We're already in close combat and you still say you're a mage?

In the palace, as the consuls left.

The palace door is closed.

Only the old king, a few princes, princesses, and two heads of knights were left in the palace.

There are no guards.

"Everyone, take a seat."

The old king spoke, his voice no longer as loud as before.

Xu Bai heard Mu Chi's old man's sigh from his tone.

It seems that the old king is in poor health.

Not the general health that appears before the eyes.

There were sparse voices, and several princes and princesses were sitting under the old king's throne.

The two captains of the Knights still stood.

The old king glanced at them and said nothing.

He slowly raised his right hand. The skin on his arm was still white and soft, not as withered as the elderly.

Stretching his right hand forward, the old king showed it to everyone.

Then, he clasped the crook of his right arm with his left hand and pulled hard.

There was only a "hiss" sound, and the old king actually peeled off the skin on his arm.

There was no bleeding scene, and there was no bright red muscle or blood exposed under the skin.

Instead, an arm that looked like a skull claw appeared, with the skin on it rough and dull.

It was in sharp contrast to the healthy skin color before.

Several princes and princesses were a little shocked.

They didn't know that their father was like this.

The entire Arant dynasty knew that the old king was looking for a secret medicine to extend his life.

But no one expected it.

He himself was in this state.

"As you can see, I'm just holding on."

The old king looked a little gloomy.

As he spoke, he reached out and clasped his chin, and then took off the artificial skin on his face.

An old face appeared in front of everyone.

"In the past few years, what has been said from outside that I am looking for secret medicine and secret methods to extend my life are all true."

"Initially, these methods may work."

"My situation has indeed improved a lot."

"But I don't know when my health started to deteriorate."

The old king was a little disappointed, and he continued: "I already have a premonition that I won't be able to hold on for long."

"You should all understand what this means."

He pointed at several princes and princesses in the audience.

The bodies of these people were trembling, and the youngest third prince even had tears on his face.

At last.

It was the king's eldest son who spoke and told a cruel truth in a trembling voice.

"This means that only one of us can survive."

In the fight for the throne, there can only be one winner.

........

"Do not."

"I don't want to see you killing each other. The rules set by our ancestors are too old. The dead have no right to speak."

After saying these words, the old king seemed to have been drained of his last strength, and he slumped back on the throne.

The eldest son of the king hurriedly wanted to get up and help him forward.

But the old king waved his hand and blocked it.

"You have been developing in the Holy City for so long. You must have some people or forces in your hands."

The old king spoke again.

This is not a question, but an affirmative.

"Yes."

Several princes and princesses responded yes.

The old king was right.

Even if these princes are not competing for the succession, if they want to protect themselves from other brothers and sisters in the fight for the new king, they must have some people or forces of their own in their hands.

Be prepared for any eventuality and keep some loyal soldiers.

........