thefictionvixens Page 61
Page 61
……
Round table conference room.
As the mist rose, a clear human figure appeared before everyone's eyes.
Looking at the figure before him, Tus was so shaken that he blurted out:
"It's her?!?"
Even though the group was mentally prepared for the Round Table to expose the true nature of a certain high-ranking figure in the kingdom, they were still greatly surprised when they saw the other party's true face.
Above the familiar dress was a woman with freckles, possessing a gentle and intellectual air. The moment Ota saw her, his eyes widened.
"An Astrid scholar?"
They never imagined that the person most suspected of being a traitor within the kingdom would be the unassuming chief librarian of the kingdom!
"Is it Ms. Astrid? Is it really her?"
Recalling Astrid's strange behavior in the meeting room earlier, Tuss looked somewhat doubtful. Could it be... that the prophecy of the Round Table had really come true?
But... could it be a misunderstanding? The cautious and meticulous Tus turned his head, wanting to discuss it with Ota, but found that the latter's eyes were already bloodshot, staring intently at Astrid, as if he had already determined that the other party was the real mole.
“It’s her! There’s no mistake!” Ota said through gritted teeth.
Tus was genuinely surprised this time. Had His Highness Ota already suspected the scholar Astrid?
His eyesight was so sharp; could it be that he had already discovered clues that even they hadn't noticed?
Otta's hands trembled with rage. With the prophecy of the Round Table, he was absolutely certain that Astrid was the real mole.
because--
His comic book figurines are all sourced from Astrid!
Chapter 83 Opening the Door, the Royal Knights
As a scholar, Astrid also seems to be extremely interested in the culture of the border demons.
Occasionally, at a few noble gatherings, the other party would display some demonic handicrafts—it was around that time that Ota became attracted to those handicrafts.
She purchased figurines and later comics from Astrid multiple times under the guise of an anonymous buyer!
He hadn't thought of this before, but based on the insights from the round table, he deduced with certainty that the other party must have seen through his identity!
"There's no mistake, she definitely has a problem!"
Ota said, burning with rage.
"Investigate this thoroughly!!!"
……
"Your Highness, how do we gradually overthrow the kingdom?"
Inside the carriage.
Dane no longer concealed the burning ambition in his eyes. Although he failed to become a hero, he had already obtained power and status. Now, he just wanted to quietly do something big!
"Should we find and exploit Prince Ota's psychological weaknesses, destroy the key tools of the Magician's Round Tower, or corrupt the pure relics of the Holy Church?"
“Neither,” Thanaus shook his head, rejecting the statement.
"These are nothing more than thankless, low-end projects that are completely mediocre."
"To corrupt the entire kingdom, there is only one thing you need to do—" Thanaus smirked:
"Reclaim the identity of the hero!"
"The identity of a hero...?" Dane was stunned, still trying to understand Thanaus's words.
"You were once a qualified candidate for hero, but clearly, you're not a dirty enough politician."
Thanaus stroked the lines on his palm and said:
"No matter how turbulent the changes in the kingdom's power are, it is still based on the long war between the demons and humans, and the hero and the saintess are ultimately the main force against the demons... If one day, the hero stands up and breaks with the kingdom, who do you think the people of the whole territory will support? Who will the magician's round tower and the holy church support?"
“This…” Dane’s eyes gradually revealed a sharp glint, and his mind immediately understood.
He had never imagined before how much influence an ambitious hero could have!
"When you become the hero who represents the hope of all mankind, and with my reputation built up over many years as the Radiant Duke... the entire kingdom will fall into our hands without any effort."
Thanaus said leisurely.
"But... can the identity of a hero be stolen?" Dane asked, a question in his eyes.
At first, he thought that Thanaus was planning to assassinate the hero Shana and then take her place. But he knew that Shana had not yet received the title of hero and the blessing of the round tower. She was under the extremely tight protection of the Royal Knights. There was absolutely no possibility of an assassination succeeding in the near future. He couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.
"Why not?" Thanaus's smile turned cold.
"Don't forget what heroes are called? — 'Those who have received the gaze of goddesses'!"
"This description is not merely a metaphor. The goddess's gaze will only shine upon the most radiant warriors... Even if an old hero does not die in battle, one day the goddess's gaze will be cast upon the rising stars of humanity."
"Given that Shana is currently unworthy of her title, if a warrior who is more like a hero were to emerge within the kingdom, which side do you think the goddess's gaze would lean towards?"
"So that's how it is..." Dane's expression shifted slightly as he murmured softly.
"If more people believe I am a 'hero,' then I can truly become a hero!" Dane said, clenching his fist with excitement.
There's still a chance...we'll win!
Sensing Dane's burning fighting spirit, Thanaus smiled with satisfaction:
“As long as the hero Mino is not here, then within the kingdom… no one is more worthy of the title of hero than you.”
……
The night was deeper and quieter than ever before.
Dark clouds obscured the stars in the sky, making the dim, flickering lights in the city rooms the main theme of the capital.
The Kingdom Library is located outside the palace. Usually, only scholars engrossed in their research and historians who delve into historical facts come to consult documents occasionally. Apart from the library staff, at this time, there are only a few librarians who live deep inside the library, and the lights are still on in their rooms.
At that moment, outside a room with a dimly lit window, three dark figures were crouching furtively in the grass.
“Your Highness, even if we’ve confirmed that Ms. Astrid is the real mole… we don’t need to personally stake out this place, do we?”
Tus squatted in the morning bushes, watching Prince Ota and Erwin staring intently at the window of Astrid's bedroom, and felt a little uneasy.
They've been squatting here like thieves for hours.
It should be noted that the area was already swarming with countless plainclothes knights, monitoring crystals, and even sealing arrays! The forces protecting the palace had been almost entirely mobilized to closely monitor everything around the Kingdom Library.
On the contrary, it was those few who were staring intently at a women's dormitory room late at night, which was somewhat... perverted.
"Don't be careless, Tus. You must know... we are facing the most cunning and treacherous of traitors, the most vicious moles who have committed such inhumane acts!"
Crouching in the grass, Ota clenched his fists: "I can't sleep at all until I witness the moment she's caught..."
"But...they might not even reveal a weakness tonight. We're basically just relying on luck right now..."
Tuss still doesn't quite agree.
Even so, we cannot give up the opportunity.
Otta shook his head, his expression very determined: "Since she attended the roundtable meeting today, she might pass on the information from the meeting tonight!"
“But…” Tuss still hesitated.
"enough!"
Suddenly, Prince Ota raised his sparkling eyes, his voice trembling slightly:
"I have nothing left to lose... This time, this time I will absolutely not lose my most precious thing again!"
"Absolutely not!!!"
Tuss's expression was slightly shocked, sensing the strong belief in protection in Prince Ota's words. He had forgotten that Prince Ota's spirit had been severely damaged twice since the capture of the Mino Warrior...
What did Prince Ota lose?
It could only be his close friend who had been with him for many years, sharing life and death: the hero Mino.
For a moment, Tuss lowered his head in shame.
Tus, Tus, how could you be so rational and cold-blooded? The demons were able to capture the Mino Warrior alive, and that traitor must have made countless contributions to the cause, ultimately bringing such frequent turmoil to the kingdom.
Now, Prince Ota only wants to avenge his best friend Mino. Shouldn't he be given the greatest support?
Thinking of this, Tus's eyes gradually hardened: "Don't worry, Prince Ota, I will definitely assist you in capturing this cunning traitor!"
“Tus…” Ota’s tone gradually became more relieved.
"But before that, could you allow me to go home and get some sleep?"
"Tus!" Ota's tone grew increasingly agitated.
Just as Ota was about to start cursing, suddenly, a window in the distance was pushed open—
The surroundings fell silent instantly. The three musketeers in the bushes immediately held their breath, watching in astonishment as the Astrid scholar appeared by the window.
It was already late at night, but Astrid still seemed full of energy and had no intention of going to sleep... Her expression showed excitement and hope as she quietly carried a birdcage to the window and opened the cage.
Several common messengers flapped their wings and flew away silently into the night!
"It really was her!!!"
In the bushes, several people's eyes gleamed with excitement.
At such a secretive moment, who else could be the one who used a messenger to deliver the message but a mole?!
"Without further ado, let's carry out the arrest operation now!"
After Astrids released the messenger and closed the window tightly again, Prince Ota stood up impatiently from the grass.
……
Boom, boom, boom——
In the quiet night of the library, urgent knocking came one after another.
"Who is it?"
The patrolling guard, unaware of the situation, walked to the door, his voice trembling slightly in the cold night. Why would there be outsiders visiting so late... Could it be the ghost of the loser who confessed his love in front of the library and then hanged himself at the library entrance the next day?