boyutpedia Chapter 27: The Rotten Feast
Chapter 27: The Rotten Feast
Toland's actions were even more egregious; he directly bribed officials in the capital's tax office, falsifying accounts to siphon off a significant portion of the Flower Town's substantial trade revenue from recent years.
Of the taxes that should have been paid to the kingdom, less than one-tenth were actually paid.
During the raid on the lord's castle, the soldiers' greatest discovery was Torland's deeply hidden private treasury.
Inside the treasury, chests of gold, silver, and copper coins were piled up like mountains. Next to them were thousands of well-forged standard leather armors, gleaming knight's longswords and steel shields, hundreds of exquisite jade artifacts of considerable value, scrolls sealed with magic, and a batch of heavy siege crossbows that were clearly made by gray dwarf craftsmen.
Edmund and Nidec moved all the treasures in this vault to the palace.
The two key suspects, Sahudin the Web Weaver and Toland the Town Lord, were brought before Li Ang, bound hand and foot.
Li Ang first gave Toland a cold look; traitors are often the most hated!
"Toland, you are a count of the kingdom, a man of high status! How dare you collude with rebels and a cult of evil! Do you know your crime?"
Li Ang coldly questioned.
Toland remained as "mad" as ever: "I worship the [Benevolent Father God]! And you are but a lowly tyrant! Today, my defeat will be blessed by the [Benevolent Father], and after death I will fly to heaven!"
Li Ang was too lazy to waste any more words with such a "madman" and directly ordered Andrew, "Tomorrow, take him to the capital's execution ground, publicly announce his crimes according to the law, and then burn him at the stake!"
After dealing with Toland, it's time for the Corruption Cult's "Web Weaver"—Sahuddin!
Compared to Count Torland's "madness," "fanatical" and "fearlessness of death"!
This Sahudin, who holds a higher teaching position, is a completely different case.
Beforehand, under the torture inflicted by Steward Mike, Sahudin had already given in!
Even Steward Mike couldn't help but sneer, "This is only the twelfth punishment! And you call yourself the 'Web Weaver'? Your subordinate, the 'Listener'—Longfellow—endured a full eighty-seven punishments before finally giving in and betraying you!"
"The pampered Earl of Toland endured 129 rounds of torture without begging for mercy! If he weren't afraid the torture would continue and he would die, I'd really like to see how long his mouth can hold out."
Sahudin, who holds a higher teaching position and is more capable, is a complete "spineless coward"!
Sahudin, no longer displaying his former arrogance and ruthlessness, began kowtowing repeatedly, begging for mercy: "Your Majesty! I am Sahudin, the 'Webweaver' of the Corruption Cult. I am gravely guilty! I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"
Seeing this, Li Ang sneered: "The aphid swarm in Amber Town's wheat, tell me, what's going on here?"
Sahudin pointed to the iron box in Edmund's hand.
"Your Majesty, the aphids have mutated and their numbers have surged, all thanks to the [Corrupted Relic] inside the box!"
Following the direction of his finger, Li Ang looked over and saw that the metal box in Edmund's hand was still making a "clinking" sound!
It seems that there is a "living creature" inside this iron box?
"Corrupted sacred object? It should actually be called a 'source of corruption', right?"
Li Ang said coldly.
Sahudin remained noncommittal: "For believers, it's all about 'corrupting sacred objects'! For non-believers, it's generally fine to call it 'corrupting sources of pollution'."
At this moment, Edmund interjected, "Your Majesty, the source of corruption within this iron box evokes an overwhelming sense of danger and evil!"
After a pause, Edmund suggested, "Your Majesty, it would be best not to open such an evil object! Perhaps it should be hidden underground, never to see the light of day!"
Li Ang waved his hand, rejecting the proposal.
Now that the source of the corruption is right in front of us, how can we satisfy our curiosity if we don't open it up and take a look?
Furthermore, if it is buried underground and is dug up by the Corruption Cult, it will still be a "hidden danger"!
"With your strength, if you open the iron box, can you deter the danger?"
Li Ang inquired.
Even someone as strong as Edmund was sweating profusely. After a few tense minutes of thought, he finally spoke, "Your Majesty, the iron box is open, and the danger is unknown! But Edmund is willing to risk his life to protect Your Majesty! Your Majesty should be alright!"
Li Ang nodded and then instructed Steward Mike to transfer over Situ Bolei, the leader of the court magicians.
At the same time, all the knights of the Ash Knights lined up in the main hall.
In that case, even if a "demon" jumps out of the iron box, Li Ang will not be afraid!
Sahudin kept explaining, "Your Majesty, esteemed officials, please rest assured! This [Corrupted Relic] is not offensive!"
Of course, everyone chose to ignore it!
No one will easily believe the words of a wicked person!
Amidst the tense vigilance of the crowd, Edmund used his knight's longsword to pry open the iron box.
A cloud of black mist suddenly appeared!
Archmage Situ Bolei promptly organized the court magicians to cast spells and begin to disperse the mysterious black mist!
When the fog dissipated, what was inside was revealed: a "bowl" formed by the symbiosis of some kind of black, semi-woody fungus and hardened insect carapace. Its surface was covered with honeycomb-like holes, and each hole contained a pale, translucent pupa that was slowly wriggling.
The "collision" sound inside the metal box just now was clearly the sound of the "pupa" being produced.
It was a false alarm for everyone.
Edmund boldly lifted the "vessel" up!
Sahudin immediately cried out, "No!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Edmund raised the right arm of the "vessel," and instantly a strange change began to occur. The entire right arm began to turn black and rot rapidly!
Situ Bolei quickly organized the court magicians to begin casting "healing" spells on Edmund in turn!
However, the effects of those spells are extremely limited!
Edmund was instantly overcome with pain and threw the "vessel" to the ground.
Edmund channeled all his fighting spirit into his right arm to resist.
A hissing sound emanated from the point where the fighting spirit and the corrupting power clashed!
The powerful Dou Zun-level Dou Qi stubbornly stopped the spreading putrefaction at the elbow, preventing the flesh from continuing to rot.
However, the corrupting power has already penetrated deep into the flesh and bones like poisonous roots. Although battle qi can temporarily imprison and suppress it, it cannot completely force it out or purify it.
Edmund's forehead veins bulged, and he was sweating profusely, showing signs of exhaustion.
Leon flew into a rage, ordering the Ash Knights to pin Sahudin to the ground: "What's going on? What exactly is your Corruption Cult's [Source of Corruption]?"
Sahudin said bitterly, "Your Majesty, I warned you! Don't touch it directly with your body! This [Corrupted Relic] is called the [Corrupted Feast Vessel] in the sect!"
"Only high-ranking clergy members within the denomination who have been baptized by the Pope are allowed direct access!"
Leon roared, "What will happen to someone like Edmund? Can you save him?"
Sahuddin shook his head helplessly: "Lord Edmund is a Dou Zun level expert! He shouldn't be corrupted to death! However, his right arm is probably beyond saving!"