Chapter 541: The Filial Son Plans to Force the Emperor

Originally, Zanack had only a fifty percent chance of winning the throne, for although he had gained the support of Lord Lei Buen and others, Prince Babro, as the eldest son, also had considerable noble backing.

But if Shengzai joined his side, the situation would be entirely different.

As Lord Lei Buen had previously said, Shengzai had no real interest in the throne—if he did, his supporters would be countless.

Just look at the kingdom’s military commanders: more than half supported Shengzai, not to mention the Emperor’s own inclinations and the people’s sentiment.

If Shengzai entered the succession struggle, he would be no match at all for the useless Prince Babro.

Now, not only had Shengzai declared to his face that he would not contest the throne, but he had also pledged to support him—Zanack considered this the best news he had heard all day.

“Shengzai, if you support my ascension to the throne, what conditions do you demand of me?”

Although Shengzai’s willingness to back him filled Zanack with joy, he did not lose his head and immediately promise anything Shengzai asked.

There are no free pies falling from the sky; the fact that Shengzai had come to him now meant the request was certainly no simple matter.

“First, once you ascend the throne, I hope you will purge corrupt and useless nobles, just as the Empire has done.”

Don’t worry that removing them will weaken the kingdom’s foundations—these men are useless when real crisis strikes, and only drag the kingdom down.”

Also, I hope you, Brother Zanack, prepare yourself mentally, for soon the kingdom will face its greatest crisis since its founding.”

And this crisis will not come from our old enemy, the Bahas Empire, but from an immensely powerful undead race!”

Lao Gu and his kind have already attacked the capital—that means the time for them to declare their own “Magic Kingdom” is nearly here.”

To establish a kingdom on this continent, one must possess territory and gain recognition from other nations.”

As for territory, since the Great Necropolis of Nazarick lies at the border between the kingdom and the Empire, Lao Gu has no intention of relocating, so he must take it from either the kingdom or the Empire.”

Compared to the defiant kingdom, the submissive Empire is far more obedient—and to establish dominance, the kingdom will inevitably become the undead’s example to frighten others.”

“An immensely powerful undead race?”

“Yes, let me be frank with you, Brother Zanack—whether it was the Demon Emperor Adabaw or the vampire Xia Tiya Bradforn, they were all subordinates of this undead race.”

As for their main base, it should be near the border between the kingdom and the Empire.”

To withstand this disaster, the kingdom needs a wise ruler. But Father is old now, and his inaction will only lead to the kingdom’s utter ruin.”

After hearing Shengzai’s words, Zanack was stunned—he did not think Shengzai was exaggerating, but the sheer volume of information was overwhelming, leaving him struggling to accept it.

Beings as powerful as the Demon Emperor Adabaw and Xia Tiya Bradforn were merely subordinates.”

Then how powerful must their master be?”

No—could the kingdom even hope to defeat such an enemy?”

“Shengzai, since you’ve told me this, it means you’ve already prepared something.”

And even against such a formidable foe, you still have considerable confidence, don’t you?”

As for the exact combat strength of the Great Necropolis of Nazarick, even Shengzai himself wasn’t certain.

But the guardians left behind by the Eight Desiring Kings, combined with the spirit servants he had summoned, gave him confidence that their top-tier forces could match Lao Gu’s.

The only problem he saw was in their grassroots combat strength.

The undead knights and undead swordsmen of Nazarick were level 35—on the kingdom’s side, there weren’t even five units capable of standing against them.”

Even if our top-tier fighters could hold off Lao Gu and his lieutenants, a hundred undead knights alone could slaughter through the entire kingdom.”

The artifacts left by the Eight Desiring Kings could strengthen the army, but that alone would be insufficient.”

So once Zanack becomes king, I hope you will grant me a regiment—I intend to use the “Power of Evolution” to collectively enhance them, then train them intensively.”

Given the gravity of the situation, Zanack soon summoned Lord Lei Buen, and after intense deliberation, they decisively resolved to stage a coup tonight!”

At the banquet, King Ramboza III sat at the head table, wearing an extremely radiant smile.

He had reigned for many years—no major failures, but no great achievements either. Now, by personally leading the campaign and repelling the invading demons, he could boast to other kings for the rest of his life.

Until now, his only source of pride had been his good son.

But King Ramboza III did not know that his “good son” was now preparing to force him to abdicate and retire in peace.

During the celebration banquet, nobles and adventurers stood clearly divided into two separate areas.

Adventurers disliked dealing with haughty noble lords, and the kingdom’s nobles equally looked down on adventurers of peasant origin.

They even thought King Ramboza III had lost his mind for allowing such crude adventurers to attend such a grand banquet in the palace.

“Let go! What are you doing? I’ve told you—I’m an adventurer, not the whore you think I am!”

“My lord, if you want a woman, go to a brothel.”

“Shut up! I’m Count Charis of the kingdom—I’m doing you a favor by noticing you, you slut! If you don’t show some sense, don’t blame me for being rough with you!”

Conflict was inevitable when nobles and adventurers were forced together at a banquet—and just as Shengzai and Zanack were discussing how to pressure King Ramboza III to abdicate tonight, the sudden commotion at the banquet drew their attention.

It began when a kingdom count, slightly drunk, became enamored with a female adventurer dressed for the occasion and tried to drag her off to his residence.

Naturally, the female adventurer refused the noble’s lewd advances—and in resisting, she accidentally slapped him.

Under kingdom law, commoners who strike nobles may be punished by the nobles they injure.

But since the noble had provoked the incident first, the tension between nobles and adventurers erupted completely!

The noble who harassed the adventurer was not only a kingdom count, but also a supporter of Prince Babro.

And now, to protect his supporter, Babro naturally stepped forward to defend him.

(End of Chapter)