift within the absolute barrier, allowing only two people to pass through...

When she returned to the capital,

The purge orders for all units of the Imperial Guard will be issued simultaneously.

The Royal Second Guards Cavalry Regiment will surround the Privy Council, Black-Robed Court Guards will take control of all the city gates.

What awaits the rebellious nobles and the chief elder is a bloodbath that will sweep across the entire capital.

She had known all along.

The transformation of an old empire inevitably comes at the cost of bloodshed.

She never expected the price she would pay this time...

It turned out to be tens of thousands of ordinary people from the entire Mondel Town.

Charlotte was filled with sorrow and said:

"Li Mo, come with me to the western border. I have a way to break through the Corona barrier and take you away from the border."

Yes, up to this moment.

Charlotte finally understood the meaning of the Great Sage's last prophecy.

The key to turning the tide of the battle was Li Mo.

The reason why the Great Sage emphasized that he must do it himself.

So it was all for the purpose of rescuing Li Mo at the crucial moment...

Upon hearing this, Li Mo asked:

"What about the others?"

Charlotte remained silent.

He said softly:

"The Crimson Corona's rank is too high; I can only bring one more person."

She paused, then emphasized:

"It's just you and me."

Li Mo remained silent.

His gaze swept over everyone in the study.

There was a tense-looking envoy named Caroline.

The expressionless, Black-Robed Court Guards.

I thought of my father, Li En; Sarah at the spinning mill; Professor Bryce at the observatory; Helen's growing cheerfulness; and Sheriff Sanders patrolling the streets...

Li Mo finally asked:

"What about Anna? What about Wayne? And Helen, my father, Sarah, Professor Bryce, Mr. Green... and the envoy, what about them?"

Charlotte lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

study,

A deathly silence.

Caroline stepped forward at this moment, her expression solemn, and said:

"Protecting Her Majesty the Queen is the first rule of the Special Envoy's Office. Mr. Li Mo, I will lead a team to escort you to the border until you leave safely!"

The two Black-Robed Court Guards beside her drew their longswords simultaneously, without hesitation.

Seeing this,

Wayne, standing in the corner, swallowed hard.

His hands were trembling violently.

But at times like this... at times like this... I really can't show fear anymore, that would be too embarrassing!

A gentleman should know when to advance and when to retreat, and be reasonable in all matters!

Wayne gasped for breath, then drew his sword.

He really wanted to say something cool, but he couldn't control the trembling in his voice:

"No... it's alright, Li Mo! I can take you to the border. Don't forget, I actually studied swordsmanship properly when I was a kid... Hey! Li Mo, when you make it to the capital alive, remember to go check out the legendary strip club for me this time! Pick the most expensive girl!"

Anna remained composed. She pulled out her revolver and said, "Let's go, young master."

Her only regret was that, before her life came to an end, she was still unable to help the young master regain his lost Mysticism Perception...

All eyes were on Li Mo.

Everyone was waiting for him to grab his coat and follow the Queen toward survival.

Li Mo remained motionless.

for a long time.

He rubbed his temples and said, "Do you really have to run away?"

Caroline frowned. "Mr. Li Mo, now is not the time to act impulsively!"

Li Mo looked at Charlotte: "What if I told you I had a way to stop the ritual of the Mystical Artifact?... If we get to the docks now, I might have a chance to save everyone in Mondel Town."

Charlotte was taken aback.

The dock is located directly east of the town, at the core of the Crimson Corona Force Field.

The border that allows one to escape this place is clearly in the exact opposite direction.

This departure is a complete reversal of the intended path.

Charlotte asked, "How confident are you?"

"Anyway, we'll all be reduced to ashes in 24 hours. If we fail, it just means I'll lose another life."

"And also, Your Majesty the Queen..."

As Li Mo spoke, he gradually became excited:

"To be honest, I've long wanted to study that Mystical Artifact."

"Seven top-tier Mystical Artifact... I want to see what they're all about! You wouldn't let me see them before, but now I can openly study them!"

"So refreshing!"

Caroline was stunned.

I thought to myself: Has this guy gone mad? They're about to be in big trouble, what's he getting so excited about?

Wayne couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears, wanting to hug Li Mo's legs and say:

"Brother, please save me! I haven't lived enough yet! I was pretending to be a gentleman just now, but actually I'm really afraid of dying, uh..."

After another silence,

Caroline decided to persuade her:

"Your Majesty, actually, if Li Mo insists on not leaving, we can knock him unconscious and take him away."

Li Mo: "???"

He really wanted to say, "Aren't you polite? Saying these things to my face?!"

But leaving is impossible, it's impossible for me to leave in this lifetime!

Of course, I don't want to die.

But in this small town... I have my best friends, family, and lover.

If they all leave, what difference is there between me and being dead?

Li Mo said seriously, protecting himself, "Don't knock me out and take me away! Otherwise, once we get out, I'll find a church rooftop and use my skull to test the hardness of the stone floor!"

This phrase sounds very familiar; it's a threatening tactic that Li Mo often uses.

Everyone's eyes turned to Charlotte.

As long as she nods.

The Black-Robed Court Guards would immediately lift Li Mo up and forcefully break through to the west.

However,

Charlotte's lips suddenly curled up slightly.

She smiled.

A sixteen-year-old girl,

His laughter was both flamboyant and candid.

She said, "Caroline, I wanted to leave just now because I thought... there was no other way."

A breeze is blowing.

Her long, deep red hair was blown about.

It lacked a sense of solemnity.

It's become a bit wilder.

She raised her chin and looked directly at Caroline, saying:

"But now that there is a possibility that everyone can survive, how can I, as the ruler of Glennova, desert my post?"

Caroline panicked completely and knelt down on one knee:

"Your Majesty! Stopping the ceremony is unheard of! Even if we believe that Li Mo can truly create a miracle, what are the chances of success? You are the cornerstone of the kingdom, the hope of tens of millions of people. You cannot take such a risk; you must go first!"

Charlotte shook her head. "Carter dared to make a move at this time, there must be guidance from the higher-ups of the Privy Council behind him. They know the characteristics of the Corona very well. To prevent any accidents from happening, Carter will definitely have the main force guarding the Corona. There is no way that Li Mo can break into the dock by himself. We must help him."

Caroline bit her lip, wanting to persuade her again, "But Your Majesty, your life..."

My life is no more precious than anyone else's in the city.

Charlotte interrupted her:

"If I were to die in Mondel today, the contingency plans I laid out in the capital would be activated as scheduled. The cabinet and the military would select a new heir from the royal branch and purge the traitors according to my written will."

"But if I were to leave today knowing there is an opportunity to save the people, in order to preserve my own life, it would violate the oath I made to the Goddess of the Twin Moons when I ascended the throne. The people are trapped here because of my plan. This crisis started with me, and it is only right that I accompany them to the end."

A long wind blew through the girl's deep red hair, causing her clothes to flutter and rustle.

Caroline knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the king she had served since childhood, finally bringing her hands back to her chest and bowing deeply.

Li Mo was also somewhat lost in thought.

Putting myself in that position, I doubt I could make the same decision.

That's truly remarkable.

He gave the girl a thumbs up and said:

"Xiao Xi, that's awesome! Shall we set off now and head to the docks to catch Carter?"

The words were slightly flippant, but it was really just to ease the tension.

Charlotte smiled and said, "No rush. The docks are open, and Carter has standard military muskets. A direct assault would only result in certain deaths. Let's wait until it's completely dark. In the meantime, Caroline, notify the police, the workshop workers, the municipal guards, and the remaining stragglers to gather all forces and follow my command."

Caroline: "Yes!"

Li Mo suddenly felt incredibly at ease.

I'm absolutely terrible at fighting.

If I had to put it into words, I would only know the sixteen-character mantra: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.

But knowing this is one thing; it's essentially just theoretical knowledge...

With the Empress around, it's truly reassuring.

As a scholar and a scientist, I only need to do one thing well.

Li Mo bowed slightly to Charlotte and said:

"Please escort me to the Corona, Your Majesty. The rest... leave it to me."