Chapter 420 Lux's Old Friend
Ivar died in silence.
With the death of the dragon, the palace finally returned to peace, but the atmosphere beneath the peace was still oppressive.
The palace guards were busy cleaning up the messy battlefield, but the nobles present had no interest in doing so.
They soon forgot about the dragon and turned their attention back to the two protagonists of the day, King Jarvan and General Eldred.
Everyone knew that the matter was not over yet. Compared with the dragon, the Demon Hunters were the real trouble for the royal family.
And now, King Jarvan has completely detonated this powder keg.
"Your Majesty Jarvan, the dragon has been killed." Garen returned to the hall carrying the giant sword and looked at Eldred unceremoniously.
According to Shyvana's confession, this second dragon was always controlled by General Eldred and the Demon Hunters.
Then there was no choice but to pin the blame on the Anti-Demon Sect for Iva's attack on the palace.
"Eldred." King Jarvan sighed helplessly: "Now, do you need to explain anything else?"
"Your Majesty!" Eldred's eyes were extremely cold.
He took off all his disguises, and there was no trace of the humility of a minister between his brows: "Don't you think that this is too much?"
"Are you a little too impatient to send us to the guillotine now?"
“……”King Jarvan was silent.
Zhao Xin quietly protected the king.
Galen kept a straight face and said nothing.
After a moment of hesitation, Prince Jarvan and Lux quickly realized the seriousness of the problem:
It is not a wise thing to accuse Eldred of "controlling the dragon and attacking the palace".
If Iva had not suddenly appeared and almost exposed the truth in front of all the citizens of Xiongdu, Garen would probably not have been forced to do this in such a desperate situation.
after all……
This is a feudal kingdom, not a society ruled by law. If the king really wants his subjects to die, what crime can't he fabricate?
Therefore, what King Jarvan lacked was never a crime to sentence Eldred to death, but the absolute power to wipe out the anti-magic nobles and the demon-hunting army in one fell swoop.
If the ruler wants his subjects to die, the subjects have the ability to survive. They even have the ability to make the ruler die first.
This is what really worries the king.
According to the original plan of Garen, Lux and Prince Jarvan, they had intended to use a big drama of "the dragon's surrender" to crush the anti-magic faction's propaganda offensive in one fell swoop, and at the same time use this as an excuse to launch a comprehensive investigation into the Demon Hunter Corps.
It is an investigation and rectification, not a encirclement and suppression.
We need to leave people a way to survive and use a soft knife to cut the flesh, so as not to push them into a corner and push the situation to the worst possible point.
Now:
"Control the dragon and attack the palace, huh..."
This is a capital crime among capital crimes. Whoever touches it will die, without a single shred of leniency.
"I can't bear this charge!" Eldred sneered and said, "The Demon Hunter Corps can't bear this charge either!"
King Jarvan glanced at Garen .
Galen shrugged helplessly.
He also knew that it was too hasty to do so. But there was no other way. If he didn't put the blame on Eldred, he would not be able to explain the arrival of the second dragon.
Anyway…
The hat has been put on, there is no way to take it back.
If the Demon Hunters refuse to surrender, then they can only use swords to teach them what "the law of the king" is.
"Eldred!" King Jarvan also understood this.
So he quickly frowned and ordered Zhao Xin and the others, "General Zhao Xin, I order you to lead the Royal Guards to search the Demon Corps headquarters now and make them lay down their weapons and accept investigation!"
"Yes!" Xin Zhao, Garen, Lux, Prince Jarvan and others nodded.
"No need!" Eldred snorted coldly and mocked the king in front of him: "Do you think that if you detain me here, the Demon Hunters will be leaderless and at the mercy of others?"
"No! They won't accept the investigation obediently-"
"Because this matter was framed by a small group of conspirators from the beginning to the end! We, the Demon Hunter Corps, have no obligation to cooperate with this unfair investigation!"
"A small group of conspirators?" King Jarvan frowned. "I personally ordered the investigation. Are you trying to say that I am also a conspirator?"
"No, Lord Jarvan." Eldred remained calm. "The conspirators I'm referring to are actually--"
He looked around and then said a surprising name:
"Black Rose!"
There was a delicate silence.
Anyone can tell this is bullshit.
But Eldred didn't care: "I have long discovered through investigation that the Black Rose Organization has secretly infiltrated Demacia and used evil spells to control and replace many high-ranking nobles."
"For example, the Crown Guard family—"
"You can check General Laxana's body to see if she is a fake disguised as a demon-tainted person!"
"You?!" Lux gritted her teeth and wanted to curse in Zaun language.
It's true that she's a mage, but what's with this hat with a black rose?
"Don't listen to his nonsense!" Garen could see what Eldred was thinking: "He is just imitating Swain and making a claim for the next rebellion of the Demon Seekers."
Black Rose, conspiracy group, this excuse is too good to be true.
Anyway, no one can prove that the black rose exists, nor can anyone prove that it does not exist.
And after the success of "clearing the court", no matter whether the black rose exists or not, it will be "real".
"Isn't this guy afraid of death?" Lux whispered beside her brother, "He and those nobles of the Forbidden Magic Sect are still being held in the palace by us."
"There's nothing we can do." Galen replied, "This guy has been cornered and has no choice but to do something desperate."
"And just like Eldred said: The Demon Hunters are not the private property of a few people, but a huge interest group. Even if we kill them here, I'm afraid we can't make the Demon Hunters surrender."
"The opposite is true..."
Garen looked thoughtfully at the numerous palace guards present.
He knew that there must be many spies of the Demon Hunter Corps in the palace. The Demon Hunter Corps headquarters must also know what is happening in the palace.
And it was impossible for Eldred, who was cautious by nature, not to have made any plans or kept any backup plans before being summoned to the palace.
"Eldred must know that the more trouble the Demon Seekers make outside, the safer they will be here."
"So..." Garen sighed softly: "It seems that fighting is inevitable."
The Demon Hunter Corps will definitely resist the investigation by force.
And if the headquarters of the Demon Seekers survived this wave of liquidation by the royal family, it wouldn't be long before the branches of the Demon Seekers across , as well as the private soldiers of the territories of the abjurious nobles...
There is a high probability that a wave of "respecting the king and punishing traitors" will be set off across the kingdom, causing Demacia to fall into a long-term division and civil war.
"What should we do then?" Lux clenched her staff nervously.
"Attack!" Garen raised the greatsword again: "Use the force of thunder to destroy the Demon Hunters' headquarters in one go, and let those local anti-magic forces know that participating in the rebellion will lead to death!"
Then, Galen stood before the king:
"Your Majesty! The witness is here. Even passers-by on the streets of Xiongdu know what Eldred is thinking."
"Investigating and rectifying the Demon Hunter Corps is already your greatest kindness. But they are unwilling to accept even this—"
"This is no longer just ordinary rebellion."
"You must deliver a heavy punch!"
…
Not long after.
Outside the city of Xiongdu, the headquarters of the Demon Hunter Corps.
The headquarters of the Demon Hunter Corps is not a few office buildings and an undefended barracks as most people imagine.
As the headquarters of a huge armed group, it is almost an independent military fortress standing next to the capital, a satellite city with high walls, thick fortifications and strong camps.
When Prince Jarvan and his men arrived here with their troops and deployed their troops under the city walls...
The Demon Hunter Corps has already gathered all its forces into this sturdy fortress, and has retracted the moat bridge and set up giant crossbows for city defense, showing a posture of resisting to the end.
"I'm afraid this won't be easy, Your Highness Jarvan." After a brief observation, General Zhao Xin said worriedly to the commander-in-chief of this war, Prince Jarvan:
"The Demon Hunters' headquarters has an independent water source and sufficient military equipment and food supplies all year round. Although we have advantages in manpower and combat power, facing such a strong city..."
"If the defenders in the city are determined enough to resist, then it won't be a problem for them to hold out for a year or two."
The Demon Seekers can hold out here for more than half a year, but Jarvan's family doesn't have the time to waste half a year fighting with them.
Let alone half a year, if the time is delayed by one more day, the branches of the Demon Hunter Corps across the kingdom might become restless, and war might break out inside Demacia.
"You are right." Prince Jarvan nodded secretly.
He usually focuses on military affairs.
He was not very good , but he was pretty good at fighting wars.
So Prince Jarvan could also see that the city before him was not easy to attack.
Although the enemy is trapped in an isolated city, the advantage is entirely mine.
But to capture it within a few days, or even within a day, the attackers would certainly suffer huge casualties.
"Both sides are Demacia warriors. Whoever dies will be a loss to the kingdom." Prince Jarvan sighed deeply.
Then he decided: "Let's shout first."
Attacking the city is inferior, attacking the heart is superior.
"The officers and generals of the Demon Seeker Corps are willing to fight to the end for their privileges."
"But the soldiers under these officers may not be willing to follow them in rebellion."
Prince Jarvan thought so, and sent a few loudmouths holding Zaun imported electric speakers to the front of the formation and shouted:
"Brothers from the Demon Hunter Corps!"
"When the dragon surrendered himself to the king, he shouted out his confession in front of the whole city, didn't you hear it?"
"Eldred has already confessed his crime and been sentenced to death. Why are you still following this traitor who secretly colluded with the Demon Infected, controlled the dragon, and attacked the royal city, and did such a heinous thing?"
"Stop resisting, everyone! Demacians don't fight Demacians. We will only punish the ringleaders and leave the rest alone!"
As soon as these words were shouted out, they caused a stir among the defenders on the city wall.
Indeed, they had all heard the accusations that Shyvana had made in the "city-wide public voice chat".
Eldred is the commander of the Demon Hunter Corps, and banning magic is the absolute consensus of all members of the Demon Hunter Corps.
If even Eldred secretly colluded with the Demon Infected and planned the dragon invasion, then what reason do these soldiers have to continue fighting for this legion?
“Don’t listen to their nonsense!” The soldiers had just begun to waver when they heard a general of the Demon Hunter Corps shouting from the top of the city wall: “General Eldred has sent us a message—”
"This is all a conspiracy of the Black Rose!"
"General Eldred was wrongly accused. Those two dragons were puppets controlled by the Black Rose conspirators from the very beginning."
"Your Majesty Jarvan and the Crownguard family have also been controlled by the Black Rose wizard."
"If you don't believe me, just look—" The general pointed to the mage prisoner army led by Lux and Silas under the city: "Look!"
"If His Majesty had not been controlled by those conspirators, how could he have allowed these bug-like demon-tainted sinners to become soldiers of Demacia and even enter the Arch of Triumph as heroes?"
"His Majesty Jarvan has now been completely bewitched by the Demon-Infected, and is bent on persecuting our Demon Hunter Corps and even overturning the Magic Ban."
"If we don't stop those demonic sinners, no one can stop them!"
"Brothers, are you willing to hand this country over to those evil sinners, and let these born bad guys, the embodiment of evil, ride on the heads of the Demacia people forever?"
The demon-hunting general's shout instantly calmed the unstable military morale.
The demon-hunting soldiers on the city wall gradually gained fighting spirit, and suddenly developed a strong resistance to the calls for surrender coming from the people below the city.
"Oh no." Prince Jarvan thought to himself that something was wrong.
He suddenly realized that he had misjudged the mentality of these Demon Hunter soldiers and also misjudged the overall resistance will of the Demon Hunter Corps.
You must know that a strong army is always an army with conviction.
The reason why the armies of Noxus and Demacia are so powerful is largely because they have stronger patriotic sentiments.
While other countries were still in the "Middle Ages", Germany and the Empire were gradually transforming into modern nation-states.
Strictly speaking, the Demon Hunter Corps can also be an army with conviction.
They did not fight for money alone. They did not become Marshal E's soldiers just because they ate Marshal E's food.
What unites them is also an illusory but extremely powerful thing - anti-mage racial revolution.
To be more specific, it is the hatred towards those who are infected with demons.
"I heard that the Demon Hunter Corps likes to recruit orphans who lost their families in mage attacks, and bring them back to the headquarters to train them into reliable grassroots officers." At this time, Zhao Xin also realized that something was wrong.
Oppression always leads to resistance, and there are indeed some extreme mage groups within Demacia.
These mages used extreme violence to retaliate against Demacia's ban on magic, but at the same time, their violence created more people who hated mages.
And these people are the best source of soldiers for the Demon Hunter Corps.
"Besides, hunting down mages is inherently a dangerous job."
"These demon hunters can easily lose their comrades during their normal missions... and once a demon hunter dies in the line of duty, more demon hunters will develop an extreme hatred for the demon-tainted."
"Not to mention, the education they usually receive in the Corps is extremely opposed to mages."
Under such circumstances, the Demon Hunter Corps, especially the Demon Hunter Corps Headquarters...
Almost all the people gathered here, from generals to officers and soldiers, are extreme anti-mage racists who are filled with hatred.
"They were already very dissatisfied when they knew that His Majesty Jarvan allowed the mages to be taken out of the Forbidden Magic Tower and the Mage Penal Army to be established."
"Half a month ago, after hearing what happened at the triumphal ceremony, these people were even more deeply stimulated."
"Now..." General Zhao Xin said to Prince Jarvan with a worried look on his face, "I'm afraid they won't surrender easily."
These soldiers of the Demon Hunter Corps are indeed unwilling to fight against the royal family of Jarvan.
But they firmly support the ban on magic and oppose King Jarvan's various efforts to relax the restrictions on magic.
Now, the generals of the Demon Hunter Corps have escalated their war for power against the Royal Family of Jarvan into a struggle of faith between the Anti-Magic Faction and the "Conspiracy Mage Group" - in the eyes of the soldiers, the nature of this struggle has immediately changed.
Rebellion suddenly became a way to serve the king and the ancestral way to defend Demacia, to protect this pure land from being invaded by demons.
The soldiers of the Demon Hunter Corps were obviously very fond of this.
Looking at the hundreds of mages led by Lux at the foot of the city, their eyes revealed undisguised disgust and hatred.
"Everyone! Hold on!" The general shouted from the top of the city wall again: "We must not let those despicable demon-tainted people succeed!"
"We must rescue His Majesty Jarvan from the clutches of those wizards and protect the sacred forbidden magic case from being destroyed!"
"Everyone, hold on - our reinforcements from all over Debang will respond to us soon!"
"Yes!" The demon hunters responded in unison.
With the support of this extreme anti-mage race, the morale of the Demon Hunter Corps gradually stabilized.
No matter how Prince Jarvan's men shouted outside the city or promised conditions, these soldiers were unwilling to respond easily.
"Let's fight." Zhao Xin sighed softly.
"But..." Prince Jarvan hesitated. Both sides were Demacia warriors, and he would be sad if anyone died.
"Jarven." But Garen also advised him: "We have no other choice."
"If we don't capture the Demon Seekers' headquarters as soon as possible, Demacia will likely be dragged into an endless war."
But Prince Jarvan still couldn't make up his mind. He walked over to Garen and asked tentatively in a low voice, "How about we ask for support from Zaun?"
Please ask Levi to come over, he will definitely win this war with minimal casualties.
"No." Galen shook his head: "Doing so will make too much noise. If people find out about our cooperation with the Leader, then..."
Then it is not a struggle between the royal faction and the anti-magic faction, but a struggle between all the nobles of Demacia and the leaders.
By then, the situation in Demacia will only become more turbulent, and more people will die in the chaos.
With the current number of cadres and administrative capabilities of the Guild of Leaders, even if they defeated the Demacia noble coalition, they would definitely not be able to take over this mess.
"If you don't have the ability to establish a new order, don't rashly break the old order." Galen advised: "It's not appropriate for the leader to intervene now."
"Okay..." Prince Jarvan finally faced the reality.
Persuading them to surrender was useless, and it was impossible to ask for support from superiors.
Then we can only attack by force.
"Okay." Prince Jarvan finally made a decision: "Order the entire army - attack the city!"
"Wait!" Lux's voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
"What's wrong?" Jarvan, Garen, and Xin Zhao all looked over in confusion.
Then Lux looked up at the tall fortress with a subtle expression: "I seem to have a way to undermine the enemy's morale and even easily capture this city."
"What method?" Everyone was puzzled.
"Do you see that?" Lux stretched out a white finger and pointed towards the top of the city.
On top of the towering city wall, a group of demon hunters were trying their best to drag ropes and pulleys, pulling an enormous white statue step by step behind the city wall.
"What is this?" Garen and Jarvan were both slightly stunned.
“This is…” The old general Zhao Xin recognized its origin: “Forbidden Magic Stone Colossus?”
"This guy has been idle outside of Xiongdu City for hundreds of years. I didn't expect that he would be used by the Demon Hunter Corps again."
"I see." Garen and Jarvan both understood the purpose of the colossus: "This is a weapon prepared in advance by the Demon Seekers to deal with the threat of mages."
This was obviously aimed at Lux and the hundreds of mages under her.
"No." But Lux laughed: "It's not a weapon - it's my old friend!"
