The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne - Chapter 440

440: The Powerful Cardinal of Greed 440: The Powerful Cardinal of Greed Whoosh!

King Maldrin was hurled fifty meters before crashing into a tree.

“Argh…” He groaned, clutching his throbbing chest.

“Did my attack… fail?” His eyes scanned the smoke and dust that clouded his vision.

Soon, the haze cleared, revealing the Cardinal of Greed-completely unharmed.

“Nice attack.

But I’m far stronger now, King Maldrin.

Sorry to disappoint,” the Cardinal said with a soft chuckle.

King Maldrin’s eyes widened in shock.

“Impossible… How could he remain unscathed?” The attack he had just unleashed was one of his ten strongest sword techniques: Dragon Roar.

Anyone struck by it would normally be split in two-or killed instantly.

Yet the Cardinal of Greed had withstood it effortlessly, fueling a surge of rage and burning hatred in King Maldrin.

“Don’t be arrogant!

I haven’t even unleashed my full power!” Boom!

The ground beneath him cracked, splintering outward for five meters.

A blue aura erupted from his body, spiraling into the sky in a violent whirlwind.

At the same time, a ten-meter-long blue dragon avatar coalesced behind him.

“Divine Technique: Seven Dragon Styles!” Whoosh!

He shot forward like a bullet toward the Cardinal of Greed.

Twisting in midair, his sword came down in a deadly slash aimed at the Cardinal’s neck.

Facing the attack, the Cardinal of Greed did not dare to be careless.

He could sense the true danger of the strike.

Clasping his hands together, he shouted, “Hell’s Call: Impenetrable Barrier!” Buzz!

A two-meter-tall black magical barrier sprang up, shielding him.

King Maldrin’s sword slammed into it, triggering a massive explosion.

“I will not lose!” King Maldrin roared, pouring even more energy into his strike.

Cracks raced across the barrier, visible to the naked eye.

The Cardinal of Greed staggered backward in shock, but it was already too late.

Boom!

The barrier shattered, and the lethal attack struck him squarely in the neck.

The Cardinal’s head was severed, rolling away like a ball.

King Maldrin turned, his gaze cold as he stared at the cardinal’s lifeless form.

“You… lost.” Finally, the Cardinal of Greed had been killed by his sword.

The resentment that had been building inside him vanished completely.

King Maldrin wiped the remaining blood from his blade with a swing, then sheathed it and stepped toward the aura of the Underworld Gate members.

But suddenly… “Oy!

You really underestimate me.

Did you think I was dead?” The voice startled King Maldrin.

He drew his sword in an instant, spun around, and slashed forward.

Clang!

His slash was stopped by a black tentacle, and King Maldrin was thrown five meters back.

Disbelief and shock filled his eyes as he witnessed the Cardinal of Greed return from death.

“Surprised?

Didn’t expect that, did you?” The headless body lifted its severed head and reattached it effortlessly.

To King Maldrin’s shock, the head fused back onto the body.

The Cardinal of Greed stretched his stiff limbs and gave him a playful, taunting look.

“How… how can you come back to life?” King Maldrin asked cautiously.

He sensed that this Cardinal of Greed was not the same as the one he had fought before.

“Come back to life?

Pfft!

You’re hilarious, Maldrin!” The Cardinal of Greed laughed.

“When did I ever die?

Are you dreaming?

Your attack was strong, I’ll give you that-but it wasn’t nearly enough to defeat me, let alone kill me.” “You…” King Maldrin snarled, but within a second, he forced himself to calm down.

He couldn’t allow his emotions to take over-losing control now would ruin his chances in the battle to come.

Once steady, he fixed the Cardinal of Greed with a cold glare and thrust his sword forward.

“If my previous attack couldn’t defeat you, then I’ll strike with everything else I’ve got!” Whoosh!

He lunged without hesitation at the Cardinal of Greed.

But the Cardinal didn’t flinch.

Instead, he laughed, bold and defiant.

“Come at me!” Boom!

…

“Mother!” Elina shouted as she ran toward Isabella in the distance.

Hearing her, Isabella turned and saw her daughter sprinting toward her.

She opened her arms, and they embraced tightly.

“Are you okay?” Isabella asked, concern lacing her voice.

“I’m fine.” Elina buried her face in her mother’s soft chest.

“And you?

Are you okay?” “I’m fine as well.

Don’t worry.” Isabella caressed her hair affectionately.

Feeling relieved, they released each other and scanned their surroundings anxiously.

“I didn’t expect demons to appear… This is really dangerous,” Isabella said with a small sigh.

She had never seen a demon in person before-the one in the hall had been her first.

Their appearance was undeniably terrifying and grotesque.

Elina opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.

Noticing this, Isabella asked softly, “What’s on your mind?

If you want to say it, just tell me.” Elina took a deep breath and whispered, “Mother… I know who did it.” Isabella froze.

Her expression hardened as she gently pulled Elina away from the crowd.

Once they were alone, with no one within ten meters, she clenched her palm tightly.

“Tell me-who did it?” Lowering her head, Elina said, “The culprit is…” She recounted in detail what Cassian had done to her-how he had given her a glass of wine laced with a mysterious liquid that could turn her into a demon, and other vile deeds.

Isabella listened intently, her expression growing darker with each word.

“So… you’re saying Cassian is behind all of this?” “Yes, Mother.

I know this because Cassian tried to turn me into a demon but failed.

It seems he-and the demon inside him-resorted to such a drastic measure.” She had no solid proof that Cassian was the culprit.

But if not him, who else could it be?

The black shadow that protected her had also confirmed that Cassian was responsible.

Even now, she couldn’t comprehend how he could commit such a heinous act.

What could possibly be his purpose?

Isabella was silent for a moment, then exhaled deeply.

“This is a very complicated matter.

You don’t have any physical evidence, do you?

Even if I report it to your father, he won’t just believe it without proof.” She trusted Elina’s words, of course.

But Ragan might not.

After all, if the claim were true, the consequences would be enormous-not just for the empire, but for their family’s reputation as well.

“I know that.

But Mother, the deaths of noble heads and their children, along with diplomats from other kingdoms, will have an even greater impact.

If Father pins this on someone else, I’m sure the other kingdoms won’t accept it.

It could even spark war.” Using a scapegoat wasn’t unusual; she knew her father might consider it.

But the kings of those kingdoms were not foolish.

So the matter of Cassian had to be reported to her father as soon as possible.

At the very least, he would have no choice but to punish Cassian severely.

Isabella was about to respond when a calm voice came from behind them.

“So, the culprit is Prince Cassian.

I didn’t expect him to do this.

But Princess… can you prove it?”