Chapter 676: The Lion King’s Final Bow

Henwell's army is still intercepted, though not by the kingdom's regular army. Instead, the legion of Marquess Descartes, a man who can be considered half an ally, suddenly blocks Henwell's path.

Seeing this, Henwell goes to the opposing camp alone.

Marquess Descartes personally comes out to receive him. If not for the two armies facing each other, the way they exchange greetings would make it look like a simple social visit.

After they enter the temporary command tent, Descartes doesn't know how to begin.

Henwell looks around at the people in the tent, then fixes his gaze on Descartes.

"Your Lordship, have them withdraw. Let us talk alone."

When Descartes hesitates, Henwell says calmly, "Marquess, I do consider myself somewhat capable."

"If I wanted to do anything to you, forget the people in this tent. Even all the troops outside combined wouldn't be able to stop me."

Descartes gives an awkward laugh and waves for his subordinates to withdraw.

"Henwell, you have seen something embarrassing. When a man grows old, his memory starts to fail."

"Besides, the current situation has my head in a complete mess."

As he speaks, Descartes invites Henwell to sit.

"Your Lordship, open the road. I must go save Arius."

"No one can stop me in this. Even if my father-in-law were standing opposite me, I would still force my way through."

Since Henwell says it so bluntly, Marquess Descartes can't help frowning.

After a moment of thought, Marquess Descartes finally says, "Henwell, have you thought through the stakes?"

"What we are doing is actually the best outcome for you. In the end, you will gain the greatest benefits."

"And you don't need to do anything. You only need to go back and wait."

"Jonathan will give you enough compensation. He will certainly satisfy you."

Henwell looks surprised. "Jonathan did this? He has that ability?"

Descartes smiles. "Precisely because he doesn't that we joined in."

"If he were as outstanding as Arius, we wouldn't support him instead."

Henwell still finds it hard to believe. "Why would he do this? How did he manage it?"

"Forgive me for speaking frankly. He has no small amount of ambition, and he does have some methods."

"But setting up such a huge game is still beyond him."

"Is thisn't a trap arranged by His Majesty Amir? Do you truly believe Jonathan has this ability?"

Descartes says, "And yet, it happened."

Henwell suddenly shakes his head. "No. It isn't Jonathan. This must be His Majesty Amir's arrangement."

Descartes sighs. "Alas. We were the same as you."

"We have been wary of Amir all along, thinking this might be one of his traps."

"But three days ago, Amir died in the palace. We are all certain of that. We confirmed the truth again and again."

"That is why our sides truly moved."

"Only at the moment Amir died did we truly join this plan."

"And precisely because of Amir's death, we sent out our armies together, and most of the kingdom army declared loyalty to Jonathan."

Henwell is stunned. The old lion of Vorry died just like that?

Henwell finds it hard to accept.

Henwell understands very well how formidable that old lion is. He is a ruthless man Henwell has to face with his full attention.

Aside from King Amir, only King Baleqi of Ika makes Henwell take him so seriously.

Of course, Ulysses, the former king of Billie, isn't included in that list.

If that ruthless man were still alive, and without the Veil holding him back, Henwell is certain he wouldn't be able to contend with him.

But King Amir is already formidable enough. Surrounded by other nations, he brought Vorry step by step to greater strength.

He turned Vorry from a duchy into a kingdom, and through several wars, Vorry benefited every single time.

He prevented the war-hungry Vorry from being dragged down and single-handedly suppressed the royal faction and the noble faction at home.

He kept Henwell trapped in a corner, unable to break out.

The Iron Wall Legion in the Western Regions, the MacLeod family in the Eastern Regions, the Phoenix family, and Arius of Yosui City.

Even with so many powerful allies, Henwell was still pressed down by Amir and unable to move from Peace Haven.

He could only rely on slow erosion, extending his power into Vorry as much as possible.

And now, that sinister and savage old lion has been killed by Jonathan?

Henwell's mind can't process it for a moment, and he instinctively asks what happened.

After learning the sequence of events from Marquess Descartes, Henwell still feels something strange beneath the surface.

Henwell looks suspiciously at Descartes.

"Do you really believe Jonathan could do this?"

Descartes takes a light sip of wine. "If not, then who else?"

Henwell frowns. "Ika Kingdom. The kings of Billie. Kosen Kingdom. Even the Western Federation or the Veil could all be possible."

"There is absolutely someone supporting this from behind. There is no way Jonathan could do this alone."

Descartes sets down his cup and smiles.

"What does that matter? Who supports him isn't important. What matters is what we can gain."

"Don't concern yourself with the process. As long as there is enough reward at the end, we can overlook some of the experiences along the way."

Henwell says in a low voice, "The idea is good. But fate marks a price on every unearned gain."

"If the power behind Jonathan does this, then afterward the entire Vorry Kingdom will have to pay the price. When that time comes, can we truly afford it?"

Descartes pours Henwell a cup of wine.

"You are Marcus's son-in-law and Jansen's adopted son. We are of the same generation and have a good relationship."

"Today, let this old man presume a little and call you my young friend."

"My young friend, do you understand? No matter who supports Jonathan, they will face our reckoning afterward."

"Jonathan colluded with outsiders, murdered the former king, and slaughtered his own siblings. These charges aren't false, are they?"

"After that, Jonathan will have to die."

"None of us will let him become king."

"As for whatever agreements Jonathan reached, and whatever promises he made, they have nothing to do with Vorry."

"Anyone who wants to collect a debt can go to Jonathan in his grave. It has nothing to do with us in Vorry."

Henwell chuckles. "Heh. Isn't that a little wishful?"

"Jonathan dies, Arius dies as well, and once Amir's line is extinct, who will become king of Vorry?"

"Surely not you, Marquess?"

Descartes quickly waves his hands. "Of course not. I don't have such ambition, and I don't have the ability to be king."

"Amir's royal line ending doesn't mean the entire royal bloodline has ended."

"Fabio, Marshal of the Iron Wall in the Western Regions, is also a candidate everyone can accept."

"If that truly doesn't work, then everyone can work a little harder and support a child king."

Hold the young king hostage and command the nobles.

Henwell remains calm. "Enough. Enough imagining the future. Now, Uncle, please let me pass."

"After thinking it over, I still feel Arius would be a better king."

Marquess Descartes sighs and raises his cup.

"Henwell, drink this cup of wine, and then we will fight. If you win, you may leave."

Henwell lowers his head and glances at the cup. After a moment of silence, he lifts it and drinks it in one gulp.

After putting down the cup, Henwell doesn't leave. Instead, he sits back down.

"I have drunk the wine. I will wait one hour."

"If I am not poisoned to death, then I ask Marquess Descartes to open the road and allow my army to pass."