Chapter 1522: Chapter 1516: The Official’s Work
"Apologies, I must excuse myself for a moment!"
The occurrence of a special situation immediately caught Ronald’s attention.
Though reluctant in his heart, he quickly dismissed the two orc girls with a few words, then turned and headed back towards the judge’s seat on the stage in the square.
As time went on, the crowd that had gathered for the festival became increasingly dense.
Ronald pushed forward among them, trying not to draw attention, but inevitably affected by the crowd. Throughout the process, his eyes remained fixed on the scene at the judge’s seat.
During the day, the festival atmosphere was thick.
The orc spectators enjoying the festival on the square basked in the festive atmosphere, and the singers on stage earnestly showcased their vocal talents.
Except at the judge’s seat.
An orc’s face showed no trace of happiness whatsoever.
He was staring intently at Orel on the judge’s seat, both remaining silent, creating a tense atmosphere.
The silent orc was the chief official of this city.
On ordinary days, he was considered the most powerful figure under Orel, and also one of the officials who dealt most frequently with the King of Giant Beasts.
And what he was staring at was a doppelgänger left by Orel, which could only react according to procedure, with extremely low adaptability.
Crisis and tension loomed around.
The ordinary orcs around perhaps hadn’t yet noticed this situation.
But with his extraordinary perception, Ronald, who had not left the square earlier, heard the catalyst that led to the silence at the judge’s seat:
"You are not Mr. Orel, who are you really?"
—Orel’s doppelgänger had been exposed.
Normally, Ronald wouldn’t bother with such matters.
He didn’t have a bad impression of the King of Giant Beasts, but also had no intention of meddling on his behalf.
But the development of this incident not only pertained to Orel’s doppelgänger being unmasked, but could also affect the ceremony being held in the city.
As someone who needed the ceremony to enter the Holy City.
Even though he was unwilling, Ronald could only come with a reluctant face to assess the situation.
In the crowded festival masses, Ronald, attempting to act covertly, continued moving toward the judge’s seat.
After a period of silence.
The orc official maintaining eye contact with Orel’s doppelgänger, his expression growing more serious, could no longer hold back and spoke again:
"State your identity, impostor!"
The official also understood what the disappearance of Orel meant for this city.
So even if he had already seen through the falsehood of the doppelgänger.
He still made an effort to control his voice, preventing others near the judge’s seat from noticing the change here.
Coincidentally, the orcs were engrossed in the festival’s songs.
His caution and discovery fortunately did not attract too much attention.
And opposite him, asked again, Orel’s doppelgänger finally spoke:
"Water, what are you talking about? I am Orel, there is no doubt about it."
"If it were the Lord..." Upon hearing the doppelgänger’s response, the official named Water raised his voice instantly, but suppressed it through sheer effort.
He then leaned forward, almost face-to-face with Orel’s doppelgänger.
His eyes, writing the words threat, stared directly at the other:
"If it were the Lord, he would say—’Port, although today is a festival, such jokes should not be made lightly.’ Listen! I have followed the Lord for over a hundred and forty years, I wouldn’t mistake something so obvious!"
"..."
After a few seconds of silence, Orel’s doppelgänger spoke again:
"Water, although today is a festival, such jokes should not be made lightly."
"..."
In an instant, the expression on Official Water’s face shifted from a threat to extreme anger.
Previously, he might have held a sliver of weak hope, expecting that he made the wrong judgment. But the doppelgänger’s wrong response in this extreme situation made him give up that hope entirely.
Even worse—
The response from this ’Lord Orel’ in front of him was obviously not something a being with normal thinking capabilities could come up with.
The fake on the chair, that he had unmasked, did not even have a normal thought!
When had Orel been replaced by this puppet?
With the convenience of its position, how many ridiculous commands had this thing issued?
And for the world of "Song in the Forest" that had been stable for countless years, what did this mean?
Thinking of this, the official hurriedly issued several questions to Orel’s doppelgänger.
With probing and advancing seasoned speech skills, he finally confirmed the truth of the person before him—this was a puppet without self-thinking!
Perhaps this thing could mimic Orel and make some very similar decisions. But ultimately, it was a machine without wisdom!
The official felt panic internally.
But the knowledge accumulated through years of work allowed him to make a quick judgment.
"My Lord, there is an urgent matter requiring you to return to the palace to deal with."
"This is something your position obliges you to do."
Upon hearing the official’s request, Orel’s doppelgänger, only capable of mechanical responses, naturally nodded in agreement:
"Alright, I will depart immediately!"
The official then raised his voice to shout to the square management personnel beside him:
"Lord Orel has urgent matters to handle, the competition site is temporarily maintained by you!"
With these words, Water hurriedly chased after the departing Orel’s doppelgänger.
Others didn’t have his eyesight; they only thought something had indeed happened in the city, requiring Orel to handle it.
So as soon as the ruler stood up, the orcs consciously made way.
The crowded square did not even require the shouts of guards to maintain, as a wide path emerged to leave this place.
Along the road opened by the crowd, the official and his counterfeit king proceeded towards the palace in the city.
Walking on the road they had passed countless times before.
The official gazed at the fake ahead, identical to the one he pledged allegiance to, his expression changing again and again, his mind overwhelmed with indescribable chaos.
Where is the real Lord Orel now?
How could such a powerful king be replaced soundlessly by this machine?
What terrifying event is happening in "Song in the Forest"?
Even more thoughts crowded in.
As the only one aware of this situation, could he now make some particularly special decisions...
Suddenly, amid his swirling thoughts, the official stopped.
He noticed that the street once bustling and crowded had inexplicably become deserted.
And on the road leading to the palace in front of them.
A man who had engaged with Orel not long ago and was referred to as an honored guest was standing there seriously.
At this moment, Ronald, who blocked their way, spoke:
"Sir, please wait a moment."
"There are some matters we might discuss?"
