Chapter 121: Demanding Justice

"Your Majesty the Emperor, I demand justice."

The moment those words were spoken, shock rippled through the hall. Almost instinctively, everyone turned to the Singularity of Light, their faces filled with confusion.

Under their collective gaze, the Singularity of Light stepped forward calmly, his hands clasped behind his back.

A powerful aura burst from his body. In an instant, the atmosphere grew oppressive, the air itself seeming to tighten under the weight of his presence.

Ragan frowned. "Of course, Father-in-law. If you seek justice, I will do my best to deliver it."

His tone was calm and measured, but there was a hidden darkness beneath it.

He had expected this old man to make a move—that was why he had remained so alert.

No one dared to speak, not even the three Dukes. Each of them had their own suspicions about the Singularity of Light’s intentions and silently waited to see what he would do.

The Singularity of Light offered a faint smile.

"The justice I seek," he said, "concerns the misfortune that befell my grandson, Your Majesty."

His sharp gaze swept across the hall—lingering briefly on Elina.

"As you all know, my grandson Adalen was humiliated and injured by the Singularity of Chaos in the palace square during the succession ceremony. As his grandfather, of course I was enraged. I could not simply stand by and accept it."

"Unfortunately, I was still in the Celestial Palace, within the Holy Empire of Valtanir, at the time. I was unable to come to his aid. Instead..."

He narrowed his eyes, fixing them on Ragan. "Your Majesty, you stood by and did nothing while my grandson—your own son—suffered. You demanded no justice, no accountability from the Singularity of Chaos. That’s why I’m here today—to demand it from you."

The moment his words ended, the room fell silent. Everyone took a deep breath and exchanged uneasy glances.

Never in their lives had they seen anyone dare to question Emperor Ragan’s judgment.

But this was no ordinary man—it was the Singularity of Light, a being who stood at the pinnacle of power and held sway over the very rules that governed the world.

If the laws of the Great Velmora Empire—and those of other empires—were like ropes binding the people, then those ropes meant nothing to the Singularities.

They were the embodiment of law itself—unbound, untamed, and answerable only to a force greater than themselves.

But in this world, no such force exists.

And the Singularity of Light’s demand was not without merit.

As a father, Ragan had indeed made a grave mistake: he failed to protect his son from the persecution brought by the Singularity of Chaos.

But did everyone truly believe he was wrong? Of course not.

Ragan’s responsibility as emperor was far greater than that of a father.

If he had chosen to retaliate against the Singularity of Chaos back then, it would have meant war—an all-out battle that could have annihilated not just the capital, but the entire empire.

Rather than blame or hate him, many were grateful for his restraint and the wisdom he showed in choosing peace over destruction.

Suffice to say, they were all still alive today thanks to the wise decision he had made back then.

Tsk! The saying is true—the older the fox, the craftier it becomes. But this old man isn’t just cunning... he’s cruel.

Nolan smiled faintly, but a dangerous glint flickered behind his purple eyes.

To the naïve and innocent, the Singularity of Light’s words might have seemed like a simple plea from a grandfather defending his grandson.

But was that really the case? Of course not.

How could someone like the Singularity of Light—who stood at the very peak of this world—make a scene over something so petty?

His true aim was obvious: to humiliate his father and stir up trouble.

Most likely, he hadn’t come to this party for Adalen at all—but for this very moment.

"Brother..."

Elina’s anxious voice reached him. He turned his head and saw the worry on her beautiful face.

She held his hand tightly, as if seeking warmth and protection.

Nolan simply smiled and gently patted her head. "Don’t worry. As long as I’m with you, nothing will ever hurt you—not even the Singularity of Light."

The words sounded arrogant—almost foolish. But somehow, Elina felt an unshakable confidence in him.

She quietly clenched her left hand and gave a small nod. "I believe in you, Big Brother."

Meanwhile, Ragan, who now faced the Singularity of Light’s trap-laced accusations, remained calm and unmoved.

"I admit it was my fault, Father-in-law," he said with a slight nod. "But you must understand—I am the Emperor. My duty isn’t only to one son, but to all my children and to every citizen of this Empire. If I had acted against the Singularity of Chaos, it would have meant risking everything—my people, my empire. Or..."

His eyes narrowed. "Are you asking me to become a sinful emperor, responsible for the deaths of all my people, Father-in-law?"

The atmosphere turned suffocating in an instant. Young nobles and noble ladies alike trembled where they stood.

It was the first time they had ever witnessed such a cold confrontation between two of the most powerful men in the world.

Yet, beneath the tension, there was a strange thrill.

After all, a moment like this wasn’t something one could witness every day.

The Singularity of Light let out a soft chuckle at Ragan’s question.

"You misunderstand, Your Majesty. I would never be so heartless. I ask for only one thing—justice for Adalen."

"Justice, huh? Very well, I understand," Ragan said with a slow nod. "Then tell me plainly—what exactly do you mean by ’justice’?"

Every gaze turned to the Singularity of Light. They held their breath, eager to uncover the old man’s true intentions.

The Singularity of Light fell silent for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze toward Elina, who stood about ten meters away.

"I want you to strip Princess Elina of her right to compete for the throne... and deliver a fitting punishment, considering she is under the protection of the Singularity of Chaos."

The moment those words rang out across the hall, it felt as if a massive weight had dropped onto everyone’s chest.

"Damn... What kind of request is that? It’s downright ruthless."

"Completely merciless. He’s trying to erase Princess Elina from existence."

"Tsk... This just got interesting. I wonder if His Majesty will give in."

Whispers spread like wildfire among the noble families.

Although the Singularity of Light’s demand was shocking, many couldn’t hide the flicker of excitement on their faces—especially those who supported Aldric, Cedric, Adalen, Zarak, or Cassian.

The fall of one candidate meant a step closer to victory for the others.

And for the noble houses backing them, this was a gift.

Tsk!

Cedric let out a low chuckle and shook his head. His gaze, cold and sharp, fixed on Nolan and Elina in the distance.

I didn’t expect disaster to come for you two so soon. Still... this works in our favor... Hahaha.