When the plot-skips players into the game world

Chapter 570: Chapter 442: Lords, Please Be Seated in Order_2 Chapter 570: Chapter 442: Lords, Please Be Seated in Order_2 At Star Antimony, there were a total of seventeen individuals at the Fifth Power Level.

Aside from their aged Monarch who couldn’t command the Red or the Black Chancellors, as well as the deceased Emma, thirteen remained.

In Avalon, after Yanis had left, there were only four “Transcendents of the older generation.” Including the nine of them, it added up to exactly thirteen people.

—What’s the matter, enjoy bullying people?

Then, if you’re capable, send all of them out!

Clearly, the Eternal Pope was also angry.

That was because when the Avalonian royal family was cursed, the Holy Nation had also suggested it was better not to go to war.

After all, they hadn’t directly attacked the Monarch—attacking another country’s ruler was explicitly forbidden in the rules set by the Holy Nation.

A country’s rulers could only be overthrown by their own people, and it was not permitted for them to be taken down by another nation.

Even in the original timeline, where the Holy Nation had nearly been paralyzed, the Star Antimony people, fully armed and ready for war, had to wait until Trade Minister Drost poisoned the Queen before daring to wage war.

As a result, Star Antimony had become increasingly bold and even directly attacked Queen Isabel herself.

This angered the Holy Nation.

—Oh what, giving you face is not enough?

If the Holy Nation wasn’t a permanently neutral country, they might have themselves gone to give Star Antimony a beating this time.

Although Avalon couldn’t send them out for war, it also stopped the Star Antimony people from implementing their beheading strategy.

They could even weed out all the spies, which falls within the scope of “maintaining residential security.” Or rather, the Holy Nation hoped Isabel could figure out a way to make more use of them to find trouble for the Star Antimony people.

And it would also greatly boost the morale of the Avalonians, letting them know that the Holy Nation stood on Avalon’s side!

But Star Antimony couldn’t say much.

Because it truly was Emma who had acted.

They were quite frightened when they received the news because the Star Antimony people were not ready for war at all.

Sending Emma was to cooperate with the Avalonians—her act against Yulia wasn’t at the behest of Valentine VII, but a private request from the Red Chancellor.

So the result was that the Prophets of Star Antimony, no matter how they divined, could only get the answer that “the Succubus indeed attacked Isabel.”

Bishop Mathers had barely left when the Star Antimony royal family made a call to the Hall of Silver and Tin.

Etiquette dictated that this was improper.

Matters of this level had to be addressed through official diplomatic correspondence to ensure all conversations were recorded by all parties involved.

But because they were eager to explain, Star Antimony made the call that very night.

It was Valentine VII who made the call personally.

After consulting with Aiwass, Isabel chose not to answer.

Because a “young queen who had been attacked” should be angry, especially since the Guardian had “almost lost his life” because of it.

With the Holy Nation giving such great support at this time, her not answering the phone was normal.

And when the phone rang for a second time, Aiwass answered on behalf of Isabel.

Isabel listened in quietly at the side.

The “Valentine VII,” known for being cold and decisive, seemed unusually mild and even humble on the phone.

He didn’t mind that Isabel wasn’t the one to pick up the phone, and immediately offered a formal apology to Isabel and all those who were injured or killed in the incident, claiming that he would give a “sufficient compensation.”

His explanation’s essence could be summarized as: “The act was done by the Demon inside Emma, and Emma herself was also a victim, therefore the incident had nothing to do with her personally, hence unrelated to Star Antimony’s political stance.”

Valentine VII verbally promised many benefits and expressed that Star Antimony would immediately send a highest-level diplomatic mission, and would have his eldest son personally visit Avalon, hoping only that Avalon would remain calm in the meantime.

Clearly, he planned to concede a great deal in the upcoming diplomacy, just wishing the war would not happen.

—What is he afraid of?

Aiwass sharply sensed something.

Some problem seemed to have suddenly arisen within Star Antimony…

It was an issue that hadn’t appeared in the original timeline, which caused Star Antimony to lose the nerve to go to war with Avalon.

Thus, Aiwass didn’t hesitate to reject him—he was about to finalize an agreement with Geront and no longer needed the resources offered by the Star Antimony people.

Not to mention that Geront’s inside information had told Aiwass that Star Antimony was already in dire straits and couldn’t offer much.

Avalon needed a victory now, an enemy, to awaken the entire nation’s spirit.

Such pressing cause for war, with the Holy Nation as a backer—if they missed it this time, the Holy Nation might not support Avalon so much the next.

That kind of support couldn’t be “saved for next use.”

Valentine VII apparently also caught the confident undertone in Aiwass’ voice.

He immediately realized the conversation was hopeless.

But even so, Valentine VII still maintained a polite and friendly attitude as he ended the conversation.

During the state funeral, all the staff of the Star Antimony Embassy in Avalon were not invited.

Those with keen senses had already smelled the scent of war.

Although Avalon had not yet expelled them, both sides were now aware that war could start at any moment.

A storm was brewing.

And this oppressive atmosphere continued to the Round Table meeting the day after the national funeral.

January 3, 1899.

It could very well be considered the most important Round Table meeting since the new king’s ascension.

While all the Knights were in place, only the Minister of the Department of Care of Magical Creatures had yet to arrive.

But this time, the Knights dared not discuss Aiwass any further.

There was no clamorous discussion, only a silence as deep as the night enveloping the entire Round Table Hall, as if the atmosphere of yesterday’s funeral lingered on till today.

Just when the Knights thought that Aiwass, the shadow of Queen Isabel, would again be absent…

Someone appeared leisurely at the grand entrance.

It was Aiwass.

On his shoulder was not the raven, but a dancing Flame Butterfly.

Now that the Queen’s Guard sent by the Holy Nation had reached Avalon, Aiwass no longer needed to have Night Fiends on alert 24 hours a day.

He could finally bring out the Flame Butterfly and feed it experience using the Nurturing Skill.

When the raven leaves, the butterfly returns.

It signified that Glass Island had once again become secure.

Aiwass was not wearing the knight’s armor of the Moriarty Family today, but his own clergy attire, trousers, and white cloth shoes.

— That was none other than the famous Minister Moriarty, known throughout the country!

He was not wearing armor…

Did he intend to take his seat as a Clergy Councillor?

The Knights quietly discussed among themselves, shattering the deathly stillness.

But just then, Aiwass, who had just entered, suddenly removed the outermost layer of his ceremonial cloak.

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He casually handed the ceremonial cloak to the ceremonial officer standing at the door.

Underneath, Aiwass’s pure white shirt had a pure white clergy collar, and at the collar were two gold thorn patterns embossed with roses.

Yet the clothes he wore beneath looked like those of a Star Antimony noble.

Pure white shirt, pure white trousers, pure white cloth shoes.

Together with Aiwass’s platinum blonde hair, he appeared to be shining in the morning light.

Hands clasped behind his back, he slowly ascended the shattered glass staircase step by step.

He passed by the armored Knights, and moved past the massive Round Table that could accommodate twenty-two people.

Aiwass gently touched each one of the Knights, clad in armor, sitting around the Round Table.@@novelbin@@

The butterfly fluttered through his fingers, spreading the delicate fragrance of sandalwood and jasmine in all directions.

Under the astonished, yet silent gaze of the Knights, Aiwass calmly took his seat.

That was the seat closest to Queen Isabel, on her left side.

Without a doubt, Aiwass was the first Knight of the Round Table since the founding of Avalon to not wear armor.

Just as the unbroken glass staircase since the founding of the nation stood, so too had a tradition passed down through the ages, seemingly meaningless but unshakable, now been broken by Aiwass.

But now, not a single person dared to question this.

Aiwass, supporting his chin with his left hand, looked around.

Some met his gaze unflinchingly, while others lowered their heads or averted their eyes.

Aiwass chuckled lightly, raised the gavel in his right hand, and rang the bell placed in front of the queen.

“— Let’s start the meeting,” he said.

Aiwass, with his chin propped in his left hand, looked calmly at the Knights as they got to their feet.

Sitting in his own seat, he declared serenely:

“My lords…

please be seated as usual.”

(Volume One: The Glass Staircase, end)