Chapter 405: Continental Conquest (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 405: Continental Conquest (4)
The moment Alexander died, Marquis Memphis came to a swift conclusion.
With the current strength of the Kronos Empire, there is no way to stop Roman Dmitry. That is a reality we must accept. The alliance between Kronos and Valhalla is still intact, but as time passes, its limits will inevitably be laid bare.
It was a simple matter.
Roman Dmitry.
Since there was no way to defeat the monster who had slain Alexander, the war was merely a matter of time. The victor was already decided. Furthermore, Valhalla was shaking violently from within. For Marquis Memphis, there was no reason to risk his life and political career in a doomed fight.
He was a creature who clung to the strong.
If the tide was turning toward Roman Dmitry, he saw no harm in riding that wave—just as he had once done when propping up the Kronos Emperor. Thus, he headed to the imperial palace. After confirming the condition of the still-living Kronos Emperor, Memphis secretly seized complete control of the palace.
And now, Marquis Memphis reached out first.
His confident, self-assured voice betrayed not a shred of shame at proposing such a brazen deal.
"Lord Roman Dmitry. As you know, war is an act of mutual attrition. While I admit the Kronos Empire is currently in a dire situation, Dmitry must also accept significant losses to completely conquer this vast territory. Let us reach a reasonable compromise. If you take the Kronos Emperor into your hands, you, Lord Roman Dmitry, will earn the title of the hero who brought down the empire. I will assist Dmitry on its path to becoming an empire. In return, I only ask that you recognize my position."
It was a complete reversal of his previous stance.
The Kronos Emperor.
Alexander.
Since the ones who had driven the war were dead or dying, Marquis Memphis calculated that he could shift all the blame onto them and fill the resulting power vacuum. What a beautiful prospect. Though he had lived like a dog for the Emperor until now, by swearing loyalty to Roman Dmitry, he could become the king of a nation.
It was a certainty.
This was a far more beautiful ending than a desperate, suicidal resistance. And with Roman Dmitry backing him, he could easily crush any Kronos nobles who dared covet his position.
"If you wish, I will arrange a formal apology on behalf of Kronos, acknowledging us as a war criminal state. This is the best offer I can make. Rather than making things difficult by dragging out this war to the bitter end, wouldn't resolving the issue through a reasonable compromise be better for both of us? The Kronos Empire is ready to accept the changing tides."
He passed the choice over.
He didn't even consider the possibility of rejection.
Looking at Roman Dmitry's recent history of accepting surrenders, Memphis was confident that Roman desired this exact conclusion. Dmitry only had to swallow the meal that had already been set on the table. Since there was absolutely no disadvantage for Dmitry in this scenario, Marquis Memphis calmly awaited his response.
However...
"I refuse."
A flat, decisive response.
At the voice ringing through the communication screen, a crack appeared in Marquis Memphis's composure.
* * *
He was bewildered.
When establishing the communication link, Marquis Memphis had considered several possibilities. He thought the other party might play hard to get at first, refusing the initial proposal to secure a more advantageous position in the post-war negotiations. But this was different. At the resolute voice that denied even the slightest room for negotiation, Marquis Memphis hurriedly blurted out:
"You refuse? Are you truly serious?"
"Is there any reason I shouldn't be?"
"Lord Roman Dmitry. This is not a matter to be taken lightly. No matter how much of an upper hand Dmitry holds, the Kronos Empire is a massive nation. The war is not over yet. If Kronos chooses to fight to the death, countless people of Dmitry will die. Are you saying you are willing to bear such losses now? Do you truly believe you can end this without shedding blood against a cornered rat—no, a cornered beast?"
He was right.
If one offered a way out to a beast cornered at the edge of a cliff, this war could be concluded much more easily than expected. Already, too many had died. If Roman accepted just this one compromise, the soldiers following Dmitry could return to the arms of their families—an ending that both sides desperately desired.
But Roman Dmitry's thoughts were entirely different.
"As you say, accepting a compromise would be the easy and safe choice, Marquis Memphis. But before making the decision to wage a war that would send my people to their deaths, I repeatedly and thoroughly considered why this process was necessary. What I desire is not a simple victory. Once a decision is made, I cannot be satisfied with a mediocre result."
"Just how much more do you need to be satisfied?!" Memphis cried. "I, Marquis Memphis, have offered to serve you!"
"That is precisely what displeases me. I want a clear precedent. I intend to completely eliminate every single being who put Dmitry in danger and persecuted my people. I granted a single chance to the soldiers who did not know the truth about Alexander, but the story is different for those like you who held the power of command. Whether you knew the truth or not is irrelevant. Only by purging those of you who enjoyed abundant wealth and power throughout Kronos's existence will future generations learn their lesson when they hear of today's events."
The Continental Conquest.
To rule this land, Roman Dmitry was building a narrative.
Ample rewards for those who dedicated themselves to Dmitry, and uncompromising punishment for enemies who crossed the line. This accumulating narrative would solidify his absolute power. When future generations acted, they would look to history to find the consequences of their actions.
Therefore...
"Your existence only holds meaning through your death. Alexander, the Kronos Emperor, Marquis Memphis—those deeply involved in the dark history of Kronos must be executed without exception, regardless of their circumstances. Only then will people refrain from repeating the same mistakes. That is the conclusion I desire. To prevent history from repeating itself, once blood is shed, we must see it through to the bitter end, even if it means carving off my own flesh."
"...You crazy bastard."
It was chilling.
Roman Dmitry was a madman.
In Marquis Memphis's eyes, out of all the rulers he had ever encountered, no one had been this extreme. Politics, by its very nature, required reasonable compromise. Anyone facing Roman Dmitry in the future would be forced to fight to the bitter end, yet there wasn't a single trace of fear in Roman's eyes regarding that prospect.
No matter who he faced, he exuded absolute confidence in his victory.
Overwhelmed by this towering presence, Marquis Memphis lost all will to persuade him.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"Marquis Memphis. Gather everyone who shares your cause and struggle desperately until the very last moment. And I will make you one final promise."
He smiled.
He uttered the words he had repeatedly spoken to the enemies he faced—words that never failed to plunge them into despair.
"We will meet soon."
* * *
Click.
The communication cut off.
"...Damn it."
Marquis Memphis clutched his head in agony.
He had never expected the negotiation to end like this. He had planned to pull the strings to draw out an ideal result, but his opponent left absolutely no room for compromise.
"Didn't I tell you? Roman Dmitry is not a man who compromises."
A raspy voice sounded from right beside him.
Turning his head, he saw the gaunt face of the Kronos Emperor.
With Alexander's death, the possession had been lifted, but the Emperor was slowly dying as a consequence of hosting another soul for so long. The shadow of death hung heavy beneath his eyes. Showing no trace of the man once hailed as the greatest emperor in history, the skeletal figure looked at Marquis Memphis and laughed.
"What a pathetic life. A dog who nodded and called everything right even when he knew it was wrong, now struggling desperately just to survive. You obtained power far beyond your station. If I had been in my right mind, scum like you would never have held power in Kronos..."
Slap!
"Shut up, you bastard!"
Memphis struck him fiercely across the face.
The Kronos Emperor's head whipped to the side, his already dying face smearing with fresh blood.
This was the imperial palace. The Emperor's residence. Yet those who should have protected the Kronos Emperor were already dead, and Marquis Memphis's knights showed no sign of agitation even as they witnessed this miserable sight.
The Kronos Empire belonged to Marquis Memphis now. Since anyone who dared offer sound advice to the Kronos Emperor while he was possessed by Alexander had been systematically executed, there was no one left in this palace to put the brakes on Memphis's actions.
Marquis Memphis's eyes turned murderous.
He was cornered at the edge of a cliff.
Feeling a cold dread tightening around his heart, he had no intention of going down quietly.
"Fine. Let's see this through to the bitter end. I will show you exactly what it costs to reject my compromise. Knight Commander."
"Yes, my lord."
"Issue a summons immediately. Call all the private soldiers of the regular nobles to the capital. We will wage a desperate resistance here. And command the eastern nobles facing Roman Dmitry never to retreat. If anyone raises a white flag or shows signs of compromising with the enemy, I will slaughter everyone associated with those traitors. I will exterminate their entire families up to three generations. Not a single person who associated with them will be spared."
"Understood."
The order was issued.
Marquis Memphis breathed heavily.
Staggering as if drunk, he walked over and slumped onto the blood-stained throne.
Thud.
"I will not end like this. Never, never..."
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
Here, in the capital of Kronos, Marquis Memphis would burn his final flame.
* * *
That afternoon, a visitor came to see Roman Dmitry.
"It is Chris. May I enter?"
"Come in."
Creak.
It was Chris.
Dmitry's forces had spent the day occupying the enemy's fortress. Until just moments ago, Dmitry's leadership had been holding a heated meeting in a blood-stained conference room. Roman Dmitry had disclosed Marquis Memphis's proposal during that meeting. Though there must have been some who secretly hoped for a reasonable compromise, none of the leaders raised a single objection.
Chris took a seat.
Then, he spoke cautiously.
"The leadership, including myself, agrees with your decision, my lord. If we spare people like Marquis Memphis, they will surely cause trouble in the future. However... I am somewhat concerned about the current atmosphere. You never allow even a single compromise, no matter the circumstances. While that is precisely what allowed you to build the Dmitry we have today, recently, some people have begun to feel fear toward that absolute rigidity."
The breakdown of negotiations.
It was a result everyone accepted.
Having traversed countless battlefields alongside Roman Dmitry, they understood why they had to see things through to the end with Kronos.
However, this precedent also sent a clear message internally.
It bred anxiety—the fear that if they made a mistake against Roman Dmitry, they might be ruthlessly punished regardless of their past achievements. Awe eventually gave way to fear. People grew tense, walking on eggshells to avoid making mistakes in front of him. As time passed, this inevitably created a distance between Roman Dmitry and those who followed him.
A few individuals, like Chris and Kevin, who blindly followed Roman Dmitry, accepted this fear in a positive light. But not everyone in Dmitry felt the same. That was what Chris worried about. Due to the image Roman Dmitry was building, he was bound to become increasingly isolated as time went on.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"As you say, people will feel fear toward a life without compromise. Let me tell you an interesting story. A very long time ago, there were two families fighting over a territory. After a fierce battle, one family emerged victorious, and in the name of the victor's mercy, they spared the defeated family's household. What do you think happened as a result?"
"...Did the defeated family seek revenge later on?"
"No. They faded into the shadows of history right then and there. Terrified, they never even looked at power again for the rest of their lives."
His past life.
It was a story from the Murim.
As Chris showed a look of confusion, Roman Dmitry gazed out the window with a calm expression.
"A single act of mercy. A single precedent. That is what erased fear from people's hearts. Watching the backs of the defeated as they walked away alive, people witnessed not fear, but the fact that they would not die even if they lost. From then on, that victorious family faced countless challenges. A lenient hand bred trouble every time, and the accumulating problems eventually brought the family down. That is why compromise cannot be permitted. If I spare Marquis Memphis, people will not applaud my mercy; instead, they will realize that even someone like Marquis Memphis can survive through a reasonable compromise. If that happens, forces harboring animosity toward Dmitry in the future will attempt to cause trouble with a light heart."
It was not just a single issue.
It was the starting point for the next. One time would inevitably lead to a second, a third, and a fourth, repeating the same problem over and over again.
"What I desire is a clear precedent. Through Marquis Memphis's death, people will realize that violating Dmitry's laws cannot be done with a complacent mindset. Chris. It is only natural for people to fear me. For those who hold the power over life and death, as their power grows stronger and they establish a clear system, their personal relationships are bound to dull. Distance will inevitably grow."
Little by little, bit by bit, the gradually widening emotional distance would eventually leave Roman Dmitry isolated—just as Chris feared.
"But only by doing so can a group march toward the right path. Someone must exclude personal relationships and adhere strictly to clear precedents and laws. That is my role. Having accepted your loyalty and sacrifice, I am merely doing what I must do."
It was the same in his past life.
At the very bottom, Baek Joong-hyuk had been alone. He met countless people on his way to the peak, but once he reached the summit, he had no choice but to be alone once more. Because he had to apply a ruthless, clear standard even to those who followed him, the human relationships that ordinary people enjoyed were never permitted to him.
That was the life of one who ruled.
And the Murim of his past life had achieved an unprecedented Era of Great Peace in its history—paid for by the solitude of the Absolute.
"This is the life I have accepted. You and I simply need to live our respective lives in our respective domains."
For some reason, those words sent a profound ripple through Chris's heart.