Chapter 192

Percival stared at Ferris in astonishment, seeing only cold indifference and hatred in his eyes.

In an instant, that shock ignited into burning rage.

Percival thought in disbelief, ‘I’m his father! How could my own son betray me, all in the name of justice?’

But now was not the time to argue back. Arthur’s commanding gaze had already locked onto Percival, leaving him no room to breathe.

“Mr. McGee, is this accusation true?” Though Arthur’s voice remained measured, everyone present could see the fury simmering beneath his calm facade.

Percival immediately prostrated himself, his voice trembling as he pleaded, “Your Majesty, these are fabricated charges! I am being falsely accused!

“I have always been utterly loyal to Your Majesty. How could I possibly do such a thing?”

Pointing at Ferris with a look of pained heartbreak, he continued, “It must be that this child harbors resentment toward me, which is why he would say such things. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!”

“Father, spare me the sweet talk.” Ferris’s face was as calm as a still pond, but his eyes burned with the resolve of a man with no way back. “After all these years of buying and selling official posts, haven’t you done enough?”

He drew a ledger from his sleeve and raised it high above his head. “Your Majesty,” he declared, “these are the detailed records of Mr. McGee’s corrupt dealings, every bribe taken, every official post sold. The dates, the families involved, and the exact amounts of money are all meticulously documented. Simply cross-check these names, and the truth will be undeniable.”

Percival’s face instantly turned ashen. That ledger was once his means of controlling others, but now it had become the proof of his crimes.

A cold sweat broke out across Percival’s back, and he slumped to the ground.

Xander’s lips curled into a cold smirk as he cast him a disdainful glance.

Percival thought, ‘Who else but Xander could have pulled this off and gotten that ledger?

‘To think he’d go to such extremes for Athena… How shocking.

‘So even Xander, the one everyone calls cold and heartless, has his Achilles’ heel after all.’

Percival cursed his own carelessness. ‘If I’d known it would come to this, I never should have come to the palace to lodge this complaint,’ he thought bitterly.

Arthur flipped through the names on the ledger, his shock deepening with every page.

From petty county offices to the Federal Bureau, even the Core Palace had been infiltrated by Percival.

Arthur could only wonder how many of Percival’s agents lurked within the Core Palace, and just how many secrets he already knew.

The more he thought about it, the more a cold sweat crept down his spine.

“How dare you!” Arthur thundered, his voice booming through the grand hall.

Even Thanatus fell to his knees in terror.

Percival pleaded in panic, “Your Majesty, please calm down…”

He knew that this was the end for him.

Arthur’s face turned ashen with rage. Pointing directly at Percival, he thundered, “Mr. McGee, for treason against the throne, you are hereby stripped of your title, reduced to commoner status, exiled a thousand miles from the capital, and banished forever from returning!”

“Your Majesty, spare me, please…” Percival pleaded frantically, but it was already too late.

The evidence was irrefutable; there was no way he could talk his way out of this.

The Imperial Guards stormed into the hall and hauled Percival away.

Arthur’s face turned deathly pale as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him.

He pressed his fingers to his temple, exhaustion etched across his regal features.

“Your Majesty, you must take care of yourself,” Xander said with genuine concern.

Arthur waved him off with a weary sigh. “I’m fine.”

But though he claimed to be fine, the pain in the emperor’s eyes was plain for all to see.

Arthur reflected, ‘These veterans had fought alongside the late emperor to build this empire. By punishing them now, am I denying my father’s legacy?

‘There are so few capable ministers left in the court, and the imperial treasury is nearly depleted.

‘By disposing of Percival, it’s akin to cutting off one of my own limbs.’

At that moment, Ferris stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, to prove my loyalty, I am willing to donate most of my fortune to the imperial treasury.”

Hearing this, Arthur’s eyes lit up as he looked at Ferris.

Ferris was a mentor of commerce; his wealth rivaled that of the nation itself.

If he truly meant to make such a donation, it would be an absolute godsend for the empire.

“How commendable of you to have such devotion,” Arthur said with a satisfied nod, a genuine smile returning to his eyes.

He took another look at Ferris, thinking, ‘This boy has always been frail and sickly since childhood. But ever since Athena treated him, he’s made a remarkable recovery.’

Arthur glanced at Thanatus, who understood his unspoken command and gave a subtle nod.

With the matter settled, Arthur dismissed everyone from the grand hall.

Ferris paused outside the hall, gave Xander a slight bow, and said, “Thank you for your assistance, Prince Xander.”

Though his face remained composed, his eyes betrayed traces of suppressed hostility.

Xander gave him a cool glance. “Save your thanks. I only intervened because you once helped my wife. Choose your next steps carefully.”

He owed Ferris nothing, just as Athena owed him nothing.

The debt was settled.

He’d said his piece. Whether Ferris would listen was up to him now.

Xander descended the palace steps, his tall figure swiftly vanishing into the grand corridors.

Ferris stood motionless, his gaze fixed coldly on Xander’s retreating figure. Only when Xander was about to disappear did he finally let his pent-up hostility show.

Inside his sleeve, his fingers had long since curled into white-knuckled fists.

He vowed silently, ‘I won’t give up on Athena. This theft of what should have been mine will be repaid in full.’

“Your Lordship.” Thanatus’s reedy voice called from behind.

Ferris swiftly masked the hostility in his eyes. By the time he turned around, his face had regained its usual composure.

He gave Thanatus a slight nod.

Thanatus beamed at him and bowed. “Your Lordship, wonderful news! His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study for a private audience.”

A faint smile touched Ferris’s lips as he replied deferentially, “As His Majesty commands.”

Thanatus led the way, Ferris following close behind.

As he rounded the corridor, a figure came into view in the distance.

Michael stood frozen, staring at him with undisguised astonishment, his eyes widening in shock.

Ferris met his gaze, a cold smirk curling at the corners of his lips.

As Ferris’s figure disappeared, Michael finally muttered under his breath, “Betraying his own father? What an interesting move, using this as proof of loyalty to climb the social ladder?”

To be honest, Michael hadn’t seen that coming at all.

He’d always thought Ferris was not worth a second thought.

Yet today, he actually showed some real backbone.

Meanwhile, Ferris followed Thanatus into the Imperial Study. Arthur beckoned him closer with an appreciative look and said, “You have a sharp mind for business. Would you be interested in serving the Crown?”

Ferris knelt before Arthur and pledged, “I would lay down my life for Your Majesty without hesitation.”

“Excellent,” Arthur said with visible pleasure, motioning for him to rise.

Arthur’s expression turned slightly troubled as he said, “Then put your talents to use, generate revenue for the Crown. Are you willing to do this?”

“I pledge my service,” Ferris answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Arthur, seeing how readily Ferris agreed, let out a low chuckle. “Don’t be so quick to accept. If you take on this role, you’ll have to operate in the shadows, never showing your true face. Your hands may even be stained with blood. Even so, are you still willing?”

Ferris’s eyes reddened at the corners, a cold, humorless smile curving his lips. “I am.”

Ferris thought, ‘As long as I can seize power, I don’t care if I have to become a demon to do it.”

“Very well.” Arthur gave an approving nod. “In that case, take this.”

On the imperial desk rested a golden seal in silence.

Its front was inscribed with “Tianbao Bureau,” while the reverse bore the characters “Imperial Inspector.”

This was an imperially bestowed, python-patterned key to a secret position, allowing its holder to bypass all departments and report directly to the Emperor.

To put it plainly, this was Arthur’s shadowy operation, and Ferris would serve as the Emperor’s shadow outside the palace.