Sin System: Demonic Harem After Reincarnation-Chapter 243. Tension in the Royal Palace

"Distract the bishop." The pirate captain had no time for pleasantries as she prepared another attack.

Beside her, Marquis Jones nodded. Snapping his blade to the side, he removed the excess blood on it before charging toward the bishop.

Seeing this, the 3rd Circle priests handling the array chanted louder, tapping their staves on the ground etched with divine runes.

This array only protected the cathedral, unlike the other one which covered all of Cheshire. So it wasn’t as powerful.

"Protect His Excellency!" One of the priests shouted at this moment. "We must hold on until help arrives from the capital!"

’Help?’ In the middle, Lucas Springster shook his head.

Cheshire was far away from Ulford, and even Sir Jacob would take half a day to arrive. That’s if he expended all of his holy power to fly in a straight line. Fourth Circlers would probably make it in ten days.

’Can we last ten days?’ Bishop Lucas braced himself, the question ringing in his mind as he clashed with Marquis Jones.

In his heart, he already knew the answer.

...

By midday, the second wave of monsters had gone past Orlando and entered the moonlight forest. Led by Minerva and Ash, with the Hell Knight at the center, they met the dryads.

The four elf captains at the 4th Circle had already gathered all the monsters of the moonlight forest and left for their village.

Once they settled the matters at Leafsong, they would then start attacking fortresses which mostly had 3rd Circlers in command. Only the territories of high-ranking nobles would be guarded by someone at the 4th Circle.

It would be troublesome if the nobles all gathered under one banner and confronted the monsters.

However, that took time and strategic planning. These nobles had just returned from the capital in a hurry and would now have to face an invasion.

They may be able to fend off the monster hordes led by the elves, but that was just a distraction. The second wave was the main force designated to invade the Nuving province.

Without at least a 5th Circler, it was impossible to stop the tens of thousands of monsters that came from Tartus Dungeon.

If the Royal Commander didn’t arrive in time with his army, they would be truly unstoppable.

...

Ulford, in the afternoon.

"King Averon, you knew about the dungeon that appeared in Karsuda. Why did you ignore it for so long?"

Inside the throne room, the high-ranking officials and members of the royal family took seats. The Isenwings were also present.

The king sat on his throne like usual but the man asking him a question wasn’t kneeling. Instead, this man was fully armored and equipped with a longsword.

Carrying a weapon was forbidden when entering the royal palace. However, if Jacob Kingsley himself came, who could ask to take away his sword?

This High Paladin wasn’t as cordial as the Archbishop. He was a man of the common people and had no respect for any kind of aristocrat.

"Sir Jacob, we did not ignore the dungeon." Averon leaned forward. "Instead, we sent a team to raid it. At that time, when we asked the church for help, you refused us!"

Hearing that, the paladin did not answer. Looking around the room, he instead inquired, "Where’s Sir Bors?"

"Lord Commander has gone to protect the borders, but he should be coming back soon." The King’s Hand took a small bow and spoke.

Jacob frowned. Since fourth circlers couldn’t keep up with him, he wanted to invite Bors on his trip to Karsuda. But the Storm Holder wasn’t even in the capital.

There was possibly a Demon Lord in the kingdom and that man was running around the borders.

"Sigh." Jacob looked around and said in a bland tone, "The matters were different at that time and a significant number of church forces were required to escort Brother Joseph. I hope you understand, Your Majesty."

’Matters were different, huh...’ Averon felt ridiculed. Still, he could do nothing to the tall man standing on the red carpet below.

"Sir Jacob, surely you didn’t come to my palace just to tell me that."

"No." The High Paladin rested a palm on the hilt of his sword and continued, "I am personally going to visit that dungeon and I need a guide."

Suddenly, the throne room was filled with chatter. Although most officials knew about the Dungeon of Sins, they had no idea it was that much of a threat.

If anything, the Tartus Dungeon should be the concern, but nobody dared to speak about it.

Sir Bors had once visited that dungeon. After he returned, he forbade anyone from mentioning its name for some reason.

"A guide, you say?" The King stood up from his throne with a smile and turned to the court mages.

"Call Sir Ivan. It appears His Grace, the High Paladin, requires someone who has once gone there."

Averon’s voice was filled with joy and the court mages below immediately knew his intentions. Now that Jacob Kingsley asked, this king had a valid reason to interrupt a court mage’s research.

If Ivan still refused, that would be the same as treason.

"Did he and Sir Jacob plan this from the start?" The court mages wondered. Just as they were about to go to Ivan’s tower, a voice came from the far right corner.

"Your Majesty, Sir Ivan might stall again. Why not have His Highness, the Third Prince go with Sir Jacob?"

Second Prince Roland took a formal bow, hiding his sinister smile. As long as his step-brother died in that dungeon, it was worth incurring the rage of his father.

"Prince Roland..." Averon looked at a flamboyantly dressed man who stood beside several ministers.

Controlling himself from slapping his son right here, the king rubbed his eyebrows. "I have revoked Splennar’s title. Your brother is... unfit for this job."

"But father, he also went to the dungeon-"

"Enough!" Averon was truly mad now. "This isn’t the time for your games, Roland. Remove yourself from this assembly at once!"

"Tsk." The second prince straightened himself and turned around, immediately leaving the throne room.

The officials began whispering but quieted down when Jacob asked Splennar, "Did you go there?"

"Sir Jacob, he indeed went there but he is lacking in many ways..." The king hurriedly tried to divert the High Paladin’s attention.

However, Jacob kept looking at Splennar who was standing with his mother and sisters.

"I..." There was something about this paladin’s gaze that made Splennar uneasy.

"Speak! Which demon sent you?" Suddenly, Jacob stretched his hand toward the prince in a clenching motion.

Golden chains came out of cracks in space, binding Splennar and bringing him before the paladin.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several Third Circle Knights hidden behind large pillars jumped on the reception area, unsheathing their swords.

At the same time, the court mages took out red talismans and chanted an instant spell, creating a strong barrier around the King and Queen.

Just as the officials scrambled away, two 4th Circle Royal Guardians flashed in the room, their broadswords vibrating with thick mana.

"Jacob Kingsley, what are you trying to do?" Averon nervously asked, grabbing his own weapon.