Chapter 778: Chapter 26 Royal Family Scandal (5)

Gongsun Ce was utterly baffled by this question, “I’ve seen it, the richness of your people’s imagination astounds me.”

King Morton’s amorous escapades were so varied and exciting that even Gongsun Ce, a young man with progressive thoughts, marveled at them. In these stories, the King displayed extraordinary vigor and a robust desire that had nothing to do with his age. He could battle a female thief in his youth as well as frolic with fairies in the forest in his old age, which led Gongsun Ce to wonder how much of this was rooted in the chaste fantasies of the working people.

With a sneer, Lorenris said, “How do you know it’s fabricated?”

“…Ah?”

Lorenris waved his hand, and pages of parchment flew up from a pile of documents. Gongsun Ce caught glimpses of their contents: King Morton making love with long-haired women, running with ladies in the forest…

Lorenris pinched one of the pages, tapping the exposed illustration with his fingertip, “Some parts of these vulgar stories can even be traced back eighteen hundred years, to the era when King Morton was still alive. Quite a few of the erotic tales that the eastern slums delight in have real-life counterparts. King Morton was a lustful specter!”

“Well, his vitality must have been quite good…” Gongsun Ce said with a strange expression.

The old Mage glared at him, “Is that the only thought you have?”

“What, you show me something so indecent and expect me to give you an elegant reply?” Gongsun Ce flicked a playing card with a red heart K on the table, pointed at the king’s head depicted on it, and said, “Then he’s a very typical feudal monarch, eh? He had the side of a heroic combatant who founded a nation, and also that of a mortal indulging in carnal pleasures. At most, one could comment ‘strong desires, an old man’s heart never ages.’ What more could be said?”

“You’ve got the point,” the old Mage said quietly, “King Morton was a man of strong desires… Naturally, as the founding monarch and the most talented Forging Master ever, he would have had an intense lust for power. But this is unlike the Holy King we imagine; the mythical Morton is nothing like that.”

In Morton’s founding myth, King Morton was a saintly and enlightened ruler, unlike normal humans. He not only brought down the giant dragon but also voluntarily relinquished the power he held afterward. He established a balance of power between the Royal Family, Mages, and Knights, and even entrusted the Holy Sword, forged with great effort, to the most pure-hearted Knight— his very own Divine Weapon.

Indeed, this was hard to explain, Gongsun Ce thought. After all, in an era without written laws, which ruler would willingly give up power?

It’s not like his home, the Yong Guang Empire, where every ruler seemed to be visionary, with the Emperor releasing an edict every few decades, saying, “I plan to reform the system, decentralize power, make governance transparent, and increase court efficiency. It’s best to end the feudal dynasty and switch to a democratic republic promptly. My ministers, please discuss and suggest any good strategies.” A bunch of ministers with bushy eyebrows and beards would cry on the court, saying, “Your Majesty, the state cannot go a day without a sovereign; fear of losing the great unity and destabilizing the nation. If you don’t retract your decree, your loyal minister will bash his head against a column!” Eventually, the Emperor could only reluctantly compromise, “Fine, let’s start with a small reform, and we’ll discuss the major changes later.”

The disinterest of Emperor Yong Guang in power was world-famous, as was the patriotic loyalty of Minister Yong Guang. But other countries didn’t exhibit such…inhuman behavior. To say that King Morton, a debauchee, also considered matters a thousand years into the future was indeed a bit unrealistic.

“The Holy Sword to slay the dragon is capable of repelling the monarch’s Evil Dragon. If King Morton personally forged such a Divine Weapon, why would he specifically entrust its stewardship to the Knights? It should have been a treasure passed down through the Royal Family, to be used for royal authority generation after generation.”

Lorenris said somberly, “Let me ask you, Helaisen. Would a man who displays such greed and unrestraint in his private life, a man with such a voracious desire, willingly let go of power? Power that should have been controlled by his descendants, ensuring his family’s glory forever?”

“If it were me, I would,” Gongsun Ce intentionally argued.

“One more interruption, and out you go!” Lorenris slammed the parchment on the table, roaring. Furiously taking a seat, he sat in silence until Alandia spoke up.

“You suspect that King Morton was forced to relinquish power.”

“I’m certain,” Lorenris said expressionlessly, “Look at the prerequisites for wielding the Final Sword… One must fulfill the following oaths to qualify for possession of the Final Sword; these are the rigid requirements of the Heart Phase Weapon.”

Lorenris gestured again, and a stone tile on the workshop floor shifted aside automatically, an ancient stone platform rose slowly from underneath. The platform was about 4 meters long and 3 meters wide; at its center was a sharp groove that looked as if it could perfectly accommodate Orianna’s giant sword.

In front of the stone platform were lines of ancient text. Alandia looked carefully, reading the oath known to every Starlight Knight:

[Those of noble character may bear this sword]

[Those pure and kind may bear this sword]

[Those without authority may bear this sword]

[Those without vain titles may bear this sword]

[Those who fulfill the above four oaths are the current Seventh Knight, master of the Final Sword. In times of national crisis, when the Seventh Knight no longer has the strength to fight, the Final Sword will promptly pass to the other Starlight Knights. All Knights will battle for their country until the final drop of blood falls on the battlefield]