As the words left Alex's mouth, silence filled the grand hall.

Every priest, knight, and holy official froze as if time itself had stopped.

The tension in the air was suffocating.

No one could believe what they had just heard from the silver-haired young man standing before the council of the Holy Empire and the king of the human empire Edward evans avaloria himself.

Liana blinked, her expression stunned. For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard him.

'What the hell is wrong with this kid?' she thought in disbelief.

'He's about to die, surrounded by Holy Knights, and yet he's still asking such shameless questions? Has he gone insane?'

Before anyone could react further, another voice bellowed, filled with fury.

"Impudent heretic! You will die a miserable death!"

It was Michael Dawncrest again, his voice echoing throughout the hall of the royal courtroom.

The spell of silence shattered.

The crowd erupted into murmurs, the air thick with divine energy, mana and hostility.

Michael's face turned crimson with anger, veins bulging on his neck as he pointed at Alex like a judge condemning a sinner.

Meanwhile, Liana's eyes stayed locked on Alex, unable to tear her gaze away.

Something about the young man's calm smile unnerved her—he wasn't trembling, he wasn't pleading. He was smiling.

'Why is he smiling like that? Why is he so calm when he's one step away from execution?'

"Liana! What are you doing just standing there? Finish him off!" came the sharp command from Cian Aurelias, seated upon his golden throne.

His voice snapped her out of her daze.

Liana's expression hardened.

A radiant sword of pure light materialized in her hand, its holy energy illuminating the marble floor beneath her.

"You will find your answer in hell," she said coldly as she raised her blade.

Alex only smiled wider, his silver hair glinting in the holy light.

His gaze was steady, unyielding.

'Why is he still smiling?' Liana thought again, her irritation rising.

She swung the blade down, the air splitting apart with the force of divine energy.

But just before it reached Alex's neck—

A massive wave of pressure burst outward, shaking the hall like a quake.

Liana's eyes widened as her feet slid backward several steps against her will. The radiant blade of light flickered weakly before dispersing.

Everyone's gaze turned to the space before Alex—

and their breath caught in their throats.

A girl stood there.

Her long golden hair shimmered like sunlight, cascading down her back in silken waves. Her golden eyes radiated divine majesty, calm yet absolute. Her very presence bent the air, her aura soft yet suffocating.

For a brief moment, even the devout priests and knights forgot to breathe.

It was Evelyn.

Her beauty was so ethereal that it seemed unreal—an image of light given form.

The entire cathedral went silent again, not out of fear this time, but awe.

Liana's heart skipped a beat as she whispered, "Miss Evelyn… what are you doing here? Why are you protecting that heretic?"

Cian Aurelias, usually composed, looked genuinely stunned. He hadn't expected her to appear here.

And from among the noble seats, a deep, commanding voice roared,

"Eve! Why are you here?"

It was Arthur Williams—Evelyn's father, his face pale with confusion and dread.

Evelyn turned to face them all. Her golden eyes gleamed with serene confidence as she said,

"I'm here to prevent a friend from dying for a crime he didn't commit knowingly."

Her voice echoed like a bell, calm yet unshakably firm.

In an instant, dozens of armored soldiers—each bearing the insignia of black and gold—rushed into the hall.

They formed ranks around her, their movements synchronized and precise.

Then, as one, every soldier dropped to one knee.

"We greet the Oracle of the Goddess!" they shouted in unison.

The sound reverberated through the grand cathedral, shocking the onlookers.

Liana clenched her jaw, biting her tongue as jealousy flared within her.

'This bitch… Even though I'm the Saintess, they still give her more respect than me.'

'Just because the Pope announced her as the true Oracle of the Goddess…'

'As if being the Saintess means nothing anymore. I can't stand her.'

Her smile was forced as she turned her face away, hiding the fury burning behind her eyes.

On the other hand, Cian Aurelias descended slowly from his throne, his robes fluttering with the weight of divine energy.

"Miss Evelyn," he said respectfully, his tone strained. "I'm very sorry, but even if it's your request, we cannot spare that man's life. Even if he committed his sin unknowingly, he is now tainted with demonic aura. Allowing him to live would go against the teachings of our Goddess."

The audience murmured in agreement, some nodding solemnly.

But Evelyn's calm expression didn't falter. Instead, her gaze sharpened.

"Oh?" she said softly. "So now you claim to know more than I do about what our Goddess wants—and what she doesn't?"

Cian's face froze. His words died in his throat.

He knew better than anyone—Evelyn was the only one through whom the Goddess of Light directly conveyed her will.

Originally, that was supposed to be the Saintess's duty.

But when the Holy Empire offered Evelyn the position of the saintess, she had rejected it without hesitation.

Yet she still served the Goddess selflessly, relaying her divine messages to prevent disasters, dungeon outbreaks, and mass casualties.

Because of that, Evelyn was as respected as the Pope himself—perhaps even more.

Her presence carried authority none could deny.

Evelyn's eyes shifted to Cian. "I heard that His Holiness, the Pope, has been bedridden," she said. "Is that true?"

Cian's breath hitched. A flicker of panic crossed his face.

'Does she… know?' he thought nervously.

'No… she can't possibly know that we were the ones who poisoned him…'

The hall grew tense again, the atmosphere shifting from awe to dread as Evelyn's divine gaze seemed to pierce straight into Cian's soul.

But maintaining his composure, Cian forced a smile.

"Yes, that's true," he said calmly. "But don't worry, our healers are doing their best. His Holiness will soon recover."

Evelyn's golden eyes narrowed as she stared at him. Her silence carried more weight than any accusation.

"Is that so?" she said softly.

The quiet that followed was suffocating. No one dared to speak, not even the knights.

Then, a deep voice broke through the tension.

"Mr. Cian," said King Edward from his throne, his tone calm yet commanding. "I respect your beliefs, but you cannot come into my court and kill someone in front of me."

His presence expanded, an invisible pressure filling the entire hall. His monarch ranked aura poured forth like a wave, forcing several low-ranked clerics to step back instinctively.

"I will be the one to make the final decision regarding Alex's life," Edward continued. "He is a citizen of my empire. And I would appreciate it if you—and the Saintess—keep your hands off him until then."

Cian clicked his tongue, clearly displeased. His gaze flickered between Evelyn and Edward, realizing that together, they held all the authority in this situation.

With a sharp exhale, he relented. "Very well," he said coldly. "But the demon will be captured and brought to the Holy Empire of Celestara. There, he will be handed to our priests to participate in new purification rituals."

The words echoed ominously through the hall.

Azrael's eyes widened, his body going cold as the meaning sank in.

Sweat formed on his brow as a dark rage began to boil within him.

'Me… a test subject?'

'How dare this insect suggest such a thing…'

'They want to experiment on me like a beast in a cage…'

Dark whispers echoed in his mind, voices of wrath and madness merging as one.

'I'll kill them… all of them… I'll destroy everything… everything… everything…kill kill

kill kill.....'

Suddenly, a sharp smack hit his head.

"Hey," Alex said flatly, his hand still resting on Azrael's skull. "Don't go all crazy on me now. If anyone's going to destroy this place, it'll be me. Got it?"

The words were casual—but the confidence behind them was terrifying.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

Alex slowly turned his head toward Cian, his blue eyes glowed faintly with a dangerous glint.

"Hey, ass-face," he said calmly. "Don't try things you can't handle the consequences of."

The entire court froze. Gasps rippled through the nobles.

Cian's face turned crimson with rage, his holy aura flaring violently. But before he could lash out, King Edward's voice cut through the air.

"I'm afraid I will also not comply with that," the king declared. "The demon's fate will be decided along with the boy's. You have no authority here."

Cian turned sharply toward Edward, his tone venomous.

"Edward… think carefully before you speak. You know how much support we provide your nation, don't you?"

Edward leaned back on his throne, his cold smile filled with royal arrogance.

"Yes," he said smoothly. "And I also know how much I pay for those services—in the name of 'donations.' So don't try to play that card against me. I'm not an idiot."

Cian's teeth ground together audibly as his composure cracked.

Then, Liana's voice suddenly rang out, calm but deliberate.

"We have found the cure for Abyssal Corruption. In fact we are the ones that funded for it's mass production."

The words struck like a thunderclap.

Alex's lips curved into a smirk.

'And checkmate,' he thought.

Everyone turned toward Liana in shock. The very notion was absurd—there had never been a cure for Abyssal Corruption.

Liana, however, continued confidently. "We've completed mass production of the drug, and soon, the Holy Empire will be the only nation capable of treating Abyssal Corruption. Are you sure you want to destroy our alliance over a mere boy?"

The hall fell silent again.

King Edward hesitated. If what she said was true, the value of such a cure was beyond comprehension—it could save countless lives, strengthen armies, and cement Avaloria's dominance.

But before he could speak, laughter echoed through the chamber.

Alex was laughing—loud, unrestrained, almost maniacal.

"I totally believe you," he said between laughs. "Really, I do! A cure of the corrupion wow."

Liana frowned, her composure cracking. "What are you laughing at?"

Alex tilted his head with mock curiosity. "You said your empire funded the company that developed the cure, right?"

"That's right," she replied proudly. "The Holy Empire provided all the funding and research facilities. That company now belongs to us. It was part of the contract."

Alex's grin widened, his silver eyes flashing. "Oh really? I wonder who prepared that agreement."

Before anyone could respond, the heavy doors of the royal hall slammed open.

A soldier rushed in, panting heavily. He quickly knelt before King Edward.

"Your Majesty!" he said breathlessly. "Someone has arrived, claiming to represent Alex Dragonheart. They say they can assist with the matter at hand."

Evelyn's golden eyes flickered with curiosity.

Liana's expression tightened.

And Alex… only smirked, whispering under his breath,

"Right on time."

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