Chapter 586: with translation of chapter title

Therefore, the airship stopped early upon arriving near the capital region, and the Pope personally led several Flower-rank envoys into the Royal Capital.

She slowly ascended the platform formed by intertwined plant canopies, and before everyone she performed a deep, respectful bow to the new king.

«Deep Forest Pope Messiah, I pay my respects to Your Majesty the King! »

Although his limbs appeared stiff, with the queen's support the young king also struggled to his feet and returned a proper salute.

«Lionheart King Davinson, I pay my respects to Your Holiness the Pope! »

Although they look like two old guys who just got out of bed, standing at the hut entrance greeting each other, anyway everyone's just old geezers, so it's fine.

But this actually means that, as the representative of ecclesiastical authority, the Pope recognized the king, and as the representative of royal authority, the king also recognized the Pope.

The two peaks of Deep Forest's power thus mutually acknowledged each other's existence, forming a force almost impossible to shake.

This child also officially became the legitimate twenty-eighth Lionheart, and even if he died now, his name could be recorded in the histories stroke by stroke.

What?

You ask me what to do about what happened earlier in the capital region, and you want to know exactly how the former king died.

Look, why are you being so stubborn about this? Haven't we already moved on?

Don't wear a sour face, come have a drink, and then quickly forget this matter.

Otherwise, the messenger cavalry on the roof might just unleash a heavenly soldier descent, dragging off your mother and your entire clan.

So just like the death of the ancestral king, the Shen Lin Wang Guo now has another absolute taboo, a new you-know-who.

The sun set in the west, and this day thus came to a close.

Unexpectedly, the papal troops did not leave, but instead quietly disappeared into the forests of the capital region alongside their Pope.

But the impact of this day is far from over; the series of events that occurred in Deep Forest is truly bizarre, with some problems urgently needing resolution.

After the spies from all factions gathered in the capital region's wilderness and participated in the grand event, they all returned to their respective rear bases, seeking their patrons.

«Sir, this is intelligence I bought with my life…… I need more money! »

«Insolent! Greedy‑minded wretch, look who you're talking to—wasn't the price we agreed on already generous enough? »

«You're right, but my information contains exclusive news, and I heard that the Pioneers over there seem to be opening double pay…»

«Damn, you really know how to do business! »

If the swearing‑off‑departing Xiguang old steward knew that this spy before him was not just an information dealer but actually had another identity…

And if that other identity were precisely a YangYueExternalAffairsBureau intelligence operative disguised as a local, he would probably curse even more foully.

«Wuhu, I got the event funds for free! »

And in Qixia City, it feels as if the king's passing was just yesterday to the great nobles, who even now have the sensation that they are living in a dream.

Good grief, earlier I was anxiously worrying that this autumn Deep Forest might take advantage of our unstable surroundings and come down the mountain to raid us heavily.

Now autumn is almost here, hehe, guess what? The Lionheart King kicked the bucket! Now Deep Forest has even fewer rulers and more doubts than our side.

For a while, all the officials in court felt a weakness after enduring the pressure, and even the atmosphere of that evening's palace meeting relaxed considerably.

Fiya: ……

Eh!

If I were to propose now that I go alone to visit the Holy Mountain, would they possibly die of anger on the spot?

But unfortunately, today's meeting probably doesn't have time for her to anger the old-timers, because after a brief relaxation everyone got tangled up again.

After all, no matter how you say it, Deep Forest is YangYue's foremost power, yet its upper echelons have undergone a major change for no apparent reason under unnatural circumstances.

Perhaps behind all this there are various reasons?

Thus, after some discussion and debate, the elders on the meeting floor split directly into two factions and began a fierce war of words.

One faction holds that, as a neighboring state, Xiguang should officially express concern over this matter, at least by sending an envoy team to inquire about the specifics.

The other faction says, 'Who cares about concern? Could that queen be any good? Just watch—within the year, damn it, they'll surely come back to fight us again!'

……

«Um, Your Grace the Duke, have you finished speaking? »

«Finished. »

«Then may I ask you to come down from the table? Uh… mainly, I see everyone's cups are nearly empty, so it's time to call the servants in to serve tea. »

«Oh, certainly…»

But unlike the optimistic and dignified Arc-light Duke and the pessimistic and blunt Xiguang Duke, Ji Ming's line of thought goes in another direction.

Although after learning of this from the Holy Maiden he was a bit puzzled, he dares to guarantee that behind all this there is surely a great hand pulling the strings.

For, judging from the written description, that so‑called Queen Vanessa… her appearance really looks a bit like the classic black‑stocking‑wrapped‑breasts from a domestic 3D second‑tier game.

No, the point isn't that; it's that she's truly obsessed to the point that her whole body besides her head is wrapped up, even her fingers are each bound individually.

And on the only part of her face where any color can be seen, she wears heavy makeup like a street‑walking chanteuse, completely lacking any regal queenly grace.

Ji Ming dares to guarantee that she is the one whose body was usurped by that utterly superb father of the Magic Emperor, becoming the nineteenth imperial princess of the Dark Flame Empire in his brand‑new skinsuit.

And the false emperor does this precisely to conceal the magic holy sigil that spreads across her body, which can never be erased and even emits its own light.

But the problem is, what is the purpose and meaning behind this great hand of the Magic Emperor that has brought things to this state?

Could it be that he contacted earthly history from the players and wants to stack a mystic buff of the Leprosy King plus the Black Queen?

……

Hold on!

So, does this guy who has a man's heart but a woman's body, and dresses like a two‑dimensional character, actively marry…?

!!!

Ji Ming instantly felt a chill run down his spine—holy shit, to be able to do something like this, the Magic Emperor must absolutely be a lunatic!

The facts prove his judgment was correct, even overly so, because a non‑lunatic could never pull off such a thing!

Then, on the eighth day, dozens of messenger cavalry commanders, each of rank seventy or higher, suddenly led tens of thousands of iron cavalry charging out of the capital region.

And this time what they want to proclaim to the world is not some mysterious message from a riddler.

It is a clear decree that allows the royal insignia to be raised and grants unhindered passage wherever it goes—a true royal command!

"The Lionheart King commands: wage war, slaughter!"

Wage war—but whose war is it?

Slaughter—but whose slaughter is it?

The lords everywhere were so frightened they skipped breakfast, threw down their knives and forks, shoved aside the maids, and hurried to the gates of their own castles, kneeling half‑down to await orders.

The more conservative thought His Majesty intended to pick on a small border state, give everyone a meaty meal, and shift public opinion in the process.

The more radical believed His Majesty's new reign of refined governance, relying on his strong troops and sturdy horses, was preparing to avenge last year's northern border humiliation by completely crushing the beastmen of Patmos.

Some even thought His Majesty was short on money, planning to cross the southern towering mountains to invade the barbaric wilderness and give the Pioneers a little shock from the Deep Forest.

But as said before, Ji Ming's judgment was correct—the Dark Flame false emperor really is a lunatic.

So this royal decree turns out to be——

"His Majesty has gone mad—he wants to attack Radiance!"

Although objectively speaking, the war between the Deep Forest and Radiance has been going on for several decades without ever stopping.

But no matter how the Deep Forest previously bullied people, at least they hid their faces, raided under the banner of "bandits" from the mountains, and never occupied land.

After all, a war between great powers is too heavy a burden; everyone is a civilized person who cares about face, and one cannot simply tear off that face.

The same holds true on Earth: the side that profits from war prefers to beautify it with terms like "armed conflict" and "special military operation."

Anyway, don't worry about what I'm doing—even if I massacre civilians and haul back truckloads of oil, it's still purely a "counter‑terrorism operation," right!

But what about now?

That child‑king actually wants to bring this shady under‑table business out into the open, and his first move is to oppose another kingdom.

This…

Considering the current world situation, Patmos, the traditional enemy of the Deep Forest, will surely come to lend a hand—Khan, please issue the order, thank you!

The Pioneers, who are already deeply tied to Radiance and sell their goods everywhere, will certainly support Radiance on the side, even if only for profit.

Lingxi across the ocean is also a problem; that greedy lot is likely to be bought off by Radiance or the High Tower Community and then strike at the Deep Forest's rear.

So to speak frankly, if this war really breaks out, it could very well turn into a damn world war!

Moreover, it's similar to that certain Earth man with only one 'o' in his name—flaunting power by shooting left and right, only to get caught in a pincer and end up looking like an idiot.

If this had happened before—even just last week, while the former king was still alive—there would definitely have been a flurry of opposition flying toward the capital like snowflakes.

No, if the former king were still alive, a normal monarch could never possibly issue such a bizarre, reckless royal decree!

But in this terrifying age where the heavens changed overnight, nobody dares to question any order coming from the Capital Region.

Moreover, the letters sent to every lord across the nation are still delivered by the elite messenger cavalry led by a level‑70 knight captain.

Ha ha, besides Deadpool and Wolverine, who would dare to question a gun stuck to their own forehead?

So whether duke or baron, they can only let out a helpless long sigh after hesitating with a bit of resentment.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will surely give my all to support Your Majesty's decision……"

But regardless of their reaction, after this royal decree was issued, the great forest of the Capital Region began to spawn troops nonstop, like a bug‑queen's hive.

One squad after another of armored soldiers marched out, silent as a black army of the dead, gathering silently toward the kingdom's eastern border.

But no matter how efficient, launching an offensive still takes time—and this interval has already been enough for the Lionheart King's declaration of war to reach Qixia.

Now it's pointless to talk optimism or pessimism; even a passerby thinks this is utterly absurd—surely nobody is faking a royal decree!

Thus, Muxiting's door was kicked open by the Xiguang Duke himself, and as the Deep Forest ambassador he was straightaway bound and taken to the Sun Castle.

"Speak, what's going on?"

The prince‑consort glanced and exclaimed, "Eh yo yo!"—it turned out several dukes were jointly convening a trial with Her Majesty, ready to resort to severe punishment at the slightest disagreement!

But no severe punishment was needed either, for upon seeing his situation clearly, the strongest soft‑rice husband of Yangyue burst into hysterical sobbing in public.

"Wuu wuu wuu wuu wuu qwq!"

Everyone stared at each other, then all at once turned their gaze to the Xiguang Duke.

Xiguang Duke: "……"

"No, no, that's Old Moonlight's hobby—I didn't do anything!"

Probably also caring about his reputation, Muxiting, after a few dry howls, hurriedly began to recount his woes in fits and starts.

In short, he was dumped by the elder princess and now has no more soft rice to eat—qwq.

"Ah! No! I didn't mean that!"

After rejecting the Arc Duke's absurd summary, Muxiting wiped a tear and produced one white and one pink envelope.

"Look, this is the letter the princess gave me this time, and that's her previous one—do you see anything?"

Funny enough, since everyone was fighting to see the newest one, the pink envelope ended up in the hands of Fiya, who had been watching the whole show.

She hesitantly unfolded it; as her eyes scanned, her originally curious expression gradually stiffened, finally turning into a strange remark.

"You…… are you usually this enthusiastic?"

"Uh‑uh."

Even though he was a diplomat with skin as thick as a wall, Muxiting couldn't help but cover his blushing face and give an embarrassed grin.

"Ha ha, Your Majesty, you're laughing—this is just a little… private amusement between us; you can skip the first few lines and read the rest!"

Yes, this is a family letter from the elder princess to Muxiting…… after a nearly thousand‑word, extravagantly exaggerated essay on the theme of ES affection.

But from this one can see that, although he is a son‑in‑law living in his wife's home, their marital feelings are still quite sincere—saying they are like oil mixed in honey is not an exaggeration.

At least the kingdom's elder princess, known for her gentle grace and candid conduct, is willing to tear off her mask before him and frankly express her feelings.

So this is such a couple, yet shortly after half a month, the wife suddenly sent a cold, icy divorce notice?

"No, not only that! Come, take a close look!"

Mu Xiting also went all out, directly beginning to explain to everyone the mystery behind these two letters.

Nothing is tougher than the imperial family; even a secret family letter exchanged between husband and wife actually hides a code inside.

For example, in the vivid description of the first part of the pink family letter, the Elder Princess actually used several specific terms to hint to Mu Xiting that the atmosphere in the Royal Capital has been off lately.

Furthermore, by cross-referencing some numbers later with the kingdom's nobility register, one can conclude that a Star Fire Marquis in Long Peace City has recently gained great imperial favor, because he presented a beauty to the Sun King!