Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Cut Off the Snake's Head
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"Cough... heh heh..."
The excruciating pain surged from his crushed wrist and guts.
Baron let out a pained chuckle amid the agony.
The intel had been wrong.
The Emperor was no puppet.
"A question."
Darcor pressed down firmly on Baron's broken wrist.
"Gahhh!"
"What's so special about that blue stone? Why risk exposing yourself to grab it?"
It couldn't just be for the money.
An enemy spy wagering his life to secure it.
"Speak. Unless you want to say goodbye to your head."
"You... you wouldn't understand... It's not just a necklace."
"Then what is it?"
"It's..."
Baron bared his bloodied teeth in a ghastly grin.
"Heh heh... I'll tell you when we meet in hell."
The cyanide capsule hidden deep in his molar.
His final resort—bite down, and the brain melts instantly.
Crunch.
The moment he tensed to bite.
Crack!
A horrific sound echoed.
Not the capsule shattering.
"Gaa... ugh!"
His jawbone exploding.
"Who said you could die? This is my empire."
Darcor gripped Baron's shattered jaw.
"So you need my permission first, right?"
Forcing the mouth open.
"Let's take a peek inside your head first."
A crimson glow erupted from the depths of Darcor's eyes.
🧠 SKILL ACTIVATED 🧠 Memory Search Ding.
> [Target's mental barrier shattered.]
> [Searching target's memories.]
A flash of red mana threads extended from Darcor's eyes, burrowing into Baron's pupils.
"Gaaaaah!"
His body convulsed violently, as if electrocuted.
At the same time, a flood of memories flashed through Darcor's mind like film reels.
Black money exchanged in a dingy basement.
A secret letter stamped with the Empress Dowager's seal.
A single location marked in red on a map.
'This is it.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Information Acquired: Imperial Hunting Tournament Assassination Plot] [Location: Twilight Forest] [Objective: Induce beast frenzy and disguise Emperor's death as accident] An intrigued smile crept across Darcor's lips.
"Hunting tournament? Perfect spot. Thanks for the intel."
Thud.
Darcor smacked his lips and tossed Baron to the floor like trash.
His unfocused eyes were wide with terror, pupils dilated white.
"H-How...?"
"How? You spilled it all. How kind of you."
Darcor dusted off his clothes and stood.
Business done.
Just trash disposal left.
"Oh... if you see Carhedin on your way out, say hi for me."
Darcor's palm filled Baron's vision.
"Thanks to you, I'm sucking the sweet nectar nice and deep."
"W-Wait!"
Snap.
With a gruesome crack, Baron's head lolled limply.
Another rat gnawing at the Empire met its end.
⚙ QUEST COMPLETE ⚙ Cut Off the Snake's Head [Target: Baron eliminated] [Reward: Madness Level greatly reduced. (0%)] [Hidden Skill Unlocked.] ⚡ HIDDEN SKILL UNLOCKED ⚡ Tyrant's Intimidation [Amplifies target's fear. Usable only when opponent feels fear.]
"Oh."
The headache crushing his skull vanished like it was washed away.
His body felt light as if it could float away.
And a new skill to boot.
'Looks useful.'
Darcor turned back with a refreshed expression.
In one corner of the passage.
Chloe crouched there, covered in dirt.
Her hair disheveled, expensive dress in tatters.
But her face shone as if blessed by the gods.
"Heh heh... so radiant. My precious."
She rubbed her cheek against the blue diamond necklace snatched from Baron, lost in ecstasy.
Whether someone died beside her or not, to her,
the necklace was her entire world.
Darcor snorted with laughter.
In some ways, more terrifying than Baron.
"Good work, Saintess. The necklace is yours as promised."
"Your Majesty..."
Chloe sprang up and threw herself at Darcor.
Whoosh.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I love you. Your Majesty, I pledge my eternal loyalty.
I swear my soul upon this necklace!"
She planted a fervent kiss on the back of Darcor's bloodied hand.
It was genuine.
"Yeah, yeah. Got it, so back off a bit."
Darcor recoiled and pulled his hand away.
"But today's events stay secret to the grave. Got it?"
"Of course. I saw nothing.
Heard nothing, know nothing. I swear!"
Chloe nodded vigorously.
For that necklace, she'd do anything.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Heave-ho. We're late."
"Huff... huff..."
Just before dawn at the palace walls.
In the pre-dawn gloom, a man and woman.
Darcor and Chloe.
Their appearances were wretched.
Darcor was soaked in sweat and grime; Chloe even worse.
Her dress torn to rags, hair a mess.
"Saintess, work on that stamina?"
"Y-Your Majesty was too rough..."
Chloe collapsed, legs giving out.
After sprinting from the underground passage to the palace.
Of course, carried like luggage.
"Who's there?"
A torch flared in the darkness, sharp voice following.
Edel, the Escort Knight on patrol,
searching for the Emperor who hadn't returned to his chambers.
"Your Majesty?"
Edel's eyes bulged.
Her gaze swept their disheveled states.
Late night at a secluded wall.
Sweaty Emperor.
Saintess with torn clothes, collapsed legs.
And her words about roughness.
Anyone would misunderstand—no, it'd be weirder not to.
"Y-Your Majesty?"
"Lady Edel, perfect timing."
Darcor tossed his mask and wiped sweat.
"Wh-What... what happened all night?"
"Can't you tell? We had a good roll."
"Eh?"
Edel's face flushed crimson.
Darcor nodded toward Chloe.
"She's a real piece of work. Held up better than expected."
"P-Piece of work...?"
Chloe shyly wriggled.
"It was... so good. I'll never forget it.
Your Majesty's that... big, radiant thing..."
Clang.
Edel's sword slipped from her hand.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Empress Dowager Elizabeth elegantly sipped black tea from fine porcelain.
The fragrant aroma wafted to her nose.
A peaceful morning.
But her mind was far from calm.
Her fingers trembled faintly around the cup.
'Baron should have contacted me by now.'
Word of securing the necklace from the underground auction.
Only then could the grand plot proceed smoothly.
Tap. Tap.
Urgent footsteps shattered the quiet.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Her loyal head maid rushed in, pale as a ghost.
The usually composed woman in such panic—unprecedented.
"Y-Your Majesty... disaster."
"What is it? Speak plainly, no hysterics."
The maid glanced around, then whispered tremblingly in Elizabeth's ear.
"Lord Baron was found dead."
"What?"
The teacup slipped from Elizabeth's hand.
Crash.
Hot tea soaked the tablecloth.
"What? Baron dead?"
"Yes. The underground auction house burned down entirely, and in the secret passage,
he was found brutally murdered."
Dizziness hit.
Ether Guild funding cut off, now action captain Baron too.
Her limbs severed one by one by an unseen enemy.
"Who... who dares obstruct my plans!"
As she slammed the table, grinding her teeth.
Knock knock.
"Your Majesty, a gift from His Imperial Majesty."
A servant's voice from the garden entrance.
The servant held a small box wrapped in black cloth.
"Bring it."
Elizabeth swallowed dryly and carefully opened it.
"Eek!"
She shrieked briefly, hurling the box.
Roll.
Something tumbled out across the floor.
It was
Baron's mask, split in half.
A note scrawled in red ink fluttered atop it.
[Who? It's me, Mother.] Elizabeth's breathing grew ragged.
"Darcor... you mad bastard."
She tore the note to shreds, hands shaking.
He knew everything.
And he was toying with her.
"He's tightening the noose. No more delays."
She couldn't sit idle.
"Summon the lords at once. All of them."
Poisonous venom spewed from the Empress Dowager's eyes.
Time to play her final card.
"The coming hunting tournament will be the Emperor's funeral.
I must kill him, no matter what."
She clenched her fist, trembling with rage.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Darcor stood before the full-length mirror in his office, trying on hunting attire.
Form-fitting leather armor and longsword at his waist.
The man in the mirror exuded the majestic air of a tyrant.
"Your Majesty, what did you send to the Empress Dowager via servant earlier?"
Edel, attending him, asked cautiously.
Her expression uneasy.
Sending a gift to the assassination-plotting Empress Dowager?
Ominous vibes.
"Nothing much. Thought Mother might be bored, so I sent a toy."
Darcor hummed, adjusting his outfit.
"A toy? What exactly?"
"Something our Dowager will love to death.
These pesky nibbles are annoying."
Darcor turned slowly, smirking at Edel.
"Gotta gather the trash in one spot and clean house in one go."