Castle, Royal Capital Assembly Hall.
Faced with the arrival of the final candidate, Felt was the first to react. She waved her hand and greeted Shendu.
"Hehe, Big Sister, you finally came! I've been waiting for you for ages."
Felt was delighted. After not seeing Big Sister for several days, she had truly missed her.
"Of course. Our Felt is looking more and more like a proper candidate."
Shendu offered praise without hesitation, and the girl's face lit up with even greater excitement.
Just as Shendu and Felt were exchanging greetings, Akane, dressed in an elegant gown, entered the hall through another passage together with Elsa.
However, in accordance with Shendu's instructions, Akane did not greet her.
Among the five candidates, a purple-haired girl with the air of a friendly neighbor glared at Akane with clenched teeth, as though there were some grievance between them.
When Emilia saw Shendu suddenly appear in the hall, her entire body trembled slightly, disbelief flickering in her eyes.
She had clearly promised to become her knight, yet now she stood beside another royal candidate. It felt as though the strength had been drained from her body, her complexion turning faintly pale.
"Sister Shendu, didn't you say you would come to see me?"
"How could you..."
After a moment of silence, Emilia finally lifted her head. Her eyes shimmered as if brimming with tears as she looked at Shendu, hoping the silver-haired girl would give her an explanation.
"Naturally, it is because I offered her terms she could not refuse."
"Your Sister Shendu is now my friend—or rather, my best friend."
Hearing Emilia's fragile voice, Priscilla found herself displeased. Why should this exceptional silver-haired girl be willing to help a woman full of flaws?
They were both royal candidates who had started from the same line.
Why should Emilia be allowed to take a shortcut and receive such immense assistance from Shendu? Perhaps even the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild would join the fray because of her.
"This..."
After learning the reason Shendu was with her, Emilia cast another questioning glance toward her.
"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you."
Shendu offered no further explanation. Her crimson eyes conveyed reassurance before she turned away.
Though Shendu had spoken only a single sentence, it brought Emilia tremendous comfort.
Recalling what Puck had once said, Emilia's expression gradually grew resolute. She regained her earlier composure and stood quietly without speaking further.
After all, even if Priscilla claimed that Shendu was her friend, there was nothing to be jealous of. At the very least, Shendu's promise to become her knight had not changed.
"Hmph, you've calmed down already? How enviable."
Priscilla glanced at Emilia, still jealous of the bond between her and Shendu.
"Hehe, Lady Priscilla, Miss Shendu is not someone who can be easily won over. To become her friend, you must have paid quite a price, wouldn't you?"
Just as Priscilla was envying Emilia's good fortune, a slightly flippant voice sounded beside her.
Turning her head, she saw Roswaal approaching. His face was painted, his long robe flowing, blue hair cascading down, and mismatched blue-and-gold eyes gleaming as he greeted her.
"Hmph. Why should that concern you? Whatever I did, my intentions are purer than yours."
Priscilla seemed well aware of Roswaal's character. She snorted coldly and paid him little heed.
"Ah, how that wounds my heart."
Roswaal replied lightly, utterly unconcerned with her attitude.
After speaking, he moved before Shendu and offered her a smile.
"It has been some time, Miss Shendu. You seem as spirited as ever. Though it appears there is also someone present who was not anticipated?"
As he spoke, Roswaal glanced toward Akane and Elsa within the crowd, his heterochromatic eyes flashing brilliantly.
He had already reviewed today's events through his Gospel. Shendu and her subordinates were the greatest variables within it.
All this time, Roswaal had acted strictly in accordance with the Gospel.
"Count Roswaal, you seem equally spirited, do you not?"
Shendu replied before continuing, "The contest in the royal capital has always been filled with variables. Only those who reach the finish line represent the future."
Her words carried a subtle philosophical weight, further convincing Roswaal that Shendu was the one destined to change the world.
"I am enlightened. Your words make perfect sense."
Roswaal's tone lost its earlier flippancy, becoming unexpectedly sincere.
"What a nauseating clown."
Priscilla muttered softly to the side, unconcerned about offending the border count. After all, her own family's influence was hardly weak.
...
"Silence, please. The members of the Council of Wise Men have arrived."
While Shendu waited quietly, a voice echoed from outside.
As the announcement rang out, the grand doors slowly opened. Several members of the Royal Guard entered first, followed by five elderly men with graying hair.
Each appeared to be in their sixties or seventies. Strangely, among the five elders of the Council of Wise Men, three had patches of hair that had reverted from gray back to black.
"Oh? A portion of their hair has turned black. That is proof of an increase in lifespan. Miss Shendu, do you know the reason behind this?"
Standing beside her, the clown spoke meaningfully.
"Is it so difficult to extend one's lifespan in this world?"
Shendu did not answer his question directly. Instead, she responded with one of her own.
"Very difficult. The only method here is to use Yang magic to enhance cellular vitality, but the effects are slow. It would not produce a result like this."
Roswaal continued, clearly having formed his own suspicions.
"The contest for the throne depends not only on one's own ability. Connections are equally important. Do you truly believe ordinary people would refrain from taking action? This is no game."
Shendu spoke calmly.
She had subtly revealed her intention. After all, the moment of revelation was approaching. Stirring up a bit of amusement beforehand was hardly a bad thing.
"You are truly clever. It seems you are far from an ordinary traveler."
Roswaal praised her, as though everything lay within Shendu's grasp.
Whether it was the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild, the Council of Wise Men, or Shendu's presence in the hall—it all seemed to be the result of her personal machinations.
And that was precisely the outcome Roswaal desired. His original reason for dispatching Elsa had been to identify the one capable of changing the world.
Now he had found her.
He eagerly anticipated what Shendu would do next. How would this woman who wove the great web transform everything?
As they conversed, everyone gradually took their positions. The elders of the council slowly approached their seats and sat down.
It was as though those seats had been prepared exclusively for them.
The five elders of the Council of Wise Men were Miklotov, Marcos, Rickert, Kraken, and Wayne.
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