Chapter 79: The Lion Opens His Mouth
Warwick wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This is all a misunderstanding! Elder Ju didn't mean it!"
Dai Pojun didn't respond but turned to look at Davis, who immediately understood—it was his cue to take over.
"Hehe, Bishop Warwick, what you said is truly amusing. You kill so many people in my Star Luo Empire, and now you want to brush it off as a 'misunderstanding'? I'm afraid it won't be that easy.
If everyone acted as shamelessly as you, then tomorrow I'll go to Spirit City, kill a few hundred of your soul masters, and call it a misunderstanding too.
Would you accept that? If you would, then fine—we'll release Ju Douluo now and even send troops to your borders to stage a proper 'misunderstanding.'"
"This…"
Warwick was speechless. If this turned into a war between the Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire, he would be doomed no matter the outcome.
If Star Luo won, Dai Pojun would surely use him as a scapegoat and execute him; and if Spirit Hall won, knowing Bibi Dong's personality, she'd still use him to take the blame and have him executed.
Once war broke out, he'd be a dead man either way.
Before he could say anything, Davis continued, "And under interrogation last night, Ju Douluo confessed to everything."
"What? He… confessed to everything?"
Warwick's eyes widened in shock. Did Elder Ju already admit to the assassination attempt on Yang Wudi? That's too careless!
"That's right! Ju and Ghost Douluo came to Star Luo City to drink. At first, this was fine—our empire even welcomed them.
But who would've thought they'd go mad after drinking, kill so many of our soldiers, and even fight my father in public?
Can such actions be tolerated? Perhaps an uncle could tolerate it, but an aunt definitely could not!
Ju Douluo's actions have crossed the Star Luo Empire's bottom line. If he is not publicly executed, how can we calm public outrage?"
"Ah? They caused all this just from being drunk…?"
Warwick was momentarily stunned. But as someone with over sixty years of experience, he quickly understood.
Elder Ju must've fabricated a drunken excuse to cover up his true purpose. After all, with his level of soul power, he could sober up at will.
Warwick couldn't help but admire Yue Guan's quick thinking—pretending to be drunk was a clever way to conceal their real mission. Even if it was a weak excuse, it created room for negotiation.
Seeing Warwick's thoughtful silence, Davis sneered inwardly, then deliberately shifted his tone:
"Oh? What's wrong? Am I not telling the truth? Or perhaps Bishop Warwick knows something more?
Could it be that Ju and Ghost Douluo weren't drunk—but deliberately came to assassinate our ministers, or even my father, the Emperor?"
Swish!
As soon as those words were spoken, the court fell into dead silence. All eyes turned to Warwick. If this was merely a drunken rampage, then perhaps Ju Douluo could be spared.
But if it was a premeditated assassination of high-ranking officials—or the Emperor himself—then that would be treason of the highest order. Not only would Ju Douluo have to die, but the Star Luo Empire would certainly demand further retribution.
"Hmph. If that's the case, then both Ju and Ghost Douluo must be executed—along with their entire clans!
Bishop Warwick, I ask that you return to Spirit Hall and inform the Pope that Ju and Ghost Douluo attempted to assassinate our Emperor. According to the law, their nine generations of kin must be executed. We expect Spirit Hall to hand them over.
And speaking of the Pope—she is, after all, their superior. Is it possible she was the one who ordered the assassination of my father?"
"No, no, no! Absolutely not! This was entirely Elder Ju and Elder Ghost getting drunk and causing trouble!"
Before Davis could continue, Warwick hurriedly interrupted and denied everything. If things escalated any further, war would be unavoidable—and that was the last thing anyone wanted.
"I will personally report this to Her Holiness, and she will certainly discipline the two Elders to prevent such an incident from happening again.
However, Elder Ju is still one of Spirit Hall's esteemed elders, and the close partner of Elder Ghost. He is deeply valued by Her Holiness.
If he were to die, the upper ranks of Spirit Hall would surely be enraged—and war could break out.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the three upper sects are already watching closely. A war between us now would only benefit them.
For the lives lost in the Star Luo Empire, the Spirit Hall is willing to offer compensation. I ask that Your Majesty and Your Highness show mercy and spare Elder Ju's life."
Davis nodded slightly—his aim was achieved. Now that he knew Yue Guan's soul power could be absorbed to aid cultivation, he had no plans to execute him. Keeping him alive as a "soul power battery" was far more valuable.
"Bishop Warwick, your words are quite sincere. Indeed, neither of us desires war. Since Spirit Hall is willing to offer compensation, allow me to state my terms."
Seeing that there was room for negotiation, Warwick quickly replied, "Please speak, Your Highness."
"I want three ten-thousand-year soul bones—one of them must be a skull, and another must be a torso bone. Don't try to fool me with four limb bones.
Additionally, I want 30 million gold soul coins as compensation for the destruction of the Alchemist Association and the loss of our precious medicinal herbs.
Elder Ju's flames burned down what we worked so hard to build. This cannot be overlooked. This is my bottom line."
"Ah—this…" Warwick's expression darkened. "Your Highness, isn't that asking a bit much?"
Thirty million gold soul coins, while painful, was manageable for the Spirit Hall. But three ten-thousand-year soul bones—especially a skull and a torso bone—was a different matter.
Even the Spirit Hall, with all its resources, did not have many soul bones of that level. After all, even Elder Ju himself didn't have one.
"Oh? The Bishop finds this embarrassing?" Davis chuckled. "Then let me adjust. I now want four ten-thousand-year soul bones and 40 million gold soul coins."
"Your Highness! You—"
Before Warwick could argue, Davis raised a hand to stop him.
"Say one more word, and I'll raise my demands again. I'm not like others—where most people compromise and lower their bottom line, I go the opposite direction.
The more you protest, the higher my demands will go. I suggest you reorganize your words."
"This… This is too important a matter. I cannot make this decision alone. How about this: give me some time to consult with Her Holiness the Pope, and we'll respond accordingly?"
"No problem," Davis agreed, then added coldly, "But I'm giving you one month. If I don't see the soul bones and gold soul coins within that time…
Then I will make sure the entire continent witnesses the public execution of Ju Douluo with their own eyes!"
By then, Dai Pojun was expected to break through to level 90, and Dai Tianxing might even reach level 92. They would no longer fear the Spirit Hall.
"Yes, yes! I understand!"
After that, Bishop Warwick left the palace in disgrace, then immediately set off for Spirit City to deliver Davis's demands to Bibi Dong.
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(End of this chapter)