Three days later, at the royal palace, in the Hall of All Spirits.

 

The Hall of All Spirits is located deep within the royal palace, a special place usually off-limits to anyone.

 

Inside the hall are twenty stone pillars, intricately carved with countless delicate and complex patterns. These designs record the legendary stories of a past king of the Human United Kingdom.

 

In addition, numerous large and small stone tablets are placed throughout, commemorating contributors who made outstanding contributions in the history of the kingdom.

 

The Hall of All Spirits is a sacred sanctuary for the offerings of all past royal families and heroes of the Human United Kingdom. It is also the only place where the royal family can be deliberated upon.

 

Under the gaze of the spirits of the high heavens, where lies are not tolerated, and violence is forbidden, all charges will be presented, and the final judgment will be made by the proxy council.

 

It is a shrine and the highest court. In extreme cases, the Hall of All Spirits can even pass judgment on the reigning king.

 

This time, the Hall of All Spirits is opened to deliberate upon:

 

The second prince of the Human United Kingdom, Ben Melchior.

 

After eradicating the evil organization “Eternal Throne” lurking in the shadows of the capital, Lilya publicly exposed the cruel experiments conducted secretly by Ben and the organization, causing a sensation.

 

These actions, so inhumane that even Violet would feel uncomfortable, have triggered public outrage and condemnation. Even a prince, implicated in such atrocities, cannot escape the wrath of the people and public opinion.

 

Rather, precisely because he is a prince, and possibly the future king, such behavior becomes even more unacceptable.

 

No one would want to be ruled by a tyrant who treats human lives and subjects as expendable. With Lilya and her faction stirring things up behind the scenes, rumors unfavorable to the second prince have spread like wildfire in just a few days.

 

Nothing could stop it.

 

It must be said that Lilya’s sudden attack caught Ben off guard. With domestic support significantly suppressed, most of his plans were likely executed through the external organization “Eternal Throne.”

 

Now that the undead have been eradicated, Ben is almost like a man with both arms tied, forced to be controlled in every move. Surprisingly, he couldn’t offer any effective resistance to Lilya’s public relations attack. Even under the weight of numerous conclusive pieces of evidence she presented, he was compelled to participate in this trial.

 

Although this overly smooth situation slightly deviated from the expectations of the princess, even if the other side had some conspiracy, it’s not something that can be avoided by retreating.

 

During the period of the king’s funeral rites, usual affairs should be postponed until the end, but this matter has had a profound impact. With public discontent boiling and various forces cooperating, Lilya exceptional opened the Hall of All Spirits.

 

Of course, this is also closely related to the increasing influence of the princess within the country.

 

Besides the main trial of the second prince Ben, other princes, including the seemingly physically unwell and mentally fatigued little princess Menna, were all present.

 

Hundreds of high-ranking nobles of the kingdom, influential figures from the Courage City such as the three legends, heads of various professional guilds, and renowned strong individuals, were also invited to attend and are currently seated around the hall.

 

The review mechanism of the Hall of All Spirits involves a public vote or the mandatory judgment of the spirits, with the latter having a higher priority.

 

In addition, three Chief Inquisitors are appointed to preside over and maintain order in the trial.

 

Due to the recent death of the former king Anchorro Melchior, the position of Chief Inquisitor is now assumed by the three most esteemed individuals from the Courage City.

 

The kingdom’s prime minister, Griffins Turles, 87 years old, with over sixty years in politics, is about to become a veteran of three reigns.

 

Generation after generation of martial practitioners, almost every heir could reach the legendary level. The current head of the legendary kingdom’s clan, Angus Stephens, the upright and steadfast Grand Duke, is also the biological father of the legendary adventurer “Thunderlight” Farnell Stephens.

 

Finally, there is Herbert, the legendary adventurer who has guarded the Courage City for over thirty years and is widely known. Although he is rough and prefers freedom, he has not accepted the surname and title granted by King Anchorro to establish a family. However, Herbert’s prestige is indeed higher than the first two.

 

The three sit side by side on the central elevated trial bench, with solemn expressions. Behind them is the Ancestral Spirit Monument representing the supreme dignity of the kingdom. The pillars and monuments of past kings and heroes surround the spirit monument.

 

The second prince, Ben Melchior, sits below the trial bench, seemingly smiling as he gazes at the initiator, Lilya Melchior, directly across from him. He appears unruffled by the current situation.

 

Violet, wearing the “Cognitive Obstruction Mask,” sits next to the princess, curiously looking around. Beside them are individuals like Flora, Nicholas, and Edwina, all attending as close attendants of the fifth princess.

 

Due to her unique identity and unsuitable temperament for such a scene, Xiao Guang was left in the pet space by Violet to watch.

 

Because of the mask’s effect, except for Lilya, who was informed in advance, no one in the room could be aware of Violet’s true identity. Since the princess herself vouched for the trustworthiness of the black-haired girl, other attendants naturally did not question it. However, before the proceedings began, the priestess noticed a subtle and almost imperceptible shadow in the second prince’s eyes when he glanced at Violet, sitting next to Lilya.

 

Recalling Lilya’s mention of the investigation into her, Violet quickly understood. Could this guy be jealous?

 

“Silence! The deliberation of the Hall of All Spirits begins now. Everyone, please rise and respectfully request the manifestation of the ancestral spirits!”

 

Seated in the center, Mr. Herbert, with his distinctive booming voice, solemnly announced. Alongside the other two inquisitors, they stood up, and under their guidance, everyone in the Hall of All Spirits also straightened their bodies.

 

Even Mr. Farnell, who was just joking and laughing with a beautiful noble girl beside him, dared not be the slightest bit unruly at this moment. He, too, tensed his body and attentively watched the three inquisitors, focusing on the magnificent black spirit monument emitting an unusually distinctive aura behind them.

 

Hum…

 

The monument emitted a faint white glow, rising to the top in the form of light columns. In the air, it transformed into a vaguely spherical light mass with a diameter of about one meter, an invisible intent enveloping the entire Hall of All Spirits.

 

The three inquisitors chanted loudly.

 

“Praise your descent, spirits of the high heavens, please bring absolute justice to this deliberation!”

 

“Please bring absolute justice!”

 

Spontaneously, the crowd joined in unison, their voices rolling like waves but surprisingly harmonious, as if guided by some force to make a collective action.

 

Violet, naturally, was not affected by this peculiar force. Although she stood up as well, she merely moved her lips a few times, pretending to comply.

 

In addition, the priestess noticed that there was a seemingly silly holy knight who was also unaffected by this force.

 

On her body, a nearly imperceptible faint golden glow emerged, covering her body, isolating the influence of the waves.

 

Noticing Edwina’s unusual state and her bewildered look, the priestess found it a bit amusing. She quietly reached out and pinched the soft flesh around the waist of the knight, who was wearing casual clothes.

 

“Ouch!”

 

The pained Edwina whispered, finally realizing what was happening. She looked at Violet with a grateful expression and, with an obvious half-beat delay, joined everyone in reciting the prayers.

 

However, Violet was also curious. She could understand herself being exempt, but why was Edwina, who was also a legendary figure, the only one unaffected by that strange force when everyone else was?

 

Was it because she came from another country?

 

No, that didn’t make sense. There were other foreigners present besides Edwina.

 

So, was there something special about Edwina herself?

 

But this seemingly silly girl, aside from not being very smart, didn’t seem to have any particular traits.

 

It’s puzzling.