The Flagrantly Flawed Murder

This news was nothing short of a thunderbolt from the clear sky!

An instant surge of hot-blooded, tyrannical fury rushed to Du Chen's forehead. He gritted his teeth, quelling the malicious fire. Frinda was indeed acting completely within the bounds of rules and reason. What kind of man would he be to vent his anger on a 'weak woman' like her?

Du Chen softened his tone. "Student Frinda, what crime exactly did my Big Brother commit? He's the legitimate eldest son of a Divine Scion family! Apart from treason and blasphemy – two capital offenses – no law can condemn him to death! The Saint Sigurd Cain family has been loyal to Lanning for a thousand years, and my Big Brother has no ambition whatsoever; he couldn't possibly commit treason. So, if it's not treason, then it must be 'blasphemy'?"

Frinda nodded impatiently. "Yes, he committed blasphemy!" She gestured at Steve's 'treasures'. "Francis, may I burn these pieces of contraband now?"

Human life was at stake; Du Chen no longer had the mood to care about these external possessions. He turned to leave. Frinda's lukewarm attitude meant she wouldn't tell him much detail. It would be better to seek out the Holy Church's intelligence personnel for a thorough investigation!

Damn it, Big Brother was in trouble, yet he hadn't received any hint of it himself. It seemed this must have happened recently, while he was riding in the Wyvern Carriage!

"Bargnar, if you truly dare to kill my Big Brother, I swear I'll storm the execution ground, flay and debone you, and completely sever all ties!" Du Chen's heart hardened with a fierce resolve. "Cassian's Nano Empire, Arthur's Renault Empire, Gode's Sea Clan, Sem's Duchy... I have plenty of backup plans!"

The moment Du Chen reached the door of Steve's dormitory, a delightful fragrance suddenly assailed his nostrils. Neither strong nor faint, the scent was unique, like the subtle aroma of natural flowers. Inhaling it, his agitated mind felt considerably calmer.

Someone was hurrying towards him, a figure clad in a tight black leather outfit that accentuated her graceful curves. Her golden hair was casually scattered behind her, swaying in the wind, and the distinctively long ears of an Elf Race member protruded beyond her hair, twitching with her lithe, undulating movements. "Oh my, my little handsome boy, why the fiery face? Who provoked you?"

Du Chen glanced up and down at the newcomer, frowning. "Professor Mina, you've arrived just in time. I was about to look for you!"

Mina stepped forward and gently linked her arm with Du Chen's. "Oh dear, doesn't that mean I've just delivered myself to help you cool off? Alright, come on, let's go to Big Sister's bedroom, and Big Sister will slowly help you extinguish that fire!" Her flirtatious eyebrow raise and seductive gaze made one's heart skip a beat.

Du Chen casually shook off Mina's jade-like hand and followed behind her!

Mina turned to look at Du Chen's grim expression, then suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder and chuckled charmingly. "Little handsome boy, Big Sister specifically wore the Elf Race's secret fragrance, 'Nectar of a Hundred Blooms,' just for you today. Won't you show some respect and take a few more sniffs?"

Du Chen frowned and quickened his pace, but the subtle floral scent of the 'Nectar of a Hundred Blooms' still drifted into his nostrils with the breeze. Immediately, his mind became clear and refreshed, and the furious emotions over his Big Brother's arrest calmed down by three or four tenths.

Mina's words also entered his ears with the fragrance. "Little handsome boy, Big Sister's Nectar of a Hundred Blooms isn't just perfume; it's also a rare medicinal ingredient! Not only can it calm the mind and soothe the spirit, but it can also help you extinguish your inner fire..." She tapped Du Chen's forehead. "...and clear away excessive overthinking!"

She deeply inhaled the scent of her own golden hair, her posture lithe and exquisitely charming. "Too much overthinking and too much fire isn't good for your body! So you really should take a few more sniffs!"

"Miss 'Rose' always speaks in such a complicated manner!" Du Chen understood Mina's true meaning and said in a low voice, "Are you saying my Big Brother's matter is very complex, and if I act rashly, I might even bring great trouble upon myself? So I'd best calm down, is that right? But I don't have time to waste, nor am I in a good mood. Speak clearly! I believe Du Chen, the Divine's Divine Envoy in the mortal world, has the ability and qualifications to resolve these troubles, right?!"

"Big Sister just loves chatting with smart and handsome little guys like you!" Mina suddenly measured Du Chen against herself. "Hmm? Haven't seen you in a while, little brother, you're even taller than Big Sister, this Elf Race beauty!"

"Yes, I'm taller than you. So, can you cut down on the nonsense? I told you, I'm in a very bad mood right now!" Du Chen said unhappily.

"Alright, my Godfather, who is even taller than me, White-Robed Archbishop Mina obeys!" Mina grumbled softly, then lowered her voice and said very concisely, "Your Big Brother committed blasphemy — he killed a legitimate eldest son of a Divine Scion. And the one your Big Brother killed was named Salon, the Crown Prince of the Macallan Empire, who commanded a million-strong Beast Horde!"

Indeed, a big trouble!

Mina continued, "Six days ago was the Lanning Dowager Empress's seventieth birthday. Your Big Brother, as the legitimate eldest son of the Saint Sigurd Cain family, naturally took leave to return to Saint John City to offer his birthday felicitations! But during the birthday banquet, Steve and Salon got into an argument. That very night, screams were heard from Salon's diplomatic residence. Guards swarmed in and found your Big Brother slumped in a chair, holding a dripping longsword, while Salon was already dead... Steve was immediately arrested by the Versailles Guards. During the interrogation, he remained silent, which amounted to an admission of all charges! This very morning, news reached Battle God Isle. Dean Ricardo, in accordance with Academy Rules, expelled Steve and revoked his academic status. The Student Council immediately dispatched people to clear out his dormitory! Simultaneously, news came from McAllen: after hearing of his eldest son's death, Beast Emperor Rebadon wept for an entire day and night. Afterward, the Macallan Golden Behemoth Battle Array departed the Royal Capital, its destination unknown! However, the six major legions of the Battle Axe District, totaling eight hundred thirty thousand beastmen, have already entered a state of war preparedness!"

"Is that all the intelligence you have?" Du Chen asked, glancing sideways.

Mina spread her hands. "Only this much, so far!"

Du Chen scoffed, "The entire cause stems from my Big Brother possibly killing Salon! But, leaving aside why my Big Brother would kill the Crown Prince of Macallan, and why he would be so foolish as to kill Salon at the Dowager Empress's birthday banquet, at the diplomatic residence for foreign envoys in Saint John City... I'll just ask one very important question: my Big Brother is merely a low-level Battle Mage, excessively indulged in wine and women. Could he really take down the Beastman Crown Prince, a Seven-Star Battle God, Salon of the Saint Baton Clan?! At most, my Big Brother has the strength of a level four. Could he kill *you*, Miss Mina, who is also a Seven-Star Battle God?!"

Du Chen had personally witnessed the strength of the Beast Emperor's clan during the Battle of Auerbach Grand Canyon!

Mina's eyes widened as she looked at Du Chen, then she playfully shook her head, speaking in an official tone. "Godfather Francis, your subordinate did not personally witness the cause, process, or outcome of this murder case! Your subordinate is merely relaying the information received from intelligence personnel in Saint John City! Of course, under normal circumstances, I could easily defeat your Big Brother with one hand! But now, your subordinate can confirm one thing: Steve's silence is tantamount to admitting the charges against him. His Majesty Bargnar faces two choices — either go to war with the beastmen and protect the Saint Sigurd Cain family, or use the Saint Sigurd Cain family's blood to appease the beastmen's wrath! Currently, Bargnar has not yet made a choice! Oh, and your second brother has already been urgently recalled to Saint John City! However, due to your position in the Holy Church and the fact that you have been expelled... hehe, this matter is irrelevant to you! You won't be implicated!"

"The Saint Sigurd Cain family may be irrelevant to me, but Steve is my Big Brother!" Du Chen snorted. "What is the Holy Church's stance on this matter?"

"His Holiness the Pontiff has personally issued a Top-Secret Divine Edict. His Holiness said that the Holy Church cannot openly interfere in the internal affairs of two great powers. This matter depends on your attitude. If you don't wish to concern yourself with Steve, then the Holy Church will let them fight. If you wish to save Steve, while the Holy Church cannot openly assist you, it can provide you with the maximum covert assistance, but with a limit — the Holy Church will not help you openly confront a great power! Even if you are Du Chen, the Divine's representative in the mortal world! That is the Holy Church's stance!"

Du Chen nodded slightly. He was already very satisfied with this outcome. After all, in the Pontiff's eyes, no matter how strong Du Chen's Divine Cult might be, it was still just a minor sect with a few powerful individuals, far less important than a continental great power commanding thousands of miles of territory and a million-strong army!

Mina added, "Godfather, do you have any instructions now?"

Du Chen rubbed his nose. "Delay! Please, Holy Church, you must help stall for some time. I will rush back to Saint John City tonight!"

"Mmm, the Holy Church can exert some pressure on Bargnar to postpone his decision. We can help you delay on the Lanning side, but Beast Emperor Rebadon has a fiery temper; trying to delay him... we can only promise to do our best! Whatever you plan to do, do it quickly!"

...

What was Big Brother thinking? Why provoke the Crown Prince of Macallan for no reason?!

Du Chen was utterly baffled. He knew Steve's temper too well; he was a good-natured fellow who cared for nothing but beautiful women and his family/brothers. How could such a person cause such an enormous disaster, dragging the entire family down with him?

Moreover, the time, location, motive, and even the capability surrounding the entire murder case... all had problems. Yet, the only thing that *didn't* have a problem was — Steve's default acceptance of guilt!

"This is truly damn strange!"

Du Chen walked towards his Dormitory Number Seventeen, his brows tightly furrowed. He felt the pressure!

His goal this time was to rescue Steve, and his opponent was Beast Emperor Rebadon! This opponent couldn't be dealt with by brute force alone! His meager assets were simply insignificant before the Beast Race's million-strong army! Even sending Flaying and Deboning to assassinate the Beast Emperor and cause chaos among the beastmen would be difficult, because...

Behind the Macallan Imperial Family stood one of the Five Families of Fallen Gods, the Saint Baton Family, descendants of the Undying Death God!

"It seems this time, I'll have a direct confrontation with one of the Five Families of Fallen Gods!" Du Chen told himself. Suddenly, he noticed Mina still following closely behind him. "Professor Mina, why are you still following me?"

The Elf Race beauty blinked her large eyes and said softly, "Not only do I have to follow you now, but perhaps... I'll be yours for life!"