Reincarnation Paradise Park

Chapter 1190 - 5: The Old King

Su Xiao, though unaware of the location of the Kingdom Council Hall, quickly devised a method to find it. Actually, finding the Kingdom Council Hall is very simple, divided into three steps.

Step one: Find a guard.

Step two: Stare at them for 10 seconds.

Step three, say in a calm tone: ’Take me to the Kingdom Council Hall.’

Along the way, that guard, whose heart was anxious, began to doubt his life, his mind filled with stray thoughts, knocked off his equilibrium.

Based on the direction inadvertently taken by the guard behind, Su Xiao soon found where the Kingdom Council Hall was.

The doors of the Kingdom Council Hall were tightly closed. Any important matters within the Kingdom are finalized here, though it’s not used frequently, since officials do not need to come to the Royal Palace every day. It’s only when a decree from the King is received that they gather here.

Su Xiao pushed open the door to the Kingdom Council Hall. Inside, it was very quiet. Around him was a circle of seats, the main position was a tall metal throne, forged from a massive meteorite that had fallen from the sky, completely pitch black.

A figure sat upon the throne, dressed in loose robes of gold and red, with the Iron Crown upon his head. This crown has been passed down for over a millennium, from the first King, Iron Crown King Adelaide Herbert.

Seated upon the throne was the Old King, Bay Herbert, now 65 years old, but his hair was completely white. Although nourished by various precious secret medicines, his skin had no wrinkles, and his complexion was rosy, yet he gave a sense of age.

"Iron Hand, step forward."

The Old King slowly raised his arm, signaling Su Xiao to step forth. Su Xiao didn’t yet know what to say, thus chose silence, for this silence was the best disguise.

Su Xiao walked slowly forward; the Old King looked at Su Xiao, his gaze... actually showed envy.

"You possess a youthful body, powerful strength. If I were you, I would definitely have a host of women and be busy every night until dawn."

The Old King laughed slightly. Su Xiao just stood five meters in front of him, his face calm and speechless.

The Old King was not angered by Su Xiao’s silence; rather, he was accustomed to it.

"The most regretful thing I’ve done is to vie for the King’s power. In my youth, I always craved power, but back then I had no idea what power truly meant."

The Old King seemed to be confessing, some words he could only say to this Iron Hand. In front of his ministers, he had to appear as a majestic and wise King.

"How many of my opponents have you eliminated? Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

The Old King placed his fist before his mouth, issuing a dry cough, as if about to cough up his lungs.

"257 people."

Su Xiao knew for certain how many opponents the Iron Hand had eliminated for the Old King. This was crucial information.

"Has it really become so many? Power makes too many people lost, yet they’re forgetting those undead trying to kill humans outside the Wall of God."

The Old King leaned back in his throne, a strand of saliva clinging to the beard on his chin, but he ignored it.

"Iron Hand, can I trust you?"

The Old King leaned forward, those eyes no longer clouded but becoming fiercely sharp, seemingly able to see through hearts of men.

"Of course."

Su Xiao’s answer was succinct, and the Old King withdrew his sharp gaze.

"I cannot hold on for much longer."

The Old King still stared intently at Su Xiao. His secret summons today was certainly for something significant.

"..."

Su Xiao didn’t speak, just gazing at the Old King.

"This secret, you cannot reveal it even if you die."

"Understood."

Su Xiao’s tone remained calm.

"My offspring are all on their way to the Holy City, among them will emerge a new heir to the throne."

The Old King’s words made Su Xiao aware that the main topic was coming.

"Only the truly wise are qualified to inherit the throne. This is what’s been handed down by the Iron Crown Kings, the thing that has made the Kingdom prosper till now.

My children together amount to nearly... 48, no, it’s 49 of them. Among them may be someone fit to inherit the throne, or perhaps not, but regardless, the ’Herbert’ surname will not cease. This is one reason we can resist the undead."

The Old King spoke slowly, as if even speaking exhausted him.

"Iron Hand, when they gather in the Royal Capital, the struggle for power will commence. I need you to assist the victorious heir just as you assist me now.

Before the heir emerges, monitor them for me. If they harbor rebellion, deal with it."

The Old King’s tone was light, yet what he wanted to deal with was his own flesh and blood.

Having heard the Old King’s words, Su Xiao understood the situation.

Firstly, due to physical reasons, the Old King wouldn’t live much longer, hence the urgency in selecting an heir to the throne.

The Holy Sodding Kingdom has a somewhat complex system for throne succession, concerning priority issues.

The first tier of priority lies with the Old King’s offspring. These Princes and Princesses are typically not in the Royal Capital, scattered across different locations, managing various territories like Dukes—the only difference being that the concept of Duke doesn’t exist here, though it’s similar—they hold fiefs, manage finances but cannot possess large armies, as the stationed forces on their lands belong to the Old King.

The Princes and Princesses live in the Royal Capital until age 15, after which they are granted territories. This is a method to train their leadership and management skills, preparing future Kings.

Apart from a few Princes and Princesses, most are ambitious, eagerly wishing to inherit the throne. The reasons: firstly for immense power, secondly due to the imminent power struggle.

When the Old King is near death or reaches the age of 70, these Princes and Princesses will be summoned to the Royal Capital. Of course, they have a right of choice at the time of summon, to refuse it, equivalent to actively relinquishing the right to the throne.

If they consent to the summon and come to the Holy City, it indicates their involvement in the power struggle.

During the power struggle, they will use various methods to eliminate or drive away competitors, as long as there’s no open conflict. They may resort to assassination, poison, stripping rivals of their power, or cutting off financial resources.

As for the criteria for determining the winner, it’s simple—the Prince or Princess who remains in the Holy City ultimately becomes the heir to the throne.

This bloodthirsty competition may result in all Princes and Princesses failing, triggering the selection of candidates from the second tier.

The second tier involves dozens of heirs trained by the Old King within the Holy City. These heirs have met him more frequently in some measure.

These individuals lack royal blood but upon receiving the succession, they adopt the ’Herbert’ surname. Their second-tier source, these people are selected nationwide.

Notably, the election mechanism for a new King in the Holy Sodding Kingdom is intriguing, not a mere hereditary system.

The Princes and Princesses’ struggle for power barely qualifies as hereditary. Those who prevail certainly are capable of being King; even if an unlikely event occurs, the Old King can veto the heir.

The second-tier heirs are more interesting; they are talents selected through rigorous processes, exhibiting skills in youth, receiving royal training in governing matters, forming no issue.

The composition of the second tier resembles an election system.

A dual-system loop drastically diminishes the likelihood of birthing a tyrant. Without certain abilities, becoming King is out of reach, surviving the struggle is by chance.

[Prompt: Hunter has activated the Main Task.]