Chapter 43: The Golden Letter from the Palace and the Oath
Meanwhile, in a vast courtyard, a solitary figure stood beneath the bright moonlight, clad in a white robe, his handsome features illuminated against the night sky.
With his exquisite golden hair and strikingly handsome face, any woman who beheld him would likely feel an instant sense of kindness and fondness toward him.
At present, the man with golden hair stood alone, his expression indifferent and calm as he gazed up at the twinkling stars in the sky.
*Step!*
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind him, accompanied by a young man’s voice.
“Your Highness, please pardon the interruption, but I bear a letter for you from the Imperial Palace.” A young man dressed in servant’s attire approached from behind, speaking with the utmost respect.
At the sound of the servant’s voice, the expression on the golden-haired man’s face, though still calm, subtly shifted, particularly evident in the fluctuation of his green eyes.
Gradually, he averted his gaze from the sky and turned to regard the young servant.
“Are you certain it’s from the Imperial Palace?” The man inquired with a calm and nonchalant tone.
“Indeed, Your Highness. However, I am unable to ascertain the sender’s identity, as they did not disclose it to me,” the young servant replied, a hint of uncertainty evident on his face.
The man paused for a moment before inquiring, “Did the sender provide you with a message to convey to me?”
The young servant nodded eagerly, his gaze fixed on the man in anticipation.
“Yes, Your Highness. The sender instructed me to convey a message stating that ‘the 20-year plan will be resumed’ and urged Your Highness to read the letter promptly.” The young servant provided a detailed explanation as he retrieved a gold-colored letter and presented it to the man.
The letter gleamed in a resplendent shade of gold, adorned with intricate patterns along its edges. Its appearance alone would likely impress anyone with the significance and importance it held.
Upon hearing the young servant’s words and receiving the letter, the man’s expression underwent a swift and drastic transformation.
Finally, his previous calm demeanor shattered, replaced by a sardonic grin that sent an inexplicable wave of discomfort through the young servant.
“Your Highness?” The young servant asked, his voice tinged with fear as he observed the man’s unsettling smile.
Instantly, the golden-haired man snapped out of his reverie, casting the young servant an unusual gaze.
“It’s okay, and thank you for telling me,” the golden-haired man said calmly as his expression slowly returned to normal, taking the letter from him.
The young servant released a sigh of relief upon witnessing his master’s expression normalize.
For some inexplicable reason, the sight of his master’s earlier, unsettling countenance sent shivers down his spine.
“You’re welcome, Your Highness. With your permission, I will take my leave,” the servant said respectfully, bowing his head slightly.
Just as he turned around to depart, a sudden jolt interrupted him…
*Stabbed!*
The servant’s movements ceased abruptly, his facial expression frozen in shock.
In an instant, he was overwhelmed by excruciating pain radiating from his chest.
With a stiff movement, he lowered his gaze and discovered a hand piercing through his chest.
Blood gushed forth, saturating his clothes, and the astonishment on his face was impossible to conceal.
“Why…” His words choked in his throat as the hand withdrew from his chest.
With a pale expression of disbelief that his own master would suddenly kill him, the young servant collapsed to the ground, his life slipping away.
Meanwhile, observing the servant’s demise, the golden-haired man’s smile twisted into a cynical and cold expression.
“Blame it on your misfortune for knowing a thing you should never have known,” said the golden-haired man calmly, showing no pity for the young servant’s demise.
He glanced down at his bloodied arm and clenched his fist.
*Whosh!*
In an instant, all traces of blood on his hand evaporated, disappearing without a trace.
His gaze shifted to the golden letter in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“I can’t wait to see what news the Emperor will bring…” he murmured before proceeding to open the letter.
The man calmly perused the contents, his expression fluctuating numerous times as he read the letter, occasionally punctuated by laughter.
After five minutes…
“I see! I see! I understand now, hahahaha!” The man burst into laughter before closing the letter.
“Leon… Oh, Leon… I never imagined you’d meet your end like this… It appears your luck has run out, hasn’t it?” The more he contemplated it, the more laughter bubbled up from within him.
“The war in a few days against the Demon race and the return of the Zenith Holy Sword to the hall of heroes… Isn’t it obvious that Emperor Velix intends to capitalize on this momentum for my benefit?” A smirk adorned his face as he whispered softly.
His gaze lifted towards the night sky, and suddenly, a holy power, reserved only for heroes, surged forth from his body.
The intensity of the holy power emanating from him was so immense that it caused the surrounding area, within a one-kilometer radius, to tremble and convulse violently.
The man stood serenely, akin to a deity, as the holy power illuminated his body.
With a cold expression and a proud grin, he fixed his gaze on the night sky.
“From this moment forth, there shall be no more Leon Kruger, the sword hero. For in this era, the fate of the sword hero belongs solely to me, Guren Lewyn!”
*Boom!*
Echoing the man’s shout, an unbelievably potent surge of holy power condensed, exploded, and radiated into the night sky.
The once-darkened heavens now blazed brilliantly, prompting all the capital’s people, whether asleep or awake, to hastily run and turn their gaze upwards.
“What’s that light!? It’s blinding!”
“That light… It’s the holy power of a hero!”
“Heroes? Could this be the work of a hero? But which one? Is it Hero Leon Kruger, or perhaps one of the other two heroes?”
“Could it signal an impending attack by the demons? Someone, please inform us!”
The discussion swiftly reverberated throughout the capital, while several nearby small towns witnessed the piercing light that illuminated the sky.
Meanwhile, within the Holy Hall of the Three Heroes of Mankind, beneath the towering statues of the three heroes, the Zenith Holy Sword, previously dormant, suddenly quivered and emitted a brilliant light, seemingly triggered by an unknown force.
The light gleamed for a fleeting moment before gradually fading away…
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