Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Chapter 20: Bloody Funeral (1)
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In the novel, the Bloody Funeral was an event of considerable significance, and it was now fast approaching.
As the date for the late Emperor Ronald's funeral drew near, the Imperial Capital grew even more chaotic. Officially, it was because the throne stood empty.
The 1st Prince showed little interest in the throne, the 2nd Prince pretended to have none, and the 3rd Prince was busy currying favor with the nobles.
Everyone questioned why the throne was vacant at such a critical time, but the confusion didn't escalate because the Minister of the Interior announced that it was by the late Emperor's decree.
In the midst of this turmoil, one man operated in the shadows with ruthless precision: Deneb, the 2nd Prince of the Philius Empire.
He feigned disinterest in the throne while secretly manipulating the 3rd Prince from behind the scenes, steadily solidifying his own power base. He was even colluding with the Tripartite Alliance.
"What a pity. He thinks he's pulling all the strings, but in truth, he's nothing more than a puppet."
"A puppet like him, how much does he really know?"
A figure with flowing purple hair appeared behind Baron Sidington as he muttered under his breath—Elpis.
"Lady Elpis, did you successfully complete the mission from the Association?"
"Baron Sidington, good day. I had quite the ordeal, you know. Even with my forbidden magic, subjugating the ferocious monsters of the Black Mountains wasn't easy. I went through a lot smuggling the Tripartite Alliance's forces across the border in secret."
"The Association knows of your hardships this time. Don't be so impatient. If you wrap this up splendidly, your standing there could rise even higher."
Elpis beamed at Baron Sidington's words.
"Wow, how fortunate."
"Save the soulless responses for another time."
"What about the 5th Prince's side?"
"We can't gather any intel. Either he's hired skilled assassins, or our informants can't get close at all."
Not even the Hashashin of the Edriger Kingdom could match the Shades, who had guarded the Philius Empire's most glorious moments from the darkness.
They'd sent no small number of watchers to the 5th Prince's Palace to gather information, but contact with all of them had been lost, and their bodies had vanished without a trace.
"Wow, is Baron Sidington losing the intelligence war? This might actually be interesting..."
"We've gathered enough on the 5th Prince. This is sufficient."
Baron Sidington replied sharply to Elpis's mocking tone.
"We sent watchers for final confirmation, not because we lacked information. You'd do well to remember that, Lady Elpis."
"Then the Association's plan proceeds without issue, right?"
"Of course. And it's not something for you to worry about, so mind your own business."
"How scary. Alright, I get it."
Elpis kept up the sarcasm to the end but took a step back. She might act thoughtless at times, but she knew when to provoke and when to retreat.
Baron Sidington was the type to play along outwardly while harboring grudges inwardly, so Elpis judged it wise not to push further.
"When will the reinforcements promised by the Association arrive?"
Was it because of their brief spat? Baron Sidington's voice was sharp.
"The muster is complete. It just takes time to slip past the Central Intelligence Agency of the Philius Empire."
The Philius Empire's decline had earned it a reputation for incompetence, but it was still the premier intelligence agency of a great nation—not to be underestimated.
Move too conspicuously, and you'd fall into their surveillance net.
"All proceeds according to the Association's will."
The end draws near.
The Bloody Funeral. One of the pivotal events exploding at the end of volume 1 in The Empire of the Dead, where Raymond Philius, the 5th Prince, was originally supposed to meet his end.
"Already the end of volume 1..."
He rose early in the morning, donning his uniform with the maids' assistance, and muttered to himself in the tiniest voice.
To attend the late Emperor Ronald's funeral, they had to travel to Count Dancihi's territory.
It lay south of the Kreier Marquisate but still within the Philius Empire's northeast, so it was no short journey.
"Your Highness the 5th Prince, the Imperial Guard is ready."
The door stood open. Gestain reported the Guard's status without crossing the threshold.
Mindful of the maids, he used "5th Prince" instead of "Emperor." Only a handful knew Raymond had ascended the throne, so caution was essential.
"Have my brothers departed already?"
He finished preparing, left his chambers, and asked Gestain. Per plan, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Princes were to depart first with the late Emperor Ronald's coffin.
"Yes, our turn now."
"Preparations are thorough, I trust?"
"No issues."
Raymond nodded in satisfaction at Gestain's report. Leaving the 5th Prince's Palace, the Imperial Guard awaited alongside a hundred Imperial Army cavalrymen, led by a familiar face.
"The Imperial Army's top commander, Cassias, greets Your Highness the 5th Prince!"
His voice brimmed with genuine delight as the young Imperial Army commander dismounted and bowed properly.
His exploits in the Black Mountains had promoted him from senior to top officer. He was slated for the 1st Prince's guard but volunteered for the 5th Prince's instead.
Unaware Raymond was Emperor, it stemmed from pure loyalty.
"Good to see you again, Sir Cassias."
"I shall escort Your Highness the 5th Prince safely until the rites conclude!"
Cassias brimmed with confidence. Unlike Raymond, ignorant of the horrors awaiting at Count Dancihi's territory, it was possible.
Anyone with even faint knowledge of the impending bloodbath wouldn't react so.
Raymond pondered hinting at it but decided ignorance was safer for this operation—merely advising strict vigilance.
"We've arrived at Count Dancihi's territory."
Lost in worries, he'd spent the time organizing thoughts. By the time his mind cleared and calm settled, they'd crossed into Count Dancihi's domain.
Raymond nodded at Gestain's report, and soon Count Dancihi's territorial troops appeared.
The Count had sent them to greet them. Raymond and his guard followed their lead to lodgings near the Lord's Sanctuary.
"Hoo!"
Upon arrival, Raymond exhaled roughly and collapsed onto the sofa. The real ordeal was imminent. Despite preparations, he couldn't guarantee escaping fate.
Thus, he spent the night sleepless with worry until morning.
And finally, the funeral day dawned. Raymond summoned Imperial Army commander Cassias, warning him briefly that trouble might erupt at the "Lord's Sanctuary"—stay vigilant.
"I shall escort you."
Uniform donned, he left his chambers with Gestain and Desia Heli in tow. Though lodgings were near the sanctuary, the distance required horses. Thinking they'd left early, they still found the 2nd and 3rd Princes there upon arrival.
"Little brother, you've arrived?"
The 2nd Prince stepped aside with a sinister smile, while the 3rd offered his usual greeting.
His voice dripped pure malice, devoid of goodwill. Yet his expression lacked the usual jealousy.
'He plans to kill me today anyway...'
A chuckle escaped. His habit of overestimating himself persisted. No need to respond, so Raymond lightly acknowledged Aloken's greeting and took his seat.
With time before the funeral began, the sanctuary held only a few early nobles besides them—mostly empty.
Raymond wouldn't have come so early without wanting to scout the "Lord's Sanctuary" layout. He suspected the same for his brothers.
"Desia."
"Yes, Your Highness the 5th Prince."
Calling softly, Desia returned from stepping out and approached.
"And the Kreier Marquis?"
"Just received word—all preparations complete."
Raymond nodded satisfied at Desia's reply. Silvia had sent a personal letter to Count Dancihi too, so the territorial troops should be ready.
"Don't worry too much."
Desia offered gentle reassurance. Raymond nodded quietly.
The arrow had left the bowstring. Now, to see who arrived on the battlefield better prepared.
Time passed, and nobles trickled in, filling the sanctuary seats.
Among them was Count Potas, who deliberately took a spot near Raymond—using Central Intelligence influence to swap assigned seats.
"Central Intelligence combat agents are covertly standing by nearby."
Pretending to greet Raymond, he whispered the report. Raymond nodded calmly and spoke.
"Enemy movements?"
"Too secretive to track paths precisely, but we've confirmed unidentified forces gathering in Count Dancihi's territory. Even that was only possible because His Majesty the Emperor tipped us off beforehand—otherwise undetectable."
He candidly admitted the Philius Central Intelligence Agency's failings. To turn the funeral into a bloodbath, Tripartite Alliance infiltrators operating covertly within the Empire had converged, some even crossing the Black Mountains and borders. Yet the Agency's independent detections were minimal.
"Our forces?"
"Moved as His Majesty the Emperor directed. Conveniently December now—monsters roam hungry for food. Allowed us to mobilize large numbers under pretexts of subjugation and training without suspicion."
Monster famine season meant subjugation excuses justified moving troops unquestioned. Thousands at once was tough, but sufficient precautions possible.
Even Kreier and Dancihi territorial movements wouldn't alarm the Tripartite Alliance much now.
"Hoo!"
Count Potas finished and withdrew. Raymond sighed deeply. White snow fell from the heavens.
As snow intensified, priests entered chanting prayers, followed by Royal Guards bearing a lavish golden coffin to the sanctuary's center.
The now-full sanctuary's nobles rose as one, paying respects to the late Emperor.
The funeral began. The coffin's lid opened, revealing the late Emperor Ronald's corpse, serene in eternal sleep.
The 1st Prince first grasped Ronald's cold hand in farewell. Then the 2nd Prince's turn.
Instead of bidding goodbye, he swept the sanctuary with sharp eyes, a cold smile on his lips.
He turned to the 3rd Prince, who grinned ear-to-ear like an excited child. In contrast, the 2nd Prince was solemn and keen.
"Right here, right now, history begins anew!"
In that instant, Raymond intuited the Bloody Funeral had begun.
"Wh-what is this?!"
"Your Highness the 2nd Prince? What in the world..."
Before panicked nobles could react, black shadows emerged from the sanctuary's corners—Hashashin of Edriger Kingdom and ghosts of Free Isiriya Kingdom, numbering in the hundreds.
"What is this?!"
"An enemy raid!"
Unlike the stunned nobles, Raymond remained composed. He'd foreseen and prepared for it all.
He raised his right hand, channeling mana into the "Silent Sovereign." Golden energy gathered, forming the Emperor's banner.
"The Emperor's banner?"
Amid chaos, some nobles recognized it. The 1st Prince and even the 2nd looked shocked. The 3rd gaped, eyes wide.
In a sanctuary invaded by enemies while the throne officially stood empty, Raymond swung the banner-bearing arm wide amid the turmoil.
"By the name of the Philius Empire's Emperor, I command: Purge all who dare defile this sanctuary!"
His mana-infused shout echoed as Shades and Central Intelligence agents rained down on the Hashashin and ghosts from above.
"We obey the imperial decree!"
Those hidden silently drew blades, and red signal flares shot skyward.
The Bloody Funeral had begun.