Prince of Wives

by Jason Hale

  And witnessing the scene, even Konnor had to take the situation seriously. He activated his Origin Sight to scan the whole beast army from a distance. What he saw almost made him panic.

  "This can quickly turn into a carnage."

  Around three hundred Superior Beasts, five hundred Voracious Beasts, two thousand Intermediate Beasts, and five thousand Lesser Beasts stood together.

  Originally, due to the limited range of his Origin Sight, Konnor couldn't get an accurate estimation of the three levels' population.

  After all, each level stretched across dozens of square miles and the beasts were scattered with the strongest occupying larger territories.

  But now that they all banded together under the leadership of the strongest Superior Beasts, their might became evident. If a battle really broke out, the only people facing extermination were the Holy Flame Empire's nobles.

  The cloud of almost one thousand winged beasts alarmed all of them. No matter where they stood, they could clearly witness the scene.

  The demonic beasts were not willing to sit and wait for death. Thus, now the hunters became the preys.

  Of the one-hundred-eight contestants, Konnor excluded, there were forty-four Arch Knights and among those, twenty at the second step or above.

  Individually, there was no superior beast those Arch Knights couldn't slay. However, even if they all joined force, they couldn't slaughter the three hundred leading Superior Beasts.

  …

  "This is nothing like the previous competitions. The numbers are abnormal. Is the Holy Flame Church trying to get us all killed? Knowing these numbers, why is it that this time they specifically asked us to slaughter all beasts within the first and second level? Even if it were only the first, it would be impossible. Now we've antagonized all the Superior Beasts of the second level, leading them to gather this army."

  Koloman despaired. It was impossible for the Holy Flame Church not to know the current composition of the Prism World. It was also impossible for them not to know what would happen.

  A trap. Like sheep, they'd driven themselves into a deadly trap. But what was the church's goal?

  …

  If we can slaughter the leading Superior Beasts, their army will disperse. The problem is that we're scattered while they're all together.

  And even if we formed one group…slaying I don't know how many Superior Beasts within that army is…impossible."

  Holgren concluded upon assessing the situation.

  At that time, a stampede of thousands of demonic beasts marching in one unit began. And the earth shivered.

  "Run! We must flee the forest!"

  That same thought swirled through the minds of all the contestants. A barrier surrounding the forest prevented the demonic beasts from escaping it regardless of their cultivation level. Therefore, as long as they managed to exit, they were out of danger.

  Most of the contestants only used the competition as an opportunity to temper themselves and challenge their rivals. Not many truly hoped to seize the Holy Flame Baptism quota.

  They were not going to throw away their lives for a simple competition. Alas, even fleeing came at a price.

  The nearly one thousand "man" strong horde of flying beast flew to survey the limits of the Prism Forest, and although it was too vast for them to completely cover, they could at least pluck some of the fleeing contestants.

  The advantage of flight quickly showed itself. Spells from Voracious and Superior Beasts came crashing from above and tore through a dozen of the fleeing contestants.

  "AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

  However, even their screams were muffled by the advance of the army.

  Even the von Juras team readied itself for a getaway. Although they couldn't change the situation, they would have no problem fighting their way out if need be. In any case, Holgren had been ordered by Konnor to feign injury for the next round. Therefore, he had no misgivings.

  It would be best if they all failed.

  However, he was bound to be disappointed.

  …

  "With your bloodline level, you can use your demonic energy to directly subdue beasts beneath the Accursed Rank. You can directly brand them with the mark of servitude. Unfortunately, you don't have a reliable space treasure at hand to hide them."

  "Why didn't you say that sooner? That's easily solved."

  Konnor entered the system and exchanged 150,000 exp for a low-grade Arch level space treasure whose shape could be changed at will. He also used the opportunity to trade 270,000 exp and promote his Hundred Flowers Scripture to the Arch level. His exp count dropped to 11,953,225.

  He then sat cross-legged to wait for the chaos to subside.

  Soon enough, all the contestants fled the forest, leaving only the still vigilant demonic beasts to patrol the surroundings.

  Satisfied, Konnor stealthily stepped toward the center where the leading Superior Beasts gathered and emerged from the shadows.

  As soon as he appeared, their ire fell upon him. But before they could make a move, vast demonic energy erupted from his body alongside demonic glyphs that barreled into them, subverted their minds, and forced them onto their knees. Without a sound, three hundred Superior Beasts lowered their heads and chose submission.

  Using them, Konnor lured in the thousands of patrolling beasts and subdued them all the same. The scene was a marvel.

  He then packed all of them into his new space treasure which he shaped into a mini-paper talisman and hid within his sleeve.

  Afterward, he returned to the third level to carry on recruitment.

  Since he'd already started, he might as well do it thoroughly.

  Chapter 64 - A Contest of Impudence

  Following his cleaning of the first two levels, Konnor stepped into the third and hunted down all the remaining Monstrous Beasts to do the same. There was a total of eighty-seven Monstrous Beasts left, and they all fell into his hands.

  With this army, he could probably take down any viscount level house or below and make most count level houses tremble. For such massive gains, he absolutely wouldn't hesitate.

  Of course, if he weren't sure he could conceal his involvement in the sudden disappearance of the demonic beasts, he wouldn't have dared.

  "It's time to leave."

  Konnor reckoned upon packing up the last Monstrous Beast. He then turned heels and promptly exited the Prism World's Forest.

  At the outskirts, the expelled teams had already gathered, and all shared the same fury.

  "We've been deceived! Obviously, the church never intended for anyone to obtain the quota! They were even content hurrying us to our doom!"

  "Do they really think they can suppress the world? That the nobility has grown so weak that we must tolerate this level of bullying?"

  "Right! Those damnable, depraved despots have been looking down on us for far too long. When we return to the outside world, I must ask my father to give me justice. The Holy Flame Baptism to hell!"

  Of the initial one-hundred-eight contestants, thirty had lost their lives trying to flee the forest. Something that should have been a reasonable hunting competition had suddenly cost them lives. How could they not be infuriated?

  However, although they shared the same anger, the more lucid of them made no comment.

  Konnor quietly snuck into the gathering, acting as he'd always been there and listened to the rising complaints.

  His eyes swept the perimeter, localizing the Kracht fillers, Koloman, and the von Juras. Nier had already regained consciousness and silently stood by her elder brother's side.

  Seeing her safe and sound, a wave of relief swept his chest.

  "Why is it that the imperial family is here, but none of the sovereign prince houses sent representants?"

  A lucid man finally asked, causing all to realize the crux of the problem. Even if the younger children of the Sovereign Princes could obtain Holy Baptisms in different ways, what about their nephews and grandchildren. No one would believe that tho
se three houses had no interest in the quota.

  That being the case, why were they not here?

  "Truly, a greedy man will seek his own demise. We blindfolded ourselves."

  No one dared look at the one who said those words. Earlier when they saw none of the sovereign prince houses present, they were all secretly elated and didn't care about the reason.

  After all, less competition meant greater opportunities. Now, however, it was clear that the sovereign prince houses had gotten wind of something and purposely chose to prevent their juniors from rushing toward an uncertain fate for no gains whatsoever.

  Holgren, in particular, burned with fury. Was his father and grandmother not currently in seclusion, how could he let himself get swindled into participating in this masquerade?

  Better than anyone, he knew the numbers of the previous competitions. There was never more than a few hundred beasts with at worst less than a dozen Monstrous Beasts and dozens of Superior Beasts.

  But now the numbers had inflated to a clearly murderous level.

  They were not just trying to deprive them of the quota. They were trying to get people killed!

  And now all would look at the imperial family as a joke. For they fell for something even the sovereign princes didn't. This was a complete loss of face!

  Nier' thoughts were more straightforward. Playtime was over, and it was time to go home.

  Earlier, she sought Konnor within the crowd but couldn't find him anywhere. However, Holgren had told her that he was safe and sound, and she didn't doubt his ability to escape the forest, so she just assumed he didn't want to be seen.

  She was right. Even now, Konnor didn't let their gaze meet. Using the crowd of seventy-eight people to cover for him.

  He pulled the Kracht fillers aside to use as decoys.

  "Boss, fortunately, you're alright. This time, the Holy Flame Church truly, intolerably bullied us. I don't know who the crook hidden behind this competition was, but he can be sure that things won't end nicely for him."

  Konnor, however, was of another mind.

  "Improbable. The only people likely to lose their lives in this scheme are those of the viscount level houses. The juniors of the margrave and duke level houses are strong enough to escape with minimal damage. Therefore, there isn't much cause for outrage. As for those viscounts, what can they do? Cry? Wail? So what if they lost children? Can they challenge the church? Of course not."

  "They will have to shut up. Right now, those people are outraged, but when the time comes to fire complaints at the church, it would be great if ten people stood up."

  The Kracht fillers were brought back to earth. Even if the church tormented them, what could they do?

  Time quickly passed, and by the end of the third day, blue light descended from above to carry the contestants out of the Prism World.

  They returned to the room where the Blue Prism was located with Bishop Alto and his colleague standing at the prism's left and right to wait for them.

  As soon as they arrived, Bishop Alto's voice echoed.

  "We will first check what remains of the beasts within the first and second level, and if you passed, we shall make the count to select who goes on to the next step."

  Many of the weaker houses had initially chosen to swallow their anger. However, when they heard those words, they felt like they were getting purposely harassed.

  Especially, those who lost relatives from the demonic beasts' counterattacks couldn't contain themselves.

  "Load of horseshit! What is there to check?! How could we possibly slay so many demonic beasts with our manpower? It is already good that we weren't cleanly slaughtered. You're actually talking about making counts? Are you making fun of us?!"

  The one who spoke was a low-level Grand Knight from a viscount's house. He'd lost his two companions and relatives in the escape and barely came out with his life.

  How could he contain his fury? His words echoed with the hearts of all the nobles, and many were ready to speak up. However, Bishop Alto's voice rose.

  "Dissatisfied? Alright."

  His semi-holy force erupted and pinned the protester onto the ground.

  "I've already told you that within the Holy Flame Church, regardless of background, you had to behave. Failure to do so results in only one thing.

  Death!"

  The low-level Grand Knight didn't even have time to squeal before getting squashed into meat paste under Bishop Alto's semi-holy force. Immediately, all were terrified.

  They didn't even have the right to complain. Complaining meant death.

  What was overbearing?

  This was overbearing.

  However, not all were willing to swallow their fury.

  "Hehe, did you think yourself impressive? Fucking dotard!"

  Absentminded eyes turned to the source of those words who turned out to be the fifth prince, Holgren.

  Subconsciously, except for a scant few, all took several steps away from him.

  Bishop Alto turned a scorching gaze toward Holgren, who met his eyes with greater, unconstrained rage.

  "Fifth prince, do you think yourself exempt to the rules? Do you think I don't dare kill you?"

  Hearing Bishop Alto's chilling words, Holgren burst into laughter. As for the remaining von Juras, they all sneered.

  "Kill me? Just you? I stand here. Kill me if you dare."

  Holgren spread his arms as if to welcome Bishop Alto's blow. But the blow never came. Instead, Bishop Alto trembled with veins beating on his temple.

  "Right. You don't dare. Allow me to remind you why.

  I am the son of the Holy Flame Emperor, Olrich von Juras, the grandson of the Dowager, High Exarch Amalia Kvass. The great nephew of High Exarch Adalbert von Juras. To say nothing of them. Even my elder brother, the crown prince, can squash you with one finger.

  Therefore, how dare you kill me? You don't have the galls. You can only spout nonsense and bully the weak while fearing the mighty, like all other second-rate trash!"

  Those words ruthlessly hammered Bishop Alto's dignity. His cheeks burned, his face reddened, and he staggered.

  However, Holgren wasn't satisfied.

  "What thing are you? A low-level bishop. Nothing more. You're more than a thousand years old, yet, are still at the first step of the Semi-Holy Priest Rank. In this lifetime, you can never cross the second sublimation to reach the second step.

  Exhausted potential, meager status, no background. So what if you're a Semi-Saint, I can insult you, spit on your face, and you can do nothing. Because for my house, people like you can be killed at will!"

  "So kneel! Kneel at my feet and grovel for your worthless life! Do a good job, and I might show leniency. Otherwise, when I report this matter, not only will I have you killed, I will drag your entire family to hell with you! Fucking son of a bitch! How dare you harm imperial princes?!"

  All the contestants were astonished. However, what none of them knew was that Holgren, the new pawn, was merely following Konnor's directives.

  Chapter 65 - Scapegoat Alto

  Konnor wasn't one to let himself get toyed with by greater power. His last life had left a bitter enough taste for him to let that happen again. Therefore, he chose to use the imperial family to vent his frustration.

  Holgren was known as a calm, calculating prince that carefully weighed all actions he took. Therefore, including Nier, none understood his extreme outburst.

  More than seventy pairs of eyes had now locked upon Bishop Alto who had subconsciously taken a step backward. Trapped between fury and shame. However, no matter how wrong, he could never kneel in front of a junior.

  Bold! In this country, do you really think anyone can make a bishop of the church kneel? I don't even have to kneel in front of your father. To say nothing of you! What are you going to report? Your failures to complete the competition's requirements? How is that our fault?

  Clearly, this is the result of your own ineptitude!"

  Bishop Alto roared back, supp
orting himself with the Holy Flame Church's name.

  "Rotten imbecile. My forty-five years of existence easily trump your one thousand. Since reason is not enough, let's talk law!

  Even if a member of the nobility sins against the church, punishing him is not just up to you. It first requires a trial approved by the imperial court!

  But not only have you not sought a trial; all can testify that he committed no sin whatsoever. Therefore, your first crime is the arbitrary murder of a nobleman!