Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The obese middle-aged noble’s body slumped to the ground, his neck completely twisted. His entire pudgy face had turned a purplish-red, his eyes bulging. He had died a gruesome death.
This sudden scene caused gasps of surprise from the nobles in the banquet hall.
“Someone’s dead!”
“Oh! My God… This, this is too brutal…”
“Why didn’t His Majesty the King stop him?”
King Karari had unspeakable bitterness in his heart. It wasn’t that he didn’t *want* to stop him, but the King of Winter’s movements were too fast. Furthermore, he had never imagined that the King of Winter would kill one of his own nobles right there at his banquet.
“Your Excellency, King of Winter, I require an explanation!”
King Karari was not one to be trifled with. He was, after all, a Champion Level expert. If he could tolerate such blatant disrespect, he wouldn’t be able to rule as king anymore.
No noble would ever support him again.
“An explanation? I would like to ask you a question: if a noble from another country were to desire the private concubine of a king, should that king maintain diplomatic etiquette or directly execute the fool who knows no fear?”
The King of Winter’s words stunned King Karari. His lips moved a couple of times, unsure of how to respond. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “He did indeed offend your dignity. From any angle, executing him was justified. However, he was unaware of this maid’s identity.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Xi Wei let out a cold laugh. He stared intently at King Karari, his voice unhurried but carrying a chilling aura of oppression. “Neither you nor I are fools. The fact that she was qualified to attend this banquet with me is enough to indicate her status. Everyone in this banquet who can walk normally on the carpet is a legitimate lady of the court, not a slave crawling on the ground.”
“A petty noble attempting to covet the king’s lady, what’s wrong with killing him?”
King Karari looked at the corpse of the middle-aged noble and sighed. Ultimately, it was due to his excessive greed. These nobles spent their days acting presumptuously in their fiefs, and arrogance had become a habit. Perhaps most of them still thought the King of Winter was just a king of a small country with no significant military strength. But he had personally witnessed the King of Winter’s army.
“My apologies, Your Majesty Winter. This was my oversight. You have already provided a sufficient explanation. The fault lies entirely with this worthless individual. Please do not be angry. I will have someone handle this matter.” King Karari forced a smile. He felt incredibly stifled inwardly and cursed his own nobles in his mind. “These fools are blind. Is this a person one can provoke carelessly?”
King Karari summoned two knights to drag away the middle-aged noble’s corpse. The banquet continued. However, the area where Xi Wei and his entourage were seated had been completely cleared. The other nobles instinctively avoided the King of Winter like quails. Their gazes no longer dared to linger on the charming maids.
What followed was the normal course of the banquet. As the host and facilitator, Karari explained the reason for holding the banquet. He also solemnly introduced the King of Winter to the assembled nobles, subtly hinting at the King of Winter’s powerful army. The nobles were awestruck into silence. They finally understood why their usually absolute king had been repeatedly at a disadvantage and subjected to others’ will today. It turned out they couldn’t defeat him!
The banquet proceeded in this strange atmosphere. Time ticked by, second by second. After enjoying the exquisite food and the dancers’ alluring performances, at least on the surface, the hosts and guests seemed to be enjoying themselves. The banquet was gradually drawing to a close.
King Karari exchanged a glance with a knight beside him. The knight bowed and departed. King Karari then stood up, clapped his hands, and with a voice that could be heard throughout the entire banquet hall, he smiled and said to Xi Wei, “Your Excellency, King of Winter, you have traveled far to support the Emerald Frontier. On behalf of all the allied soldiers still fighting on the front lines, I thank you.”
“My Karari is but a small country, thus I have nothing particularly valuable to offer. However, my country does have a special produce—a fruit that, once consumed, allows one to experience extreme happiness. Each fruit is worth a thousand gold pieces, and they are priceless.”
King Karari’s face was filled with pride. It seemed he was genuinely proud that his country possessed such a precious specialty.
As he finished his introduction, the knight who had departed earlier emerged from behind the scenes, carrying a silver tray. He approached Xi Wei and respectfully knelt on one knee, presenting the tray with both hands. The tray was covered with a black silk cloth, revealing the outline of two round fruits. A sweet aroma began to permeate the air, intoxicating with just a sniff.
The surrounding nobles gazed enviously at the tray, sniffing the air greedily. It was clear they all knew what was placed on the tray.
“Your Excellency, King of Winter, please don’t be modest. You may taste it directly.”
“This fruit is delicious and offers many benefits after consumption. Experiencing extreme happiness is just one of its effects. The other effects are beyond words; you should experience them for yourself.” King Karari deliberately created suspense, building anticipation. He was very confident in the Parasitic Tree Fruit. As long as the King of Winter took a bite, he would never forget the taste, making future negotiations and cooperation between their two countries much easier.
Xi Wei looked at the tray before him, a premonition already forming in his heart. His gaze was solemn, lowered as he reached out and gently lifted the silk cloth. The mysterious fruit hidden beneath was then revealed to everyone. They were two pink fruits, crystalline and translucent, like jewels.
A concentrated fruity aroma exploded throughout the banquet hall. The surrounding nobles looked entrallled, their gazes on the fruits growing more fervent. Their frenzied appearances were as if they had been bewitched by a succubus.
[Parasitic Tree Fruit]
[Effect 1: Hallucination: Upon consumption, one will experience extreme happiness but also become addicted to the Parasitic Tree Fruit. After a period without consuming it, one will feel extreme pain.]
[Effect 2: Control: The juice of the Parasitic Tree Fruit can disrupt one’s mind. Direct injection can erase memories, leading to brainwashing and the stimulation of lust. The injected subject will gradually lose their sanity.]
Silence fell upon the hall. The King of Winter, with the silk cloth in his hand, froze. His other hand hung naturally at his sides, his head bowed, his brow furrowed. No one knew what he was thinking. They could only vaguely see the slight downward curve of the king’s lips.
His large hand, calloused from years of holding a sword, loosened its grip. The black cloth covering the fruits quietly fell to the ground. Although there was no sound, the surrounding nobles inexplicably felt a chill run down their spines. Their hearts tightened. The cloth had covered the palace portraits on the floor tiles, and it felt as if it had also covered their hearts.
