The journey to the council chamber was not long, yet almost everyone who saw Emilia revealed an expression of terror.
This was hardly surprising, as the tale of the Witch of Jealousy was well-known throughout the country. Even in the remote area where Emilia lived, people knew about the Witch of Jealousy, so naturally, those here were no different.
In the past, such gazes might have made Emilia uncomfortable, but now, although her expression was still somewhat stiff, she could walk forward with ease.
The reason everyone looked at Emilia this way was, of course, not only because of her but also because of Fang Zheng behind her. At this moment, Fang Zheng was not wearing his usual noble attire but was dressed in the armor of the Undead Squad, carrying a Pitch Black Greatsword on his back, a silver dagger hung at his waist, wearing a triangular hat, and a bright red scarf that covered half his face. This unusual appearance naturally attracted the attention of others.
Then, the great doors opened.
As the doors opened, the officials and military officers in the council chamber turned their heads one after another. Upon seeing Emilia and Fang Zheng, they could not suppress their surprise.
"This is..."
"Why is a half-demon here?"
"Reinhard, what kind of joke is this!"
"This is no joke, gentlemen."
Faced with the officials’ angry questions, Reinhard remained calm.
"This is the final Royal Selection Candidate I mentioned."
"Nonsense, how can a half-demon be a Royal Selection Candidate?"
"This is a desecration of Lugnica! A desecration of our ancestors!"
"Not only have you brought in a brat from the slums, now you’re also involving a half-demon? Reinhard, have you lost your mind!?"
The officials berated Reinhard, while Fang Zheng chuckled, nodding his chin.
"See, Emilia, this is the howl of defeated dogs. Do you know why they shout so loudly? Because they know they can’t do anything, can’t change anything. All they can do is bark like stray dogs."
"What did you say?!"
To others, Fang Zheng’s words were like adding fuel to the fire, instantly igniting the whole council chamber.
"This is the sacred Royal Selection meeting, and you dare speak disrespectfully here!?"
"Sacred, this childish trick?"
Fang Zheng spread his hands and pouted.
"As I said, you can’t do anything. You’re not even participants, at most witnesses, what can you do?"
"How dare you say that? A half-demon, how can a half-demon possibly qualify for the Royal Selection...?!"
"Emilia."
Fang Zheng couldn’t be bothered to argue with these stray dogs, he merely snorted, and then Emilia raised her right hand, revealing a badge in the center of her palm that emitted a soft radiance.
At that moment, the noise in the hall vanished almost instantly, as if everyone’s throats had been clutched. All eyes were wide open, staring dumbfounded at the badge in Emilia’s hand.
"You can roll around, throw tantrums, shout, cry, do whatever you want, but you cannot change the fact that Emilia is the chosen Shrine Maiden. If you don’t like it, if you’re unsatisfied, go to Polkini, ask it why it chose Emilia as the Dragon Witch. Go complain to Polkini, tell it it’s senile for choosing a Half-Elf as a Royal Candidate. Demand that Polkini replace her, protest, curse it?"
Fang Zheng’s contemptuous sarcasm echoed in the chamber, but the officials were so livid, their faces pallid, yet unable to muster a word.
Fang Zheng shrugged, looking at Emilia.
"See, a bunch of gutless wimps, only venting their anger on those who won’t fight back. I mean, Reinhard, you’re too soft-hearted. If someone dared talk to me like that, I’d have cut them down already without a second thought. You’re the Kingdom’s first knight, shouldn’t you act like it?"
"That’s right, taking insults without retorting! It’s embarrassing just watching!"
At this point, Felt also complained. Before Emilia came in, she was the one being targeted by those ministers, and Felt was so furious she could barely contain herself. She wanted to roll up her sleeves and teach them a lesson, yet Reinhard stood by, not letting her act...
If only I had made that guy my knight back then.
"Shut up!"
At that moment, an official suddenly rushed out, pointing at Fang Zheng with a flushed face.
"This is the Royal Palace of Lugnica, who are you to speak here, don’t think you can—"
What he intended to say, no one would ever know, for the next moment, everyone’s eyes widened in shock as the official’s head flew high, then fell to the ground. His headless body swayed for a moment before collapsing with a thud, blood splattering onto the clothes of the nearby ministers.
"Who permitted you to speak to me that way?"
Fang Zheng snorted, narrowing his eyes.
"Indeed, stray dogs need to be educated on what manners mean."
"..........."
At that instant, everyone’s gaze on Fang Zheng changed.
They never expected him to actually commit murder in broad daylight, within the Royal Palace of Lugnica, right in this council chamber!
"Looks like my previous warnings fell on deaf ears."
Fang Zheng patted his clothes, dust-free.
"Now, I assume you’ll remember? Let’s see who else?"
"..........."
This time, in response to Fang Zheng’s question, everyone turned their heads away, when suddenly a voice arose.
"Your Excellency Fang Zheng, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?"
The one who spoke this time wasn’t anyone else, but Crusch. At this moment, she had one hand on the hilt of her sword, frowning at Fang Zheng.
"I don’t think so. I warned them before, and even marked a piece of your territory as a warning, but it seems they completely disregarded my warning, and my patience has limits."
Saying this, Fang Zheng fixed his gaze on Crusch.
"I gave them a chance. Since they didn’t believe I would actually kill them, I had no choice but to let them experience it firsthand — he made his choice, now he must bear the consequences."
"..........."
Hearing Fang Zheng’s words, everyone’s expressions twisted. Indeed, although Fang Zheng had threatened them before, they had assumed it to be mere bluster. Even though Fang Zheng had defeated Reinhard and they had ceded territory, to them, it seemed a calculated move to avoid confronting strength. In their eyes, no matter how powerful someone was, it shouldn’t be possible to stand against an entire nation.
But now, the convulsing corpse on the ground proved that their assumptions were wrong.
"Alright, that’s enough."
At this moment, a calm and aged voice broke the deathly silence in the council chamber.
"Since everyone is present, let’s officially begin the agenda."
The representative of the Sage Association, McLottoff, seemed to completely ignore the unlucky soul who had just died, continuing to preside over the meeting as if nothing had happened. The others also acted as if nothing had occurred, as guards silently approached to remove the body. Soon, everything returned to normal.
"Today’s agenda originally included two items, but now through the Dragon Ball, it is confirmed that the five present all have the qualifications of candidates, thus the first item is concluded. Next is the second agenda—who can become the King. After all, although the Dragon Fossil states that five candidates must be gathered, it does not specify the selection method. Therefore, to resolve this issue, let’s first hear from each candidate regarding their determination."
Hearing this, Emilia blinked curiously.
"It sounds just like Mel’s words..."
"It’s about policy outlines, which are essential."
"Then firstly......Master Crusch and her knight, Felix Argyle."
Upon the summon, Crusch stepped forward with the cat-eared crossdresser by her side—no matter how many times Fang Zheng saw this combination, it always felt awkward.
"Candidate for the throne, head of the Karsten duchy, Crusch Karsten. This is my knight, Felix Argyle."
"Then, Master Crusch, please express your thoughts."
"Alright."
In response to McLottoff’s request, Crusch nodded and surveyed the surroundings.
"I am well aware of the expectations everyone holds for a potential ruler like myself. The Karsten family has a deep relationship with the Royal Family and has always had influence over national politics. If I succeed the throne, both the government and the nation will proceed smoothly... isn’t that right?"
"......"
Listening to Crusch’s words, many in attendance nodded in agreement, and even Fang Zheng felt it was quite typical since what’s essential in politics is not change but stability. For the ruling class, the best outcome of a succession is a stable transition, while the worst is a total upheaval. At present, Crusch seemed the favored candidate among all.
Not to mention, she had the accomplishment of slaying the White Whale.
"But I’m sorry to say, I cannot fulfill that expectation."
However, the moment Crusch spoke these words, the atmosphere in the chamber shifted drastically, becoming even heavier than when Fang Zheng killed that official earlier. Many were dumbfounded and looked at Crusch in disbelief, not understanding why she would say such a thing.
Facing the others’ gazes, Crusch remained unfazed and continued speaking.
"The Kin Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica—built under the protection of the ancient covenant with the Dragon, a prosperous nation where all crises are averted under the Dragon’s protection. In war, it can incinerate enemy nations with a mere breath, curing plagues, granting bountiful harvests during famine... I ask you, isn’t that shameful?"
"......"
As Crusch spoke, the atmosphere in the chamber became increasingly unsettled.
"Especially after witnessing Your Excellency Fang Zheng’s actions earlier, my belief in this conviction has only grown stronger."
Upon saying this, Crusch turned her gaze towards Fang Zheng once more.
"Your Excellency Fang Zheng."
"Hmm?"
"Why did you kill that person just now? Regardless, he was still a member of nobility, wasn’t he? But to you, it seemed he was insignificant."
"Nonsense."
Fang Zheng snorted in response.
"Every one here is just a dog raised by Polkini, aren’t they? If someone wants to converse with me as an equal, let Polkini come himself. But if his dog dares to bark at me, isn’t that just seeking death?"
"How bold!"
"Such disrespect towards the Divine Dragon......"
This time, though Fang Zheng’s words stirred another wave of discontented murmurs, perhaps due to previous experience, no one else dared to come forward to meet their end.
"Exactly."
Crusch shook her head.
"None respect us. Although Lugnica is not a small country, we have never attained the respect and status we desire. Why is that? Why hasn’t anyone thought about this? And just as Your Excellency Fang Zheng said, he has the capability to kill anyone here, so does this indicate a crisis for the kingdom? Will the Divine Dragon come to our aid?"
"Since the contract is already established, the Divine Dragon surely won’t turn a blind eye to us!"
"That’s exactly my concern. Relying too much on the Dragon Fossil, once faced with issues neither the Dragon nor the Prophecy Board can handle, we are rendered helpless......"
At this point, Crusch couldn’t help recalling Fang Zheng’s words during the White Whale subjugation; if he actually killed Polkini, would the people of this country seek revenge for the Divine Dragon, or kneel and beg for his protection?
Fang Zheng was sure of the latter.
In fact, Crusch believed it to be true as well.
"If this kingdom would perish without the Dragon’s protection, then it should be destroyed. Excessive gifts lead to stagnation, stagnation brings decay, and decay tolls the death knell; that’s what I believe."
Faced with Crusch’s unexpected declaration, the ministers turned pale.
"Are, are you suggesting to destroy the nation?"
"Of course not. If we would perish without the Dragon, then all we need to do is become the Dragon ourselves. All that the kingdom has relied upon the Dragon for should be borne by the King and all its people instead. Thus, when I ascend to the throne, I will request the Dragon to forget the long-standing covenant, for the Kin Dragon Kingdom Lugnica is not the Dragon’s, but ours."
"........."
This time, no one spoke, and some even appeared lost in thought. Indeed, at first listen, Crusch’s words seemed a complete overturn of tradition, but upon contemplation, she wasn’t wrong. Similar to Fang Zheng’s earlier demonstration, everyone was helpless, only relying on the Divine Dragon. But what if even the Divine Dragon was powerless against him?
Moreover, why do others look down on them? The reason is simple—though they were unwilling to admit it, Fang Zheng’s statement was indeed the truth.
If Lugnica would perish without the Dragon’s protection, then just like a pet that forgets how to hunt when its owner is gone, being looked down upon is inevitable.
For a while, the hall remained silent.
After a moment, McLottoff’s voice resonated once more.
"Then, let us continue."

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