Chapter 586: No Retreat
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 586: No Retreat
The Blood Rose Knight Order vanished into the shadows, becoming one of the many dark undercurrents converging on the magnificent imperial palace tonight.
Celicia did not move immediately. With a graceful leap, she reached a high vantage point and gazed into the distance.
The breeze stirred the hem of her dress, and her silver hair swayed gently, making her look like a maiden of the snow from an old folktale.
"It’s time for me to go and fulfill my part as well."
Muen came to Celicia’s side. The faint, familiar fragrance lingering around her refreshed his spirits.
"You know who our enemies are tonight, don't you?" Celicia asked, suddenly turning her head.
"Of course. I haven't come this far just to be left in the dark about that."
Muen narrowed his eyes, but he wasn't looking toward the palace. Instead, he looked toward the outskirts of Belland.
Tonight, their opponent was the Inner Council, but it wasn't just the Inner Council.
There were the old nobles desperate to preserve their status, the opportunists hungry for more power, and... those external forces who simply wanted to see the Empire fall into chaos and endless internal strife, caring nothing for who actually sat on the throne.
Every faction with a hidden agenda, every restless power—all of them would become part of this terrifying storm tonight.
Albert was a clever man. If he dared to commit such a high act of treason, he had undoubtedly allied himself with every force available.
Therefore, the sum of all these parts was the true enemy they faced tonight.
"Rounding things up, I’d say we’re basically making an enemy of half the Empire," Muen remarked.
"Essentially, yes. Half the Empire."
Celicia’s frost-like eyelashes fluttered as she said softly, "But since we know who our enemies are, we naturally know who our friends are. I’ll leave that side to you."
"Don't worry."
Muen brushed back his bangs and said flamboyantly, "Leave such matters to this extraordinarily handsome and charming gentleman."
"...I hope the next time I see you, you haven't been sucked dry by some woman of questionable origin," Celicia said coldly.
"...Am I really that kind of person?"
"Aren't you?"
"Absolutely not!" Muen beat his chest, looking indignant at the slander.
Was he, Muen Campbell, the kind of man who would just mess around with anyone? His pure body currently belonged only to true love!
"...I hope I'm mistaken."
Celicia looked away, her eyes shimmering with complex thoughts. Her brow furrowed slightly as she added, "But compared to all that, what I'm more worried about is..."
"Hmm?"
Muen looked at her curiously, waiting for her to finish.
But Celicia suddenly closed her eyes and said, "Forget it. There’s no point in discussing it now."
By now, most of the threads—the movements and motives of every faction—had surfaced and become clear. Even the Inner Council, which had hidden the deepest, had stepped fully onto the stage, becoming performers in the play and high rollers at the gambling table.
But there was one thing Celicia still couldn't understand.
Father, what exactly are you trying to do?
Celicia looked up again toward the brightly lit palace.
If your true goal was to lure out those hiding in the dark, they’ve all jumped out now. Why haven't you made a single move?
Or... have you truly just grown old?
*
"Have you found Celicia yet?"
In the Throne Hall, Albert swirled a glass of red wine, sitting in the noble chair that once only the master of the Empire was entitled to occupy.
Once, he had to look up at this spot. Now, he sat here, looking down upon all things.
"Not yet."
Robin landed nearby, curiously admiring the rare treasures within the palace.
"The Princess is very cautious, and she likely had people stationed in the palace. As soon as things broke out here, she immediately went into hiding. The men we sent to surround and kill her came up empty."
"She refuses to give up her ambitions."
"Based on current intelligence, yes," Robin replied. "We’ve lost contact with Count Charles. Several guard posts in the Upper District have been attacked, and the families of those ministers seem to have received word from someone; they’re starting to get restless."
"You must find her and kill her," Albert said, his tone darkening. "We cannot allow anyone to threaten us."
"Understood." Robin set aside her playfulness and bowed respectfully. "I will do my utmost."
"I don't want your 'utmost.' I want it to be foolproof!"
Albert’s eyes flickered as he suddenly asked, "What about the Campbell family?"
"No unusual movements for now. They are still under our surveillance."
"I’m not talking about the Campbells in Belland. I mean... the Lion at the border! The hundreds of thousands of imperial troops in his hands—that is the true threat!"
"Duke Campbell?"
Robin was startled. She flapped her wings, hopping in a circle before the throne. "We haven't received any news of abnormalities from that side. But the border is far away; if he really makes a move, we won't be able to react in time. The Duke is surrounded by the Royal Faction; our agents can't get anywhere near him."
"No news... for now?"
Albert leaned back in the chair, rubbing his temples. "In that case, go tell them that we agree to their demands."
"Wha—"
Robin was shocked. "You mean... you agree to give those people the Campbell lands in exchange for their support and a ceasefire? Pri—Your Highness, this is a matter of great consequence. Perhaps you should reconsider?"
"There is nothing to reconsider. Everything is for the big picture," Albert said. "The Empire has thirty-nine territories; losing the Campbell fief is of no great concern. When the Empire was founded a thousand years ago, it had only nine territories, yet it still forced the surrounding nations into submission. But you must understand—if Celicia escapes to that Lion and gains his support, along with his hundreds of thousands of troops, that would be the real disaster!"
"I am doing all of this to ensure the Empire does not fall into civil war! For that, a small sacrifice is only right! Of course, whether they can actually take the land depends on their own ability. Nominally, we cannot simply gift it to them. This is a burden Duke Campbell will have to bear!"
"...I understand."
After a moment of silence, Robin bowed her head. "I will deliver the message immediately."
"Go." Albert waved his hand wearily.
"Yes."
Robin didn't linger and quickly flew out into the night.
But peace did not return.
Albert suddenly clutched his forehead, feeling a splitting, searing pain in his brain. It felt as if some terrifying power from afar was following a mysterious connection, trying to tear his soul to shreds.
Fortunately, as capillary-like black patterns surfaced beneath his skin, the pain was suppressed once more, and the connection to his soul was severed.
"Still haven't given up? You bitch!"
Albert clenched his fist in rage and slammed it onto the armrest of the throne.
"Do you need help?" a voice asked from the shadows of the throne.
"No. Just do what you're supposed to do!"
"Rest assured, Your Highness... oh, wait, I should be calling you 'Your Majesty' very soon."
The voice came from a nebulous mass of shadows, laughing sinisterly. "Look, everything is almost complete. Soon, very soon..."
Albert looked up.
The Throne Hall was vast and lonely, but it was not bright. All the lights had been extinguished, making the entire space feel as though it were under a dome of the underworld.
In the center of the hall, a dozen figures sat side by side in a circle. They were dressed in airtight black robes, their hands raised high as they chanted in unison.
Their voices were hoarse, yet the singing sounded like the shrieks of demons, the wailing of spirits, and the laughter of children... eerie and lingering.
In the very center of their circle floated a withered branch, looking as though it had been picked up randomly from some forest.
But under the chanting of the black-robed figures, the branch slowly emitted ripples of shimmering light. A brilliant gold, like waves, diffused and merged into the shadows of the entire palace.
It was as if... it were searching for something.
"Yes, soon..."
Albert stared intently at the scene. His once calm and handsome face was now filled with undisguised excitement and malice.
"Soon... I will find you..."
*
"Campbell! Come out and fight!"
"Waste! Coward! Do you love nesting in your mother's arms and drinking milk that much?"
"I don't think you should be called the Lion King. You're a Little Kitty! Little Kitty, come out and fight!"
Outside the military tents, the sky was a sea of blood.
There seemed to be no boundary between day and night here, only a crimson curtain of blood clouds shrouding the entire firmament.
Behind those churning blood clouds, several massive figures loomed, using crude human speech to shout all sorts of foul provocations.
Inside the tent, however, Duke Campbell appeared perfectly calm. By the light of the only spell he knew—a low-level Illumination Spell—he was reading a letter sent from the heart of the Empire via expensive spatial magic.
This place was shrouded in the blood-qi of the Demon Race, making Voice Transmission Stones difficult to use. Thus, they had to rely on this high-cost method to receive timely news.
"Duke Lorne."
The adjutant walked over. "Everything is ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" Duke Campbell put down the letter and raised an eyebrow.
"For... for the temporary retreat, of course," the adjutant said. "I’ve learned of the situation in Belland. The old nobles, who have a massive rift with us, currently hold the advantage. For safety's sake, it’s best we retreat for now. Otherwise, we’ll inevitably be stabbed in the back."
"Are you suggesting I abandon the Empire's territory and hand it over to those half-human, half-ghost freaks on a silver platter?" Duke Campbell’s expression turned cold.
"No... I mean we should at least retreat to the Campbell territory. That is our foundation. From there, we can advance to attack or retreat to—"
"Enough. Say no more."
Duke Campbell’s tone was calm, but it immediately silenced the adjutant, who lowered his head.
"Do you know why the Empire has been able to suppress those monsters for so many years?" Duke Campbell asked.
The adjutant shook his head, then immediately nodded.
"Correct. Besides the fact that the imperial troops stationed here are elites, there is another crucial factor: the terrain."
Duke Campbell put his hands behind his back and looked at the massive map hanging behind him. "Those freaks live in the Abyss and have always wanted to crawl out. But crawling out isn't that easy. The Imperial Army holds the high ground. As the saying goes, fighting from the high ground is child's play. As long as I hold the terrain, I could command with my feet and still crush them."
"But if we actually let them crawl out—even if it’s not the Campbell territory, even if it’s just a tiny foothold—it will be incredibly difficult to push them back again. Those fat pigs in Belland who have never even seen a demon will never understand that."
"Mmm..." The adjutant mumbled, seemingly wanting to say something.
Duke Campbell glanced at him. "Speak."
"But... but what about Belland?"
"Belland..."
Duke Campbell’s expression grew complex, and he sighed softly. "I can only choose to believe. As for what comes after, we’ll deal with it then... even if my wife scolds me to death and I have to kneel on a hundred washboards until they break."
"Duke Lorne..."
The adjutant looked at Duke Campbell, rarely seeing such a trace of vulnerability from this lion of a man.
"Therefore, put away those little schemes of yours."
Duke Campbell turned abruptly, his expression fierce. He drew his sword and pointed it toward the overwhelming crimson sky. His mane-like beard quivered as he roared like a lion king:
"Pass down my orders! The entire army is to don their armor and march. Push the front line forward another ten miles! If those freaks want a fight, then a fight they shall have!"
"Yes, sir!"