537 Cooperation (1/2)
In order to trick everyone, David did not seem to have prepared any items against the poisons or curses. He did not carry any drugs that could relieve 'Helpless Kiss', either. At this moment, under Duke James' roar, he could do nothing except to look back at him in desperation and craziness.
To be honest, even an archmage of the Congress might not have equipment or drugs that could nullify the level-nine 'Helpless Kiss'. It was needless to mention the nobles.
Gold dragon scales surfaced on Duke James' skin as he released his supreme dominance. Stomping on David's abdomen, he slightly suppressed his 'Helpless Kiss' and restored David's language ability. ”Tell me! Why did you do this?”
David understood that his scheme had been exposed when the special bottle of 'honey' rolled out of his belt. Assassinating one's liege was an unpardonable crime for the nobles. He burst into laughter crazily and hopelessly, ”Why did I do this? You should ask yourselves!”
”Did we ask you to assassinate Her Majesty?” Duke James roared angrily like a dragon.
David took a few deep breaths. ”What sweet fragrance, just like the intoxicating hope. Ever since I was born, you had been telling me that Prince Patrick might not live a long time and would certainly have no children, and that I would be the one who acceded to the throne.”
”Therefore, I built myself up all the time. I improved my chivalry. I held myself with noble character. I approached you and the Congress of Magic, not letting any flaw from my future ascendancy. I hoped to control Holm and even echo with 'Sword of Truth', touching the mysteries of the legendary knights.”
”My whole life was for the throne, but you abandoned me all of a sudden and chose this uncanny queen instead! How long did she live in Holm? Did she ever strive for the throne? I don't buy it! I want to take back what is mine!”
James was rather embarrassed as David talked crazily. David was a backup candidate that they groomed because of his identity and his tendencies towards the Congress of Magic. But naturally, when Natasha, who was more suitable, appeared, they abandoned him without any hesitation. They did not expect that he was so covetous about the throne that he would bite the people who raised him.
However, as a senior noble, James did not let his embarrassment last for long. He said angrily, ”That's why you conspired with the Dark Congress to kill Her Majesty and us? I get it. He would've left you unkilled for some reason, and you would've worked with him, blaming this murder on 'Cursed Angel' Grunwell. The Church, to appease the nobles who favor the Congress and the neural nobles, and not to divide the kingdom, would've chosen you as the king.”
David was dazed. Then he burst into such crazy laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke. Duke James and Lucien both frowned.
He looked at Duke James, almost unable to catch his breath: ”You really bought it?”
”You believe everything he said? How naive!”
”Who do you think would be convinced by my story, if you, a gold knight, were killed but I, a mere gold knight, survived?”
”He is not 'Poisonous Devil'?” Recalling the fake clues that 'Primous' made, Lucien observed calmly.
In the meantime, Lucien took out the crystal ball, testing Alferris' whereabouts.
Because of 'Helpless Kiss', David was out of strength as he laughed. He said both weakly and cockily, ”If he were really as hysterical and maniac as 'Poisonous Devil', how could he have been sent for this mission, and how could he have trapped rational experts like you? 'Poisonous Devil' is a lunatic, but I am not one!”
”He intentionally mimicked 'Poisonous Devil' and confessed his scheme in order to mislead you into thinking about the Dark Congress.”
”Duke, you're not wrong about one thing. After he killed Natasha and Lucien, he would've broken the divine power defense, pretending that it was an accident, so that the other nobles would notice it. Then, in order not to be killed by the legendary experts, he could only flee in panic after killing a few random nobles who were inclined to the Congress. Therefore, only one of you would've died, and the rest would've survived with me and revealed the scheme of the Dark Congress. That way, the kingdom would be kept intact.”
The crystal ball became dark, and the Host Stars of Destiny showed up. Lucien was too occupied to ask anything, but Duke James inquired earnestly, ”Who is he exactly?”
David snorted, ”You still haven't got it? It is so obvious now!”
It was truly impossible to communicate with a lunatic. Duke James stomped and pressed back David's voice.
”Who is he?”
David cackled crazily, ”Didn't he mention that he would blame it on 'Cursed Angel' Grunwell? You think it was just a random talk? It was just a trick. He was exactly 'Cursed Angel' Grunwell, a level-nine gold knight of the same Demon Lord bloodline as 'Poisonous Devil'!”
”Grunwell, the night watchers!” Duke James looked at Grunwell who was standing like a statue in fury. It was a night watcher!
After murdering a baron radically, they were even thinking to kill the bigger nobles!
For a moment, Duke James was full of disgust against the night watchers and the Church. If he did not need them to balance the Congress of Magic, he would've advocated banishing the Church from Holm!