Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty

Chapter 330: Chapter 317: Flipping the Table

Teresa’s words landed like falling ice, shattering the silence in the dilapidated house.

The color instantly drained from the faces of the young students, their eyes filled with confusion and terror. Someone subconsciously shook their head, lips trembling, unable to make a sound.

Panic spread silently, like creeping vines.

"No... this is impossible!"

Reggie snapped his head up, his voice hoarse with agitation and trembling with disbelief.

"Dean Graham... he would never allow Derek to do this! He would never abandon us!"

Teresa met his gaze, which pleaded for a denial, but her eyes held only a quiet helplessness.

"The source of the information is reliable, Mr. Reggie."

Her voice was low and clear, shattering their last sliver of hope.

"That... is the truth."

Reggie opened his mouth as if to argue, but the words caught in his throat.

His shoulders slumped, his entire body looking as if the strength had been drained from it. He fell into a speechless silence, only his tightly clenched fists betraying the storm raging within him.

Unlike the panic and despair that filled the air, Roland’s face showed no sign of alarm or anger.

In fact, after a long month of waiting for word from the River Domain that never came, Roland had already had a vague premonition of this outcome.

From his previous conversations with Dean Graham, he had learned a few things about Derek’s past.

This powerful Merchant, who had single-handedly promoted the union of the River Domain, always appeared gentle and polite, but when it came to his actual interests, he never allowed emotions to cloud his judgment.

Roland reined in his thoughts, his steady voice breaking the heavy, dead silence in the house.

"Is there any other news?"

Teresa was about to speak when a somewhat flamboyant voice abruptly cut in.

"Of course there is, Roland. And I’d bet you’ll never guess..."

Before the voice had even faded, Galvis pushed open the door and appeared before them.

The Minstrel showed no sign of being worn down by the long escape. His expression still held its characteristic ease and leisure.

After letting out a loud, drunken burp, he continued in an unhurried manner.

"There are quite a few... hair-raising rumors coming from the central region of the Golden Valley Kingdom."

He leaned against the doorframe, his fingers idly strumming his lute strings.

"King Morne’s children, over the last few days, have been meeting with misfortune one after another, in ways so bizarre they seem like tragedies concocted by a hack poet."

He paused, a flash of ridicule in his eyes.

"When Sixth Prince Belly was found, he had already... ended his own life with a Dagger in his sealed room. It’s said his eyes were so crazed he didn’t look human."

"Little Princess Vera fell ill after a short trip to the countryside and never recovered. The court physicians were helpless, and she withered away within three days."

"And then there’s Prince Adams, famous for his martial prowess. After a routine border patrol, he, along with his personal Guard Team... completely vanished, as if swallowed by the wilderness. No one’s seen them, dead or alive."

Galvis shook his head, his tone gradually lowering as if he were narrating a story.

"The rumors are spreading like wildfire in Golden Ears City."

"Some say it’s an ancient Curse coming to fruition. In short, Morne’s family bloodline is thinning at an unsettling rate."

Roland listened quietly, his brow furrowing ever deeper.

In an instant, he realized this was very likely the handiwork of Duke Anno.

However, his suspicions didn’t stop there.

As the old proverb says, when a conspiracy emerges, one only needs to see who stands to profit to glimpse the shadow of the person pulling the strings.

’Eldest Prince Lucius...’

Thinking of that white-haired, seemingly senile Prince, and combining it with the known clues, a startling deduction began to form in Roland’s mind.

’Could it be that Anno and Lucius... intend to usurp the throne and seize the highest Authority in the Golden Valley Kingdom?’

But as soon as the thought arose, more questions followed.

After all, King Morne was still alive and well.

This legendary figure, who had ruled the Kingdom for over a hundred years, would never sit by and watch someone use such bloody methods to destroy the stable Order of the country.

Besides... ’If their goal is only the throne, why start a war against the River Domain and add unnecessary complications?’

Roland fell into deep thought.

’Are they trying to use the war to distract Morne’s attention?’

After some careful thought, although he was still unclear about Anno’s and Lucius’s motives, Roland caught a faint glimmer of light in the fog.

"Galvis."

He looked up, his sharp gaze fixed on the Minstrel.

"Among Morne’s children, who has the highest prestige?"

Hearing Roland’s question, Galvis habitually plucked a string, as if retrieving a note from his memory.

"Ah, King Morne’s children... There were indeed quite a few with outstanding prestige in the past."

His tone carried a hint of lament.

"I won’t even talk about Eldest Prince Lucius. The second prince, Adrian, was a military genius beloved by his generals, but because he was dissatisfied with King Morne’s refusal to clarify the line of succession, he united with border nobles and launched a rebellion many years ago... He was ultimately defeated and executed at Iron Rock City."

"Third Princess Ilan was exceptionally intelligent and had many supporters in the court. Unfortunately, she was frail and sickly, like a rose that wilted too soon, and passed away more than ten years ago."

He sighed and continued.

"As for recently... several young, low-profile but promising Princes and Princesses have met with untimely ends one after another."

Galvis spread his hands, a helpless look on his face.

"When you add it all up, the only one still alive with widespread prestige is probably Princess Gloria."

"Although, because of her pious faith and her joining the Fiery Sun Church, she is disliked by King Morne and has even long been excluded from the core of power."

"But Her Imperial Highness the Princess has selflessly aided the poor for years, paying out of her own pocket to provide medicine and supplies to frontline soldiers... These good deeds have earned her extremely high prestige among the common people and regular soldiers."

"Gloria?"

Hearing this somewhat unexpected name, the image of a golden-haired young woman immediately surfaced in Roland’s mind.

A moment later, he let out a long breath, and all his hesitation vanished like smoke.

Looking back on everything he had encountered since stepping into the Golden Valley Kingdom, Roland knew full well that he was already on the edge of a dead end.

The Golden Valley Kingdom’s pursuit followed him like a shadow, while the River Domain had coldly shut its doors.

He and these surviving students were already abandoned pawns with nowhere to go.

For a long time, relying on his secret Professional Panel, he had been accustomed to avoiding risks and hiding his edge, firmly believing that as long as he could buy enough time, he could steadily accumulate Power and quietly surpass everyone else.

Evasion, forbearance, circumvention.

These had once been the credos he firmly believed in.

But now, the great net cast by Duke Anno and Prince Lucius was slowly closing, unintentionally forcing them into a corner.

Roland didn’t know what roles these two players were playing in this conspiracy, nor was he sure if he had the chips to play against them.

He lacked information, he lacked allies, and he even lacked the confidence to retreat unscathed.

But since he couldn’t safely enter the game as a player...

Then, he would choose another way.

A more drastic, more insane way.

A sharp glint flashed in the depths of Roland’s eyes—the resolution forged in desperation.

He was tired of passively reacting, tired of hiding in panic under the Rules set by others.

Since this game of chess was going to devour him as a pawn, then he might as well...

Flip the chessboard.

"We’re not going to the border."

Roland’s voice, calm yet filled with an unquestionable force, broke the silence in the room.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over every terrified and bewildered face.

"We’re turning around. We’re going back to the heartland of the Golden Valley Kingdom."