[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-208":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1101065,1437,"Chapter 208: Ivar’s Perfect God","the-reborn-king-chapter-208",208,"\u003Cp>Blackwood walked into a small tavern that hid in the corner of the city, with a large device under a sheet. Behind him, two out-of-clothes guards walked in shooting daggers at the customers. Taking his seat opposite the mercenary he met before he placed the device on the table and pulled the sheet away revealing a crossbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s good to see you again.\" His words fell on deaf ears as the mercenary analyzed the crossbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve seen these things but they are too expensive for my company to use.\" He glided his finger over the wooden frame and smiled. \"So what is it you want.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have a time and place now.\" Blackwood softly said, the mercenary leaning in closer. \"The Emporer will be giving a speech at sundown in front of the mayoral building. You know the layout of the district surrounding it right?\" The man nodded getting Blackwood to smile. \"Peferct it makes things easier. A house has been cleared for you to set up in.\" He pulled a slip of paper out and slid it over. \"The address is there, burn it once you’ve memorized it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s no risk of anyone disturbing me is there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine; we have dealt with everything.\" Blackwood waved his hand, dismissing the concern. \"The church will give a speech first. In the meantime, the Emporer will be seated behind us. Someone will take a position near the Emporer, just in front of your line of sight. When he crouches down, start a ten-second count and then shoot at him. It is integral that you do not hit the Emporer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man rubbed his face and leaned back in his chair. \"That will be hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sure you will be fine. Afterward, go to your safehouse and lay low. We will get in touch after a week. Do you understand?\" Seeing him nod, Blackwood got up and smiled. \"Perfect. I can’t sit for long, just have your people ready to cause a ruckus throughout the day. That will be necessary if you wish to escape.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blackwood didn’t even bother to say his goodbyes, leaving as quickly as he came. Outside one of his guards finally spoke. \"Are you sure about this Bishop? It’s a risky game you play, especially to rely on mercenaries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know that, but risking a church operative for this is worst. If you got caught we have no way to distance ourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still, it all feels very convoluted for something that may not work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You saw how much the people love the Emporer. If the church is the one who saves him from an assassination then we have a quick way into their hearts. If he wishes to continue to push a doctrine of supremacy over the church it will get the people thinking. ’Didn’t they just save you?’ ’How can we superior the thing that saved the Blessed One’s life.’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carried on, \"We have to corner him. Right now either side of the conflict can get the upper hand to force the other one aside. Sure we can use things like the military to put pressure on Alfred, but we need the people to be the ones to wish for a heavy church influence. Make them understand that it’s for the betterment of their lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a very risky gamble,\" the guard repeated, shaking his head, and causing Blackwood to sigh. \"Besides, what if it fails?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it fails, be ready for that mercenary at once. While I have used Byles’s name and kept my signature off the pardon, it will only be a matter of time before they suspect me, especially if the Old Snake leads the investigation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Byles won’t go down without a fight if he is framed you know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That.\" Blackwood stopped himself. \"If he has any love for the church he will allow himself to be a scapegoat, but I don’t trust he would do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not ask us to kill a bishop.\" The guard said coldly causing Blackwood to shake his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I would never. But if he betrayed us and began to work with the Emporer to clear his own skin, then things may change.\" The guard scoffed but didn’t say he wouldn’t do it. He, like Blackwood, worked for Cardinal Francis. If Blackwood really pressured him then his hands would be tied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need to prepare our contingencies then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get on it, I still need to prepare the Emporer’s guard. It’s a shame what will happen to him, but nothing can be done. It’s all for the Glory of the Church after all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gates of Helstai opened as Ivar bowed respectfully towards the entering figure. \"My lord.\" He spoke with reverence not daring to look up until given permission. \"I have been awaiting your return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ivar, come with me.\" Helga didn’t stop and walked passed looking at the display around her. Tens of bodies were strung up, the blood of their decapitated heads long dry. \"What is all this?\" She asked Ivar who quickly followed behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking into a smile he happily spoke. \"They were causing dissent and threatening the integrity of your Kingdom. So I dealt with them for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mmm.\" Helga didn’t say anything just analyzing the bodies as she walked past. He tried to gauge a reaction from her but couldn’t.’Somethings off.’Ivar could sense it immediately. How he knew Helga, she would have enthusiastically praised him for his work before, but now she didn’t even seem to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he followed her up to the manor, as Ketil opened the wide doors for the three. \"Everyone leave us!\" Those in the main hall quickly cleared off as Helga’s footsteps echoed. Sitting herself down on the throne she stared at Ivar with frosty eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ketil came up behind him and forced him to his knees. \"Stop.\" Ivar tried to fight it but hearing her command stopped himself and looked up at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ivar.\" When she spoke, Ivar was sure he could hear an almost sad disappointment. \"Why did you do it?\" It was a shocking question but he quickly composed himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought you would li...\" She raised her hand stopping him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not asking about what is happening outside. That would be pleasing under different circumstances. But right now.\" She shook her head in disappointment. \"So I will ask you again. Why?\" Her final word released the pent-up anger she had been containing as her hands clenched the armrest of the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t think feeling suffocated by the overwhelming anger that radiated off Helga’s body. \"I don’t understand my lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was it fun, taking my place? Did you think you were worthy of it? Get corrupted by your pathetic ambitions. Or was this always your plan.\" She spoke with disgust looking down at him. Reaching for the fur around her shoulders, she took it off. Pulling the clothing on her shoulder down, a large wound that slowly began to heal revealed itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To even have someone come and kill me. You, who I thought was my most loyal, did this to me.\" Helga slowly rose from her throne and down the steps, In front of Ivar, she grabbed his hair, and reached behind her back, clutching the small dagger. \"So I ask you one final time and don’t make me do it again. Why did you do this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"finn.\" He spoke under his breath as he realized what happened. \"He did this didn’t he?\" Her silence was enough of an answer as he sighed. \"My lord.\" Ivar’s voice was quiet as he was forced to look her in the eyes. \"I’m sorry. But I didn’t order him to do this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lies.\" Helga threw him back, causing him to fall on his back. \"To even put someone like that close to me is enough of an insult. You must have known he would do this. Why else would you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled the dagger out. \"You can ask me for forgiveness, but I won’t. It’s simple. You betrayed me. You can’t sit there and tell me you didn’t know, but it all lies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivar lowered his head.’Why did he do this? The fool. He should have just followed orders.’Ivar grinded his teeth thinking about his sworn brother. He knew that he was dead, but couldn’t feel sad at the moment, instead only hating him.’Why did he have to be so blind?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord,\" Ivar spoke without fear as he looked her in the eyes. \"I swear on all the god’s names, I didn’t wish for this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helga closed her eyes as she took a step closer and crouched down. Grabbing his chin she looked him in the eyes. \"This betrayal.\" Helga started. Her voice was melancholic. \"You could have been so great Ivar. You showed everyone what it meant to be a perfect follower. Faithful, unquestioning, unyielding. But to think, it was a facade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ivar could see his words never reached her ears. He sighed deeply, in regret. How he wished things were different. \"Nothing matters anymore,\" Helga spoke again as she put the dagger to his neck. \"If even your faith was fake, then maybe the world is underserving of me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord.\" Ivar knew his time was up. Ever since he had first met Helga and sworn himself to her, he knew that he could die at any moment at her hands. He didn’t care, it was why he followed her blindly. She was perfect to him. Someone free from the constraints of the world, pursuing whatever she wanted. She was ambitious enough to claim the world and free enough to indulge in her darkest pleasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Gods could act like that to him. He was a fool not to follow. Even with the risk of his life on the line the whole time he was happy to follow. Through her, he could understand what true freedom was. Despite dying a traitor in her eyes, he would be loyal to the end. \"There is an enemy from within. Knut’s legacy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t close his eyes as Helga put pressure on the blade at his throat. \"Glory to the living Go...uggg.\" Helga slashed across quickly not wishing to hear anymore. Ivar’s blood coated her body as she dropped his chin, watching his body quickly lose the light of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She thought she would be happy killing a traitor but she felt nothing. No happiness, anger, sadness. It reminded her of killing Erik. An emptiness that overwhelmed. \"Ketil,\" Helga spoke quietly, never taking her eyes off Ivar’s body. \"Deal with everything outside. I wish to rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large man gave a deep bow as he walked off leaving Helga alone.’Was it all a lie?’She couldn’t help but question herself.’No, he had to be a traitor. Why else would his men attack me? Yes, he must be making me question myself. Even in death, he must still be attacking me.’Helga brushed her hair back as she repeatedly told herself that looking at his body.\u003C\u002Fp>",1836,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z",1,"novelbin.me","df18e6bbbf5d451334d4c301211176d91b7954ff852d53d141551c2c576e47f0","the-reborn-king-chapter-209","the-reborn-king-chapter-207",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]