The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1981: Giving Face

Being younger has many perks, but being older also has many perks.

High Lord Rashal was completely blindsided by the unwritten rule, which was tied to the Purgation Duel Law. He was quite certain that the plan was bulletproof, as High Lord Ursa was becoming overconfident, and that meant missing the fine details that could turn the situation around.

Predicting that his threats were recorded and can be used through an ancient law should be impossible.

High Lord Rashal was correct to assume that High Lord Ursa knew nothing until the plan started.

And yet, an unpredictable variable came to ruin his plan.

It was almost like the world actively didn’t want to see him triumph over High Lord Ursa.

But that’s only how a weakling would think.

’I somewhat predicted this would happen.’ High Lord Rashal clenched his fists as he wracked his brain for a way out. ’The plan was to bait Ursa to the Purgation Duel Law, but I still want to coax some High Lords to my side in case I need them to back me up.’

High Lord Rashal deliberately spoke about his feats earlier, as that’s his charming point.

Among the High Lords, there are a few who have military minds.

He thought that by mentioning his feats in battle, some of those High Lords would look at him far more favourably. High Lord Ursa got the other support because of familiarity, and that’s generally not a bad idea, which is why he tried to make himself look more familiar to a certain group.

It was all in case things escalated.

One of them would step forward to intervene if the altercation that happened earlier escalated.

Now, he was hoping that someone would step forward to become his witness.

But as he swept his gaze around, he could not see even one High Lord who had a sliver of intention to step up for him. Frankly, he was not panicking, but simply disappointed. Considering what he had gone through for the Primordial Meadow, he thought one of them would resonate with him.

Above all, this was their realm.

Someone like him should be given a sliver of recognition, but he was mistaken.

Unlike the people of the Primordial Meadow, these people had never lived in danger.

For all his military triumphs—the campaigns that had raised him to the rank of High Lord—only their subjects had ever truly felt the weight of what he had done. The other High Lords themselves had never faced danger directly. So, when they heard of his exploits, they felt nothing.

No gratitude or awe.

Just someone who bragged about his accomplishments, that’s it.

’Sigh... I made another mistake. What should I do now?’ High Lord Rashal fretted in his mind.

Hearing no answer, the Cluster Custodian leaned even closer. "Let me ask you again. Where are your witnesses? As the accuser, you have to provide willing witnesses. If you can’t, then I’m afraid you will have to pay the price for wasting my time."

"I witnessed the altercation."

A voice rang.

From among the High Lords, a well-built, dignified High Lord with sleek grey hair and a greyish-cream suit stepped forward. His face showed that he was older than many—but his body was still full and also upright, which made him exude an air of discipline.

Seems like High Lord Rashal’s speech was not for nothing.

"And who are you?" the Cluster Custodian asked.

"High Lord Leenim," the High Lord, High Lord Leenim, answered flatly. "I’m willing to be his witness."

All of the High Lords were shocked to see High Lord Leenim stepping forward.

Someone of his caliber should know better than to support the losing side.

Doing so would only lead him to an early death, as he would be isolated, exactly like High Lord Rrashal.

But the old man didn’t seem to care about the mosquitoes around him.

"Okay, that’s one," the Cluster Custodian nodded—and turned to face the other High Lords. "Any more takers?"

"I’m also willing to be a witness."

Another voice spread across the entire ballroom, and it came from High Lord Rashal’s table.

Lilliana raised her hand and stepped forward.

Henry, Vadyn, and everyone around the table stared in shock at her doing something foolish. She’s a part of the High Lord’s group. She came with him. Her bias was undeniable, and by every standard of procedure, it should have disqualified her as a witness on the spot.

But she went anyway.

"Ms. Lilliana! Get back, quick!" Henry whispered.

"You’re going to get into trouble!" Vadyn added as she caught Lilliana’s wrist. "Don’t be stupid."

She even cast a glance at Rex and Davina.

Both of them were also surprised, but Davina was the one who was surprised the most.

"What is she thinking?" She muttered with a frown.

"I don’t know." Rex shrugged. "But she’s not dumb. Let’s see how she’d handle this."

"And who are you?" the Cluster Custodian asked.

"Lilliana," Lilliana answered. "Just Lilliana."

"Just Lilliana?"

"Yes."

"She should not be eligible to be a witness!" High Lord Ursa roared from the other side, pointing at her with clear anger in his voice. If there are two witnesses, then the Purgation Duel could proceed, which is not acceptable to him. "She’s a part of High Lord Rashal’s faction!"

"Hmm?" the Cluster Custodian looked at High Lord Ursa and then back at Lilliana. "Is that true?"

"No, it’s not. I’m more like a business partner."

"A business partner?"

"She worked with High Lord Rashal in some capacity," High Lord Ursa argued. "She should not be an eligible witness."

"Please..." Lilliana glanced at High Lord Ursa. Her gaze was condescending, and the smirk curling on her lips was degrading. "No need to shout and scream; we can hear you loud and clear from here. And if a business partner isn’t eligible to become a witness, then nobody here can be a witness—as everyone worked with High Lord Rashal in some capacity.

"Even this esteemed Cluster Custodian accepted High Lord Leenim—as a witness. High Lord Ursa, are you saying you know better?"

"How dare you—?" High Lord Ursa’s face turned red.

He wanted to curse, but seeing the gaze from the Cluster Custodian made him swallow back his words.

As much as he wanted to rip Lilliana apart, the way she framed the situation made it impossible for him to say anything else that wouldn’t offend the Cluster Custodian. All he could do was swallow his rage and shut his mouth.

Lilliana looked back at the Clusterr Custodian and saw amusement on his face.

But there was a hint that he wasn’t going to accept this easily.

"In any case, you might still be too biased to be a witness, Just Lilliana."

"Don’t be like that."

Slowly, Lilliana leaned forward a little.

"Look again. Look again where I came from." She whispered.

Confused, the Cluster Custodian looked back at the table where she had come from and locked eyes with Rex again. Unlike earlier, when Rex was simply looking ahead passively, only standing his ground, he was now more alert.

His gaze was sharp and focused.

It was a sign that he was ready to pounce in case something happened.

Such a thing made it clear that Lilliana is someone really close to Rex, not someone dispensable.

And then, unknown to anyone across the entire ballroom, Lilliana whispered something.

None of them dared to eavesdrop, as that would be offensive to the Cluster Custodian, but all of them really wanted to. Judging from Lilliana’s aura, she was barely a Demigod. Someone like her should not possibly have anything to sway the Cluster Custodian.

Nothing at all.

Just their standing was dimensions apart.

But they were wrong.

"We have another witness." The Cluster Custodian declared as he straightened. His words rippled like an invisible shockwave throughout the ballroom floor. Lilliana, someone beneath their notice, somehow swayed the Cluster Custodian. Disbelief swept across every face. "Now, with sufficient witnesses, the Purgation Duel between High Lord Rashal and High Lord Ursa may proceed."

Everyone couldn’t believe what they heard.

Couldn’t believe that the Purgation Duel managed to be accepted to proceed.

Even High Lord Rashal couldn’t hide his surprise.

It was true that somewhere inside, he knew Rex could help him in this situation.

But for Lilliana to be the one to come forward was completely beyond his expectations.

And the surprising part? She succeeded flawlessly.

Just like every guest who watched this situation unfold, he also wanted to know exactly what Lilliana said to the Cluster Custodian to change his mind so quickly like that. He wanted to ask, but he couldn’t do it right now.

Lilliana flashed a smile at the Cluster Custodian, flicked her lustrous hair, and walked back to the table.

Everyone stared at her like she was a higher being.

"What in the world did you say?" Davina asked when Lilliana stood beside her.

"Nothing much." She shrugged, but she could see everyone around the table, including Rex, was leaning forward, anticipating her answer. "I said there are three things every man loves the most—in this world. His balls, his mother, and the woman who warms his bed. For his sake, he should give me some face."

Davina, Rex, and the others who heard her answer froze.

It was Davina who snapped out of her daze first.

"You pressured the Cluster Custodian to give you some face like that?"

"It worked, no?"

"Very classy, sister. Very classy."

"Don’t mock the method when it worked."

Just from the exchange between Rex and the Cluster Custodian earlier, Lilliana could probably tell that Rex has leverage. One that was strong enough to make the Cluster Custodian pardon his strong refusal to bow down.

Knowing that, Lilliana simply used that leverage to pressure the Cluster Custodian even more.

She used the leverage by making it clear that she’s someone important to Rex, so he should give her some face. Even though her words were vulgar, they delivered the message. And unsurprisingly, the Cluster Custodian gave her some face.

No harm in using the leverage when all she was asking was to give her some face.

And the Cluster Custodian didn’t lose face, as nobody knew what made him change his mind.

Rex, on the other hand, massaged his forehead.

"Can you at least consult me first if you want to do something like that?"

"Like the way you consult with us about you having a big leverage against the Cluster Custodian?"

"Err... I didn’t even know until now."

"As if I would buy that. Besides, I’m starting to get the hang of this. Doing something like that makes my heart flutter."

"Please don’t make it a habit."

Rex has experience in dealing with princesses right about now, as even Calidora now has his child in her belly, and most of them were understanding. Or at least, in front of him, they were all understanding. Not to mention, Adhara, Evelyn, and Gistella were all supportive.

But that wasn’t the case for Davina and Lilliana.

Both sisters were incredibly spiteful when they were left in the dark and blunt in voicing their minds.

Completely different from those he normally dealt with.

And he was still not used to their rebels here and there if he made an unconscious mistake like this.

Rex scratched the back of his head as Lilliana said it out loud.

And now, he could tell that Vadyn and Henry were also openly questioning his identity with their gazes.

On the other hand, the Cluster Custodian walked to the center.

He gestured for High Lord Rashal and High Lord Ursa to approach him, and they did.

"All of you shall bear witness to the terms and conditions of this Purgation Duel." With a flick of his fingers, the ballroom unraveled—walls, chandeliers, and marble dissolving into nothing. A vast, empty whiteness swallowed them whole. "Let us begin by setting the stage."