Chapter 384: 382 Phoenix_1
Half-Elf Palace.

Duke Miller, noticing the sudden absence of his sister’s cries from the delivery room, was instantly filled with doubt and asked, “Why is it quiet? Has the baby already been born?”

But after waiting for a while, he shook his head and muttered to himself, “That’s not right, I haven’t heard the baby’s cry either.”

Colin, who had remained silent up until now, finally turned around. With a strange smile on his face, he asked Duke Miller:

“What did the Easterner promise you?”

“What?!” Duke Miller was taken aback, his face filled with astonishment.

Without saying anything, Colin simply stared at him, a jesting glimmer in his eyes as if his prey had already taken the bait.

Duke Miller composed himself and tried to sound casual, “Count, shouldn’t we go in and see what is actually happening in there?”

“What do you think has happened?” asked Colin with a smile.

“Well… How would I know, it would be best if we went in to check…”

“Then what do you expect has happened?”

“I… Of course I expect to see Queen Isa give birth to a healthy baby!” Duke Miller tried to maintain a relaxed tone.

However, Colin still caught a hint of deep-seated fear and panic in his eyes.

“Unfortunately, it seems your expectations may fall short,” Colin feigned a sigh, acting as if he was really regretful for Duke Miller.

“Why?”

“Because Her Majesty the Queen is not giving birth at all.” After saying this, Colin folded his arms across his chest and stared with interest at Duke Miller, anticipating his reaction.

With his mouth wide open, Duke Miller laughed awkwardly, saying, “Count… You’re joking with me…right?”

“I’m not joking with you,” Colin said with a serious tone, “This was a trap Queen Isa and I set together, to see what big fish we could catch. Surprisingly, Duke Miller, we caught you!”

“Count, I don’t quite understand what you mean…” Duke Miller was still trying to resist.

Colin chuckled, saying, “Duke Miller, you know what? I particularly enjoy watching the prey struggle desperately in a trap. Each futile resistance they make for their survival is so deeply touching, yet so foolishly funny.”

Duke Miller’s demeanor finally fell apart; beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. He opened his mouth wanting to argue, but couldn’t find the right words to say.

It seemed that Colin had no intention to listen to Duke Miller’s explanation. He continued, “In fact, from the very beginning, I was curious about the real trump card of those rebellious forces in Silver Moon City.

Those Half-Elf merchants certainly couldn’t have been it. Even if they had the courage to burn all their food storage, what of it? The North Territory would just have a tough winter, but they certainly couldn’t have the ability to change the situation in Silver Moon City.

As for the Silver Moon Guards, with the Blood Knight Army in the city, what chance could they have? Even if they hide in the alleys and use the terrain to undermine the Blood Knight Army’s greatest advantage, what could they accomplish?

Even if the Blood Knight Army dismounted, they are still the elite of the elite. They may not be able to achieve an overwhelming victory, but if the Silver Moon Guards think that they can defeat the Blood Knight Army this way, they are being far too naive!

So, I realized quite early on that there must be some other trump card behind the Rebel Army. Otherwise, they would not dare to court death.

What could that be?”

As he reached this point, Colin menacingly advanced towards Duke Miller. The intensity in his gaze and his oppressive aura made it impossible for Miller to hold his ground; he was forced to bow his head in submission.

“To figure this out, Queen Isa and I concocted this scene together. She pretended to be in labor, tricking the rebel forces into believing she’s at her most vulnerable. In this way, we could see their true colors.

What I didn’t expect was that the rebels’ trump card would be the Miller Family!”

Faced with Colin’s blunt accusation, Duke Miller remained silent, seemingly admitting to it by default.

Yet Colin didn’t seem to care, he laughingly continued, “But to tell the truth, I wasn’t that surprised.

When you were able to force Isa into a marriage with a king who was nearing death, it already proved that in your eyes, she was never considered family.

And so, this time, you didn’t hesitate to sacrifice Isa again.”

“If there are complications with Isa’s delivery, well then, Duke Miller, you should be able to smoothly succeed to the throne of the Half-Elf Kingdom, right?”

“Do you think I did this for the throne?” Duke Miller finally raised his head, glaring at Colin, and bellowed in a low voice.

“Oh? Then why?” Colin asked with great interest.

“I did it for the Half-Elf Kingdom!” Duke Miller declared with righteousness.

“Heh—” Colin couldn’t help but scoff.

In the face of Colin’s mockery, Duke Miller clenched his fists and said forcefully, “Colin Angler! Why don’t you think about why this rebellion has caused such a huge commotion? Almost every single Half-Elf noble, general, soldier, merchant, they are all rebelling?

Because they know, that whore Isa is not fit to be the king of the Half-Elves!

She is nothing but a puppet used by you to control the Half-Elves!

With her in power, our Half-Elf interests will never be protected!”

“Really?” Colin stroked his chin and asked indifferently, “So how exactly have we infringed on the interests of the Half-Elves?”

“You forcibly buy up the grains of the Half-Elves at low prices…”

“The Easterners, however, demand that you destroy all your grain. At the very least, I’m willing to pay.”

“You forcibly dispatched the Silver Moon Guards, having Half-Elf warriors shed blood and die for you…”

“Silver Moon Guards are only helping me to guard the territory in the North Territory. I did not send them to fight any hard battles, nor did I use them as cannon fodder!”

“Humph, no matter how you argue, right now the Half-Elf Kingdom is nothing but your puppet!”

“Well then, respected Duke Miller, once you ascend to the throne, wouldn’t you be a puppet in the hands of the Easterners?”

“I…” Duke Miller’s face turned red and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Colin sneered coldly, disdainfully saying, “What ‘for the Half-Elf Kingdom’? That’s nothing but an excuse to ease your conscience. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to sleep at night, right?

If you’re going to fight for power, then just plainly admit it. That would make me respect you more.

But, if you join this game of power, then when you lose, besides accepting it gracefully, any further explanation will only make you a joke.”

After saying that, Colin turned and walked toward the delivery room.

At the same time, two men in armor silently appeared behind Duke Miller and restrained him.

Duke Miller struggled violently, while screaming for Colin’s mercy: “Count, Sir Count! I admit defeat, I admit defeat! You can’t kill me, can’t kill me! I am Isa’s own brother, her own brother…”

Shhh!

With a flash of cold light, Duke Miller’s cries abruptly stopped.

With a thud, a bloody skull fell to the ground.

Inside the delivery room, Lady Sharon had fainted. It was unclear whether it was out of fear or shame.

Seeing Colin walk in, Queen Isa, who was leaning on the bed, showed a bright smile. She was about to say something but suddenly noticed that the night sky outside the window lit up.

Colin also looked out the window in surprise.

The pitch-black night sky turned bright red in an instant, as if a huge fire in the city had spread to the sky.

But of course, Colin knew that the flames on the ground could not reach the heavens. Just as he was preparing to go out and see what was happening, a phoenix of golden light suddenly burst forth from those heavenly flames!

With an air of arrogance, the image of the phoenix flew through the night sky before anyone could react, swiftly circling around over the Half-Elf Palace, and then dispersed into tiny sparks of light, eventually vanishing entirely.

Colin furrowed his eyebrows, about to inquire, when Queen Isa, looking pained, clutched her stomach and said:

“Colin, I think I really am going into labour this time!”