Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Stratagem of Division (3)
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"Not bad, pretty fast."
The Rokto Empire's Doppelganger Subjugation Force had arrived in the Terra Kingdom.
"Definitely different from before the regression."
Before the regression, the Rokto Empire had failed to respond properly to the Doppelganger legion's invasion.
Part of it was because they had only belatedly realized the existence of the demon race known as Doppelgangers.
"But the biggest reason was that the Rokto Empire deliberately ignored the Terra Kingdom's civil war."
Even without knowing about the Doppelgangers' involvement, a vassal state was engulfed in severe internal conflict.
Naturally, they should have intervened to stop it.
Yet the Rokto Empire did not.
Instead, they subtly encouraged the civil war.
"It was probably the strong influence of Fourth Duke Orpheus, who handles diplomacy."
Fourth Duke Orpheus was a minion of the Demon King.
From his perspective, it was better if the Terra Kingdom's civil war dragged on.
Why?
Because it benefited the Demon King's army.
"Before the regression, Emperor Rodius I of the Rokto Empire had agreed to a plan to weaken the vassal states."
But now the situation was different.
After his first meeting with Emperor Rodius I, Kang Hyun-soo had stationed one summoned beast in the Rokto Empire's capital.
Through that summoned beast, he had secretly communicated with Emperor Rodius I and exchanged information.
"I've tossed him a few pieces of future intel in the meantime."
Some of that information benefited the Rokto Empire, some harmed it, and some was irrelevant.
The key point was.
"That none of the information I've given has ever been wrong so far."
Thus, Emperor Rodius I of the Rokto Empire had no choice but to trust the information from Kang Hyun-soo.
The latest intel was simple.
-The Doppelganger legion's invasion will lead to the Terra Kingdom's destruction.
-Fourth Duke Orpheus will argue that the vassal states' power must be reduced and oppose dispatching the subjugation force.
"If a vassal state falls, it's a massive loss for the Rokto Empire too."
That was why they needed to deploy the subjugation force as quickly as possible.
In that situation.
Just as Kang Hyun-soo had predicted, Fourth Duke Orpheus opposed the deployment, claiming it was a good opportunity to weaken the vassal states.
"But that was a misstep."
This incident convinced Emperor Rodius I that Fourth Duke Orpheus was a minion of the Demon King.
As a result.
"Unlike before the regression, the subjugation force was deployed."
Not only that, but Emperor Rodius I stripped Fourth Duke Orpheus of his diplomatic authority and handed it over to the emperor's faction nobles.
This deepened the rift between the emperor's faction nobles and the Five Dukes faction nobles.
"Naturally, since the emperor snatched one of the Five Dukes' rice bowls."
It was a major incident that could spark a civil war if mishandled.
However.
"There's no way a civil war will break out."
Emperor Rodius I was the ruler of the Rokto Empire.
The authority over national defense, judiciary, administration, diplomacy, and surveillance held by the Five Dukes originally belonged to the emperor.
From the emperor's perspective, he had merely reclaimed what was his.
The Five Dukes were furious, but they lacked a justifiable pretext for rebellion.
"Besides, Emperor Rodius I is elderly."
Emperor Rodius I was at an age where he could die at any moment.
Crown Prince Rodius II, his heir, was a complete fool who didn't know the first thing about politics.
"From the Five Dukes' perspective, it's better to wait for Emperor Rodius I to die."
Why?
Because once the foolish Crown Prince Rodius II ascends the throne, they could seize even more power more easily.
Moreover, while the Five Dukes cooperated with each other.
"They also oppose one another."
If the emperor had reclaimed national defense from First Duke or surveillance from Fifth Duke?
The Five Dukes wouldn't have stayed so quiet.
But diplomacy.
"Has the least influence within the Rokto Empire."
For the other dukes, excluding Fourth Duke Orpheus.
"It was a chance to gain diplomatic authority for themselves."
No matter how you looked at it.
"Emperor Rodius I played this smart."
Until now, Emperor Rodius I had focused his attacks solely on Fourth Duke Orpheus.
He hadn't pointed out mistakes by the other dukes or coveted their authority.
At first, they thought the emperor—preparing for his foolish son Crown Prince Rodius II—was trying to dismantle the Five Dukes' divine authority and strengthen imperial power, so they reacted sensitively.
"But calmly observing, Emperor Rodius I's target was Fourth Duke Orpheus from start to finish."
On top of that, Emperor Rodius I spread rumors that Fourth Duke Orpheus was a minion of the Demon King.
He then placed Fourth Duke Orpheus under house arrest on the pretext of investigating the rumors and launched a full-scale probe.
What about the other dukes?
"They're wavering."
Was Emperor Rodius I attacking because Fourth Duke Orpheus was truly a Demon King minion?
Or had he framed Fourth Duke Orpheus as a Demon King minion to weaken the Five Dukes?
"No one can tell."
Cecilia's Neutral Faction lent support to the emperor's faction.
The confused dukes, seeing the tide turn against them, didn't vigorously defend Fourth Duke Orpheus.
"Instead, they claimed to uphold the investigation's neutrality and added their own cronies to the imperial investigation team."
If no evidence emerged that Fourth Duke Orpheus was a Demon King minion?
They could use that to politically pressure Emperor Rodius I.
If the rumors were true and he was indeed a Demon King minion?
They could simply abandon Fourth Duke Orpheus.
If they rashly sided with him?
They risked being branded Demon King minions themselves.
"Good thing he's handling the cleanup."
Emperor Rodius I had less than a year left to live.
If he dealt with Fourth Duke Orpheus before dying, Kang Hyun-soo could breathe much easier.
"The best outcome would actually be Emperor Rodius I disinheriting the crown prince and naming Cecilia as heir."
If that happened?
Even if Emperor Rodius I died without dealing with Fourth Duke Orpheus, it wouldn't be a big worry.
The problem was.
"Cecilia is a bastard child."
And a woman at that.
No female emperor had ever ascended in Rokto Empire history.
Even though the Neutral Faction nobles had grown stronger.
"They still can't compare to the emperor's faction or Five Dukes faction."
Emperor Rodius I had named his only legitimate son as heir.
The Five Dukes faction also backed the foolish crown prince.
In this situation, if the Neutral Faction acted prematurely.
"It would only increase the chances of exposing Cecilia's hidden identity."
The only solution was.
"To kill the crown prince."
Then, Emperor Rodius I's options would be his foolish grandsons or the bastard Cecilia.
"But that's too risky."
Using Shadow of the Moon skill?
Killing the crown prince was possible.
But cleanup was the issue.
"There will definitely be a Vengeful Mark."
Not the low-rank ones used by Neutral Guild members, but an EX-rank Vengeful Mark that could never be removed in a lifetime.
"Plus, if Emperor Rodius I suspects me, that's trouble."
Who could freely breach the palace's strict security?
Only the Dark Knights.
Even without leaving evidence, if Emperor Rodius I grew suspicious?
"The alliance I've carefully built between the Rokto Empire and Dark Knights could collapse."
No, it would turn us into sworn enemies.
"For now, wait."
Killing the crown prince while Emperor Rodius I lived.
Was less safe than waiting until after his death, when Crown Prince Rodius II became emperor.
What needed focus now.
Was the clash between the Doppelgangers' leader, Baron Taliman, and the subjugation force.
* * *
Thud. Thud.
Baron Taliman, disguised as a Yongho Guild executive, entered the hunting ground.
"To think this body must move personally to aid lowly humans."
He wanted to send only his Doppelganger subordinates.
But doing so.
"Would raise the chance of plan failure."
Baron Taliman viewed humans as inferior and weak compared to demonkin.
However.
He wasn't so deluded by demonkin supremacy to deny that some humans surpassed demonkin.
"Dark Knight, huh."
Baron Karas the Dragon was defeated by the Dark Knight.
Of course, it wasn't the Dark Knight's solo achievement.
It was the combined effort of elite players recruited from the Rokto Empire and its vassal states.
"But that doesn't mean we can take the Dark Knight lightly."
After all, the Dark Knight had delivered the final blow to Baron Karas the Dragon.
And the Dark Knight had revealed how to identify Doppelgangers.
"This is our chance to uproot the Dark Knight organization."
The Dark Knights kept interfering with the Demon King's army invasion.
Transcendent skill to foresee the future.
Overwhelming force.
Elusive, with even their numbers hard to pinpoint.
To eliminate the Dark Knights.
Would smooth his external operations.
And allow the Demon King's army crossing the dimensional gate to Atlantis to operate freely.
"The future-seeing skill is the biggest problem."
They had uncovered the Doppelgangers' weaknesses thanks to that skill.
"Come at me, if you dare."
Baron Taliman hoped the Dark Knights would charge at him.
"I'll kill them all."
Killing Dark Knights?
Yielded fragments of their memories.
Mimicking a dead Dark Knight's appearance?
Allowed infiltration to uproot them.
"Hm?"
At that moment.
Thud thud thud!
About ten players approached at high speed, forming an encirclement.
"What? Dark Knights?"
If they had the transcendent future-seeing skill.
They might have anticipated his attack.
If not.
"Could just be patrolling players from Balhae Guild or Goryeo Guild."
Possibly a joint force of Dark Knights, Balhae Guild, and Goryeo Guild.
"Didn't matter who."
Dark Knights, Balhae Guild, Goryeo Guild— to Baron Taliman, all were enemies to kill.
Yet who appeared before him.
"Rokto Empire insignia?"
It was a ten-man party from the Rokto Empire's subjugation force.
"Those are the Doppelgangers, right?"
"If the intel's solid, yeah."
"They look human on the outside."
"Supposedly, sprinkling silver on their blood reveals their true nature. Let's test it."
Baron Taliman's face twisted at the Rokto Empire subjugation force's conversation.
"What the hell is going on?"
He hadn't heard about the Rokto Empire's subjugation force coming.
Yongho Guild hadn't informed him.
Nor had the demon world duke he served as lord.
On the contrary.
"I heard Archduke Shadalian's contractor promised to block the Rokto Empire from sending a subjugation force."
It felt like repeated backstabs for Baron Taliman.
Currently, Fourth Duke Orpheus—his contractor—couldn't contact Archduke Shadalian.
Under house arrest and intense scrutiny for Demon King minion suspicions, he couldn't risk using a mountain sacrifice for contact amid hiding existing evidence.
One slip.
And he'd be irrefutably branded a Demon King minion.
Moreover, Yongho Guild.
Thanks to Kang Hyun-soo's summoned beast Doppelganger No. 1, not only was information blocked, but Baron Taliman's position was being relayed in real-time to the Rokto Empire subjugation force.
"If you want to avoid suspicion, stay put."
Whoosh!
One of the Rokto Empire subjugation force swung his sword.
Not aiming for the neck or heart, but the arm.
"Kuhahaha!"
Hollow laughter burst from Baron Taliman's mouth.
Clack!
Baron Taliman caught the swung sword with his left hand.
Then yanked it with force.
"Wha—?"
The Rokto Empire subjugator, unable to let go, was dragged forward.
Grab.
Baron Taliman's right hand seized the man's head.
Crush!
And pulverized it.
"I don't know what's happening, but I'll figure it out after killing you all."
Fury boiled as immeasurable jet-black demonic energy billowed from Baron Taliman's body.
"Eek!"
"I-It’s a real demon!"
"Request backup now!"
The Rokto Empire subjugation party cried out in panic.
But.
Whoosh!
Baron Taliman, enveloped in jet-black demonic energy, was already upon them with his sword.
At that instant.
Boom boom boom boom!
A streak of blood-red aura flew toward Baron Taliman's neck.
"Kuh!"
Baron Taliman halted his attack, twisting his sword to block the incoming strike.
KABOOM!
The clash of demonic sword and blood-red aura erupted in a massive explosion.
Thud. Thud.
"Fire the signal flare already."
Kang Hyun-soo revealed himself.