Conspiracy and War

Staring at the enormous eyeball hovering in the sky...

All the supernaturals waited patiently for a long time, yet the thing showed no signs of movement. It seemed truly indifferent to the trivial affairs of the "mortal world"...

Luo Wei had always believed that Pollution Level was directly linked to danger. So, if this thing's Pollution Level was "0," then... was it truly absolutely harmless?

"That giant eyeball doesn’t seem like it’s going to hurt us?" Ophelia voiced her confusion. "It’s been floating up there for ages, just spinning around..."

"Almost like some kind of self-defense mechanism..." Luo Wei speculated. Logically, the power of faith had been dwindling, and Eleya should have long since degraded from a demigod to an ordinary supernatural. Yet now, this bizarre scene had unfolded...

"Let’s wait a little longer. If it still doesn’t react..." Ophelia suggested with a deadpan joke, "Why don’t we just take it home with us?"

"I wouldn’t mind bringing it back either..." Luo Wei sighed helplessly. In this state, Eleya might have a Pollution Level of 0, but her affection level was equally nonexistent—it was as if she had no human emotions at all.

"We can’t just keep waiting like this." Ophelia gazed into the distance as the city defense forces finally arrived. "If it’s alive, maybe we can raise it and develop some affection. Then you could contain it properly."

Luo Wei was almost tempted by the idea. But just as he was about to move closer to examine the giant eyeball...

With a thunderous rumble, the city defense troops finally reached the scene. He spotted the Second Prince astride a towering warhorse, accompanied by the Royal Court’s Chief Mage, Hawkins.

"My god, what in the world is that?" Hawkins exclaimed, staring up at the sky in shock.

The Second Prince was clearly startled by the enormous eyeball as well. But after remaining on high alert for a while, he, like the agents, realized it posed no threat—it simply rotated peacefully in midair. Finally, he let out a relieved sigh.

"Is this something the Church created? Or is it the true form of that Saintess?" He turned to Hawkins in confusion. "Master Hawkins, what do you think? Will this thing interfere with our next steps?"

"I’ve never seen anything like it, but as long as it’s not at the level of a true god, His Majesty can handle it." Hawkins seemed to have absolute faith in Charlton II.

Then he began surveying the scene, first observing the wounded Sir Fred for a moment before his gaze settled on the Fifth Princess, Ophelia.

"Second Prince, if I may say so, this is your best opportunity."

"Of course." The Second Prince stared coldly at Ophelia and ordered his subordinates, "Kill them all—including the Fifth Princess, Fred, and Luo Wei. Make it quick."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"William, what are you doing?" Ophelia suddenly realized that as the city defense forces encircled the area, countless gun barrels, field artillery, howitzers... and even all the advanced weapons produced by the Magical Industry were now aimed at the supernaturals on their side.

"Has he lost his mind?" Sir Fred muttered in disbelief as he glanced at Ophelia.

He couldn’t understand what the Second Prince was thinking—why were they pointing guns at the Special Affairs Department, which served the Emperor just as they did? And how did he think mere firearms could kill supernaturals with such formidable powers?

"William, do you realize what you’re doing?" Ophelia said expressionlessly.

"We’ve been fighting the Church’s Saintess here, sacrificing so many agents, and your city defense forces not only arrived slower than snails, but now you dare aim your weapons at us? If Father knew what you’re doing, he would be furious."

After saying this, Ophelia expected William to show some hesitation. Instead, he merely chuckled.

"Ophelia, my dear sister, do you really think I’d dare do this without Father’s approval?"

"What?" Ophelia froze. "Father... Father wants me dead?"

"Of course." William smiled as he watched Ophelia—the rival he considered the most troublesome.

This clever, sharp, and perceptive sister of his, beautiful and always able to read people’s hearts... was finally going to die.

Today, the game was over.

"No way..." Ophelia couldn’t believe it, but she could tell William wasn’t lying.

"I’ve done so much for him, solved so many problems no one else could, and yet... he wants me dead? Why? I still have value..."

Ophelia had always known Charlton was cold-blooded and ruthless—that he saw her as nothing more than a tool, that power was all he cared about.

But no matter what, she never imagined the old man would choose to kill her at this moment. What was his goal? What about her made him so wary?

During the Crystal Palace Exhibition, she had even thought the assassins were targeting Charlton himself. She had exhausted herself ensuring his safety, meticulously eliminating every possible threat...

But now, looking back at his actions, it was truly chilling. Honestly, she almost wished the assassins had succeeded...

"Your Highness, don’t waste your breath on him!" Fred immediately stepped in front of Ophelia. "I’ll get you out of here. We’ll go straight to the Emperor and demand justice!"

"It’s no use, old Fred..." Ophelia gave a bitter, resigned smile. "This is Charlton’s doing..."

"What?"

The moment he processed her words, Fred’s expression twisted in shock.

"How could the Emperor treat the Special Affairs Department like this?" Fred’s voice trembled with rare fury. "Without us, Saint Callen would have been destroyed countless times. We’ve served the Empire with such distinction—how dare he betray us like this?"

He clenched his black greatsword tightly, his eyes locked onto the Second Prince, William, standing just a few dozen meters ahead.

At this distance, with his strength, killing the prince would take no more than a second.

All he needed was the Princess’s order.

Luo Wei noticed Fred’s barely restrained urge to strike, but he suspected things weren’t as simple as Fred believed.

The Second Prince wouldn’t act so brazenly without a reason—he must have some kind of trump card.

Earlier, Luo Wei had overheard Hawkins’ remark about Charlton II, and a sudden suspicion formed in his mind.

If his guess was correct, it might finally answer a question that had long puzzled him:

With chaos erupting everywhere, how had Charlton II remained so eerily calm? He did nothing, intervened in nothing, as if he cared about nothing at all.

The reason, perhaps, was that Charlton II simply feared no supernatural being below the level of a god. Whether through his own power or some other means...

If that were true, then the situation was far worse than they realized...

Silently, Luo Wei took Ophelia’s hand and stood firmly by her side.

Who would have thought that a casual joke exchanged in the palace gardens would one day become a grim reality.

"If there ever comes a day when my father wants me dead, would you risk your life to get me out of here?"

Ophelia seemed to share the same thought as Luo Wei. She glanced at him, her smile bitter as she tightened her grip on his hand.

Across the battlefield, William watched their intertwined fingers and couldn’t help but chuckle. "Ah, youth. Finished with your sweet nothings?"

"Now that you’ve said your last words, it’s time I send you off," he added.

Suddenly, Ophelia spoke up. "I still want to see him. Let me meet Charlton II."

"That’s not happening," William shook his head. "Father is busy—the war has already begun."

"War?" Ophelia froze.

"Indeed. The war he’s spent half his life anticipating and planning for," William said with a smile. "Now that Weston Holy City has fallen, it’s the perfect opportunity to crush our century-old enemy, Norsgul, once and for all."

Luo Wei’s expression mirrored Ophelia’s shock—but his surprise wasn’t over the emperor’s ambitions. It was because of...

The system prompt flashing before his eyes, where the Pollution Level was skyrocketing at a frenzied pace.

【Pollution Level: 15↑】

【Pollution Level: 25↑】

【Pollution Level: 39↑】

...

"FUCK!"