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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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The Bloody Funeral, an event with considerable significance even within the novel, was rapidly approaching.
As the date for the funeral of the late Emperor, Ronald, drew near, the Imperial Palace became even more chaotic. This was officially because the imperial throne was vacant.
The First Prince seemed to have little interest in the throne. The Second Prince pretended to have no interest. The Third Prince was busy appealing to the nobles.
Everyone questioned the vacant throne at such a crucial time. However, the confusion did not accelerate because the Minister of the Palace Affairs announced that the late Emperor had issued an imperial command.
Amidst this situation, one individual was meticulously working in the shadows. This was Deneb, the Second Prince of the Philios Empire.
While pretending to be uninterested in the throne, he was manipulating the Third Prince from behind and moving secretly to solidify his own power. Furthermore, he was also secretly communicating with the Tri-Nation Alliance.
“It truly is a regrettable situation. He might think he controls everything himself, but in reality, he’s nothing but a puppet.”
“How much could a mere puppet possibly know?”
Behind Baron Sidington, who was muttering in a small voice, Elphis appeared, her purple hair flowing.
“Lord Elphis, did you successfully complete the mission assigned by the Association?”
“Baron Sidington, hello? I had a bit of a hard time. You know it’s not easy to control the ferocious monsters of the Black Mountains, even with my unique magic, right? I suffered quite a bit while secretly sending the Tri-Nation Alliance’s forces across the border.”
“The Association is aware of the difficulties Lord Elphis faced this time. So don’t be too impatient. If you conclude this matter excellently, it may be possible for your position within the Association to rise significantly.”
Elphis smiled brightly at Baron Sidington’s words.
“Wow, how happy I am.”
“Stop giving soulless answers.”
“What happened to the Fifth Prince’s side?”
“We haven’t been able to gather information. Perhaps he hired skilled assassins, as our informants haven’t been able to get close at all.”
Even the High Assassins of the Edryger Kingdom were no match for the Shades, who had protected the most glorious moment of the Philios Empire from the darkness.
They had sent a considerable number of observers to the Fifth Prince’s palace to obtain information. However, contact was lost with all of them. The situation where even the bodies disappeared continued to occur.
“Wow, is Baron Sidington losing in the information warfare? This might be a little interesting…”
“We have gathered enough information on the Fifth Prince. This is sufficient.”
As Elphis spoke sarcastically, Baron Sidington replied in a slightly sharp voice.
“We sent the observers for a final confirmation. It was by no means because we lacked information. Lord Elphis, it’s best you understand this clearly.”
“Then there’s no hindrance to the Association’s plan, is there?”
“Of course not. And it’s not a problem for you to worry about, so it would be best to keep your nose out of things.”
“How frightening. I understand, for now.”
Elphis continued to be sarcastic until the end, but she took a step back. She sometimes acted like a thoughtless person. However, she at least knew when to provoke and when to back down.
Baron Sidington also had a personality where he outwardly accepted things but inwardly held onto them. Thus, Elphis judged it best not to provoke him further.
“When will the reinforcements the Association said they would send arrive?”
Perhaps because of the slight argument just now, Baron Sidington’s voice was sharp.
“The summoning is complete. It just takes a little time to avoid the eyes of the Philios Empire’s Central Intelligence Agency.”
Although they were said to have become incompetent with the decline of the Philios Empire, they were still the largest intelligence agency of a nation. They were not opponents to be underestimated.
If they moved too obviously, they would get caught in their surveillance network.
“Everything is according to the Association’s will.”
The end is approaching.
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The Bloody Funeral. This was one of the major events that erupted at the end of the first volume of the novel, 《Empire of the Dead》. Originally, the Fifth Prince, Raymond Philios, would lose his life here.
“Is it already the end of Volume 1…”
I woke up early in the morning and, with the help of the maids, got dressed in my uniform. I muttered to myself in a very low voice.
To attend the funeral of the late Emperor, Ronald, I had to go to Count Dantzig.
Although it was south of the Marquess Crayer, it was still located in the northeastern part of the Philios Empire. Therefore, it was by no means a short journey.
“Your Highness, the elite guards are ready.”
The door was open. Gestain reported on the readiness of the elite guards without crossing the threshold.
Perhaps conscious of the maids, he used the title “Fifth Prince” instead of “Emperor.” Very few people knew that Raymond had already ascended the throne, so caution was needed.
“Have my brothers departed first?”
After finishing preparations and leaving the chamber, I asked Gestain. According to the plan, the First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince were supposed to depart first with the coffin of the late Emperor, Ronald.
“Yes, it is our turn now.”
“Are the preparations thorough?”
“There are no issues.”
Raymond nodded with a satisfied expression at Gestain’s report. Upon leaving the Fifth Prince’s palace, one hundred Imperial Army cavalrymen were waiting along with the elite guards. Their commander was someone familiar.
“Cassias, the highest-ranking commander of the Imperial Army, greets Your Highness the Fifth Prince!”
Dismounting from his horse and showing respect, the voice of the young Imperial Army Commander carried genuine pleasure.
Due to his achievements in the Black Mountains, he had been promoted from senior officer to highest-ranking officer. He was originally scheduled to be assigned to the First Prince’s escort. However, he voluntarily requested reassignment to the Fifth Prince’s escort.
Cassias did not yet know that Raymond was the Emperor. Thus, this action stemmed from his pure loyalty.
“It’s good to see you again, Sir Cassias.”
“I will safely escort Your Highness until the schedule is complete!”
Cassias was full of confidence. Unlike Raymond, he didn’t know what would happen in Count Dantzig in the future. This kind of attitude was possible because of that.
If he had known even a little about the bloodbath that was soon to erupt, he wouldn’t have been able to show such a reaction.
Raymond debated whether he should give him a slight hint. However, the more people were unaware of this matter, the better. So, he only advised him to strengthen security strictly.
“We have arrived at Count Dantzig.”
I had many different thoughts. I spent most of the time organizing my thoughts. By the time my mind was clear and my heart was calm, we were crossing the border of Count Dantzig.
Raymond nodded at Gestain’s report. Not long after, the Count Dantzig forces appeared.
These were the troops sent by Count Dantzig to meet them. Raymond and his escort were guided by them to accommodations near the Ruler’s Sanctuary.
“Phew!”
Upon arriving at his lodging, Raymond let out a rough breath and threw himself onto the sofa. Now, there was truly not much time left. He had prepared in his own way, but he could not guarantee whether he could escape fate.
So, he stayed awake all night until morning, filled with worry.
And finally, the day of the funeral arrived. Raymond called Cassias, the Imperial Army Commander, and simply hinted that there might be an incident at the ‘Ruler’s Sanctuary’, advising him not to lower his guard.
“I shall attend to you.”
After getting dressed in his uniform and leaving his room, Gestain and Desia followed. Although the lodging was near the Sanctuary, it was quite a distance, requiring travel by horse. He thought he had left quite early, but upon arrival, the Second Prince and the Third Prince were already there.
“My brother, have you come?”
The Second Prince stepped aside, wearing a sinister smile, while the Third Prince greeted him as always.
It was a voice full of hostility, completely devoid of any hint of goodwill. However, unlike before, his expression showed almost no trace of jealous sentiment.
‘Is this because he intends to kill me today anyway…’
A wry smile escaped him. His habit of not grasping his own standing remained unchanged. However, there was no need to retort. So, he lightly accepted Aloken’s greeting and went to find his place and sit down.
There was quite a bit of time left until the funeral began. The Sanctuary was mostly empty, except for a few nobles who had arrived unusually early.
Raymond also would not have come this early if he had not intended to check the structure of the ‘Ruler’s Sanctuary’. He believed the reason the Second Prince and the Third Prince came early was the same.
“Desia.”
“Yes, Your Highness, the Fifth Prince.”
When he called out in a low voice, Desia, who had stepped away for a moment, approached and replied.
“Marquess Crayer?”
“I was just informed that all preparations are complete.”
Raymond nodded with a satisfied expression at Desia’s reply. Sylvia had also delivered a personal letter to Count Dantzig, so the Crayer family’s forces would also be ready.
“Please don’t worry too much.”
Desia cautiously offered comfort. Raymond quietly nodded.
Now that the arrow had left the bowstring, it was time to see who had made the most complete preparations and stepped onto the battlefield.
As a little more time passed, nobles arrived one by one, filling the empty seats in the Sanctuary.
Among them was Count Pottas. He deliberately took a seat near Raymond. He had used some influence from the Central Intelligence Agency to change the location of his assigned seat.
“I have discreetly stationed combat agents from the Central Intelligence Agency nearby.”
Pretending to greet Raymond, Count Pottas reported secretly in a low voice. Raymond nodded with a calm expression and opened his mouth.
“The enemy movements?”
“They moved very secretly, so we could not ascertain their routes. However, we ultimately confirmed that forces of unknown affiliation were gathering in the Count Dantzig territory. Of course, even this would have been difficult to detect if His Majesty the Emperor had not informed us of the information beforehand.”
He readily admitted the incompetence of the Philios Empire’s Central Intelligence Agency. Not only had all the forces of the Tri-Nation Alliance secretly operating within the Philios Empire gathered to turn the funeral into a bloodbath, but some had even infiltrated by passing through the Black Mountains and crossing the border. Yet, the traces the Central Intelligence Agency had captured through their own efforts were truly minimal.
“Our forces?”
“They moved as His Majesty the Emperor commanded. It is currently December, a time when monsters roam in search of food. Thanks to this, we were able to move a large number of troops without special suspicion, using monster subjugation and training as a pretext.”
It was a time when monsters were hungry. That meant that using monster subjugation as a pretext allowed a large army to move without suspicion. Moving thousands of people at once was difficult, but it was enough to make minimal preparations.
It was a time when the Tri-Nation Alliance would not greatly suspect the movements shown by the Crayer family’s forces and the forces from the Count Dantzig territory.
“Hooo…”
Count Pottas finished his report and withdrew. Raymond let out a deep sigh. White snow was pouring down from the sky.
As the snowfall intensified, priests appeared, chanting prayers. Following them, Royal Guards carried a magnificent golden coffin to the center of the Sanctuary.
The nobles, who had by now filled the Sanctuary, all rose at once and paid their respects to the late Emperor.
The funeral began. The lid of the coffin was opened, revealing the body of the late Emperor, Ronald, who looked as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
The First Prince was the first to take Ronald’s cold hand and bid farewell. Following him was the Second Prince’s turn.
Instead of bidding farewell to Ronald’s body, he quickly scanned the inside of the Sanctuary with sharp eyes and wore a cold smile.
He turned his head to look at the Third Prince. He was grinning widely. His undisguised excitement looked exactly like a child’s. In contrast, the Second Prince was serious and sharp.
“History will begin anew right here!”
At that moment, Raymond instinctively knew that the ‘Bloody Funeral’ had begun.
“W-What is this!”
“Your Highness, the Second Prince? What in the world is….”
Before the bewildered nobles could move, black shadows appeared from various parts of the Sanctuary. They were the High Assassins of the Edryger Kingdom and the Ghost Unit of the Free Isiria Kingdom. Their numbers exceeded several hundred.
“What is this!”
“E-Enemy attack!”
Unlike the nobles who were panicking at the unexpected attack, Raymond remained calm. He had anticipated and prepared for this entire situation.
He raised his right hand and injected mana into the ‘Silent Absolute’. A golden aura gathered in his right hand and became the Emperor’s banner.
“Is that the Emperor’s banner?”
Even amidst the confusion, some nobles recognized the Emperor’s banner. Both the First Prince and the Second Prince looked surprised. The Third Prince’s eyes widened, and he could not close his open mouth.
With enemies invading the Sanctuary and the throne officially vacant, the Emperor’s banner also appeared, adding to the chaos. Raymond, holding the banner, swung his right arm widely.
“By the name of the Emperor of the Philios Empire, I command you! Strike down all enemies who dare defile the Sanctuary!”
His mana-infused shout spread. Shades and Central Intelligence Agency agents poured down from above the heads of the High Assassins and the Ghost Unit.
“We shall heed the imperial command!”
Those who had been silently concealing themselves drew their swords, and a red flare shot up into the sky.
The ‘Bloody Funeral’ had begun.
TN: I will be changing ‘Blood Funeral’ to ‘Bloody Funeral’
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