World’s End: My Keyword is One More Than Others

"That's sophistry, pure sophistry!" Grand Duke Lynch's face turned beet red.

"Sophistry or truth, Your Grace knows best. Time reveals a horse's strength and a person's heart. At first, some might misunderstand me, but I believe that with time, everyone will come to see the truth," Du Ge said with a righteous smile.

Indeed!

Magic is meant to defeat enemies; what does it have to do with whether I'm a righteous person?

I kill, I burn, I lie through my teeth, I use the seven-orifice touch, but that doesn't stop me from being a righteous person...

At this moment, as he persuaded Grand Duke Lynch, Du Ge felt his thoughts elevate. He had found the most proper way to use righteousness.

Grand Duke Lynch fell into a long silence. He realized he couldn't convince a stubborn madman. What unsettled him most was that this madman's words seemed to make some sense.

"Who exactly are you?" Grand Duke Lynch steadied his emotions and asked.

"Holly Arlaus," Du Ge replied.

"And what is your relationship with the Sea God?" Grand Duke Lynch changed his line of questioning.

"I've awakened the martial soul of the Sea God," Du Ge answered flawlessly. His response wasn't meant for Lynch but for the audience of Pan-Universal Entertainment. He felt he had gone too far and needed to patch things up before heading into battle.

"Someone with the Sea God's martial soul can't control water as perfectly as you do," Grand Duke Lynch said.

"Because I'm also a mage," Du Ge smiled and continued, "Your Grace, don't let your life experiences limit your thinking. Just because you haven't seen something doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just like you don't know what kind of person Holly used to be.

You need to learn to see the essence through the phenomena. When you grasp this, you might awaken a powerful martial soul yourself or advance your magical abilities further."

Don't let my life experiences limit my thinking?

At least I have life experiences. What do you, a mere child, have?

Suddenly, Grand Duke Lynch shuddered. He looked at Holly's young face and fell into deep thought again. The changes in Holly's demeanor flashed through his mind. Was he really just a child?

Grand Duke Lynch swallowed hard, forcibly calming himself, and asked, "Holly, what do you want me to do?"

"Prove my innocence to all the onlookers at the execution platform," Du Ge said.

"Alright." Grand Duke Lynch looked at Du Ge and nodded, "You defeated me, so you can make one request of me. That's my promise, and I won't go back on it."

"And restore Old Gao's honor," Du Ge continued.

Acknowledging just one thing might seem like coercion, but throwing in another of Grand Duke Lynch's misdeeds would solidify his character. Coupled with previous propaganda and his current transformation, the public perception of both men would change drastically. It would be like stepping over Grand Duke Lynch to take a significant step toward righteousness.

"Alright," Grand Duke Lynch nodded again.

"You must admit you had intentions of rebellion," Du Ge pressed on.

"Holly, don't push it," Grand Duke Lynch trembled, sneering, "So this is your ultimate goal!"

"Yes, this is my ultimate goal," Du Ge smiled and nodded.

"So, you're working for King Lucerne, collaborating with Prince Nelson, just to stage this play?" Grand Duke Lynch's eyes turned icy.

"No, I am my own person and have nothing to do with King Lucerne," Du Ge said. "Your Grace, the reason I want you to admit to rebellion is because I aim to become a new king."

"A new king?" Grand Duke Lynch was stunned again. Holly's revelations were increasingly shocking, each one more unexpected than the last. Holly was right; his life experiences were utterly inadequate here.

By now, the sun had fully risen.

Du Ge stood on the water, conjuring a mist that bathed him in sunlight. The refraction of light even created a rainbow behind him, making him appear even more divine.

He looked at Grand Duke Lynch and nodded seriously, "Yes, a new king. Your Grace, I've already explained my past actions to you. I've always been striving to save this world. But this world is filled with people like you, who have turned it into a chaotic mess, devoid of justice and righteousness, making people live as if in darkness.

For so many years, I've poured my heart into saving only a handful of people.

Despite that, I've been smeared with a layer of black ink myself.

In prison, between life and death, I suddenly understood a truth: one person's strength can't save this world. But by setting an example, I can awaken the conscience in most people's hearts.

Becoming a new king is the most suitable path.

In fact, I've already succeeded.

Your Grace, in the prison where you held me, there are many heinous criminals, but now, every one of them follows me, learns from me, and regards me as their king.

Your Grace, you only need to send a trusted aide to the prison to find out what happened last night. So, you need not misunderstand my relationship with King Lucerne or the Pope.

If we must be connected, then we are enemies."

For a moment, Grand Duke Lynch was genuinely moved by Du Ge. If he didn't know the truth, that is.

He looked up at Du Ge and shouted, "Holly, you are inciting a war."

Indeed!

If I don't incite a war, how can I divide this country?

I have two keywords!

I can't just leave one unused.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Du Ge muttered in his heart, "Your Grace, this is a righteous war."

Madman!

He's just a selfish, unscrupulous madman who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

What nobility, what righteousness, has nothing to do with him...

Holly must have been possessed by an evil god.

Grand Duke Lynch took a deep breath, "What if I refuse?"

"If you refuse, the evidence of your rebellion and theft of Stephen Gao's magical achievements will be displayed along with your corpse on the execution platform," Du Ge said calmly, "Your disciples Morris and Xima Lynch will personally testify against you. And those nobles who punched and kicked me at the banquet, I believe they all know the truth..."

"You dare to kill me?" Grand Duke Lynch was both shocked and terrified.

"Your Grace, I gave you a chance at rebirth, but if you don't cherish it, I will publicly judge your crimes," Du Ge said righteously, "Punishing evil is promoting good. For you to have come this far, you must not have been as open and righteous as I am. And Xima Lynch may not be as tough as you."

Threatened!

Damn it!

Grand Duke Lynch trembled, his face drained of color, "Holly, you are a demon."

"Your Grace, thank you for the compliment. In the eyes of evildoers, I am indeed a demon," Du Ge smiled indifferently, "So, Your Grace, which path will you choose?

Actually, I prefer you to cooperate with me. That way, I will have fewer troubles and can save more people.

With your talents, if you turn over a new leaf, you can quickly regain your position as a duke. Who knows, by then, your reputation might be even better."

Is this a promise?

It's just the two of us here; is there a need to be so tactful?

Grand Duke Lynch clenched his fists underwater, glaring at Du Ge with such fury that he wished he could tear him to pieces.

He hated himself for not using the cataclysmic scroll back then.

Lynch knew that dealing with a demon would lead to eternal damnation.

But now, he had no other choice.

Under Du Ge's sincere and eager gaze, Grand Duke Lynch finally gave in. He closed his eyes in humiliation, "Fine, I accept your terms."

Du Ge smiled, manipulating the water to pull Grand Duke Lynch out, firmly shaking his hand, and sincerely offering his blessing, "Rebuilt bones are stronger. Your Grace, by making this decision, your conscience has already been awakened. Congratulations, Your Grace, you've made the right choice."