Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Chapter 19: Empire, Prepare Yourself (1)
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Ronald Philius, the Emperor of the Empire, had succumbed to poison and lost his life. Normally, there shouldn't have been any chaos, but the sudden death of the Emperor without designating a successor was the primary cause of the turmoil.
There had been time between his poisoning and his death, but unfortunately, the aged Emperor's mind was no longer sharp enough to make such a crucial decision.
He knew this all too well, which was why he had hesitated to name an heir.
'The Emperor knew that one of the princes was behind his poisoning.'
Though old and frail, the Emperor's intellect remained razor-sharp. Even in his poisoned, delirious state, he strove to make rational judgments and ultimately delayed naming a successor.
"Just what in the world is going on..."
Raymond muttered to himself with a sigh, frustration heavy in his voice as he strolled through the gardens of the 5th Prince's Palace.
From the setting documents and the novel's descriptions, the Bloody Funeral was clearly a major turning point.
However, since the story unfolded from the protagonist Richard's perspective, there were no detailed accounts of the events before he entered the crumbling, fracturing Philius Empire—namely, the Bloody Funeral itself.
The settings only vaguely mentioned that something like this had happened, with no explanation of the fierce power struggles involved.
"My lord, something's off."
The air felt unusually chilling. Sensing the ominous undercurrent, Gestain placed his hand on his sword hilt, his eyes swiftly scanning the darkened garden.
"Not a single Imperial Guard in sight."
As if reading Gestain's thoughts, Raymond murmured softly. By now, a white aura had gathered in his right hand, forming the shape of a sword.
"They come without malice, so please, put away your blade."
A middle-aged man in a red uniform, sporting a well-groomed mustache, emerged from a rift torn through the shadows.
It was a face Raymond remembered from the court assembly. If memory served, he was Count Potas, infamous as a tyrant in the southern regions.
"Count Potas?"
"You remember my name. An honor, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
"Shall I call you by another name?"
Having seen the setting documents, Raymond knew his secret identity as well.
"How did you know?"
Count Potas's lips twitched slightly.
"Just a guess, so don't worry too much. Your position as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency hasn't been exposed."
"You've grasped my weakness right from the start."
"No need to call it a weakness."
Raymond chuckled softly. Still, he wondered why Count Potas had come at such a late hour.
The fact that he revealed himself openly without stealth suggested he intended to disclose his role as Director from the outset.
"I come to deliver His Majesty's decree."
His Majesty's decree.
The throne currently sat empty. This must be the command left by the late Emperor Ronald before his death.
"Speak."
Raymond nodded, and at that moment, Count Potas's gaze lingered briefly on Gestain.
"He's my direct Imperial Guard captain. No need for needless suspicion."
"In that case, I shall present this."
Count Potas drew something from his breast pocket and handed it over. It was an envelope adorned with ornate golden patterns, sealed with red wax that radiated not just physical but also magical presence.
Noticing Raymond's gaze, Count Potas spoke calmly.
"It can only be opened by Your Highness the 5th Prince. Even I don't know what's inside."
Raymond's eyes gleamed as he accepted the envelope. Breaking the red wax seal, he extracted the contents. The moment a small object fell into his palm, Count Potas's eyes widened in recognition.
And how could they not? The item was the "Silent Sovereign," the symbol of the Philius Empire's Emperor, embodying all imperial authority.
The last legendary magic artifact remaining in the Philius Empire, the "Silent Sovereign" possessed many functions, but one in particular stood out.
'Successor designation.'
It could name the next wielder.
Raymond felt the gazes of Gestain and Count Potas upon him.
From the moment the Emperor left this to him, the story had begun to diverge.
But the confirmation process was still needed.
Raymond infused mana into the "Silent Sovereign," and the ring responded, emitting a golden glow.
The two streams of mana danced in the air before being absorbed back into the ring. When Raymond lowered his entranced gaze, the ring was now fitted on the middle finger of his right hand.
And at that instant!
"We pay homage to the new Emperor of the Philius Empire!"
Count Potas and Gestain dropped to one knee, bowing their heads. Even after completing the imprinting process, Raymond felt a surreal daze.
'To think the Emperor designated me as his successor.'
Originally, Raymond was meant to suffer the most agonizing death during the "Bloody Funeral." The small changes that began with his possession of Raymond's body and the snatching of the protagonist's opportunities had snowballed into a butterfly effect, ultimately placing Raymond on the throne.
"We shall summon the Royal Guard at once and hasten preparations for the coronation!"
"Wait!"
Raymond halted Count Potas, who moved as if entranced. It wasn't yet time to announce the new Emperor's emergence. Attending the funeral as the new sovereign would make him a prime target for those orchestrating the Bloody Funeral.
"It's not time yet, Count Potas."
"Mm, understood."
As head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Count Potas was sharp-minded. He interpreted Raymond's words in a different light and nodded.
"Count Potas, there's a matter that takes precedence over the coronation."
"Finding the traitors, I presume?"
"Exactly. And you know it well."
The fact that neither the 1st Prince, 2nd Prince, nor 3rd Prince had been named successor already suggested that the Emperor and Central Intelligence Agency had at least some information.
Of course, Raymond couldn't know the extent from his current perspective, but that was what reports were for.
"Tell me everything the Central Intelligence Agency knows."
"It will take some time."
"We'll go to the drawing room. Gestain will secure the perimeter."
"A high knight's vigilance is trustworthy. So be it."
Once in the drawing room, Count Potas reported everything he knew to Raymond.
Thirty minutes prior, this would have been unimaginable, but now Raymond was the legitimate successor to the Philius Empire's throne.
His commands were imperial decrees, absolute to Count Potas, who had sworn loyalty to the Philius Empire.
"There were scant suspicious circumstances pointing to His Highness the 1st Prince, but His Highness the 3rd Prince showed numerous connections to the Edriger Kingdom."
"And Brother Deneb?"
"His Highness the 2nd Prince was also suspect, but it was mere intuition. We lacked hard evidence."
Connections to the Edriger Kingdom pointed mainly to the 2nd Prince. The fact that Central Intelligence couldn't find concrete proof spoke volumes about Deneb's cunning.
Had there been no suspicions at all, the 2nd Prince would have ascended the throne.
In the 1st Prince's case, he had no direct foreign ties, but one of his subordinate nobles did.
Otherwise, in normal circumstances, the throne would have gone to the 1st Prince.
Count Potas's explanation continued, and Raymond nodded attentively.
The report concluded after an hour, but Raymond showed no surprise. Thanks to the setting documents, he already knew more than half of it.
"The Central Intelligence Agency of the Philius Empire awaits His Majesty's command."
Raymond's eyes narrowed at Count Potas's words.
He pondered how to avert the Bloody Funeral, but no answers came.
He could strike the 3rd Prince now, but evidence against the 2nd Prince was insufficient to take him down as well.
'Eliminate only the 3rd Prince, and the 2nd will retreat deeper into the shadows.'
That was the last thing he wanted.
'What should I do?'
His deliberations deepened. The issues were inextricably tangled.
"Count Potas."
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Central Intelligence Agency and I stand ready to obey your decree."
Watching the Director, who moved solely for the Emperor, Raymond felt—unofficially for now—that he truly was the Emperor.
"Continue surveillance and report to me, but do not intervene."
The late Emperor's funeral was unavoidable. If he couldn't prevent the outbreak there, monitoring the 2nd and 3rd Princes to anticipate their moves seemed wisest.
As the 5th Prince, surveilling them would have been difficult.
But now, even if weakened, the Central Intelligence Agency—Philius Empire's intelligence arm—answered to him. Securing enough foreknowledge for countermeasures was feasible.
"The Central Intelligence Agency receives His Majesty's solemn decree."
It was an order open to question, but to Count Potas, sworn to the Empire and Imperial Family, it posed no issue. He voiced no doubts, merely bowing to affirm his obedience.
"And summon Marquis Blizzard, current head of the Royal Guard, immediately."
Ascending before the Bloody Funeral was a positive variable. It vastly expanded his options for countermeasures.
"The Royal Guard will respond with joy to His Majesty's call."
"As quickly as possible."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
He vanished into the shadows. Less than five minutes later, he reappeared, accompanied by Marquis Blizzard of the Royal Guard, exuding an icy blade-like aura.
Wearing the Royal Guard's signature golden mask and gold-trimmed uniform, the Marquis approached Raymond with trembling steps.
"I presume to request boldly: Might I see the 'Silent Sovereign'?"
Count Potas glared sharply at Marquis Blizzard, his expression one that would have branded it disloyalty in anyone less exalted.
But Raymond understood the Marquis's mindset. As leader of the Royal Guard, who served the Emperor at closest quarters, thorough verification was justified.
"I'll show you clearly."
Infusing mana into the "Silent Sovereign," he raised his hand. Golden energy coalesced into a banner—the Emperor's banner, the absolute symbol and proof commanding the Philius Empire. Nothing could be more conclusive.
"Your Majesty!"
Marquis Blizzard knelt.
"Forgive this foolish retainer for daring to doubt His Majesty's veracity—a grave disloyalty!"
Raymond dismissed the Emperor's banner and helped Marquis Blizzard to his feet.
To Raymond, it wasn't disloyalty, but the Marquis, offering blind loyalty transcending the Empire to the Emperor himself, saw it differently.
He struggled to lift his head.
"That's not the issue now, Marquis Blizzard."
Raymond spoke gravely, and the Marquis slowly raised his head. Through the mask's eye slits gleamed fanatical devotion—terrifying if they were foes.
"Count Potas, does Marquis Blizzard know the Empire's current plight?"
"He does. A member of the Imperial Family colluding with foreign powers to destabilize the Empire—predecessors on the throne would rage at this."
Marquis Blizzard wailed in anguish, his voice thick with heartfelt sorrow.
"I won't belabor it. Do you know of the Empire Reconstruction Plan?"
"I know it's a contingency left by predecessor Emperors for when the Empire decays, loses power, and falls into ruin."
"And that its records were lost after the ancient era?"
"Of course. Your Majesty, even predecessor Emperors strove to restore the Empire Reconstruction Plan's records but achieved little, much to their regret."
The Empire Reconstruction Plan. A contingency from the Emperors of the Philius Empire's most glorious ancient era. It hadn't been unused amid decline and fall to now; the records' loss prevented unsealing it.
The settings noted the records were lost, but Raymond hadn't expected all traces forgotten.
Good. How to begin? Brief deliberation led to one conclusion: direct confrontation.
"You know traces of the Empire Reconstruction Plan."
"Is it true?"
Count Potas reacted first, asking no reasons as expected. Marquis Blizzard's eyes also lit up.
"And its first legacy slumbers beneath here, in the Imperial Capital."
"The first legacy?"
Marquis Blizzard inquired, as if questioning its existence. Raymond nodded and spoke.
"When the Empire shone most brilliantly, those who cast aside honor and guarded it from the shadows."
The most exceptional and ruthless assassin unit in Philius Empire history.
"They slumber beneath the Imperial Capital."