From Secret Clan to the Divine Dynasty

"Choose the new king."

In the profound corridors of the palace, numerous Cyart nobles stood solemnly, their silhouettes casting long shadows beneath the resplendent murals and intricate chandeliers.

The air was tinged with a faint scent of sandalwood, accompanied by the deep, solemn tones of an organ from the distant music pond, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and authority.

Some Cyart nobles wore gem-encrusted magnificent armor with swords at their waists symbolizing their family's honor, while others donned elaborate formal attire, exuding both elegance and a hint of unapproachable pride.

They could hear the footsteps of court attendants treading lightly in the distance, and the occasional faint clink of metal, which sounded especially clear in the echoed chambers of the palace.

The venerable Silver Hermit looked upon the many nobles from the great families and nodded calmly.

"The second Cyart ruler of the Adley Royal Family will be chosen between two people."

"And as a Cardinal of the Salvation Church, I will bear witness to this kingship election."

"Prince Baine Adley, Prince Noah Adley—I presume everyone has an impression of these two. You may now express your opinions, and after everyone has shared their thoughts, we shall begin the vote."

The Silver Hermit paused briefly before continuing, "The voting will be anonymous, so rest assured, no one will know which way you've chosen, and you won't offend anyone, regardless of your choice."

"The Salvation Church has two votes, the Adley Royal Family has three, and the remaining seven great families each have one vote to cast."

"If the result is a tie, then only the votes of the Church and the Adley Royal Family will be counted, and a recalculation will occur."

She concluded, "I swear to the great Lord of Salvation that the method of election I've just described follows the will of the former Cyart King; I will witness the entire process to ensure impartiality!"

Byrne pondered for a moment. In other words, there were a total of twelve votes, with a possibility of a tie, but if a tie did occur, the new king's birth would be entirely in the hands of the Salvation Church and the Adley Royal Family.

He remained silent for a while, having already calculated the likely distribution of votes in his mind.

In fact, in the past few days, Aldrich, the "Dragon Taming Lord," had completely persuaded both the Frosac and the Jones families, asking that all four families support Prince Baine!

"Support Prince Baine, as it is more advantageous for our faction. Prince Baine is a traditionalist; he will likely continue most of the policies set by the former Cyart King."

"Choosing that ambitious Prince Noah, who is set on strengthening himself, could lead to him neglecting the nation. In that case, Marquis Vlad, that opportunist, will certainly seek more power. Internal conflicts may even intensify in the short term, which would be bad for us."

Aldrich analytically considered the potential outcomes.

"Since we have Byrne's strength, the longer we can delay, the more formidable individuals our families will have, which gives us an increasingly favorable situation."

"Vote for Prince Baine."

The lighting in the palace, filtered through the stained glass windows, cast the nobles' faces in shadow and light.

They conversed in hushed tones, stood silent, and in the exchange of glances, stories and secrets seemed to pass surreptitiously between them, creating a mysterious ambiance throughout the palace.

Byrne, Chris, and Darren also approached Aldrich and "Blazing Fire" Amos.

He observed the conversing nobles and shook his head slowly.

"Is there still a need for discussion? Haven't everyone already decided on their choice in the past few days, or even before arriving?"

Aldrich slowly shook his head, "Not necessarily, some may still be undecided, and they could be swayed."

"Remember what I said, we shall cast our vote for that person when the time comes."

Byrne nodded slightly, yet Aldrich shook his head again, "Unfortunately, from what I've gathered in the past few days, things may not go as smoothly as we hope."

He paused, then added, "However, the death of the former Cyart King is indeed a fact, something I was overly cautious about..."

"Hmm."

Byrne nodded again, "This country's legends really have been taken away by the Grim Reaper."

Aldrich's expression also turned contemplative.

Soon they entered a grand hall in the palace, where a majestic throne stood silently in the center, adorned with exquisite silks from distant lands, embroidered with the Holy Grail, a symbol of the gift to the Royal Family.

In front of the throne was a large wooden table, upon which a glittering golden voting box lay, silently awaiting the nobles' final decisions.

The nobles entered the hall, their steps firm and forceful, each gaze filled with anticipation for the future.

The assertive Marquis Vlad was the first to step forward and cast his vote.

"A new era, perhaps?"

In the hands of the nobles were two alchemically created golden spheres, representing two entirely different choices, known only to the holder which name was enclosed within.

They then gathered around the table and in turn approached, each casting their golden voting sphere into the box; each sphere represented their chosen allegiance.

The crisp sound of metal spheres hitting the sides of the box echoed through the hall, intensifying the atmosphere with each vote, as the nobles held their breath in anticipation of the final revelation.

Ultimately, when the last noble had placed the golden sphere into the box, the old Silver Hermit slowly stepped forward and opened the golden voting box with tranquility.

Her movements were solemn and reverent, as if she were conducting a sacred sacrificial ceremony.

As the lid of the box opened, a series of golden balls tumbled out, bouncing in the vessel and emitting a pleasing sound.

The Silver Hermit began to count each ball, the name given by every golden ball tugging at the heartstrings of the nobility present.

Finally, she gazed at the crowd and nodded.

"It is Noah."

Byrne sighed, still remembering how Aldrich had put it these past few days.

Although they would try to choose Baine as much as possible, it was highly likely that the internal members of the Adley Royal Family and the Salvation Church would nominate Prince Noah as the new king.

Because Prince Baine's ascension could very well mean that everything would stay the same, which would not suit the interests of the Adley Royal Family members and the Salvation Church.

Marquis Vlad would probably also hope for Noah's accession.

Prince Baine, his expression tense, was silent as if he felt relieved and breathed a sigh of relief, yet appeared somewhat disappointed.

And the tall, thin Prince Noah with golden hair remained expressionless, even when chosen as the new Cyart King, his eyes betrayed no emotional fluctuation.

The final result was announced, and a fervent cheer burst forth in the hall!

The nobles bowed in succession, paying the highest respect to the new monarch. Although they did not know if the new king would lead the country to a new glory, they understood that they had become witnesses to a historic moment.

The "Sword of Salvation" Prince Noah was officially declared the new Cyart King!

He walked calmly to the throne and looked at the Silver Hermit, bowing his head slightly in deference to the representative of the divine authority.

"I swear to the great Lord of Salvation and all the gods, I will become the ruler of the Cyart people, their defender, their shepherd."

"From this day forth, I shall become the emissary of the divine, filling the world with the light of the gods!"

Golden sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting mottled shadows on the smooth marble floor, and the air was filled with the scent of lavender and the smoke of candles.

The Silver Hermit stepped forward, holding the crown in both hands, her aged gaze filled with expectation.

She recited the ancient coronation oath in a low voice.

"The new king of Cyart."

"The great gods will protect your future, and you must also lead your nation to glory."

"You cannot deceive the gods, nor betray your own people, you must bear the responsibility of a king."

"Cyart will become your country, and also the source of your strength."

As the oath concluded, the Silver Hermit placed the crown on the new king's head with tranquil determination.

At that moment, the entire palace seemed to stand still, only the glittering gems of the crown twinkling slightly; the new king, Noah, bowed his head gently, allowing the crown to rest securely on his head.

When the new king Noah raised his head, his eyes sparkled with resolute light, a sign of confidence and determination for the future.

Aldrich and Byrne's gazes shifted subtly, suddenly feeling like they might have misjudged the person.

That new monarch...

Was extraordinary.

New King Noah looked around, expressing his gratitude to the nobles present with a voice that was loud and powerful, filled with confidence and authority.

"Thank you all for your choice."

"I will bear the responsibility of being a monarch. The Adley Royal Family possesses the Divine Blood of the Lord of Salvation, and we shall forever shine with the light of the Lord of Salvation!"

The nobles stepped forward to congratulate the new king, while the citizens cheered and celebrated outside the church. Byrne watched the scene with an insincere smile on his face.

Darren thought to himself: "Although not the best outcome, everything went relatively smoothly... At least this new king doesn't seem like a rash person."

At that moment, Chris suddenly looked towards the distance.

Inside the Royal Mausoleum.

The spirit pivot opened silently.

An asphyxiating aura slowly emanated from within.

Cold and heavy, like a frigid wind surging from the abyss, it carried the icy chill and silence of death.

It spread soundlessly through the air, causing an involuntary sense of oppression and panic. The air around seemed to congeal, and even time appeared to slow and weigh heavily.

The air around the spirit pivot began to twist slightly, as if eroded by this breath of death. Thick black miasma spilled from the cracks of the spirit pivot, coiling and interweaving in the air, eventually congealing into a vague and terrifying scene, as though countless souls were wailing and struggling, their faces twisted and ferocious, filled with despair and agony!