Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: 52. Savior of the Magic Kingdom (2)
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The main combat unit of the Doomsday Association arrived at the heart of the capital city of the Jaist Magic Kingdom.
Numbering over five hundred, they were all elite fighters.
Veris was moved by the Doomsday Association's support, which was far superior to what he had anticipated. Once reorganization with the existing forces was complete, they began moving in earnest.
"While Squad 5 neutralizes the capital guard, the remaining forces will slaughter the nobles in the inner castle."
On a pitch-black night when the frigid northern winds howled especially fiercely, past midnight, the Doomsday Association's combat squads pierced through the darkness and dispersed in perfect order across the entire capital city. Among them, Squad 5 headed toward the capital guard headquarters located in the outer castle.
A hundred troops raced across the dark night sky. Arriving at the capital guard headquarters in just thirty minutes, they swiftly formed an encirclement.
"Don't let a single ant escape."
"Yes, Squad Leader."
At the squad leader's icy command, the fighters nodded vigorously in response.
Sixty maintained the encirclement, while forty advanced stealthily toward the capital guard headquarters, melting into the shadows for direct combat.
"The forces stationed at the capital guard headquarters consist of 39 knights, 2 mages, and 112 guardsmen. Only two knights possess advanced skills, and the mages are at intermediate level."
The adjutant reported. The squad leader sneered.
"It's so easy, it's almost unsettling."
They had already closed in near the capital guard headquarters. At the entrance, one knight stood watch with five guardsmen.
The squad leader silently signaled his subordinates with hand gestures. The vanguard fighters hurled hidden weapons forward.
The knight and guards collapsed without even a scream, and the other fighters surged past their bodies into the headquarters.
The covert assassinations began. It was only well after the first casualties that the alarm bell finally rang out from the capital guard headquarters, alerting them to the raid.
"Enemies!"
Amid the clamor of the blaring alarm bells and shouts announcing the ambush from all directions, more than half the headquarters' forces were already dead.
"Argh! Spare me!"
"Reform the lines!"
It was pandemonium. Overwhelmed by the vast disparity in strength, the guardsmen lost all will to fight and fled. The few knights fought valiantly, but the outcome was tragic.
Every swing of the Doomsday Association fighters' swords felled knights and soldiers effortlessly.
When it was all over and the Doomsday Association fighters had withdrawn, only cooling corpses remained at the capital guard headquarters.
The annihilation of the capital guard headquarters was merely the beginning. It served as the signal, and the hunt for nobles not under Veris's brainwashing commenced in the inner castle.
Count Potas's face paled as he received the report from the Central Intelligence Agency about the massacre in the heart of the Jaist Magic Kingdom's capital.
The Doomsday Association's actions were far more threatening than the Central Intelligence Agency had anticipated.
No one had expected them to brazenly execute dozens of nobles right in the middle of a major capital city.
With thousands of their followers, soldiers, and retainers also slain, it could only be described as a massacre.
"I must report this to His Majesty the Emperor immediately."
Count Potas grabbed the report with a grim expression and promptly dispatched a messenger to request an audience.
Soon after, the messenger returned with word that the audience was granted, and Count Potas immediately opened a short-range dimensional gate to head to the audience chamber.
Only a handful of Imperial Army knights guarded the chamber.
"Where is His Majesty the Emperor?"
"We received word he's on his way."
"I'll wait."
Count Potas gave a curt reply and straightened the red uniform he favored. Raymond entered the chamber just five minutes later, apparently having been nearby.
"Count Potas. You're here early."
"Is it not the duty of a loyal vassal to arrive first when serving his lord?"
As Raymond took his seat on the throne, Count Potas bowed politely with a calm voice.
"What brings you here today? I heard from the messenger it's urgent."
"A massacre has occurred in the capital of the Jaist Magic Kingdom."
Raymond bit his lip anxiously at Count Potas's rigid report.
"The Doomsday Association?"
Raymond wasn't a fool. He could easily infer that any negative incident in the Jaist Magic Kingdom at this time involved the Doomsday Association.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The capital guard logs record an unidentified armed intrusion. After thorough investigation by the Central Intelligence Agency, we've concluded it's highly likely the Doomsday Association's combat squad."
Count Potas confirmed it, and Raymond furrowed his brow. It felt like the Doomsday Association was intensifying its mad efforts to seize the Jaist Magic Kingdom.
Raymond had a hunch why they were targeting it so aggressively.
'The ancient ruins, no doubt.'
One reason the Jaist Magic Kingdom had built such a powerful magitech civilization on the harsh northern continent was the numerous ancient ruins slumbering within its borders.
Without them, they never could have achieved such advanced magitech on barren northern soil.
This was part of the worldview setting in the novel [Empire of the Dead], but Raymond agreed.
"It seems the Doomsday Association plans to devour the Jaist Magic Kingdom completely."
"Yes, Your Majesty. They would have proceeded slowly otherwise, but King Rudel's escape has made them desperate."
There had been a reason the Doomsday Association hadn't rushed things. With the kingdom's lords still alive and well, they aimed to puppet King Rudel and take control gradually with minimal risk.
But Raymond had rescued King Rudel, throwing their plans into disarray.
The fact that King Rudel was in the Philius Empire would soon be announced publicly, and the Doomsday Association surely knew it too.
Thus, they were pushing through a great purge despite the backlash, to solidify their grip on the Jaist Magic Kingdom.
"We need to hurry."
"However, Your Majesty, we can't move the army just yet. Without the intelligence pact finalized, deploying our 100,000-strong force based solely on our current intel carries too many variables."
"Then we must expedite the intelligence pact first. Instruct Count Denitz to press the Haifel Empire."
"I shall obey your imperial command."
Count Potas bowed deeply, and Raymond nodded in satisfaction.
With this, Count Denitz, upon receiving the order, would urge the Haifel Empire. But before the diplomats arrived, Raymond had work left to do.
Rescuing King Rudel had apparently influenced the worldview significantly, restoring a substantial amount of dominion authority.
Raymond planned to use half of it to awaken a combat unit from the Imperial Church.
He immediately summoned Bishop Gustav and the Imperial Church's holy knights.
"His Majesty the Emperor, peerless as the heavens, has summoned us!"
Bishop Gustav, who had been purging traitors in the Edriger region, shouted excitedly upon hearing the messenger's report.
The surrounding Imperial Church holy knights raised their swords and spears skyward with fervent voices at his cry.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"He has finally called upon us!"
"If the imperial throne needs us, we go—even if it's to hell itself!"
To the Imperial Church, an imperial command was absolute, unbreakable truth. Fanatics had already gathered, chanting praises.
The messenger's lips dried at their fanatical fervor, beyond common sense. But he had to deliver the message, so he spoke with a stiff face.
"His Majesty has granted audience only to Bishop Gustav and a select few holy knights."
"What?"
Bishop Gustav, chosen by the Emperor, remained serene, but the other priests and knights were furious, ready for bloodshed.
"I have the list personally. Please confirm."
"Very well."
Bishop Gustav received the list. It bore the names of the selected holy knights.
"I shall call them out."
Bishop Gustav read the names in order. Joy and despair mingled. The chosen rejoiced; the rest despaired but raised no objection.
It was a list penned by the Emperor they revered and obeyed.
Questioning or challenging it was unthinkable disloyalty.
"We move at once. Horses are prepared."
The chosen followed Bishop Gustav and the messenger, hastening their steps.
They mounted and rode straight to the Edriger Governor's Office. Fortunately, their garrison city wasn't far.
Upon arrival, they hurried to the audience chamber to meet the Emperor they so revered.
"His Majesty awaits."
A Royal Guard at the door spoke calmly. Bishop Gustav nodded slowly, opened the door, and the holy knights followed tensely.
"Bishop Gustav, you've arrived."
At the end of the long red carpet, Raymond sat upon the ornate throne. He nodded slightly to Bishop Gustav with a calm gaze.
"I've heard you've been toiling to purge the subversive elements gnawing at our occupied territories. You've suffered greatly."
"For the glory of Your Majesty and the reign of your sacred imperial authority, I merely do what must be done! Pray, think nothing of it."
Bishop Gustav was loyalty incarnate. As a high-ranking bishop in the Imperial Church, which revered the Philius Empire's absolute ruler, he harbored fanatical devotion to the Emperor.
Even if Raymond ordered him to take his own life right then, Bishop Gustav would joyfully drive the blade into his neck.
"Marquis Blizzard. Please step out for a moment."
Raymond instructed quietly. Marquis Blizzard, standing by the wall, looked up.
"Your Majesty... I cannot..."
"Do you doubt the deep-rooted loyalty of the Imperial Church? Gestain and Desia will guard me. Breaching a swordmaster and high mage's defenses won't be easy. And you'll stay nearby, not far away...?"
"Your Majesty..."
Marquis Blizzard, leader of the Royal Guard responsible for the Emperor's safety, wouldn't yield easily.
Even temporarily withdrawing all Royal Guard protection from the audience chamber was a grave decision.
"Is this an imperial command?"
"I understand your position, so consider it a request. I have urgent matters to discuss with Bishop Gustav."
"Understood. I'll withdraw all Royal Guard from the audience chamber for five minutes."
"Thank you."
As Raymond nodded, Marquis Blizzard and the Royal Guards vanished in unison.
This secured five minutes. A satisfied smile curved Raymond's lips.
"Bishop Gustav. Time is short—come closer."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At the quiet summons, Bishop Gustav left his accompanying holy knights behind and approached Raymond, kneeling.
Raymond drew near, scanned the surroundings, then spoke gravely.
"Bishop Gustav. What I say now must not be divulged even to the Royal Guard."
"I receive your sacred imperial command. I shall not speak of it, come what may."
"Excellent."
Raymond nodded in satisfaction at Bishop Gustav's reply.
"You and the Imperial Church holy knights must accompany me somewhere. And the Royal Guard must not know."
He spoke softly. The reason the Royal Guard—those closest to protecting the Emperor—couldn't know about this mission was simple.
The destination was extremely dangerous, and their presence wouldn't help much.
On the other hand, it was a place where Bishop Gustav and the Imperial Church holy knights could shine.
"I shall not speak of it, Your Majesty. Trust in me, I beg you."
Raymond nodded quietly at Bishop Gustav's words. He had called him here precisely because he trusted him. Raymond had never once doubted the Imperial Church's loyalty.
"Do you know that this occupied territory of Edriger was part of the Philius Empire even in ancient times?"
"Of course. I remember the days of glory."
"Beneath here slumbers the Heresy Hunter Corps—the most secretive unit even within the Heresy Inquisition. I intend to awaken them."
"Your Majesty... The Inquisition is now haunted by vengeful spirits..."
"But the Heresy Hunter Corps is essential."
They were the ones who could efficiently hunt the Doomsday Association's minions, spreading like cancer cells. They were the Heresy Hunter Corps.