Pirate Kingship-Chapter 674 - 464: All Villains, The Devil in the Bottle (6500 two-in-one) _4

It sounds grand, but most don't survive for more than a few years.

They say our The Sea Hunter overreached himself by taking on the role of [Lantern Carriers] for two World Rifts; naturally, death wasn't far off.

After his death, instead of his wealth going to others, it would be better if it went to us."

Queen Elizabeth Woodville, having received the relevant intelligence, clearly had her own calculations. After all, this great contributor wouldn't last more than a few years. Her plan was to marry Byron to Catherine and merge the properties of the two families. When he died, the titles, property, and everything else would belong to Countess Catherine of Grendel. At that time, her brother Fris Woodville could marry the 'widow' Catherine. He could then easily inherit everything the great contributor had built.

And thus, the Woodville family, originally just ordinary relatives by marriage, would leap to become one of the most prominent Great Nobles in the Kingdom!

The plan was simply perfect.

Fris, thinking of that beautiful future, couldn't help but feel fervor rise within him:

I just hope that before he dies, he will have obtained the complete Crimson Holy Grail promotion ceremony from the Old Gods. To have wealth, pleasure, and immortality all together—that would be just perfect. To make good use of everything left by Saint Byron would also be a fitting tribute to his 'loyalty,' wouldn't it?

「Meanwhile.」 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In another corner of the Royal Palace, inside the palace temporarily occupied by the [Devil Duke] Richard York.

This grotesque dwarf was quietly looking at a black leather notebook in his hands. Besides twisted forbidden knowledge, it was filled with densely packed names, most of which had a bright red "X" drawn after them, symbolizing death.

The last name was none other than Anne Neville, who had just committed suicide after an encounter with the Headless Knight!

Richard heard the sounds of killing in the Royal Capital gradually subside and the guests also leave one after another. He leisurely closed his notebook.

On the pitch-black cover were the words "Abyssal Beast Mark"!

Besides the name, there was a small portrait, sketched out with simple strokes, depicting a black devil with horns on its head. And on the edge, a line of small text read, "Hell's Eighteen Scenes: Number One - Self-portrait."

The portrait suddenly blinked its eyes and, in an artist's aria, praised the [Devil Duke] before it:

"Ruthlessness, deceit, murder, incitement... You have all the qualities essential for a devil. And with a secret 'Game of Thrones' ritual, you've successfully ascended. Congratulations, my master, you have truly become a Fourth Order Mythical Creature, a [Devil]!"

Even someone as reserved as Richard couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth slightly at the compliment:

"Your help was indispensable in this, Hell Painter. No, Mr. Demon in a Bottle."

Last year, while inspecting the territories of the Sorenburg Principality, Richard accidentally discovered this [Genie of the Bottle] by the sea, which was sealed inside a bottle. Tracing the currents' direction, it likely drifted from the depths of the Sea of Monsters along the Third Ring Current Zone.

The demon promised to grant Richard three wishes if Richard freed him from the bottle and provided him with a suitable body. But the condition was, whatever Richard acquired, his arch-enemy would receive the same.

So far, Richard had only tentatively made one wish: to obtain the forbidden knowledge "Abyssal Beast Mark" to become the Mythical Creature, [Devil]. For him, status and wealth were not lacking. As long as he acquired the ability to change bodies at will, he could achieve his other desires on his own, without needing external help.

At that moment, a commotion reached Richard's ears, interrupting his thoughts.

"Hahaha, brother, come catch me."

"Richard, wait for me."

"Young Highnesses, don't run about; it's still dangerous outside."

Two children clad in luxurious clothing were running ahead while a group of Attendants carefully kept to their sides. They were Edward IV's and Queen Elizabeth's two sons: the first in line to the throne, little Edward, and the second, little Richard. The two brothers, Edward at eight years and Richard at six, were both handsome and charming, and would undoubtedly grow up to be two noblemen of high standing.

The [Devil Duke] looked through the window at his nephew Richard York. They shared a close bloodline and namesake. A look of affection in his eyes belied the chilling ruthlessness hidden within:

I had chosen the most suitable wife, Anne Neville, who could bear me a son of sufficiently superior lineage. That damned woman dared to defy me—she truly deserved to die! Luckily, even in death, she's been squeezed dry of all her value, becoming the final straw that caused the Neutral Faction to lean toward the Royalist Party. Personally fathering an heir will be difficult for a short while, but it doesn't matter to me. Because I have more than one option; my nephew might even turn out to be a much better vessel than a son of my own...

And it wasn't just The Kingmaker Warwick aiming to take possession of the bodies of his future bloodline. The cunning yet hideous [Devil Duke] Richard also harbored such ambitions!

While Elizabeth Woodville planned for her brother to gain both a wife and wealth, Richard was casting covetous eyes on her sons, intending to seize both their bodies and their power.

However, neither of the two scheming parties noticed that a Raven had been perched outside each of their windows for a very, very long time.