Chapter 377
I am Alistair
“Minister, I shouldn’t stop you…”
The secretary behind the Naval Minister sighed, “But don’t you think it’s too late to betray now? The best time was clearly before Captain Camus went to see Inspector Edward.
“Moreover, if you’re really going to do it, I don’t even think the dungeon is necessary. Because if such evidence-type documents aren’t originals, they won’t be of much use. It would be better to betray thoroughly.
“Also, instead of handing the documents to Minister Moriarty, I think it would be better to destroy them right in front of him. This way, the other ministers will think they have obtained the documents and will attack Minister Moriarty on the newspaper. In the end, they won’t be able to produce evidence and will be swiftly and effectively counterattacked by Minister Moriarty, who is well-prepared. This will ensure their downfall.
“At the same time, it prevents Minister Moriarty from using these documents to prove our betrayal. Offending so many Knight families, or offending the Royal Family, will have the same result: a price we cannot afford.”
Sheldon leaned behind the old man and whispered, “And we just need to play dumb and say we don’t know where the documents went.”
As the deputy adjutant of the Ministry of the Navy, Sheldon was also Minister Ramos’s aide.
The old man was silent for a long time, lost in thought.
The gardening shears in his hand snipped rhythmically, cutting off branch after branch. It was less about design and more about venting his emotions.
Finally, the old man sighed.
“…You’re right, it’s too late to betray now. And it’s not a good look.
“Let’s just see this through to the end.”
“—Indeed.”
A haughty and cold female voice suddenly rang out from the clearing, causing the old man’s brow to furrow sharply.
His pupils turned a majestic silvery white, and he turned towards the source of the sound.
“Who’s there!”
The old man shouted, “[Come out]!”
On one hand, he used his voice as a medium to release his Law Spell, [Majesty · Deterrence].
On the other hand, he wanted others to hear his voice and rush to his rescue.
Although Minister Ramos was only at the Fourth Tier, he was, after all, the Naval Minister—according to the characteristics of the Path of Authority, power itself could be converted into strength.
Unlike “Punishment” type Law Spells, “Majesty” type Law Spells do not require separate sentencing for different crimes. They can only be used on people of lower status. The greater the gap in power and status, the better the spell’s effect.
—However, to Minister Ramos’s surprise, his spell had no effect at all.
This meant that the opponent’s status was on par with his, or even higher!
Emerging from the shadows was a tall woman the Naval Minister had never seen before.
She was no shorter than Old Dewis and had hair as black as night.
Her pupils were crimson like blood, and her lips were stained with blood. Her hair was unbound, casually falling behind her, still somewhat damp, as if she had just washed it and it hadn’t completely dried.
She was wearing a classic skirt dress of the Star Antimony nobility. The black and red silk evening gown was incredibly ornate, like attire for a grand banquet. Her upper garment tightly cinched her slender waist, while her lower body was supported by a large whalebone crinoline.
Around her full chest hung a silver cross inlaid with black crystal—Old Dewis recognized it at a glance as an ancient noble item from the Hrasal Empire!
“Good day, Minister Ramos.”
The woman chuckled elegantly.
Although her tone was respectful, she did not actually bow to him.
Even without her introducing herself, the Naval Minister had already recognized her identity.
“…Miss Alistair?”
The old man’s expression was grave, and he instinctively took half a step back.
—As the girl walked, the ground beneath her seemed to be corroded by a curse, spreading out like a muddy shadow.
Hazy hunting dogs, black cats, and crows flickered beneath her skirt, as if following her, or perhaps merely illusions.
“Does Eiv know you’re here?”
The old man taunted lightly. The implication was that Eiv was her master, and she should have reported to him before leaving.
His expression turned somewhat grim at the thought of his plan being overheard by Alistair, but among the many crises he had faced, this was not a significant one, so the old man remained calm.
“Of course, he knows.”
“Alistair” said lightly.
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a proud and mischievous smile.
She pointed to the corner of her mouth and whispered, “Guess… whose blood this is?”
“Are you… a vampire?”
Old Dewis’s pupils constricted, and he finally felt a true sense of tension.
If this was Minister Moriarty’s blood… then he was now…
His plan was suddenly disrupted by an unexpected variable, filling him with a strong sense of unease.
“Alright, this is just a first meeting.”
“Alistair” said elegantly, “I hope it won’t be the last…”
As she spoke, she took a letter from her chest. She kissed it lightly, leaving a blood-stained lip print on the envelope.
She gave a charming smile and explained, “A gift—take a good look.”
Then, she casually tossed the envelope over. It was caught by the secretary standing behind Old Dewis.
Just then, the sky suddenly grew visibly dark. As it looked like it was about to rain, Secretary Sheldon instinctively pocketed the letter.
But the old man’s expression suddenly changed.
He looked up abruptly at “Alistair,” as if he understood something.
—The next moment, twelve silvery-white light spears clanged down from the sky.
In groups of four, they landed around the old man, the secretary, and “Alistair,” pinning them in place.
The cry of a gryphon echoed, a pure white gryphon.
A small figure descended from the sky, landing steadily.
She appeared to be only about a meter tall—with silvery-white dragon horns and a dragon tail, and dark green eyes.
It was the new Grand Arbitrator, said to be Meg’s niece… Lixia, who had never displayed her power after inheriting the position of Grand Arbitrator!
Lixia held the silver scepter symbolizing Avalon’s royal power in her hand.
The scepter was entirely silvery white, with raised segments like a spine, and at the top was a small white sword hilt, which seemed to be a grip. It looked like a sword hidden in a scabbard.
A metal snake covered in runes coiled around the top, as if alive. Near the top, it unfurled wings like a dragon’s, but it had no snake’s head… At the end of the snake’s body was a sharp tetrahedron, like a pyramid. Three of its outer faces simultaneously opened three emerald eyes.
The “snake head” was now rotating, swaying with its will. The three eyes blinked, their gazes shifting, looking in different directions.
Lixia couldn’t grip the handle of the scepter—because the scepter was even taller than she was!
She could only hold it around the upper-middle part, which looked somewhat comical.
But the Naval Minister had to take the heirloom scepter seriously.
—It was a divine artifact that could nearly increase the energy level of an Extraordinary on the Path of Authority! It not only possessed the power of a Sixth Tier but also had a status equivalent to that of the Queen herself—Law Spells under such exalted status were practically unevacuable.
When Meg wielded it, she was the Meg that all countries feared.
“Your Excellency, Grand Arbitrator…”
The Naval Minister pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice, wanting to explain something.
“[Silence].”
Lixia said commandingly, “[You are not allowed to say a word before the reporters arrive].”
An invisible force of authority spread, and he was instantly silenced.
“—They’ve come quite quickly.”
But Alistair, also confined, chuckled lightly, interrupting him. She showed no signs of nervousness and was not silenced by Lixia’s command.
On the gryphon sat an elderly man. He wore Avalon-style clothing, but his features still retained an aura of someone from a foreign land.
Old Dewis recognized him.
It was Ibn, the court Ritualist.
He had his eyes closed, muttering incantations, as if performing some ritual.
…What was he doing here?
This left Old Dewis utterly bewildered.
Immediately after, a large number of reporters appeared outside—they were all reporters from the Glass Steps Herald, followers of Master Janis.
They quickly set up their photography equipment.
Old Ibn then opened his eyes.
The Naval Minister clearly caught a trace of anger in Ibn’s expression… but Old Dewis was certain he had never offended him.
However, Old Ibn’s next words almost made his heart stop—
“Your Excellency, Grand Arbitrator, it’s here! The ritual shows that the culprit who attacked Minister Moriarty is here! Another ritual has also completed its lock: Eiv disappeared after arriving here!”
The Naval Minister hesitated for only a brief moment before reacting.
He shouted loudly in defense, “I don’t know this person! This is the first time I’ve seen her today, this is a conspiracy to frame me—”
“There’s no need to explain further, Minister Ramos.”
Miss Alistair sighed dramatically, smiling helplessly, “They’ve tracked it this far, they must have thoroughly obtained the evidence of our contact.”
“—Who the hell contacted you, Alistair!”
The old man roared, “This is the first time I’ve met you today!”
Upon hearing this, Alistair’s expression changed.
She pointed to the scepter in Lixia’s hand, her expression turning cold, and sneered, “Fine, then say it to this! Say you haven’t betrayed your Queen, you haven’t accepted the invitation from Star Antimony, you haven’t tried to destroy my evidence, you haven’t tried to usurp Her Majesty’s power—Say it?”
In an instant, the Naval Minister was choked for words.
“As for me, I can say it openly.”
Alistair faced the camera flashes in the distance, spread her arms elegantly, and gave a charming smile.
Just as the Naval Minister was about to say something, he was glared at by Lixia, “[Silence]!”
He was instantly choked back.
And “Alistair” calmly said, “I am the master of the Shadow Demon. The one they call ‘Alistair Crowley,’ the one who attacked and kidnapped Eivass Moriarty… and the one who loves him dearly. Now Eivass is kept in a place only I know. If you kill me, he will die with me.
“Listen well, everyone. I am not from Avalon, nor am I an Iris person. But I don’t think I am a Star Antimony person either. If I must be given a designation—I believe I should be an ‘Imperial.'”
“I am a noble of the Hrasal Empire, with noble blood flowing through me, blessed by the Pillar Gods!
“Every word I speak is the truth. I ask the Grand Arbitrator to arbitrate in the name of the Crown Lord.”
“—I arbitrate.”
Hearing this, Lixia raised her scepter and declared loudly, “All is true.”
“Alistair” smiled sideways at the Naval Minister, pointed to her neck, tilted her head slightly, and asked, “At this point, there’s no need to do anything undignified, is there, my dear Minister?”
The Naval Minister looked at Alistair, then at Lixia.
He sighed deeply, realizing something, and lowered his head, closing his eyes.
Update complete!
Requesting votes at the end of the month~
