Chapter 37: The Royal Capital and a Hidden Alliance

“This is Danga’s Royal Capital; it looks quite large.”

After more than half a month of travel, Ellis and Larry finally arrived at the Royal Capital.

The hustle and bustle of the Royal Capital naturally surpassed any other place in Danga. The sheer volume of people entering and exiting the city gates was more than ten times that of ordinary towns.

They had already abandoned the dragon carriage they were riding in and released the swift dragon. Each carriage had a unique identification number, and if discovered, it would lead to significant trouble for them.

Relying on the disguise crystal, the two confidently strode into the city. The inspections here proved to be much laxer than they had anticipated.

This was quite normal, however. After all, most of the city guards in the capital were likely occupied suppressing the protesting citizens.

While the two journeyed to the Royal Capital, Daisy had already begun executing the plan Ellis and Larry had devised. This involved publicly exposing the humiliating treaty and subsequently inciting the populace’s emotions.

As expected, the moment this matter came to light, it instantly caused a nationwide uproar among the people of Danga.

While some undoubtedly believed the agreement was mere fabrication and slander, given that the current King Gapp had established his reign with an iron fist during his time as a duke, he hardly seemed like the type to sign such a treaty. Furthermore, his governance had gradually earned him the title of a wise king, and his authority, newly established, had already garnered considerable support.

Yet, after the rumor spread, everyone awaited Gapp’s refutation, but the anticipated official denial never came.

A wave of unease swept through the populace. They began to realize that something was amiss; this treaty was likely far more than a simple rumor.

Consequently, some passionate citizens began to stage protests and demonstrations in various regions, hoping to elicit an explanation from King Gapp.

Indeed, upon entering the city, Ellis witnessed a crowd of demonstrators on the main thoroughfare, holding banners and shouting loudly.

Ellis remarked, “It seems the effect is quite remarkable.”

“After all, I’ve gained control over the owners of several newspaper agencies.”

Larry said with a sinister grin, “Even though something akin to newspapers has emerged, the state still doesn’t attach enough importance to them. Thanks to the grace left by the previous king, grassroots public opinion is now firmly in our hands. I could say, with a single rallying cry, I can summon wind and rain…”

“Or a dragon king’s spittle.”

Watching Larry, who was brimming with confidence and even striking poses, Ellis couldn’t help but retort, “You’ve become addicted to doing Daisy’s work, haven’t you? Maybe you should consider gender reassignment surgery.”

Larry scoffed, “Hmph, at a time like this, you should be praising me.”

“Alright, alright, you are surely a genius blessed by the Goddess of Wisdom, a hero nurtured by the golden-haired goddess. Now, can we attend to some serious business? Honestly, after rushing for so long, I feel sticky and just want to settle down and take a bath.”

Ellis looked at the address in their hand. It was given to them by Daisy, who said it was the only person in the Royal Capital she could absolutely trust.

After giving some alms to a down-and-out beggar, he led them to the address on the paper.

This was a rather luxurious courtyard, home to Count Peter of Danga, an influential minister who wielded significant power.

This was also why King Gapp, after ascending the throne, knew that Count Peter was likely one of the individuals who helped Daisy escape, yet dared not act against him without sufficient evidence.

With Daisy’s letter of recommendation, they were swiftly ushered into the courtyard by a servant.

Before seeing his true appearance, Ellis had imagined Count Peter to be a robust middle-aged man. Instead, they discovered a handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed young man in his early twenties.

Upon their first encounter, Peter immediately inquired, “How is Princess Daisy doing now?”

Ellis’s eyes flickered towards Larry. Larry was more familiar with these matters, and Ellis also preferred not to engage in excessive conversation with strangers.

While Larry and Peter exchanged information, Ellis began idly observing their surroundings.

From the exterior courtyard to the interior furnishings, Count Peter’s home was impeccably ordered. The decor, though not opulent, was entirely appropriate and tasteful, lending an overall impression of seriousness and meticulousness.

The arrangement of a room can often reflect a person’s character. Unsurprisingly, this count appeared to be a loyal and meticulous individual.

The fact that he dared to risk his family’s decline and potential prosecution to help Daisy escape from prison demonstrated his loyalty to either the former king or Daisy herself.

However, this could also be merely superficial. Ellis never trusted someone based solely on appearances.

Larry’s conversation had largely concluded. After all, they would be staying in the Royal Capital for an extended period, so Peter would have ample time for any further questions.

Thus, Ellis spoke up, “We’ve come here to uncover the truth behind the murder of Daisy’s parents. Do you have any suggestions?”

Peter had been about to continue speaking with Larry, but Ellis’s sudden interjection made him turn his head.

“I once investigated that matter as well, but the crime scene had been completely cleaned, and all eyewitnesses had died. Only Prince Gapp and his ministers saw Daisy holding the murder weapon.”

“So, it’s a cold case?”

“As it stands, yes.”

“May I ask a rude question?”

“Please do.”

Ellis narrowed their eyes and asked Peter, “So many people believe Daisy killed her parents, yet why do you trust her so implicitly, even to the point of risking your family’s fate?”

“My family, once fallen into disrepute due to royal entanglements, possessed nothing but this爵位 [TL Note: ‘爵位’ refers to a noble title.], until the late king recognized our worth, and our family was revitalized. At that time, my father and I swore an oath to repay the late king’s kindness.”

Peter slowly explained, “Daisy and I grew up together; my father often brought me to the palace to play with her. I knew her relationship with the late king well; she would never commit such a heinous act. Moreover, before this incident occurred, the domestic situation was already rife with undercurrents, and a significant political disagreement had developed between King Gapp and the late king.”

“Daisy didn’t tell us any of this.”

Peter sighed, “She returned too late. The late king also didn’t want these domestic trifles to affect their family’s relationship.”

“What was their disagreement?”

“King Gapp desired a vigorous development of military might, aiming to secure the nation’s safety through forceful means, even war. The late king, however, hoped for more peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries, through negotiations, for example.”

Larry and Ellis exchanged peculiar glances with Peter.

They knew what a chaotic world this was; the entire continent was like a cage for raising vipers, with warlords vying for supremacy, each nation eager to annex others and expand its own power. Yet, in such a land, someone still harbored the delusion of achieving peace through negotiation.

Only equally formidable military strength could deter others, surely.

Peter could only offer this reply: “The late king was a benevolent man.”

Ellis sensed something amiss. “Wait, are you saying King Gapp is a hardline warmonger? Would such a person sign that humiliating treaty?”

“I heard about that; I was actually going to ask you, is that treaty real?”

Ellis nodded, “It’s real. We took it from King Gapp’s son.”

Peter fell into a deep silence. Ellis felt he might be having an existential crisis and couldn’t help but ask, “Could it be that King Gapp’s previous demeanor was all a facade?”

Peter countered, “A facade for half his life? I heard from my father that King Gapp has always had this personality.”

“An ambitious person might be able to endure for that long, but we’ll need to interact with him to truly judge.”

Larry looked at Peter and asked, “Can you get us into the Royal Palace? You don’t need to worry about anything after that; we’ll find a way to investigate.”

“King Gapp will be hosting a court banquet soon. Many people will attend, making it the easiest time to blend in.”

Peter stood up, clasping his hands behind his back. “I will arrange for you to enter as servants. After that, I cannot assist you further. Also, if you cause any trouble inside the palace, do not expect me to save you. You would also do well not to commit any foolish acts.”

Ellis looked deeply at Peter, then smiled and said, “Don’t worry.”