Chapter 105 - Ring Of Fire
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The chain of explosions could be heard in the distance and the entire Capital was alarmed. The source of the explosion came from… the city walls!
Why the city walls?
Kasif changed directions and headed towards the Lower District. It was too late to inform the Queen. Rocking up at the royal palace now would just be asking for a tongue-lashing from the Queen. He should investigate the area affected by the explosions and save the people instead.
The scale of the resulting explosion of gunpowder was far greater than what he had anticipated. It didn't seem like the four great family could have achieved this feat by themselves. Someone must be backing the four great families to generating such shocking and horrid results.
"Are we being invaded by another kingdom?" Kasif couldn't help but thought out loud. Why else would they take down the walls? Unfortunately, he could see anything beyond the original spot of the city walls before large volumes of smoke blocked his field of vision.
The commoners were a bunch of clueless individuals. They did not know who or for what purpose they targeted the city walls with explosives, but where the city walls once stood became a large empty rift that seem to stretch deep into the earth. No one could get close to peer down the rift.
Everyone was too busy trying to get as far as they could from the outer edges of the Lower District. The situation of the Lower District was total mayhem as people pushed and shoved each other to save themselves. The ugliness of human was on full display for all to see.
"Move it!" A man shoved a slow mother carrying her child out of the way.
"Ahhh!" The mother tripped and fell to the floor.
Such fall was normally not life-threatening, but behind her was a large crowd of frightened people running for their lives like a frenzy stampede. The mother had no time to consider her choices and protected her child with her own body as she was stepped on by countless feet.
"Wahhhh, mummy!" The child weep with sadness as she saw her mother spurted blood and was dying.
The man obviously hadn't expect such a result but the did not turn back as his own life was more important.
"Sorry."
The explosion had sent burning debris and embers flying into the skies and rain back down upon the Lower District, targeting everything indiscriminately. Buildings were razed to the ground, and people were shot and crushed to death. The damages and destruction to the Lower District was incalculable and continued to escalate as fire spread with fumes of black smoke rising everywhere. The entire outer edges of the Capital were engulfed by the flames and formed a great ring of fire.
"Arghhh! My leg!!"
The man travelled a few yards before a wild flying debris shot threw his leg and caused himself to fall to the ground.
"Noooo!" The man cried as he was similarly stomped to death by the rampaging crowd behind. Regrets filled his mind as he eventually took his last breath.
Suddenly the people felt the world became very small as the Capital was shut off from the outside world and trapped in a cage of nightmare. No one was able to see through the veil of black smoke and fire rising, unless they stood atop high vantage points like the Royal Palace, Lancaster Empire Estate building or were able to take flight to the sky.
Similar scenes were happening throughout the Lower Districts along with the reverberating cries and screams of the commoners. A gloomy and somber mood filled the Capital
....
The Royal Palace was in the heart of the Capital and was far from the city walls and outer edges of the Lower Districts, but the earthshaking explosions of the city walls were like the angry roars of the thunder god and reached all the way to the royal palace. Unless one was deaf, people would definitely be able to hear the explosions.
Leon was cultivating in meditative posture when the tranquility of the royal palace was broken by the outside disturbance. As the Royal Palace occupied the most central and highest area in the capital, Leon would be able to see the scene of the Lower East District if he left his personal courtyard.
However, he did not do this and directly took to the skies with his flame wings, where he was offered view of the Capital in all directions and the situation of the Lower District was laid bare to him.
The scene of the city night was usually lit with a certain brightness that brought a festive mood and life to the city night. However, what Leon saw was a different type of brightness that didn't bring life but death upon them.
His heart was gripped with concern when looked at the similar situation over at the Lower West District. Aria was still there and so was his Golden Lion Gang. Although he didn't really care about these people, they have entrusted their lives to him, so he had to be responsible for them.
"Are you heading out, son?" Elizabeth arrived with her maids in tow and asked him.
"Yes, mother. I must go. " Leon said firmly. He was going no matter what.
"Mm, Mother understands. Go on." Elizabeth said supportively.
Huh?
Leon was taken aback by his mother's answer. He thought she would try to keep him due to her overprotectiveness.
"Then… I'll be go going."
Leon said carefully as he grabbed his black spear and took to the sky.
"Make sure to bring that daughter-in-law of mine back for Mother to see." Elizabeth suddenly mentioned.
"It's not Lynne." He immediately blurted out before he shot towards the Lower West District at incredible speed.
"Oh? It's another girl?" Elizabeth murmured to herself.
The palace maids behind her flashed a disgusted look at the disappearing prince in the distance. Their piercing gaze forced the Leon to look back with confusion but didn't manage to discover anything out of place as the maid's expression had already returned to normal.
"Must be my imagination?"
…
"Why are you still here?" After Leon was gone, Elizabeth shifted her gaze onto the palace guards and asked with a solemn expression.
"Uh… We are unable to fly, your majesty."
They answered.
"Don't you still have your legs? Or do you not want them anymore?" Elizabeth asked as she direct her gaze onto their legs with squinted looks.
They were immediate scared and swiftly answered, "Y-Yes, you're right. We will be going now, your majesty!"
Howard and the three other palace guards chased after Leon immediately. Elizabeth wasn't satisfied until their figures could no longer be seen.
With how firmly her son had answered her question, she knew that nothing she said could persuade him and forcibly keeping him would only hurt their relationship. Thus, the guards were still required to follow her son and protect him. Only when her son was well protected was, she able to be calm and have a peace of mind. She only had one son. She wouldn't be able to bear the loss if there was a mishap.
After her son's matter was settled, she headed to Great Hall with a solemn expression and summoned the Shadow Guards.
"What is your command, your majesty?" The temporary-in-command of the shadow guards and the vice leader, Mark asked after being summon.
"I want information! How did these vermins snuck so much explosives into my husband's Capital!? What have they been up to? And where are they now?"
The Queen threw out one question after another furiously. These damn nobles have gone too far!
Sweat trickled down the vice leader's forehead as he did not have any answers to these questions.
"Erm… I-I'm afraid there's no information, your majesty."
The vice leader was shaking when he said this. He was absolutely terrified of what the Queen might do in her rage.
"None!? What shit are you!? Do you even know how to do your job!?" Elizabeth roared.
The metallic plating of the hall trembled as they threaten to peel themselves from the hall and be at her beck and call.
"Mercy, your majesty! This subject is incompetent and not fit to command the Shadow Guards. Only the leader is the most suitable." The vice leader dropped to his knees and pleaded for his life.
"Where is Kasif? What has he been doing?" Elizabeth asked as she suppressed her fury. They had one job!
When the vice leader heard this, he felt a ray of hope. This was something he could answer! They have been keeping tabs on the leader's daily action. It was hard not to with the trouble the leader was causing. If he couldn't even answer this question, then he fears it might really be off with his head.
"The leader has been…"
Mark started reporting everything the leader had gotten himself into. When Elizabeth heard the report, she rolled her eyes and rubbed her temples. The Old Goat was beyond cure.
"Go fetch the Old Goat for me… no. Tell him; suspension is over, and he is reinstated. He is to get to work immediately. I want to know what the four families are up to!" Elizabeth said with dignified bearing. She had cut off the word 'great' from the Four Great Family. Such a name was a joke to her. Just a bunch of ants.
"Yes, your majesty!"