Chapter 518: Chapter 518: 516 Punishment_1

“Count Angler, what is the meaning of this?”

Lady Grace turned her gaze to Colin, asking in a deep voice.

Colin shrugged, pointed at Franco, and said, “Madam, you should ask your son what they did to the remains of Duke St. Hilde.”

Lady Grace glared at her son and demanded, “Franco, speak!”

Franco reluctantly said: “When Count Angler passed by Floral City with the remains of Duke St. Hilde last year, I had no idea that Horus already had intentions for the Duke’s remains.

When I found out that he secretly replaced the duke’s remains, I also asked him to return the remains to the St. Hilde family.

But Horus said, a Holy Knight’s remains were extremely important for his research…

I didn’t question him much because of my own personal interests.

However, who would have known, a month later, the supposed deceased Duke St. Hilde would resurrect…”

“Resurrect?!”

A series of gasps suddenly echoed in the banquet hall.

“Not resurrection, but body snatching.” Colin added calmly, “Franco, don’t you understand that Horus’s ‘solution for the deformity problem in the Morrison family’s bloodline’ was simply an excuse. His real intention was to help Mr. Ji occupy Duke St. Hilde’s remains!

Your Morrison Family has been used by him and Mr. Ji!”

Hearing this, Franco clenched his fists tightly. His body was shaking continuously while a painful struggle showed on his face.

Perhaps he had guessed this would happen, but he still held on to a glimmer of hope and deceived himself, unwilling to believe the cruel truth.

Colin watched Franco coldly, with no sympathy in his heart for this man.

Even though he knew Franco had a conscience―he might have struggled―unfortunately, he still succumbed to the darkness. He tolerated and sheltered evil for a vague promise.

“Franco, do you have any idea what kind of disaster your actions have brought to the Bright Empire?”

Facing Colin’s questioning, Franco croaked, “What…have they done now?”

Colin sneered and asked back. “Don’t you know anything about the disaster that happened in White Dew City?”

Lady Grace said solemnly, “Count Angler, we did hear of a terrifying fire in White Dew City, causing thousands of deaths…Could it be, Horus is behind this too?”

Colin nodded and said, “Indeed. Horus is indeed one of the plotters for this fire. He wanted to recreate the incident in Fallen Eagle City, sacrificing the lives of an entire city, activating the Eyes of Judgement, killing Prince Lexie and then taking over Lexie’s remains like Mr. Ji did.”

“Fortunately, you stopped him!” Lady Grace sincerely said, her gaze shifted to Horus’s body in the crystal coffin, her expression extremely complex.

“Right. His evil plan was stopped and the tragedy of Fallen Eagle City was not repeated. But…” Colin’s icy gaze fixed on Franco and he said mercilessly,

“Sin must be punished as a warning to future generations!”

Franco looked up calmly at Colin and said,

“Count Angler, I am guilty. I have no complaints no matter how you judge me. However, the existence of Horus was unknown to the rest of the Morrison family. So, please do not involve the innocent.”

“Innocent?” Colin sneered, contemptuously, “Without the Morrison family, how would Horus get so much blood from members of the St. Hilde family? How could he steal Duke St. Hilde’s remains? And how could he nearly sacrifice White Dew City?

When you used the resources of the Morrison family to help Horus, the Morrison family could no longer be considered ‘innocent’!”

If we are talking about innocence, the millions of imperial citizens who died in Fallen Eagle City and White Dew City are the truly innocent ones!

You want to atone for the sins committed by Horus with your own worthless life, but have you ever thought, are you qualified to do so!”

Under Colin’s ruthless interrogation, Franco’s face turned bright red, but he still stubbornly responded:

“Count Angler, I know that even if I descend into hell, I cannot atone for the sins I have committed. However, I will not let my sins tarnish the honor of the Morrison Family, nor will I let you punish those who have absolutely no knowledge of Horus’ existence.”

Colin seemed to be amused by Franco’s obstinacy and said, “Oh? What if I insist on making the Morrison Family pay the price?

What would you do?

Ignite the[Wildfire] in the basement, so we all die together?”

“Yes!” Franco’s eyes became sharp again, and a touch of madness appeared in his tone, “Count Angler, please order the Blood Knight Army to withdraw from Floral City immediately. I will follow you out and submit to whatever punishment you wish to impose…”

“Enough!” Lady Grace suddenly yelled, interrupting Franco.

“Mother…”

Lady Grace, supported by Nina, came up to Franco and coldly said: “What’re you playing the hero for? Since when is it your turn to make decisions for the Morrison Family?”

“Mother, I wasn’t…”

“Shut up!”

In front of Lady Grace’s dominance, Franco had no choice but to admit defeat.

“The Morrison Family is a proud family, but it is also a family that takes responsibility!” Lady Grace’s sharp gaze swept slowly over every member of the Morrison Family in the hall, finally resting on the young Count Morrison.

“Saken!” Lady Grace called out the Count Morrison’s name.

“Grandmother, I’m here!” Count Morrison quickly straightened his back, snapping out of his daze.

“Your father and uncle have committed unforgivable sins. Now, this sin requires the entire Morrison Family to bear it together. Therefore, you, remove your ceremonial dress!”

“No! Mother!” Franco struggled passionately, falling out of his wheelchair. Nevertheless, he continued to drag his body forward, seeming to want to grasp his mother’s hand. “It’s all my fault! I will bear it alone…”

“You shut up!” Lady Grace stood tall, commandingly shouting to Nina next to her, “Make him shut up!”

Nina hesitated for a moment, but ultimately drew her long sword and knocked Franco unconscious with the flat side of the blade.

Franco’s eyes rolled backward and he immediately passed out.

Lady Grace once again turned to Count Morrison, intoning coldly: “Undress!”

The Count shivered, but understood his grandmother’s intentions. He took off his ceremonial dress right then and there.

The hall became incredibly quiet, the only sound being that of Count Morrison undressing.

Finally, Count Morrison had removed his ceremonial dress, folding it neatly. He also took off the signet ring on his hand and placed it on the folded clothes. Then he slowly walked in front of Colin kneeling halfway and held the dress and ring high above his head.

With no hesitation, Colin reached out to take them, saying:

“Saken·Morrison, as the Guardian of the North Territory, representing Duke St. Hilde, I hereby deprive you of your title of Count, and reclaim the Morrison Family’s territory. Do you have any objections?”

Saken·Morrison slowly shook his head, his tears flowing uncontrollably down his face.