Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: 32. Tripartite Alliance (3)
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A week had passed since the envoys of the Tripartite Alliance arrived in the capital, yet not a single one of them had been granted an audience with the Emperor of the Philius Empire.
At this point, it was starting to feel like the Emperor was deliberately avoiding them.
"Where on earth is the Emperor, and what is he doing?"
"Exactly. Even though we're practically from enemy states, it's been a whole week, and none of us have even caught a glimpse of his shadow."
"Doesn't this mean he's intentionally dodging us?"
This was the conversation among the diplomats in the envoy delegation. Baronet Pultson, who happened to be passing by, shook his head as he looked at them.
"Shall I quiet them down?"
Baronet Rakis, the escort leader, asked cautiously. He belonged to the same 'Dark Nobles' faction as Baronet Pultson and held the same rank, but he had joined later.
Since Baronet Pultson had joined earlier, he was the senior, and Baronet Rakis couldn't help but tread carefully around him.
"No need. My thoughts aren't all that different from theirs."
"Is he planning to avenge the previous Emperor's humiliation?"
"You mean Bellatus's humiliation?"
Baronet Rakis nodded slowly in response to Baronet Pultson's question.
Bellatus's humiliation—an event that no diplomat from the Philius Empire or the Tripartite Alliance could possibly be unaware of.
About fifty years ago, when clashes in the Black Mountains had heated up intensely, Bellatus, the Emperor of the Philius Empire at the time, had personally led an envoy delegation to the Tripartite Alliance.
It was the period when the Philius Empire's national power was at its weakest, so none of the three kingdoms upholding the Tripartite Alliance deigned to meet with Bellatus. The Free Isiria Kingdom had even refused them entry into the capital.
"That could be it. If the current Emperor is acting to settle the score for Bellatus's humiliation, then the present situation makes perfect sense."
"We might not get an audience with the Emperor until we head home."
"Do we even need one? That's not our true purpose for coming here, after all."
Baronet Rakis gave a silent smirk at Baronet Pultson's words. It wasn't coincidence that two baronets from the 'Dark Nobles' were mixed into the envoy delegation, along with a number of Hashashin deployed. They had a purpose beyond diplomacy with the Empire.
"Your Majesty... Perhaps it's time to meet with the envoys?"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs pleaded in a hoarse voice. He had been receiving complaints from the envoy delegation every morning upon waking.
The delegation leader, Baronet Pultson, visited the Philius Empire's Foreign Ministry daily, and formal protest letters were delivered via messengers at regular intervals.
The Minister of the Imperial Household was in the same boat. No official protests came his way, but since his department managed the guesthouse where the envoys stayed, constant attempts to probe the Emperor's whereabouts through unofficial channels were being detected.
He had even been rotating the guesthouse staff to prevent any leaks. But knowing the Emperor better than the Foreign Minister did, he kept his mouth shut.
"Do you think I should accept the envoys' request for an audience, Minister?"
Raymond asked. The chill in his voice made the Foreign Minister flinch. Yet, with the pressure from the Tripartite Alliance's Joint Foreign Office not being ordinary, he stepped forward, overriding his fear.
"However, Your Majesty... Ignoring the envoys indefinitely is a diplomatic discourtesy, I believe."
"Minister, are you a servant of the Tripartite Alliance? Have you forgotten how the previous Emperor, Bellatus, was humiliated on their soil?"
Now, a faint killing intent seeped from his voice. The Foreign Minister took a step back at the sharp question. Remembering the recent purge, he trembled like an aspen leaf.
This was an Emperor who had personally drawn his sword and purged even the elders of the knight orders. The Foreign Minister was someone he could cut down without hesitation. He didn't agonize long. Lifting his head with a resolute face,
"I am, of course, a servant of Your Majesty and the Philius Empire."
"Then ignore all protests from the Tripartite Alliance."
"Yes, Your Majesty. My thinking was shortsighted. Please grant me your mercy."
The Foreign Minister bowed his head. Raymond nodded with a satisfied expression and spoke.
"Granting mercy is no trouble. But do not come begging forgiveness from me again if you repeat the same mistake."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Foreign Ministry yielded. A wise choice. With the knight orders rallying under the imperial banner, the Emperor's authority in the Philius Empire was steadily growing stronger. The Foreign Minister lacked the power to push through, so bowing his head was the best option.
"Will the victory celebration proceed as planned?"
This time, it was the Minister of the Imperial Household asking.
"Proceed as planned."
"The envoys might attempt contact at the banquet hall."
"Of course they will. But it won't go as they wish."
He stated firmly. This banquet was to celebrate and commemorate the victories over the Mountain Duke and the civil war. It also served to demonstrate the Philius Empire's vitality to the visiting Tripartite Alliance envoys.
The Alliance diplomats would try to make contact at the banquet, but what were the Royal Guards for? Blocking their approach on security grounds would settle it.
"You intend to repay the humiliation suffered by the previous Emperor."
"As long as I reign, the Philius Empire will suffer no more humiliations. We will reclaim the glory of our radiant ancient era!"
He raised his voice at the end. The Royal Guards guarding the audience chamber thrust both hands high in unison and shouted.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Long live the Philius Empire!"
The Foreign and Imperial Household Ministers swallowed dryly at the sight of them—devotion bordering on religious fervor. Most of the current Royal Guards had been unsealed from hibernation in the empire's most glorious era.
In other words, they were men who had lived through the time when loyalty to the Philius Emperor had reached its most fanatical peak. So it wasn't their imagination that the ministers sensed fanaticism from them.
"For the glory of the Philius Empire!"
Raymond sprang up and drew his sword. It wasn't the Soul Sword he used on the battlefield but the ceremonial golden sword hanging beside the throne—yet the meaning was clear. It signaled his willingness to wage war to reclaim the radiant ancient era.
Preparations for the victory celebration proceeded swiftly. While the Foreign Ministry soothed the envoys, the Imperial Household took the lead under imperial command.
Initially, the Household worried about the massive funds required, but opposition quieted once gold from the Mountain Duke's secret vault was provided.
Everything was going smoothly. Late at night, as Raymond sat in a comfortable chair on the terrace under clear moonlight, enjoying the night breeze, a smile never left his lips.
"Your Majesty, the Minister of the Imperial Household awaits in the reception room."
Squire Alex approached and reported. It was the news he'd been waiting for, so he set down his half-full glass and rose from the chair.
"Let's go."
"I'll escort you."
Alex took the lead. A dozen Royal Guards waiting in the terrace, office, and corridor joined them.
"When did the Imperial Household Minister arrive?"
"About thirty minutes ago, Your Majesty."
Marquis Blizzard answered. Though Marquis Tempest had recently awakened from hibernation and joined, he remained the Royal Guard commander.
He had offered the position to Marquis Tempest, but as a man from the ancient era, he politely declined, deeming himself unfamiliar with the current state of affairs.
"No rush."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
They quickened their pace regardless. Upon reaching the reception room, an Imperial Army knight guarding the door opened it.
"How are preparations for the victory celebration?"
"Thanks to Your Majesty's gold support, everything is progressing smoothly."
The Philius Empire had declined, weakening imperial authority and causing internal divisions—but that applied to the nobles. The common folk remained loyal and welcomed the victory celebration cooperatively.
The only issue had been funding, which Raymond resolved, allowing preparations to sail ahead.
"Why did you wish to see me?"
"As part of the victory celebration, I wished to suggest holding a grand hunt, Your Majesty."
"A hunt?"
"Yes. The best way to flaunt national power is to showcase trained elite troops. A hunt is the perfect means to display them to foreign envoys."
"Hm?"
Raymond's eyes gleamed.
"Setting the hunt in the Southern Central Forest would provide ample justification to mobilize a large force."
Raymond nodded at the Imperial Household Minister's words. Having read the novel's lore, he knew the Southern Central Forest well.
Southern Central Forest.
A vast forest in the south of the Philius Empire—not as immense as the Black Mountains, but teeming with monsters due to its size.
Even Count Height, lord of the territory encompassing it, had abandoned full subjugation. Now, he merely deployed territorial troops to intercept monsters straying from the forest.
'The Golden Grass Clan dwells in the Southern Central Forest.'
And the Golden Grass Clan safeguarded the records of the Spirit King. As one blessed with the 'Eternal Forest's Blessing,' Raymond wouldn't be met with arrows on sight by the elves. Once inside the city, events would unfold as destined.
Troubled by monster issues, the Golden Grass Clan would reward the subjugation of the orc warlord in the Southern Central Forest with the Spirit King's records.
In the novel [Empire of the Dead], the true protagonist Richard subjugates the orc warlord and obtains the Spirit King's records from the Golden Grass Clan.
'Sylvia will be thrilled if she finds out...'
Not her homeland, but a visit to her kin after so long. Imagining the platinum-haired cute elf's joy brought a faint smile to his lips.
"Listen well, Minister of the Imperial Household."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I am all ears."
"This seems better than a banquet, so prioritize and prepare the hunt swiftly."
"Yes! I shall carry out Your Majesty's command!"
The minister replied vigorously. After he withdrew, Raymond left the reception room inquiring about Sylvia's whereabouts.
"Lady Sylvia should be in the garden now."
Squire Alex answered Raymond's question. As an elf, Sylvia naturally loved grass, flowers, and trees. With few chances to leave the palace, she made do with the garden often.
Few had access, but Raymond had specially permitted her.
"Sylvia."
"Ah, Your Majesty!"
He spotted her immediately in the palace garden. Calling her name softly, she ran over with a fresh smile.
"What brings you here today?"
Sylvia's eyes sparkled as she asked. She yearned to assist at the Emperor's side, but brilliant figures surrounded him, making it hard to squeeze in.
"I have good news for you."
"Good news?"
Sylvia tilted her head, eyes widening round. Her cuteness made it impossible not to smile.
"A hunt will be held soon."
"A hunt..."
"Likely in the Southern Central Forest."
"The Southern Central Forest..."
"Home to the Golden Grass Clan's city."
The Golden Grass Clan formed the largest elven community in the Philius Empire.
"You knew."
Raymond nodded at Sylvia's murmur and spoke.
"How about visiting the Golden Grass Clan's city with me? It's been a while..."
"Thank you! Your Majesty!"
Raymond couldn't finish. Sylvia hugged him tightly. He could push her away but simply held her and patted her back.
This reaction to news of visiting kin—not home, but still—showed how lonely she'd been.
"Everything will go well, Sylvia."
It wasn't a mere visit. The Spirit King's records there would make her stronger.
Opening the path from mere guide to full Spirit King summoner.