V2: Chapter 182: What is Justice?
On the ground, a pool of black liquid began to gather, a mixture of toxins expelled from his body and liquid, emitting a nauseating stench. The king's body gradually disintegrated in excruciating pain; he struggled to maintain his human form, but ultimately it was too late.
Finally, with a heavy sigh, he completely dissolved into a pool of black liquid, writhing painfully on the ground, as if even his soul was howling.
"Doris... wicked woman... your father will tear you apart, tear you apart..."
These were its last words, and also its final testament.
Doris, however, sneered and kicked the bluish-purple corpse on the ground.
"What a disgusting smell. I have to clean up this pool of black liquid you left behind. Couldn't you have died cleanly?"
After saying this, Doris kicked the corpse again, then walked out the door with utter disgust to fetch water.
The timeline returns to the present.
Doris stood a short distance away, watching her son weep for the king's death, her smile growing wider and wider. She had finally fulfilled her son's wish; she was a good mother.
As the funeral ceremony slowly drew to a close, the palace and its surroundings gradually returned to their usual tranquility. However, this tranquility carried a different atmosphere. The issue of succession to the throne became the focus of everyone's attention. Both the power struggles within the royal family and the speculation about the new king's abilities from the outside world foreshadowed that the days to come would not be peaceful.
The third prince, Nicholas, looked grim. Although he was certain that Gael wouldn't harm him for the time being, he couldn't guarantee what would happen with Doris.
Gael felt utterly superior to him because he had been feigning madness, constantly maintaining his manic state, indulging in women, and constantly flattering Gael. Compared to the other illegitimate sons, he was the most insignificant, lacking ability and ambition, only thinking of living a life of idleness and complacency.
Gael looked down on him, but that was exactly what he wanted—Gael's disdain—so he wouldn't suspect him.
Gael wouldn't suspect me, but what about Doris? That woman is incredibly cunning; it is impossible for her not to suspect me. It is just a matter of time; one day I will be exposed.
He wondered if there were any traitors left in the Magic Tower.
Liang Di was also having a headache. As soon as she returned to the Langwendi mansion, she sat down in a chair, covered her face with a book, and began to sigh.
Her twisted mental state persisted until Liang Lin entered the room, at which point it began to improve.
"Hey, why are you so listless?"
Liang Lin propped herself up on the table with one hand, reached out with the other, pulled the book off Liang Di's face, and threw it on the ground.
"I don't understand this stuff, and I don't know what to do, which is already frustrating enough. Hearing you sighing like this only makes me more annoyed."
The tsundere never speaks properly, nor does she genuinely care about someone.
"Although dealing with both the King and Doris before was indeed overwhelming, I didn't want things to be like this now. Gael is already on the throne, and although I feel his intelligence is about the same as the King's, but... I'm afraid he might actually have some brains."
Liang Lin almost laughed her teeth out upon hearing this.
“He does have a brain, but how much? Given the king's personality, and the fact that he dotes on Gael, he must constantly be disciplining Gael. Even if Gael had a normal brain, he'd be wary of it.”
“If he were truly normal, it might be a good thing for us. But Gael has an abnormal mother. With Doris's personality, and Gael seeming quite like a mama's boy, I can't even imagine what a chaotic garbage dump the Soteland Empire would become under his rule.”
Liang Di nodded.
“You're right... Sigh, my mind is in turmoil. Everything was going according to plan, but this change came so suddenly. I just wanted two dogs to fight, but one bit the other to death.”
“Things can't always go according to plan, Liang Di. Since things have changed, we can only think of countermeasures.”
Liang Di looked at the densely packed papers on the table.
“I have a feeling that Doris won’t target me for the time being. Or rather, she wouldn’t dare, she’d be wary of me, remembering the Langwendi family. But, as for the other nobles, there’s likely to be a major reshuffle in the coming period. Hmm... I predict it will happen next month.”
Just as Liang Di predicted, about a month and a half later, some nobles fell, while others suddenly prospered. All of this was orchestrated by Doris.
No one dared to say it aloud, but everyone knew the truth. Anyone with a little common sense could figure it out. Because those nobles who fell were the old king’s lackeys before his death, and some... were close to the Langwendi family.
Of course, these were only minor nobles; the major nobles hadn’t been affected much yet.
“She’s already starting to target us, but Gael has just become king, so she doesn’t dare to make a big fuss or be too obvious about it,” Liang Di said.
Liang Lin had never really understood what Liang Di’s previous plan was.
"So, what was part of your original plan? If this scene wasn't included, what scene replaced it?"
Liang Di pondered for a moment.
"Of course, it's to have the king continue his pig-nose-like actions, inciting discontent among a small group of nobles. Of course, he needs to become increasingly wicked, increasingly evil, increasing the pressure on the common people. To fill everyone with resentment towards the current king."
Liang Lin paused, stunned.
"Then... isn't that harming the common people? Can that be called justice?"
Liang Di's expression looked somewhat helpless.
"But this is a necessary step. People only rise up in resistance when they are under extreme oppression. When an unarmed person is cornered on a cliff by someone with a weapon, with nowhere to retreat, only then will they think of and fight desperately for a chance to survive."
"Sister Liang Lin, sometimes you think too simply about justice. It's not that we want justice, or that we can save the entire empire single-handedly. I can't do it, you can't do it. All of us in the Magic Tower combined couldn't do it."
"Perhaps we can use magic, but don't forget, the royal family always holds the means to kill us."
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