Chapter 197: The Duke: The entire universe wants me dead? I'll die for you all to see!
"The situation inside the Ever-Flame Mansion remains unknown at this time…"
"Whether the Duke of Ever-Flame has surrendered or is putting up a desperate last stand, let us follow the perspective of the front line and enter the Ever-Flame Mansion together!"
Following the reporter's coverage, the live broadcast shifted. It arrived at the primary front line.
The camera was handed over to a female reporter. The footage here was somewhat unstable; one could see ash and soot floating in the air. The female reporter no longer had the luxury of greeting the audience; she immediately signaled the cameraman to take a close-up!
"Friends across the universe who are following this event, as we can see now…"
"The Ever-Flame Mansion is surrounded by a ring of raging flames. This should be a barrier set up by the Duke of Ever-Flame. Without a way to extinguish these flames, the IPC's armed forces cannot enter immediately…"
Suddenly, the female reporter pressed her earpiece.
"Ah! A solution has been found!"
"With the help of the enthusiastic researchers from the Space Station, the flames laid out by the Duke of Ever-Flame have been successfully cracked!"
"Furthermore, we have activated fold-space technology!"
"It is now impossible for the Duke of Ever-Flame to escape the lockdown zone through phase-shifting or similar abilities!"
The female war correspondent was extremely excited.
Over there, a squad had already entered through the breached gap. Under the escort of a second squad, the female reporter also ventured deep inside.
Though she knew there might be danger, this was a universe-level live broadcast! Who knew how many factions were watching the conclusion of this crusade!
In Honkai: Star Rail, the Duke of Ever-Flame appeared with the stature of a major boss. Naturally, this real-life crusade against him was handled with extreme caution. The IPC had dispatched their most elite combat units, the 463rd tier.
In the livestream chat, netizens were flooding the screen with bullet comments.
…
"The Duke sure knows how to enjoy life! This mansion is decorated quite luxuriously, isn't it?"
"Frontline soldiers, be careful!"
"Looking at the plot of Honkai: Star Rail, I always feel like the Duke of Ever-Flame has some kind of trump card left."
"The IPC has brought out unprecedented strength this time. Even the Annihilation Gang has to weigh their options!"
"Something's not right!"
"It's eerily quiet!"
"Holy crap! It's happening! The gates of the Ever-Flame Mansion are actually wide open!"
"The Duke of Ever-Flame is too arrogant!"
"Is this the confidence of being on his own turf?"
"At this point, unless the Duke of Ever-Flame has gained a glance from Nanook, I don't think he can contend with the IPC's armed forces!"
…
The first squad also stopped in front of the main gate. Clearly, they were surprised by the wide-open entrance! They were conducting close observation and analysis.
The female reporter's breathing became somewhat rapid. Seeing this eerie scene, she couldn't help but ask herself: "Could it be that the Duke of Ever-Flame really has a trump card?"
The tense standoff continued. Forget the female reporter on the front line—even the netizens across the universe watching through their screens didn't dare to breathe loudly!
In Guinaifen's livestream room, she rarely wasn't streaming Honkai: Star Rail today. Instead, she was watching the Interastral Peace broadcast with her "family" in the chat!
At this moment, her palms were sweating. Her mind had already imagined several scenarios. For instance, as soon as the IPC's forces entered the mansion, a dragnet would immediately fall! Then, the Duke of Ever-Flame, leaning on his cane, would appear elegantly before everyone, stating he had long expected them! Following that would be a tragic and grand battle…
Or perhaps, this luxurious mansion would suddenly transform into a giant robot, firing powerful cannons and catching the Interastral Peace Fleet off guard…
Maybe she had played too much Star Rail lately; her head was full of strange ideas.
Penacony, Hotel Lobby.
Aventurine stared at the broadcast screen while warily observing his surroundings. The situation inside the Ever-Flame Mansion also made him feel alert!
Aventurine was wondering: Had the Duke of Ever-Flame caught wind of something and fled in advance? He was even on guard right now! Perhaps the moment the IPC forces entered the mansion, the Duke would appear in Penacony the next second for a surprise attack!
To Aventurine, this possibility seemed even more likely.
Herta Space Station.
Asta and the researchers were following the frontline situation with tension and gravity. If any accident occurred inside, they would immediately deploy their backup plan. For this crusade, the researchers had equipped the starships with various advanced weapons, enough to handle any situation!
At that moment, the first squad finally made a decision. They hadn't detected any high-energy reactions. After some preparations, they decided to lead the way and enter the mansion! They wanted to see exactly what kind of "surprise" the Duke of Ever-Flame had prepared for everyone!
The female reporter launched a drone, but she didn't dare send it inside, fearing it might interfere with the vanguard's operations. She could only park the live camera outside the gates of the Ever-Flame Mansion.
She could just barely see the members of the first squad disappearing inside one by one. Initially, every one of them was cautious, immediately seeking cover and positions favorable for transmitting signals.
But very quickly, their movements stiffened! Someone stood up. Then, the others seemed to see an unbelievable sight as well. They dropped their combat stances and slowly walked forward in sequence.
Soon, several people formed a circle, standing frozen on the spot like statues! The flames inside the mansion, like a setting sun, cast the shadows of the men very long, creating an indescribable sense of tragedy.
"Calling First Squad…"
"Calling First Squad!"
"Please respond if you copy!"
"Please answer!"
"What exactly is happening inside!?"
The female reporter was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the livestream chat exploded instantly!
…
"AAAAAHHH!"
"What's the situation?"
"It's over! The first squad has been wiped out!"
"Suspected mental attack, they've all frozen into statues!"
"This shouldn't be the Duke's ability, right? Could it be his progeny, that Dahlia, Constance?"
"Quick, go get Mommy Kafka! Kafka's Spirit Whisper might be able to fight this!"
"Stop with the vanguard units, just use fire suppression!"
"Tear down his mansion and see what tricks he can play then!"
…
Just as everyone, including the frontline command, concluded that the first squad had met with disaster, those soldiers standing dazed on the spot suddenly moved.
Immediately after, a raspy voice came through the beacon.
"Reporting to command…"
"We need reinforcements here!"
"No… not reinforcements! We need guidance from technical personnel in the biological field!"
"The scene before us is too bizarre!"
"The mansion is empty. There is only a clump of extinguished tinder, and what appears to be the Duke of Ever-Flame's… uh, Relics."
When the commander at headquarters heard this information, he was dumbfounded, his eyes wide.
"Have you guys… been playing too much Star Rail?"
"The whole universe is watching this battle right now! And you're talking to me about Relics?"
"No, it's true!"
"The Duke of Ever-Flame… seems to be really… dead…"
Technical personnel immediately followed the second squad into the mansion. To report the truth firsthand, the female reporter ran in with them!
As the camera panned to the ground, everyone was instantly stunned! The biological expert's hands trembled slightly. He had thought he was brought here to identify whether the deceased was indeed the Duke of Ever-Flame…
As it turned out, beneath the throne, only a few scraps of clothing remained, along with the Duke's flaming crown. But now, the flames atop it were no longer burning, appearing the color of ash.
He was as dead as dead could be! What was there left to examine!?
In the livestream room, after a brief silence, the pot boiled over!
…
"Holy crap!"
"What the hell is going on!"
"The Duke is dead?"
"Wait! How did he die?"
"Damn, this entire area has been annihilated!"
"The leaks didn't lie to me, the Duke really only has Relics left."
"This is too freaking eerie!"
"Even the game plot wouldn't dare write it like this!"
"Where is my great Big Duke!"
"He just left his promotional video at the Herta Space Station!"
"Duke, if you're dead, how is the plot supposed to continue!"
"Who exactly did this!"
"This is insane!"
"Waaaah, my Duke really turned into a Relic!"