I Have a Dice Left by a God-Chapter 329 - 196: The Clown

The content is explosive, but the ministers who hold significant power have already stabilized. Clearly, they don’t believe that the words of a single soul can do anything to the Great King and Duke Zheng. Souls don’t lie, but what they say can be shaped.

Duke Zheng hurriedly left his seat and stood in the center, "Your Majesty, this is wrongful. The soul may speak the truth, but truth does not mean correctness, and can be misled by those with intent. I am being framed; I have nothing to do with the Mother Goddess School!"

Duke Zheng knew things were going bad when Marquis William’s soul was released. He didn’t expect the usually mild King to suddenly take harsh actions, especially against a friend of many years. He even felt that Marquis William still had a chance at life, but his strong mental faculties allowed him to quickly adjust and display an appropriately mournful expression.

"Duke Zheng, don’t be anxious just yet."

Prince Achilles said, not addressing the third point or providing any explanations. This was merely a counterattack to some recent rumors. In this world, there’s no such thing as innocence proving itself; rather, rumors are like an abyss.

"Mr. Bocuse, do you know where those missing children were sent?" Prince Achilles asked, leaving Duke Zheng in the cold for a moment while those who had been brought by the Imperial Guard shivered in fear.

Bocuse smiled wryly, "Your Highness, I’m just a cook. The Gourmet Association deals with cuisine, not evil; such paths are not allowed by us."

The crowd began to murmur; almost everyone had eaten at Lanuo Restaurant and praised it highly. Dark Cuisine could only be made by the Fallen of the Gourmet Association. Could Bocuse really be a traitor?

Many felt their stomachs churn, with the urge to vomit.

"Mr. Bocuse, you must know Mr. Ostralia by now. Today, I’ve invited you just as a witness," said Achilles with a smile.

Bocuse looked at Ostralia, smiling wryly, "Of course, I know him, an old friend, the second elder of the Gourmet Association."

"Boka, long time no see," Ostralia said. "I am also here on behalf of the Holy Land as a notary, handling everything according to the Sixth Epoch Secret Association’s laws."

Bocuse nodded, "To have you come, Prince Achilles is truly devoted. I have a clear conscience, so proceed at will."

"That’s good. In a while, Mr. Ostralia will prepare a dish for everyone present. Rest assured, it will certainly benefit the mind and body, but for those who have consumed Dark Cuisine, it may not. Isn’t that right, Duke Zheng?" Achilles said with a smile.

Duke Zheng’s expression turned sour, "Your Highness, I cannot agree with this assessment. I regularly dine at Lanau Bay Restaurant. If Mr. Bocuse had issues, then many people could have mistakenly consumed it. This is evidently a conspiracy against His Majesty and the esteemed ministers."

"Duke Zheng, unintentionally consuming Dark Cuisine doesn’t cause conflicts. Only those who immerse themselves in darkness and draw strength from it will feel themselves full of power, health, and happiness, but in reality, their soul has decayed into corruption. You can regard them as devils wearing human skins. Such individuals, once they consume cuisines made by the Gourmet Association, will trigger the Power of Corruption within them and reveal their true form," Ostralia explained in a loud voice to everyone.

Some people breathed a sigh of relief, while others shivered in fear. At that moment, a guard rushed in, bowing and saluting, "Your Majesty, Prince Oliver has arrived and is outside the hall now."

Everyone’s eyes lit up; the main character had arrived. The struggling Duke Zheng, on the brink of collapse, suddenly found stability, as if having found his backbone. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Ola the Eighteenth stood up, and at the entrance of the great hall, Prince Oliver entered. When Ola the Eighteenth ascended the throne, he promised several privileges, including allowing Prince Oliver to come and go from the Royal Palace freely. But after all these years, this was the first time Oliver had exercised this privilege.

"Your Majesty, I heard there was excitement in the palace; this child was insistent on coming to see. I hope it doesn’t disturb you?" Oliver said with a gentle smile.

"Brother, please sit. These are small matters I didn’t intend to trouble you with, but since you’re here, join in the fun," Ola the Eighteenth said.

Duke Zheng clung to Oliver like he would to a dear father, eagerly summarizing the earlier events, "Your Highness, I am wronged."

No matter the events, he acted as though Prince Oliver were the king.

Prince Oliver gave a slight smile and waved his hand, "I wondered what the issue was. Misunderstandings should naturally be resolved. Since a method has been found, let Elder Ostralia handle it. As subjects, we must trust in His Majesty’s justice."

With that, Prince Oliver sat beside the King, and the Commandery Princess stood obediently by the Prince’s side, though her palms were already sweating with anxiety.

The King, along with James and others, didn’t expect Prince Oliver to confront them so directly, playing right into their tempo.

Is there a variable at play? Yet it’s a difficult situation to back out of now, with the arrow already notched on the bowstring, there is no turning back.

Achilles clapped his hands, and the waiters brought out a dish. Ostralia had prepared well in advance. For him, it wasn’t difficult; any powerful cuisine could evoke the negative effects of Dark Cuisine. It’s like water and fire can’t coexist—a rare accidental consumption might just cause slight discomfort, but regular indulgence and consumption were entirely different. This plate of food elicited a mix of eager anticipation and chilling unease in others, while anyone less psychologically resilient might have already confessed had Prince Oliver not arrived.

"Do try it; Elder Ostralia is the oldest elder of the Gourmet Association with considerable cultivation and hasn’t dealt with mundane matters for years. It’s a rare opportunity," said Prince Oliver.

Although he seemed to be taking the lead rather than a guest, oddly enough, no one found it inappropriate. In fact, it even felt somewhat endearing.

Duke Zheng caught the Prince’s gaze and, steeling himself, began to eat. Upon tasting it, the flavor... It was exquisite, quite on par with the Dark Cuisine he’d had before, even more impressive.

A simple steak that somehow offered an uplifting and invigorating feeling, even dispersing anxiety and inviting relaxation, allowing one to enjoy the happiness and tranquility that cuisine brings.

Everyone else remained still, eyes locked on Duke Zheng, while the guards stayed vigilant, ready for any sudden transformation into a tongue-lashing monster. Achilles and Hokele clenched their fists, a hint of tension in their hearts. The main worry was Oliver’s composed demeanor, combined with Bocuse’s lack of fear. Despite probing visits to Lanuo Restaurant, Achilles never found dark cuisine offered openly, leaving matters unresolved. So where was the flaw?

Ostralia?

Impossible; Achilles had requested the Holy Hall leverage considerable power to bring him here. He had verified the food himself. Given the Gourmet Association’s reputation, there’s no way this wouldn’t be identifiable. From his stance, Ostralia was also inclined to tackle this issue—Dark Cuisine was like a malignancy within the Gourmet Association, a backward step that needed to be excised.

But as a fellow Elder, Ostralia lacked evidence and thus couldn’t act.

Duke Zheng initially intended only to take a symbolic bite but unknowingly finished it all. Soon the entire hall resounded with the sounds of chewing as if despite the solemn atmosphere, everyone enjoyed the heavenly delight that seemed even better than Bocuse’s, missing the previous tension.

Achilles looked dumbfounded, rushing to grab an unfinished plate from a visibly resentful marquis, taking a bite.

Indeed, it was a Gourmet Association dish with extraordinary skill, containing Hidden Power. No mistake.

Why?

Everyone relished the food, even those on the list. Meanwhile, the young lords and ladies of the Hunting Enjoyment Club were being forced to eat as well. Though not as refined as in the Royal Palace, it was enough to reveal their true forms. This was Achilles’ long-planned counterstrike, yet no one experienced any issues—everyone enjoyed the cuisine heartily.

In the Royal Palace hall, everyone felt a mix of tension and excitement, but in the end, everyone finished eating, and apart from some ill-timed belches, no one transformed into a monster, leaving the atmosphere awkwardly peculiar.

Some sneaked peeks at the stone-faced King on the throne, comparing him involuntarily to the elegantly relaxed Prince Oliver, and an inexplicable wave of emotion overwhelmed them...making them feel like clowns.

(The foreshadowing of the second volume begins to unravel with clues to follow. Anyone interested can try to uncover them.)