Morris Dmitry Is Everywhere
Having read Emily's report, the emperor flashed a sinister smile.
"Carolberry? You were hiding the empress in a dump like that? Heh, hee hee hee. No wonder no one could find her."
Carolberry.
A wasteland in the northwest of the empire. A land completely cut off from the outside world, impossible to approach easily due to the bandits roaming the barren expanse.
"Hee hee hee, you dog bastard."
Grind! Just thinking of Morris made his teeth clench involuntarily.
How dare you deceive me and side with Emily against me? After all I've done for you.
He had made Morris the Minister of the Magic Department, granted him a vacation estate, and showered him with countless favors. And hadn't he even given him the chance to train Seria Siegfried?
"Seria... Seria. Why did I ever send you to a bastard like that?"
Looking back now, it was a decision he regretted slapping his thigh over. Handing her to an ungrateful beast.
"But it's fine now."
He held in his hand the card that would send Morris plummeting into the abyss in one fell swoop. The report detailing the current location of the empress they had taken. Proof that he had kidnapped and whisked her away.
If he retrieved the empress from the location noted in the report, he could escape this absurd accusation of torturing her.
"Cecilia... I'll definitely bring you back from those vile scum."
The emperor bellowed to the soldiers following him.
"Head to Carolberry at once and bring back the empress! Slaughter anyone who stands in your way!"
"Understood!"
With a Swordmaster and the Imperial Guard Commander leading them, they could surely rescue the empress. As the soldiers departed, the emperor's gaze turned to Jane.
She was glaring at him with murderous intent.
"What's got you so dissatisfied?"
"Aren't you afraid of breaking the pact we've upheld since ancient times?"
"Heh heh, what reason do I have to fear?"
"Do you think the Imperial Palace will remain unscathed? Don't forget the mana rift born from the war between transcendents that engulfs it."
"Even historians have forgotten those old tales, yet your mouth runs well enough."
The emperor clicked his tongue. What threat was less frightening than empty words?
"We'll see if it's just words."
"You should be grateful you have no flesh."
"What did you say?"
"If you did, I'd rape and kill you."
Jane ground her teeth. The emperor sneered at her and left the Magic Tower.
With his soldiers off to fetch the empress, all he had to do was wait patiently.
"No. There's something else I need to claim."
The emperor's eyes gleamed. Seria Siegfried floated into his mind—the woman he had granted to Morris after stripping her status.
She who had sated his lust.
"I can't let her be taken any longer."
Giggling to himself, the emperor hurried onward.
After the emperor left the office.
"I-I have to tell him quick."
Jane fumbled in panic, sending a telepathic message to Morris.
-Minister, the emperor knows. He's read your report and started moving.
But no reply came.
-Minister! Minister!
No matter how she called, Morris didn't respond.
"Where the hell are you?"
Jane bit her lower lip hard.
There was nothing she could do right now. All she could do was hope Morris hurried back to stop the emperor.
The emperor strode unabated toward Morris Dmitry's mansion.
His rage-filled eyes bulged with whites all around, turned into the deathly pale of a four-white-eyed glare.
"You dog bastards... You think I'll just take this lying down? You damned shits..."
In the midst of his fit, the emperor suddenly cackled alone.
"First, shatter that bastard Morris's every position. Then, when he's got nothing left, lock him in the underground dungeon to die alone in solitude. Oh, it might be fun to order Seria to torture him. Make her take revenge on the one who tormented her."
The knights trailing him flinched at his entranced mutterings.
Even they had never seen the emperor this broken.
But no matter how pathetic he looked, he was still the emperor. Not for mere knights to judge.
For now, they simply followed and carried out their duty.
They eyed Morris Dmitry's mansion ahead.
Gulp.
Infamous as the den of death. No one who entered to oppose the minister had ever come out.
And now they were going in.
"We're entering."
The knight opened the mansion door.
Weeeeng!
The alarm blared fiercely.
"His Imperial Majesty has arrived!"
The knight stepped forward and bellowed.
The siren that had wailed cut off.
And from afar, a man approached.
Morris Dmitry. The empire's Minister of the Magic Department.
His gait was elegant and beautiful. Even lifelong swordsmen gaped in awe, staring blankly.
"I see the Sun of the Empire."
Morris placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply. Perfect imperial etiquette drew silent admiration from all present.
But the emperor receiving it alone scowled, face twitching spasmodically.
"Your Majesty, to what do I owe this visit?"
Even to Morris's question, he gave no answer.
After an awkward silence, the emperor slowly spoke.
"Even your vaunted brain can't grasp why I've come?"
"How could a mere mortal fathom the will of the empire's Sun?"
"Heh heh heh, right. You wouldn't know. You couldn't."
The emperor grinned wickedly.
Morris watched him silently.
"I understand you're still under investigation for the empress incident?"
"Who dares block the emperor's path."
After laughing long, the emperor stated his business.
"I've come to take Seria."
"Seria... you mean?"
At the name, Morris's brow twitched.
"I granted her, so I take her back. Isn't that right?"
"Impossible, Your Majesty."
"You dare defy me?"
Morris didn't respond.
"Even Your Majesty cannot permit what violates the empire's laws."
"Insolent. Truly insolent. Words befitting the one who stormed the palace and threatened the emperor."
Chuckling darkly, the emperor flicked his hand.
The knights waiting behind surged forward.
"Hah."
Morris clenched his fist.
Crack!
His fist shattered the lead knight's jaw.
He kicked the next one's chest.
-Slide.
A swift spell sent another knight tumbling.
Skilled magic and agile movement. What Morris displayed wasn't a mere mage's fight.
It was closer to a battle mage's—no, a martial artist's.
"Deploy mana suppressors!"
A mage's weakness: suppress mana, and they can't fight properly.
Yet Morris's movements quickened even more.
As if mana had nothing to do with it.
"You think that'll work?"
Thud!
"Gahk!"
The knight captain clutched his gut and doubled over.
"Wh-what the..."
A mage far nimbler than knights. The others, caught off guard, could only watch dumbfounded.
"Who's next?"
No one moved.
The emperor roared in fury.
"Who the hell are you? Where's Morris Dmitry!"
"I am Morris Dmitry."
The emperor's instincts screamed.
This isn't Morris. And I've made a grave mistake.
"Wh-what the..."
He blinked at the man pretending to be Morris.
Where had such a powerhouse come from?
"Your Majesty, withdraw. This isn't an opponent to engage lightly."
The emperor's guard whispered. A near-master himself, he sensed the gap.
To face this, they'd need at least a full Swordmaster.
"No! I won't! I need Seria...!"
"Once the empress matter is resolved, she'll naturally return to Your Majesty's arms."
The emperor shut his mouth.
"Right... yes. Everything will be set right soon. Yes."
Muttering like he was possessed, he retreated.
Morris watched them flee.
"Phew... Thank goodness. Really."
Morris's shoulders slumped.
His face melted like liquid, revealing Sebastian's wrinkled features.
The disguised frame reverted to normal.
"Are you alright, Sebastian?"
Seria rushed out, checking him anxiously.
"No injuries."
Crack!
Sebastian's joints popped loudly as he stretched.
"Old age catches up; my body's not what it used to be. Nearly caused a disaster."
He smiled his usual kindly smile.
"Let's go in. It's chilly."
"You're really unhurt?"
"Of course. This old man's tougher than he looks. Heh heh."
His voice laughed, but Sebastian glared at the receding emperor.
Not much longer now.
Until the once-mighty emperor's mind fully crumbled.
The special forces the emperor dispatched arrived in Carolberry via portal.
The wasteland was as dry and desolate as the rumors said.
The Swordmaster Imperial Guard Captain led, effortlessly crushing the bandits who targeted them.
No time to check bodies. Their goal: rescue the empress as fast as possible and return to the palace.
An mission to fulfill at any cost.
To punish those who committed near-treason by kidnapping the empress, they needed solid proof: the empress herself.
"It's around here..."
Captain Phillips muttered, checking the map against surroundings.
His eyes caught a tiny cave.
No way it's in there?
Phillips drew his sword.
"Stay alert; could be traps."
"Yes, sir."
They approached tensely.
Close up, human presence emanated from within.
A woman's voice they'd heard described many times: the empress, Cecilia.
Phillips maxed his senses to scan inside.
She's definitely there.
The intel was true. The noble faction's leaders kidnapped her, fabricated evidence, pinned false crimes on the emperor.
Just as the report from the Magic Minister's office stated.
Rescue Her Majesty, arrest the Magic Minister and noble core on treason.
His grip tightened on his sword.
The most critical mission. One they must succeed.
-I'll enter first. Follow.
Phillips signaled his men. They nodded.
Sword ready, he plunged in.
But...
"Huh?"
No trace of the empress, not even a shadow.
"What the hell..."
Phillips scanned puzzled. A small cave, barely larger than a noble's bedroom.
"Then what did I hear?"
As he probed suspiciously...
"Captain, who are you seeking in such haste?"
A familiar voice from behind.
One that shouldn't be here.
Ggggrrrk.
His neck strained turning. Phillips felt his own neck creak.
And before his eyes...
"You look quite startled. Where's His Majesty? Coming all this way alone?"
The Magic Minister, Morris Dmitry, stood there.