YOUR KING!

The following day. Noon.

The situation throughout the city seemed bustling as usual. However, it appeared to be slightly different.

There were disturbances here and there, resulting from excessive teasing and provocation by one individual towards another.

Whether it was a man towards a woman or vice versa, they exhibited uncontrollable behavior, leading to several reports of attempted rape reaching the military and city guards' ears.

Perhaps if the guards were not informed about the toxic substance, they would handle the cases as they usually did.

They would detain the perpetrator for a while and release them after paying a fine and receiving advice. Such reports came in constantly because Ashur was an entertainment city.

There were many depraved individuals who would engage in such acts.

However, now the cases are increasing rapidly. Having obtained secret information from the upper echelons, the guards knew the cause of the escalating incidents.

To deal with it, the guards immediately apprehended and restrained those who could no longer control their lust in iron cages, which were then placed on large carts.

This way, when the evacuation plan commenced, the prisoners could be easily transported.

Such incidents had been occurring more frequently in the past few hours, instilling a sense of terror in the bustling city of Ashur.

The citizens were unaware of the underlying reasons behind these events.

However, they could sense the fear and tension from the serious expressions of every city guard, as if they were awaiting the end of the world.

Furthermore, the nobles and important figures in the city couldn't hide their fear.

They had all been informed by Halima about Ashur's current situation through a secret message.

The evacuation plan was also in motion, waiting for the right moment.

Halima had asked everyone to act normal and not to alert King Mandora. However, this was proving difficult for most of the nobles.

They were unwilling to risk their lives. As a result, the intention to escape arose.

Unfortunately, Halima had anticipated this and positioned several elite guards around their houses to thwart their escape plans.

Halima not only didn't want to alert Asmodeus, but she also knew that the nobles and prominent figures had consumed Lusting poison.

She couldn't let them flee to their respective homes before providing them with an antidote.

Halima worked tirelessly to keep everything under control. The increasing weariness on her face revealed that she had reached her peak exhaustion. However, she wouldn't allow herself to stop.

Many lives were in her hands.

The confrontation between Prince Hanibal and Asmodeus was only two hours away.

Halima had to prepare everything meticulously to facilitate a swift and efficient evacuation.

"Asmodeus... Can we defeat him?" Halima wondered.

She didn't know the extent of the demon's power. However, Cien had mentioned that all of Ashur's forces combined were no match for him.

Now, with Hanibal's presence, would it be enough?

Halima began to doubt. She had followed Prince Hanibal's orders by sending a considerable number of Ashur's knights and adventurers to a location approximately five kilometers from the city walls.

The total strength of the army was around three thousand people.

Facing a single Asmodeus. Would that be enough? Halima felt foolish for questioning when the numbers seemed so disparate. But her heart remained restless.

***

Two hours later.

The bustling atmosphere of the city instantly transformed into calmness.

In the streets of Ashur, city guards were on alert, making every citizen even more anxious. They sensed that something strange was happening.

They still didn't know what it was, but they could feel that something significant was about to occur, judging from the increased security at every corner of the city.

Everyone whispered in wonder, but the citizens remained clueless.

Only those in the upper class knew. All of them had been confined to their respective residences by Halima, so that they could comply with her wishes.

Elsewhere, on a street leading to the Royal Family's residence, a young man with wavy brown hair and amber-colored eyes walked towards the gate with a smile.

No one in the Royal Family had any knowledge of Hanibal's plan. So when some guards saw Hanibal at the gate, they were surprised. They immediately stood at attention, saluting the Crown Prince.

However, there was a hint of nervousness on their faces. Hanibal could certainly sense it.

"Where is my father?"

"Your Highness..."

Everyone hesitated to answer that question. They were aware of what King Mandora was currently doing—sleeping surrounded by a group of entertainers.

It could be a disaster for the Royal Family if Prince Hanibal caught him in the act.

"Why can't you answer? He is inside, isn't he?"

"Y-Yes. Your Highness..."

Hanibal simply passed through the gate without paying attention to the feeble resistance of the guards.

He noticed the panicked faces of the guards, but he didn't care about them at all at the moment.

Upon entering the residence's door, the servants were startled to see Prince Hanibal.

One of them then ran to call the Royal Advisor.

The Prince pulled one of the servants and forced her to lead the way to his father's room.

Passing through several rooms, everyone was truly stunned by Hanibal's arrival.

Everyone, except for a few individuals who seemed emotionless. Including Dion Bahman, who apparently had been in the King's residence all along.

Hanibal glanced at Dion, recalling Halima's message not to harm her nephew.

'Hypnosis, huh... This demon is truly playing with terrifying intentions.'

Hanibal thought as he continued to his father's room.

Before arriving in front of his father's room, the Royal Advisor, who had been informed by the servant, arrived with sweat streaming down his face, approaching Prince Hanibal.

"Your Highness, I don't think this is a good time!"

"A good time? Then this must be a bad time, right? That's all the more reason for me to meet with Father, because bad times call for emergency situations."

"..."

The Advisor was momentarily stunned, confused by his own words. He quickly shook his head, dismissing his thoughts.

"Your Highness!"

The Advisor tried to halt Prince Hanibal's progress.

He was afraid that chaos would ensue in the Royal Family if Hanibal caught his father having hired many women. However, his efforts were in vain.

Hanibal had arrived in front of the guarded room, which was being watched over by a single guard.

The guard would be very familiar to Cien because he was the man who led the troops into his inn.

The guard was taken aback when he saw Hanibal approaching, seemingly about to break down the door.

"Your Highness! I'm sorry, but I cannot let you disturb His Majesty's sleep!"

The guard said, blocking Hanibal's path.

"Sleep? In the middle of the day like this? That's not like the Father I know."

"..."

The guard fell silent and couldn't reply.

Not to mention Prince Hanibal, even he, who had always been the king's guard, had noticed a change in King Mandora over the past few months. Maybe even a year.

However, he thought it was due to conflicts within the Royal Family.

Perhaps there was a problem with the Queen, which led King Mandora to behave like this. So, although the guard was suspicious, he didn't take excessive action based on his suspicions.

"Step aside, Zakaria!"

Hanibal commanded the guard named Zakaria not to block his path.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but it is my duty not to allow anyone to enter. Including you."

"Hoo~"

Hanibal's clenched fist instantly shines, and quickly, he chants a spell while delivering a punch to Zakaria's stomach.

"[Harden]."

Bam!

"Uhak!"

Zakaria, who was struck hard, stumbled and collided with the door of the room, crashing through it and flying into the wall next to King Abayomi's bed.

Those who were sleeping inside were instantly awakened. The seven women and King Mandora were startled.

They saw a figure standing at the doorway, staring at them with a cold expression.

King Mandora looked at the figure and let out a long sigh.

"Sigh... So, it's you, Hanibal. I didn't expect you to visit Ashur. How long has it been since you left the palace?" said King Mandora, getting off his bed naked.

The women huddled together, covering themselves with trembling bodies.

Hanibal raised an eyebrow upon seeing this.

"Hm?"

King Mandora opened his arms, intending to embrace his son who had been gone on an adventure for a long time. However, he instead saw Hanibal looking at him with cold eyes.

"What's the matter, Hanibal?"

"Why would you do this, Father? Does Mother know?"

"Haish! How could I tell your mother? Well, you know... " Abayomi approached his son's ear and whispered, "She's no longer able to please me. So this is all I can do."

Hanibal was stunned to hear that. "Are you serious?"

"Come on, Hanibal. It's not uncommon among nobles! I just realized it a little late."

"..."

Hanibal fell silent, then glanced at the women on the bed, causing them to shudder in fear.

Hanibal was a Champion, one of the strongest individuals in the entire Kastia. How could they not be afraid when they saw his icy gaze?

"You all, get out of here," Hanibal commanded coldly, immediately obeyed by the women.

They hurriedly fled, disregarding their abandoned clothes.

"Hey, hey, hey, Hanibal. It seems like you lack education about the adult world," someone remarked.

"Is that all you want to say?" Hanibal replied.

"Hm? What do you mean? And you... I'm your father, mind your language, son!"

King Mandora turned around and began searching for clothes to put on.

But as soon as he took a step forward, his hair stood on end. He turned around and strengthened his body with [Physical Amplification], warding off a dangerous spear of sand.

Bam!

The guards and Royal Advisor who had arrived were taken aback. They never expected Prince Hanibal to attack his own father like that.

"Your Highness, calm yourself!" the Advisor said, attempting to soothe Hanibal.

Zakaria, who had just woken up, was speechless, witnessing the scene before him. But when he saw King Mandora, his gaze turned cold.

"Hey, Hanibal! What have you just done?! Attacking your own father, who is a king, is still a criminal act! Are you insane?!"

King Mandora shouted, showing no signs of injury. He was simply dusting off the sand that had settled on his body.

Jleb!

Before Hanibal and those around the gate could react to King Mandora's shout, the tip of a sword pierced the King's back, penetrating his heart and jutting out from his chest.

"Ughhh! YOOUUU!!!"

King Mandora, spitting blood, turned his head to look behind him, seeing Zakaria had suddenly stabbed him.

"Who are you?" Ask Zakaria with a cold tone.

"YOUR KING!"

"No, Your Majesty cannot use [Physical Amplification]. So, WHO THE FU*K ARE YOU?!"

Hanibal himself didn't expect Zakaria to stab King Mandora from behind.

He was stunned for a moment, but quickly a wide smile formed in his face. Both of his hands began to shine with magic circles.

"Let's do this!"