Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Night's Executioner (1)
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A night cloaked in deep darkness.
A man slipped into an alley at the edge of a quiet village road.
He wore a black robe as dark as the ink-black sky. Beneath his deeply pulled hood, a black mask peeked out.
He was Richard Palear, the Herald of the End.
"Herald, we've been waiting for you."
"Please, come inside."
As they reached the end of the alley, five figures in black robes emerged in a cluster. While three kept watch around the area, the remaining two guided Richard underground.
"The communication setup is ready, I assume?"
"Of course. A top-class mage is standing by as well. Everything has been prepared for you to use the magic communication, Herald."
"Good. That's satisfactory."
Richard nodded at the guide's response and quickened his pace. They descended a long flight of stairs before finally reaching the bottom.
Pushing open an old wooden door revealed a space that felt just like an underground prison.
The wide area was filled with iron bars and torture devices. It was unmistakably a dungeon.
"This was a dungeon used by the Association. We've abandoned its original purpose and are now using it as a temporary relay point."
The guide explained.
They soon entered a secret chamber deep within the dungeon. Inside sat a single communication orb, and a man who appeared to be a top-class mage leaned against the wall, idly toying with a dagger.
"You've arrived? I've been waiting."
He spoke in a voice laced with irritation. It was understandable—top-class mages commanded high fees and were treated well wherever they went, so their arrogance came with the territory.
"Connect the magic communication to the designated coordinates."
"Understood, Herald."
At Richard's sharp tone, the top-class mage reined in his attitude. He knew full well the Herald of the End's ruthless nature and bowed his head accordingly.
He inputted the coordinates into the communication orb, infused it with mana, and then stepped back toward the entrance.
"The connection to those coordinates is complete. I'll take my leave now."
"Well done."
The top-class mage left the chamber, and Richard approached the orb and sat down before it.
Five hooded figures appeared in the orb. They were all high-ranking executives of the Apocalypse Association.
No sooner had the connection stabilized than one of the high-ranking executives pointed out Elpis's presence. Elpis shrugged nonchalantly and spoke up.
Elpis shot back with feigned innocence.
A brief exchange of barbs ensued, but it didn't escalate. Richard had glared at the two sharply.
Though it was just a small projection from the communication orb, they had not only heard tales of the Herald of the End, Richard Palear's fearsome reputation but had experienced it firsthand. They couldn't continue their reckless behavior.
"You two, the high council is no place for games."
The bickering stopped, but Richard issued another sharp warning. The silhouettes of the one called the Night's Executioner and Elpis slowly nodded. The atmosphere grew serious once more.
A small silhouetted man asked politely. His diminutive stature might make one question his age, but his presence at the high council confirmed he was undoubtedly a high-ranking executive of the Apocalypse Association, regardless of appearances.
"We've confirmed the whereabouts of one of the items we've been searching for."
The small silhouetted man pressed. Richard nodded calmly and spoke.
"The Records of the Spirit King."
The silhouette of the man called the Night's Executioner showed interest.
"The Southern Central Forest of the Philius Empire."
"Lord Rodin, can you handle it? I recall the Death Knight Order suffered heavy losses recently..."
Richard scanned the silhouettes projected in the orb at Rodin's words. No one spoke up. He'd only summoned high-ranking executives near the Philius Empire via magic communication, but as Rodin said, there was apparently no one else close to the Southern Central Forest.
Another silhouette offered their opinion.
"Then let's entrust it to Lord Rodin."
After a brief moment of consideration, Richard made his decision.
The Association's most wicked necromancer set off toward the Golden Grass Clan's city.
Preparations for the hunt proceeded smoothly. With the imperial decree issued and funds provided, the Imperial Household Department moved aggressively, completing most of the setup in just a week.
Nobles who received invitations gathered, and knights and soldiers assigned to the hunt assembled.
Since this hunt was meant to showcase the Philius Empire's enduring strength to the envoys, a considerable number of troops had been mobilized.
The face in the communication orb belonged to Count Denitz. With the hunt right around the corner, he remained in the Belfiang Imperial Direct Territory to fully stamp out the embers of rebellion.
In truth, he was an exceptional staff officer, and as remnants were picked off one by one, the Belfiang territory was rapidly regaining stability.
Raymond nodded at Count Denitz's question and replied.
"Yes. The Imperial Army and Knight Brigade will escort the hunting party."
The Southern Central Forest teemed with monsters. Even with a large group on the move, encounters were inevitable during the hunt. That would be the Imperial Army and Knight Brigade's moment to shine.
Though called a hunt, it was essentially a stage for displaying the prowess of the Imperial Army and Knight Brigade through monster subjugation.
Raymond and Count Denitz's plan was to flaunt military strength to the envoys and delay any war as much as possible. The Philius Empire still had too many shortcomings to start a war immediately.
That said, waiting until the mercenary bands hired by the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom from the Far East Isles arrived before declaring war might be too late.
"Yes, we need to show some of the Philius Empire's military power."
Having decided to postpone war, they had to delay the sparks of conflict as long as possible.
Full-scale war should only erupt once the Philius Empire was perfectly prepared.
The Tripartite Alliance wouldn't sit idle, of course, but Raymond was confident he could overwhelm them once everything was ready.
"By the way, how much control do you have now?"
Raymond's eyes sharpened as he asked. There was a reason he'd temporarily sent Count Denitz, now a close aide, to the Belfiang Imperial Direct Territory after the Mountain Duke's assassination attempt.
If not for that reason, he could have sent someone else.
Count Denitz's task was to restore the loyalty of the people and private soldiers toward the Imperial Family and Empire, which had plummeted in the Belfiang territory due to the Mountain Duke's schemes.
He was an expert not just in combat and strategy, but in propaganda and agitation as well. He'd personally directed operations to undermine imperial authority within the duke's domain back then—now he was setting things right.
"Progress is smooth."
Count Denitz was frank. Back when the Mountain Duke and he had conducted mental indoctrination, they'd paid special attention to the territorial army soldiers.
Without that rigorous training, even if the duke had survived, desertion rates would have been high against the Emperor and Philius Empire forces.
To get them fighting under the Emperor's banner against foreign powers again, it would take time to erase the traces of that indoctrination.
"I'll buy as much time as possible from this side. Do your utmost to make the Belfiang territorial army usable as vanguard forces, Count."
Though battered by civil war, the duke's death, and mass desertions, the Belfiang territorial army still held two legions—around 12,000 troops.
They were currently scattered in brigade units across the Belfiang territory under Northern Central Army oversight to prevent rebellion. But once the indoctrination was purged, they could be reassembled as combat forces against the Tripartite Alliance.
Count Denitz replied with a resolute expression. Raymond nodded to him and ended the communication.
The procession departing the capital for the hunt arrived at Count Hite's territory, home to the Southern Central Forest.
With 1,000 Knight Brigade troops, 3,000 Imperial Army soldiers, and 1,000 private soldiers from participating nobles, the total combat-ready force numbered 5,000.
At a glance, it looked less like a hunting party and more like a subjugation army to sweep away the forest's monsters. The Knight Brigade at the vanguard exuded particularly sharp momentum.
As they neared the Southern Central Forest, Count Hite's banners came into view. The count himself had brought 500 territorial troops to greet them.
Spotting the Emperor's banner, a few mounted men broke from their ranks and galloped over.
They reined in before the Emperor, dismounted, and bowed their heads.
"Your Majesty! Welcome to Hite County!"
"Good to see you, Count Hite. This is our first meeting like this."
"It is my honor!"
Raymond nodded, recalling Count Hite's profile. He was a noble who had missed the late Emperor's funeral due to monster outbreaks in the Southern Central Forest. His loyalty to the Imperial Family and Empire was rated as average.
He wasn't as devoted as Count Dunichi. If he had been, he would have acted without regard for other southern nobles during Raymond's battle with the Mountain Duke.
That said, Raymond had no intention of rebuking him. The count was blameless. If anything, it was just disappointing that he'd been overly cautious of others' eyes in that situation.
"Let's head to the encampment first and rest."
Count Hite led the way. The site he mentioned was at the safest entrance to the monster-infested Southern Central Forest.
It was ideal for camping—spacious with unexpectedly clear sightlines for a forest, making it easy for sentries to spot approaching monsters.
Being at the forest's edge also minimized the chance of attacks, perfect for rest. Even the tents were pre-erected, so the hunting party just needed to walk in and lie down.
"Impressive."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Count Hite bowed at Raymond's praise. Anxious about falling from imperial favor for not joining the front against the Mountain Duke, he'd mobilized his territory's mages and laborers days earlier to prepare the site and impress the Emperor.
Seeing his efforts pay off filled him with relief.
"We'll handle tonight's watch with our territorial troops."
It was a considerate gesture, allowing the hunting party—who'd endured a long journey from the capital—to rest fully.
"Very well, we'll leave tonight to you."
Raymond accepted the count's goodwill. As promised, the Hite territorial troops took the night watch, letting the hunting party enjoy a peaceful evening.
Early morning, before the main hunt began. A figure in a fluttering blue robe approached the Emperor's tent—the Azure Tower Lord, Risefield Dior.
His usual companion, the Crimson Tower Lord Berenus Kyle, was absent, having stayed in the capital for ongoing research and unable to join the hunt.
"Your Majesty! The Azure Tower Lord has come to call!"
"Let him enter."
A Royal Guard announced the visit. Imperial permission came swiftly, and Risefield flung open the tent flap and strode inside.
Raymond sat in the central chair, flanked by Gestain and Desia standing at attention. Risefield marched forward and addressed Emperor Raymond directly.
"Your Majesty... You're not here just to hunt, are you?"
His words cut sharp. Gestain remained silent, and Desia averted her gaze from Risefield.