The Medallion

The moment Rocky and Vivian returned to the leader's mansion in the Ghost Capital, they found Gilbert looking like a cat on hot bricks. From the overwrought expression on his face, they figured he must be in a precarious situation.

"Vivian, I'm so glad you're back! But why have you returned with Odin? And where have you been these days? Odin, I thought Valeria had gone with you, but I don't see her. Where is she?" Gilbert asked, looking momentarily confused. He had expected Valeria to come back together with Rocky, not Vivian.

"I'm afraid that's a complicated story. I'll explain it later. By the way, I heard a rumor on the way back that the royal family and Enoch are at war against each other. Is that true?" Rocky went straight to the point.

"You heard right. The royal family and Enoch are embroiled in conflict. Honestly, I don't know what the king was thinking when he declared war on Enoch for no reason. He also declared that Zain will be his successor in the name of the deity. Princess Layla protested against this, but the king imprisoned her and accused her of treason. I and several royal members who support Princess Layla went to appeal to the king plenty of times, but he is steadfast in his decision and refused to let her go. Not only that, but the king also asked me to surrender the Blood Fief, so I'm also exhausted now."

Rocky listened carefully as Gilbert worriedly briefed him about the current situation.

"Something must be wrong with the king," he murmured. The more he heard, the more he felt that something was off.

In fact, it already felt somewhat strange to him when the king decided he would choose his successor among whoever came back from the Ghostly Demon Land with the item he asked. That opened an opportunity for a member of the demonic race to take advantage, and Phillip's soul had almost been freed in the process. Now, the king had declared war on Enoch, appointed Zain as his successor, and even imprisoned Layla. None of that made sense. Each decision made by the king felt like it would ultimately lead the royal family to their doom.

"What are you going to do now?" Vivian asked Gilbert.

"I want to avoid any kind of conflict with the royal family, so we have no choice but to surrender the Blood Fief for the time being," Gilbert answered, and the resolve on his face made it apparent that he had already made up his mind. "As for Princess Layla, I have no idea how to save her. That's why I was waiting for you. I thought you might be able to help me."

"You don't have to worry anymore, Leader Gilbert. I will do my best to save her," Rocky reassured him helpfully after a short silence.

"Do you have a way to save her?" Gilbert asked as he cast a curious glance at Rocky.

"I believe our king threw Princess Layla into prison because of me. He wants me to hand over the Purgatorial Tripod," Rocky explained. It was fairly obvious to him what the king intended to happen.

The Purgatorial Tripod was their

everything to save Princess Layla," Rocky answered calmly. The Purgatorial Tripod had lost its meaning to

royal family's holy treasure. It is a ticking time bomb as long as it is in our hands." Gilbert nodded approvingly, finally satisfied by Rocky's answers. "Well, we

and Gilbert left the mansion and headed for

and didn't waste any time, immediately

you must have

Fief,"

not disappointed me, Gilbert!" The king nodded, looking pleased. Then he turned his attention to Rocky and

a favor to ask of you," Rocky

"What is it?"

petition for Princess Layla's freedom," Rocky appealed to the

spared her life already, and that, in itself, is already a big favor,"

Majesty, I'm willing to give up the Purgatorial Tripod in exchange for her freedom," Rocky volunteered.

the Purgatorial Tripod just to save Layla. But he wasn't about to look a gift horse

Rocky nodded, his

say no in the face of such sincerity? You have yourself a deal. Guards, bring Layla here!" The king

tow. Since she was the daughter of the former queen, she was only placed under house arrest instead of being punished by any criminal law. However, her haggard face made it obvious she had

Gilbert, relief flashed in her eyes. She knew

your guilt. However, in the interest of fairness and justice, I have to abolish your royal identity and relegate you to civilian status," the king explained. This must be what he had planned from the start. He was taking advantage of the current situation to get what he wanted.

help but frown when he heard this. The punishment ensured that Layla would lose the support of the royal family, and everything she had worked hard

because she felt the king's punishment