Chapter 310: Blocking One’s Path to Wealth is Like Taking Their Parents’ Lives!
Viktor's gaze emerged from what seemed like a cold, dark sea of terror, emanating faint rays of detachment and scrutiny.
His appearance struck the banquet hall like a bolt of lightning, causing everyone present to stare with eyes as wide as saucers.
Hearts pounded frantically as they found themselves unable to look away from him.
Similarly, when Henie caught sight of Viktor, her eyes filled with reverence and fascination.
She gazed at him dreamily, with tiny hearts seemingly dancing in her eyes.
Beside her, Lia's reaction was entirely different.
Arms crossed and lips slightly pursed, she appeared somewhat contemptuous.
"Tch, always showing off."
Erica's attention shifted from a noble who had just attempted to court her to Viktor.
"I apologize, but I'm not interested in conversation."
After politely dismissing the noble, her expression instantly transformed, her smile revealing a hint of delight.
Even the rejected noble, upon seeing Viktor, seemed to forget his recent disappointment.
Viktor's presence caused the entire banquet hall to fall silent.
Only Gwen, standing at the edge near the banquet stairs, remained cold as ice.
Her silver-gray hair cascaded down her back, matching her currently expressionless face.
Her eyes stared vacantly ahead, not even registering Viktor's sudden arrival.
Upon seeing Viktor, everyone suddenly arrived at the same conclusion.
If Aurelianne was to become empress,
Who would be her strongest supporter in the empire?
Obviously, it would be Viktor and the Kravina family.
The current prosperity of the Kravina family was common knowledge.
People understood their strength lay not in their wealth or status,
But in Viktor himself.
Even the first and second princes sought Viktor's support - why?
The reason was simple - Viktor had truly become a terrifyingly powerful mage within the empire.
Flashy tactics could never compare to the directness of raw power.
The opposing noble regarded Viktor with extreme nervousness.
He felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him, his throat constricting as he swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead and back.
Looking at Viktor holding his golden bird-headed black staff, his legs trembled slightly.
After a difficult moment gathering his courage, the noble addressed Viktor with a shaking voice:
"L-Lord Viktor."
"I merely feel that regarding the matter of the empire's heir, the decision seems somewhat hasty..."
"Is that so?"
Viktor smiled lightly, casually dispelling the tense atmosphere around him.
The air seemed to lighten considerably, and the noble's shoulders relaxed with relief.
Then, Viktor, staff in hand, walked unhurriedly forward.
The bustling crowd instinctively parted to make way for him.
Finally, he stopped at the base of the golden-lit platform.
Looking up, his gaze met with Aubrey's.
Behind him, three council members had gathered.
The black suit on Viktor's body seemed to ignite with dark flames, which instantly swirled towards his chest as if drawn there.
When the flames converged to a point, the surrounding space appeared to develop a subtle fracture.
The black flames quickly burned out, as if dispersed by an invisible hand, leaving no trace of scorching.
A three-headed human badge gleaming with mysterious light now appeared on Viktor's chest.
Only then did everyone suddenly realize.
Viktor wasn't just an imperial count.
He was also a heavyweight member of the Mage Council.
Viktor planted his staff beside him and bowed deeply to Aubrey:
"Your Majesty, I believe most people here share the same question."
"Why have you decided to let Princess Aurelianne inherit the throne?"
At these words, the expressions of the noble group all changed. Confusion and expectation instantly intertwined as they quietly concurred.
Because that was indeed what they were thinking.
Viktor had voiced the question they all wanted to ask.
Before this, no one had ever supported Aurelianne's succession to the throne.
The nobles' current agitation stemmed from their desperate desire for the emperor to revoke this thunderbolt of an announcement.
The reason was simple - if the order wasn't withdrawn,
What remained for these old power players who had backed the first and second princes?
Initially, with the two princes at odds and clear battle lines drawn, those nobles who moved between them had already chosen sides.
They waited to rush into the victor's embrace and enjoy the spoils of their gamble.
Some had even staked their family's prosperity on this grand wager.
Take the Reiser family as an example.
Although they rarely appeared in the capital due to their discord with Viktor,
If the Reiser family learned that Aurelianne was to become heir, they would likely be the first to object.
After all, they had pinned all their business ventures and fate on the first prince.
If Aurelianne truly ascended to the throne, wouldn't all their efforts be wasted?
As with the Reiser family, other families faced the same predicament - essentially all their investments would be lost.
In the end, these old power players might even lose their last shred of influence.
Even those who had hedged their bets were stunned by this sudden news.
This couldn't be right, could it?
Wasn't this pushing them into the fire?
Originally, they had preparations for both the first and second princes, so they wouldn't lose either way.
If not seeking merit as early supporters, at least whoever became emperor would remember them.
But now the heir had become Aurelianne.
Both paths were now blocked.
In truth, these nobles didn't truly care who the new emperor would be.
They only cared about their own interests.
If Aurelianne had shown proper potential, they would have been willing to invest in her too.
But unfortunately, the emperor hadn't given them such an opportunity.
The empire had never had an empress in its history, and Aurelianne had been raised like a decorative vase for many years.
Although she had progressed rapidly in magic studies, she had never achieved any notable accomplishments.
Only in recent months had she begun to show her edge.
How could this convince the nobles?
Therefore, as Viktor had asked Emperor Aubrey, he questioned again:
"What qualifies Princess Aurelianne to become emperor?"
Yes! What qualifies Princess Aurelianne!
This was what troubled these nobles the most.
The princess hadn't been groomed from childhood, and she was only in her teens - what did she know about governing?
Running an empire was no child's play!
Viktor suddenly appeared so magnificent in these nobles' eyes, they were immensely grateful.
They even felt Viktor had become their champion, asking Aubrey the question they wanted to ask but didn't dare to.
He was truly their hero!
However, unfortunately,
They had forgotten one crucial fact.
That Viktor had always stood firmly on Aurelianne's side.
So, Aubrey didn't answer everyone's question.
Even Aurelianne just smiled, standing behind Aubrey.
She maintained her dignified appearance, without any response.
Only Viktor suddenly turned around to face the countless nobles present.
"So, you want a reason?"
The nobles immediately fell silent.
They knew that Aubrey's actions demonstrated his unwavering support for Aurelianne.
The first and second princes had likely already lost their right to compete for the throne.
"Very well, I'll give you a reason."
Dense magical power suddenly overflowed from beneath Viktor's feet, and complex magical arrays immediately appeared on the ground.
The patterns of this array writhed like living beings, each rune flashing with brilliant light.
As the intense magical aura spread, it was as if a dark abyss had suddenly opened, engulfing everyone present.
The banquet hall seemed to be torn apart, the surroundings completely transformed into intense darkness.
But this darkness didn't last long, it began to surge, the surrounding darkness like rolling ink, gradually revealing the grandeur of the universe.
Endless stars and swirling nebulae - in this vast cosmos, the nobles seemed to be immersed within it.
The surrounding chairs appeared to float in space.
Countless nobles looked around bewildered at being drawn into this illusory world, examining their surroundings.
Even looking at their own bodies, trying to determine if their location was real.
One noble pointed to the sky in shock, crying out.
"What, what is that!?"
Everyone looked up at his cry, and suddenly froze.
The sky was similarly filled with celestial spheres.
But uniquely, there was a huge black scale rapidly swinging from side to side in the high heavens.
As if weighing something.
Some well-informed noble mages suddenly exclaimed:
"Could this be... the legendary Scales of the Goddess of Justice?"
"What? The Scales of the Goddess of Justice?"
"The Mage Council and the Goddess of Justice... they're truly connected?"
But then, the scales slowly stopped swinging, balanced and floating in the dark depths.
Several streams of black light gradually converged, bursting forth from above the scales like divine light of judgment, shining upon some of the nobles.
They seemed to receive some kind of summons, becoming extremely agitated, their eyes bloodshot, even their breathing becoming rapid.
Suddenly, those nobles illuminated by the divine light began showing abnormalities. Their bodies rapidly shriveled as if losing moisture, their entire forms twisting to the extreme.
Their bodies began to shake slightly, as if barely able to suppress something within.
The nobles who witnessed this were horrified, crying out:
"Baron Lisser, what's happening to you?"
"Viscount Zucci, your body..."
However, upon seeing this scene,
Whether it was Aubrey on the golden platform,
Or the four council members present,
None of them showed much reaction.
As if everything was completely within expectations.
This carefully orchestrated display was laid out before everyone else.
Duke Levi watched this scene with a smile.
Similarly, he glanced at Gwen, whose eyes remained hollow and cold, as if nothing had happened.
He calmly said to Baron Beck beside him, who was already wide-eyed with shock.
"See, I told you."
"Just wait a while, something was bound to happen."
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