Chapter 849: The Death of the Consul

"Gneus is dead!"

Lei En received the news synchronized from his avatar in Glamorogen and was instantly shocked, half‑in disbelief and a little unprepared.

A month ago, the Consul was still fine.

Gneus is a Saint Rank elite in his prime; he could not simply die without cause. Moreover, he is a 23rd‑level Sword Saint, whose power is immense, constantly guarded by the Rick Guard, making assassinating him as hard as killing a Holy Soul Wizard.

However, the news came via magical transmission from the teacher, leaving Lei En no choice but to believe it.

He immediately left the mechanical alchemy chamber, teleported back to Glamorogen, and upon reaching the Weizelan Tower discovered the teacher had already entered the projection room, holding a private talk with other Holy Soul Wizards.

For reasons unknown, the teacher shut the projection room's door, preventing anyone from peeking.

Lei En waited a moment.

Anxiwodasi's voice came from the projection room: "Lei En, go to Nuosiruier for me and see the scene yourself; the incident occurred at the Osp Manor on West Mountain."

"Yes, teacher."

Lei En set off at once, teleporting to Marlinge Manor in Nuosiruier.

It was afternoon; Viola had gone out with a squad of Extreme Warriors protecting her, and Marlinge Manor remained tranquil, evidently the Consul's sudden death had not yet spread.

He greeted the lady butler and asked, "Madam Abigail, where is Osp Manor?"

Abigail paused briefly, then quickly gave the address.

"Thank you." Lei En nodded.

Then, under her puzzled stare, Lei En instantly teleported away.

Marlinge Manor also lies at the foot of West Mountain, the Empire's most famous affluent district, situated on Nuosiruier's western outskirts, where officials, nobles and tycoons have built mansions and villas amid serene surroundings and pleasant scenery.

Osp Manor is one of West Mountain's top‑tier estates, yet its reputation is low and its owner is highly mysterious, rarely seen by anyone.

From high above, Lei En spotted Osp Manor at a glance.

It was already surrounded by layers of Rick Guard, with many people moving inside the manor. Besides the Rick Guard, there were Holy Sword Knights in silver armor, Nuosiruier's demon‑clearing squad, and several powerful wizards, among whom were a few old acquaintances.

After another teleport, Lei En appeared in the manor's courtyard.

"Who?"

Lei En's presence startled the nearby Rick Guard, who raised their weapons and soul spears like birds startled from a drawn bow.

When they saw Lei En clearly, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Chairman Lei En!"

Almost everyone in the Empire knew Lei En, and they quickly bowed respectfully.

Although Lei En is not yet a Holy Soul Wizard, in the people's eyes his status already equals that of a Holy Soul Wizard, his prestige even surpassing that of several low‑profile Holy Soul Wizards.

Lei En nodded, stepped over the tangled lawn and entered the hall.

His brows twitched slightly; as soon as he entered the manor, the "Elephant Trunk Technique" detected a nauseating scent of blood, instantly locating its source. The All‑Seeing Eye pierced the wall, and his gaze froze at the sight of a truly horrific scene.

"Gneus really is dead…"

Lei En felt conflicted; this unexpected turn completely upended his plans.

He could not immediately decide how to react, so he entered the hall, where several people had already arrived, all sent by Holy Soul Wizards like himself.

Master TimKainan's student Master Otiluk, the Silver Star Duke's student Andro, Storm Queen's student and lover Alamanse, Vice Dean Sidney*Rickman of BrewotzAcademy, and KangJieladeGreatSage's student Kailanna.

These individuals are all members of the Naiser Supervision Group.

They meet once each quarter, are well acquainted, and upon seeing Lei En enter they nodded in greeting without speaking.

"Lei En."

Rick Guard commander Haiskto stood in the middle of the hall; this Saint Rank elite, a powerful Black Knight and Dragon Knight, now looked gaunt, his towering two‑meter‑plus frame betraying a hint of unease.

He greeted them and said, "Wait a moment; once everyone arrives we will inspect the scene."

Soon, two more people arrived at the manor.

Lei En was unfamiliar with both, though he could guess their identities.

One was a 19th‑level Legendary Peak psychic of average build and youthful looks, Montalin, the most outstanding student of Kerlstone, whose reputation in ParrasFloatingCity ranks just below Duke Hong Shi himself, and who often manages the floating city in the teacher's stead.

Montalin mentally leapt from afar into the hall, his first gaze fixed on Lei En, his expression cold, his hostility unmistakable.

Lei En's face showed no ripple.

He was more intrigued by the witch who entered behind her: she bore the signature silver hair, was tall and beautiful, her upper body clad in enchanted mithril light armor, beneath a silk magical robe, a wand hanging at her waist; though she appeared calm now, she clearly was usually a sunny, lively woman.

From her looks and bearing, it was obvious without guessing that she was one of the Seven Sisters.

However, most of those present did not know her.

"I am Dofu*Risuja, and that old codger sent me." the silver‑haired witch introduced herself simply upon entering.

Everyone understood immediately.

Among Holy Soul Wizards, the only one fitting the "old codger" image is Master Howai. The witch did not state her exact relation to Master Howai, but the closeness was evident; otherwise she would not have been sent.

Lei En examined with his Soul Eye.

Dofu is also a thousand‑spell wizard, a 19th‑level Legendary Peak. She also works as an elemental archer and, unsurprisingly, is a Chosen One of the God of Magic, wielding Silver Fire and possessing formidable strength.

Her perception was extremely sharp; she looked back at Lei En, appraising him with an inquisitive gaze.

Obviously, Dofu had often heard Lei En's name from her sisters.

"Everyone."

Haiskto said gravely, "You all already know: the Consul passed away last night at Osp Manor…"

"The Consul is dead?" Dofu's eyes widened, her expression extremely shocked.

"Miss Dofu still didn't know?" Haiskto exclaimed.

"I just happened to be in Nuosiruier recently; that old codger suddenly sent me a magical message to come here, without saying what happened." Dofu was still in extreme shock; she had just sensed something off about the manor's and hall's atmosphere, guessed something major had occurred, but never expected it to be this huge.

"The old codger set me up!"

"Had I known, I wouldn't have come." Dofu snapped back to herself, muttering through clenched teeth, clearly unwilling to wade into this mess.

Hai Si Ke Tuo pretended not to hear, "Everyone, follow me."

He led the group through the hall to the garden behind; the meticulously tended garden was vast, and even in early winter many fresh flowers were in full bloom, a sight beyond description. However, it had already been trampled to pieces by Rui Ke's Imperial Guard, leaving the ground in a chaotic mess.

In the middle of the great garden stood a three‑story loft, apparently dedicated to flower viewing.

Outside the loft, squads of Rui Ke's Imperial Guard formed human‑wall checkpoints, and the Justice Church's Holy Sword Knights were conducting a carpet‑style search, leaving no trace unchecked.

The closer they got to the loft, the stronger the scent of blood became.

Everyone's expression grew solemn.

"Open the door."

Hai Si Ke Tuo stepped forward and gave the order; two legendary Iron Guards pushed open the first‑floor hall of the loft, revealing the scene inside.

At once, a mingling of rotten stench and blood‑laden air surged from behind the door.

The Wizards' faces changed wildly.

The first floor of the loft spanned several hundred square meters, originally decorated with elegant luxury, but at the very center stood a rhombus‑shaped altar over half a meter tall, clearly brought in from outside, built of a black stone and etched with rows of bizarre runes.

Lying on the altar was a corpse.

The corpse's organs had been gutted and laid at the altar's edge; its limbs were dismembered and arranged together into a grotesque shape. The head remained, but the scalp was stripped off, the facial flesh scraped clean, exposing stark white bone, leaving only the skull attached to the body.

Countless streams of blood poured from the corpse, spreading across the entire altar and filling the etched runes with a crimson hue.

At the corpse's chest lay an open tome.

In the room were dozens of other corpses treated in the same manner, human body fragments, organs and bones arranged into terrifying configurations.

The floor was drenched with a layer of blood, which congealed into thick black clumps.

The walls and ceiling were covered with dense blood runes, twisted and grotesque, claw‑like, resembling the scribbles of a deranged mind; faint phrases could be made out, apparently the doctrine of some evil god.

The aura of evil was so intense it seemed almost solid.

This room was more terrifying than the Abyssal Hell, chilling to the bone.

If an ordinary person saw this scene, a single glance could drive them instantly mad. Even the legendary Wizards standing at the doorway felt their souls shudder.

"Sacrificial ceremony!"

Storm Queen's student Alamanse let out a scream.

The others' faces were also very grim; Duo Fu couldn't help covering his nose, almost unable to keep from vomiting.

Ou Ti Lu Ke gave it a glance and said gravely, "This is Luo Xi's sacrificial ceremony; the altar and the wall bear the doctrine of this madman, that book is the Book of Luo Xi."

The Wizards all nodded.

Lei En recognized it as soon as he entered the manor.

He was very familiar with the scene; seven years ago, when he first crossed into Ai Lun E Si, he had encountered a Luo Xi sacrificial ceremony in the basement of a manor outside Longshande, and after killing the sacrificer Ai Si Bo Ge, he had acquired the Conflict Mark.

But this time, the scale and specifications far exceeded those of the past!

All the offerings were transcendants.

The corpse on the altar was Ge Nie Wu Si!

Even though the body had been sliced to the point of being almost unrecognizable, the All‑Seeing Eye could still identify, from certain features and the lingering thunder aura, that it was Ge Nie Wu Si, not an impostor, and could not be mistaken.

Lei En was silent in his heart.

Ge Nie Wu Si had a good relationship with him; he was an ambitious man, a distinguished Saint Rank elite, a three‑term Consul of the Empire, and seeing him meet such a tragic end was truly heartbreaking.

Most importantly, Ge Nie Wu Si's soul had been offered to Luo Xi.

After death he could not ascend to the God of Magic's divine realm, and would forever be tormented by Luo Xi, a fate worse than death.

To preside over such a large sacrificial ceremony, one could not be an ordinary Luo Xi follower.

At least they were Saint Rank elites, and likely several of them acted together, having plotted for a long time.

The legendary Wizards stood outside the door, daring not to step inside.

It was to protect the scene.

Lei En broke the silence and asked, "When was it discovered?"

"Just before dawn."

Hai Si Ke Tuo replied, "I received the news and immediately reported it to the Supreme Council. This morning several Holy Soul Wizards came to inspect. Lu Si Pe Er and three arbiters have already entered and checked several times, confirming the murderer is a follower of Luo Xi, not a frame‑up."

Lei En gave a slight nod; the Justice Church are experts at cutting down evil, and the Pope has already confirmed the murderer, so it is unlikely to be wrong.

"Another Luo Xi follower!" Duo Fu said resentfully.

The legendary Wizards were also extremely angry.

Regardless of factional stance, everyone was a subject of the Empire and a follower of the goddess.

Luo Xi the Deceiver, this evil god, is the goddess's number‑one nemesis and the most despised evil god among all Empire folk. His follower lackeys, the "Dark Sun" and "Shadow Blade" evil organizations, have committed countless heinous crimes across the Empire, a blood‑deep hatred that cannot be washed away.

Now even an Empire Consul has been assassinated and offered as a sacrifice to Luo Xi.

One can imagine the massive shock to the Empire once the news spreads, a grievous blow to the people's morale.

"This time, we cannot tolerate it!"

"We must retaliate!"

The legendary Wizards suppressed their fury, and Ande Luo asked, "Commander Hai Si Ke Tuo, have the Imperial Guard, the Demon‑Clearing Squad, and the Justice Church's investigation found any clue to the murderer after all this time?"

"No." Hai Si Ke Tuo shook his head slowly.

Immediately, the legendary Wizards felt some discontent and wanted to question, but because Hai Si Ke Tuo was a Saint Rank elite, high‑ranking and influential, they hesitated.

Lei En ignored that and pressed on, "Commander Hai Si Ke Tuo, where were you last night? Why weren't you by the Consul's side?"

Rui Ke's Imperial Guard's duty is to protect the Consul.

Hai Si Ke Tuo, as the Imperial Guard commander and Ge Nie Wu Si's confidant, only discovered the Consul's death at daybreak; this is a grave dereliction of duty!

A massive shadow force roiled within Hai Si Ke Tuo, and his eyes turned jet‑black.

The aura of a Saint Rank elite made the Wizards instinctively step back.

Lei En stood still, his body suddenly swelling to three meters tall, skin crackling with electric light, looking down on Haisuketo, and his even more terrifying power easily suppressed the opponent.

The Rick Guard and the legendary Wizards all turned pale, hastily retreating farther away.

"What are you hiding?"

Lei En's voice was like thunder, shaking people's eardrums to a sting.

Haisuketo seemed to be doused with a bucket of cold water, his restless emotions instantly calmed; after hesitating for a few seconds, he replied, "Osop Manor is the Consul's secret residence; every week he spends a night here with Lady Eleanor, and he told me I need not follow."

"I have already reported these to Lusper under his crown, there was no intention to conceal."

He looked up at the giant Lei En, his eyes full of astonishment, yet his face remained calm, sighing, "I am only very guilty for failing to protect the Consul, Chairman Lei En, please do not misunderstand."

Update was 20 minutes late, sorry!

(End of Chapter)