Chapter 338: The Hero, Standing Atop a Nuclear Bomb?
From Wadsworth’s words, Qin Chu could tell he was delusional, or at least mentally unstable.
But his instability was… unique.
He still held absolute control over the Auville Empire, fully aware of everything happening within the Imperial City.
Augustus’s meeting with Saint Monique.
His sons’ interactions with the nobles.
His consorts’ infidelities…
Nothing escaped his notice.
As expected of the Emperor. But he seemed to interpret everything as a plot against his life.
His paranoia was severe.
But in that case, he should know about Qin Chu’s own meeting with Saint Monique, even the timing of his arrival and departure.
He should be suspicious of Qin Chu. But he wasn’t. He seemed to see Qin Chu as his only confidant.
Why?
Emperors were naturally suspicious, even of their own children, wives, and ministers. They rarely truly trusted anyone.
But Wadsworth’s paranoia seemed excessive.
Was it simply because Qin Chu was an outsider?
It couldn’t be that simple.
Qin Chu remained silent, pondering the matter. After a few seconds, he finally spoke: “Brother, I also met with Saint Monique. Don’t you think I might be plotting against you too?”
He decided on a direct approach. Subtlety wouldn’t work with Wadsworth in his current state.
Wadsworth froze, as if stunned by his words. After a few seconds, he burst into laughter, his usual boisterous self returning, slapping Qin Chu on the back as if he had heard the funniest joke, tears streaming down his face.
“Brother Qin, what nonsense are you spouting?”
“You’re my best friend! You would never betray me! Even if my own brothers, my own children, wanted to harm me, you wouldn’t!”
His tone was filled with absolute certainty, as if he believed Qin Chu’s loyalty was unwavering.
Where did this inexplicable trust come from?
Was it because Qin Chu had also been betrayed and killed in the first loop? A shared sense of victimhood?
But Wadsworth didn’t know about the first loop. He had been one of the perpetrators.
Qin Chu felt a growing unease.
Wadsworth’s demeanor didn’t seem like an act. If it was, his acting skills were truly remarkable.
“So many people want me dead, brother. What should I do?” he asked, his hand running through his hair, a flicker of killing intent in his bloodshot eyes: “Should I… eliminate them all?”
Karsus, corrupted by an Evil God, had killed indiscriminately.
Wadsworth, consumed by paranoia, wanted to preemptively eliminate all potential threats.
While their motivations were different, the result was the same.
Qin Chu took a deep breath, then shrugged: “What does that have to do with me? This is your harem, your ministers, your Empire.”
“I can’t handle them all alone! Don’t worry, you’ll be rewarded handsomely,” Wadsworth said quickly.
Everyone wanted him dead. Only Qin Chu could be trusted.
Qin Chu, lacking experience in such matters, could only offer vague advice: “You have an intelligence network, don’t you, brother?”
“Yes, a small but efficient one.”
“Then expand it. Create something like the Eastern Depot.”
“Recruit everyone: guards, maids, nuns, even merchants and commoners. They can all be your eyes and ears.”
Wadsworth frowned: “Maids, merchants, commoners? They can be intelligence agents?”
Qin Chu rubbed his forehead: “For example, the maids serving your consorts. They might not be powerful, but they know everything their mistresses do. They can report to you directly. Any infidelity, any plots against you, any signs of rebellion… you’ll know instantly.”
“And they’re less likely to arouse suspicion.”
“And you don’t need to be so paranoid, suspecting everyone. Wait for concrete evidence before acting. I heard your children are terrified of you.”
Wadsworth only heard the first part.
I see.
As expected of the Hero from another world.
He knows so much.
He did have a small, elite intelligence network, but it wasn’t large enough. But according to Qin Chu, anyone could be an informant.
And while they might not be powerful, they could still gather valuable information. Especially the maids serving the consorts, princes, and nobles…
If he could create such a network, the entire Imperial City, no, the entire Empire, would be under his complete control.
He would know of any plots against him instantly.
He burst into laughter: “Brother Qin, I understand.”
“Thank you! Ask for anything, and I’ll grant it!” he said, thumping his chest.
“If possible, I would like to visit the Royal Library,” Qin Chu said, smiling.
“The Royal Library?” Wadsworth looked puzzled: “What’s so interesting about that place? What are you looking for?”
“Nothing much. Just some information about earthquakes.”
“Earthquakes?” Wadsworth scratched his head: “You’re also curious about the earthquakes that occur every nine years in the Imperial City?”
Qin Chu’s eyes narrowed. He had noticed something. The earthquakes occurred in the Imperial City itself, not just as aftershocks from the Kasidar Truro Forest earthquakes.
The information the royal family possessed was clearly different from the publicly known information.
Could there be something similar to the heart in Kasidar Truro Forest hidden within the Imperial City as well?
A chill ran down his spine. He felt as if he were sitting on a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
Wadsworth continued: “You can visit the Royal Library anytime. That’s hardly a reward.”
“How about this? I’ll give you this as a gift.”
He smiled mysteriously, then took a glass vial from his pocket and handed it to Qin Chu.
The vial contained a large drop of crimson liquid… blood… no, it was blood.
While the vial was sealed, Qin Chu could smell the blood, the droplet glowing with a strange light, casting a crimson hue over the room.
Seeing the blood, Qin Chu’s eyes widened, a chilling fear gripping him. Even Anthea and Shaye, within his mind, reacted strongly, their auras flickering.
The immense power contained within the single drop of blood was undeniable.
No one had expected Wadsworth to produce such a thing. Qin Chu’s scalp tingled.
And what frightened him most was the strange, sinister aura emanating from it.
The blood seemed… alive, even pulsating slightly.
His stomach churned.
He almost vomited.
But to Wadsworth, it was a precious treasure, his gaze filled with a feverish obsession, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
It was a valuable item, but he was willing to share it with his best friend.
In that moment, Qin Chu understood.
The strange blood, Wadsworth’s erratic behavior, the giant heart in Kasidar Truro Forest, the earthquakes that occurred every nine years in both the forest and the Imperial City…
Within the Imperial City… no, not just the city, but within the palace itself, another fragment of an Evil God was hidden.
Wadsworth’s condition was the result of being corrupted by its power.
Even someone as strong as him couldn’t resist it.
There were only eight Evil Gods. Seven were still trapped in the Void. The only one who had been defeated and dismembered was the Eighth, the most powerful.
The thought of the Eighth Evil God’s remains beneath his feet made Qin Chu’s scalp tingle. He was literally standing on a time bomb.
Wadsworth, oblivious to his shock, smiled, his voice hollow and distant, almost inhuman: “Brother Qin… this is a treasure.”
“Here, for you.”
“Drink it.”
His voice grew more and more insistent, his eyes bulging slightly from their sockets.
He licked his cracked lips, his breathing growing heavier, his demeanor increasingly agitated.
“Drink it! Why aren’t you drinking it?”
“Drink it!”
Suddenly, Qin Chu noticed strange bulges beneath Wadsworth’s clothes, like snakes writhing beneath his skin.
Chapter 339: There’s No Saving Him. Just Wait for Death! (4)
“Drink it! Why aren’t you drinking it?”
“Drink it!”
Wadsworth seemed to have forgotten about their “friendship,” fixated on making Qin Chu drink the blood.
Perhaps it was because he considered Qin Chu his best friend that he was so insistent. This was a precious treasure, something he wouldn’t normally share.
Qin Chu’s hesitation made him increasingly agitated. Did Qin Chu not trust him? Did he suspect him of trying to harm him?
Damn it.
He treated him with such sincerity, yet he was being doubted?
Was even his most trusted friend abandoning him?
When had they become so close? He couldn’t remember. But it didn’t matter.
Wadsworth’s agitation intensified, his eyes bulging, the strange bulges beneath his clothes multiplying, writhing more rapidly.
Seeing his state, Qin Chu realized he had no choice. Unless he drank the blood, he wouldn’t be able to leave this room. Wadsworth was clearly unstable. He didn’t want to fight a madman without proper preparation.
Wadsworth felt the vial being taken from his hand. The next moment, Qin Chu swallowed its contents, vial and all. He didn’t even know how he had managed it.
But Wadsworth, his mind addled, didn’t find it strange.
As long as the blood was inside Qin Chu’s body, it was fine.
Actually, he had given it to Shaye.
Qin Chu smacked his lips: “Tastes good. Thanks, brother. Can I ask where you got this?”
Wadsworth grinned, his teeth stained with blood, his appearance even more grotesque, his voice chillingly strange: “Hee hee hee…”
“Don’t worry, my good friend.”
“I’ll tell you when you become like me.”
He stepped forward, as if to pat Qin Chu on the shoulder, but Qin Chu instinctively recoiled:
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
Wadsworth smiled, a strange, unsettling smile, watching as Qin Chu turned and left, not trying to stop him.
Qin Chu would soon become like him.
The worm-like bulges beneath his clothes continued to writhe, as if about to burst through his skin.
…
Qin Chu didn’t stop until he was far away from Wadsworth’s study.
Wadsworth’s condition had been unexpected.
“Shaye, I’m giving you the blood,” he said mentally.
“Understood.”
After a brief reply, she fell silent.
Carol, who had been waiting anxiously, her face lighting up as she saw him emerge, her hopes dwindling as she saw his grim expression.
It seemed… things hadn’t gone well.
Had even the Hero failed to reason with her father?
“Hero, how is he?” she asked cautiously.
“Let’s talk outside the palace,” Qin Chu said, his voice low.
Carol’s fear intensified. Once they were outside the city walls and away from prying eyes, he finally stopped, looking at her pale face: “Your Highness, prepare yourself.”
“Your father’s condition is worse than you think. He’s been corrupted by an Evil God.”
“What?”
She screamed, her vision darkening, her body swaying.
After a few seconds, she regained her composure, shaking her head: “Hero, that’s impossible! You must be joking! How could my father be corrupted? This…”
She knew the consequences of corruption. Her eldest brother had been executed by their own father after being corrupted.
She hadn’t forgotten his grotesque, monstrous form in his final moments.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I wish I could say it was a joke.”
“You shouldn’t stay in the palace any longer. He’s been corrupted for over a month. His strong will, power, and soul have prevented him from losing control completely, but he’s close to breaking point.”
“In his current state, he’ll attack anyone, especially those closest to him. Your life is in danger.”
Carol’s face turned even paler. She didn’t want to see her father become a monster.
“Hero, please, save him! There must be a way, right?”
Qin Chu shook his head sadly: “I’m sorry, Your Highness. If it had been caught earlier, perhaps, but now… it’s too late.”
“Discuss this with your family… but not within the palace walls. He might find out.”
“He’s no longer… human. At least, not entirely. If he discovers your meeting, I can’t guarantee your safety. And whatever he gives you, like blood or anything, don’t consume it.”
Seeing him about to leave, Carol knew this was her last chance. If she couldn’t convince him, her father was doomed.
She stepped forward, grasping his hand: “Hero, please! You’re the Hero! You must have a way!”
“Please save my father! I’ll do anything!”
Anything?
Qin Chu raised an eyebrow.
Did she know what she was saying?
He glanced at her slender figure. While not his preferred type, she still possessed a certain youthful allure.
And her status as a princess was a bonus.
Fortunately for her, he was a virtuous man.
If it were someone else, she might have been… taken advantage of.
He sighed, gently but firmly pulling his hand away: “I’m sorry, Carol, but I can’t help your father. Be careful. If you’re in danger, come to the Residence. You can even stay here.”
Carol’s face paled, and she stumbled back.
Her teeth clenched, she knew he was telling the truth.
She shook her head, declining his offer, bowing deeply: “I apologize for taking up your time, Mr. Qin.”
“But he’s my father. No matter how slim the chance, I’ll fight for him until the very end.”
“But if he truly… loses control, please… grant him a swift death.”
Qin Chu nodded, accepting her request.
Carol seemed relieved, bowing again before turning and leaving.
While Wadsworth was a despicable man, his daughter was a good person… it was a pity.
As for whether he could save Wadsworth, he wasn’t sure. While his condition was serious, it wasn’t irreversible.
With careful study, perhaps there was still a chance.
But why would he bother?
Wadsworth was his enemy.
He hadn’t even used the threads on him yet. Expecting him to save Wadsworth was wishful thinking.
Besides, he had a sweet little maid waiting for him at home. He had a feeling Angelica wanted to tell him something.
He quickened his pace.
When he returned to the Residence, Angelica had just reheated the lunch she had prepared, seemingly waiting for his return.
Seeing him, a warm smile touched her lips: “Welcome back, Master.”
She took his coat, hanging it neatly, then served him his meal.
Shaye, meanwhile, took the vial of blood upstairs.
A laboratory had been set up for her on the top floor. She intended to study it carefully.
For a Witch, it was a priceless research material. And she felt a strange familiarity with it, though she couldn’t quite place it.
“Ange, did you want to tell me something this morning?” he asked, taking a bite of the delicious food. Angelica’s cooking was as good as ever.
He felt spoiled by her cooking, even the food at the finest restaurants now seeming bland in comparison.
Angelica tapped her head, sticking her tongue out playfully: “I wanted to tell you last night, but you looked tired.”
“It’s not that important, it’s just…”
Before she could finish, Sylph and Ekaterina stormed in, their faces grim.
Their displeasure was obvious.
“That bitch, Loseweisse, thinks she’s the Empress now, ordering us around! Damn it!” Sylph, her temper flaring, grumbled incessantly.
She was clearly still fuming about Loseweisse’s condescending attitude at the Holy See.
That woman really thinks she’s someone important.
If not for Qin Chu’s orders, she would have likely attacked her.
Angelica’s words were interrupted again, her cheeks puffing out slightly.
She looked like a disgruntled hamster, an amusing sight.
But she was truly unlucky, constantly interrupted. He glanced at Sylph and Ekaterina, about to ask about their visit to the Holy See, when a chilling feeling suddenly washed over him.
Something wasn’t right…
Last night, Angelica had wanted to tell him something, but seeing his exhaustion, she had given up.
This morning… or rather, at noon, she had tried again, but Carol’s arrival had interrupted her.
And now, Sylph and Ekaterina’s return?
Was this just a coincidence?
Having lived two lifetimes, Qin Chu no longer believed in pure coincidences. Once could be a coincidence, twice as well, but three times?
Seeing Sylph about to speak, he interrupted sharply: “Sylph, be quiet.”
Sylph’s words caught in her throat.
She hadn’t expected him to snap at her. She felt a pang of wronged grievance, her eyes watering, despite being a level 80+ archer who had braved countless dangers without shedding a tear.
But Qin Chu had no time for her feelings, his gaze fixed on Angelica: “Ange, continue.”
Angelica, startled by his tone, hesitated, then finally spoke: “Last night, I suddenly felt…”
Crack!
The chandelier above them suddenly came loose, crashing to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Angelica’s words died in her throat.
Some unseen force seemed to be interfering, preventing her from speaking.
Something was definitely wrong with Angelica.
