Four Split Personalities

Any person with even a slight military mind would think this way, and it is indeed the correct line of thought, well within someone’s expectations...

...

Game Time PM22:25

East District of Mithril City, the former camp of the Marshal Autonomous Army, now the temporary residence of Duke Dundis,

Duke Dundis dismissed his attendants and, with weary steps, returned to the central building, the three-story house where he now lodged. This was not his regular abode in the city, located in the Mithril City Glass Pavilion, but he couldn’t be bothered to go back to his room there. The reason was simple: he did not know what kind of expression to use when facing Clive Bresin.

"Anyway, there’s a meeting later..."

Duke Dundis sighed, waved the two Golden Crow Imperial Guards behind him to leave, and slowly sat down on a wooden chair, his gaze fixed on the flames of the fireplace, seemingly lost in thought.

This room belonged to the Commander of the Marshal Autonomous Army. Although the decorations somewhat matched the status of its "former master," as a distinguished duke, he rarely stayed in such an inhospitable environment. There was no warm barrier, no soothing music, no bas-reliefs or murals, not even a single book for entertainment, and not even a carpet to walk on barefoot. Even the fireplace’s flame was the sort that required charcoal to ignite, a low-quality fire, not the quiet and bright Fire Element.

The crackling sound made Dundis restless. Already indifferent to his surroundings, he still eventually hmphed softly and extended a steady finger towards the noisy fireplace...

Bang!!

A bright firelight burst forth, instantly engulfing the charcoal inside the fireplace, then formed a bright orange ring that rotated slowly within.

Though only possessing the ability of a middle-rank Mage, far from matching his prodigiously talented older brother, Duke Dundis could still manage such a level of Element control. He just seldom had the opportunity to demonstrate it.

"Brother, Ruth... what should I do..."

The old man muttered to himself in a low voice, slowly closing his heavy eyelids, his heart a tangled mess.

He did not regret agreeing to the plan suggested by Bafil Marshal, forming an alliance with Duke Hussein to assassinate the Emperor. The enduring memory of his most cherished sister dying to protect the wilful Clive haunted Duke Dundis continuously, perpetually filling him with resentment towards his once dear friend. And in Salamoon, the scene where Clive allowed Shu to intimidate Ribo in the Violet Hall was crystal clear in his mind; Clive’s indulgence of the latter chilled his heart.

Was Clive planning to displace Ribo’s position as Crown Prince and let Shu Bresen inherit the Violet Royal Family?

This thought was a constant torment, keeping Duke Dundis restless in his bed, as it did his beloved nephew, Crown Prince Ribo.

Why hadn’t Clive accepted Ribo’s suggestions?

Why did Clive listen to Shu’s perverse reasons?

Had Clive forgotten how much Ruth loved him?

Could Clive truly be so indifferent to the blood flowing through Ribo, the blood of the woman who had once given her life for him?

These questions would wander through Duke Dundis’s mind ceaselessly, preventing him from thinking rationally, filling him with a chilling fear and anger.

And then, the woman who claimed to be an Envoy of the Marshall Family appeared, like a devil adept at manipulating hearts, offering a proposal he found difficult to refuse—

Kill Clive, kill Shu Bresen, and let Ribo ascend to the throne, to become the greatest king in the history of the Violet Kingdom under the support of the Marshall Family, the Hussein Family, and the Dundis Family.

As long as the Marshall and Hussein families no longer restrained the Royal Family, and with the support of the Dundis Family, with his nephew’s ambition and capabilities, it wasn’t an empty talk.

The condition was that Clive and Shu must die!

That man was indirectly responsible for his sister’s death and excessively favored the offspring his brother had with another woman, yet he stubbornly refused to step down and let Ribo, who longed to serve the family, take his place. His death would be a just consequence.

As for the second prince—reserved, cunning, and harboring ill intentions—he must not be spared either!

He was not mistaken! It was they who deserved to die!

"But Clive didn’t die, and with that, even if Ribot had already killed that Shu in Sālāmù’ēn, the future would also..."

Dundis clenched his fists tightly, then helplessly released them.

His mind was in turmoil.

Just then, the door to the room was quietly pushed open.

"Who?"

Despite his eyes being closed, Duke Dundis’s perceptive ability remained unaffected. Since the person opening the door did not conceal their presence deliberately, he almost immediately sensed their approach. Turning his head towards the door and clenching the wand in his hand, he braced for confrontation.

The visitor merely cracked a smile, closed the door from the inside and slowly walked towards Duke Dundis, bowing courteously, "It has been a long time, Your Grace."

This was an ordinary-looking, stout dwarf, clad in the uniform of a commander of the Imperial Guard’s Heavy Armor, indistinguishable from the guards outside. Yet, this did not prevent Duke Dundis from recognizing him, for the man’s calm and indifferent gaze had left a deep impression on him not long ago.

"It’s you..."

Dundis huffed softly, slightly relaxing his grip on the wand, and asked with a grim face, "You dare to come here?"

"Of course."

The other man nodded, his smile unwavering as he seated himself unabashedly in front of Duke Dundis, and whispered, "In fact, before coming to visit, I had already spent quite some time in this city and even stopped by to see Duke Hussein for a chat."

Dundis’s expression turned stern. He knew that upon returning to Mithril City, Hussein had gone straight to the Glazed Pavilion, a location that was heavily guarded, far more than this standard military camp. If the man before him managed to make his way there, that implied...

"I believe that’s not the issue you should be concerned about right now, Your Grace."

Jiawen smiled as if she could read his thoughts, stroking her short beard with her thick fingers, "As far as I know, King Clive is about to convene a meeting to discuss matters with all the dukes soon. So, the time I can offer... is very limited."

"The time I can offer you is limited as well."

Duke Dundis looked coldly at her, cutting to the chase with a deep voice, "Why did the assassination fail? What does Baffi want now? What did you and Hussein talk about?"

"The assassination failed because your colleague, Mercury Core Fernan, unexpectedly appeared amidst the Violet formation, single-handedly stopping all the attackers. Clearly, everyone, including Baffi, underestimated the bald man well-versed in the way of avoiding disasters."

Although she mentioned the limited time, Jiawen still answered at her leisure, "Lord Baffi’s intentions have not changed, hoping to work together with the Hussein and Dundis families to elevate Prince Ribot to the throne, willing to pay a significant price under the condition of his own safety; as for my conversation with Lord Hussein... it’s essentially what I’m about to discuss with you."

Her words seemed to carry a certain magical power that involuntarily calmed one down, allowing reason to prevail and to cool off quickly.

Under her composed demeanor, Duke Dundis involuntarily subdued his anger, slightly narrowing his eyes as he spoke deliberately, "I’d like to hear the details."

"I appreciate your cooperation and trust. I must say, in terms of noble demeanor, Duke Hussein falls far short of Your Grace," said Jiawen, expressing her respect in a neither hot nor cold manner. She then leaned forward slightly, hands crossed in front of her nose, and quietly said, "Tomorrow, the Silver City will strike proactively. Apart from Baffi’s Sword Knight Order, the Ice Curtain Mage Group, the Silver Guard, and the Slave Capturing Group, there will be numerous other remarkable combat forces appearing on the battlefield. They will create a massive chaos, and during this time, I, along with two other highly capable individuals, will lead a small elite team to assassinate King Clive amidst the confusion. Before that, I hope that you and Duke Hussein..."

"You hope we will do what?"

"Create an opportunity for us."

"How? What kind of opportunity?"

"Turn the entire army against him, strike to kill in one blow."

Chapter 539: The End