"This is… it's because… the royal family of Aryel is allergic to Amber Lead! We can't come into contact with Amber Lead products!"
King Aryel XIII stammered out the excuse, flustered.
It was the royal family's long-standing public explanation, that they suffered from an "Amber Lead allergy." That was why they offered the finest Amber Lead utensils to honored guests, while only using silverware themselves.
Due to their high status, few ever dared to question them directly, so much so that Aryel XIII nearly fumbled the lie from shock.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Cross feigned sudden understanding, then added softly, "And here I thought His Majesty avoided Amber Lead products because he knew they were poisonous."
In that instant, King Aryel XIII's entire body jolted. His fat cheeks quivered with panic, and his terrified gaze locked onto Cross. He accidentally knocked over his wine glass, spilling the rich red liquid across the opulent velvet carpet.
Even the other members of the royal family stared at Cross in astonishment.
"C-Count Cross, you jest! How could Amber Lead possibly be poisonous?" Aryel XIII forced a swallow, struggling to maintain composure, though a tremor betrayed his voice.
"Hmph."
Cross's expression turned stone-cold. He stood abruptly and snapped, "Are you trying to say the royal family of Aryel didn't know Amber Lead was toxic? The audacity! Offering Amber Lead products to senior Marine officials, were you trying to poison the Chief Instructor of the Marines?!"
King Aryel XIII paled. Terror flashed across his eyes as he frantically waved his hands, crying, "No! I-I would never try to harm Zephyr-dono!"
CRASH—!
Cross slammed the table in front of him, flipping it over. Plates, delicacies, and wine crashed onto the polished white tiles in a chaotic mess.
"The Aryel royal family deliberately covered up the toxicity of Amber Lead. For the sake of profit, you turned a blind eye to the suffering of your own people! And now, you even dare use Amber Lead products to poison the Marine leadership? Your crimes are monstrous!"
Cross stood tall in the center of the royal palace's grand hall, his voice thunderous with righteous fury.
To bring justice to the true culprit, one must first seize the moral high ground, exposing their wrongdoing, condemning them publicly, and leaving them no room to justify themselves.
"N-No! It's not true! Amber Lead isn't poisonous!" Aryel XIII shouted in panic, his face drenched in cold sweat.
"Oh really? Then shall I ask Zephyr-sensei to contact the World Government and confirm that?"
Cross's tone sharpened with rising anger as he saw the king still clinging to denial.
At the mention of the World Government, Aryel XIII fell completely silent. His mouth opened and closed several times, but not a single word escaped.
Others might not know the truth, but the World Government certainly did.
And if Zephyr made the inquiry himself, the government wouldn't dare lie, after all, a simple analysis by the Marines would confirm everything.
If that happened, it wouldn't just be Zephyr, the entire Marine force would erupt in fury. That was a scenario the World Government would never want to see.
The government might walk away unscathed, but the Kingdom of Flevance, and the Aryel royal family, would undoubtedly face the Marines' wrath.
In that moment, Aryel XIII collapsed weakly onto his throne, his body trembling, and muttered in a low, broken voice:
"I didn't… I swear I didn't mean to poison Zephyr-dono… A few uses of Amber Lead products wouldn't cause Amber Lead Syndrome…"
The queen, princes, and princesses around him all looked at Cross in horror.
Attempting to poison a high-ranking Marine officer, that was a crime so severe, not even a king could escape its consequences unscathed.
Ssshhhhh—
A collective gasp echoed throughout the resplendent throne room.
Ministers, generals, servants, maids, and palace guards, every single one of them stared at Aryel XIII with expressions of utter dread.
So that's why the Aryel royal family never used Amber Lead products. Not even the palace walls were painted with lead-based materials.
It was true, Amber Lead really was poisonous!
And Amber Lead Syndrome… it had originated from the mines all along.
The truth was, to keep the secret of Amber Lead's toxicity hidden, even the kingdom's own ministers, generals, and palace staff had been kept in the dark.
But now that the truth had surfaced... what commoner in Flevance hadn't used Amber Lead products? Who among them hadn't once worked in the mines?
At that moment, Zephyr slowly rose to his feet, his face darkened, his eyes ablaze with fury.
"To think you would sacrifice the lives of your own citizens for money… You are not fit to be king."
Zephyr's voice rang out like a thunderclap.
Aryel XIII panicked, shouting, "Guards! Guards! Protect me!"
But no one moved.
The ministers, generals, soldiers, all stared coldly at their king. Not one of them came to his defense. Every gaze brimmed with fury… and killing intent.
Because except for outsiders like Zephyr and Cross, and the "Amber Lead allergic" royal family, who among them hadn't lost loved ones to Amber Lead Syndrome?
And now, the true culprit… was the very ruler they had served.
So how could they possibly protect him?
Seeing that no one heeded his call, Aryel XIII's fear turned to rage. His voice cracked as he screamed, "Traitors! Are you all rebelling?! Bastards! Bastards! I'll have every last one of you hanged at the harbor!"
Then, like a madman, Aryel XIII leapt to his feet and pointed furiously at Zephyr and Cross.
"You two wretched bastards! So what if you're Marines?! As long as I kill everyone who knows the truth, I'll say you tried to assassinate me! The World Government and Marines won't care about two dead men!"
"Dark Guard!!!"
With a furious roar, a hidden panel opened behind the throne. Dozens of fully-armored elite guards poured out, surrounding the royal family.
"Oh? Assassins, is it…"
Cross narrowed his eyes, scanning the armored soldiers. He chuckled darkly. "Are you seriously underestimating the Marines' top combat power?"
Aryel XIII, emboldened by his reinforcements, straightened up smugly.
"Hmph. A retired geezer and a little brat. What can the two of you do? I have fifty elite assassins right here. Killing you both will be as easy as breathing."
"Tch… What a load of crap."
Zephyr's voice rumbled with impatience. "In the name of justice, I sentence you to immediate execution."
The moment the words left his lips, Zephyr stomped the ground. A web of cracks spread from his foot across the pristine tile floor.
Like a beast unchained, he exploded forward, kicking up a fierce wind.
BOOM—!
In an instant, Zephyr tore into the enemy ranks like a wolf among sheep. With sheer physical might, he plowed through a dozen assassins, scattering their formation in seconds.
Fifty elite guards?
Not a single one was capable of withstanding even one blow from Zephyr.
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