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The king was sent sprawling by Jason's slap, crashing into his throne, which shattered upon impact. The loud noise echoed through the hall, and with it, a gleaming object shot out, bouncing several times before coming to rest on the ground.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"How dare you, Shield Hero! It's unforgivable for you to treat the king this way!"
"You will face the consequences!"
As the nobles gathered around witnessed their king tossed like a rag doll, they quickly shifted their focus, immediately turning their ire towards Jason.
However, when Jason turned to meet their gazes, the nobles instinctively recoiled, turning their necks like frightened quails.
"Uh… pardon me, I got a bit emotional. It's just that when you live in this country, you're taught to care about the king."
"I'm only speaking casually. Everything I just said, consider it... inconsequential."
"Master Shield Hero, don't look at me! I didn't say anything!"
"Wow... the ceiling of this palace hall is truly a marvel. These oil paintings must be post-modernist masterpieces created by Master Baolitang!"
In the next instant, several individuals craned their necks upward, pretending to admire an invisible artwork on the ceiling, while others crouched, feeling around the floor in a frantic search for the heirlooms they'd claimed were lost.
Long and square objects? Maybe they were talking about bricks.
In short, each attendee avoided making eye contact with Jason, completely disassociating themselves from the unfolding chaos. After all, the king had just been sent flying; what chance did the lesser nobles have against someone so ruthless?
"Cough… cough…"
On the floor, the king raised his head slightly, spitting out a few bloodied teeth as his left cheek swelled visibly. Here he was, stripped of his dignity, having lost teeth from a single slap.
Fury and humiliation coursed through him, and as he caught Jason's smirk, the king's vision turned crimson. He envisioned nothing less than taking vengeance, wishing to smash Jason into a thousand pieces.
However, when his gaze fell on the shining object on the ground, his thoughts froze.
Isn't that the promise ring he shared with the Queen?
"Hey~~~ My King, isn't this your promise ring? You accused me of stealing it, remember? Then why is it here, just tossed aside after being dislodged from your throne?"
Jason bent down, collected the gold ring, and asked mockingly, all while contemplating how clever Lex had been to hide the ring behind the throne—he definitely deserved a reward upon Jason's return.
"Th-This..."
Staring at the ring in Jason's hand, the king momentarily forgot the pain of his injuries, his thoughts swirling with confusion. He started wondering whether he might have accidentally dropped it into the throne.
With the king remaining silent, Jason stepped forward, placing his foot firmly on the king's head without reservation.
"You'd better explain yourself. If I hadn't been strong enough, your soldiers could've killed me. Now, talk, you bastard!"
Jason pressed down harder, twisting his foot painfully, and the king winced, blood trickling from his mouth.
"I…I don't know what happened! The Baron told me that you were the thief who stole the ring…" The king growled in desperation.
"The Baron? Ah, yes, how could I forget him?"
From the king's words, it was evident he had no knowledge of the true conspiracy at play. The unfortunate monarch was merely being used as a pawn himself, failing to grasp the full scope of his situation.
Confirming that the king wasn't the mastermind, Jason began scanning the hall for the Baron, knowing that he was the only remaining lead.
Soon enough, Jason spotted the Baron attempting to slink away, his blond hair and rotund figure making him quite conspicuous even as he lowered his head in shame.
Noticing Jason's gaze upon him, the Baron hastily accelerated his pace, trying to make a break for the exit.
Jason smiled, keeping his foot pressed firmly on the king's head, offering no indication he would let up.
At that moment, Raphtalia, understanding the situation, took off in pursuit of the Baron.
Not long after, the hall echoed with the sound of screams.
"Ahh~~~ my feet, my feet!"
As the fiasco unfolded, Raphtalia re-entered, dragging along a hefty figure, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
Those who witnessed the scene turned away instinctively, and some timid women fainted outright.
What Raphtalia was gripping was none other than the Baron himself—who, having lost his feet, now resembled a grotesque rolling ball due to his rotund physique.
"Master Jason..." she called out, presenting her prize.
Raphtalia unceremoniously hurled the Baron directly at Jason's feet.
The sight of the Baron in such a pitiful state sent a chill of terror through the king, whose eyes widened in sheer dread as he took in the scene before him.
Jason, ignoring the king beneath his foot, allowed a faint smirk to curl the corners of his mouth as he focused on the Baron. "I spared you once before, but here you are again, trying to frame me. It seems my kindness was misplaced."
"Master Shield Hero, please! Give me another chance! I promise I won't do it again!" The Baron sobbed, tears mingling with the remnants of his dignity, painting a deeply pathetic picture.
"Oh? It's not impossible to forgive you, but first you must tell me who orchestrated this little scheme. Remember, you only have one chance," Jason said slowly, his eyes narrowing, hinting that the Baron's fate hinged on his next words.
"Understood, understood… It's just my leg, there's so much blood…"
The Baron whimpered, visibly panicking as he felt the weight of Jason's words.
"You know what will happen if you refuse to speak... You'll bleed out and die," Jason warned, his voice a calm menace.
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you! It was to teach…"
Before he could finish his explanation, the Baron suddenly gasped, his eyes bulging as he clutched his neck in an apparent attempt to breathe.
"What's happening?" Jason questioned, momentarily loosening his grip on the king.
Before he could even take a step forward, dark markings began to etch their way across the Baron's face, spreading rapidly until they enveloped his entire body.
Then, with a loud pop, the Baron exploded like an overinflated balloon.
Jason leapt back instinctively, managing to avoid the splatter of blood and remains that sent droplets flying toward him.
The king, however, was not so fortunate; not only was he showered with viscera, but his finely adorned clothing became a canvas of gore. His expression shifted from terror to complete loathing at the state he found himself in.
"What kind of curse mark was that?" Jason muttered, scrutinizing what remained of the Baron. "Teach...? Who were you going to teach, the Pope? Looks like it's that old man after all."
"Ding! Task completion detected: Rewards granted: 3% completion of the Garp template along with a 6-hour triple experience card."
The familiar mechanical voice of the system rang in Jason's ears.
With the completion of the Garp template now at 30%, Jason felt a surge of power coursing through him. In the back of his mind, he grasped new techniques from the Navy Six Forms: Shaving, iron body, and Paper art. Each offered him new capabilities and increased his combat prowess.
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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11
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