NOVPUB
Chapter 337: The Execution
Amidst the rubble of what was once the Larson family’s mansion with the corpse of the Cerberus, the Blue Dragon Battalion remains on guard, securing the area. Now, additional cultivators from the imperial family have arrived to assist in clearing the remains of the Cerberus. The lingering death aura from the corpse is still strong and intimidating, but they attempt to suppress it using their elemental energy.
There are three Middle Emperor Stage cultivators in the area who are also helping to secure the site and attempting to cleanse it of the lingering death energy from the Cerberus’s corpse. However, they are quite overwhelmed by the remnants of this energy due to its immense strength. Every time they try to suppress it with their own elemental energy, their energy is immediately erased.
The corrosive nature of the death energy is truly terrifying, and this is the first time they have encountered anything like it. As a result, the corpse remains in place, as they are unable to move it to a safer location.
Not far from the corpse, Commander Shang observes the operation. Beside him stand two other Middle Emperor Stage cultivators, both from the imperial family but belonging to different knight orders.
One of them has a large, muscular build and carries a greatsword on his back. His appearance is truly intimidating, making people instinctively avoid him upon meeting him. He is Viktor, one of the commanders of the imperial family.
The other is a handsome young man with long black hair. He exudes a serene aura and is the type who prefers not to stand out. He is Alexi, also one of the commanders of the imperial family.
"How in the world did the mysterious swordsman defeat a being like this?" Viktor asked. Even though he had a larger build than everyone else here, he couldn’t help but feel a chill in the presence of the Cerberus’s corpse.
"With just one slash. If you had seen it firsthand, you would have been amazed by its power and elegance. I’m telling you, he is truly strong—perhaps the only one capable of comprehending a divine technique," Commander Shang replied.
Alexi remained silent, gazing at the corpse. However, he shared the same sentiment as Viktor—this beast’s corpse exuded an intimidating presence even in death. He could only imagine how powerful it had been when it was still alive.
Commander Shang continued observing the corpse when he suddenly noticed someone standing on top of it. The other two commanders saw the figure as well, followed by many others in the area. They were stunned—none of them had sensed this person’s presence until now, when he suddenly appeared atop the corpse.
But then, Commander Shang felt a sense of familiarity with the figure. A moment later, he recalled the back of the mysterious swordsman. This figure had the same posture as that swordsman.
"Who are you?! State your—" Viktor began to demand, taking a stance, ready to attack. But before he could finish, Commander Shang stopped him with a hand gesture.
Shang shot Viktor a warning look before turning his gaze back to the figure standing on top of the corpse. The person was dressed in a black robe and wore a mask to conceal his features, but Shang knew—this was the real deal. This was the swordsman.
"May I know why you are here, Your Excellency? We thought you had disappeared somewhere after defeating this creature," Commander Shang asked respectfully.
At his words, everyone’s eyes widened as they looked at the masked figure once again.
That is the mysterious swordsman?!
This was the first time they had seen the figure up close, and they couldn’t even sense him! The other two commanders were also shocked as they observed him once again. They couldn’t detect any aura or cultivation from this man, yet they did not underestimate him—after all, he was the mysterious swordsman.
Aldrian, who had just arrived to assist the others, looked at Commander Shang but did not respond. Truthfully, he felt guilty for leaving the corpse without purifying it first. After defeating the Cerberus, he had only purified the blood that had spilled across parts of the land, neglecting the main body, which was now split in two.
But it seemed that even the remnants of death energy from the corpse were still too much for these people to handle, so he needed to lend them a hand. He wasn’t surprised—after all, it was a Cerberus. These people would have stood no chance in its presence, let alone when it was still alive, as it had been far stronger than them.
With a wave of his hand, his golden energy spread across the entire corpse, enveloping it.
The people were stunned by the sudden spread of the golden energy, and for the first time in their lives, they felt its miraculous presence from close. The three commanders widened their eyes as they looked around in awe. The golden energy enveloped the giant corpse for a few seconds before vanishing.
Once it disappeared, what remained was a normal corpse, devoid of any intimidating remnants of death energy. The people were shocked by the sensation they had felt from the golden energy, but before they could react further, the mysterious swordsman had already vanished.
The three commanders were left speechless. They hadn’t been able to sense anything when Aldrian appeared—and now, he had disappeared just as silently! To make matters even more unbelievable, when the golden energy had blanketed the corpse, they had sensed that the mysterious swordsman’s cultivation level was only at the low Marquess stage!
How is that possible?! This was the moment when many people saw the mysterious swordsman up close, felt his presence, and sensed his cultivation—but he was only at the Marquess stage! How could he have achieved all of his feats in the past while still at the Marquess stage?! This was the question on many minds in that place.
While they were still shocked by the sudden revelation of the mysterious swordsman’s true cultivation level, another commotion suddenly arose elsewhere, drawing their attention. Not far from the destroyed area, there was a vast plaza where many people were looking in one direction, watching as a platform appeared out of nowhere. The appearance of the platform was truly shocking, as if it had just teleported into this place.
On top of the platform, they saw two figures shackled by their arms and legs, kneeling in position. When the people focused their gaze on the shackled figures, they were stunned to discover that the figures were actually Grand Duke Larson and his son, Young Master Clark!
This caused an uproar, and some of the people tried to step onto the platform to attack them. However, they were blocked by a spatial shield preventing them from advancing. Realizing that the platform was protected by a kind of formation, the people could only watch the two figures that once nobles with angry expressions.
They were traitors, deserving of a death sentence!
Not long after, the people saw a group of robed figures walk to the top of the platform, unobstructed by the spatial shield. All of them were wearing masks, so the masses could not see their faces, but many thought that these people were the ones who had attacked the Larson family.
One of the masked robed figures finally took off her mask, revealing the beautiful face behind it, causing the people to gasp. They recognized that face, even though it had been more than 10 years since the incident with the Duclan family. It was the face they had once considered a disgrace because of her family’s connection to the devils.
However, recently, when the Larson family’s connection to the devils came to light, many people started to doubt the past events. What really happened to the Duclan family?
Carol looked at the people staring at her in bewilderment, and she realized that all the attention of the masses was focused on her. She finally began to speak.
"The people of Larson City, the people of the Vindas Empire, I’m sure you all know who I am. This face, which you once considered a disgrace in the past—just as disgraceful as the name of the Duclan family that you all once believed to be tainted."
"You all who believe everything you’ve heard from the Larson family are truly like shepherded sheep, with the Larson family as the shepherd." Hearing that, many people gritted their teeth in anger, but they could not refute her because what Carol said was true. They didn’t know the true nature of the Larson family, and the Larsons had continued on as if they were noble, with upright morals. 𝔫𝔬𝖛𝖕𝔲𝖇.𝖈𝖔𝖒
"However, I’m not blaming any of you, because I, too, was fooled by them at first. When I realized the truth, it was already too late for the Duclan family," she said, sweeping her gaze over the people below.
"Now that the true criminals of the empire are kneeling before you, what punishment do they deserve?!" Carol shouted.
"Death!"
"Death!"
"Death!"
Many began to shout, their voices growing louder. Carol let them continue shouting for a few moments before she spoke again.
"Yes! Death is the only way for them! To cleanse the dirt of the empire, to erase the stain of this city caused by the devils! For all the souls wronged by them!" she shouted, drawing her sword from her waist and positioning herself beside Grand Duke Larson. Her sword was poised above his neck as Carol took her stance, ready to execute him.
Grand Duke Larson, who hadn’t moved his head even once since earlier, suddenly shifted his eyes to the side to look at Carol’s face, which held a cold stare directed at him. He gave a slight smile in response.
"Don’t think that—"
Swish!
A sweep of the sword passed across his neck.
