Yes, Arges, I'm Setting You Up!

Deboning's long, cold eyes flicked towards the gate guards. With a subtle wave of his hand, the three-hundred-strong Durkes City Defense Army behind him marched in synchronized steps, surging through the camp gates!

"What's the meaning of this? Step back, immediately! This is your final warning!"

The guards stationed at the camp gate were no pushovers either. The millennium-old Sigurd Heavy Main Legion, the honor of Lanning's First Soldiers, forbade them from retreating. The camp warriors immediately brandished their long spears, stepping forward with shouts.

If the Sigurd Legion wasn't to be trifled with, then was the Durkes City Defense Army? The Battle of Star River had long since forged their formidable reputation in the military circles of the Three Continents! "Clear the way! Clear the way immediately! This is your final warning!"

A clangor of steel rang out as the Sigurd Legion soldiers' spears intertwined with the Durkes City Defense Army's shields and scimitars. It was merely a feinted clash, yet no one doubted that blood would be spilled in the next moment! Deboning's hand was already resting on the blade of his primordial Blade of Vanishing Moon's Deadwater.

Du Chen watched it all with cold indifference, showing no intention of stopping it. He disdained to bicker with common soldiers; if anyone was to blame, it was these soldiers for their unwavering loyalty to Arges!

How many years had it been? It seemed ever since Du Chen first laid eyes on Arges's cold gaze after his reincarnation, their every encounter had been marked by arguments, conflicts, and even scheming against each other, each wishing the other's demise!

In the past, Du Chen might have still wanted to ask, "Arges, where exactly did I offend you? Why drag the next generation into your affairs with Phil?" But now, he was too lazy to ask. Since neither of them found the other agreeable, they might as well maintain that animosity to the end! Waving a hand, Du Chen coldly commanded, "Brook, clear the path!"

A sharp glint flashed in Deboning's eyes. Layers of black mist suddenly appeared before him, unfolding like water ripples. With a "crackle" of clashing metal, he effortlessly shattered the spears of the vanguard Sigurd Legion soldiers. Then, the black mist swirled, forcefully flinging away the soldiers who were confronting the City Defense Army.

Du Chen strode with head held high along the cleared path, entering the camp!

The camp immediately erupted in an uproar. "Alarm! All units, prepare for battle!" Large numbers of soldiers surged from their barracks, blocking Du Chen's path forward.

Du Chen let out a cold laugh. "What? You dare to obstruct the Grand Duke of Lanning, an Imperial General? What law grants you such prerogative!?"

Without pausing his steps, the soldiers, stunned, actually retreated a pace. Indeed, Francis's current official rank was in no way inferior to Arges's. If he forced his way into the camp, he might simply pay a fine for his transgression. But the crime of threatening a Grand Duke was enough to condemn these ordinary soldiers and their entire clans!

Du Chen continued forward, stating coldly, "The Grand Pontiff and Divine Envoy of Du Chen's Divine Cult have arrived. Not only did Arges fail to greet them personally, he even ordered soldiers to block their path. It seems you truly intend to commit blasphemy!"

The soldiers hastily retreated several large steps. None could decide what to do, or rather, none dared to bear the charge of blasphemy!

Du Chen pressed the soldiers to retreat further. "How many heads do you have to dare obstruct a Godfather-level official of the Second Holy Alliance? Do you intend to impede the grand endeavor against the Fiendkind? Are you, perhaps, colluding with the Fiendkind?"

No one dared to wear such a damning accusation. The soldiers were terrified, but with Military Edicts binding them, no one knew what to do!

Chaos erupted at the camp gate!

Just then, Arges and Charles strode out from the central army tent, both with grim expressions. "Stand down!" The soldiers, as if granted a great amnesty, all let out sighs of relief and dispersed.

The vast camp fell silent. Tens of thousands of Sigurd Legion soldiers watched the father and son pair in stunned silence. The discord between the father and son of the Saint Sigurd Cain Estate was no longer a secret, known almost throughout the world. People couldn't comprehend it: Arges's animosity towards Francis was tantamount to severing the Saint Sigurd Cain family's largest limb. Just imagine, if the father and son were harmonious, the Saint Sigurd Cain family would have Charles commanding the Sigurd Legion in the north, the peerless God-General Dud overseeing the Durkes City Defense Army in the south, and millennia of connections within the Imperial Capital. How prosperous would they be? And Francis's animosity towards Arges was an indelible stain on his otherwise perfect reputation! Together, they benefited; separated, they both suffered. But...

How had two men who were not foolish reached this point?

Who could say? All that could be said was that they were not truly cold-blooded politicians yet, but rather individuals with emotions and feelings.

Arges approached Du Chen, his hand resting on his saber. "Francis, what crime have you committed by forcefully entering my Sigurd military camp?"

Du Chen countered, "Arges, what crime have you committed by demanding a Holy Alliance official report at the gate before entering!?"

"I am the Deputy Chief of the Imperial High Command; what's wrong with ordering you, a Three-Star General, to report at the gate before entry!?"

"I am a Divine Envoy of Du Chen's Divine Cult. Even when meeting the Pontiff, I don't need to report at the gate. You, what right do you have to obstruct me!?" Watching Arges's face darken with a cold sneer, Du Chen curled his lip. "Arges, it seems we can't come to an agreement! Let me tell you plainly, someone has reported you for colluding with the Fiendkind. I've come here under the Pontiff's Divine Edict to investigate, and your persistent obstruction makes it seem like you have a guilty conscience..."

"Francis, how dare you falsely accuse—" Arges's words were choked back as Du Chen slowly produced the Golden Token of Slaughter. Arges naturally knew what this item was! The Second Holy Alliance had ordered The Grand Purge of Fiendkind spies, and the authority to execute was held by five mysterious individuals, whose identities had yet to be revealed. He never imagined... Francis was one of them!

Seeing Arges's crestfallen expression, Du Chen felt an indescribable exhilaration. Why did he feel this way? Hmph, three years. How many things had transpired between him and Arges in these three years, how much resentment had been sown? Who could even count? Du Chen narrowed his eyes, offering a faint smile. "Dissatisfied? If you are, I can offer you a solution befitting nobles—a fair duel!" He declared with righteous indignation, as if taking pity on the poor soul before him, granting him a death that wouldn't be too humiliating!

Arges opened his mouth, then closed it again. This bastard had defeated Sea Emperor Thanes half a month ago; to duel him now? Wouldn't that be seeking death?

Arges could become a renowned general; he might be impulsive at times, but he was certainly no fool!

But the two had started with cold hostility, and their words had escalated to such a point that Arges truly had no way to back down. He was about to bite the bullet and...

Charles suddenly stepped forward and said, "Francis, let's set aside the investigation for now. We've come with His Majesty Bargnar's royal edict. Please receive the decree first!"

Du Chen looked at Arges and offered a faint smile. "You have a good son. Charles has changed quite a bit in the past two years; he knows how to smooth things over now!" As Arges's face flushed crimson, Du Chen bowed and said, "The Grand Duke of Durkus receives the royal edict!"

Charles repeatedly shot glances at his father, then ordered someone to retrieve a decree from the central army tent. Just as he was about to read it, a sudden shiver ran down his spine. He subtly glanced over, realizing that at some point, Deboning's chilling gaze had fixed on his neck! Looking back, Du Chen was still bowing, assuming the posture of receiving a royal edict...

Charles reacted swiftly, forcing a laugh. "We're all family, and in our own camp, there's no need for such formality, Third Brother. Please rise..."

Du Chen took the imperial decree with his head held high, and only then did the shiver that had seized Charles disappear. He let out a dry chuckle. "I'll be direct. This time, the Pontiff has ordered Durkes City to be designated a war zone on par with Lanning, which has greatly displeased His Majesty Bargnar. He cannot change the Holy Alliance's resolution, but he wishes to invite your heir, Alex, to reside in the Imperial Capital for a period..."

Du Chen raised an eyebrow and smiled. "So, His Majesty wishes to take my son as a hostage to prevent my independence, is that it?"

Charles forced a laugh. "It's unavoidable. Durkes City has subtly grown beyond the Empire's control. His Majesty doesn't wish to see the realm divided, so he can only resort to minor measures!" He turned, pointing to the camp of tens of thousands of soldiers, and said with a guilty conscience, "You and I are brothers, and I won't threaten you. But His Majesty has commanded: for every day Alex does not enter the Imperial Capital, these seventy thousand troops will remain stationed on your border. To put it bluntly, you have only three paths: surrender a hostage, be monitored by the army, or..." He didn't voice the third path; it was not something a subject should say!

Du Chen nodded. Bargnar's actions were beyond reproach; if he didn't act this way, he wouldn't be fit to sit on the throne of King Lanning!

After all, no emperor would stand by and watch his territory tend towards fragmentation!

On this point, Du Chen was quite open-minded, harboring little resentment towards Bargnar. He said, "I will not surrender Alex. You may station your troops here for as long as you wish, to put His Majesty's mind at ease! However, I do not wish to see your garrison disturbing my people!"

Charles hastily assured him, "Absolutely, the Sigurd Legion's Military Discipline is unequivocally the strictest!"

After speaking, Charles let out a long breath. He hadn't expected Francis to brush aside Bargnar's forceful coercion with just a casual remark. This was good; as long as it didn't lead to war, everything would be manageable... He just hoped his father wouldn't provoke him further. They all just wanted to send this plague god away quickly and remain safe!

But while Arges was now quiet, Du Chen cast a sidelong glance at him. "Marshal, I believe it's time we discussed your dealings with the Fiendkind, wouldn't you agree?"

Charles felt his scalp tingle. Ancestor Sigurd, was Francis never going to stop? He sighed, looking at his father. Francis had pointed the spearhead directly at his father; he, the peacemaker, could no longer mediate...

Arges sneered, "What Fiendkind business? Francis, now that you've gained power, if you want to mess with me, just say so. Do you think I, Arges, am afraid of you!?"

*Clap, clap!*

Du Chen clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. With wide eyes, he said, "Marshal, please don't falsely accuse me. I have conclusive evidence, and I am acting under His Holiness the Pontiff's Divine Edict! Brook, take men to seize and catalog all documents and personal attendants around Arges. I will begin my investigation of Arges immediately! Remember, *everything* suspicious!"

Arges retorted furiously, "Francis, it seems you intend to openly fabricate evidence to frame me!" He slowly drew his saber. "You can kill me, you can oppose me, but you have no right to falsely accuse a descendant of God Sigurd! Damn it, have you forgotten who your ancestor is? You actually accuse a descendant of God Sigurd of colluding with the Fiendkind, who killed our ancestors, bringing shame upon our forebears! You, you... ungrateful wretch who forgets your roots!"

He fiercely swung his saber. "Sigurd Legion, heed my command! Kill this bastard who blasphemes our ancestral might!"

The Sigurd Legion soldiers paused for a moment, but years of loyalty to their Marshal quickly prompted them to form a battle array. Arges snapped, "Francis, today I will give you, this wicked son, an unforgettable lesson!"

Charles cried out in alarm, "Stand down, all of you! Father, have you gone mad? What you're doing is openly defying the Holy Alliance!"

Du Chen looked innocently at the soldiers, who were at a loss under the commands of both the Marshal and the Junior Marshal, and spread his hands. "Marshal, I am merely executing the resolutions of the Holy Alliance! Please don't blame me; everything is for the grand cause against the Fiendkind! You and I do have personal grievances, fine, but after I've seized and cataloged your affairs, I won't interfere, won't handing you over to the Papal Curia for trial suffice? Why must you drag these soldiers into betraying all of humanity!?"

The barrage of accusations practically made the soldiers dizzy. The authority of the Golden Token of Slaughter was indeed captivating.

Arges's face contorted with rage, and he could only mutter curses, "Wicked son, wicked son!"

Du Chen waved a dismissive hand. "Your Excellency, Marshal, please mind your words. I am no longer a man of the Saint Sigurd Cain Estate!"

"But you're still a damn Saint Sigurd by name!" Arges's fury shattered his reason in that moment. "Our Ancestor's Mausoleum is just twenty *li* away (roughly 10 kilometers)! You, you actually dare to accuse a Divine Scion of God Sigurd here... Soldiers, act! You are not betraying humanity; you are helping me—the Saint Sigurd Family Head—to cleanse a bastard son, a Divine Scion of Sigurd who betrays his ancestors!"

"Divine Scion? Hmph!" Du Chen sneered coldly in his heart, but on his face, he feigned injury. "I am Du Chen's Divine Envoy, not merely a descendant of Radiant God Sigurd, Your Excellency, Marshal. Surely what you're saying is a bit off, isn't it? If you want to use these soldiers, just say so directly, why must you... hmm?"

His innocent expression enraged Arges, who exploded in fury, pointing his saber at Du Chen. "Good, good, good! You don't even acknowledge your ancestors! I'll risk it all then. Come, follow me to the Ancestral Mausoleum; I will personally strike you from the family register!"

In Arges's enraged mind, the only shred of reason remaining was...

...he absolutely could not allow this beast to do anything that would dishonor their ancestors. Damn it, a descendant of God Sigurd accusing another descendant of colluding with the Fiendkind who killed their ancestors – such a thing could practically make the ancestors rise from their graves in anger! So be it. Francis wasn't going to let him go anyway, so he'd first expel Francis from the Sigurd Divine Register, preventing him from committing acts that would make all Saint Sigurd folk unable to hold their heads high! If he had to die, he would die a hero!

At this moment, Arges was still preoccupied with his family's reputation. Du Chen, however, glanced at the tens of thousands of troops and thought, *Fine, this will completely sever my ties with Arges. In the future... Hmph hmph.* He then feigned indignation, "Oh, wonderful! Arges, to cover up your collusion with the Fiendkind, you're actually resorting to threatening me by revoking my Divine Scion status? Very well, I'll go. To cleanse humanity of Fiendkind spies, I have no regrets!"

With that, Du Chen and Deboning rose and flew towards the Ancestral Mausoleum. Du Chen had visited Sigurd's tomb once before; it was in Rick Province, by the Newin River, just over twenty *li* away. Such a short distance was but a few minutes' journey for High-level Battle Gods.

Arges, pulling Charles, followed closely behind. The group soon arrived at Sigurd's Mausoleum, which spanned over ten *li*.

Although Arges was seething with rage, he hadn't forgotten his etiquette. He landed at the mausoleum's entrance, kowtowed deeply to the ancestral statue in the center, then signaled the vigil-keeping knights to open the main gate before striding inside.

Over the years, Sigurd's Ancestral Mausoleum had interred many martyrs of the Saint Sigurd Cain family, housing well over a thousand smaller tombs within. The largest and most central mausoleum naturally belonged to Sigurd. The statue, viewed up close, stood over thirty meters tall, a full-body sculpture of Sigurd himself. Beneath it lay a massive Memorial Stele serving as its pedestal, and the main entrance to the mausoleum was carved into this stele, which depicted Sigurd's accomplishments.

Arges approached the statue and exclaimed angrily, "Ancestor, in a thousand years, this is the fourth time your descendants have expelled an unfilial progeny who betrayed your glory! And once again, you are angered, for which Arges is deeply ashamed!"

With that, he prostrated himself, performing a solemn bow!

Du Chen, however, adopted a look of sorrowful indignation. "Ancestor, for the sake of humanity, Francis can only bid farewell to your glory today!" As he spoke, he stepped forward, bowed, and kowtowed at the foot of the statue, which was also the very center of the mausoleum's entrance.

"Francis, before the Ancestor..." Arges was about to execute the family law to expel him from the lineage when he suddenly noticed Du Chen's expression. Du Chen was staring at the mausoleum's entrance with an unusual intensity. Then, Du Chen, halfway through his bow, stood up, walked over, knocked on the grand door, and then ran his hands along the door seams.

Arges flew into a rage. "Francis, what are you doing? Guards! Seize this scoundrel who disturbs the Ancestor's rest!"

The Holy Flame Knights were also incensed. They weren't privy to Du Chen and Arges's past grievances, but for Du Chen to be knocking and tapping at the ancestral tomb—wasn't that going too far? This was his own ancestral tomb!

The knights immediately surrounded him! "Francis, what are you trying to do?"

Du Chen, however, waved a hand solemnly. "Silence, damn it! Has anyone entered Ancestor Sigurd's tomb recently? No one? Then why do the lock and the main gate appear to have been forced open?"