Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: 42nd Chapter: Blitzkrieg (2)
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Duke Alipis was one of the Shadow Emperors and had long been one of the shadows safeguarding the nights of the Edriger Kingdom.
His exact age was unknown, but it was said that he had served as a guardian of the night for at least three hundred years.
Having received a piece of dire news, he visited the royal palace late at night to inform the King of Edriger. His red eyes gleamed sharply under the moonlight.
"Your Grace! What brings you here so late at night?"
A young man from the Shadow Nobility Council, in charge of the night watch, approached and asked. Duke Alipis straightened the hem of his formal attire and spoke with a calm expression.
"I have urgent news that must be delivered to His Majesty the King."
"His Majesty retired to his chambers just moments ago."
The viscount from the Shadow Nobility Council reported the king's whereabouts.
Normally, one would withdraw upon hearing that the king had gone to bed, but Duke Alipis was different today. He stood silently in place.
"This is pressing news. He surely hasn't fallen into a deep sleep yet. Go inform him at once that I am here."
This was a grave breach of etiquette, but Duke Alipis's position in the Edriger Kingdom was far from lowly. The viscount from the Shadow Nobility Council, convinced it was an emergency grave enough to wake the sleeping king, nodded stiffly and withdrew to relay the message.
Moments later, the viscount reappeared before Duke Alipis.
"His Majesty has granted an audience."
"I'll go now."
Duke Alipis followed the viscount's lead. They soon entered the corridor leading to the king's bedchamber.
The hallway was empty, but Duke Alipis could sense the presences of Shadow Nobles hidden in the darkness.
Since the war with the Philius Empire began, the palace's assassination defenses had been greatly strengthened, with the Shadow Nobles and all Hashashin operating ceaselessly.
"Your Majesty! Duke Alipis has arrived!"
"Let him enter."
A deep, resonant voice came from beyond the bedchamber door. No sooner had the guard knight opened it than Duke Alipis strode swiftly inside.
"What brings you at this late hour, Duke Alipis?"
King Calbern of the Edriger Kingdom asked. Though roused from sleep just moments ago, his voice was clear, his pronunciation precise, and his eyes sharp.
"Your Majesty, I deeply apologize for disturbing you so late, but I have urgent news and thus presumptuously requested this audience."
"Duke Alipis, seeing you in such a state, it must be no ordinary matter. Likely 'dire news'... Am I correct?"
"Your Majesty, regrettably, the news I bring is indeed dire."
"Hah."
Calbern closed his eyes and let out a short sigh. He could guess the content of the bad news Duke Alipis bore.
"Duke Alipis, I am prepared. Speak it now."
"The assassination operation has failed. Shadow Emperor Ghost Step lost his life, the 'Full Moon Flower' Guild was wiped out, and the dispatched Hashashin support forces were annihilated."
He had suspected as much from the mention of dire news, but the damage was worse than anticipated. Calbern closed his eyes and swallowed a groan.
"Is it true that the Hashashin mobilized to support 'Full Moon Flower' were all slaughtered?"
'Full Moon Flower' was the finest assassination guild in the Tri-Kingdom Alliance's territories, renowned across the western continent—including the Highfell Empire—under the direct command of a famed Shadow Emperor.
They were famous for always completing their contracts, and for this massive assassination of the emperor, they had mobilized their entire guild. Yet they were annihilated? It was hard to believe.
"We have confirmed that all 511 Hashashin deployed in the operation perished, including seven Shadow Nobles among them."
The Edriger Kingdom boasted the strongest assassin forces among the Tri-Kingdom Alliance. 'Hashashin' referred to their elite assassins of the highest caliber, and even within Edriger, their numbers were limited. Thus, the fallout from this failed operation was far from minor.
"The damage is more severe than expected."
Calbern bit his lip until blood welled up. They had overextended by deploying numerous Hashashin to end the war swiftly, and now it had come to this.
"We can no longer perfectly defend against the Philius Empire's assassination plots targeting key figures in the Tri-Kingdom Alliance."
Duke Alipis reported. Previously, thanks to Edriger Kingdom, the alliance had enjoyed near-total immunity from enemy assassinations by the Philius Empire.
But now, with Edriger having lost a significant number of Hashashin, the tables had turned. They now had to worry about the Philius Empire's Shades and Central Intelligence Agency plots.
"Can we still perfectly intercept assassinations against our own key personnel?"
"That much, yes."
"Then prioritize intercepting plots against our kingdom. Treat defenses for Free Isiria Kingdom and Lisbon Maritime Kingdom as secondary."
Though allies, they could become enemies someday. Calbern saw no need for Edriger to overextend for them.
"As His Majesty commands."
Duke Alipis melted into the shadows.
Thanks to the numerous Hashashin held by the Edriger Kingdom, the Tri-Kingdom Alliance's powerful assassination deterrence had been neutralized. This was reported to Raymond via Count Potas of the Philius Empire's Central Intelligence Agency.
"What level of neutralization are we talking about for their assassination deterrence?"
"They can still defend against assassinations of royals, field marshals, or grand lords. However, unlike before, attempts on certain lower-priority figures are now feasible."
Count Potas answered Raymond's question. Though Edriger had recalled most Hashashin loaned to the alliance for protection, Free Isiria and Lisbon Maritime Kingdoms had bolstered guards for their top personnel, preparing against attempts.
The departure of expert Hashashin was a major loss in assassination craft, but the two kingdoms had no authority to stop Edriger from prioritizing its own safety.
"What about expeditionary assassinations?"
"Difficult. But assassinating mid-level commanders or nobles at the front is possible. If executed, it could sow chaos and demoralize the Tri-Kingdom Alliance forces deployed there."
"Best to send in the Shades."
That night, twenty Shades slipped out of the Philius Empire army camp to assassinate key Tri-Kingdom figures. They immediately began operations upon reaching the Free Isiria Kingdom's detached force camp, which had pushed south to strike independently.
High commanders like 3rd Field Marshal Marquis Diref, guarded by skilled escorts, and high nobles remained safe, but mid-level officers and low nobles became targets.
None of the Shades' targets lived to see dawn. That night alone, eleven mid-level commanders and four low nobles fell to them.
With the assassination op yielding strong results, Raymond dispatched ten more Shades from his close guard into enemy lines. They too performed admirably, ultimately delaying the Free Isiria Kingdom force's assault.
The good news didn't end there. On the third day after sending the Shades, Raymond received a magic communication request from Count Denitz, whose face in the crystal orb looked much brighter.
"Good tidings?"
-Indeed, Your Imperial Majesty.
"Out with it."
Raymond urged, eyes sparkling. At the emperor's reaction, Count Denitz grinned before speaking slowly.
-We've seized over half the enemy territory south of the detached force. All that's left is the Ireiser Marquisate.
This meant they had captured the two counties holding out south of the detached force. But it wasn't total victory yet—joy would be premature with Ireiser Marquisate still resisting.
Only by fully taking it would the two fronts merge, greatly easing the detached force's burden.
"How long until the Ireiser Marquisate falls?"
-Northern Central Army reinforcements have arrived after regrouping. Ireiser hasn't received any, so they won't hold out long.
Count Denitz replied confidently, his tone brimming with certainty. Raymond had no doubt the Ireiser Marquisate's fate was sealed.
Two days after the magic comm with Count Denitz, Raymond received word from Count Potas that the Ireiser domain cavalry—tasked with checking the detached force from the rear—had withdrawn.
"Marquis Ireiser is finally sensing the crisis."
Kashias remarked at the detached force command meeting. The other commanders nodded in agreement, one by one.
In truth, Marquis Ireiser faced immense mental pressure from his domain's isolation between front and rear lines. His options limited, he had no choice but to recall his domain cavalry.
Marquis Ireiser trusted the Free Isiria Kingdom army marching south toward the detached force. Now joined by southern noble private troops, they numbered 30,000. It wasn't unreasonable for him to pin hopes on them, but regrettably, the goddess of victory did not favor Free Isiria at this moment.
Raymond had sent every last Shade into enemy territory. With Edriger's Hashashin suffering heavy losses, rendering assassination ops impossible, this was the optimal move.
"His Imperial Majesty commanded us to gouge their eyes and sever their ears. This is our top priority."
The Shade squad leader infiltrating the Free Isiria Kingdom army camp—under 3rd Field Marshal Marquis Diref's overall command—said in a cold voice.
Over fifty Shades had infiltrated, and none could check them.
With Hashashin absent, Free Isiria had no assassin forces to counter them.
As they ramped up, mid-level commanders and low nobles turned up dead every morning.
"Marquis Diref, Your Excellency. The situation is graver than thought."
The chief adjutant said gravely in the 3rd Field Marshal's office. Red-haired Marquis Diref closed his book, adjusted his glasses, and turned to the adjutant.
"How many today?"
"Nine mid-level commanders and one baron... assassinated."
Marquis Diref bit his lip at the report. Their numbers were dwindling—the very officers needed to oversee battlefields. No gaps showed yet, but combat would expose them.
"The private troops under slain low nobles are a problem too. Some already use lost lords as excuse to return home or desert now that mobilization's lifted."
"Promote capable low officers to mid-level posts. For the slain nobles' troops, hire as many as possible in Free Isiria's name."
"I'll do my utmost, Your Excellency."
But this was mere patchwork.
Promotions wouldn't grant mid-level expertise overnight. And how many bereaved troops would accept mercenary offers?
Diref shook his head repeatedly in his tent after the adjutant left, dissatisfied with his own plan. Though heavily guarded by armored knights and mages, an inexplicable unease kept him sleepless till dawn.
Emerging with dark circles, he ran into his second adjutant, who looked frantic. Diref tilted his head.
"Wasn't the routine report the chief adjutant's duty today?"
"The chief adjutant was found dead. Assassinated, it seems."
"Those Philius Empire bastards..."
At this point, Diref had no choice but to revise his assessment of the Philius emperor.
"What a terrifying man..."
Diref ground his teeth in frustration.