Chapter 34: Exposure |
According to Ze’s final wish.
Yula buried him beside Wa.
Watching as Ze’s coffin was slowly lowered into the earth.
At this moment, Lei’s heart surged with uncontrollable emotion.
An era.
Seemed to come to an end along with Ze’s burial.
After the funeral, Lei had already made up his mind to leave.
In the end, he still could not harden his heart.
To forcibly seize the Divine Grace Technique that bound together this vast family.
Forever belong to the descendants of Apollo’s bloodline!
However, before leaving, Lei still informed Yula about that gaze filled with hatred he had encountered along the way.
When Yula first heard it.
His face was filled with disbelief.
In his understanding.
His grandfather had devoted his entire life to the dynasty!
Though his methods were strict, they were all for the continuation of the family and the strength of the dynasty—how could he have incurred hatred?
But he knew well.
That Great-Uncle Lei would never speak falsely on such a matter.
Since he said it, then it must be true!
And yet, someone had dared to harbor hatred during King Ze’s funeral.
This was a grave disrespect to the deceased!
And a provocation against the authority of the Solar Royal Family!
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Yula’s eyes.
But his face still maintained respect toward Lei.
“Great-Uncle, please rest assured.”
“I will thoroughly investigate this matter and give my grandfather an explanation.”
Lei nodded slightly and said no more.
After all, this was an internal matter of the Solar Dynasty.
It was not convenient for him to interfere too much.
Soon after, under the respectful send-off of Yula and the others, he left the Royal City and returned to the Theocratic State of the Stars.
…
Yula’s first order upon returning to the palace.
Was to thoroughly investigate that disrespectful gaze at the funeral!
The guards from that day, as well as the Recipients of Divine Grace along the route, were all questioned one by one in isolation.
Very quickly, a suspicious target was identified.
“Roland,” who had entered the city under the registered identity of “Baron Roland,” and then hurriedly left before the funeral.
According to entry records and the descriptions of a few Recipients of Divine Grace who had encountered him.
This person’s behavior had indeed been somewhat hurried and suspicious.
Thus…
Yula’s most capable guard captain, He Yi, personally led a team of guards.
And successfully intercepted “Roland” outside the Royal City.
“Baron Roland.”
He Yi stood in front of Shan, blocking his path, and said coldly.
“Please stop and return to the Royal City with us.”
Shan’s heart sank violently.
He had not expected the other side to act so quickly.
He forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, raised his head, and forced a trace of appropriate panic and confusion onto his face.
“My lord, may I ask what crime I have committed?”
“Why are you blocking my path?”
He Yi let out a cold snort, anger burning in his eyes.
“What crime?”
“At the former king’s funeral, you harbored resentment and cast a disrespectful gaze! This is a grave offense of disrespect!”
“Roland, as a descendant of Ancestor Ze, you would act in such a way—truly a disgrace to your bloodline!”
The more He Yi spoke, the angrier he became.
He himself held extreme reverence for Ancestor Ze.
He simply could not tolerate any blasphemy toward Ze!
Especially when that blasphemy came from “one of their own.”
At that moment, Shan’s mind churned violently.
He knew that once he was taken back to the Royal City.
If his disguise were exposed.
His only outcome would be death.
His mind spun rapidly.
And his face instantly shifted into one of remorse.
“My lord, please calm your anger! Please see clearly!”
Shan knelt before He Yi, his voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.
“I… I do not harbor hatred!”
“It is only that, on that day, I recalled certain past matters related to the former king.”
“My heart was overwhelmed with grief and indignation, and I momentarily lost control.”
“I am willing to meet the new king in person, explain the reasons face to face, and accept any punishment!”
Seeing Shan’s “sincere” attitude.
And hearing that he was willing to meet the new king to explain.
He Yi’s suspicion eased slightly.
Perhaps this “Roland” truly had some unknown entanglement with the former king?
Though he was still angry.
He thought that since they were of the same clan, if there truly were hidden circumstances.
Bringing him back to the Royal City for the new king’s judgment would suffice.
There was no need to completely tear things apart immediately.
“Hmph, I doubt you would dare to play tricks!”
“Come with us!”
He Yi waved his hand, signaling the guards to step forward.
Because Shan had shown compliance.
The guards’ watch was not particularly strict.
Shan followed them toward the Royal City.
But in his heart, he was waiting for the right moment.
When the group passed through a dense forest.
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes!
Flames burst forth from his palm.
And slammed violently into the ground!
“Boom!”
Dust and smoke instantly filled the air!
The group fell into chaos!
“Careful!”
“He’s trying to escape!”
He Yi was both shocked and furious, shouting sharply.
In that moment of confusion.
Shan seized the opportunity and rammed aside the guard blocking his path!
“Stop him!”
He Yi reacted extremely quickly.
Starlight gathered into a sphere and shot toward Shan!
At the same time.
The other guards who had reacted also attacked.
Several streaks of Starlight and fireballs smashed toward Shan!
“Pff!”
Shan took a direct hit from a light sphere, letting out a muffled groan.
Using the impact, he plunged headfirst into the dense bushes by the roadside, his figure instantly swallowed by branches and leaves.
“Damn it!”
He Yi’s face turned ashen with rage.
He had actually been played by this man!
“Chase!”
“After him!”
“He’s injured—he won’t get far!”
…
The news quickly returned to the royal palace.
Yula listened to the report, his expression calm.
But when he heard that “Roland” had used flames, his brows immediately furrowed.
“Flame ability?”
Yula repeated softly.
Lightly tapping the armrest of the throne.
“According to the registry, Baron Roland’s ability should be ‘Starlight.’”
A trace of suspicion arose in his heart.
He immediately ordered an investigation into Roland’s recent situation.
The results were quickly placed before Yula.
The real Baron Roland.
Had already gone missing months ago!
And among the registered Flame Recipients of Divine Grace in the Royal City.
None had records of leaving their territories or the city for extended periods.
A person with Flame ability, impersonating a deceased Starlight Recipient of Divine Grace, and harboring deep hatred toward the former king Ze…
In an instant.
Yula recalled a hidden past.
Because a certain tribe had illegally possessed Divine Grace.
His grandfather had ordered its eradication.
And during that operation, one Flame Recipient of Divine Grace had escaped by chance…
All the clues connected at this moment.
A flash of realization appeared in Yula’s eyes.
Immediately replaced by cold killing intent.
“So… it was that fish that slipped through the net.”
He understood now—this person was not of Apollo’s bloodline.
But a survivor of that exterminated tribe, returning now for revenge.
Considering that the origin of the Divine Grace Technique could not be exposed.
It was not suitable to make this matter public.
Yula did not issue a nationwide manhunt, to avoid alerting the enemy and drawing unnecessary attention and speculation.
But he would never allow this hidden danger to remain.
“Pass down my order.”
“Form an elite squad.”
“He Yi will personally select absolutely reliable individuals to continuously track this person.”
“I want him found—dead or alive.”
“This matter must be handled in secrecy.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
He Yi accepted the order and silently withdrew.
Yula looked out the window at the brilliant starry sky.
He had to completely eliminate this survivor!
The honor of Apollo’s bloodline.
Would not tolerate anyone defiling or destroying it!