Hearing this, Horn's expression became utterly rigid.
He still couldn't believe Leo would go this far.
Defying their father's will, even rebelling?!
"No! You... who do you think you are? Just with this city, with these people, you think you can stand against our father?"
"I tell you, your only end is death! When our father truly becomes enraged, you will realize you're nothing but an ant!"
"By then, I will be the ruler of this city, the crown prince of Lionara, and you, you will be nothing but a corpse!" Horn spoke, furious and incredulous.
"Hah!" Leo couldn't help but laugh.
The real anger of the king?
If his foolish elder brother knew his experiences, he surely wouldn't say these things.
For someone who had faced gods, even attempted to slay them, such threats were laughably trivial!
He slowly raised his arm, then lifted a middle finger.
"Come!" Leo uttered a single word.
Through past and present, endless years, this was the day he had been waiting for.
The debt owed to him, he might let go... but the debt owed to his mother, to that woman, even if it meant falling into hell, going through endless reincarnations, it all had to be paid back – and doubly so!
Leo knew his actions were impulsive, but he couldn't wait any longer.
He was furious enough, eager to see the splendid expression on his dear father's face!
"Fine! Very well! The day the war ends will be your death day! Just you wait!" Horn roared.
"My dear elder brother, if you don't leave now, I will treat your presence as an invasion," Leo said coolly.
He slowly raised his hand.
Following his gesture, the soldiers on the city wall, bows in hand, raised their weapons.
Seeing this, Horn first froze, then instinctively retreated.
Even as a divine knight, he could still be vulnerable to a sufficient number of arrows.
"Fine! Just you wait!" Horn spat out harshly, retreating in defeat as the raised bows proved more persuasive than any words.
Leo stood still, watching Horn's figure disappear.
Then, he slowly turned, gazing at the increasingly bustling city inside.
"Jacques is a strategic location, but that's for other nations. If His Majesty decides to attack here, you won't be able to hold it from behind," Lilith said, her voice cold as she looked at Leo.
These were simple truths, understood even by commoners.
"What's there to fear? If worst comes to worst, we'll just go down together! If he dares to send troops, I dare to let any nation's army march straight through here," Leo shrugged nonchalantly.
His step-by-step plan had been for this very day.
Jacques was one of the most important cities in Lionara.
Once it fell, one could drive straight to the capital, with vast plains lying unguarded beyond.
Controlling this city was like holding Lionara's throat.
Under such circumstances, unless his beloved father wished for mutual destruction, he could only accept this threat.
Of course, this was just the first step.
He had merely seized a bargaining chip; next, he needed to accumulate his own strength.
Wearing a rare smile of satisfaction, Leo walked down from the city wall.
Lilith watched his retreating figure, her emotions complex.
It was hard for her to discern whether Leo was more a devil or an angel.
He was so cold-blooded and bold, yet showed a sense of justice in certain matters.
Shaking her head, Lilith still chose to follow Leo, descending the city wall...
"Ha ha ha! Hahaha!!"
Rain was in his estate, now laughing so hard he could hardly catch his breath.
At this moment, perhaps no one in the world was happier than he was.
Firstly, Jacques had held firm, sparing him the fate of becoming a fugitive prince.
Secondly, his dear elder brother had made a fool of himself, losing face.
And most importantly, Leo had completely fallen out with the king, diminishing his father's prestige in front of everyone.
"Not making me the crown prince, but choosing that brainless fellow, this is what he gets! Hahaha!" Rain's laughter echoed throughout the estate.
Seeing their master so happy, his attendants and servants also showed smiles.
"Congratulations, Your Highness," one attendant said with a smile.
"It's hardly a matter for congratulations," Rain finally restrained his laughter.
He slowly stood up, gazing in the direction of Jacques:
"This matter is not entirely beneficial to me, and from today, we all need to take my younger brother seriously!"
"Indeed impressive, now everyone thinks Prince Leo is the hero sent by heaven to Lionara," the attendant nodded in agreement.
"If he is a hero, then what is my elder brother? And what about my father?" Rain couldn't help but smile again.
"Lord Horn is indeed... a waste," the attendant, knowing what Rain wanted to hear, said quite directly.
"Ah~!" Rain raised his hand, feigning dissatisfaction.
Then he slowly said,
"My elder brother really isn't very bright, all muscle and no brains, cowardly and greedy. But even so, we shouldn't speak ill of him like this, right? He is, after all, the distinguished crown prince, the son our father is most proud of!"
As Rain spoke nonchalantly, he wasn't exactly polite in his comments.
"Indeed!"
"Absolutely right!"
"..."
His subordinates quickly agreed.
"Tomorrow, I shall visit my dear brother's territory again. I think they might still need some money and food?" Rain said with a smile.
"Your Highness, if you do that..." An attendant at his side expressed concern.
He understood that Rain actually wanted to win over Leo, even form an alliance.
However, if Rain really did this, wouldn't it be equivalent to openly breaking with Lord Horn and His Majesty?
"Of course, we'll do it quietly. But even if they find out, what can they do? He has already chosen my elder brother as the crown prince."
"I'm just a useless pawn. Am I not allowed to befriend my own brother? Must everyone in the world treat their kin the same way he does?"
Rain retorted, his voice tinged with anger.
Knowing who Rain was referring to, everyone hesitated to respond.
"Hmph!" Rain looked around with a cold laugh.
Raising his head again, his eyes narrowed slightly.
He dared to speak these words for a reason.
His father was no longer young, just as Leo had said, an old man clinging to life.
In recent years, his focus had been on extending his own life, and he had long lost control over the country.
...
"Crash!"
"Crash!"
"..."
Inside the royal palace, countless exquisite porcelains were smashed to the ground by Vickery III.
At this moment, his fury shook the entire palace.
All the servants and courtiers were trembling, not daring to speak a word.
Horn knelt on the ground, equally silent.
After a long while, having smashed the last item, Vickery III raised his head, panting.
His eyes were still filled with shock and rage.
"An old man clinging to life? This bastard! Bastard!!" Vickery III roared furiously.
He was the king, the sovereign!
Never in his life had he suffered such humiliation.
"Father, I request permission to lead an army to exterminate this disloyal and unfilial cur!" Horn, thinking the timing opportune, spoke loudly.
Hearing this, Vickery III turned his gaze towards Horn.
He suddenly fell silent.
After a few breaths, Vickery III smirked, letting out a cold laugh: "Ha! Haha!"
Horn, not understanding the meaning behind Vickery III's cold laughter, hesitated before moving forward slightly on his knees: "Father, please..."
"My son, now the whole world knows you're a failure. Do you think I'm unaware?" Vickery III interrupted Horn, his voice laced with mockery.
Hearing this, Horn first froze, then his face gradually reddened.
Swallowing, he tried to retort: "Father, don't listen to their nonsense!"
"Whether they speak nonsense or not, I have eyes and ears, I know," Vickery III shook his head.
He slowly turned back, settling into his throne, then looking down at his son:
"The war is not yet over. Are you so eager for revenge that you want to drag the entire kingdom down with you?"