I Have a Dice Left by a God-Chapter 328 - 195: The Banquet at Hongmen

Hokele and Achilles also turned to their father, eagerly awaiting the King’s decision.

Ola the Eighteenth remained expressionless, silent for a moment, "Merely relying on William’s words is akin to slandering the royal family; we cannot act on mere shadows. Tonight we shall host a banquet, according to the list."

James wanted to continue persuading but was held back by Kundra. Duke Tia and Metropolitan Walton both secretly breathed a sigh of relief. From their standpoint, maintaining stability was most advantageous, avoiding unnecessary upheaval. Furthermore, from a personal perspective, the Church Court and the nobility hoped the Princes could balance the King. Publicly and privately, they had no desire to escalate matters, especially since expecting a lone William to take down Prince Oliver was unrealistic. As for what more compelling evidence Duke Zheng could provide, that was a matter for another time. Patience was key, but James was anxious.

From the perspective of the Celestial Principle School, they had long wished to eliminate all obstructing forces so they could boldly reform. Having waited so many years, they finally saw a rare opportunity, so it was no wonder James wanted to take a bigger step.

Hokele and Achilles exchanged glances, both recognizing the unwillingness in each other’s hearts. It had come down to this: seizing the opportunity was crucial. Even if they couldn’t directly accuse Prince Oliver, they could at least unveil his disguise. But the King was being too cautious, excessively so; if it were up to them, they would certainly have Prince Oliver come and witness a spectacular revelation, damaging all of his prestige in the process.

On the list were a Duke, two Marquises, and five Counts; these eight would be "invited" into the Royal Palace. Together with the evidence the Funeral Attendant had accumulated over the years, these cases were indisputable. The King still controlled the scope of action, but the Hunting Enjoyment Club’s young scions were directly taken away by the Funeral Attendant. Although Zheng Shengxun was an outstanding figure among the younger generation, he wasn’t substantial enough to be on the main agenda at this level.

The Imperial Guard began to act. This time, the scale and commotion were much greater than when dealing with the Mother Goddess School. Besides those on the list, many important ministers were also invited.

For a time, tension gripped the Inner City, while inside Oliver’s Prince Mansion, Oliver was sipping afternoon tea. He was certainly aware of the commotion outside. Princess Amosa was preparing tea for the Prince, her expression somewhat worried but striving to maintain her composure.

"Not bad; you can still remain calm, but the tea is weak," Oliver said gently.

"Father, how can you just sit there?" Amosa chided. "All my people were arrested, Uncle Boka was taken away too, and soon it might be my turn!"

"Your uncle hasn’t invited us."

Oliver smiled slightly, savoring the tea. Time had not diminished his handsome and elegant appearance. Even though Ola the Eighteenth was also considered wise and valiant, compared to Oliver, he fell short, appearing much older.

"Father~~~" Amosa shook Oliver’s arm, "Help us out. The moment you step in, my uncle will definitely oblige."

"We must trust the just King, who would not wrong the innocent," Oliver laughed. "Okay, okay, I understand. Stop shaking, go tidy up a bit. Surely you wouldn’t want to enter the palace like this?"

"Alright, give me a moment, I’ll be quick!" Amosa cheerfully jumped up.

As long as her father got involved, nothing would be a problem. Regardless of queenship, if her Hunting Enjoyment Club dissolved, how could she ever go out afterward, and where would her dignity be?

Watching Amosa bounce cheerily, Prince Oliver helplessly shook his head.

...

The Royal Palace was bustling with activity, though the lively atmosphere was tinged with apprehension and unease.

The court banquet was being prepared; ministers arrived one after another. From the atmosphere alone, even the dullest could sense that something significant was afoot. Due to the honorific battle celebration, the Eight Dukes rarely gathered. Duke Tia sat at the head, with Grandmaster James seated at another, serving as the Church Court’s representative. Duke Zheng’s face was grave, while others appeared ashen. Ever since Marquis William’s arrest, they had been on edge every day. They had all quietly sought out the Prince, but Prince Oliver only told them to trust the just King.

Wasn’t that a redundant reassurance?

Duke Zheng recently reviewed all matters, finding no oversights. The only issue was with the Mother Goddess School, but Marquis William alone could take the blame for that. The details of the operation were handled by someone thoroughly deceased, having managed it all cleanly. Neither the Celestial Principle School nor the Church Court could grasp any hold over him. As for other minor issues, they were minor indeed; the King had nothing to gain from expanding them.

With this thought, Duke Zheng’s expression gradually relaxed. He was well-versed in weathering storms, having once led the Zheng Family to thrive amidst court upheaval—what were these minor situations now? Composed, Duke Zheng began engaging with those around him with smiles, awaiting the banquet’s commencement.

As night descended, the grand hall grew lively. The King and the two Princes arrived, formally commencing the banquet. The King smiled, "Feel free, everyone. I assume you’re all curious about what makes tonight special."

"A royal invitation must signify something extraordinary. We are eager," one responded.

"Could it be a great joy? Is it that our Princess has found a suitor?" another pondered.

"Impossible! My son isn’t even born yet. Who could be worthy of our Princess?"

...

The attendees chimed in one after another. The King was known for his casual manner during his gatherings, instantly enlivening the atmosphere.

Ola the Eighteenth cast a glance at the Second Prince, "Achilles, introduce your uncles and aunts."

Achilles had changed into a dashing court outfit, his charming demeanor catching eyes. "Allow me the honor of introducing one of the Five Elders of the Gourmet Association, Mr. Ostralia. Another familiar face is Mr. Bocuse, also from the Gourmet Association. Two elders appearing in the same city is an exceedingly rare occurrence in the history of the Gourmet Association, so you’re all in for a treat."

The guests immediately grew excited. The Gourmet Association’s cuisine was renowned for its curative properties, addressing a variety of ailments with almost no side effects, often outperforming top-tier Magic Potions. Thus, it was highly coveted across nations. However, it was rare for elders of the Gourmet Association to appear in the same city. When they did, a legendary culinary duel was promised; could this be the purpose of tonight’s royal gathering? 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Both Ostralia and Bocuse appeared—Ostralia tall and imposing, Bocuse petite and agile. With little interaction, they each paid respects to the King and guests.

Ola the Eighteenth nodded, signaling Achilles to continue. Achilles wasn’t keen on performing; he wished Metropolitan Walton would take the task, but there was no choice as a son, "I’ve recently learned a little magic. Allow me to entertain you with a pre-dinner performance."

No one knew what the King had planned, but everyone in Hedan was aware of Prince Achilles’ antics—magic?

Achilles produced the Soul Book. Many present recognized its significance. As it opened, the grand hall suddenly chilled, filled with the wailing of spirits, unsettling everyone to their core.

Achilles turned to the page marked for Marquis William. As William’s spirit appeared, a dead silence enveloped the hall, especially affecting the guilty-hearted nobility, trembling at the knees. Unbeknownst to them, the King dared exhibit it publicly, implying evidence against William was substantial. Outside, speculation about William’s crimes was rampant, some linking bizarre tales to the King himself, imagining proclivities for the organs of young boys and girls...

Puzzles needed solving; souls extracted alive could answer up to three questions without rephrasing. The Soul Book merely preserved evidence, one of the Church Court’s secretive methods, suggesting the severity of these questions.

Achilles reiterated the three questions, and William’s spirit answered each.

Each response was increasingly shocking, ultimately pointing to the Great Sage King Oliver, which caused murmurs akin to an exploding cauldron. Even the Eight Dukes reacted subtly; Old George was among them, though his face revealed nothing. Over the years, the George Family had retreated from political machinations, their former power space overtaken by the Zheng Family, diminishing their presence.

Having collected the soul, closing the Little People Book, the attendees still felt a chilling unease—as if a massacre was imminent.