“Yes, Your Holiness,” those six special Executors nodded.
Without giving Linley any chance to react, they immediately headed towards Linley, as one of them barked out, “Move! Or do you want us to drag you?”
They were forcing him by their actions. Linley had no options.
“Fine.” Linley opened the door and began to walk downwards. Those six Executors followed directly behind Linley. As Linley went down the stairs one level at a time, he saw that all of the guards, upon seeing those six Executors, were all extremely respectful.
Those six special Executors all wore bluish-violet robes. Those icy eyes of theirs stared at Linley, making him feel as though… if he acted untowardly in any way at all, they would immediately kill him.
After the six Executors had escorted Linley away, the female Cardinal, Melina, asked, “Your Holiness, that Linley didn’t become a Blessed One. Although we don’t know the reason why not, the decision we must come to right now is, what should we do with Linley?”
Guillermo and the others all looked at Heidens.
Linley was a genius. They all knew this. But Linley hadn’t become a Blessed One, and his mother had been killed by the Radiant Church. The Church had to come to a decision: Would they accept the risk of recruiting Linley and hide the truth behind the death of his mother? Or would Linley be put to death?
Although it would be possible to hide the truth behind his mother’s death for a time, once Linley entered the highest ranks of the Radiant Church, it would most likely be impossible to hide it any longer.
Heidens’ face was cold. In a cold voice, he said, “Kill.”
Guillermo and the others felt their hearts quiver.
“In a few more days, it will be the 10000 year anniversary of the Yulan Festival. Let’s arrange for Linley’s execution to be after the festival,” Heidens announced.
Guillermo, who had the closest relationship with Linley, sighed in his heart.
A genius who would have dominated the entire continent would now see his fate cut short. Guillermo knew very well that with Linley imprisoned in the Radiant Temple, there was no way Linley would be able to escape. Linley wouldn’t even be able to leave his cell.
“That Cesar has some sort of a relationship with Linley, but even Cesar doesn’t have the ability to break into the Radiant Temple to rescue Linley.” Guillermo sighed secretly.
Linley would definitely die!
On the ninth floor of the Radiant Temple, within the private cell.
“Get in.”
Linley entered the cell, and the six Executors closed the door behind him.
As the six Executors turned and immediately left, one of them, a silver-haired man, turned to look at Linley. “Kid, let me give you a reminder. Although you have recovered your strength, don’t dream about breaking out of this cell.”
The other five Executors halted as well, and a bald old Executor laughed, “Break out of the cell? Kid, if you are able to break out of this cell, that would mean your power is on the level of his Holiness himself.”
“What do you mean?” Linley asked.
Linley himself couldn’t see anything special about this cell. Given his power as a warrior of the ninth rank when Dragonformed, an ordinary stone cell would be shattered as easily as paper.
“The Radiant Temple is the most incredible edifice the Radiant Church possesses. The entire Temple itself hides a massive magical formation within it known as the Glory of the Radiant Sovereign. It’s impossible for you to do the slightest bit of damage to it, whether from the inside or from the outside,” That silver-haired man said proudly. “Kid, let me tell you, the only chance you have of breaking out from this cell is by breaking the lock on the cell door. I can also tell you that the lock is made from metals that were alloyed with some adamantine.”
Finished speaking, the six Executors laughed loudly amongst each other, then left.
Linley was silent.
When he heard the words, ‘adamantine’, Linley understood that it was probably impossible for him to break out. According to legend, when the earth spell Earthguard reached the Deity level, the Earthguard armor would be composed of adamantine. Its power and durability was enough to be able to withstand several blows of even a Deity-level combatant. As for a Saint-level combatant, there was no way at all for them to break it.
Linley was an earth-style magus, and so naturally he knew about the legends regarding the Earthguard armor at its peak power.
Upon becoming a Saint-level Grand Magus, the Earthguard armor would be composed of diamonds, and upon breaking through to the Deity level, the armor would be of adamantine.
“Linley, I expect that this cell is used for the Radiant Church to imprison combatants of the ninth rank, or perhaps even the Saint level,” Doehring Cowart spoke. “Although this lock only has a trace amount of adamantine and isn’t pure adamantine, it would probably be hard for even a Saint-level combatant to break it.”
Linley nodded.
From the words of the Executors, he had already figured out that he would not be able to break out, as they had said that breaking out would demonstrate Linley’s power was at least on par with the Holy Emperor.
That next afternoon.
Monroe Dawson, Yale, Reynolds, and George were all seated together around a table covered with breakfast items. During this period of time, Yale, Reynolds, and George had never stopped being worried about Linley. But even Monroe Dawson making a personal appeal had failed. What could they possibly do?
Break into the Radiant Temple to rescue Linley? Even Monroe Dawson wouldn’t dare to do such a thing.
“Yale, in two days, it’ll be the Yulan Festival. This Yulan Festival will be the 10000th Yulan Festival, which we’ll only see once in our lives. You three kids can have a nice, rowdy time.” Monroe Dawson chortled.
Monroe Dawson had treated these two dear bros of his son Yale with the utmost friendliness.
This was because all three of Yale’s bros were quite out of the ordinary. Linley, George, and Reynolds. Reynolds’ clan possessed an astonishing amount of power in the O’Brien Empire’s military. George’s clan held tremendous influence within the Yulan Empire, and wasn’t much weaker than the Leon clan.
As for Linley, although his clan was now weak, it was still the clan of the Dragonblood Warriors. And Linley’s own potential was limitless.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps.
“Milord Chairman, an emissary of the Radiant Church have arrived,” a servant said respectfully.
Hearing the words “Radiant Church”, the eyes of Yale, George, and Reynolds all lit up, and they turned to look at the servant. Monroe Dawson knew what his son was thinking, and he immediately instructed with a laugh, “Let them in.”
“Yes.”
A short while later, a Vicar walked in. He said respectfully, “Chairman Dawson. His Holiness instructed me to deliver this letter to you.” As he spoke, he withdrew from within his clothes a beautifully, lavishly decorated letter.
The servant immediately accepted the letter, then gave it to Monroe Dawson.
Monroe Dawson immediately opened the letter. But upon seeing the contents of the letter, his face changed. He said coldly, “You can leave now.”
That Vicar bowed slightly, then left.
“Father. What is in the letter?” Yale asked urgently. “Does it have to do with Third Bro?” Reynolds and George all looked hopefully at Monroe Dawson.
Monroe Dawson nodded.
“The Holy Emperor informs me that the internal deliberations of the Radiant Church have concluded. They will execute Linley in secret.” Monroe Dawson’s words were like thunder, ringing in the ears of Yale, Reynolds, and George, whose faces immediately turned white. They were stunned for a long moment.
“No, no way.”
Yale was the first to begin shouting. He snatched the letter from his father’s hands, and with shaking hands held it as he began to read. By his side, Reynolds and George both craned their necks to take a look as well. Bu
t when the three of them saw the contents, they all turned frantic with fear.
“No!!!”
Yale leapt out of his seat, intending to rush directly out of the hall. “Yale!” Monroe Dawson frowned, shouting coldly.
“Stop him,” Monroe Dawson ordered.
Yale turned his head to stare at his father. Frantic, he said, “Father, I beg you, lead some men to rescue Third Bro. If necessary, the Conglomerate can give up something valuable. I refuse to believe that the Radiant Church won’t care whatsoever about our Conglomerate. Father, I beg you.”
“Hmph, what do you know? If there really were terms that could be negotiated, the Holy Emperor would’ve started negotiating with me long ago. The grievance which Linley has with the Radiant Church clearly isn’t what we thought it was. Otherwise, the Radiant Church wouldn’t decide to execute a genius like him. Enough. Men, escort your young master to his room. Let him spend a good period of time calming down.”
Immediately, the guards escorted Yale back to his room. No matter how frantically or how angrily Yale protested, it was of no use.
Reynolds and George could only maintain their silence.
They didn’t have any special relationship with Monroe Dawson, after all. But in their hearts, they were frantic on Linley’s behalf.
A visitor had arrived at Linley’s cell. It was Guillermo.
“Guillermo.” Linley looked at Guillermo with some surprise.
Guillermo had brought with him an extremely lavish meal, and delivered it through the small opening in the cell door.
Guillermo looked at Linley. He let out a sigh. “Linley, I really viewed you very favorably. But… alas. Perhaps it was meant to be, that you couldn’t become a member of our Radiant Church. Alright, have a good meal. You won’t have many meals left.”
Hearing these words, Linley was stunned.
“Lord Guillermo, what do you mean by saying this?” Linley looked at Guillermo.
Guillermo let out a sigh. “In two days, which is to say, January 2nd, the last day of your existence will arrive.” Guillermo really did like this young man, Linley. Especially after finding out the reason why Linley attempted to assassinate Clayde, Guillermo felt all the more regretful for how Linley’s fate had turned out.
He could’ve had a glorious future, but for the sake of his parents’ deaths, he was willing to forsake everything in order to gain revenge.
Although he, Guillermo, would never have acted in such a way, in his heart, he still felt admiration for Linley.
“January 2nd?”
Linley’s facial expressions changed several times, but finally he closed his eyes. He already completely understood. Clearly, in two days, he would be put to death.
“Thank you, Lord Guillermo. If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve clung to the hope of surviving.” Linley laughed calmly.
Guillermo looked at Linley. With a low sigh, he shook his head, then turned his head, leaving Linley alone in his cell.
“January 2nd. They had to wait until after the Yulan Festival to kill me, eh? Tomorrow will be the Yulan Festival. I believe it will also be the day of Kalan and Alice’s marriage as well, right?” Knowing that he was about to die, Linley somehow felt calmer and more at peace than he ever had before.
68
A Giant Foot
The night between year 9999 and year 10000. The snow flew about as the temperature in Fenlai City dropped to an astonishing low. Within a cold cell in the Radiant Temple, Linley was resting against one of the icy stone walls of the cell.
Linley didn’t notice the cold at all.
“I know that I am about to be put to death, but I don’t have any ability to resist at all.” Linley lowered his head, sighing softly.
He had made attempts, had tried.
But this cell was exactly as the Executor had described. It possessed incredible endurance, and even in Dragonform Linley was not able to break the lock or the room in the slightest. All he could do was quietly wait for the sentence which was soon to be carried out.
The dark night went by quickly, and that great blizzard finally came to an end as well. Both the nobles as well as the commoners were celebrating, in their own ways, the arrival of this 10000th Yulan Festival on this glorious, cloudless day. In particular, the Radiant Temple.
On this day, in the air above the Radiant Temple, countless beautiful mirages and illusions created by magical formations were on display.
In the Holy Capital, Fenlai City, today was a day for a sea of celebrations. That massive plaza in front of the Radiant Temple was filled to the brim with people who hailed from all sorts of places. Everyone was calling out in excitement to each other over this 10000th Yulan Festival, and the Radiant Temple organized many lively activities as well.
Yale, Reynolds, and George were within the third floor of a hotel. They stared at the far-away Radiant Temple Plaza. The plaza was covered densely by people, a veritable sea of people.
“Boss Yale, are we going to go to the wedding ceremony of the Debs clan today?” George asked.
The wedding of Kalan of the Debs clan was on Yulan Day. Today was an extremely propitious day, and there were many families in Fenlai City holding wedding ceremonies on this day. These sorts of weddings would start at noon, and continue until nightfall.
“Yes. Of course.” Yale had an ugly look on his face.
Due to Linley’s affairs, Yale, George, and Reynolds were all in low spirits.
“Hmph, Third Bro was too soft-hearted towards that bitch and that punk Kalan. But now, Third Bro is going to be executed, while that bitch and that punk Kalan are going to be enjoying themselves and hold a wedding ceremony.” Yale was burning with rage.
He had never looked kindly upon Alice and Kalan.
Especially right now, with Linley on the verge of being executed, and himself unable to save him. He had no place to vent his frustrations and anxiety. This only made him now view Alice and Kalan even more unfavorably.
“Right. They want their wedding to go smoothly? In their dreams!” Reynolds ground his teeth as well.
Even George felt a desire to wreck this wedding.
Yale, George, and Reynolds had all been consumed by worry for Linley for days now. Knowing that Linley was about to die, but not having the ability to rescue him, they couldn’t help but think back to all the years they had spent together growing up. They hated themselves all the more for not having the power to save him.
And right at this time, Alice, who had discarded Linley, was now going to get married to Kalan.
How could these three just let it slide?
On Greenleaf Road, the Deb’s clan’s manor.
At noon, one noble or magnate after another arrived at the Debs clan’s manor. Although after the smuggling case, the Debs clan was no longer one of the topmost clans of the Kingdom of Fenlai, they were still a clan with some influence. At least, in the Kingdom of Fenlai, they could still be ranked amongst the top twenty. “Lord Count Juneau has arrived!”
“Lord Baron Prey has arrived!”
Nobles, noble ladies, affluent girls, all entered the manor of the Debs clan. The leader of the Debs clan, Bernard, welcomed them all in a very friendly manner. The Debs clan’s power had shrunk dramatically, but within the Kingdom of Fenlai, they were still able to remain standing on fairly stable footing.
“Lord Duke Bonalt has arrived!”
Hearing the words ‘Duke Bonalt’, many nobles turned to look at the door. Even Bernard immediately hurried over to welcome him. Right now, the highest ranking person attending this wedding ceremony would be Duke Bonalt. Last time, at the engagement ceremony, even King Clayde, the ruler of Fenlai, had come. But this time, for the wedding proper, his Majesty did not come.
Everyone knew the reason why.
“Lord Duke, your attendance brings great honor and joy to our Debs clan,” Bernard said humbly.
Duke Bonalt nodded.
After the assassination attempt at Linley’s manor, the Right Premier Merritt had
died. Although Clayde had promoted another important minister to the rank of Right Premier, in terms of influence, there was no way he could compare for now with Merritt, who had been Right Premier for decades.
What’s more, the Minister of Finance, Patterson, was also dead. Right now, in the entire Kingdom of Fenlai, perhaps the most powerful, influential figure aside from the ruler was this Left Premier, Duke Bonalt.
“Kalan, come and pay your respects to Duke Bonalt,” Bernard immediately called out.
Kalan was dressed very handsomely today. The pure black tailored suit he was wearing made him the most outstanding-looking young man present. Kalan very modestly bowed in front of Duke Bonalt. “Duke Bonalt, welcome to my wedding.”
“Congratulations, Kalan,” Duke Bonalt said with a casual laugh. But just at this moment…
“Young master Yale of the Dawson Conglomerate has arrived!”
When these words rang out, Bernard’s eyes immediately lit up, and even Duke Bonalt headed over alongside him. These other nobles of Fenlai naturally couldn’t compete with the Dawson Conglomerate. The Dawson clan of the Dawson Conglomerate was one of the most powerful clans within the entire Yulan continent.
Yale, dressed in a sleek black suit.
Reynolds, dressed in a handsome blue suit.
George, dressed in a faintly checkered white suit.
The three walked in, shoulder to shoulder, causing all the watching nobles to stare at them with bright eyes. Generally speaking, magi would have a certain aura about them. This was because magi often entered the meditative state, resulting in them being very much in sync with natural elemental essence. That, combined with their powerful spiritual energy, gave them a certain aura.
In addition, Yale, George, and Reynolds all belonged to ancient clans. Clearly, their refinement and aura could not be matched by the likes of most nobles in Fenlai.
“Young master Yale, welcome! And these two are?” Bernard could tell at a single glance that these two definitely weren’t from any ordinary clans either.
Yale laughed calmly. “These two are my two dear bros from the Ernst Institute.”
Dragonblood: Book 2 of the Coiling Dragon Saga Page 53