Chapter 267: Rifts within the Helmsley Dukedom
The Helmsley Dukedom was currently in a strange state of division. Once Jerome Helmsley made his breakthrough, the entire dukedom rapidly moved, but what no one expected was that partway through, a massive rift in plans and ideals would surface.
Six days had passed since Jerome's breakthrough.
Four days ago, widespread news broke that Prince Hunter had become a Mortal Lord and wiped out a rebel army together with a portion of elites from the Royal Army. This single event completely altered the trajectory of countless plans held by noble houses, as well as those of other kingdoms.
Two days ago, news of two divisions of the White Star Radiance Sect appearing sent shockwaves across the land. On top of that, the Soloman clan had also joined one of those divisions, led by the White Corrosive Flame Empress and her Soloman Division. According to rumors, that force was a nightmare to some and a godsend to others. As for the second division, it was none other than the Lion's Spearhearts working alongside the León clan to suppress rebels and repel the demonic beasts that continued to invade.
Also two days ago, Jumanga Helmsley suddenly broke through directly into the Mortal Shedding Realm. This revelation was incredibly shocking and inadvertently elevated both fear and respect toward anyone bearing the Helmsley surname, whether from the royal family or the dukedom itself.
One day ago, the Michaels family launched a major offensive in their bid for the crown, supported by various nobles and one of the traitorous factions of the Fighting Brawlman Sect. Their wariness toward the Helmsley Dukedom rose sharply once again. The remaining experts of the Great Brawlman Sect were forced to divide their attention to contain the situation. Most other sects and organizations chose to remain neutral, lacking either the power or the will to intervene.
Today marked the moment when the great momentum the Helmsley Dukedom had built suddenly collapsed, as its forcibly unified factions splintered due to an unexpected turn of events.
One faction was anti-crown, or more precisely, a faction that sought to replace Hunter's branch of the Helmsley clan with a new ruling line led by Jerome Helmsley.
Another faction was pro-royal, preferring not to disrupt the existing establishment. This group was significantly smaller compared to the anti-crown faction.
The third faction adopted a more neutral stance, though most leaned toward the anti-crown side given Brawlmanica's instability following the late King Helmsley's death.
All three factions moved under the orders of Duke Jabok Helmsley, with plans that outwardly appeared to support the Michaels family in reshaping the regime, while secretly intending to keep the crown within the Helmsley lineage. Cheers erupted as armies marched out to stir upheaval across Brawlmanica.
That was when everything took a strange and completely unexpected turn.
"Jerome, my son, what is the meaning of this?" Jabok asked, his frown deepening as irritation surged through his voice.
"I'm sorry, Father, but for the sake of our country and the Helmsley clan, I cannot go along with these plans." Jerome replied with a firm expression.
A heavy silence followed as disbelief spread among all who heard him. Jerome was refusing to fight for the crown and become Brawlmanica's new king? Was this not the very ambition he and countless others had plotted and sacrificed for over the past decade and a half?
Jabok's face twisted in fury as his aura surged outward, pressing down oppressively on the surroundings. "Have you lost your damned mind? What's gotten into you, Jerome? Everything we are doing is for the greater good! What the hell are you talking about?"
"The greater good? Father, have you really not been paying attention to the things happening around us? We can't continue down this path!" Jerome fiercely replied with defiance.
"You!!!" Jabok's fury exploded at that moment as the ground trembled under the pressure of his power.
It was at this moment that a man stepped forward. A faintly devilish air surrounded him as he made his appearance.
"Jumanga…" Jerome muttered as his gaze sharply landed on his brother.
"Father, with all due respect, Jerome does have a point." Jumanga said as he paused.
"...You…"
Before Jabok could finish, Jumanga continued. "With that being said, I am willing to take Jerome's place. Those who oppose Helmsley shall perish!"
Everyone stood frozen with mixed expressions of shock and uncertainty. Jumanga was an extremist, even more so than others known within the clan. His methods 'for the greater good of Helmsley' were far less concealed, making it easy to trace certain incidents back to him or the dukedom itself.
Among the warriors present, there were those who secretly supported Jumanga after he declared his bid for the crown. On the other hand, the majority felt uneasy or doubtful, while some outright opposed the idea. Many would rather see Jerome in power than Jumanga, especially given the strange aura Jumanga emitted after his breakthrough.
Jabok stood with an unreadable expression. Before Jumanga's breakthrough, when he still resembled his former self, Jabok might have accepted his bid without hesitation. Now, with Jumanga's devilish air, even Jabok felt uncertain. In truth, his doubts had first surfaced back when they fled the Pocket Dimension, as incident after incident continued to unfold.
"Father. Will you accept my bid?" Jumanga asked with a calloused expression.
"Jumanga, what exactly are you thinking?" Jerome demanded with a sharp gaze.
"What am I thinking? Haven't I already said it? To establish absolute dominance in the name of Helmsley." Jumanga replied nonchalantly.
"Absolute dominance for Helmsley? Unfortunately, we may not even have a country left to dominate if Brawlmanica continues on its current path." Jerome sighed, shaking his head.
"What nonsense. We simply need to resolve Brawlmanica's situation swiftly before eradicating the swarm of demonic beasts and demons emerging from the Stone Forest. Parts of the Fighting Brawlman Sect will relent, and we still have the Great Brawlman Sect. On top of that, various clans and smaller sects will aid us." Jumanga shrugged with a devilish smirk.
"Foolish. As if you don't know what's truly happening." Jerome sneered as he shook his head.
"Enough! I have made my decision." Jabok declared. "Since Jerome has forfeited his bid for the crown, we will proceed with you, Jumanga. Do not disappoint me."
"Worry not, Father. In the name of Helmsley, I will crush all opposers regardless of where they come from. Even those of the White Star Radiance!" Jumanga said as killing intent leaked from his body and a faint devilish light flickered around him.
"Father! You—"
Before Jerome could continue, Jabok waved his hand and glared at him with disappointment. "You no longer have the right to challenge my decisions. This is final."
Silence blanketed the area before Jerome's voice rang out, fierce and resolute. "Father, your judgment has indeed deteriorated over the years. Many of us now believe you stand on the brink of becoming a sinner of the Helmsley clan. From this moment on, I no longer recognize you as the true head of our clan."
"What are you saying?" Jabok stood rigid as a massive killing aura erupted from his presence.
"Heh. How ironic. Is this what it means to face me with killing intent for the sake of Helmsley?" Jerome sneered before shaking his head in pity. He then pulled out a radiant decree wrapped in special parchment used only by the King of Brawlmanica as a sovereign talisman. His voice thundered across the assembly. "I, Jerome Helmsley, hereby invoke this decree bestowed upon me by the late King Jean-Paul Helmsley to separate myself from the current Helmsley regime until this war concludes. Any who wish to follow me are free to do so!"
Jabok stared at his son, eyes wide with disbelief, as he watched numerous experts within the Helmsley Dukedom visibly split apart. Beside him, Jumanga was momentarily shaken before regaining his composure and shaking his head.
"So that was his trump card. Something no one could have possibly anticipated." Jumanga muttered.
"You… you fucking brat! To do this to me, your own father!" Jabok roared as he restrained himself from attacking Jerome. He then snarled under his breath, "It's you again. Even in death you interfere with me, Jean-Paul. After your line suffered so greatly, you still managed to plant seeds within other branches of the clan. Damn you!"
With Jerome's defection and the departure of a significant portion of Helmsley experts, a third force soon splintered off as well, composed of hardcore pro-crown supporters loyal to Hunter. This widespread fracture sent ripples of instability through other nobles and factions under the Helmsley Dukedom's influence.