Several days earlier...
"You...! This is... this is outright treason! I am... I am your father!"
Within the Sky Palace of the Snow Night Empire,
a burst of pale golden magic erupted.
Terrifying sword aura swept through the imperial court, instantly knocking countless officials unconscious under the overwhelming shockwave. Even the Imperial Guards attempting to rush into the throne hall to rescue the Emperor were blasted dozens of meters away by the violent surge of power.
As for Luojie-Valedin, the Emperor of the Snow Night Empire,
his throat was firmly gripped by a young, handsome blond man, who pinned him against the wall.
Faced with Luojie's furious accusations, the blond man—
Xue Tianao—
merely revealed a disdainful smile.
"Heh. Father? You never once treated me like your son while I was growing up. Besides... wasn't it you who just tried to kill me?"
"You unfilial wretch!"
Panting heavily, Luojie's life force continued to drain away.
In desperation, the Emperor turned pleading eyes toward the middle-aged man standing nearby, dressed in a flowing cape and a blue-and-white military uniform.
"Luokefei! Q-Quick... kill this traitorous son!"
However,
despite the Emperor's desperate cry,
the middle-aged man named Luokefei remained standing with his eyes closed, seemingly resting, completely ignoring the old emperor who stood on the brink of death.
Seeing this,
Luojie's pupils contracted violently, and overwhelming terror instantly filled his eyes.
"Th-This is impossible! You... you little traitor! What exactly have you done?! Even the Grand General who protects the nation has been bought by you?!"
"Heh. Bought? Don't make it sound so ugly."
Xue Tianao smiled faintly.
"General Luokefei chose me because I can lead the Snow Night Empire toward a brighter future. He must have grown tired of serving a cowardly emperor who does nothing but compromise."
"Wh... what exactly are you trying to do?!"
"What am I trying to do?"
Xue Tianao smiled.
"Surely you already know."
"N-No! You... I'm your father! Y-You can't do this!..."
As Luojie continued repeating those words,
the smile on Xue Tianao's face only grew wider.
An overwhelming sense of accomplishment welled up inside him.
"If you didn't want to die..."
"...then you should have treated my mother and me better back then."
With a cold chuckle,
Xue Tianao drew the sword hanging at his waist.
Bathed in pale golden magic,
the brilliantly glowing blade shattered the defensive magic protecting Luojie.
Then,
before the stunned eyes of the guards, servants, and several ministers,
Xue Tianao thrust his sword straight through Luojie's heart.
Accompanied by agonized cries,
the ruler of an empire died beneath his own son's blade.
The old emperor's eyes remained wide open, filled with resentment and unwillingness, silently expressing the hatred lingering within his heart.
Unfortunately,
with his soul fading away,
revenge was no longer possible.
"The throne..."
"...has finally become mine."
After tossing Luojie's corpse onto the floor of the throne hall,
Xue Tianao, unable to suppress his excitement and delight, gently caressed the platinum imperial throne he had coveted for so long.
Behind him,
his adjutant, Toma, approached with an excited smile.
"Your Highness... we've succeeded."
"Indeed."
"What should we do with these people?"
"As for that..."
Xue Tianao slowly turned his head toward the officials still loyal to the late emperor, who stood surrounded by Royal Knights, glaring at him with eyes full of hatred.
After observing them for a moment, he spoke dismissively.
"Those old fossils are useless. Keeping them alive only wastes resources, and they might spread word of what happened here."
"So... you know what to do."
"I understand, Crown Pri... ah, no..."
Toma smiled slightly.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
With those words, Toma turned toward the trembling elderly officials behind him.
The next instant,
his battle axe swung down violently.
Blood splattered everywhere.
Earth-attributed battle aura erupted throughout the throne hall.
Several more bloody corpses fell to the floor.
After dealing with the old officials,
Toma respectfully looked back at Xue Tianao.
"Your Majesty, what are our next orders?"
"Proceed according to the original plan."
"Understood."
Receiving Xue Tianao's approval,
Toma put away his battle axe and walked out of the throne hall to carry out the next phase of the plan.
After watching Toma leave,
Xue Tianao turned toward the short-haired woman directing the Royal Knights as they cleaned up the aftermath.
"Commander Aiqinuo."
Hearing Xue Tianao call her,
the woman with short amber hair, holding a knight's lance, immediately knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty. Your orders?"
"You and General Luokefei will head to the Northern Border."
"If the Empire is to become truly unified, the Northern Border is indispensable."
"Now that the Duke Family has just suffered an attack from the Heavenly Punishment Holy Church, they're in a weakened state."
"This is the perfect opportunity."
"You know what to do?"
"Yes."
Aiqinuo answered without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing her response,
Xue Tianao nodded with great satisfaction.
It seemed spending so much time bringing her under his command had truly been the right decision.
"Good. I'll leave this mission to you."
"I understand, Your Majesty. I guarantee I'll complete it."
"Mhm."
"Don't disappoint me."
"Yes..."
...
—
Recalling the conversation she'd had with Crown Prince Xue Tianao...
No.
With His Majesty,
Aiqinuo's eyes gradually filled with fighting spirit.
An overwhelming battle intent surged from her body.
As the First Knight of the Royal Knights,
her aura exploded outward, instantly pressing down upon Marquis Xiumu-Duke and everyone around him.
Having just endured one fierce battle after another, with no chance to recover,
the Blizzard Knights had no way of resisting Aiqinuo's overwhelming pressure.
Expressions of pain appeared uncontrollably across their faces.
Seeing this,
Aiqinuo sneered.
Just as His Highness had predicted.
The Duke Family no longer possessed the strength to resist.
This...
was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
With that,
Aiqinuo slowly stepped forward beneath her overwhelming aura.
"Do you understand now?"
"The late emperor has passed away."
"The agreement he signed with you naturally ceased to exist the moment he died."
"As things stand now, Wind Facing City is imperial territory."
"So why shouldn't the Royal Knights come here?"
"You...!"
Marquis Xiumu-Duke found himself momentarily speechless.
She was right.
The agreement he had made with the late emperor became void the instant the emperor died.
There was no reason for the new emperor to honor it.
But...
how had the late emperor...
suddenly died?
"The late emperor was perfectly fine before! How could he suddenly pass away?!"
"The late emperor failed while attempting to break through to the Seventh Tier."
"He ultimately suffered magical deviation and his soul collapsed."
Aiqinuo answered calmly.
"Magical deviation? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?!"
"That is the official conclusion of the Royal Imperial Medical Institute."
"There is no reason to question it, Marquis Xiumu-Duke."
"..."
At that moment,
Marquis Xiumu-Duke couldn't help clenching his fists tightly.
As for Luojie's death,
he already had a rough guess about what had truly happened.
He simply hadn't expected Xue Tianao to be bold enough to do such a thing.
If it truly had been a coup,
how exactly had he managed to bring the Grand General over to his side?
Questions filled the Marquis's mind.
But he also knew
this was no time to dwell on them.
Looking at the Royal Knights who had suddenly barged into the Marquis's estate and were aggressively pressuring him,
Marquis Xiumu-Duke took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fury within his heart.
"Then, Commander Aiqinuo..."
"What exactly has brought the Royal Knights to Wind Facing City?"
"I assume you didn't come all the way to the Northern Border simply for sightseeing."
"I certainly wouldn't mind sightseeing."
Aiqinuo smiled faintly.
"But we have something much more important to accomplish."
"What is it?"
"Heh."
With a cold smile,
Aiqinuo produced a scroll bearing the royal crest.
Before the astonished eyes of Marquis Xiumu-Duke and everyone else,
she unfurled it and read aloud the imperial decree.
"By the command of His Majesty Xue Tianao—"
"The Duke Family has colluded with the Abyss Demons and used the Shadow of Silence Power to aid their cultivation."
"Therefore, all noble titles are hereby revoked."
"All individuals connected to the Duke Family are to be arrested and escorted to the Imperial Capital—Sky Palace—to stand trial."
The moment those words fell,
the Royal Knights surrounding Marquis Xiumu-Duke simultaneously drew their swords.
Dozens of magitek rifles were likewise aimed directly at the members of the Duke Family.
An overwhelming tide of hostility and hatred instantly locked onto Marquis Xiumu-Duke,
causing his expression to change dramatically.
Comments