Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: The Unyielding Enemy (1)
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Defeating the Spirit King caused all the other spirits to dissipate as well. Thanks to that, they were able to enter the Heresy Tribunal far more easily than before.
The Heresy Tribunal was silent. With the rowdy spirits vanishing alongside their king, it had no choice but to be.
Bishop Gustav and the few remaining paladins of the Imperial Church led the way.
Eventually, they reached the heart of the Heresy Tribunal.
"Bishop Gustav, you can stop here. What I seek is in this place."
"Is the Heretic Extermination Corps sleeping here?"
"Something like that."
Reymond replied calmly to Bishop Gustav's question and halted his steps. He then surveyed his surroundings.
He summoned orbs of magical light and sent them scattering in all directions, but the chamber was so vast that no end was in sight.
It was at least as large as a soccer field used for matches. Yet Reymond instinctively knew that the Heretic Extermination Corps lay right here, not merely nearby but directly beneath his feet.
"I'm going to awaken the Heretic Extermination Corps now."
Reymond spoke in a steady voice. He then channeled the aura of dominion into the ground below.
The earth, absorbing the golden energy, trembled violently and spat out thousands of pitch-black coffins.
As his escorts kept watch for any contingencies, Reymond raised his right hand and opened his mouth.
"Heretic Extermination Corps, awaken."
The Emperor's quiet voice echoed through the silent darkness, and the tightly sealed coffin lids opened in unison.
Figures clad in black priestly robes stepped out from within. Still unsteady from their long slumber, they instinctively located their absolute sovereign and bowed in perfect etiquette.
Among them, a silver-haired middle-aged man wearing a monocle was the first to fully regain his senses. He approached Reymond and bowed deeply with utmost courtesy.
"I am Bishop Receiver, supreme commander of the Heretic Extermination Corps."
Receiver's face was so pale he could pass for a vampire, but his deep blue eyes proved he was human.
"Pleased to meet you, Bishop Receiver."
"It is an honor to meet His Majesty the Emperor who now leads the Philius Empire."
"Having just awakened from a long sleep, there must be much you don't know."
"One thing I can surmise. Our awakening means the Empire Reconstruction Plan has been set in motion. Which implies the Philius Empire's momentum has faltered."
Bishop Receiver stated his view cautiously yet clearly. Reymond nodded slowly with a solemn expression.
"You are correct. The Philius Empire currently faces an unprecedented crisis... leaving us no choice but to invoke the Empire Reconstruction Plan."
"Your Majesty, have no fears. I assure you, now that we have awakened, no heretic shall traverse this land unscathed."
His confidence was palpable. Reymond nodded in satisfaction at Bishop Receiver's demeanor.
With the Heretic Extermination Corps awakened, it was time to march on the Jeist Magic Kingdom and uproot every last member of the Doomsday Society hiding there.
"We head for the Jeist Magic Kingdom."
A smile spread across Reymond's lips.
Though he had boldly declared their advance into the Jeist Magic Kingdom, there were still matters to attend to.
Returning to the Edriger Governor-General's office, Reymond calmed the agitated Royal Guards before awaiting the envoy from the Haipel Empire.
"Isn't this taking too long?"
Reymond grumbled in the presence of Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior and Count Denitz.
"Your Majesty, please remain patient. King Rudel understands that even after we've secured him, the Heretic Extermination Corps needs time to adapt to the current era and recover from hibernation's aftereffects. Even without delay from the envoy, committing fully to the march right away would be unwise."
Unlike the sweating Risefield, Count Denitz explained the situation calmly in a quiet voice.
"I'm well aware of that. I'm simply considering the possibility that the Haipel Empire's envoy might not arrive even after the army is fully prepared."
At Reymond's words, Count Denitz smiled faintly and replied.
"That won't happen, Your Majesty."
"How can you be so certain, Count Denitz?"
"In truth, thirty minutes ago, I received a report from Sir Lancer that he has linked up with the envoy and they are hastening preparations to pay their respects to Your Majesty."
It was welcome news. A clear smile spread across Reymond's face.
"They'll come here as soon as they're ready."
"It won't take long, Your Majesty."
True to Count Denitz's word, it didn't take long at all. Less than thirty minutes after their conversation ended, a messenger reported that Lancer of the Haipel Special Affairs Bureau had arrived with the envoy and requested an audience.
"I'll see them now."
As they waited in the corridor, Reymond headed to the audience chamber. Seated on the throne, he spoke with a composed expression.
"Enter."
No sooner had permission been granted than the audience chamber doors opened, and two men in crisp uniforms entered and paid their respects.
The familiar face belonged to Lancer of the Haipel Special Affairs Bureau, and the other appeared to be the Haipel Empire's envoy.
"Time is short, so get straight to the point."
Reymond spoke just as the envoy and Lancer finished their formal greetings. The envoy seemed momentarily taken aback by the directness, which bordered on impatience, but he soon nodded with a faint smile.
"It's no difficult matter, Your Majesty. Shall we proceed directly to discussing the 'accord'?"
Finishing his words, the envoy produced the accord document from within his robes. A waiting Royal Guard received it and passed it to Reymond.
"Please, take a look."
Reymond unfolded the document and read it through slowly. It seemed unproblematic, but to be thorough, he handed it to the attending Count Denitz to review as well.
Count Denitz examined the accord meticulously.
Though they had collaborated with the Haipel Special Affairs Bureau to rescue King Rudel of the Jeist Magic Kingdom, diplomatic ties with the Haipel Empire had been severed for no short time, so caution was warranted.
"No issues."
After thorough scrutiny, Count Denitz deemed the accord flawless.
Normally, the Foreign Ministry would verify it as well, but Reymond trusted Count Denitz's capabilities, and with time pressing, he wished to proceed swiftly.
"Shall we move forward?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
After a brief, hushed exchange with Count Denitz, Reymond turned to the Haipel Empire's envoy.
"We'll proceed as is."
"Now just sign, and the accord takes effect the moment the ink dries."
"Efficient work—I like it."
It was his honest sentiment. Reymond took the quill from a Royal Guard and signed the accord, giving it one final review before doing so.
With signatures on both copies, the procedure concluded. Reymond and the envoy each took one signed accord.
"The intelligence-sharing accord is now in force. Sir Lancer will remain within Philius Empire territory at all times, so you may receive Doomsday Society intelligence through him."
"You've done well."
"Then I shall take my leave."
Reymond nodded, and the envoy bowed once more with utmost courtesy before departing the audience chamber. Lancer, however, stayed behind.
"Do you need it now?"
Lancer asked with a grin.
True to his position as branch chief of the Western Continent's premier intelligence agency, the Haipel Special Affairs Bureau, his perceptiveness was sharp.
That was precisely why Reymond appreciated him.
"Did you bring it?"
"I've compiled it neatly. The Philius Central Intelligence Agency will need time to re-review, but it's better than raw data."
"Good. Not bad at all."
"I'll hand it over now."
Speaking energetically, he pulled stacks of documents from his dimensional pouch. Soon, a mountain of papers towered before him.
"Count Potas."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Count Potas, standing to his left, stepped forward at Reymond's call.
He organized the documents with waiting Central Intelligence agents and stored them in a dimensional pouch.
"Then I'll take my leave as well. Whenever you need Haipel Special Affairs Bureau intelligence support regarding the Doomsday Society, feel free to call on me."
Lancer departed the audience chamber, and Reymond returned to his office with his retinue.
His ever-present close escorts, Desia and Gestain, flanked him, while Count Denitz and Count Potas accompanied him to the office to discuss current affairs.
"Count Denitz, is the army prepared?"
Reviewing the received intelligence would take time, but not overly so.
Thus, Reymond inquired about the military's status. Once Doomsday Society intelligence was ready, they needed to march immediately.
"I've already instructed Marquis Creyer to re-form the army for immediate advance."
An excellent response. Reymond nodded in satisfaction.
Marquis Creyer's mercenary force, slated as the main army, needed priority preparation.
The original 50,000-strong mercenaries had suffered significant losses conquering the Edriger Kingdom.
But post-victory, they had bolstered their ranks with local mercenaries and reorganized into a 70,000-strong host.
Less elite than the Imperial Army, they were battle-hardened veterans with a solidified chain of command—sufficient force to spearhead into the Jeist Magic Kingdom's heart.
Sufficient, yes, but Reymond had no intention of attacking solely with mercenaries.
The Imperial Army and Philius Empire forces were preparing to march, and with King Rudel secured, they could likely gain support from lords untouched by the Doomsday Society.
"Count Denitz."
"Yes, Your Majesty. What are your orders?"
"Tell Marquis Creyer to assemble the mercenaries at the border upon readiness and await further commands."
"I'll relay it at once."
The imperial decree reached Marquis Creyer. After the meeting, Count Denitz promptly sent it via magical communication.
"Hasten the reorganization! We must lead the vanguard!"
Marquis Creyer raised his voice. The mercenaries accelerated their preparations, and two days later, reported full readiness to the Emperor.
By then, Reymond was en route to the border with King Rudel. A 6,000-strong Imperial legion moved under his direct command.
The day after the mercenaries entered standby, Reymond and King Rudel arrived at the border with the Imperial forces. Marquis Creyer greeted him with his staff officers from mercenary headquarters.
"Your Majesty!"
"Marquis Creyer! All well?"
The two clasped hands, eyes brimming with deep trust. But there was little time for joyful reunion.
"To headquarters, if you please."
Marquis Creyer led Reymond to the command conference. Though the journey had been long and rest scarce, Reymond followed gladly, face lit with reunion's warmth.
Arriving at the mercenary headquarters conference room, Reymond took the supreme commander's seat. Cassius and Marquis Creyer sat beside him.
"Your Majesty, may I ask about reinforcement plans?"
Marquis Creyer ventured cautiously. Seventy thousand was ample for invading the Jeist Magic Kingdom but hardly secure. Most were mercenaries, despite training and command structure—unpredictable variables loomed.
"Five thousand Heretic Extermination Corps will arrive at the border tomorrow. Once they join, we'll advance into the Jeist Magic Kingdom. Additionally, 50,000 Empire troops will depart as soon as ready."
Reymond stated.
The plan was flawless. Mercenaries, Imperial forces, and Heretic Extermination Corps would cross first.
Using King Rudel to secure lords' surrenders while advancing, the 50,000 Empire troops would follow, securing supply lines.
As control over the Jeist Magic Kingdom solidified, the Heretic Extermination Corps—joined by the Imperial Church—would purge Doomsday Society remnants hiding everywhere.