Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Pursuit (2)
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Imperial authority remains unshaken.
Couriers dispatched throughout the empire spread the word. The chaos that had gripped the nation in the emperor's absence seemed to be subsiding.
"I must have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor."
Count Potas had come to the lord's castle in Tanchi County. Raymond's body hadn't fully recovered yet, so he couldn't return to the imperial capital. The castle thus served as the emperor's temporary residence, and in the aftermath of the Bloody Funeral, high nobles frequently visited to stabilize the empire's turbulent internal affairs.
"I'll send word."
Today, Silvia was guarding Raymond's temporary chambers. She instructed an Imperial Guard to deliver the message, and soon a reply came.
"His Majesty will see you."
The Imperial Guards cleared a path.
Count Potas nodded gravely and headed toward the chambers. Passing through corridors heavily guarded by Imperial Guards and Royal Guards, he finally reached the bedroom where Raymond was resting.
"His Majesty the Emperor awaits you."
Viscount Illusion, a Royal Guard, slowly opened the door. Inside, Raymond was reclining in a plush armchair.
Due to overexerting himself at the Bloody Funeral, Raymond was still in recovery. Potas felt guilty for interrupting his rest, but the issue was too grave to ignore.
"Your Majesty..."
"You don't look well. Is it something serious?"
Raymond read the count's expression and asked in a firm tone. The Bloody Funeral was one of the major events in the novel [Empire of the Dead]. Forcing it to a close meant problems were bound to crop up here and there—it was no surprise.
"I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty. In the chaos following the Bloody Funeral, the Mountain Duke has begun suspicious movements."
In the Philius Empire, renowned for its absolute imperial authority, even mentioning rebellion was tantamount to treason.
The mere signs of it showed that imperial authority was weakening.
"I see..."
Unlike the fidgeting Count Potas, Raymond received the report without much reaction. Having seen the novel's setting documents, this was something he'd anticipated from the start.
The current Philius Empire was declining rapidly, unlike the glorious ancient era. Former Emperor Ronald had tried to strengthen imperial authority, but to little effect. With the Bloody Funeral erupting amid this fragility and national unrest, rebellion was highly likely.
In fact, in the novel [Empire of the Dead], the Mountain Duke was the first to act after the Bloody Funeral wiped out the imperial family.
"By 'suspicious movements,' do you mean rebellion?"
Raymond asked calmly. Count Potas bowed his head somberly.
"I beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty... It seems certain they're plotting a rebellion."
"Who’s joined them?"
"Most nobles in the northwest, excluding border regions, have been confirmed as sympathizers."
The rebellion appeared to have been prepared gradually over a long time. While Central Intelligence focused on the Tripartite Alliance, Mountain Duke Rebus Belfiang had quietly expanded his influence over northwestern nobles, reaching the point of open revolt.
"Count Potas. Do you think we can stop the rebellion? Be honest."
After a brief moment of thought, the count shook his head.
"Central Intelligence detected it too late. Stopping the northwestern nobles' mobilization is impossible."
He candidly admitted his agency's failure while judging coolly. Raymond rose from the sofa.
"Your Majesty?"
"There are those we must awaken."
"The Empire Reconstruction Plan?"
"The situation is urgent. Explain on the way."
As Raymond donned his overcoat and left the chambers, Royal Guards waiting nearby joined him.
He turned to the count sticking close by his side.
"We're heading to the sanctuary. Have the attendants prepare as quickly as possible."
"Yes, understood."
One Royal Guard vanished into the shadows. No sooner had they exited the castle than three hundred Imperial Army soldiers appeared. At their forefront was Cassias, recently promoted to high command.
"Your Majesty! We'll escort you safely to the sanctuary!"
With no enemy remnants left in Tanchi County, three hundred Imperial soldiers and Royal Guards were more than sufficient for protection.
"I leave it to you."
"We'll give our all!"
Raymond rode out with the Imperial Army straight to the sanctuary. Horses thundered down the straight road. For secrecy, Raymond and Count Potas used a soundproofed carriage enchanted with magic.
Leaning against the backrest, he gulped down cold water. His body still wasn't fully recovered.
Gazing out the window, Raymond sensed Potas's gaze on his cheek and turned.
The count sat opposite, his eyes pleading for an explanation since he didn't know why they were heading to the sanctuary.
Raymond let out a short sigh and spoke.
"The sanctuary holds those who slumber as well."
"Royal Guards?"
Though often called incompetent, Central Intelligence was the empire's oversight agency, and Potas its head. With intel from various sources, such a guess wasn't hard.
"Spot on."
Raymond grinned and nodded. Thanks to the setting documents, he knew the locations of the Empire Reconstruction Plan's legacies.
He could awaken more Shades still in the capital's underground, but rousing even some Royal Guards from the sanctuary seemed better.
The Royal Guard symbolized imperial authority. In eras of strong emperors, their authority and numbers had been immense.
"People like what they can see, Count Potas. Right now, we need something tangible to show imperial authority endures, not shadowy Shades lurking unseen."
"Well said, Your Majesty."
Count Potas nodded in agreement.
"The issue is rearming the central army."
Raymond said gravely. Unlike territorial armies armed by lords, the Imperial and central armies were handled by the Philius military ministry.
Once a great empire, Philius was now in decline. Unique geography—the Monster Forest and Black Mountains—halted invasions, but monsters were the wildcard.
Territorial armies alone couldn’t protect citizens from monsters and minor different-species threats, so central forces were stationed in key areas. But with vast lands and limited national power, their armaments were poor.
Reports even noted southern garrisons, farthest from monsters and foreign threats, were worse-equipped than average territorial forces.
"Your Majesty, you needn't worry much about central army armaments."
"Report."
"In our haste to report the Mountain Duke's movements, we omitted one transmission."
"Speak."
Raymond said calmly. Count Potas nodded slowly.
"Our agents found vast gold reserves while searching the 2nd and 3rd Princes' palaces."
"How much?"
"Enough to rearm parts of the Northern Central Army. And that's not all, Your Majesty."
Another report incoming. Raymond focused, intrigued.
"Do you recall the report of Duke Valencia's death during the Bloody Funeral?"
Raymond nodded. He'd minimized casualties with preparations, but couldn't prevent all.
He'd protected key figures, but Duke Valencia, patron of the 2nd Prince, wasn't a priority.
'Deneb had no intention of protecting Duke Valencia either.'
He might have even ordered the assassination. Valencia's domain was a tempting prize.
"Make Valencia's domain an imperial demesne and absorb its finances—you could arm the entire Northern Central Army. The family will resist, but they were involved in the Bloody Funeral. Charge them with treason."
Potas's eyes grew cold. Though Duke Valencia was dead, treason extended to kin—they must be punished.
"Then we'll need the Western Central Army... Can they handle Valencia's territorial forces?"
Valencia's vast domain on the western coast with port cities made it wealthy. One of only two dukes alongside Mountain Duke Belfiang, their forces were formidable.
Even in decline, Philius's strong imperial authority might cause desertions when charging treason, but given their support for traitorous Deneb, full collapse was unlikely.
"With the Imperial Army's aid, yes. The justification is ours, Your Majesty."
Raymond bit his lip, face set. To prepare for the looming war with the Tripartite Alliance, he needed the empire united first.
House Valencia were traitors—and pawns to sacrifice for the empire's future. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior was enjoying a brief tea time with Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle.
Thanks to Raymond's preparations, the Bloody Funeral had failed with minimized casualties compared to the original novel, but many still died. Survivors shouldered their duties, leaving little rest.
"You look exhausted."
Berenus shook his head, eyeing Risefield's pallor.
"Absorbing the Imperial Tower is more complicated than expected. Aren't you tired?"
"Not really."
Unlike Risefield's dark circles, Berenus appeared composed despite his schedule.
"I just want a little rest."
Risefield sighed. Berenus spoke.
"The Imperial Tower Lord is dead. Before its mages scatter, we must rally them under His Majesty's banner—by absorbing them ourselves."
"I know. Just venting."
"Looks like we have a visitor."
Risefield pulled his gaze from his teacup at Berenus's words. He sensed a presence.
"Lady Desia?"
Desia Heli stood there in her reorganized Imperial Guard golden robe, expression tense. Sensing a serious talk, Berenus straightened his robe and rose.
"I'll take my leave, Azure Tower Lord."
With Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle gone, Desia pulled up a chair.
"You seem troubled."
She nodded at Risefield's question.
Originally a disciple of another Azure Tower elder, she was now essentially his direct apprentice.
He'd been aiding her magic training lately.
"I realized it during the Bloody Funeral."
Desia spoke with effort. Risefield focused on her.
"I'm still too weak to stand by His Majesty's side."
High mage level wasn't low, but Raymond as emperor changed things. Unlike his 5th Prince days, he was surrounded by far stronger guards.
With twenty elite Royal Guards, Desia felt inadequate—but Risefield was incredulous.
"Heh, such nonsense."
Just four years into magic, she'd reached high mastery. Archmage status was inevitable, only a matter of time.
"What do you want, Lady Desia?"
She must have come for something specific.
"I want access to the Azure Tower's secret vault. Please permit it."
Risefield clutched his forehead. Another audacious one had appeared.