279: Chapter 273 He's slandering you, Your Highness Andrei!

Hotel.

Zhang Mu's figure slowly materialized in the center of the living room, and the trio including Soren immediately gathered around him.

"Lord Marshal, has Andre arrived?"

"His patience is even shorter than I imagined." Zhang Mu waved his hand to signal them to disperse. "Get ready to welcome our His Highness Andre.

Furthermore..."

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and opened the video he had just recorded in Andre's study: "I've made a bit of an unexpected discovery."

Upon hearing this, the three quickly gathered around again, their heads huddled together to look at the phone screen.

The video finished playing shortly after.

Soren was somewhat surprised: "The First Prince knows about the Blood Sacrifice?"

"It's quite obvious now." Tucking the phone back into his pocket, Zhang Mu said, "This group of people all have their own schemes.

The King and the two Archdukes want to use the Blood Sacrifice to promote to Gods Blessing, while Andre intends to be the oriole behind them. As for the Second Prince and the Third Highness...

They seem to know nothing about this, still pondering how to defeat Andre in the struggle for the throne."

"City Lord, if we support the Second Prince, we need to inform him of this news."

"We aren't supporting anyone."

Zhang Mu sat down by the wooden table and picked up the tea he had brewed before leaving: "We'll play our own game."

The three exchanged looks, and Mihe asked: "What should we do?"

"Use the Second Prince's name to win all the City Lords over to our side. Once the ban is lifted, we'll concentrate our forces to destroy the Blood Sacrifice Array and push the Second Prince onto the throne..."

"Win over all the City Lords... is there any hope?" Domit said hesitantly.

"If we reveal Andre's plot to all the City Lords, I don't believe they'll continue to follow him with such unwavering devotion."

"In that case, most City Lords would probably choose to flee back to their own cities."

"Don't worry." Zhang Mu placed the empty teacup back on the table. "They aren't stupid.

If they don't take a stand now, once the ban is lifted, their fate will be to be hunted down one by one by the two Archdukes and the awakened King like mice, brought back to the Royal Capital, and then sent into the Blood Sacrifice Array to become sacrifices."

If it were only the Blood Sacrifice Array, Zhang Mu wouldn't have had much confidence, but with the unexpectedly filmed video proving that Andre also wanted to use them as sacrifices, it was basically a sure thing.

"Uh..." Domit scratched his head, "Even if the plan goes smoothly, the King will wake up with three Saint-levels on their side. Andre has Jarvis's support, which makes four. We... don't have a single one."

Mihe shook his head: "Both sides are plotting for the Blood Sacrifice Array; it's impossible for them to cooperate."

"Does Mr. Mi He mean we should let them fight each other first?" Soren rested his chin in his hand, pondering for a moment before adding, "The statue of god in the cathedral has the True Word Spell, which can instantly kill a Gods Blessing.

Moreover, Jarvis has status magic buffs when fighting near the cathedral. Facing the remaining two alone, I can't say he'd win for sure, but he can certainly maintain a stalemate.

Hmm... the power gap between the two sides is slight; it could work."

Zhang Mu clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention and said, "Don't worry about those things for now; I have arrangements.

Domit."

"Lord Marshal!" He stood up straight.

"There's progress on Geoffrey's new weapons. Tomorrow, go to 'The World' and pick a group of elites from the First Army Soldiers to step up training and research adapted tactics.

By the way, the general direction is decapitation strikes against single top-tier Professionals."

"Understood!"

"Soren, you'll be responsible for contacting the City Lords and keeping communication open. Mihe, you assist him."

"Understood!"

"As for me..." Zhang Mu stood up, "I'll first map out the locations of the mana nodes for the Blood Sacrifice Array, then—"

*Bang! Bang!*

The door was pounded loudly. He walked cheerfully toward the entrance: "They arrived quite quickly."

He pulled open the door to find a Guard standing outside: "City Lord Eji, His Highness Andre summons you. Please proceed to the first-floor hall immediately."

"Soren, follow me."

"Yes."

Glancing at the approaching Soren, the Guard did not stop him and led the two to the first-floor hall.

The hall was very empty at the moment.

Furniture, decorations, and even the reception counter had been moved to the corners and piled together. Only a beast-skin sofa remained in the center, where Andre sat lazily.

The five City Lords who had reported the news were lined up behind him.

Zhang Mu stood leisurely across from him, his hands behind his back.

"What does Your Highness wish to see me about?"

Looking around and hearing movement as other City Lords arrived to check the situation, Andre smiled and said, "No rush, let's wait a bit longer."

Once the hall was packed with City Lords, Andre finally launched his interrogation: "City Lord Eji, has the Royal Family mistreated you?"

"It's been alright."

"Then why would you slander the Royal Family?"

He didn't beat around the bush, launching a direct attack.

Zhang Mu looked shocked: "Why does Your Highness sully my innocence?"

Still trying to deny it?

With the corners of his mouth curling up, Andre beckoned behind him. A City Lord stepped forward, chest out: "City Lord Eji received the Royal Family's grace yet harbored ill intentions, actually slandering the Royal Family by claiming they set up a Blood Sacrifice Array in the Royal Capital, intending to sacrifice us City Lords from various regions."

After speaking, he paused for a few seconds and declared loudly: "He should be sentenced to hanging!"

As his voice fell, the expressions of the surrounding City Lords varied.

Some were thoughtful, others had realizations—these were the City Lords belonging to Andre.

There were also those who were anxious, worried, or blaming—these were the City Lords of the Second Prince and the Third Highness.

Among the latter, someone couldn't help but step out of the crowd: "Your Highness, City Lord Eji recently thwarted an attack from the Kingdom and defended the Kingdom's borders. His loyalty need not be—"

"Step back." Andre's gaze was cold.

Another City Lord stood up in support: "Your Highness, you shouldn't rashly—"

"Rashly?" Andre sneered a few times and reached his hand behind him. "Bring it here."

The City Lord who had spoken earlier immediately pulled a square iron block with a metallic luster from the sleeve of his robe and placed it respectfully in Andre's palm.

"Using transformation magic to impersonate the two Archdukes of the Kingdom, and even slandering the King for plotting against the City Lords in his words—this is the evidence."

The two City Lords who had argued were dumbfounded. They hadn't expected Andre to be so shameless, discarding even the dignity of a prince to distort the facts in public.

They wanted to refute him, but instantly realized the situation had been salvaged for Andre.

The reason was simple.

As long as Andre raised a suspicion, an investigation into the incident was inevitable. Regardless of the final result, he would have a legitimate reason to detain City Lord Eji in the meantime.

If the man were taken to Andre's own territory, would he ever come back alive?

The two sighed deeply, said no more, and retreated back into the crowd.

As one of them passed Zhang Mu, he whispered: "City Lord Eji, you were too reckless. You should have consulted with us before acting."

Zhang Mu patted his shoulder with a smile, leaving the man looking confused.

Given his actions of offending Andre a few days ago, City Lord Eji would likely suffer cruel torture before he died. How could he still be smiling?

Retreating into the crowd, he looked curiously toward the center of the hall.

Zhang Mu stepped forward a few paces and glanced at the phone in Andre's hand: "Your Highness, I never had anyone impersonate the two Archdukes."

"Still trying to quibble? Resistance is meaningless." Andre's eyes held mockery. "Resit, play the footage."

The City Lord who had spoken before moved in front of him, first performing a knightly salute, then tapping the dark screen with his index finger.

Nothing happened.

Seeing this, the spectating City Lords began whispering to each other, wondering what was going on.

Andre frowned and cast an inquiring look at him.

"Your Highness, I need to pick it up."

"Hmm."

Having received permission, he hurriedly took the phone and tapped the screen rapidly.

However, after trying for a long time, the dark screen showed no response.

The gloom in Andre's eyes deepened.

Cold sweat broke out on Resit's forehead. His hands felt and squeezed all over the phone, occasionally curling his fingers to tap it a couple of times.

Just as he was so nervous that his vision was going dark, his right hand accidentally pressed a button on the side, and the screen finally lit up.

"It's on! It's on, Your Highness!"

"Play the footage."

"Understood!"

He excitedly reached out his finger to tap again, but the nightmare returned.

He nearly broke his finger tapping, but that picture of a beach wouldn't move.

Damn it!

The footage clearly moved with just a tap before. What was wrong now?!

Zhang Mu picked his ear nonchalantly: "Are we done yet?"

Andre's eyelid twitched incessantly as he asked in a low voice: "Is it ready?"

"It..." Resit swallowed hard. "It seems to be broken... yes, it must be broken!"

He quickly moved behind the sofa and asked for all the phones from the remaining four City Lords, trying them one by one.

By this time, the City Lords belonging to Andre's faction had already foreseen what was about to happen.

That fellow would definitely ask them for their phones.

The clever ones silently exited the hall, while the duller ones were pulled away by the former.

They knew in their hearts that the Blood Sacrifice Array was likely real.

Since that City Lord Eji had notified everyone, he must have a countermeasure.

Since these City Lords didn't want to fall out with Andre yet but also hoped to save Zhang Mu's life, leaving the scene was the best option.

As for the City Lords in the Second Prince's camp, they stood their ground calmly.

They were already on opposite sides of Andre, so they naturally had no qualms.

Sure enough, after Resit tried the four phones and still couldn't bring up the footage, he randomly shifted his gaze to the City Lords present.

"Quickly, hand over the magic items!"

Perhaps because he was flustered, the first one he approached was the very City Lord who had just refuted Andre.

The City Lord smiled slightly: "What magic item?

Mr. Resit, just say the word. If I have it, I certainly won't be stingy."

"Don't play dumb with me!" His face was contorted. "Eji gave one to everyone. Hand it over!"

"City Lord Eji never gave me any magic item." He scanned the surroundings. "Everyone here can testify to that."

The City Lords immediately chimed in.

"That's right, City Lord Eji never gave me any magic item at all."

"I didn't receive one either. How about you?" the speaker asked, turning his head.

"Same here."

The City Lord who was first questioned laughed: "You see, Mr. Resit, no one has them."

Someone crossed their arms and teased: "Then what's the situation? Why did Mr. Resit say everyone has one?"

"I understand now." Zhang Mu took over with a look of realization. "It must be that Resit is secretly dissatisfied with the Royal Family, so he found someone to impersonate the Archdukes to slander them.

Then he planted a magic item in everyone's room, intending to frame us for the crime.

It's just that he seems to have made a mistake during the execution, or perhaps the City Lords were alert enough that he failed to sneak the magic items into our rooms."

"You're talking nonsense!" Resit pointed at him in a rage. "What reason would I have—"

"You still dare to deny it?!"

Zhang Mu suddenly leaped up, using the back of the sofa as a springboard. One foot intentionally or unintentionally kicked Andre in the bridge of the nose, and then, using the momentum of his dive, he punched Resit right in the eye socket.

"City Lords, show your loyalty to the Royal Family right now!"

Sitting atop the fallen Resit, Zhang Mu rained down punches while reminding the others.

For High-level mage Professionals, only releasing magic or mobilizing mana for combat counted as using force; simple physical brawling was just considered a scuffle.

The City Lords recalled this Church regulation that they had usually ignored in the past.

Coming to their senses, all the mages shouted "How dare you slander the Royal Family!" as they swarmed around the sofa toward the five City Lords, rolling up their sleeves to punch and kick.

Some felt their fists lacked power and simply used their staffs as clubs, gripping the base with both hands and swinging them down.

One must know that as High-tier Professionals, they never spared any expense in investing in their weapons.

Those staffs were all made of refined steel. The five City Lords who tried to resist but were beaten to the ground by the far superior numbers of the crowd let out screams that were truly heart-wrenching to hear!

Meanwhile, the knight-class City Lords standing there watched the others enjoy the beating with longing, their hands itching but forced to hold back, regretting for the first time in their lives that they hadn't chosen to be mages in their youth.

A group of noble mages were now like village Farmers, brawling in a complete mess without any decorum. Andre was dazed for several minutes before he snapped out of it and shouted to stop them:

"All of you, stop!"

The City Lords instinctively stopped and looked up at Andre, who had a footprint on his left cheek.

Zhang Mu, still sitting on Resit, swung his fists even more vigorously: "Resit's slander of the Royal Family is slander against Your Highness. He is slandering you, His Highness Andre!"

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up: "How dare you slander His Highness Andre!"

After the curse, they continued to swing their staffs.

"Stop!"

Andre's roar echoed in the hall. The City Lords felt they shouldn't take it too far, so they all put away their staffs and dispersed, except for Zhang Mu, who was still pummeling his target.

His face was dark: "City Lord Eji, it's time to attend the debriefing meeting."

"I'm not going."

Clenching his fists, Andre took a deep breath to calm his irritation: "Resit and the others have to go."

"Oh, right."

Zhang Mu released the black-and-blue Resit and patted his rear as he stood up: "Your Highness, I think we should still sentence him to hanging. This kind of audacity... wait, what's wrong with you?"

Seeing the footprint on his right cheek, Zhang Mu looked shocked: "Someone actually ambushed Your Highness?!

Who? Who did it?"

Looking around, everyone was staring at the ceiling, almost whistling to prove their innocence. He seemed to realize something and kicked Resit again.

Resit thought the group beating was over and was halfway through crawling up with a face full of grievances when he was kicked over again unexpectedly.

After being humiliated repeatedly, he snapped.

Almost leaping up, he pulled out his staff, intending to fight Zhang Mu to the death.

The City Lords who had already quieted down were overjoyed and quickly pulled out the staffs they had just put away.

He's the one who wanted to start a fight!

The four City Lords behind who had been beaten while holding their heads hurriedly grabbed Resit's limbs from behind: "Calm down, there are more of them!"

"Enough!" Seeing the City Lords about to swarm forward again, Andre roared.

Once everyone was quiet, he walked toward the door with a cold face: "Clean yourselves up and go to the debriefing meeting."

Zhang Mu watched the five City Lords support each other as they ran toward the stairs to escape back to their rooms. He flicked his sleeve and also turned to go back to his room.

"City Lord Eji, please wait a moment."

The voice held a bone-chilling coldness. His footsteps halted, and he slowly turned around to look at the ice-blue figure standing outside the door: "Princess Highness, good day."