Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Confrontation with the Emperor
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‘This is impressive.’
The moment he entered the inner palace, Imperial Guard Knights swarmed in from all directions like a hive of bees, perfectly encircling the Dao King.
These knights were no ordinary bunch.
Every single one was a high-level player, the kind that only a few parties in even the largest guilds could boast.
With this level of firepower?
‘Even a player with a divine title would struggle to escape alive.’
It made sense, considering they were the force guarding the palace where the Emperor of the Rokto Empire resided.
Kang Hyun-soo took in the sights of the imperial palace interior through the Dao King’s eyes.
‘It’s intact.’
Kang Hyun-soo had visited the Rokto Empire’s imperial palace once before his regression.
It hadn’t looked anything like this back then.
Why?
‘Because the Rokto Empire had already fallen to the Demon King’s army.’
It was definitely a far cry from the ruins it had become.
A short while later.
Surrounded perfectly by the Imperial Guard Knights, the Dao King was permitted entry into the throne room.
“Your Majesty, I have brought the one who claims to be a Dark Knight.”
“Well done, Duke Rohas.”
At Duke Rohas’s report, the Emperor of the Rokto Empire turned his gaze toward the Dao King.
‘The Emperor isn’t a player; he’s a regular human.’
Rodius I, the current Emperor of the Rokto Empire.
Despite being a regular human, Rodius I ruled his vast empire without issue.
‘Well, from the Emperor’s perspective, awakening as a player would just mean more hardship anyway.’
He’d have to go through the tutorial and survive countless brushes with death.
Even if he made it out alive and became a player.
Leveling up by hunting with the Emperor’s body wouldn’t be all that useful.
What did personal combat prowess matter to an Emperor who could command named players and rankers with a single word?
All he’d gain was diligently pumping points into stamina stats to stay healthy.
‘Though if the Emperor gained the power of a player with a divine title, things might be different.’
But where would an Emperor ruling a massive empire find the time to leisurely hunt and level up?
If he got distracted by leveling and neglected state affairs, letting power slip away?
‘That would be an even greater loss.’
While Kang Hyun-soo sized up the Emperor.
The Emperor also examined the Dao King under Kang Hyun-soo’s control.
Once the mutual assessment ended.
“I’ve heard plenty about the Dark Knights already.”
Emperor Rodius I spoke up.
“I understand they told the Imperial Guard that they’ve come to share a way to prevent the Rokto Empire’s downfall. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, they mentioned someone with a future foresight skill among you, and that this information came from them?”
“That’s right.”
“The Rokto Empire falls.”
Emperor Rodius I nodded slowly.
“All nations have their rise and fall. But I’m curious. Just when and how does the Rokto Empire meet its end?”
“Twenty-three years from now, the Rokto Empire fails to repel the Demon King’s army invasion and collapses.”
“The Demon King’s army must be overwhelmingly powerful.”
“Yes. But the Rokto Empire is the only one that falls. Vassal states like the Terra Kingdom, Mulan Kingdom, Mayert Kingdom, and others suffer heavy losses but manage to hold on.”
“Only the Rokto Empire perishes?”
“That’s correct.”
“Is the reason the incompetent Crown Prince?”
Kang Hyun-soo was genuinely surprised by Emperor Rodius I’s question.
‘So he knew.’
Of course, the wise Emperor known as Rodius I wouldn’t be unaware of his only son’s foolishness.
“It is one of the biggest reasons.”
“Hmm, then what are the other major reasons?”
“There are too many ears listening in this room to discuss it here.”
The Imperial Guard Knights served only the Emperor’s command.
But that was just in name.
‘In reality, that’s impossible.’
There were surely some who had sided with the Fifth Duke.
“Everyone except Duke Rohas and the 1st Imperial Guard Knights, withdraw.”
At Emperor Rodius I’s words, a few of the knights stepped forward.
“Please rescind the order, Your Majesty.”
“We cannot predict what insolence this one might commit.”
Those who appeared to be the captains of the Imperial Guard Knights objected.
“Enough. With Duke Rohas and the 1st Imperial Guard Knights here, what could this one possibly do alone? Withdraw.”
When Emperor Rodius I issued the order again.
Most of the Imperial Guard Knights exited the throne room.
“Now, speak.”
“Fourth Duke Orpheus is a servant of the Demon King.”
The air in the throne room grew icy at Kang Hyun-soo’s words.
“Fourth Duke Orpheus is a servant of the Demon King?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have proof?”
“No.”
“The Crown Prince’s incompetence and Duke Orpheus’s betrayal. Then what’s another reason?”
At Emperor Rodius I’s question, Kang Hyun-soo calmly listed out the mobility issues from the ban on inter-nation spatial transfer gates and the unfair control over hunting grounds, speaking through the Dao King.
“There are quite a few problems, indeed.”
“If all these issues are resolved, the Rokto Empire will not fall.”
“That assumes everything you say is true.”
“Yes.”
“The Dark Knights seem to be an organization of players with no ties to royalty or nobility.”
“Correct.”
Kang Hyun-soo readily admitted it.
If Atlantis royalty or nobles were involved?
They wouldn’t claim that measures to protect kings’ and nobles’ rights were dooming the nation.
‘Clinging to the power in their grasp is the nature of those in authority.’
But a wise ruler?
Would know the truth: if the nation collapses, the power they desperately guarded vanishes too.
“I’m aware the Dark Knights made great contributions in the Mulan Kingdom. Still, it’s hard to believe everything you say outright.”
There might be no such skill as future foresight.
Even if there was, they could have twisted that future for their own gain.
Rodius I, who had reigned as the empire’s Emperor for over forty years.
Wouldn’t blindly trust suspicious figures who popped up out of nowhere, refusing to reveal their identity, and demanding limits on the Emperor’s and nobles’ power to save the nation.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me.”
“Is it because you’ve planted seeds of doubt in my mind?”
“Yes.”
Doubt was a cunning bastard.
That’s why sowing doubt through division tactics had been a top strategy since ancient times.
The moment you hear words that warrant suspicion.
Even as you tell yourself not to believe, the doubt lingers.
“Do you think you can leave this place alive?”
“Of course.”
The Dao King wasn’t a living being but a summon.
Just dispel the summon, and it’s done.
Even if he was obliterated before that.
He could just resummon him.
“You mean it.”
Rodius I looked at the Dao King with an intrigued expression.
“Could you show me your face?”
“I apologize, but no.”
“Refusal. How arrogant.”
At Rodius I’s words, thick anger rose in the eyes of Duke Rohas and the Imperial Guard Knights.
Who dared defy such an order?
“Then, can you show me proof that your words are true? Ideally, information about a future no one could know in advance.”
“I will. Allow me to tell you of one upcoming disaster.”
In truth, he didn’t need to provide proof.
Whether the Emperor saw evidence or not.
Whether he spoke truth or lies.
He’d end up suspecting Fourth Duke Orpheus anyway.
From the moment Kang Hyun-soo met the Emperor, his plan had essentially succeeded.
But.
‘Still, it’d be better if the Emperor took my words more seriously.’
Sharing future info wouldn’t harm Kang Hyun-soo.
‘Something I planned to reveal anyway.’
To lend weight to his words, there was one piece of info he’d share regardless.
“Three months from now, a massive downpour will cause flooding in the Rokto Empire’s capital.”
“Downpour and flood?”
“Yes. The Marazia River will overflow and engulf the capital, so preparations should start now. Otherwise, tens of thousands will die, millions will be displaced, and the imperial palace itself will flood, forcing Your Majesty to flee in disgrace.”
Rodius I tilted his head at Kang Hyun-soo’s words.
The capital, of all places?
A rural village, maybe, but the capital had perfect drainage systems.
Not only that.
The buildings were sturdily constructed.
Crucially, the Marazia River was controlled by three massive dams.
Since those dams were completed, heavy rains had come many times, but flooding never once occurred.
The palace flooding too?
“It’s hard to believe easily.”
“That’s why I chose it.”
“Chose it.”
It meant he knew far more future events but deliberately picked only the Marazia River flood.
“Very well, I’ll trust it for now.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Have you no desire to become my subject? Joining my fold would make executing your plans far easier.”
The Emperor didn’t mention wealth or glory.
From their conversation, he’d gauged the Dark Knights had little interest in material things.
Entering the Emperor’s service meant enjoying riches anyway.
“It’s a great honor, but I must decline.”
“Hm? Declining again. Still, I can’t just send away one who’s given such a fine gift. Take this—my gift to you.”
The Emperor removed one of the rings he wore and handed it over.
One of the Imperial Guard Knights received the ring and passed it to the Dao King under Kang Hyun-soo’s guidance.
Kang Hyun-soo checked the ring’s info.
‘He’s generous.’
It was an EX-Rank ring, no less.
[Ring of Health – EX-Rank]
-Increases Stamina stat by 3,000.
-Increases Mental Power stat by 3,000.
-Increases Stamina stat by 100%.
-Increases Mental Power stat by 100%.
Being the Emperor’s ring, all its stats were poured into Stamina and Mental Power.
‘Not bad at all.’
The options were simple.
But the effects were outstanding.
Especially for a tank?
It was the kind of option you’d sell your soul for.
“We’ll treat you as an honored guest, so why not stay in the palace?”
“Once the flood damage is cleared, I’ll visit in person.”
With those words.
Shwaa!
The Dao King’s body dissolved into the air and vanished.
“What happened?”
Rodius I asked Duke Rohas.
“The mana melted into the air, Your Majesty. Less like stealth and more like spatial transfer.”
“Spatial transfer? Is that possible?”
Spatial transfer skills couldn’t be activated inside the palace.
A dense mana barrier enveloped the area.
“Theoretically impossible, but it happened right before our eyes.”
“Then the Dark Knights could appear in my chambers at any moment.”
“We’ll strengthen security and devise countermeasures.”
“Do so. And the location tracking?”
“No response, Your Majesty.”
The ring the Emperor bestowed had a built-in location tracking skill.
With a very wide range too.
No response?
“Then he escaped the capital in that brief moment?”
The Emperor’s expression hardened.
Spatial transfer skills had short ranges.
Yet he left the capital.
Using spatial transfer amid the mana barrier, exceeding normal limits.
“As expected, they’re no ordinary foes. Gather more intel on the Dark Knights.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Having issued the orders, Rodius I sank into deep thought.
‘The Dark Knights.’
Should he believe them? Or not?
If he did, how far should he trust?
That night.
The Emperor lay sleepless, staring into the darkness until dawn.
To be continued in the next volume.