The First Magic World War

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Charles delivered a karate-chop, knocking Mrs. Winnie Brandon unconscious. Worried that Mrs. Winnie Brandon might wake up and cause a commotion, he unhesitatingly stuffed the woman into the Book of Ages.

Upon learning of Morgan's whereabouts, Charles hastily left the room, hurried out of the Chancellor's residence, and climbed aboard his own carriage.

He merely said, "Let's go back," and the coachman adeptly steered the horse carriage back the way they came. Along the way, Charles saw Krel Brittany mimicking someone as he slipped into a carriage. Ebner and Andreas kept watch from the sidelines. Charles gestured to them to follow.

Although Ebner Sumei, Andreas Constantin, and the rest did not understand what was happening, they scrambled to follow Charles. However, Krel Brittany wasn't so lucky; he was carried towards the Chancellor's residence by carriage. He couldn't get off now, or it would have been discovered that the original owner of the carriage was already in trouble.

With a horse familiar with the route, Charles swiftly reached the quiet estate of Viscount Soren, a serene property not located in the city center, yet still in a favorable location, quiet in the midst of chaos.

Charles alighted from the carriage, still maintaining the appearance of the young Viscount, and entered the residence. Ebner Sumei and Andreas Constantin followed suit, albeit their means of entry were not as dignified.

As soon as Charles returned, a loyal elderly butler was waiting for him and asked with a smile, "How was tonight's banquet?"

Charles did not respond to the butler's question and instead asked, "Has Crown Prince Morgan gone to bed?"

The butler looked startled and replied, "Of course, he hasn't slept."

"The Crown Prince always stays up late; he's currently playing a card game called Snake. Judging by his behavior, he might play all night."

Charles nodded slightly and proceeded inside. In "his own home," naturally, there were no obstacles, and he quickly found the location where the former Crown Prince was playing Snake.

Morgan looked exceptionally excited, completely different from how Charles had last seen him. Morgan exuded confidence and flamboyance, and upon playing a Snake card, he boasted, "My card skills are beyond reproach. Ever since Charles Meklen came up with Snake, I've devoted myself to studying it. Although he's an unsightly jester, he truly has Talent in literature and in creating these little tricks."

Charles sighed inwardly and thought to himself, "We bear no grudge, but you can go ahead and die now."

Charles didn't quite understand why the Brittany father and son had spared the former Crown Prince. Even though they were relatives, such a foolish political error should not have been made.

Just as Charles was about to act, a gunshot rang out.

A hole appeared in the forehead of Morgan Axel, with red and white slowly oozing out. Morgan turned his head to glance at the source of the gunshot and whispered weakly, "I knew I shouldn't have come back to be Emperor."

The former Crown Prince collapsed and died.

Ebner Sumei said in a low voice, "Lord Wood Brandon ordered us to kill him!"

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He still remembered Charles's admonition to pin the blame on the former Imperial Chancellor. With a nod, Charles extended his hand, and Ebner Sumei disappeared without a trace. Watching Charles conjure a beautiful woman from nowhere, the two hugged and whispered together for a moment before the woman too vanished.

The few men playing cards with Morgan turned ashen-faced with shock. But when they saw Lady Winnie Brandon appear, they cast aside all doubts and bolted, scattering in all directions.

Charles didn't chase after any of them. These people were "precious" talents; only they could spread the word that "Wood Brandon" had assassinated the former Crown Prince of Fars.

Charles even wished he could grant them wings, to fill the sky and loudly proclaim the misdeed to every ear that would listen.

Turning, Charles left the mansion, soon joined by Ebner Sumei and Andreas Constantin. Some fifteen minutes later, they ambushed Kreel Brittany on the road.

Charles spoke in a hushed voice, "Let's head back to No. 221B, Baker Street, Valdevaz District, and lie low for a few days to see how this situation unfolds."

Charles was worried; the assassination had gone too smoothly, and he feared there might be complications.

If they lay low, they might find an opportunity to finish the job.

To an ordinary person, Morgan's death by a shot to the head wouldn't raise eyebrows. But Charles, having read too many internet novels, worried about the possibility of a body double being killed or whether Morgan knew some Secret Technique to revive.

When Charles and the three others returned to No. 221B, Baker Street, Valdevaz District, they "borrowed" from a bakery along the way, taking several dozen dry loaves of bread, a pile of cheese, and an assortment of drinks. They even swiped a set of playing cards from a house, but they didn't forget to leave money—in fact, anticipating potential inflation in Strasbourg due to repeated wars, they paid seven or eight times the normal price.

The four slipped back into 221B Baker Street, and the next day, they spotted the Patrolling Army running about, along with countless Royal Knights Order units conducting door-to-door searches.

No. 221B was a sealed property, which unintentionally spared it from search; nobody expected Charles to return to his own home, situated arrogantly near the Imperial Palace, in what was arguably the most dangerous part of Strasbourg.

Using the Infinite Mirror Realm, Charles could observe many households in Strasbourg. Though they were confined indoors, they still received plentiful information.

As time passed, rumors flew in every direction. The uproar of Wood Brandon having assassinated Morgan Axel to seize the throne for himself grew louder and louder.

Wood Brandon was furious, but he wasn't an Axel, and under the accountability demanded by the Axel Clan, he stewed indoors. The Axels, commanding the Royal Knights Order, scoured the city, determined to capture the assassin.

Some truly believed that the former Imperial Chancellor had orchestrated this assassination, but Asturias Axel suppressed such discourse. As the Axel royal family's most prominent figure, he steadfastly maintained the fragile alliance, barely keeping faith in Wood Brandon.

After waiting several days in Strasbourg, certain that Morgan was indeed dead, Charles planned to return to Machu Picchu with Kreel, Ebner, and Andreas Constantin. But then news came: Antonio leading his troops laid siege to Strasbourg.

Charles was delighted and had Kreel Brittany contact his elder brother to proceed with the original plan. They prepared to join forces from within and without to take the capital city of Fars.