Sitting on the throne, Lin Tian's mind grew increasingly unsettled.
The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became.
Something about this whole situation didn't sit right with him.
Quickly, he rushed outside, wanting to ask a few more questions.
On the streets, the One-Eyed Owl and her group, laden with their packs, were heading toward the city gates.
Their reputation was already widespread, and ever since joining the Goblin Empire, they'd become even more famous.
Their sudden departure immediately attracted a crowd of onlookers from among the demi-humans and monsters.
"What's going on?"
"The One-Eyed Owl is leaving?"
"Did things fall apart with His Goblin Majesty?"
"It shouldn't be like that; from His Majesty's expression, it seemed like they already, well… you know."
"Why is this happening out of nowhere?"
"Could it be that His Majesty couldn't satisfy her?"
"What a shame."
"Good thing the lands are already unified."
"Otherwise, losing a strong ally like her would be a huge blow to the Goblin Empire."
Among the murmurs, Lin Tian's voice called out from behind, "Wait!"
"Big Sis, are you sure this is what you want?"
"Traveling, where to?"
"There are no more powerful opponents out there to train against."
"If you go to the Uninhabited Zone, you're heading to certain death!"
From Scarlett's capabilities alone, he could tell that none of the seven lords were to be trifled with.
The One-Eyed Owl and her companions wouldn't stand a chance if they went.
They'd be obliterated.
Hearing this, the One-Eyed Owl stopped, stunned and confused. "I… I don't know why either."
"I just suddenly felt like I had to go out and roam."
"Are you planning to run off with the Full Moon-class magical artifact?"
"Or are you really going to leave me to face those angels alone?"
Lin Tian's voice was joking, but he couldn't fully mask his concern.
The One-Eyed Owl herself felt confused. "I… I can't explain it."
"I just don't feel comfortable staying."
"If the angels come to attack, I'll return to help."
"Will that do?"
Osius and Grugia shared the same resolve. "Brother Tian, we're sorry, but we have to follow Big Sis…"
"You bunch of ingrates!"
"You eat my food, use my resources, and you won't even stay?"
Lin Tian said this in mock anger, though a hint of real frustration slipped through.
In response, Osius and Grugia knelt abruptly, as did the other members of the Dragon-Slaying Guild, who knocked their heads against the ground in respect.
Then, together, they followed the One-Eyed Owl out of the city.
Among the onlooking crowd of demi-humans and monsters, a black-cloaked figure, Gallows, smirked and chuckled quietly.
Scarlett, too, was in the crowd, muttering to herself, "That troublesome guy does have his tricks."
"He's managed to pry a powerful general from Lin Tian's side."
"Is she really that strong?"
Hir asked indifferently.
Scarlett nodded, explaining, "I did some digging."
"She possesses a magical artifact forged by dwarves, and her power rivals that of a Great Demon King at the very least."
"Did you see how pained he looked?"
Gallows sneered with a vicious smile. "I'll make him suffer even more!"
Shortly after Lin Tian returned to the palace, Sara arrived to bid farewell. "Your Majesty, there's a situation in the Kingdom of Troy."
"I must return to take charge."
"I'm sorry, but I have to leave for now."
Lin Tian's brows knitted tightly.
"What's going on?"
"Are you telling me you're not coming back?"
"Probably not."
"My father has suddenly fallen gravely ill, and if he doesn't make it, I'll have to take over the Troy Empire…"
Sara apologized with evident regret.
Hearing this, Lin Tian's alarm bells rang.
Something was undeniably off here.
Nine out of ten, something was very wrong!
They were all leaving as if they'd never see him again.
On the surface, it made perfect sense, but on a deeper level, it did not.
First, there was the One-Eyed Owl, supposedly going out to train, even though there was nowhere left to train.
Then, Sara, who had always been utterly loyal to him, would have easily been able to install a new king in Troy if her father died.
She could have continued following him.
But now, she insisted on going back to manage the Troy Empire.
Even so, Lin Tian didn't force her to stay.
She wouldn't be able to run far, after all.
"Go ahead and handle your affairs, then."
"And by the way, learn more of Troy's secret arts while you're there, so you can summon even more powerful creatures."
"Understood!"
With that, Sara left.
But no sooner had she gone than another figure strode briskly into the hall, a striking silhouette clad in armor and bearing a sword.
It was Alicenia.
Lin Tian felt his heart sink. "Alice?!"
"Don't tell me you're leaving, too?"
"No, Lin Tian, I came to tell you something important."
Alice's expression was stern, her tone icy!
Her entire aura radiated sharpness, an intense, overwhelming presence.
Lin Tian's brows furrowed tightly.
"What's going on?"
"Swish!"
Alice suddenly drew her Ominous Blade. "I've realized something—you are the true source of evil!"
"I have to redeem myself!"
"What?"
"Wasn't your fall something you accepted willingly?"
"You told me that from the beginning, didn't you?"
Lin Tian's face was full of shock, and he leapt up from his throne.
Something was very wrong!
Someone was manipulating him!
Alice stood there, dazed for a moment, clutching her head in clear pain. "I… I regret it now."
"I'm giving everything back to you."
"Next time we meet, I'll kill you!"
Clang!
With that, she dropped the Ominous Blade onto the ground, along with her lightweight armor.
Without a backward glance, she strode out of the hall.
Lin Tian stood there, utterly stunned.
"Damn it!"
"Who the hell is messing with me?!"
If Alice truly regretted it, she wouldn't have chosen this moment.
And she certainly wouldn't have risked her life fighting angels for him!
Someone was definitely pulling strings against him!
"System, activate Life Simulation!"
Unable to think of another solution, Lin Tian immediately triggered a life simulation to see if it could shed light on the situation.
…
Outside the palace.
A projection hovered in front of Gallows, allowing him to see and hear everything experienced by those under his "Curse of Envy."
"Hahaha!"
"Look at his shocked, angry expression!"
"It's so satisfying!"
"So satisfying!"
Gallows gloated, wriggling his fingers with barely contained excitement, looking gleeful in his own disgusting way.
Even Scarlett, who loathed Lin Tian deeply, felt a twist of discomfort at Gallows's depravity. She turned to him and said, "I'll admit, you're quite effective."
"I'm grateful, too—it's good to see that cursed goblin suffer."
But she couldn't deny that this method was vicious beyond belief.
Stabbing Lin Tian directly would have been brutal, but she'd never considered stripping him of everything and leaving him to die in despair and isolation.
Yet, now there was no going back.
Gallows was utterly consumed by his pleasure at Lin Tian's anguish, showing no sign of stopping.
For him, nothing was more entertaining.
There had once been a king of a Demigod Empire who had been driven mad by the "Curse of Envy" and finally took his own life.
The king's successor met an equally tragic end.
In the end, no one dared take the throne, and the empire was simply declared defunct.
"You're insane."
"If you push that goblin too far, you'd better be ready to hide,"
Hir muttered, struggling to hide her disgust. Had she been subjected to the "Curse of Envy" herself, she'd have reached a level of rage that knew no bounds.
This kind of torment was the sort of thing that could drive anyone over the edge.