Reborn As Noble-Chapter 540: King of Corruption ( )

Chapter 540: King of Corruption ( 540 )

Meanwhile, in the Human Kingdom…

The grand throne room had lost its former light.

What once shimmered with noble banners and sunlit glass now hung heavy with darkness.

King Edmund sat tall on his throne of stone and gold.

His armor gleamed black with etched crimson veins, subtle, pulsing lines of corrupted mana.

The air around felt heavier.

The royal guards lining the hall stood motionless.

Eyes dulled.

Even the nobles, stood quiet under the unnatural pressure that clung to the room like smoke.

King Edmund rested his cheek lazily on a gloved knuckle, elbow on the armrest.

In front of him knelt two men.

One of them, cloaked in military red, spoke first:

“From our observation team embedded in the Dwarven Kingdom…”

He bowed lower.

“We believe the fall of the last two strongholds is only a matter of time, my liege.”

A pause.

“Their aerial units are spent. Supply lines shattered. Morale crumbling.”

King Edmund’s gaze didn’t move.

“Good.”

The other man stepped forward.

“And from the eastern scouts watching the Halfling side—”

“Something unusual was reported in Gilikan Town.”

“Mysterious forces. Mithril-armored troops. Unclear allegiance.”

He swallowed.

“They sent a secondary scouting party. Report came back—”

A pause.

“Beastkin banners have been raised.”

Edmund’s fingers twitched.

His voice cracked the air.

“WHAT?!”

Dark mana pulsed from the seams of his armor.

“Are those savages trying to claim the Celestial for themselves!?”

His eyes burned with seething hunger and fury.

The general lowered his head.

“We don’t know yet, my liege.”

“But the Beastkin Kingdom has captured the border town and is moving deeper into Dwarven territory.”

Edmund raised his hand.

“Send a delegation. Immediately.”

His voice dripped with threat.

“Demand answers from King Lioness.”

“If they step beyond diplomacy—”

He turned.

“Then we will show them what it means to touch what is mine.”

The air turned still.

Only the low hum of dark mana pulsing around the throne remained.

“But my liege…”

He lowered his gaze further.

“Considering we are still at war with the Dwarven Kingdom…”

A breath.

“It may bring greater problems if we act too quickly against the Beastkin Kingdom.”

He risked a glance upward.

“A second front may delay your rightful claim to Gumarak.”

A growl echoed from the throne.

King Edmund’s hand clenched.

Mana crackled along his gauntlet.

His eyes glowed faint red under shadowed lids.

“Are you saying…”

His voice rumbled.

“…that we cannot defeat that lion-headed bastard?”

The advisor quickly dropped to both knees, head pressed to the floor.

“No, my liege! I would never suggest such a thing!”

The general stepped in, tone steadier.

“We simply recommend we finish the Dwarven front first.”

“Gumarak is vulnerable. His kingdom is broken. His army spent.”

He raised his eyes.

“If my liege devours him before the Beastkin can act…”

He gestured subtly.

“Then whatever the Beastkin thought they were coming for—will already be gone.”

The throne room remained silent.

King Edmund stood tall.

King Edmund’s cloak flared as he turned back toward his throne.

His voice thundered across the cold hall:

“Then send the delegation. To that bastard King.”

He didn’t wait for a response.

“And send a warning to Armand.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Tell Count Garius to stay out of this.”

The advisor hesitated.

“My liege… Armand has already responded.”

A long pause.

“Garius said he has no interest in the war between nations.”

A longer pause.

“But he also sent a silent message…”

“A warning.”

“That if anyone touches his region, or his people—”

The advisor lowered his voice.

“There will be no mercy.”

Silence.

King Edmund’s jaw tightened.

The crackle of corrupted mana hissed louder.

“That man…”

“We were friends once.”

He laughed once—bitter, hollow.

“Best friends, they said.”

He clenched his fist.

“But even when we stood side by side…”

“They always looked at him.”

“Francesca… chose him.”

“Everyone… chooses Garius.”

King Edmund’s eyes flared red.

“What about the intelligence unit we sent to Armand?”

The hall went still.

The advisor stepped forward, sweat already forming at his brow.

“We… still haven’t received any report from them, my liege.”

The room felt colder.

His voice came low, drawn tight with rage.

“What?”

“It’s been over three weeks. Are you telling me they’re still inside the Armand Region? Gathering intel that long?”

The advisor bowed deeper.

“No, my liege. That’s not possible.”

He swallowed.

“The Armand Region has… changed its border policy.”

He raised his head only slightly.

“They’ve set up a new trading post. Outside the wall.”

“Merchants from our kingdom—whether from the capital, towns, or noble estates—are only allowed to trade at that post.”

“No one can cross inside. Not without permission.”

Edmund’s breath hitched.

He stepped down from the dais.

“That… shithead.”

His boots echoed like thunder on stone.

“He lets demons trade freely inside.”

“Lets those lion-kin savages into his cities.”

His fingers curled into claws.

“Even the long-eared tree rats—”

He spat the words.

“—are welcomed inside Armand gates. Openly.”

Another step.

“But us?”

His voice dropped—seething.

“We, his so-called ‘kin,’ his fellow humans—”

“He forces us to wait outside like beggars.”

“He thinks I won’t see through that insult?”

Arnold’s voice slithered calmly through the heavy air.

“Patient, my liege.”

He stepped forward from the shadows, his hands folded behind his back, robes rustling faintly.

“Focus on Gumarak first. Then Gurdan.”

He smiled.

“Once you have them… you’ll be complete.”

King Edmund said nothing.

His eyes narrowed.

Arnold stopped near the foot of the throne.

“You know this already, my liege.”

The smirk deepened.

“The First Celestial gave you strength.”

He raised one hand slowly.

“The Second granted control over mana—your spellcasting.”

The fingers curled. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

“The Third unlocked raw destructive power.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“Each one you devour brings you closer.”

“Like keys. Turning. One by one.”

“Gumarak…”

He tapped one finger on his own chest.

“His celestial holds the gate to the next layer.”

“New form. New strength. New instinct.”

His eyes flashed.

“And once you take Gurdan—” he held up two fingers now ”

you will reach the sixth.”

He lowered his hand slowly.

“And when that happens…”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“Your body will become whole.”

A beat.

“No weapon will pierce it.”

“No curse will linger.”

He smiled again.

“Strike you, burn you, shatter your bones….”

He flicked his fingers.

“…and still, you’ll rise.”

“Because your body will repair itself. Always.”

“Not immortal…”

“But close enough. Right, my liege?”

( End Of Chapter )

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