Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Chapter 57: The War Has Not Ended (2)
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"Does success mean you forcibly awakened a high mage and elevated them to the archmage realm?"
"I won't deny it, Lady Desia."
Madness seeped little by little from Baron Legacy's smile, but Desia, her focus entirely on hearing the results of the experiment, didn't notice.
"Don't be vague. I'd prefer a clear answer."
"Very well, then. I'll be straightforward. The experiment succeeded, and the volunteer high mage reached the archmage realm."
She had gotten the answer she'd been waiting for. Baron Legacy explained the results in a calm voice, and a complex mix of emotions played across Desia's face.
"What's wrong, Lady Desia?"
It was the reaction he'd expected. Baron Legacy knew Desia's situation well. Swallowing the madness threatening to burst forth, he asked in a gentle tone.
"I'm no fool, Baron Legacy. You know exactly why I'm here."
Desia spoke sharply. This was an unexpected response, so Baron Legacy clamped his mouth shut for a moment.
After a brief silence, Desia composed herself and continued.
"Let me say it again, Baron Legacy. I'm no fool. I know you deliberately slipped that experiment log in among the ancient texts."
"If that's displeasing, I apologize."
Desia was the emperor's favored and trusted close bodyguard. Baron Legacy thought it unwise to make an enemy of her, so he quickly abandoned his plan to use her and offered an apology.
One of the habits that had allowed his madness-filled self to survive from ancient times was to swiftly give up on anything that seemed unlikely to work.
"I'm not here for your apology, Baron Legacy."
"Then..."
"Baron Legacy. Engrave that thing you call the Forced Awakening Ritual on me."
"Are you sure that's wise?"
Having already been outmaneuvered once, Baron Legacy approached Desia cautiously.
Desia slowly nodded at his question before speaking.
"For His Majesty the Emperor."
"You could die."
"The experiment log I read said the success rate was high. Was that log falsified?"
"No, it wasn't."
"Then you can definitely make it succeed. I don't think you'll fail, Baron Legacy."
This was troubling. He'd leaked the information to Desia in hopes of retesting the ritual engraving on her, but now that the situation had arrived, he couldn't imagine handling the aftermath.
"Lady Desia, in all matters of magitech ritual engraving, the word 'definitely' doesn't apply."
Baron Legacy took a step back. But Desia rose from the sofa and stepped toward him.
"No. You will succeed, Baron Legacy. Fail, and even as part of the Empire Reconstruction Plan, you won't escape the consequences."
Baron Legacy swallowed dryly at her words.
"Can you endure it, Lady Desia? This procedure isn't just dangerous—it's accompanied by excruciating pain."
"For His Majesty the Emperor, I can bear a little pain."
"It seems you want the procedure now."
"You know me well."
Desia replied calmly. Baron Legacy let out a short sigh as he watched her steel her resolve.
The magitech equipment for the procedure was prepared, but in extremely limited quantities, adding the pressure to succeed on the first try.
Moreover, Baron Legacy himself wasn't mentally prepared.
He was the one who'd slyly leaked the info to Desia, but he'd never imagined things would progress this quickly.
"Very well, Lady Desia. But you must sign the procedure consent form properly."
Even with a signed form, failure would bring the emperor's wrath, which he couldn't withstand.
But at least it would prove there was no coercion, so requesting it was necessary.
"Fine."
Desia nodded readily. Soon, Baron Legacy brought the consent form, and she signed it without hesitation.
"When does the engraving procedure begin?"
"You wish to reach the archmage realm before the Haipel Empire expedition, correct?"
"You know me well."
"Then, factoring in stabilization, the ritual engraving must be fully complete by tomorrow morning at the latest."
With no time even to prepare mentally, Desia nodded slowly, her expression showing she'd anticipated as much.
"I leave it in your hands, Baron Legacy."
In a forest shrouded in deep darkness, Richard Palaia, a high-ranking executive of the Doomsday Society, berated his subordinates.
"What of the crown prince's whereabouts?"
"We don't know, sir. My apologies, Lord Richard."
At the sharp question, his high-ranking subordinate bowed his head. As one of the few in the Doomsday Society who could command high executives—being close to the top himself—Richard had that authority.
"I'm displeased."
A chilling voice leaked from beneath the black mask. Silvers, standing beside him, sighed shortly and shook his head, sensing Richard's anger.
"Richard. Can I have a word?"
Silvers said. Richard, who had been glaring silently at his men, looked up.
"Continue tracking the crown prince. Request reinforcements if needed."
"Understood, Lord Richard."
"We'll do our utmost."
Not entirely satisfying, but Richard nodded roughly and followed after Silvers, who had already started walking.
"Richard, no need to be so impatient. The imperial capital is destroyed, and the emperor is dead. That's achievement enough to face the Supreme Council."
"Our initial goal was to kill the emperor and the crown prince. By that measure, this is only half a success."
"Let's wait. I think the Supreme Council will send someone by tonight."
Silvers's prediction hit the mark precisely.
That night, just before midnight, a messenger bearing a black flag arrived for Richard and Silvers.
He was a herald from the Doomsday Society's Supreme Council.
"The Supreme Council summons you both."
As expected, a summons from the Supreme Council. Even with Silvers, an archmage capable of magical communication, they'd sent a herald in person—meaning the direct 'audience' Richard had hoped for was here.
"Where are they?"
Richard asked, and the herald replied calmly.
"Nearby. I'll guide you. No escorts allowed— just the two of you."
"Understood."
Richard answered. The herald then began walking slowly.
Upon arriving somewhere, he planted the black flag in the ground and announced they'd reached the destination.
"There's nothing here..."
Only dense trees surrounded them. Silvers frowned and muttered, prompting the herald to step forward.
"The exalted ones will arrive shortly."
With that, the herald vanished. Silvers swallowed dryly, tense.
Richard approached him quietly.
"Don't worry, Silvers. The top executives have no combat prowess. Just eliminate the guards."
"Got it."
"When I signal, open a dimensional gate. You can do it, right?"
"Don't worry. It'll succeed."
As their brief exchange ended, Richard fell silent. He'd sensed multiple presences approaching.
"They're here."
Richard whispered to Silvers and stepped forward.
Shadows emerged from the darkness—five in number. Sharp auras of guards followed behind them.
One top executive stepped forward.
"Lord Richard, Lord Silvers. A pleasure to meet 'in person' like this."
The calm voice belonged to the chairman leading the Doomsday Society's Supreme Council.
"Greetings to the Supreme Council."
"An honor."
Richard and Silvers bowed. As the chairman droned on tediously, Richard counted the guards, and Silvers confirmed if the executives were 'real' bodies.
The check was quick. Silvers signaled to Richard that no illusions or clones were in use.
At that moment, Richard drew his sword. Black aura blades rained toward the chairman. In the brief chaos, Silvers tore a prepared scroll, opening a dimensional gate.
Richard's secretly trained direct subordinates poured through—fifty strong, all executive-level or better combatants.
"You bastard! Richard! What is the meaning of this?!"
The chairman bellowed, bloodied. Guards rushed forward, but Richard's ambush was too swift; they couldn't block every strike.
"Just claiming what's mine."
Richard's men had already formed an encirclement. Each wave of Silvers's staff felled a guard protecting the executives.
"Counterattack!"
One executive shouted. The black-robed guards surged ahead in unison.
Ridiculously, the Doomsday Society valued martial prowess for regular and high executives, but the top ones—mere founders—were powerless old monsters who'd simply lived long.
Their guards were fierce, but the numbers were overwhelmingly against them.
Richard's fifty-plus elites outnumbered the council's twenty or so guards.
"Kaaack!"
"Uwaaaack!"
Screams erupted. Richard's secretly trained men were falling helplessly.
The council guards were no pushovers. Overcoming numerical disadvantage, they'd slain over thirty secret subordinates.
Casualties were heavy on their side too. Thanks to Richard and Silvers, only six guards remained—all high-executive caliber. Now, a single lapse could be fatal.
"Richard! What treachery is this?!"
The chairman raised his voice. Fourteen elite guards dead in an instant. Defeat flickered in the chairman and executives' minds; they moved to negotiate, but it was futile.
Richard crushed their overtures, swinging his sword. From behind, Silvers unleashed high-level magic under subordinate protection.
"Kaaack!"
"Uwaaaack!"
Screams rang out. Two more guards down—four left. They all lunged at Richard.
Dozens of strikes clashed in a flash; blood sprayed from Richard's body.
"Richard!"
Silvers hurriedly swung his staff, completing top-tier magic. Dozens of lightning arrows crisscrossed toward the guards.
"Kaaack!"
One exhausted guard from the fierce exchange was struck.
Not fatal, but the next instant was. Paralyzed, he couldn't block Richard's slash—his head flew.
Three guards left.
"Lord Richard! Hear us out!"
The council's old monsters sought escape, but paths were blocked by Richard's men.
With three guards fully occupied by Richard, the executives had nowhere to flee.
As they panicked, Richard and Silvers methodically downed the guards. The last attempted mutual destruction but failed, exploding under Silvers's magic.
Now, the executives. Each of Richard's swings claimed an old council life powerlessly.
Finally, only the chairman remained.
"W-Will you... spare me...?"
The chairman stammered hopefully, in vain.
"Extract all the information."
Richard said coldly. Silvers nodded, placing a hand on the chairman's head. An archmage spell to extract all memories from the brain was cast.