Chapter 897: Unexpected
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 897: Unexpected
"What is this, an Empty Fort Strategy?"
On a patch of open ground on the outskirts of the Kingdom’s royal capital.
In the shadows cast by the city walls, the light suddenly distorted, and a slender figure emerged from the thin mist.
The drizzling rain and haze could not block his vision. Muen looked up, squinting as he sized up the wide-open city gates.
For a city that was supposed to be under siege, leaving the gates wide open was truly incomprehensible. It immediately reminded Muen of a famous story from his previous life.
However, he knew that what lay before him was entirely different from that tale.
After leaving Notasia Fortress, Muen had learned of the current situation from the Empire's intelligence agencies.
He had originally thought the Kingdom had staged such a massive spectacle at Notasia Fortress to achieve some grand objective. Until he received intelligence from Celicia’s side, he had assumed the Kingdom held the upper hand to some degree...
As it turned out, they had simply royally screwed the pooch.
Not only had Celicia led twenty thousand cavalry to break through their lines and strike the western side of the capital, but his father’s army had also crossed the Abyss as planned. They were conducting a thousand-mile lightning strike, tearing through all resistance and bearing down on the capital.
One could say that in the blink of an eye, the Kingdom had squandered every advantage it previously held, plunging itself into a desperate dead end instead.
Actually, thinking about it, it made sense. They had wiped out half of their own army—the direct elite units under the Royal Family's control. If they could still win after that, there truly would be no justice in the world.
...So, if the King of this Kingdom were still a sane man, things shouldn't have collapsed this quickly.
"Which means... is the Salvation Society’s influence over the Kingdom even stronger than I imagined?"
The city gates were empty. There were no guards, nor any defensive magic. Muen stood there, yet not a single person came out to investigate.
It was as if the city were truly inviting him... inviting a guest from afar.
"Salvation Holy Lord... Kaya Gaius, just what are you planning..."
Muen murmured, thinking once again of his conversation with the Salvation Holy Lord within another's soul, and that invitation he had received.
Looking at it now, however, it seemed he wasn't the only one the Salvation Society had invited.
The Empire, the Church, and perhaps many others—the scope of the Salvation Society’s targets was larger than he had anticipated. But compared to Muen, who had been personally invited by the Salvation Holy Lord, the others were receiving more of a silent invitation.
It was like a button labeled "Do Not Press"—it only made people want to push it all the more. These wide-open gates, despite the obvious danger and the likelihood of a trap, practically compelled one to walk inside.
Of course, from the Empire's perspective, if they wanted to capture the capital and end this war, this gate was a threshold they had to cross.
The army was already stationed twenty miles away. How could they possibly retreat just because of this so-called "empty city"?
"So, in a sense... is this a gambit played in the light?"
Muen suddenly smiled. He raised his hand, his fingertips tracing the mottled stone of the ancient city walls of Saint Bran Phazesia.
The historical aura left by time and the sense of weight inherent to the high walls seeped into his skin. This tangible reality only served to contrast the eerie atmosphere of the open gates, making one instinctively wary.
Yes, the Salvation Society had prepared everything and was waiting with open arms in this city. It appeared the situation was entirely within their grasp, and any person or power opposing them would find themselves at a complete disadvantage...
But if one looked at it from another angle, this very behavior exposed a weakness.
The Salvation Society was still unable to face the Church or the Empire head-on. That was why they had to parasitize the Kingdom, relying on this city to stage these bizarre, inexplicable scenes.
They weren't Evil Gods from beyond the world, wielding authority that could destroy heaven and earth.
Nor were they old fossils like the Grand Duke of Divine Will, whose personal strength was enough to tip the balance of the entire continent.
They were merely an organization—a terrorist organization that had been hunted by the Life Church for decades.
Though they were notorious, their successful track record so far consisted mostly of terrorist attacks. While those incidents were shocking and had claimed many lives—including the Saintess before the previous one—when viewed from the height of an entire nation or the continent, those events couldn't truly change the big picture.
They were far from the level of their so-called "Salvation."
It was likely precisely because of their lack of direct strength that they had changed their tactics this time, seizing an opportunity to parasitize the Kingdom and use the nation as a vehicle to achieve some goal.
Furthermore, this goal was bound to be utterly devoid of conscience, cruel, and horrific. Even the Kingdom—which was already strapped to the unstoppable chariot of war and facing a dead end once the Empire recovered, especially after losing their Demon allies—would find it unacceptable. Otherwise, there would be no need for the Salvation Society to actively sacrifice the Kingdom's military strength just to gain control over this city.
For these reasons, Muen had chosen not to regroup with Celicia after leaving Notasia Fortress.
Moving with Celicia and the Imperial army would undoubtedly be much safer, but in exchange, he would be swept up in the Empire's momentum, and his individual impact would be diluted by the "Kingdom" as a whole.
The Empire was here to conquer the city, not annihilate it. They couldn't simply gather a million soldiers, charge in, and spend ten days slaughtering everyone inside.
Similarly, the Church wouldn't work either. They couldn't ignore the lives of ordinary people; in fact, they had to act with extreme caution.
The higher one stood, the more one had to consider. Therefore, whether he went with Celicia or Liya, his hands would inevitably be tied.
The great army currently stationed twenty miles away, hesitant to move, was proof of that.
So, rather than being so constrained, it was better to break away from the main force and attend the Salvation Holy Lord’s "invitation" alone.
"Looks like it's going to be as dangerous as ever, but..."
Muen looked down at the badge in his palm.
The high-hanging crown was currently emitting a faint warmth, constantly guiding Muen toward the legacy left behind by that tragic prince.
"To think I’d get the key to a secret hidden route before the game even starts... compared to my past experiences, this is a top-tier perfect start..."
He only hoped that the great treasure Oriel left behind... no, the legacy he left behind, was truly enough to exert some influence on the current situation.
"Alright, time to move."
After roughly deciding on the plan to first find the items Oriel had left, Muen put away the badge and took a deep breath.
Then, he looked up, his gaze resolute as he stared at the gates before him.
"Come then, Kaya Gaius. Come, Salvation Society. Even if you've turned this city into a living hell through some blood sacrifice just to gain power, I won't be surprised, and I certainly won't back down."
"Muen Campbell... has come to keep his appointment!"
Muen stepped forward, head held high as he walked into the city, entering this mysterious forbidden zone that was bound to be filled with peril...
...
"Big brother."
"..."
"Big brother, big brother..."
"..."
"Big brother, big brother, big brother... buy a newspaper. It's today's Times, and it's the very last copy."
"Stop bothering me."
Muen pushed away the hand of the little brat who kept waving a newspaper in front of him and said seriously, "I'm thinking."
Something was wrong.
Something was very wrong.
He had prepared himself mentally for everything before coming in, but the scene before his eyes... was still beyond his expectations.
The sky remained overcast, and a fine drizzle drifted down, barely enough to dampen one's clothes.
This kind of weather didn't stop people from going out, so it was normal for there to be pedestrians on the street, but...
Is this the Kingdom's capital? Is this Saint Bran Phazesia? Is this a city with an enemy army at its gates and a terrorist organization running wild inside?
Muen looked around. The streets were bustling with traffic.
It seemed the rainy day hadn't completely dampened the city's vitality and excitement. The people living here were still going about their lives—traveling, living, and working normally.
Carriages passed by, pedestrians wove through the crowds, and street vendors called out their wares. A stubborn little brat tugged at his sleeve, wanting him to buy the last remaining newspaper so the boy could finish work before the rain got heavier.
Everything was so normal.
Normal to a point that was borderline eerie.
"Wait..."
Muen’s mouth twitched. "I did all that grand analysis before coming in, thinking I was entering some Evil God dungeon instance, and this is what you give me?"
Could they at least play by the rules!
Predicting and preparing in advance was hard work, damn it!
Looking left and right, Muen decided to temporarily set aside his original plan. He needed to determine if the scene before him was an unvarnished reality, or if...
"Big brother, please buy one... it's only two Emiels."
"Go away, I don't have time right now..."
Muen was about to shake off the pest when he suddenly froze and looked down at the kid.
"What are you selling?"
"The newspaper."
The kid blinked in confusion, thinking to himself that this handsome, rich-looking older brother must be an idiot. He’d been talking for so long, and the guy didn't even know what he was selling?
"The newspaper? Ah! Right! The newspaper!"
Muen pulled out a large bill and slapped it into the kid's hand.
"Here's the money. I'll take the paper."
"Eh? But one copy is only two..." The kid had never seen a bill of such high denomination and was momentarily stunned.
"Be a good boy and go buy some candy. Just act like selling this paper to me never happened, okay?"
Muen patted the kid on the shoulder. After ensuring no one nearby was paying attention, he casually pushed the boy back into the crowd to let him leave. Muen then flickered away, ducking into a relatively secluded alley.
Since he didn't know the truth behind the current situation, Muen was being extremely cautious. He even checked the newspaper several times to ensure it was just an ordinary paper before opening it.
Only after confirming there were no issues did he carefully unfold it.
The first thing that caught his eye was a headline in large, bold font:
—Our Great King Issues Another Decree: Severe Punishment for Evil Nobles Who Seize Civilian Assets. The Entire Nation Prospers Under His Majesty’s Brilliant Leadership.