386 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 386: The Video of Varos Spread Across the World Despite the simultaneous announcements from the mage towers, some individuals still questioned the authenticity. However, even those skeptics couldn't help but nod at one undeniable fact. – Regardless of anything else, it seems the Empire had been preparing for this war in advance. When the Western 5th Legion was mobilized to conquer the Holy Kingdom, it didn’t seem too peculiar. But the swiftness with which the Central Army completed its preparations just days after the Emperor decided on additional troop deployments was unusually rapid. The fact that over 200,000 troops could be ready to depart in just three days, and yet there were minimal additional provisions moving toward Aserian, signified one truth. – The Imperial family had stockpiled supplies sufficient to mobilize hundreds of thousands of troops. To the nations surrounding the Empire, this fact held more significance than the justification or outcome of the war in the Holy Kingdom. Naturally, from the moment the video spread, most neighboring countries began to redeploy their armies along their borders with the Empire. Additionally, numerous envoys were dispatched from royal courts to neighboring nations. – An alliance. The only way to confront the Empire is through an alliance. The smaller nations, on the other hand, started their preparations to survive. And the state most sensitive to all these changes was, unsurprisingly, the Empire itself – Aserian. * * * Slam! “The grand plan has been twisted from the very start!” A voice resounded with authority. The rare shout of the Emperor filled the grand hall with a murderous intent. “Explain this situation, Loktus.” Not an official title, nor even a formal address. Loktus Gospert, the chancellor who had served the Emperor for a long time, understood the chilling tone all too well. ‘This might be my end today.’ The elder with a stern expression felt the touch of the reaper at his heels but maintained a calm demeanor. “First, allow me to share the Staff's analysis of the current situation.” There was no answer from the throne, but Loktus nodded to someone behind him. Immediately, among the twenty or so ministers kneeling similarly, one shot forward on his knees to Loktus's side. “Deputy Undersecretary of the Staff, Lerry...” “Keep it brief.” “Yes, I shall present the Staff’s findings on the current situation.” In response to the chancellor's firm voice, the young man nervously licked his dry lips. “The agents of the Special Inspection Division, nicknamed the Ghosts, are first taught to handle detection and record magic because of their mission's nature. Yet none of the agents in the video noticed the magic recording. If they had even suspected being recorded, they would have prioritized destroying the records above all. The fact that they didn’t means one thing.” Though the gaze of dark eyes scrutinized him, young Lerry Gospert spoke without a tremor despite the suffocating pressure. “It either means an artifact more advanced than a 5-class Artifact from the agent training facility was used, or a mage of detection caliber precisely chose to remain hidden and only recorded.” An artifact above 5-class could only be crafted by legendary or mythical beings. Thus, it could only be the latter. “Therefore, Prince Varos...” The instant the word "Prince" left his lips, as he saw the owner of the dark eyes staring down at him wrinkle his brow, Lerry promptly corrected himself. “No, the traitor Varos must have been aware beforehand and collaborated with a mage adversary to record the video at the cost of his life. The likely collaborator is...” “The Black Serpent, no doubt.” For the first time, the chilling voice from the throne responded. “Yes, Your Majesty. And the concealed silver aura seen in the video comes from...” “Jerome, I presume.” “Yes, exactly. An individual prepared to fend off agents and someone to record the footage were ready in advance. It is assumed that traitor Varos had already harbored a rebellion against the Empire from that point.” “And?” “...Pardon?” “Does the Staff’s job consist solely of reiterating what I already know?” The icy voice, accompanied by an intimidating glare, left Lerry momentarily bewildered, causing him to glance beside him. As cold sweat dripped down and his eyes involuntarily trembled, the chancellor grandfather remained steadfastly focused on the throne, seemingly oblivious to his grandson’s desperate gaze. No intention of assisting his grandson was evident in his demeanor. In truth, the sight jolted the Staff’s young genius, Lerry Gospert, into sharp focus. There’s no time to rely on others. My life is at stake. “Absolutely not, Your Majesty. An unexpected obstacle has emerged, but the Staff has devised a strategy to actually exploit the current situation.” “...Elaborate.” “However, to proceed, Your Majesty must first make a decisive, bold decision.” Before the Emperor could respond, the chancellor grandfather glared at him fiercely. “Lerry. How dare you...!” He didn't need to hear the rest. – Presume to make a demand of His Majesty! Fortunately, before the reprimand escalated, the Emperor raised a hand. “Continue.” “...Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.” “Your plan.” Despite the measured voice, which made Lerry flinch again, he took a deep breath and continued calmly. “First, publicly declare that the conquest of the Holy Kingdom will be abandoned.” “Lerry!” To suggest abandoning the Royal aspiration maintained for centuries. Facing such a dangerous statement, the chancellor Loktus outcried once more, but the Emperor calmly retorted. “Why must it be so?” “Because forcibly occupying the Holy Kingdom will not fulfill the Empire's ultimate goal.” “An ultimate goal, you say...” "Indeed. The Imperial family's desire to become the spiritual anchor for the continent's people cannot be achieved in the current situation. Regardless of the justification, should we occupy the Holy Kingdom, the people here will never accept it, and it will just repeat the mistakes of 400 years ago." Four centuries ago, there was the dissolution of the corrupt Order known as the *Resolutium*. Most believed this was due to the self-cleansing efforts of the priests, but the Empire's influence played a part behind the scenes. At that time, the Empire's Emperor sought to replace the dismantled Order by claiming representation of the Nine Deities, gathering the scattered true priests. However, those who feigned compliance established Novus under the guidance of nine contemporary saints within a century and built a holy city inside the Empire’s land. The authority the Emperor had painstakingly built over a century collapsed with the emergence of these divine saints, leading to a powerful external influence settling within Imperial territory. Though the Emperor of that time was furious, he couldn't act on his wrath since the miracles performed by the nine saints had fostered a positive public opinion towards the Order. His earlier act of claiming divine representation inadvertently aided the Order's resurgence. The Emperor's rage ultimately turned to the gods themselves. – The timing and location of the holy city's establishment were too coincidental. Determine the extent of divine interference in worldly affairs. From then on, the royal family clandestinely studied the mechanism behind the birth of saints and holy knights. The ancient documents, once dismissed as fantastical, turned out to be a key in deciphering the secrets of gods and temples, particularly the records left by beings hailed as the progenitors of Ares. This allowed the Empire to reach a tentative conclusion about the mechanisms behind gods, saints, and holy figures. – A rationale that the gods would approve is necessary. The remarkable aspect was that this rationale didn’t need to be truthful. The rationale acknowledged by the Nine Deities didn't require perfect truth. Essentially, if it gained popular acceptance, the authority of the Order could be wielded. This hypocritical mechanism starkly contrasted the Nine Deities' teachings of righteousness. Since that discovery, the Imperial family never erased their doubt about the gods and temples. The Emperors, armed with the temple's secrets, began perceiving the Nine Deities not as entities to revere but as rivals to be conquered. In truth, the goal to dominate the Order was merely a fragment of that grander scheme. “Though it could never be officially declared.” The Emperor laughed softly, then turned his gaze back to Lerry. "Indeed. Achieving our goals seems difficult under the current circumstances. However, I didn’t establish the Staff to hear admissions of defeat. It was created to devise ways to accomplish these goals even amidst challenging situations." A chilling current tightened around Lerry’s throat. But it was his unwavering resolve in dire circumstances that earned him the role of the Staff’s representative. "Surrender the Holy Kingdom and seize the world, Your Majesty." “Hah.” Whether a gasp or a sigh, the emperor’s indiscernible exclamation spurred Lerry to speak quickly. “Publicly announce that you are reluctantly stepping back for the sake of continental peace but will endure until the truth emerges.” “...” "Then, discreetly negotiate with the Holy Kingdom, demanding a declaration of respect and support for the Empire in exchange for halting conquest." "And then?" "Once the Holy Kingdom's declaration manages public dissent, we pivot our armies to ‘uncover the truth’ by pursuing the Black Serpent. We need only the pretext that they ‘happened’ to hide in bordering kingdoms." A soft gasp arose from among the prostrated ministers, but Lerry remained unmoved. With a faint smile, the Emperor queried. "Do you think the rulers and nobles of neighboring lands are all fools?" "An individual can be foolish, but a collective is not. Yet, a collective cannot represent the interests of all its members, sometimes leading to foolish decisions." "From the wise Arius, I presume." "Indeed. Whatever the real truth, by brandishing the pretext at least superficially, we can divide the collective opinion.” “Explain.” “Every neighboring nation trades with the Empire; many nobles profit from this. They inherently lean towards alignment with the Empire. We can maneuver them to create conflict, urging them to cooperate with us." "Oh?" "If they comply, we can openly station our troops in those kingdoms. Failing that, the rationale for conquest remains — they must be aiding the Empire's enemies. You've unsheathed the sword already; it's time to wield it properly." For the first time, the Emperor smiled. “Well done. Your initiative validates the investment.” At those words, relief washed over Lerry’s features, and Loktus, bracing for the end, pumped his fist in triumph. The Empire’s dual pursuits of continental conquest and merging the Holy Kingdom boiled down to one ultimate aim. For the Emperor to become the de facto spiritual and political sovereign of the entire continent. ‘Achieving one will make the other a mere question of time.’ The plan had hit a bump, but it was merely a shift in sequence. With ambition blazing within him, the Emperor declared. “I shall adopt the Staff’s proposal. Proceed with negotiations with the temple and execute the plan. Once the Grey Hawk and Northern Gale return, we commence the grand scheme!” “Yes!” “Yes, Your Majesty!” The cries that erupted from the twenty or so civil servants, rejuvenated by their reprieve from death's doorstep, reverberated throughout the grand chamber.