Chapter 108: Chapter 81: Grand Anniversary, Rebel Landing (Part 3)
Their faces were obscured by full-coverage helmets, giving them an ice-cold, murderous aura.
In times like these, it was difficult for a Provincial Governor in an Edge Star Zone like him to distinguish between rebel and Loyalist Knights.
He could only ask cautiously, probing for information. "I am Ullrich, the City Lord of the Desolate Wasteland Ruins. And you are...?"
The Knight’s voice was cold and merciless.
"In the name of the Great Lord, from this moment on, this world belongs to Grand Lord Kles. Mortal, submit to the Great Lord’s rule, or be purged."
After speaking, one of the Knights produced a parchment contract with binding legal power and slapped it onto the Governor’s desk.
Ullrich cautiously read the contents of the contract.
If he signed it, the Seventeenth Military Port World would declare its secession from the Empire’s control and become the private property of Grand Lord Kles.
Not only would they be required to pay the Tithing, but the existing Defense Army would also be completely redeployed to the front lines.
Although Ullrich was a mortal, he was, after all, a genuine Provincial Governor of an Imperial Province. He was well-informed, and he had some recollection of this Grand Lord Kles.
’He seemed to be the Battle Group Commander of some Knight Battle Group dispatched by the Empire, permanently stationed in the Border Region.’
The Radiant Empire once had thirteen Main Battle Knight Orders and six Infantry Legions. The expedition into the Dark Abyss had wiped out two Main Battle Knight Orders and one Infantry Legion.
The consequence of this epic-level defeat was that the military forces under the direct command of the Regent Council and the Military Affairs Department were almost completely exhausted.
This crushing defeat led many Legions in Star Zones far from the Radiant Holy City’s sphere of influence to adopt a wait-and-see attitude and entertain thoughts of insubordination.
’The Empire’s Main Battle Corps are loyal to the Divine Emperor and the Radiant Holy Sword; that much is beyond doubt. But are they loyal to the Regent Council and the Lord of the Empire? That was a sensitive and disloyal question he dared not answer.’
With the situation in the Radiant Holy City currently unclear, it was only logical that some would want to strike out on their own.
But...
Ullrich’s intuition told him there was something indescribably strange about these Imperial Knights.
Just as he was hesitating over whether to sign the contract, Raphael and his men burst into the Governor’s Mansion. The moment the two sides met, the one-sided, oppressive atmosphere in the room instantly became tense and hostile.
Raphael was the first to act. Holding the Holy Scripture, he frowned and demanded in a loud voice,
"I am Raphael, a Combat Priest of the Caster Battle Group. This is a land illuminated by the Divine Emperor’s radiance. The laws and contracts of private lords have no authority here.
You are not welcome in this world. Please leave."
Raphael was no ordinary Wizard. He had smelled the stench of demonic corruption before he even stepped through the gates of the Governor’s Mansion, but he controlled himself well, not exposing the truth of their fall to corruption.
This wasn’t a fight between just two people; he was responsible for the lives of the billions of citizens on this world.
The five Black Armored Knights looked at one another.
Before coming here, they had confirmed that there were no armed forces belonging to any Imperial power on this world. All they had to do was force the Governor’s head down onto the document to sign it, and the mission would be complete.
One of the Black Armored Knights drew his broadsword while the other four spread out into an encirclement formation. He asked cautiously, "The Caster Battle Group? What are your parent Legion and company? Who is your Battle Group Commander?"
Raphael stated expressionlessly, "In the name of the Divine Emperor, the Caster Battle Group was independently established and is eternally loyal to the Divine Emperor."
Hearing this answer, the Black Armored Knight who had questioned him laughed, and the other four laughed as well.
Their laughter, filled with contempt and disdain, was exceptionally cold and malicious.
Governor Ullrich sighed. ’I can’t get a word in during this conversation between Imperial Knights, but I know Raphael has misspoken. The moment he admitted they’re just a Combat Gang formed by local Knights—’
’—they have no Legion or Battle Group Commander to serve as powerful backing.’
’What awaits them is certain to be a bloody slaughter at the hands of these rebels!’
The lead Black Armored Knight snorted coldly. He didn’t even deign to state his origins before the fight. Gripping his sword with both hands, he commanded in a low voice, "Slaughter them all."
