Victor's Rights: Sanktus
Sanktus, the vital hub of transportation and commerce representing the northeastern region of the Theodor Holy Empire, had fallen into the hands of the invaders. With the Cheon Gal Palace and Bo Bong Palace withdrawing their forces under pressure from the Eisenreich Colonial Empire's offensive, the city's fate was sealed. Surrender, or fight to the death? The nobles and merchant lords who had ruled this commercial metropolis now teetered on the brink of life and death.
Escape was impossible. The colonial empire's massive army had blockaded every route connected to Sanktus. Choosing foolish bravado would turn them into ragged corpses the moment they stepped out the gates.
"We surrender to the great Colonial Empire!"
"We'll offer up gold and jewels without hesitation for the Empire!"
"Please rule Sanktus as the Empire's new territory…!"
The strong command with roars. The weak grovel in submission. That was the logic of the survival of the fittest.
As all the city gates swung open, the colonial empire's grand army marched in unopposed. Having achieved a bloodless entry without a single casualty, the conquerors issued a decree of mercy from their ruler: no murder or arson would be permitted.
"Welcome, Lord Valtenstein."
"Congratulations on your victory. The might of the Colonial Empire is truly formidable."
The first colonial unit to receive plunder priority arrived: Kailun and the Valtenstein detachment.
Traitors to the Holy Empire. The very ones who had invited the colonial invasion.
The pureblood nobles of Sanktus, who had flaunted their status to abuse power, swallowed their contempt and disgust to welcome Kailun.
They had no choice. He had felled the heir to the Sword Duke and annihilated the Kreuz family's forces. To them, Kailun—the man who had incinerated thousands in a single blaze—was a living ghost.
"The War Council Executors have granted us plunder priority. But that doesn't mean we'll resort to violence to seize wealth or people. If Sanktus shows voluntary sincerity and effort, we'll be satisfied and leave."
"Thank you!"
Kailun had no experience with plunder, nor any desire for it. Instead, he demanded voluntary tribute from the nobles.
The commercial city's nobles promptly displayed their pre-prepared hoards of gold and silver, gleaming brilliantly from chests lined up in endless rows like a procession.
Myriad precious metals and jewelry. Holy Empire gold coins stamped with the emperor's portrait. Rare silks and spices imported from the eastern continent.
The Valtenstein detachment knights, performing their roles as plunderers with the wide-eyed awe of country bumpkins visiting the capital for the first time, gasped in shock at the dazzling display.
"I can't believe my eyes!"
"mountains of Shar gold coins, and even Robert platinum ones…!"
"We'd heard Sanktus was the premier commercial city in the northeast, but to think we'd claim such immense riches!"
Wealth they could never earn in a lifetime of service to the Holy Empire's imperial army, now handed over in one lump sum. Even the most pious soul, wary of greed, would be tempted.
"Are all the city's nobles assembled?"
"Yes, sir."
"From this moment, Sanktus is declared a new territory of the Eisenreich Colonial Empire. And all its serfs shall be elevated to free citizens under imperial law. Nobles, liberate your serfs at once."
"Y-yes…! As you command."
The Eisenreich Colonial Empire was a militaristic state that promoted widespread slavery while enforcing expansionism through overwhelming force. Yet it showed merciful tolerance to forces and cities that surrendered, accepting the logic of might makes right.
The empire's signature appeasement policy was the "liberation of slaves."
Ten years. Serve as free citizens during that time. Fulfill your duties faithfully, and you'll be granted full imperial citizenship.
For a commercial city that had brutally exploited serfs for generations to fill labor shortages, this was a bolt from the blue. But for the serfs who had endured merciless exploitation from their ancestors, it was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of fortune.
"Freedom! We're finally free!"
"Thank you! Thank you, generals of the Empire!"
"Waaah! If only my father, who died from the whip…!"
The serfs of the commercial city burst forth, shedding tears of long-held grudge, and fervently praised their conquerors who had freed them from their lowly chains.
Break your shackles and rise. We grant you the chance to rise in the world. Live as imperial subjects, freed from the yoke of oppression and exploitation.
But the empire wasn't offering purely romantic mercy. Reverse discrimination. Sinister intent hidden in reverse discrimination.
By declaring full emancipation for slaves in newly annexed territories, the Eisenreich strengthened its rule while curbing local powers' influence.
"Who owns the most serfs in Sanktus?"
"That would be… Archbishop Bartolo."
"An archbishop? I can guess why. He must manage vast estates."
"Just as you say, Lord Valtenstein. But will the archbishop accept serf liberation so readily…?"
Do you think you have a choice right now? Kailun stepped forward, pressuring the pureblood noble like a predator.
"Guide me there at once."
"Pardon?"
"This Bartolo or whatever… Arrogant as befits an archbishop dispatched from the theocracy. The imperial army has occupied the city, yet he hasn't shown his face."
"That's outrageous, sir! The archbishop is preparing a lavish banquet at Sanktus Cathedral to welcome the Executors! How could he harbor such insolence?!"
Lip service. A deception even a child wouldn't buy. Proof of arrogance refusing to bow to lowly mixed-blood scum.
He drew his sword. And pointed its sharp tip at the nobles.
The Sanktus nobles paled in terror and led him to the grand cathedral where Archbishop Bartolo resided.
The Theodor Holy Empire worshipped Elysia, the paradise holy god, as its sole deity. To prove its fanatical loyalty and faith, the empire granted clergy tax exemptions and vast estates as privileges.
Archbishop Bartolo was one such beneficiary.
Vast domains. A monopoly on vineyards and the wine industry. Indulgences, religious tithes, and rampant usury.
The resplendent edifice at the heart of the commercial city testified to the archbishop's wealth and power over the diocese.
Frowning at the lavish debauchery of corrupt Holy Empire clergy like Leonora, Kailun and the Valtenstein detachment stormed the central grand cathedral.
"I made a hasty judgment because of the Red Mercenary King. No adjutant from the Holy Empire could possibly approve of the Empire's methods for new territories. What if she grows disillusioned with the Empire's barbaric customs and oppression…!"
"No chance of that, miss. You're worrying too much."
Kailun and the Valtenstein knights hailed from the Holy Empire, worshippers of justice and sanctity. Granting plunder priority—essentially forcing plunder—on those unaccustomed to the Empire's savage ways had been a reckless, shortsighted decision.
Plunder. Arson. Rape. Murder. The Empire promised victors total rights: immense riches, prurient desires of the heart, even the urge to trample and slaughter the weak.
Leonora arrived at Sanktus Cathedral, inwardly cursing her own rashness and the mercenary king's innate stupidity proportional to her massive breasts. The Edelgard family knight sighed with a chuckle at the young lady's impatience.
Creeeak—
The cathedral gates swung open. Madness unfolded within.
"Confess where you've hidden your vast cathedral treasures! Word is you've fattened up exploiting hundreds of serfs on your sprawling estates!"
"Guh! Guhph! Mercy, please! Have mercy…! You were once a soldier of the Holy Empire, worshipping great Elysia!"
"Shut it! Parasites who skimmed tithes from lowly nobles' meager pay!"
"Gack!!"
A trough overflowing with wine came into view. Kailun had seized the corpulent man presumed to be Archbishop Bartolo and dunked his head into it.
"Whew! Now I can breathe. Cheap wine was killing my thirst all this time."
"I serve the one true god…! Please stop!"
The one-eyed knight with the black eyepatch was blowing a merry tune from premium sweet wine looted from the archbishop's cellar. Thoroughly tipsy, Rozalin von Lucien groped a nun's rear with her characteristic drunken habit.
"Silver candelabras! Strip every ornament too!"
"Damn theocracy scum… How much have they fleeced from the faithful?"
"Ahem! Hogging all the loot makes us villains, but sharing with the serfs exploited by this archbishop turns us into righteous outlaws, no?"
Lord, grant us permission to be just thieves today as well.
The Valtenstein knights ransacked the cathedral, heavy sacks slung over their shoulders. Eyes bulging lest they miss a single priceless treasure, they swept up everything. Scruples? Disgust at forced plunder? The Holy Empire knights were as bubbly and energetic as high school girls gearing up for a new semester.