IWBQ 157

Chapter : 157. Everything Goes According to Plan

“Ugh!”

Chase let out a pained groan. His wrist felt like it was about to break.

“You barbaric bastard!”

“And you, calling me that while calling him that—how noble of you.”

Karan released Chase’s wrist as if flicking away a pest, and Chase staggered.

“Seems like he was spouting nonsense about my fiancée.”

Karan’s eyes flared fiercely. The icy edge in his voice made the skin under Chase’s eyes twitch.

Karan’s aura was anything but ordinary. It looked as though he could snap Chase’s neck at any moment.

“Let’s see whether it’s nonsense or not.”

Chase stumbled backward, trying to put distance between them.

“That bastard… all talk until the end.”

As Karan moved to pursue him, Alice stopped him.

Karan paused, but he didn’t look at Alice. His face would surely be a mess from the boiling anger inside him.

“Thank you for coming.”

“Of course I would come if you called. Though it would’ve been better if you’d told me before going out.”

As Karan had said, the moment Alice entered the labyrinth garden, she had called for him with all her heart.

And, as always, he appeared.

“I didn’t expect Chase to follow. I never imagined he’d spout such nonsense.”

Alice knew she had no reason to apologize, but Karan couldn’t bring himself to say she was okay.

“Alice… how long do I have to endure that guy?”

Karan gritted his teeth to suppress the murderous intent, but the longer he waited, the angrier he became.

He should have pretended not to notice and struck Chase when he lunged at Alice.

“Just until tomorrow… please endure it just until tomorrow.”

Alice didn’t want Karan’s hands to get dirty because of Chase. He wasn’t even worth killing.

Such a selfish man, all the way to the end.

“I really hate that man.”

Karan glared at the spot where Chase had been standing. Alice intertwined her fingers with his.

“I hate him more.”

At that, Karan’s anger subsided slightly, and he held Alice’s hand firmly.

The second official meeting of the Allied Forces began.

The lineup had changed from the first official meeting. Chase replaced David, and Parish, the so-called reclusive sage, replaced Amber.

“The Ivory Tower will fully comply with the decisions of the delegation from now on.”

After both Iris and Amber had caused trouble, voices of reason emerged within the Ivory Tower. Public opinion outside was also not favorable.

The Ivory Tower immediately placed the respected Parish at the forefront. Having lived in seclusion, he had repeatedly refused leadership positions, but the Tower’s magicians persisted, and he eventually came, delegated with full decision-making authority.

And he presented that authority before the delegation.

‘Thanks to Iris, this is easier,’ Alice thought. By breaking the Ivory Tower’s stubbornness, Iris had done a great service.

“Thank you, Sage Parish. So, we’ll proceed according to the plan from the first meeting. Has anything changed in the meantime?”

Alice asked.

“We’ve received reports of seeing fragments of Ragnaros’ will. No one has suffered damage, but everyone is terrified.”

Karan shared information obtained from pawnshop owner Keiro.

“People are trembling with fear. If this continues, chaos will follow.”

Some people were already fleeing.

Fear breeds fear, and those in panic lose reason, which leads to accidents. Naturally, the state had to deploy personnel to prevent disorder.

“They want to disperse our forces,” Ilaria muttered.

“What do you think we should do, Alice?”

Ilaria looked at Alice.

“Ignore it. And let’s conduct the suppression as quickly as possible. Is it feasible in a week?”

“Magnus has no issues.”

“The Ivory Tower can manage.”

“Tithris is ready, right, Alice?”

The only remaining matter was Bedroka.

“Bedroka is…”

“Wait a moment. I almost forgot that this isn’t for Chase to decide. He’s only acting as a proxy, right?”

“Alice, being a proxy means you’re also delegated the decision-making…”

“No.”

Alice interrupted Chase for the second time.

Chase adjusted his posture, abandoning the faint smile he had been maintaining.

Alice looked Chase squarely in the eye and said,

“Before the meeting, I saw His Majesty Langzi. He said the matter of deployment will be decided by the Bedrokan noble council.”

“Just a formality,” Chase gritted out, but no one responded.

A blatant snub. From the moment he stepped into the conference room until now, Chase had been excluded in every way.

“I only conveyed what His Majesty instructed, Your Highness.”

Alice’s professional tone made Chase’s stomach churn.

I even confessed yesterday! How can she be so calm? Isn’t that disrespectful to the one who confessed?

More than anything, Chase couldn’t believe Alice had rejected him.

“Let’s conclude the meeting. We’ll meet later, Your Highness Chase.”

Alice bowed slightly.

Chase thought ‘later’ referred to the Allied Forces representative meeting.

But it wasn’t.

“Prince Karan and his fiancée, Miss Alice, will also attend the meeting.”

At the Bedrokan noble council, Alice appeared holding Karan’s hand.

Chase’s eyes went wide. But it was too early for him to be surprised.

“Your Majesty, since the matter is significant, please allow witnesses to attend the meeting as well.”

Langzi agreed to Alice’s request. Karan, who stayed by her side, nodded and went out into the hallway.

He returned with a veiled woman. The sound of metal scraping against the floor followed her every step, suggesting she was shackled.

“The smell… ugh… it’s awful.”

“Who is that? A beggar?”

“Suspicious. Let’s watch carefully.”

The nobles in the meeting frowned. The pungent smell hit their noses as the woman appeared.

“Let’s begin the meeting.”

As Langzi declared the opening, Chase raised his hand.

“Your Majesty, the suppression battle is imminent. We need to fill the vacant position for the Bedrokan representative of the continental allied forces.”

“Do you have someone to recommend?”

Chase flinched. He thought Langzi would appoint him if he suggested someone, but he was mistaken.

“Your Majesty, it’s a symbolic position. Since Crown Prince David is absent, it is fitting for His Highness Chase to take this role.”

A noble supporting Chase spoke up. Chase subtly nodded in approval.

“Reasonable. But verification is necessary.”

“Verification?”

The surprised nobles murmured.

“Now, now,” Langzi banged the table with his palm. The room fell silent.

“You can’t seat a criminal as the Bedrokan representative. As you said, it’s a symbolic position. Chase, you understand, don’t you?”

Chase’s lips curled smoothly upward, though his eyes remained the same.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

With determination, Chase answered, and Langzi’s gaze turned fierce.

“We will now begin the trial to reveal the mastermind behind the assassination of David Royal Bedroka. The suspect is Chase Royal Bedroka, and the witness is Iris Wharton.”

The woman, reeking of sweat and fear, stepped forward and removed her veil. Everyone recognized her immediately. Bedroka’s Rose, Iris.

“Huh…”

Whispers of shock spread. Chase scowled and sprang to his feet.

“Your Majesty, whatever you’ve heard is slander!”

Chase knelt at Langzi’s feet.

“We’ll see if it’s slander or not. Sit down.”

Chase bit his lower lip. He never imagined Iris would appear.

Alice had assumed Iris had already been killed.

Alice hated Iris, and Iris had tried to kill Alice.

“Your Majesty, I am innocent!”

Chase raised his voice. Langzi waved his hand.

“You will have your turn to speak. Isn’t this a trial?”

Chase looked at the noble supporting him, signaling desperately to try to stop Langzi. But the noble only avoided eye contact.

All that money spent… and it was useless.

There was a reason he couldn’t intervene.

Summary judgment was the king’s prerogative. If an urgent and serious trial was needed, the king could summon it anywhere, anytime.

To stop the trial, one would have to argue that it wasn’t urgent or serious.

Given the circumstances, the assassination of David did qualify for a summary trial.

“Chase, will you continue sitting there like that?”

Chase swallowed hard and sat. He glared at Iris as he took his seat.

“Your Majesty, please remember one thing: Iris is a deserter.”

“We’ll deal with Iris’ crime later. Now, we will only discuss the assassination of David. Any objections?”

Everyone shook their heads. Chase ground his teeth in frustration.

“Iris, I hear you were present that day. Tell us in detail what happened.”

“Your Majesty, I apologize for greeting you so late.”

Iris staggered forward.

“No need for greetings. Just tell what you saw quickly.”

Langzi pressed. Calm on the outside, he was burning inside.

He wanted to deal with the culprit quickly and meet David.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will explain in detail what I saw that day. I don’t remember everything, but one thing is certain: His Highness Chase was hiding and appeared behind His Highness David, aiming a bow at him.”

Langzi gripped the armrest tightly.

“That’s not true! I did hide, yes, but I never aimed at my brother! I aimed at the mage threatening him!”

“Your Highness, speak honestly and seek forgiveness. You always told me, if only David were gone, you would be king. You asked me to… remove David, didn’t you?”

“…!”

Everyone gasped. Among them, Karan and Alice covered their faces, laughing.

Everything was going according to plan.