Volume 3, Chapter 13 – The New Emperor’s Command

Several days ago,

“You! This is… this is treason! I am… I am your father!”

Inside the Sky Dome Palace of the Snownight Empire, a burst of pale gold magic power erupted. Terrifying sword energy swept through the court. Under the baptism of this horrifying wave of air, countless officials instantly lost consciousness and collapsed. The members of the Imperial Guard who attempted to rush into the hall to rescue the Emperor were all blown dozens of meters away by the aftermath of this power.

The Emperor of the Snownight Empire, Luojie Valedyn, was being held firmly by the throat and pinned against the wall by another young and handsome blond man.

Facing Luojie’s angry curses, the blond man, Xue Tian’ao, casually revealed a smile full of disdain.

“Hehe. Father? From the time I was young until now, I never saw you treat me as a son. Besides, weren’t you the one trying to strike at me just now?”

“You rebellious son!”

Gasping for breath, Luojie’s life force began to gradually slip away.

In his desperation, the Emperor could only turn his eyes for help toward the middle-aged man standing not far away, dressed in a crisp cloak and a blue-and-white military uniform.

“Lockephy, quick! Quickly kill this rebellious son!”

However, facing His Majesty’s cry for help, the middle-aged man named Lockephy remained in a state of meditation with his eyes closed. He paid no attention to the old Emperor who was already on the verge of death.

Seeing this, Luojie’s eyes suddenly shrank as a thick sense of terror emerged within them.

“How… how is this possible?! You rebellious son?! What on earth did you do to even bribe the Great General?!”

“Hehe, bribe? Don’t make it sound so unpleasant. General Lockephy chose me only because I can lead the Snownight Empire toward a brighter future. He must have also had enough of a weak coward of an Emperor like you who only knows how to compromise.”

“What… what do you actually want?!”

“Aren’t you clear on what I want?”

“No, it won’t do! I… I am your father. You… you can’t do this!”

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Hearing Luojie begin to repeat these words over and over, the smile on Xue Tian’ao’s face grew even more intense. A deep sense of achievement surfaced within his heart.

“If you didn’t want to die, you should have been better to us, mother and son, back then…”

With a cold laugh, Xue Tian’ao abruptly drew the sword at his waist.

Surrounded by pale gold magic power, the longsword radiating brilliant golden light shattered the defensive magic on Luojie’s body.

Then, under the dumbfounded gazes of the guards, servants, and several ministers, Xue Tian’ao pierced Luojie’s heart with a single strike. Amidst bursts of wailing, a leader of an imperial generation died just like that under his own son’s sword. Those wide eyes, filled with hideousness and resentment, spoke of the old Emperor’s inner hatred.

Unfortunately, with the dissipation of his soul, revenge was no longer possible.

“The throne is finally in my hands.”

Tossing Luojie’s corpse onto the floor of the hall, Xue Tian’ao caressed the platinum throne he had long anticipated with excitement and joy.

Behind him, Toma, acting as an adjutant, walked slowly toward Xue Tian’ao with a pleasant and excited smile.

“Your Highness, we have succeeded.”

“Yes.”

“Then, how should these people be handled?”

“As for that…”

Upon hearing this, Xue Tian’ao slowly turned his head to look at the officials loyal to the old Emperor who were surrounded by Royal Knights and staring at him with eyes full of hatred. After observing for a moment, Xue Tian’ao said disdainfully, “These old fossils won’t be of any help. Keeping them is a waste of resources, and they might even spread word of what happened here. So, you understand.”

“Understood, Crown Pr—oh, no, it is Your Majesty… I understand, Your Majesty.”

Toma smiled slightly and then looked toward the shivering old men behind him with a cold gaze.

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In the next instant, the battle axe in Toma’s hand swung violently.

Accompanied by the splashing of blood and the sudden eruption of earth-attribute battle aura, several more bloody corpses appeared in the hall.

After dealing with these old fossils, Toma looked respectfully at Xue Tian’ao.

“Then Your Majesty, what should we do next?”

“Just execute according to the original plan.”

“Understood.”

Having received Xue Tian’ao’s approval, Toma put away his battle axe and walked out of the hall to prepare for the execution of Xue Tian’ao’s next plan.

After watching Toma leave, Xue Tian’ao looked at the short-haired woman not far away who was leading the knight corps to clean up the aftermath.

“Commander Aikino-”

Facing Xue Tian’ao’s greeting, the woman with amber short hair holding a knight’s lance immediately knelt on one knee, awaiting Xue Tian’ao’s decree.

“Your Majesty, what are your orders?”

“Go to the Northern Frontier with General Lockephy. If we want the empire to be completely unified, the Northern Frontier is indispensable. Right now, the Duke Family has just been attacked by the Divine Punishment Holy Church and is in a weakened state, making them easier to deal with. Do you know what to do?”

“Yes,” Aikino replied without hesitation.

Xue Tian’ao nodded with great satisfaction at Aikino’s reaction.

‘It seems that spending so much time to bring her under my command was indeed a very correct choice.’

“Good, then I will leave this task to you.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. This subordinate guarantees the completion of the mission.”

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“Mhm. Don’t let me down.”

“Yes…”

…

—

Recalling the contents of her previous conversation with His Highness Xue Tian’ao—no, with His Majesty—at the Sky Dome Palace, Aikino’s gaze gradually became high-spirited as a surging fighting spirit pulsed within. This first knight of the Royal Knight Corps suddenly surged with an aura that directly made it difficult for Xiumu and the others to breathe.

The Blizzard Knight Order, which had gone through multiple major battles and had not yet had time to recover, could hardly withstand the pressure of Aikino’s aura. Everyone uncontrollably showed a hint of a painful expression.

Seeing this, Aikino smiled coldly.

‘As expected, just as the Crown Prince predicted, the current Duke Family is completely powerless to resist…’

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Thus, Aikino walked forward slowly with a powerful aura.

“Do you understand? The late Emperor has already passed away, and the agreement he signed with you no longer exists. Currently, Windward City is the territory of the empire. Why shouldn’t the Royal Knight Corps be here?”

“You!”

Hearing these words, Xiumu was momentarily at a loss for words.

It was true. The agreement he signed with the late Emperor would become invalid the moment the late Emperor died. The new Emperor had no need to abide by it. However, how did the late Emperor… suddenly die?

“Wasn’t the late Emperor fine before? How could he have suddenly passed away?!”

“The late Emperor failed while attempting to break through to the seventh tier. Ultimately, he suffered a cultivation deviation and died from soul collapse.”

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Aikino said indifferently.

“Cultivation deviation? Are you joking?!”

“This is the conclusion reached by the Royal Imperial Hospital. There is no need to question it, Marquis Xiumu.”

“…”

At this moment, Xiumu could not help but clench his fists. Regarding Luojie’s death, Xiumu already had a general guess in his heart. However, he hadn’t expected that fellow Xue Tian’ao to be so bold. If it really was a coup, how on earth did he manage to win over the Great General?

Xiumu’s heart was filled with doubt.

But he also knew he did not have the energy to ponder these questions now.

Looking at the Royal Knight Corps that had suddenly broken into the Marquis Mansion and was being so aggressive, Xiumu took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart.

“Then, Commander Aikino, what is the purpose of the Royal Knight Corps coming to Windward City this time? It surely isn’t just to visit the Northern Frontier, right?”

“Although I would very much like to visit, we indeed have more important matters to attend to.”

“What?”

“Heh.”

With a cold laugh, Aikino took out a scroll affixed with the Royal Emblem.

Under the shocked gazes of Xiumu and the others, Aikino displayed the instructions within.

“By the decree of His Majesty Xue Tian’ao, the Duke Family has colluded with Abyssal Demons and used Shadow Essence to aid their cultivation! Their titles are hereby stripped! All involved individuals are to be arrested and sent to the Imperial Capital, Sky Dome, for trial!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the Royal Knight Corps surrounding Xiumu and the others instantly drew the swords at their waists, and dozens of magic guns were pointed directly at the members of the Duke Family. Terrifying hostility and hatred locked onto Xiumu at this moment, causing his expression to change abruptly…