Chapter 249 Chapter248-The Imperial Prime Minister, Duke Dinan
Upon hearing Valerie's introduction, John nodded slowly.
He noticed a subtle halo of purple light surrounding the palace, likely some sort of magical protection.
"This palace is one of the largest structures on the continent and a symbol of the Northern Myst Empire's power," Valerie continued, a touch of pride coloring his voice.
Guided by Valerie, the group weaved their way through throngs of people towards the royal palace.
Shops lined the streets on either side, their signs aglow with an ever-changing spectrum of magical light, a fierce assault on the eyes.
NPCs bustled about the streets in hurried strides, while others beckoned for business within their shops.
Soon, they stood before the palace gates.
Two colossal golden dragon statues guarded the entrance, their scales shimmering as if poised to spring to life.
Even John was captivated by the grand spectacle, and Blue Sea and Adam were left utterly astonished.
The immersive experience made them momentarily forget they were merely avatars in a virtual world.
Valerie greeted the guards and stated their purpose for the visit.
Eyebrows raised, the guards scanned their unfamiliar faces—a rare occurrence indeed.
After a brief relay, another guard emerged to inform them they were granted entrance.
As they crossed the threshold of the hefty palace doors, a scene of resplendent grandeur unfurled before them.
The exquisite decor and majestic hallways were awe-inspiring.
Countless NPCs milled about—some were officials and nobles garbed in splendid attire, exuding grandiosity; others were likely guards, standing upright in gleaming armor, clutching various magical weapons with solemn faces, clearly powerful individuals.
Crossing a small bridge within the palace, a burst of fragrance filled the air.
They found themselves in a vast garden, a sea of vividly colored flowers stretching into the distance, irresistibly drawing their eyes.
At the garden's heart stood a towering plant that arrested everyone's attention.
Shaped like a gigantic, emerald-green umbrella, its intoxicating aroma seemed to envelop the senses.
Graceful maids gathered around the colossal plant, murmuring delicate incantations for its upkeep while their hands never ceased their tender ministrations.
"A plant of this size, inside the palace?" John, intrigued, activated his Eye of Artemis, only for the information he received to sharpen his gaze.
[Nature God Tree (Lord-level Boss): An ancient divine tree with special healing abilities, cultivated from the World Tree saplings of the Elf race...]
"This isn't just a plant; it's a large-scale healing artifact!" John thought, taken aback by the revelation.
As they passed by, Blue Sea, driven by curiosity, stepped forward and asked, "Lovely lady, may I inquire what this magical plant is used for?"
One of the maids looked up and smiled, "This is the Nature God Tree. It has miraculous healing properties, capable of curing various ailments and injuries. Additionally, its leaves and branches are precious alchemical ingredients."
Blue Sea and Adam exchanged incredulous glances, as if they couldn't trust their own ears.
Leaving the garden behind, Valerie led John and his friends to a hall of resplendent opulence.
Seated at the heart of this grand chamber was an elegant middle-aged man with a long beard, smiling warmly as he observed the newcomers.
He was a figure of commanding authority, his aura rich and deep—a man who clearly wielded immense power and had long been accustomed to high office.
Silently, John activated his Eye of Artemis:
[Duke Dinan: Prime Minister of the Northern Myst Empire, second only to the Emperor in real power, head of the political affairs department, highly respected throughout the Northern Myst Empire, also a formidable Grand Archmage...]
[Level: 480]
"No wonder his aura feels so profound. He's just one step away from reaching the demi-god level," John thought, realization washing over him.
Valerie bowed deeply before Duke Dinan, "Honorable Prime Minister, these are the three young individuals I've mentioned in our correspondence. They bring news of an invasion by The Devil..."
The Duke's face turned solemn, his eyes clouded with a mix of concern and tension.
After a moment's silence, he relaxed his expression and nodded slightly.
"Valerie, you've done well... Young ones, I've heard you've defeated the Desire Devil Mammon, a commendable feat indeed. You've saved countless lives, and for that, you have my deepest admiration."
It was clear that Valerie had already relayed all of John's information to Duke Dinan in their previous correspondence.
John offered a subtle smile and spoke softly, "Thank you for your kind words, Prime Minister. We merely did what we could."
A glimmer of approval flashed in Duke Dinan's eyes as he pondered briefly before speaking, "The invasion of The Devil is a significant calamity for all races of the Godslayer Continent."
"Before your arrival, I'd been in contact with the leadership of the Easternwood Empire as well as other races. Though no precise information about the descent of other Devils has been confirmed, there have been some intensely brutal mass slaughters in various parts of the continent recently—events that bear the hallmarks of the Devils' monstrous malevolence."
John's brow furrowed subtly as he queried, "Might I ask where exactly these mass slaughters took place?"
With a wave of his hand, Duke Dinan signaled for an attendant, who quickly unfurled a massive map on the table. A few locations were prominently marked.
"Could these be the locations?"
"Indeed," Duke Dinan sighed, his tone taking on a darker shade. "These are the sites of the tragedies."
John was silent for a moment, scanning the marked spots scattered erratically across the map, revealing no discernible pattern.
Duke Dinan continued, "After these slaughters occurred, each nation sent elite investigation teams to probe into the matter, but no traces of Devils were found. Had you not brought this news, no one would have suspected that these massacres were Devil-related."
A deep sense of foreboding settled in John's heart.
The ramifications of the Devil's descent were already manifesting so soon.
He pondered briefly before asking, "Prime Minister, were there any signs or omens before these mass slaughters took place?"
Duke Dinan gave a rueful smile, "Sadly, no. These heinous acts seem to have happened out of the blue, with no forewarning. We could only watch helplessly as innocent lives were snuffed out overnight."
John sighed internally. This was the terrifying aspect of the abyssal Devils: not just their overpowering strength, but also their unpredictable, brutal methods.
It was already happening on Godslayer Continent, but what if, once the two worlds merged, the Devils set their eyes upon the real world?
John shuddered to think of the untold tragedies that might unfold.
After a moment's pause, he inquired again, "So, are these mass slaughters still ongoing?"
Duke Dinan nodded solemnly. "Yes, new massacres have occurred quite recently. Despite the best efforts of the leaders from all major races, we have been unable to entirely contain the Devils' destruction... This is nothing short of a naked war!"
"What I fail to understand," Duke Dinan continued, "is how these Devils dare to descend upon Godslayer Continent in such a brazen manner to commit their slaughters?"
John pondered for a moment before speaking, "Perhaps the invasion of the Devils is not a matter of chance. We learned from the Desire Devil Mammon that an internal conflict has occurred in the Abyss. Bael, the leader of the 72 Devils, has seized control from the previous Demon Emperor, becoming the new ruler of the Abyss."
"A few Devils who did not acknowledge Bael's rule were wounded and expelled by him, landing on Godslayer Continent as vanguards for the Abyssal invasion."
Duke Dinan's face tightened, and he took a deep breath, fixing his hawk-like gaze on John. "If what you say is true, does it not signify that we are on the brink of a war for our very existence?"
John nodded, sensing the weighty concern and tension in Duke Dinan's voice.
As Prime Minister of the Northern Myst Empire, Duke Dinan bore the heavy responsibility of protecting the nation and its people.
Faced with this impending crisis, he must make a wise decision.
"Young man, your information is invaluable. The Empire must prepare for this. I will immediately convene an emergency meeting with the royal family, nobles, and generals to discuss how to address the looming threat of war."
Duke Dinan's eyes were resolute.
John nodded subtly, but heard Duke Dinan continue: "Before we can fully prepare for this war, we must first deal with these accursed Devils who have surreptitiously descended upon us."
[System Alert: You have triggered a hidden quest (Hunt Devil). This quest is extremely dangerous, with a 99.99% chance of death. Do you accept?]
John's gaze met those of Blue Sea and Adam, who had been silent at his side.
As he'd suspected, their venture into the imperial capital was fated to set off a hidden quest.
A faint smile curved the corners of John's mouth.
The very reason he and Valerie had come to the imperial capital to meet the famously formidable Prime Minister was to trigger this hidden quest.
With Devils descending and wreaking slaughter, how could there not be a hidden quest?
Without a moment's hesitation, John chose to accept.
Seeing his nod, Blue Sea and Adam followed suit, also accepting the hidden quest.
Their thoughts were simple: with Galewind as their vanguard, they would surely be able to ride on his coattails to some extent.
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