Chapter 267
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 267
Chapter Title: The Tyrant's Ruthless Decree
Unlike the southern regions where the warm weather clearly heralded the full arrival of spring, the northern continent was still locked in persistent chill.
The imperial palace of the Holy Empire, Byzantium—the sole nation dominating the vast northern lands.
Upon the jade throne reserved solely for the ruler of this colossal empire that commanded nearly half the continent, a strikingly young woman sat with her legs crossed.
The woman, leaning obliquely against the armrest as she listened to the report, was named Ibarella von Hekaron.
She was the Tyrant Sovereign who had severed the necks of her two older brothers, confined her father Pedro von Hekaron III, and seized the imperial throne for herself.
"The Divine Beast, Duke Adir, has successfully quelled the rebellion at the eastern border, Your Majesty."
"It took quite a while. For a mere uprising from a few frontier houses."
Her words carried a sharp edge. Realizing Ibarella's foul mood, Duke Kaiser—steady as Mount Tai—bowed his head slightly.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. As you know, the ringleaders of the eastern rebellion hailed from the previous empress's maternal family... They put up fierce resistance, claiming some justification."
Despite Duke Kaiser's nonchalant tone, the eastern rebellion had erupted on a dangerously massive scale.
Even Duke Adir—one of the three great dukes responsible for the eastern border—had taken considerable time to suppress it personally.
It was a major revolt that could have splintered off a chunk of the empire if mishandled.
This was precisely why the Holy Empire had seemed unusually quiet, to the point where even Jerome found it odd.
Ibarella had ascended through the Heaven-Flipping Coup—a radical, utterly abnormal putsch.
To claim this seat, she had taken her brothers' lives, imprisoned her only father deep within the palace, and drenched the imperial court in blood.
Though many in the empire supported her, every society harbors those who prize loyalty over raw power.
Revolts had erupted across the empire, decrying her blood-soaked usurpation of the throne.
Quelling them all had taken an excruciatingly long time. No matter that the three great dukes backed Ibarella—the Holy Empire was simply too vast.
Suppressing uprisings beyond their direct influence inevitably demanded time.
For Jerome, who had poured everything into war preparations against the Archipelago, it was nothing short of heavenly fortune.
But for Ibarella and the empire's side, it was an utterly infuriating ordeal.
Among those revolts, the last and grandest was the one led by House Sepoi in the eastern region.
"Duke Adir has inquired about the treatment of the prisoners. How shall I relay your command?"
For any other rebellion, he wouldn't bother consulting Ibarella on prisoner handling—but House Sepoi was different. As the previous empress's family and one of the empire's premier noble houses, they demanded special consideration.
Even as rebels, their deep roots granted them the privilege of potential once-off forgiveness.
However.
"Duke. Have I ever spared a single enemy up to now?"
Ibarella retorted coldly to Duke Kaiser's question.
"Kill them all. Not a one left breathing. Ensure no one bearing the name Sepoi remains in this empire. The same for any houses that sided with them in rebellion. Don't leave even a single whelp alive. Understood?"
It was a harsher measure than imagined. Duke Kaiser unwittingly opened his mouth.
"B-but, Your Majesty. House Sepoi is one of the empire's foremost noble houses, the previous empress's own kin. Wiping them out entirely..."
"Duke."
The words 'could spark further revolts' lingered unspoken, swallowed back down his throat.
Ibarella's eyes gleamed like glass, laced with murderous intent.
"I won't say it twice."
"...My apologies, Your Majesty. I shall convey your orders as commanded."
Duke Kaiser hurriedly bowed his head.
'She's grown even more tyrannical.'
Since imprisoning the former emperor, Pedro von Hekaron III, revolts had flared across the regions.
Ibarella had shown not a shred of mercy to any rebels.
No matter their house.
'Whether this proves a blessing or a curse, who can say.'
Suppressing his concerns, Kaiser delivered the next report.
"Additionally, Olivia Territory in the southern continent achieved a great victory in a massive naval battle against the Archipelago pirates."
Crack!
The armrest beneath Ibarella's hand shattered.
"That brat... felled the Pirate King, that ferocious beast?"
This time, even Ibarella couldn't maintain composure—her voice trembled faintly.
"...Yes. Southern Spirit Martel has become the new ruler of the Archipelago, and they've forged a treaty with her."
Ibarella pressed her temples as if nursing a headache.
"...Ha! Just how much more must this damned loach disrupt my plans before I find satisfaction?"
Her scheme had been for the Archipelago pirates—scenting prey amid the chaos and weakened defenses of a continental federation at war—to strike from behind.
All those plans had crumbled to dust the moment Jerome toppled Ballak.
Coincidence or not, with Jerome's every move thwarting her, Ibarella struggled to contain her boiling killing intent.
Once the empire stabilized from its turmoil, the continental federation would be ripe for crushing one by one.
That her ultimate targets were growing stronger while foiling her schemes piecemeal was far from amusing.
'No, can't even call it a loach anymore.'
Toppling Ballak wasn't something a mere slippery fish could accomplish through antics.
Jerome was evolving into a genuine threat even to her.
She yearned to sever his head and salt it this instant, but untangling the empire's snarled plans took precedence.
"Haa... No moves for now—just keep monitoring their movements. By the way, what about that matter I told you to investigate?"
"No news yet. As you know, the area's remoteness makes searches difficult."
"The dungeons we identified before?"
"We sent the empire's finest exploration team, but they found only signs someone had lived there."
Grip!
Ibarella clenched her fist.
"We must find him. Genos's research results are absolutely vital. Locate him and persuade him by any means."
Under normal circumstances, she'd have no interest in some mad relic from the past who built a colossal fortress in the mountains to craft dragons.
But Jerome—that accursed bastard—had forced massive losses to her accumulated monster legion research.
And it didn't end there. Zildre, who had led research under Kamil, perished in Sharon Kingdom.
On top of that, the Third Paladin Order and its captain Juda—who earned great merit slaying First Prince Kail during the Heaven-Flipping Coup—had also met their ends.
Considering the troops squandered just to seize Sharon amid rebellion suppression, her blood still boiled at the futility.
But now wasn't the time for venting.
The loss of research data, combined with the absence of key researchers, had set back monster legion development severely.
To rapidly restore it, Genos's knowledge—hidden away in the Dragon Mountains—was indispensable.
Yet both the issuing Ibarella and bowing Kaiser knew.
Finding Genos would be extraordinarily difficult.
He was the archmage hailed as the greatest in imperial history, his power transcending human limits.
Immeasurable, even compared to those on the throne.
If such a being hid in earnest, even the empire would struggle with the search.
'This is maddening. Where the hell do I even start?'
Too many plans tangled; too many fires to put out.
As Ibarella pondered and Kaiser awaited orders before her.
Crackle!
In a corner of the silent throne room, a small light flickered.
Starting the size of a butterfly, it swelled until large enough for a person to pass through.
"!"
Shing!
At the sudden anomaly, Kaiser swiftly positioned himself before Ibarella, drawing his sword.
Parting the light, an elderly man slowly revealed himself.
"Heh heh heh. Is it me you're so desperately seeking?"
"Who are you?!"
Kaiser shouted, vigilance at maximum.
The imperial palace Byzantium was fortified with holy magic and barriers impenetrable as iron.
Beyond that, two or more paladin orders always garrisoned the interior, guarded by priests and mages—no rat could sneak in uninvited.
For an unauthorized stranger's voice to echo in this innermost sanctum was utterly abnormal.
Outer perimeter alerts remained silent.
Meaning he had pierced every imperial barrier and spell with ease.
'No ordinary foe. Who the devil pulls off such a feat?'
Kaiser swallowed dryly, facing the unidentified elder.
"Oh dear. I trek all this way in person since you're hunting me so fervently, yet no tea for your guest—just swords drawn? Imperial etiquette must have fallen with the years."
"What?!"
"Duke Kaiser, stand down."
Ibarella urgently halted Kaiser, on the verge of exploding at the elder's insolence.
"Hmm, as expected, Your Majesty's wits are sharper."
The elder smiled satisfiedly at Ibarella's dawning realization.
"The one you've been so frantically seeking... is me."
"......!!"
Kaiser's eyes widened as the implication hit late.
There was some minor(?) friction midway, but trade negotiations with the Archipelago concluded smoothly.
Separate from the cutthroat atmosphere that had Jeremiah and Martel gasping for air.
Olivia and the Archipelago differed entirely in goods produced and values desired.
Thus, they readily forged a mutually fair deal.
To kick off the Archipelago's fresh start, fully seizing it came first.
In Martel and Mermaid Pirates' absence—off imposing new order on the Archipelago.
Jerome sweated bullets receiving the steady stream of important guests flooding Olivia.
"Hahaha! I knew you could pull it off! Splendid work!"
"Hahaha. Thank you, Marquis. That said, is it really alright lingering here so long? Queen Mitchel asked me to urge you back since she won't tolerate your dawdling..."
"Hahahaha!"
Marquis Midas—who had personally visited to celebrate the victory and stayed days—brushed off my question with booming laughter.
Anyone could see what that laugh meant.
'He just doesn't want to work.'
In the end, Sir Wyngken and Sir Mark had to drag him away arm-in-arm, his face twisted like he'd eaten shit.
I could still vividly hear Marquis Midas's dying screams of "Nooo! I don't wanna go to work!" echoing in my ears.
'Must be riding a hot streak with work lately.'
He wasn't the only visitor.
"Aria, it's time for us to head back too. With the Archipelago war over, we must wrap up the research, no?"
"...Yes."
Her face brimmed with reluctance—magical debates with Seira had been that enjoyable.
But unavoidable. She was essential personnel for the greatmagic armor project.
With the war ended, they couldn't stagnate here indefinitely.
Princess Seira returned to the capital Edirne with the kingdom's dispatched reinforcements.
"Hee hee! See you next time, Young Master Saladin."
Smack!
Of course, not forgetting to swat Saladin's rear on departure.
What's astounding was Saladin's reaction.
"...Just hurry back already."
Taking the sharp slap yet merely rubbing it gruffly.
'He used to freak out whenever Princess Seira got near.'
"What? Something up?"
"...Nah, nothing."
Thus, after countless guests came and went over days.
"Congratulations on the great victory, Baron!"
"Congratulations!"
The heirs of Jackson, Mano, and Sapan territories arrived in Olivia to discuss Mirage Mine development.