Chapter 172: Purge (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 172: Purge (3)
Roman’s proposal was far from ordinary.
Despite styling himself as the sword of Cairo, Roman Dmitry spoke of a transaction rather than loyalty to the royal family.
This was why Daniel Cairo couldn't immediately agree. Although he had always wished to see the Noble Faction fall and the chaotic power structure dismantled, his fear of the price Roman might demand took precedence.
It was an expected reaction.
Roman broke the silence. "When the Hector Kingdom crossed the border, I was on the Southern Front. Cairo's collapse happened in the blink of an eye. The lax defense system could do nothing to deter the Hector Kingdom's ambitions, and the Warp Gate fell into enemy hands without any significant resistance. Do you know what I thought back then? As I hid in the mountains with my troops, I resented the Cairo royal family for their sluggish response. Cairo certainly had time. Even with a weak defense system, if you had faced the danger head-on and reacted swiftly, the entire Southern Front wouldn't have been lost."
It was a direct rebuke.
Ignoring the rising indignation of the onlookers, he laid bare the faults of the Cairo royal family.
"Through that incident, Cairo learned the fatal flaws of its power structure. Yet, has anything changed over the past year? No. Whenever the Kronos Empire made threatening moves on the Western Front, the Cairo royal family merely held meetings. You sat back and watched the situation unfold, waiting for approval from the Central Government. How utterly foolish. Even though we knew what was wrong, we ultimately chose to stand by and do nothing."
The four factions.
This was Cairo's fundamental problem. Their relationship was like a volatile magic bomb, ready to detonate at the slightest touch. Because of this delicate balance, they had failed to fix the kingdom's core issues even after the disaster on the Southern Front.
"The current situation on the Salamander Continent is highly volatile. War could break out at any moment. If the Kronos Empire crosses the border now, Cairo has no way to survive. Knowing this, how much longer do you intend to stand by? Someone must seize absolute power. We must unite Cairo as one and establish a proper system to respond to future crises. And I believe that role naturally belongs to Your Majesty. It is not Marquis Benedict—who acts like a king while hiding behind the Central Government—but Your Majesty who must take center stage."
He put heavy emphasis on his final words.
The eyes of everyone present trembled. Roman's declaration of support for the King made their hearts race.
"I attacked Marquis Benedict because he tried to force a choice upon me. While Your Majesty may doubt my intentions, I hope you realize the danger of the path Dmitry has chosen. The Dmitry family has staked its very survival on this matter. If Your Majesty turns away from us now, then Dmitry and I will have no choice but to shoulder all the risks alone. Therefore, make your choice. Do you intend to remain a bystander until the bitter end? Or will you take advantage of the stage Dmitry has set for you?"
He handed over the choice.
Now, it was up to the King.
After a long silence, Daniel Cairo spoke, a look of firm resolve settling onto his face.
"Before I make my decision, I have a question. In exchange for this, what does the Dmitry family desire?"
The price Roman had mentioned. Right now, that was the only thing that mattered.
*
A new life.
What was his goal in this current life?
Roman Dmitry wished to reach the absolute peak, but he had no intention of swallowing Cairo and building an empire. The purpose Roman sought could be fully realized with Dmitry alone. He had no desire to trample upon the cultures of the continent or engage in mindless slaughter merely to control a massive territory.
In his past life, the Heavenly Demon Baek Joong-hyuk's conquest of Murim had differed from conventional methods.
While past rulers of Murim desired to hold the world completely in their physical grasp, Baek Joong-hyuk pursued absolute mental submission. The Righteous Faction, the Evil Faction, and all other forces continued to live their lives just as they had before. But when asked who the sky of Murim was, they would sincerely and unanimously name the Heavenly Demon Baek Joong-hyuk.
That was all he needed.
After crushing every force that tried to stop his conquest, Baek Joong-hyuk returned to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Instead of trying to micromanage a vast territory, he created a structure where the people of Murim had no choice but to sincerely revere the Heavenly Demon Cult. From then on, Baek Joong-hyuk became a sacred, untouchable existence. The factions of Murim still bickered and fought amongst themselves, but none dared to even look up in defiance at Baek Joong-hyuk of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
In this way, Murim achieved an Era of Great Peace.
Looking back at history, Murim had always faced crises born from individuals harboring dangerous ambitions. But during Baek Joong-hyuk's reign, a definitive absolute being existed. Because he held the center, no one dared to entertain such dangerous thoughts. That was Baek Joong-hyuk's Murim. It was not an empire built on unilateral exploitation and forced tribute, but a dominion structured around complete psychological subjugation.
Roman Dmitry's current life was no different.
He wished to rise to the absolute peak, but his path was fundamentally different from the continental conquest envisioned by the Kronos Empire.
'I will plant the roots of the Heavenly Demon Cult in Dmitry. In doing so, I do not desire unconditional destruction. I will thoroughly crush any forces that stand in my way, but if necessary, I will acknowledge the existence of Cairo or any other entity and allow them to persist. And finally, when everyone acknowledges Dmitry as the absolute pinnacle of the continent, I will return to Dmitry and find my own peace.'
It was a firm goal.
Having organized his thoughts, Roman Dmitry honestly revealed his objective in response to Daniel Cairo's question.
"I desire the independence of the northeastern region, including Dmitry. If you recognize the northeastern region as an independent power and elevate Dmitry to a Duchy, we will always exert our strength for Cairo's sake, as we share the same roots. This does not mean we will break away from Cairo to walk a completely separate path. We wish to walk alongside Cairo, but we will build our own world."
At first glance, those words sounded like outright rebellion.
Watching Daniel Cairo's face color with shock, Roman drove the point home in an unwavering voice.
"Your Majesty. If you cannot have everything, then taking Cairo is your best option."
*
The atmosphere turned ice-cold.
Had Roman's statement been the King's voluntary choice, it might have been different. But with Roman demanding it so brazenly, the Royal Faction could not take it well.
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!"
"Indeed! Where in the world is the title of a Duchy granted at the demand of a subject? Dmitry is merely using the Noble Faction as an excuse to look after their own self-interests. You must absolutely not permit this!"
As the Royal Faction protested, Roman looked at them and smiled.
"Yes, you are correct. There is no precedent for this. But even so, do you have any other choice? While all of you gathered here kept your mouths shut in the face of the Noble Faction's atrocities, I drew my sword against them. Blood has been shed. From now on, I must bear the full weight of the war against the Noble Faction. I am merely asking for the price of my sacrifice. The Duchy will stem from Cairo, and Cairo and Dmitry will always share a common destiny. What I desire is the power to withstand what is to come. If you show the same complacent attitude as you did on the Southern Front, then as an independent power, we will be able to offer you firm, unreserved counsel."
He drew a firm line, clarifying that this was not a rebellion. Even if his intentions seemed highly suspicious to them, Roman Dmitry had no desire to fully explain himself just to make them understand.
This was a transaction.
He knew he couldn't expect warm goodwill when he was tearing the northeastern region away from their direct control. Ultimately, the choice belonged to the King.
With all eyes focused on him, Daniel Cairo fell deep into thought.
'What am I to do?'
He looked at Roman Dmitry. Even though the young man was surrounded by armed soldiers while bearing no weapon himself, he showed no sign of fear. His attitude remained as imposing as ever.
This was not mere arrogance. Daniel knew that even if he ordered an attack right now, the Royal Knights wouldn't be able to subdue Roman Dmitry. From the moment Roman struck down Count Nicholas, Daniel realized that Roman was a monster Cairo could no longer control.
'Roman Dmitry's proposal isn't entirely wrong. In my incompetence, I stood by and watched Cairo's power structure be torn to shreds. Without Dmitry's help, I wouldn't have even dreamed of opposing the Noble Faction in the first place. If the Cairo royal family merely asserts its royal rights now without making any sacrifices, Dmitry will inevitably harbor other thoughts. Once Dmitry defeats the Noble Faction, they could easily stage a rebellion. They have the power, and they can easily manufacture a justification. Knowing this, Roman Dmitry is still giving us a chance to walk together.'
He faced reality.
Daniel Cairo was called a weak king, but he was no fool ignorant of the truth. The royal family had no real power. If he could borrow Dmitry's strength to rectify the kingdom's chaos, this was by no means a losing deal.
'Roman Dmitry has started something the Cairo royal family never dared to attempt. By that fact alone, Dmitry has become an existence we can never fully control. Therefore, Cairo must choose. Will we live on, suffocating under the current system, or will we give up what we cannot hold and steer Cairo in a new direction?'
The choice had already been made.
The more he thought about it, the clearer it became that this wasn't a matter to ponder over for long.
'I have always wished to establish a true kingdom. Even if Roman Dmitry harbors impure intentions, it cannot be worse than dying as a puppet swayed by arrogant nobles. At least Roman Dmitry spoke his mind honestly. If so, it is only right to make a decisive choice and steer our relationship with Dmitry in a positive direction.'
It was a dangerous decision.
If he took action relying solely on Dmitry and faced a backlash, his own life would be forfeit. However, looking at Roman Dmitry, he gained confidence. He believed that this man would surely accomplish what he himself could not.
"I swear on the honor of the Cairo royal family. Once this matter is fully resolved, the northeastern region, including Dmitry, shall be declared a Duchy, and Baron Dmitry shall be granted the title of Duke. Therefore, tell me everything you need to win this war. And without fail, execute the traitor Marquis Benedict, who has thrown this country into chaos."
The royal command was issued.
Amidst the chaos of Cairo, this was the moment the king—once called a mere puppet—finally made his stand.
*
The entire country was in an uproar.
Amidst the clash between the Noble Faction and Dmitry, Count Denver, a follower of Valhalla, watched the situation unfold from his residence.
"Roman Dmitry. What a truly terrifying bastard."
It had been a series of endless shocks. He couldn't hide his astonishment when Roman struck down Count Nicholas, but to think Roman would immediately charge headfirst at Marquis Benedict's Noble Faction… Normally, a man of Count Denver's stature meticulously calculated all possibilities. While he had believed Roman Dmitry might defeat Count Nicholas, he had never imagined a direct clash with the entirety of the Noble Faction.
'Roman Dmitry has made his decision. Instead of choosing a faction to align himself with, he intends to build an independent power, just as he did when forming the Dmitry Alliance. Now that he has directly attacked Marquis Benedict in the capital of Kairos, Dmitry and the Noble Faction cannot stop fighting until one of them is dead.'
Creak.
He leaned back in his chair, a chuckle escaping his lips. Although the situation was turning extreme, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Count Denver.
'According to the reports, Roman Dmitry headed straight to the royal palace. I can't be sure if this was planned with the King beforehand, but it can easily be interpreted as an intention to borrow the King's power in his confrontation with the Noble Faction. A clash between the Royal Faction, Dmitry, and the Noble Faction… This will be quite a spectacle. Once the two sides fight to the death, I can simply clean up the chaotic mess and set the stage to favor Valhalla.'
There was only one risk factor: the Kronos faction led by Gregory.
Since they were likely thinking the exact same thing, Denver could end up being devoured instead if he didn't make thorough preparations.
His heart fluttered with excitement.
Cairo was a doomed nation. Rather than risking his life for such a pathetic country, he wished to quickly hand it over to the Empire and secure a high position for himself.
It was then.
Slam!
"My Lord! We have a crisis!"
"What is it?"
A knight of the family had burst through the doors. As Count Denver frowned, the knight spoke with a panicked expression.
"Roman Dmitry has stormed the mansion with his troops! The atmosphere is highly unusual. You must quickly escape—cough!"
Thud!
The knight's body was violently thrown to the side.
From behind the doorway, a man revealed himself. Roman Dmitry slowly walked forward and looked down at Count Denver.
"Count Denver. From this moment on, receive the Royal Command."
Count Denver's eyes widened in shock.
As the purge began, the very first task Roman Dmitry chose was to eliminate the seeds of discord.