Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Unexpected Gift (2)
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Kang Hyun-soo, clad head to toe in armor without a single gap, boldly crossed the imperial palace of the Rokto Empire.
‘I figured there’d be some pretty stringent identity verification.’
There wasn’t.
If anything.
‘Is it really okay to let me through this sloppily?’
That’s what he thought.
They didn’t even check his seal.
Nor did they demand proof that he was the head of the Dark Knights, the Blood God of Deception.
‘Even if we had an appointment ahead of time, this is way too lax.’
Kang Hyun-soo arrived at the heart of the palace.
“Welcome.”
The one greeting him was.
‘Sword Saint Duke Rohas.’
The captain of the Royal Guard and the Rokto Empire’s top player under the imperial family.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Rohas, commander of the 1st Royal Guard.”
Sword Saint Duke Rohas extended his hand for a shake.
Kang Hyun-soo grasped the duke’s hand.
Crunch!
In that instant, a powerful grip crushed down on Kang Hyun-soo’s hand.
‘Testing me, huh?’
The moment Kang Hyun-soo lightly applied force.
Crack!
Sword Saint Duke Rohas’s hand crumpled weakly.
‘If you’d picked a fight some other way, maybe.’
But a pure contest of grip strength?
‘Even if the Sword Saint called in the Sword God, I’d dominate.’
With his Herculean Strength skill, Kang Hyun-soo’s Strength stat was the highest in the entire Atlantis dimension.
By a wide margin.
“Shall we keep going?”
At Kang Hyun-soo’s question.
“No.”
Sword Saint Duke Rohas replied with effort, sweat beading on his forehead.
‘No need to humiliate him and make an enemy.’
Kang Hyun-soo released his grip.
“Thank you for your consideration. I was gravely discourteous.”
Sword Saint Duke Rohas bowed his head politely.
“You just wanted to confirm I’m really the Dark Knights’ leader. I understand completely.”
“Thank you for understanding. This way, please.”
Under Sword Saint Duke Rohas’s guidance, Kang Hyun-soo delved deeper into the palace.
‘Sword Saint Duke Rohas bowing to me and thanking me twice.’
He could truly feel the changes since his regression.
Before the regression?
‘I wouldn’t have even met him at this point.’
Even if he had.
‘I never would’ve gotten this kind of reception.’
His counterpart was none other than.
The highest noble of the Rokto Empire, which commanded countless vassal states.
A living legend revered as one of Atlantis’s Four Great Swordsmen.
Sword Saint Duke Rohas.
Meanwhile, pre-regression Kang Hyun-soo?
‘Just one of the countless mid-level players.’
Of course, in time, Kang Hyun-soo had claimed the Emperor title.
Putting him on par with the Sword Saint.
But acquiring that title.
‘Took nearly 30 years.’
And now?
In just three years, he’d claimed not Emperor, but God.
Even so.
‘I can’t settle for this.’
To defeat the Demon King and return to Earth.
He needed even greater power.
“This is it. Open the door.”
At Sword Saint Duke Rohas’s command.
Creeeak!
The Royal Guards opened the ornate door.
‘Small room for an imperial palace.’
Not the throne room or a conference hall.
‘Looks like the emperor’s private chamber.’
“After you.”
At Sword Saint Duke Rohas’s words.
Step, step.
Kang Hyun-soo entered the room.
Boom!
The door shut the moment he was inside.
“Welcome, head of the Dark Knights.”
Rokto Empire’s Emperor Rodius I greeted Kang Hyun-soo from his chair.
‘He doesn’t look healthy, that’s for sure.’
Heavy makeup tried to hide it.
But it couldn’t mask his sallow skin and dull eyes.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty, Emperor Rodius I, sovereign of the Rokto Empire.”
Kang Hyun-soo dropped to one knee and paid his respects.
“You’re neither my subject nor vassal. Rise.”
At Rodius I’s words, Kang Hyun-soo stood.
“Sit.”
Rodius I offered him a seat.
‘This is unprecedented.’
Anyone meeting the Rokto Emperor, regardless of status, had to kneel.
Even those shown favor.
‘Stood at a low seat at best.’
Exceptions were family, maybe?
This was a stratified society.
Sitting in a chair and meeting eyes meant.
‘Recognizing the other as your equal.’
Kang Hyun-soo sat and gazed at Rodius I.
Meaning: state your business first.
“Hahaha, not a hint of fluster. No unease at all.”
Rodius I burst into laughter, clearly delighted.
No displeasure at Kang Hyun-soo’s demeanor.
“The Dark Knights’ envoy who visited before told me an amusing tale. That the Rokto Empire falls. You know of it, of course?”
Kang Hyun-soo had conversed via familiar, so of course.
“Naturally.”
“Is it true?”
“It is.”
“Has that future remained unchanged?”
“I don’t know.”
It probably wouldn’t fall.
Because.
‘I’ll make sure it doesn’t.’
But no need to tell Rodius I that.
“Who knows? It depends on your actions.”
“Doesn’t it depend on Your Majesty’s as well?”
At Kang Hyun-soo’s retort.
Rodius I’s smile faded.
“Of course. I’ve made my efforts. I thoroughly investigated Archduke Orpheus. But no evidence he’s the Demon King’s lackey has surfaced.”
Probably true.
‘He wasn’t careless.’
“If no evidence emerges, I’ll be in quite a bind.”
Accusing Archduke Orpheus without proof.
Fair enough.
“I’d love to take Archduke Orpheus’s head, but it’s impossible realistically.”
Act without evidence?
‘Could spark a civil war.’
That had to be avoided.
“Besides, as you know, my time is short.”
“Short, Your Majesty?”
“Playing dumb? You know my life flame burns low.”
“How could I know that?”
Kang Hyun-soo lied.
Admit it?
He’d just ask how much time was left.
“Hahaha! Why feign ignorance? My complexion tells all. Truth be told, if my life flame burned longer, I wouldn’t have summoned you today.”
Rodius I laughed as he spoke.
‘Fair point.’
Kang Hyun-soo was a God-title player.
Head of a shadowy organization.
For him to meet the Rokto Emperor alone, without guards?
Under normal circumstances?
‘Unthinkable.’
From Rodius I’s view, it was a gamble.
“Cecilia.”
Rodius I suddenly named Shadow Queen Cecilia.
‘How?’
Kang Hyun-soo was genuinely surprised.
No link between Dark Knights and Cecilia.
Plus.
‘Cecilia is the Shadow Queen.’
The continent’s best at information warfare.
No way she’d leak info on him.
“She’s allied with you?”
Kang Hyun-soo kept a poker face.
But.
‘He knows.’
Rodius I’s eyes said he knew everything.
This wasn’t a mere probe.
“At first, I didn’t know. I was just moving to sway the neutral nobles’ leader. But imperial intel kept getting twisted. Very naturally.”
Rodius I eyed Kang Hyun-soo keenly and continued.
“I nearly mistook some fool for the neutral leader. But no—Cecilia was their head. Hahaha! Who’d have thought she’d seized the Shadow Guard to blind me! I was stunned when I learned it. Never dreamed she had such talent!”
Rodius I laughed heartily.
‘Worthy of an emperor.’
Kang Hyun-soo’s involvement had altered things.
Pre-regression Cecilia.
‘Would’ve been honing her intel network in the shadows by now.’
Cecilia expanded in earnest after Rodius I’s death and Rodius II’s ascension.
But.
‘I provided funds and muscle.’
Thanks to that, Cecilia had completed her network while Rodius I lived and swayed the neutrals into her faction.
“Tell me one thing. What does future Cecilia become?”
At Rodius I’s question.
“The one who grasps all of Atlantis’s secrets.”
Kang Hyun-soo answered readily.
‘No need to hide it.’
Who knows?
Boost Cecilia’s stock.
‘Maybe some crumbs fall my way.’
She was illegitimate, but.
‘Cecilia’s imperial blood.’
Rodius I’s own granddaughter.
If he empowered her to protect the throne?
Bonus for Kang Hyun-soo.
‘Not like he’d buy “she amounts to nothing.”’
If Rodius I distrusted her?
No excuse would work.
“Impressive. Information is vital. Overstatement to say its holder rules the world. But a deadly foe if opposed.”
“Indeed.”
Sadly, Crown Prince Rodius II made that info holder his enemy.
And the result?
‘A total disaster.’
Rodius I distrusted Cecilia.
Natural, really.
With Atlantis’s info master as ally.
‘The Rokto Empire wouldn’t fall.’
Kang Hyun-soo watched Rodius I intently.
As if asking what he’d do about Cecilia.
“I’ve no luck with children.”
Rodius I suddenly mentioned Crown Prince Rodius II.
“Nor grandchildren.”
Then his grandkids.
“For the Rokto Empire’s future, deposing the current crown prince and naming a sharp branch-family imperial as heir would be right.”
‘So he knew.’
No fool, this wise ruler Rodius I.
‘Of course he did.’
Yet pre-regression.
Rodius I couldn’t abandon his only son.
“But what happens to a deposed crown prince—the late emperor’s sole legitimate son with the strongest claim?”
“He dies.”
To a new branch-family emperor, the once-crown prince—late emperor’s son with ironclad legitimacy.
‘Is the ultimate rival, willing or not.’
That’s why Rodius I couldn’t depose Crown Prince Rodius II.
“I wanted to save my son. Believed in the empire’s strength.”
Even if wastrel Rodius II took the throne.
The throne might weaken.
But the imperial family and Rokto Empire would endure.
“That dream proved mere illusion.”
Even on the throne, Rodius II dies.
And ancient Rokto Empire falls too.
Didn’t have to believe Kang Hyun-soo’s future.
But if he did?
Rodius I would.
‘Need a new resolve.’
Anticipation swelled.
‘Hoped for a small gift package.’
Mentioned Cecilia.
Mentioned the crown prince.
Next step?
‘Maybe snag an unimaginable big one.’
Kang Hyun-soo calmly awaited Rodius I’s next words.
“Depose the crown prince.”
And finally.
“And make that child Cecilia crown princess.”
From Rodius I’s lips came exactly what Kang Hyun-soo most wanted to hear.