Chapter 411

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Chapter 411: A Tale of Two Dilemmas

Tatsumi City.

The residence of the Leaf King was unremarkable and lacked the distinction of previous leaders’ homes. This villa was remarkably plain and ordinary, failing to reflect the stature of the alliance leader, and it was the smallest compared to the residences of other kings in the Air Alliance.

You see, someone like Ms. Peggie, who has access to a large amount of resources, doesn’t just live in a cluster of villas.

Many kings even had extraordinary individuals construct magnificent palaces for themselves.

They were safeguarded by law and the Imperial Guards, and maintained their own cities. With their power, they could create whatever they wished.

However, the Leaf King has consistently been frugal. Some admired him for this quality, while others believed his actions were merely for appearances, aimed at cultivating a favorable reputation.

The Leaf King did not intentionally adopt a frugal lifestyle; rather, his focus was not on material possessions. Since childhood, he has not derived enjoyment from extravagance or indulgence.

As for a good reputation…

“Hehe.”

Sitting in front of the chessboard, the Leaf King shook his head as he played against himself, showing disdain.

The Leaf King actually knew something very clearly.

In this world, a good reputation wasn’t that important, and even political skills and wealth weren’t really important either.

What is the most important thing?

In a world where greatness belongs to oneself, the most important thing would always be the mighty power of extraordinary strength!

If the Rainbow intends to overthrow the world in a single night, it is certainly achievable. The vastly overstated power of the Apocalypse warriors renders public resistance nearly futile.

From the perspective of ordinary people, common nobles, and even kings themselves, they were unable to determine the profound destiny of World.

Only the mighty ones can determine everything in history.

People could only choose between submission and death.

If there were thousands and thousands of people opposing them, then let’s just kill them all.

In the end, not everyone was unafraid of death.

“But this group of powerful beings, who have almost detached themselves from humanity, ultimately still possess ‘personality’ or, in other words, intelligence and understanding, allowing them to be influenced and intervened by others…”

The Leaf King was just an ordinary person, without extraordinary powers.

He successfully persuaded Mr. “World” to present a comprehensive plan, emphasizing that with Mr. “World’s” support, they could alter the Air Alliance’s current circumstances and assist him in achieving his significant objective.

The Leaf King prevailed and was selected by Mr. “World,” who held the most formidable power within the Air Alliance.

Mr. “World” was almost invincible in the Air Alliance.

Even if all the Imperial Guards were united, they would still be no match for him.

Only the “ancient contract” of the Air Alliance leader can restrain the power of the Imperial Guards, confine their bodies, or even resurrect them by drawing upon the lives of the kings.

However, the Leaf King now holds the position of alliance leader.

The ancient contract also came under his control, merging as a part of his soul.

In other words, when the “Rainbow” does not impulsively violate the rules and take action, Mr. “World” truly resembles a god among humans in the Air Alliance, capable of anything. . . and the only individual who can hold him back is the Leaf King, his collaborator.

Outside, it was raining.

The Leaf King could smell the scent of earth, the dampness in the air, which gradually calmed people’s emotions.

The air was softly moving.

He finally observed something unusual.

It seemed as though something was gradually materializing.

The Leaf King glanced up and saw a “young boy” emerging not far away.

Deep blue long-sleeved clothes, silver hair, small round sunglasses, but there was no habitual smile on his face, only coldness.

“The Leaf King.”

Suddenly, the individual that emerged was The Cursed String Music. He serves as the captain of the Sword-wielding Troop within the Demon Hunt Agency and is recognized as the world’s leading prodigy in sorcery.

The Leaf King remained composed and stated, “Aside from the Imperial Guards, any individuals who intrude into the residence of the Alliance Leader without an invitation during late hours will be considered traitors to the Air Alliance. ”

The Cursed String Music shook its head and said, “I am not the one who betrayed the Air Alliance.”

The Leaf King’s eyes burned with intensity as he asked in return, “Then, who is it?”

The Cursed String Music said, “You know who it is, and you also know who gave the otherworldly civilization the spatial coordinates that allowed them to locate Noah, to locate the Air Alliance.”

“Everyone believed it was the work of Ms. Peggie, the Casket,” the Leaf King reminded him.

The Cursed String Music shook its head again and stated, “There is no need for it, absolutely none. I cannot comprehend her motive for such actions unless she has suddenly lost her sanity. Even in the presence of evidence and witnesses, a motive remains unreasonable ”

“Ms. Peggie had such great support, she was about to become the new leader of the Air Alliance. Why would she risk ruining her own foundation… This flaw is very obvious, it just shows how arrogant you are, which is why you have come up with such a simple plan.”

“Perhaps it is because we are not afraid of being seen through,” the Leaf King mused.

The Cursed String Music appeared to be unresponsive and continued, “I have been conducting a secret investigation. Recently, I uncovered a vital clue. Leaf King, it was truly you who sent the Night Watcher to deliver the coordinates in the otherworld. It was also you who called forth that mysterious army from the otherworld, resulting in the encirclement of what was once known as the ‘City of the Highest’! ”

In The Cursed String Music’s eyes, there was an icy intent to kill. Perhaps no one who knew him well could have imagined that this man, who usually laughed and smiled, could have such a serious moment.

“And in the end, we emerged victorious,” said the Leaf King.

“Thirteen thousand, three hundred and seventy-one,” The Cursed String Music suddenly spoke up.

“What?” The Leaf King exclaimed, taken aback.

The Cursed String Music’s gaze became frigid. “I do not desire to engage in your political conflicts, but your scheme have led to the loss of countless innocent lives. . . Thirteen thousand, three hundred and seventy-one is the toll of innocents lost during the city’s siege. While you may view them as trivial sacrifices, to me, they are no different from any of you. ”

“Everyone only has one life.”

The Leaf King nodded, not arguing. “So, you want me to pay with my life?”

The Cursed String Music also laughed and said, “Ha! Well answered! I should give you an award!”

Unexpectedly, the Leaf King shook his head firmly. “But I cannot die, for I am still needed… Do you know about the compromises, Ms. Peggie made? The many compromises she secretly made with the king are the key to her popularity.”

“What?” The Cursed String Music was taken aback.

The Leaf King nodded again. “Hmm, you’ve never cared about these things, have you? Peggie actually divided many of the benefits belonging to the Air Alliance and the people among the kings and nobles before coming to power. She even intended to further widen the gap between extraordinary beings and ordinary people, allowing extraordinary beings to openly surpass ordinary people by more than just one level… Of course, it’s not possible to directly restore the ‘slavery system’ that was abolished when the Air Alliance was first established, at least not openly.”

The Cursed String Music furrowed its brow and fell into silence.

The Leaf King’s tone grew more serious, “But what I, as the leader of the Air Alliance, want to do is different… The Air Alliance has made progress compared to the past, but it still lags behind in the present… The Demon of Justice put an end to the slavery system in this land, and what I want to do is… put an end to the aristocratic system in this land!”

His gaze was calm as he continued, “Nowadays, more and more resources are being concentrated on the aristocracy, with even the high-ranking members of the Air Alliance able to go on vacations to the otherworld. However, there are still situations where ordinary people can’t even afford to eat… When each city governs itself, those kings who have inherited their positions for generations without moral values or abilities can act recklessly. Some cities’ economies and public security are in a complete mess, not much better than the wilderness.”

The key is because the ruling kings simply don’t care about ordinary people.

Even if the ordinary people in the city were driven to desperation, and even if they united and rebelled, what difference would it make?

How many Crown level does he have?

The Leaf King shook his head, saying, “You may think that over ten thousand people is a lot, but in truth, they are just a very small number. You cannot see the countless millions who, over the centuries since the establishment of the Air Alliance, have been displaced and lost their dignity and lives because of the nobles!”

“…”

The Cursed String Music remained silent, offering no response.

The Leaf King took a deep breath, his eyes filled with determination. “I must change everything. Since the method of transferring trains from the alternate dimension has proved successful, the cities of the Air Alliance no longer require loose autonomy… The future Air Alliance doesn’t need morally bankrupt and incompetent nobles!”

“I knew about the plot to frame Peggie, and many people were sacrificed, but it was a minor evil… The Cursed String Music, you need to learn to choose the lesser of two evils!”

The Cursed String Music fell into silence, unable to calm down for a long time.

First, he faced not just a problem with the tram, but also the uncertainty of whether the person in front of him was telling the truth.

Just at that moment, a person who should have appeared earlier finally emerged between the Leaf King and the Cursed String Music.

With sword-like eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a formidable presence that commanded respect even without anger.

He was Mr. “World.”

The leader of the Imperial Guards!

The strongest in countless cities within the Air Alliance!

Mr. “World” had actually arrived long ago, The Cursed String Music knew this, and so did the Leaf King.

“He is the leader of the Air Alliance in terms of law. From the moment danger arises, all the Imperial Guards can sense that something is amiss. Do not underestimate the power of the ‘ancient covenant’; after all, it is a divine gift.”

“The tone of ‘World’ was very calm,” The Cursed String Music squinted its eyes.

Since that’s the case, why haven’t the other Imperial Guards come? The lower-ranked Apocalypse, the ‘Death Reaper’, and the lady ‘High Tower’ from the middle-ranked Apocalypse… I understand now, because you’ve come, they must have felt that they didn’t need to come themselves.

“Um.”

“World” nodded.

The Cursed String Music asked, “Is what the Leaf King said true? Does he really want to abolish the aristocratic system and overthrow the kings?”

“What he said was mostly right, it was true… but he also got one thing wrong.”

Not only The Cursed String Music, but even the Leaf King turned to “World” and suddenly wore a bitter smile.

“What did I say wrong?” The Cursed String Music asked.

World was incredibly calm. “He claimed to have grand ideals, so he couldn’t die until he achieved them… But no matter how ambitious the Leaf King was, whether he wanted to save slaves or become a natural villain, intending to destroy the Air Alliance and turn World into a hell, he could not die.”

“The only reason why I cannot die is that I don’t allow it.”

He looked at the Leaf King, his voice still calm but with an undeniable air of dominance that could not be defied.

“Leaf King, you must gather the power of the Air Alliance and the thoughts of all living beings, to activate the Ultimate Ritual, and help me become a god. So, you must not die… If you die, I will kill all of your important people.”

The Leaf King remained silent, saying nothing more.

The Cursed String Music had long known what path Mr. World would choose after the Apocalypse.

It was nothing more than eight words.

In the sky and on the earth, I am the only one to be respected!

After reaching the Apocalypse, if the extraordinary beings want to become stronger and take further steps, they must adhere to the path they have chosen. Otherwise, not only will they be halted at this point, but there is also a possibility of becoming weaker.

The Leaf King must stay alive, as the Mr. ‘World’ won’t back down.

The Cursed String Music understood that even if the gods stood before it, Mr. ‘World’ never chose to surrender, let alone just a naive and childish ‘ordinary person’ like itself.

Adding a few more zeros after thirteen thousand three hundred and seventy-one, what does it matter to this being?

Even if the secret of betraying the Air Alliance is exposed, what does it matter?

This was actually the reason why Mr. ‘World’ didn’t silence Ai at that time.

He wasn’t afraid of the so-called secret being exposed at all.

The Cursed String Music also knew that he was definitely no match for World.

The difference between the middle-ranked Apocalypse and the upper-ranked Apocalypse was evident, but it was not beyond obvious. However, Mr. World was no ordinary “upper-ranked Apocalypse” powerhouse. Perhaps he had already touched the line of becoming a “semi-god,” just like the Incarnation of Dark Light.

He stood there, unwilling to let the Leaf King die, feeling truly helpless himself.

Forcing himself to take action would only be a death sentence, almost guaranteeing his demise.

And… what the Leaf King said must be true. After all, Mr. World never tells lies and always keeps his word.

So, if Peggie or any other queen became the alliance leader, it would definitely have many disadvantages.

Once the Leaf King’s proposal to “abolish the nobility and depose the kings” was fully realized, the Air Alliance remained uncertain about the number of individuals who would gain from this change, leading The Cursed String Music to enter a state of deep reflection.

So, no matter how many times they said it, at this very moment, the one who should actually leave here is The Cursed String Music.

And it could only be him.

However…

He refused.

Thirteen thousand three hundred and seventy-one.

This unseen and intangible number suddenly transformed into an invisible wall, solidly standing behind The Cursed String Music, preventing him from taking even a step back.

“Bad, is simply bad.”

“There has never been a distinction between major evil and minor evil. If I must choose, I don’t want to choose either.”

The Cursed String Music also knew what his path was. Upon reaching the Apocalypse, he had already made a vow.

To slay the innocent, it must be eradicated!

He also knew that this matter had nothing to do with becoming stronger. Even if it didn’t involve the question of his “path,” today, The Cursed String Music still didn’t want to retreat from here.

Leaf King, he wanted to kill!

And so, The Cursed String Music made a move.

In an instant, he caused the surrounding air to vibrate in a mysterious manner. The sounds generated from the intense fluctuations resembled living musical notes, forming the basis of enchantments. In the blink of an eye, they interfuse producing an almost perfect “String Music of Spells. ”

All the enchanters in the city experienced a subtle, inexplicable stirring in their hearts, as though they had a sudden revelation.

All the magic spells were aimed directly at the Leaf King.

As soon as a spell takes effect on him, this completely ordinary person would immediately meet his demise.

However, the man wouldn’t allow it.

Mr. “World” slowly extended his hand, seemingly not very fast, but before countless swift and aggressive magical spells could take effect, he made them all vanish in thin air.

“The sorcerer could not battle with me.”

World was not showing off, but stating facts.

Magic seemed to simply cease to exist in his presence.

However, The Cursed String Music persevered. It dedicated all its efforts to harnessing the power of magic.

Suddenly, in Tatsumi City, enchanting melodies began to arise in quick succession. Each note of these melodies was entirely composed of magical essence. Instantly, the sky transformed in color, and the residents of Tatsumi City beheld a spectacular display of vibrant lights.

But Mr. “World’s” evaluation turned out to be unexpectedly low.

“You should change your mindset. In the time you have spent preparing so many spells, it would have been enough for me to kill you several times.”

“I never imagined that among the extraordinary beings of the Apocalypse level, your actual combat ability was so poor… Was it because you became stronger too quickly and had been dealing with weaker opponents all along?”

Then, “World” waved his hand again.

“Go away.”

Suddenly, it felt as though a underlying law of the universe was activated. The sun and moon appeared compelled to move, and all the elements of sorcery began to tremble, ultimately dissolving into nothingness.

The Cursed String Music was unable to understand the unfolding events. All the spells it had prepared were once again disrupted, leaving none intact. It hadn’t even had the opportunity to speak when it suddenly observed a significant transformation in the scene before it.

In a daze, he was banished from World of Noah.

“This is…”

The Cursed String Music paused briefly and then recognized that it had come upon an expansive, blood-red hillside. In the sky, many demons were locked in a fierce battle, while blood fell relentlessly. The scorched ground led to a gradual increase in temperature.

“Hell?”

Above Tatsumi City, all unusual phenomena have disappeared completely. The common people have grown used to this, as the battles between extraordinary beings have become more frequent in the past year.

As for the final outcome of The Cursed String Music’s expulsion, The Leaf King appeared somewhat surprised.

He couldn’t help but say, “Your temper has improved a lot compared to before, and you didn’t even kill him.”

“World” stood with hands on hips.

“Hold onto it, it’s useful.”

The Leaf King laughed and remarked, “I understand now; that clarifies things. It appears that a person like you harbors no gentle sentiments. ”

World met his gaze, then positioned himself in front of the chessboard and replied, “Please refrain from portraying me as a formidable dark sorcerer. Come, let’s play chess. ”

—

On the other hand,

Bai Yan was delving into a new activity.

“Blank Fire”

According to the description given in the “Babel Tower” game, the target of this activity is none other than the Steel Throne, one of the “Rainbows”!

“The corrupted deity…”

To be honest, Bai Yan was a little afraid of this guy.

What is there to be afraid of?

Afraid that it would suddenly start going crazy like a cornered dog!

In the multiverse, when deities intervene completely in the mortal realm populated by non-deities, they will encounter limitations and repercussions imposed by the laws of the World to safeguard the continuity of civilization.

Although the reason is unclear, this rule actually exists without a doubt.

So, under normal circumstances, the gods wouldn’t suddenly intervene, they would definitely face consequences.

But this is the condition of “reasoning”… But what if the god has gone mad?

He no longer cares whether he will be harmed.

Or perhaps, the god hasn’t gone mad, but has no choice but to intervene, or… perhaps he believes that the benefits of intervening outweigh the losses?

For example, the fallen Heart of Radiance, with each intervention in the mortal realm, would grow weaker, her power diminished. But still, she would continue to act, again and again, until her eventual demise.

This kind of behavior is indeed irrational, but there are gods who would do it… Only a fool would use the criteria of “perfect rationality” to speculate about the course of events.

“It can only be said that the ‘laws of World’ are too unfriendly. The Heart of Radiance was clearly meant to save all living beings and World itself from the Outer God, but it was indirectly destroyed… It’s like something immense and completely mindless.”

Recently, Mu Ling was informed by the Leaf King that the Steel Throne and the Savior of Dark Light were the “Rainbows” opposing the Babel Tower. It is highly likely that both have already been corrupted by the Outer God.

Bai Yan has pondered over it, and if they were to suddenly join forces and descend, recklessly acting as the vanguard for the Outer God, sparing no effort to destroy the Noah civilization… he truly doesn’t have any good means to stop them.

Fortunately, as described in the Blank Fire, a turning point occurred in the situation.

The Steel Throne and the Savior of Dark Light have been corrupted by the influence and dominion of the Outer God, complicating their descent.

Bai Yan smiled slightly and mumbled to himself, “So that’s why they haven’t directly descended yet, eliminating all potential resistors in one fell swoop.”

The increasing difficulty of their descent does not indicate that it is wholly impossible for them to descend. Furthermore, with the Steel Throne and the Savior of Dark Light capable of personifying and communicating with their followers, they actually experience an easier descent than the Outer God.

Actually, according to the meaning of the new event “Blank Fire” in Babel Tower… the Steel Throne has almost completed its preparations for descent!

And Bai Yan knew in his heart that the task of the Babel Tower was also quite simple.

Stop Him.