Chapter 761
The Victorious Palace of Lionheart City
The capital of Star Antinomy is called Lionheart City.
The most central building in Lionheart City is the castle personally built by Star Antinomy’s greatest monarch, Valentin I, “Basil Valentine”—the Victorious Palace.
According to the customs of Avalon, Iris Flower, and the Hrasal Empire, such a monarch should be called “Basil I,” and subsequent monarchs with the same name would be called “Basil II,” just like Avalon’s “Tudor III,” the Gallow King.
However, the customs of Star Antinomy are unique in the entire world.
This is because Basil Valentine, an alchemist who originated as a commoner, had a special idea—
“Valentine” means “strong and powerful,” as Basil’s grandfather had told him. It was also a wish for him.
For commoners, their surnames were not important; they could even be changed or replaced at any time. For example, Basil’s father and grandfather’s surname was “Faber,” indicating their ancestor was a blacksmith. His grandfather wished for him not to inherit the family trade but to have a different future, so he changed his surname.
His family began from here.
—In other words, the first “Valentine” in this world was indeed Valentin I.
It was precisely because this surname itself inspired Basil with some divine revelation that he was able to write the occult treatise, “The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony.”
This book guided alchemists down another path—the possibility that “even the wildest antimony can be sublimated into the most sacred Star Antinomy.”
With the right method, any mortal can become a god.
This theory can be further extended to another possibility.
That is, “anyone can be a king.”
Because Basil himself came from a common background, he established his own nation in the chaotic Hrasal Empire of the last era, bringing a group of followers with him. He understood the power and potential of commoners, valuing the continuation of Star Antinomy over the continuation of his own bloodline.
Therefore, this founding king left behind a rule that, to the people of that time, seemed incredible and would cause great chaos, and which has yet to be used to this day…
—The successor to the throne does not necessarily have to have Valentine blood.
Because “Valentine” is a surname passed down through power—the true title of a Star Antinomy monarch is “the Powerful One,” or is called “Valentine,” or “Lion King.” Each generation of Valentine is the “nth generation Lion King.”
As long as both the Red Phase and the Black Phase recognize them, even those from outside Star Antinomy can inherit the surname “Valentine.” Regardless of their previous surname, they can abandon their past surname and receive the surname Valentine.
Because of this, Star Antinomy’s most fundamental principle is to promote the capable and the virtuous.
—Theoretically, anyone could become the monarch of Star Antinomy and a “Valentine.” Similarly, if a successor proves too incompetent, their “Valentine” surname could be stripped by the Red and Black Phases, along with their right of succession.
This keeps all Valentines from slacking off.
They must compete with their brothers and sisters, as well as with exceptionally outstanding individuals from other families.
If no successor can gain the recognition of the two ancient ministers, and the previous king did not name a successor before his death… then it is highly likely that the throne will be taken by someone from another family.
As “Valentines” of the same generation, they are destined to be branded as “unprecedentedly incompetent” in the future history books of Star Antinomy.
The immense pressure on Xiardo Valentine stems precisely from this.
And at this moment, his father is in the Victorious Palace, inquiring about another person.
“—So, what do you think of Xiardo?”
The white-haired old man sat in his dark gold study, his brow deeply furrowed.
He held a pen, writing and sketching on a blank sheet of paper.
Standing before him was a jester, resembling a clown.
His face was covered in thick white greasepaint, with exaggerated red eyeliner drawn beneath his eyes. His hair was dyed olive green and puffed up, looking like a head of broccoli. He wore the attire of a court noble, but it was adorned with colorful patches. On his back, written in a childish script, was the word “Genius.”
“Oh, my dear Majesty.”
The jester replied with a playful smile, his voice undulating like a poem or a song: “That depends on your criteria for evaluation;
“If you are asking about his muscles, then he is hardly a qualified man, even a female hyena could pin him to the ground;
“But if you ask about his alchemical skill—oh, forgive me, but he is by no means a genius;
“However, if you are talking about his competence as a king, then I think he might be a good king, for he is compassionate and sentimental. He might give old Laro a comfortable retirement… Oh, and when old Laro becomes too frail to stand, he might even provide some slaves to serve Laro and clean up his mess.”
“Enough, Laro. Enough. I understand what you mean.”
The old king sighed, putting down his pen: “Weak, silent, gentle of personality, and most importantly, lacking in alchemical talent… As expected, he won’t do either.”
The paper before him remained blank, with no writing.
This was because the pen in the king’s hand had not been dipped in ink at all.
“There’s no need for further tests, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, no need. A mediocre talent is always mediocre, and Star Antinomy requires a genius who can solve all problems. However, that girl he knows…”
The old king pondered with a serious expression: “Judging by the description, she is exactly like the ‘Alistair’ we fabricated earlier. Could she be the glove of His Majesty the Pope?”
“It’s possible, or perhaps the rumors are true! It’s terrifying, the demon that only exists in rumors has appeared to kill people, boo hoo hoo…”
The jester laughed woefully, gesticulating comically.
The corners of the old king’s mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to placidness.
“Go and leak this news to the Rose Cross. Tell them Alistair has appeared in Leipzig and observe their reaction—my intuition tells me that she completed the ritual to elevate the Banquet Master.”
“Are you saying there’s a traitor within the Rose Cross? That’s truly frightening, hee hee hee…”
The jester couldn’t help but burst into laughter: “I’m guessing it’s Madam Kingsford?”
“Most likely. Otherwise, how would ‘Alistair’ know that the ‘liver’ left behind by Dionysus, the ‘Fool,’ is in Count Dawn’s possession? Aside from me, the Principal, and Jacob, only a few high-ranking members of the Academy know its whereabouts—it has been in the mortal world for less than twenty years. Jacob obtained it by forcing open an Imperial Secret Treasure as a thank you for the Rose Cross’s assistance.
“As far as I know, Pomanach has wanted that liver for a long time… He initially sent Heinrich to join the Rose Cross precisely to obtain it.
“—After all, without a liver that can be used to ‘sober up,’ the ‘Fool’ can never become the complete ‘God of Wine’; and Zagreus, who is eternally one with the God of Wine, will forever remain the ‘Banquet Master’ and never become the ‘Banquet Heavenly Envoy’ or ‘Wine Heavenly Envoy’…”
As the old king spoke to this point, his mouth curved upward in satisfaction, incapable of suppressing his amusement.
Although the power of the Banquet Master had long surpassed that of the Shadow Heavenly Envoy… if He wished to elevate himself along with Dionysus, the seal on this liver must be broken.
Although the Fool had failed in his challenge against the Beast Lord in the past and his body was torn apart, his heart was preserved as a gift by the Beast Lord.
The Banquet Master stole and ate the Fool’s heart, thus allowing Dionysus to resurrect within himself… However, without a doubt, Dionysus, who had refused to become a Disciple of the Pillar Gods, did not wish to survive in this manner. Therefore, he hid the location of his last remaining body part, forcing the Banquet Master, who had been elevated to Disciple, to spit it out.
—This was the Fool’s final prank.
Long before the decisive battle, he had removed his liver in his elven form and preserved it, throwing it into the sea.
The deep sea was a secret domain that even the Nine Pillar Gods could not investigate.
If he were to be defeated—and he certainly would be defeated—and the Beast Lord intended to devour him, he would find that his most delicious liver was missing. His soul would always be missing a crucial piece, which might enrage the Beast Lord…
This was the “final jest and resistance” he had prepared.
In reality, even if Dionysus had not hidden his body part, he would have no idea where it had drifted.
“Pomanach was originally a believer of the Banquet Master, and as the Blood Heavenly Envoy, the first Child of the Moon, he is the son of the Banquet Master. If he could shatter the seal, the Banquet Master would be able to sense the liver’s location, allowing the Banquet Master to seize the Fool’s last remnant soul and achieve full elevation to the Banquet Heavenly Envoy.
“Undoubtedly, this feat would be enough to elevate him to a Disciple. But… Hahahaha…”
The old king burst into laughter, clearly in high spirits: “Uh-hmm… I don’t know what ritual Count Dawn intended to use to steal its power, but he is dead now.
“That Alistair completely ruined Pomanach’s plan—I suspect this might also be a stratagem by that Madam. Since Count Dawn has been exposed, it’s better to destroy him directly.
“—Based on my understanding of Pomanach, he is probably smashing things and cursing right now.”
(End of Chapter)
