Chapter 195: The Empire’s Crisis (4)
Even with his firm assurance, Liliths expression did not soften.
How can we believe you?
If you want, I can make a mana oath.
!
His bold declaration caught everyone, including her, by surprise, and they had to suppress their shock.
A mana oath is absolute.
Breaking such an oath means being rejected by mana.
This entails more than just the failure of a spell.
Mana is the fundamental substance that composes the atmosphere.
Being rejected by it implies that ones very existence could be threatened.
In other words, the young man before her was staking his life against the bloodshed the Empires people might endure.
Liliths eyebrows twitched momentarily before her face softened.
The tension in her crossed arms gradually eased.
Youre brave. Do you know what happens to someone as strong as you if they break an oath?
It would collapse.
And youre still willing to risk your life because you think the Empire is worth it?
Worth it? Dont make me laugh.
Ray waved his hand dismissively, a cynical smirk on his face.
He no longer saw the Empire as valuable, unlike before.
It was a place where someone would provoke wyverns to usurp the throne, heedlessly endangering the very citizens they should protect.
No sensible ruler would contemplate such an action.
What worth could such a place possibly have?
But the citizens were innocent, uninvolved in these machinations.
How could he stand by while innocent lives were lost to anothers lunacy?
He spoke with a hint of despair.
The Empire has lost its value.
After Rays statement, Lilith paused before speaking, her tone conceding.
I see Alright. I trust your words. Now that youve given your answer, will you release my kin?
At her request, he began to manipulate mana.
Cancel.
With Rays command, the magic binding the wyverns was lifted, and they immediately voiced their protest.
Gasp! My lord, how can you promise such a thing! We should wipe them out right now!
Thats right! We need to set an example!
Despite her kins fierce protests, Lilith didnt bat an eye.
No, she displayed her dominance instead.
Defying me?
Her intense mana silenced the previously vocal wyverns, as if their mouths were sealed with honey.
The unwritten rule established by the strong reduced them from sizable wyverns to obedient dogs.
After casting a silent glance at her quieted kin, Lilith turned her back on the Imperial City.
The deadline is tomorrow morning Keep the promise until then. If not we will come to settle todays matter.
Ray also nodded earnestly at her words, which carried a threatening undertone.
Yes.
Lets go.
At her command, the wyverns followed Lilith with faces full of reluctance.
They disappeared into the sky, their massive wings fluttering, as Ray exhaled a sigh.
He had originally not intended to get involved with the wyverns and the Empires affairs.
He believed they were reaping the consequences of their own actions, but he couldnt ignore the future of the innocent people who might die without understanding why.
That was why his anger at the Empire, which had needlessly complicated things and worsened the situation, was boiling over.
Taking a deep breath to quell his anger, Ray faced Gregory, who stood to one side with a vacant stare, and said,
Go tell His Majesty the Emperor to gather everyone in the Imperial Family and the central nobility right away. Tell him its a matter that must be addressed under imperial command.
Excuse me?
Gregory involuntarily questioned, taken aback by Rays authoritative tone.
Ray, who had been barely containing his frustration with deep breaths, exploded at that single question.
Just shut up and gather them all, you idiot!
Gregory sought an audience with the Emperor and relayed Rays message.
The Empires Swordmaster becoming a mere messenger was an unprecedented event.
Per his words, many nobles and members of the Imperial Family had gathered in the great hall, and Ray stood in the center, looking around at everyone.
The insane actions of the Empire had driven him to the brink of madness.
If anyone dared to utter nonsense, he didnt know what he might do.
The oppressive mana emanating from his body enveloped the audience in tense silence.
You all must be aware of the wyvern attack. Its not just any place, but the Imperial Palace that was attacked.
Everyone nodded at his words.
This fact was known even without independent sources of information.
Even the citizens taking refuge in the villages knew about it.
Yet, there was no sign of shame on the faces of the nobles despite the humiliation of their Imperial Palace being attacked.
In other words, as long as it wasnt their own family, they didnt care much about the Imperial Palace.
Their indifference, treating them as complete strangers, was suffocating.
Arent you angry? The Imperial Palace was half destroyed while you all did nothing!
Cough!
Well
They began to look around, uncertain.
Ray, observing this frustrating scene up close, slapped his forehead.
If he hadnt intervened, the Empire would have been destroyed that day.
This wont lead to any progress. They dont even have their own opinions anymore. Theyre afraid to speak out.
In matters concerning state affairs, these people were far more knowledgeable than him.
He had wanted to hear their thoughts on the issue, but it seemed they would just keep looking around and end up doing nothing.
Ray pointed to the parchment on each of their tables and said,
You all see this, right? Write down the details of your familys military strength on it. Dont miss a single detail.
But who would easily follow such a command?
The military strength of a family was so secret that even the Emperor was kept in the dark.
It was natural for objections to pour in.
The powerful nobles began complaining from all sides.
Cough! Even if you are a saint, this is too much! To disclose the military strength of our families Thats outrageous!
Thats right! Besides, youre not even from the Lesian Empire!
Let the Empire handle its own affairs. The Holy Kingdom should step back! Theres a limit to rudeness!
The opposition was fierce.
Suddenly asking them to disclose the entire military strength of their families was a significant blow. He acknowledged that.
But if things continued as they were, the Empire would be doomed.
The Lesian Empire might not easily fall to the wyverns, but as time went on, the wyverns, with their overwhelming magical power and knowledge, would gain an increasing advantage, making the Empires chances of victory slim.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense.
Not even the Emperor could soothe the situation easily.
The jeers continued, and the number of nobles who sympathized with the atmosphere only grew.
Ray sighed again, closing his eyes.
He had endured enough. Honestly, why would he stay in the Empire if there was nothing to gain?
They were oblivious to the fact that all this was for their own sake, only thinking about the immediate losses they would suffer. It seemed nothing more than petty selfishness.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression was markedly more indifferent than before.
Is that so? If you all want to die miserably, go ahead. Frankly, its none of my business what happens to the Empire. If you want me to leave, Ill just go.
At his blunt words, the nobles eagerly chimed in.
How can a saint say such things!
Fine. Leave immediately. I regret that I cannot send you farther away.
At this point, he no longer felt like doing anything more.
He would negotiate as much as possible with the Wyvern Lord for the lives of the people, but he couldnt care less about the future of these nobles.
He licked his lips.
If I half-kill all the heads of the Empire, would they negotiate then? he muttered nonchalantly, his tone eerily calm.
The Emperor sensed resignation in his demeanor.
If he leaves, the Empire will face a crisis.
The Emperor, an iron ruler, had overcome several crises with his intuition.
Now, his instincts told him to keep the saint.
Eventually, the Emperor stood up.
Saint, wont you please save the Empire? I humbly ask this of you.
As he bowed deeply, the nobles were shocked, biting their tongues in astonishment.
Who was this Emperor?
An individual who had seized the throne with his abilities alone, despite being the weakest among the princes and a man of great pride and high self-esteem.
Now, he was bowing his head in front of the saint.
Your Majesty, please raise your head!
He may be a saint, but hes still just a child! Theres no need for you to do this
It was offensive to hear as a young person.
But before Ray could frown, the Emperors stern voice echoed in the great hall.
Silence! This is an imperial command! All nobles under the protection of the Imperial Palace must follow the saints orders!
!
How, how can this be
Anyone who disobeys will be erased under my name. Sir Gregory!
As the Emperor called out, Gregory, standing by, knelt in obedience.
I receive Your Majestys command. Please grant me the honor of leading the charge.
He said this, looking towards one side of the great hall.
A remarkable hideout. To only sense it now Is he a retainer of the saint?
The nobles, who had previously spouted nonsense at the saint, might have been turned into meat paste in their beds that night if the Emperor and he had not stepped in.
Unaware of their narrow escape from death, they knelt with heavy expressions.
We receive the command
We will comply
Ray grumbled.
Comply, my foot. I dont want to do it anymore. Just handle it yourselves. Itll be quite a sight to see you all get annihilated by the wyverns.
His heart, deeply hurt and irritated, had already left the Empire.
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