Chapter 148

…

Watching Lynn’s aggressive demeanor, the Fourth Prince seemed to have guessed something.

He furrowed his brow without answering the question.

Seeing this, Lynn raised his hand slightly, and a border attendant immediately handed him a revolver loaded with bullets.

“Close your eyes.”

Feeling the small hand clinging to his waist, Lynn whispered to Eleanor.

In Eleanor’s eyes, her brother was undoubtedly the most handsome man in the world. She obediently nodded, shooting a glance filled with hatred at Maid Maria before tightly closing her eyes.

She felt nothing but anger towards one of the culprits who had caused her personal maid’s death and confined her to the mansion.

Seeing this scene, Eunice’s eyebrows shot up in alarm, “What are you trying to do?!”

“This is the Royal Extraordinary Academy. If you’re going to cause trouble, at least know your place!”

Eunice’s chest heaved rapidly, furious that this guy was ruining her evening.

But Lynn ignored her.

“Last chance.” He pressed the cold gun barrel against Maid Maria’s head, “Tell me who’s behind this, and I might let you live.”

Maria, eyes filled with fearful tears, instinctively raised her head to look at Eunice.

Seeing the certainty in her mistress’s eyes that the other person wouldn’t dare pull the trigger, Maria felt slightly reassured.

“You dare—”

“Bang—”

Before she could finish her sentence, the sudden gunshot reverberated throughout the hall!

“Ah!!!!”

Everyone was shocked by the boy’s unwavering gunfire; numerous noble ladies even trembled and covered their faces, unable to bear the sight before them.

Someone just died!

This unexpected dinner party had finally escalated to the point where death was inevitable!

People wanted to scatter, but the burly border guards blocked the exits.

At the moment the gun went off, Eunice’s expression froze.

Murder!

He actually—dared to kill someone!

And right in front of all these nobles!

Was he trying to trample the Mosgra name into the dirt?

But doing this, was he not putting his own life on the line?!

Eunice suddenly recalled her inexplicably deceased brother in the border.

Looking at Maid Maria collapsed on the ground, for some reason, her heart skipped a beat.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince’s face darkened, remaining utterly silent.

Clearly, they never anticipated that after traveling such a long distance from the borders to the Imperial Capital, the notorious boy would act so recklessly without an ounce of restraint.

What’s more, he was even more unbridled than they had imagined.

Just like that, in front of everyone, he executed a servant of the Mosgra family.

But the events were far from over.

Just as everyone was recovering from the shock of seeing a body collapse, another trembling servant was pushed forward.

The instant the hood was removed, the cold gun barrel pressed against the back of his head once again.

“Speak.”

Lynn, expressing his disinterest in idle words, spoke curtly.

…

The person fell silent.

“Bang!”

Another body slumped down, brain matter and blood flowing like a stream, spreading in all directions.

“Next.”

Lynn’s eyes revealed no emotion, as if he had merely killed a chicken.

Following his orders, another servant was brought forth.

The moment the hood was removed, the person panicked and struggled, “I—I’ll speak! I’ll tell you who’s behind—I know!”

“Bang!”

To everyone’s astonishment, Lynn fired again.

“Talk too much, next.”

Lynn waved his gun dismissively, commanding the attendants.

The Fourth Prince’s eyelids twitched.

Meanwhile, Eunice’s face went pale, her lips trembling in anger.

At this moment, the Mosgra family was on the rise, and its status in the Imperial Capital was booming. The fact that she was hosting this dinner was proof of that.

What did the nobles value the most?

Power and face.

But now, this uncontrollable maniac was tearing down the Mosgra family’s dignifying façade before everyone, executing her subordinates one by one.

She didn’t particularly care whether they lived or died.

What mattered was that they represented the family’s face.

At this very moment, each shot fired by Lynn felt like a dagger to her heart.

And the damned guy was the one with control in this situation.

She wanted to storm out and notify her family to send someone over to handle this, but if she did that in front of everyone, the rumors circulating in Glosting would become more and more outrageous.

She could even imagine stories spreading about the Mosgra family’s rightful heir fleeing in panic upon the return of the Bartleon scion seeking revenge.

If such a thing happened, it’d be absolute disgrace for her family.

“Stop it!”

Eunice raised her voice, trying to overpower him.

“Bang!”

But that impossible man fired again.

This time, the servant didn’t even get a word out before the trigger was pulled.

Feeling the panicked and astonished gazes around him, Lynn pondered for a moment, then shrugged, “Sorry, just got carried away… next.”

However, there was no hint of apology in his eyes.

The continuous gunfire felt like a death knell, crushing the hearts of the bound servants.

Finally, someone couldn’t hold it any longer.

Not wishing to become the next victim, he broke down and cried out before even being brought forward, “Miss Eunice!”

“It was Miss Eunice Mosgra who instructed us to enter your mansion and secretly monitor Miss Eleanor and Marquess Bartleon’s every move!”

He wailed in desperation, hoping Lynn would spare his life.

“Nonsense!” Lynn suddenly raised his voice, “The Mosgra family has always upheld rigorous family ethics, how could they meddle in the affairs of other families?!”

“Bang!”

Of course.

He fired again.

At this moment, the surrounding spectators had long since grown numb.

Staring at the blood-soaked ground, they silently gazed at the boy on stage, utterly clueless as to what he intended to do.

Not saying death was on the table, saying it was still death; it seemed he had given no one a chance at life.

“Next.”

Lynn spoke flatly.

His voice was like the grim reaper’s summons.

Along with the previous gunshots, the final defenses of all the kidnapped servants crumbled in an instant.

Facing imminent death, their loyalty to the Mosgra family was long forgotten.

“Please! Have mercy, Young Master Lynn! I can provide evidence! It was Miss Eunice who instructed us to do this!”

“She forced us to monitor Miss Eleanor, and secretly controlled everything in the Bartleon family!”

“No, it’s true! It really was her! By the Great Goddess of Abundance, I swear!”

“Please, spare me!” “Have mercy!!”

In an instant, the captives broke down in tears, each one repeating the truth of the situation.

“Shut up! You deceitful scum, die with her!”

Hearing this, Eunice was about to explode.

She glared hatefully at Lynn, only to find that while he had been killing earlier, now he wore a calm expression, allowing such information to spread throughout the hall.

All the students exchanged glances, revealing various expressions.

Clearly, dark matters like this were not uncommon.

They had long suspected such things could happen, but due to mutual understanding among nobility, no one had ever brought it up.

This was the first time the Mosgra family had been fully exposed under the sun without the veil of secrecy.

“That should be enough.”

Finally, the Fourth Prince, who had been watching silently, spoke up.

Hearing this, Lynn sighed, “Oh Your Highness, how should I comment on you?”

“If it were Prince Felix, either he would have instantly stopped me with overwhelming force or have coldly observed from beginning to end, completely distancing himself.”

“I’ve never seen someone make such a self-righteous move as you.”

“However… since it’s Your Highness’s suggestion, I reckon it’s worth considering.”

“Who told you? You have a good father?”

The Fourth Prince’s eyes flashed with bitterness.

This guy had precisely struck at his sore spot.

Second Prince Felix.

This was a pain he had buried deep within himself.

Just as the Fourth Prince instinctively opened his mouth to retort, he suddenly heard Lynn wave his hand, “Kill them all.”

In the next second, all the border attendants pulled out their guns in unison, aiming at the temples of the servants.

Then,

“Bang bang bang bang bang——”

The continuous gunfire echoed through the entire hall.

It was like… a thorough massacre!

Body after body, still warm, collapsed to the ground, blood flowing like a river, pooling and merging, heading toward the trembling Eunice and Fourth Prince Joshua before everyone’s eyes.

Blood flowed like a river!

It was indeed blood flowing like a river!

Witnessing the horrifying scene before them, all present wore shocked expressions.

No one expected this outcast from the Imperial Capital would return and stir up such a monumental spectacle.

The atmosphere suddenly plunged into deep silence.

Lynn took out a handkerchief from his pocket, leisurely wiping the bloodstains on his wrist, remaining silent.

But just his presence alone brought unprecedented psychological pressure to everyone in attendance.

A demon.

This guy was the true demon!

In an instant, such thoughts flooded everyone’s minds.

Not far away, Eunice, seeing the river of blood creeping closer to her feet, caught a glimpse of her pale face and trembling legs through the glistening crimson.

Am I… afraid?

No, it’s impossible!

Eunice took a deep breath, trying to maintain an air of arrogance and indifference.

But at this moment, it was clear to anyone that Lynn was the one in control, while she was merely posturing.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the Fourth Prince broke the silence.

“The Council Hall is currently hosting an award ceremony for the triumphant warriors.” He pushed up his glasses, “I’m quite curious, what kind of justification do you plan to offer His Majesty?”

Clearly, as subordinates of the Third Princess, everything that had happened tonight had probably already reached Sixth Saint Roland’s ears.

One could only imagine how enraged he would be.

“You needn’t worry about that, Your Highness.” Glancing at the bloodstained white gloves, Lynn slowly pulled them off, “Right now, I have something more important to deal with.”

“Miss Mosgra, where do you think you’re going?”

Lynn suddenly stopped Eunice, who was preparing to leave.

Startled, she took a deep breath, “The banquet has concluded; I can go wherever I wish.”

“Lynn Bartleon, you have no right to restrict my freedom of movement.”

Upon hearing this, Lynn patted the small hand tightly gripping his waist.

Eleanor looked up instantly.

Seeing the sight of the corpses scattered around her, a flicker of reluctance crossed her eyes, mixed with a hint of satisfaction.

At the same time, she felt anxious about the storm her brother was about to face.

She timidly gazed into her brother’s reassuring eyes.

“Has she been bullying you at the academy all this time?”

Lynn affectionately ruffled her hair.

Eleanor remained silent for a while, then shook her head gently, instinctively pulling her wrist into her sleeve.

She didn’t want to bring unnecessary trouble to her brother.

Just reuniting as a family was good enough for her.

But Lynn wasn’t willing to let it go just like that.

Seeing Eleanor look like this, he furrowed his brows, gently grasping her delicate wrist and rolling up her sleeve.

Looking at the countless needle marks on her skin, a trace of barely perceptible killing intent flashed in Lynn’s eyes.

He slowly raised his head, casting a gloomy gaze at the Fourth Prince and Eunice.

Very good.

You’re doing great.

Feeling the ominous storm brewing, Eunice instinctively stepped back, “W-What are you going to do?!”

…

Lynn didn’t answer, instead tossing something at her.

It was a white glove he had just removed from his hand.

Looking at the glove that fell to the ground, a wave of bad premonition surged in Eunice’s heart.

In the next second, her fears were validated.

“I, Lynn Bartleon, under the name of the current head of the Bartleon family, challenge Eunice Mosgra, heir of the Mosgra family, to a duel to the death.”

“To defend the honor of the family, you will undoubtedly pick up the glove, right?”

Liars’ Devourer, activate.

The invisible power of lies seeped forth, instantly affecting Eunice’s thoughts.

That’s right.

I am indeed the heir of the Mosgra family!

How could I shrink back because of a mere scion of a fallen family?!

My sister Irina is the youngest Valkyrie in the Empire. As a relative, I certainly can’t hinder him!

What’s more… this guy has long become a waste!

Thoughts flooded into her mind.

In the next second, Eunice slowly crouched down in the astonished eyes of the Fourth Prince and picked up the glove.

This was the Empire’s most traditional and oldest way of duel.

It had been passed down through the ages.

For those high nobles with conflicts that the courts or officials couldn’t resolve, the old generations often upheld family honor by fighting in this way, merging all conflicts into a life-and-death duel.

Glosting even had designated duel arenas for nobles to handle such matters.

However, it needed to go through strict procedural reviews before a duel free from outsider interference could become valid.

The current conditions were too simplistic, and by rights should be illegal.

But the crux was that Eunice accepted.

In the next second, returning to her senses, Eunice suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.

Why did I agree to this duel?!

This is unreasonable! What am I thinking?!

Feeling the admiring gazes from all around her, Eunice suddenly felt like she could barely stand firm.

She leaned against a nearby table and took a deep breath, “This doesn’t hold legal validity; I can choose to terminate the duel at any time, you—”

Just as Eunice attempted to find some grandiose excuses for herself.

Suddenly, a rush of hurried footsteps resounded again.

Everyone instinctively looked up to see a group of armored knights rudely bursting into the hall.

A tall figure clad in silver armor led the group, emanating both might and grandeur.

Lynn couldn’t help but squint his eyes.

Someone unexpected arriving disrupted his plans.

Then, amidst everyone’s astonishment, the silver-armored knight commander hurriedly stepped forward.

Looking at the three figures before him, he calmly said, “Lynn Bartleon, Miss Eunice, and Your Highness the Fourth Prince, the Council Hall has been informed of the situation here, and His Majesty is extremely furious. He specifically ordered me to halt this farce and bring all of you to meet him.”

“So, please, follow me.”