The moment Mieko finished speaking, most of the royal family members and ministers at the entrance of the grand hall exhaled in relief almost in unison.
After all, submitting to the other party was better than the country being wiped out—or ending up dead with their heads separated from their bodies, right?
Of course, there were still a handful of people who glared up at Mieko hanging in midair, boiling with resentment, yet only able to swallow it down, not daring to act.
"No chance!" Arthur Westin's face instantly turned as dark as iron. He stared up at Mieko and shouted sternly, "This country is an inheritance I took from my father's generation! Even if you kill me, don't think you can get your hands on this nation through me!"
"Is that so? Then that's truly a pity…"
Mieko gently shook his head, his gaze settling on Arthur Westin below who was still roaring. Then he raised his right index finger—lightning gathered at his fingertip in an instant.
"If you were only greedy for money…"
Before he could finish, the lightning at Mieko's fingertip suddenly shot out, striking straight at Arthur Westin like a bolt, accompanied by a piercing tearing-through-the-air shriek.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out. Arthur Westin's furious roar cut off abruptly. A charred little hole appeared at the center of his forehead, and even the clouds behind him were blasted open into a pitch-black, bottomless crater.
"Your Majesty…"
"Big brother…"
The ministers and royals turned pale. Cries of alarm rose one after another, yet only a few managed to muster the courage to rush toward Arthur Westin.
Bzzzt…
Mieko lightly stamped his foot. The Thunder Bird beneath him instantly dispersed. His figure flashed, and he appeared beside Arthur Westin in a blink, electricity crackling all over him. Dazzling arcs of lightning directly swallowed up the few people who had just run over, their faces already drained of color.
Bang bang bang…
Mieko didn't even look at the bodies collapsing behind him. With light steps, he crossed more than ten meters in just a few strides, stopping in front of the royals and ministers whose faces were paper-white.
"Submit, or die?"
His gaze was icy as he looked at those clearly lacking any backbone and calmly issued the final ultimatum.
"M-my lord, I'm willing to submit—please don't kill me!"
A fat royal member dropped to his knees first, begging in a trembling voice. He sprawled on the ground, pleading nonstop, "I'll follow you, my lord! Please, please don't take my life!"
…
Once one person took the lead and knelt, in the next instant a whole sea of people knelt down at the palace hall entrance.
Compared to the hard-boned King Arthur Westin from earlier, these people in front of him were nothing but cowardly, life-clinging parasites—the contrast couldn't have been sharper.
But for Mieko, people like this were easier to control.
After all, his goal wasn't to govern this country. He only wanted obedient subordinates to make things convenient for himself.
"From today onward, you are the new king." Mieko looked at the fat royal member who had knelt first and spoke flatly.
"What?" The fat royal member froze for a beat, then his face burst with delight. He hurriedly kowtowed in thanks. "Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord…"
At this, the other ministers and royals all showed regret, thinking: Why didn't I kneel earlier? If I had knelt sooner, maybe the throne would've been mine.
Even being a puppet king was better than having nothing! Judging by this lord's manner, he clearly had no intention of stripping the king of all authority—otherwise he would've taken the throne himself long ago. There was no need to hand the position to that royal.
As for the idea that appointing a royal as king was to better control the country—that was pure nonsense. The country wasn't big to begin with. If anyone dared to rebel, they'd be rooted out quickly.
Sadly, there was no medicine for regret in this world. No matter how much they regretted it, it was useless.
"My lord, my name is Arthur Wilson. Just call me Wilson!" The fat Arthur Wilson hurriedly stood up and introduced himself respectfully.
"Mm. Prepare a banquet for me…" As Mieko spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Arthur Westin's corpse in the plaza, then gave his instructions blandly. "As for this messy garbage, handle it yourself."
"Yes, I'll arrange it right away!"
Wilson nodded quickly, happiness practically bursting out of him. Those ministers who had run out earlier and gotten killed by Mieko—he had hated them for a long time. Now was the perfect chance to wipe out the rot in one sweep.
…
One week later.
The change of kings did not cause much of a stir among Birka's residents. With the ministers soothing things over, Birka quickly returned to its usual calm.
Birka Palace, within a luxurious courtyard on the eastern side.
"Lord Mieko, I wonder why you summoned me here?" Wilson hurried over. His eyes swept past Odin standing behind Mieko, and then he asked respectfully.
This Odin was the very Third Guard Squad Captain who had fought Mieko before. His strength could be called outstanding within Birka's Royal Army.
Five or six years ago, the young Odin had already become the Third Guard Squad Captain. However, because his personality was too straightforward, he had carelessly offended a certain royal youth—so for five or six years, his position had never changed.
Mieko did not have Wilson sit. He lifted his black tea and took a light sip, looking straight at Wilson as he asked, "I once heard that the residents of Sky Island are not native to this place, but migrated here from elsewhere. As a member of Birka's royal family, you should know this matter inside and out, right?"
"Huh? Um… this…" Wilson's expression shifted. After hesitating for a moment, he forced himself to answer, "In the history passed down through generations of the royal family, there is indeed such a legend, but…"
"But what?" Mieko frowned, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.
"But the records say our ancestors came from a place called the 'Infinite Earth.' It sounds… honestly unbelievable…" Wilson hurriedly explained when he saw Mieko's expression darken. "According to the records, that 'Infinite Earth' seems to refer to the moon, but it's just too unbelievable, so almost no one in the royal family thinks it's real…"
"Uh, from the moon?"
Odin, who had stayed silent until now, couldn't help but look at Wilson with a speechless expression, thinking to himself: This guy isn't just making things up, is he?
(End of Chapter)
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