Chapter 524,
Chapter 144. For Friends (2)
* * *
From the point of view of the general public, just a few days ago, it was an ordinary day.
But now they too felt the thick clouds of war hanging over the empire.
Everyone also knew that the emperor’s sword was aimed at Hiran, which was called the pillar of the empire, not foreign powers.
“Jim! I know better than anyone that the greatest swordsman in the empire has been fighting for the imperial family and people for a long time.”
Square in front of the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Amir Viment of the Empire stood in a great golden palanquin and looked down at the crowd. The palanquin was supported by about two hundred treacherous criminals clad in red shrouds.
The crowd was puzzled by the sudden announcement of the emperor, but did not dare to express it.
The emperor said that the cause of the purge was treason and civil war.
“You would be curious. What kind of treason did the lord of Geomwangseong commit? You will also hate it. Jim knows that you like Lon Hylan more than I do.”
The emperor slowly looked down at the people.
“Hanajim also trusted Ron Hyran, the most faithful servant as the supreme ruler of the empire. Also, as a human being, I respected and longed for him, so there is no way to hide my grievance. However, Lon Highlan, the lord of the sword castle, ignored my orders as well as my earnest requests, putting the empire in danger of terrorism and war destruction.”
As the emperor beckoned, two flags, torn and burnt black, unfurled from the flagpoles on the left and right sides of the palanquin. It was the flag of the Empire and High Iran.
“Everyone will remember the day the disaster happened in Geomhwangseong. These flags were destroyed that day, and Jim is now trying to tell the people what the cause of the terror that day was. It’s because of the one thing Hi-Lan has.”
The crowd gathered in the square for the first time murmured.
Then, the emperor gave a sideways glance and a warrior wearing Hiran armor stepped forward.
He was the second son of Lon High-Lan and the rider of High-Lan, ‘Tion High-Lan’.
After the Black Emperor Terror, traitors appeared one after another inside Hiran. They were all those who were pushed by Dante and treated as ‘non-existent people’ by Ron Hyran.
Originally, they were oppressed by Ron’s dignity and couldn’t imagine betrayal, but they thought they had seized the opportunity because the Imperial Palace had suffered an unprecedented blow and the imperial family had taken their backs.
Tion was among the first and proactive to betray Hiran.
“…In my family there is a white stone passed down only from head to head.”
Originally, Tion didn’t know about it at all, but the emperor informed him for this occasion. Unlike Hiran, who has kept a secret that threatens the world through the transmission of the family tree, the emperor had no hesitation in revealing the white stone to the public.
The eyes of the crowd watching Theion were stained with contempt.
Unless he was an idiot, he couldn’t help but be aware that he betrayed his family and stood here in order to covet the power of Hyran, which would soon pass to Dante.
“It may be hard to believe, but if you can smelt and use that white stone, it has the power to support all of the empire’s magic equipment and make the empire many times stronger in an instant.”
From the point of view of the crowd, it was a story that was so far-fetched and outrageous that it was absurd.
Woo woo woo-!
Eventually, the crowd booed Theon.
As the emperor said earlier, Hiran is a family that is loved by the people more than the imperial family. Those gathered in the square wanted to stone him to death at any moment.
“your majesty.”
The head of the imperial guard, ‘Alton Hiran’, met the emperor’s eyes. It means that if an order is given, the disturbance will be quelled immediately.
However, the emperor raised a corner of his mouth and ordered them to be left alone.
“Even so, isn’t it just making a little bit of an unpleasant sound? Just let them vent their anger at least a little bit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor did not give a speech because he was afraid of public opinion or worried that the people would rebel against Hailan in purging Hailan.
The first was to expose the secret of Hiran and pressurize him, and the second was to sincerely love the people in his own way.
It means to let go of your anger by raising your voice a little and revealing your dislike.
“Anyway, they have neither the strength nor the will to stop Jim. He likes Hi-Lan more than Jim, but he doesn’t really risk his life. I find it cute and lovely to see the foolishness and annoyance of the people.”
The emperor was sincere and his eyes were shining as if the people were beautiful.
“…So His Majesty already ordered our family to return the white stone to the imperial family long ago. The expression “return” is because the stone was entrusted to Hiran by the previous emperor.”
Of course, the imperial family had never entrusted a white stone to Hiran. It’s just a story because the public doesn’t know the truth anyway.
“dog sound!”
The booing grew more and more furious.
“However, as you can see, Lon Hilan, the lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, is not following His Majesty’s orders. Enemies aiming for stones even committed terrorism on the land of the Geomwangseong Empire.”
“go away! Dirty traitor bastard!”
“Biological golems and unknown giant monsters threatened the empire. because of the stone! However, Hiran does not give up his greed and does not return the stone to the imperial family. As a member of the family, I know better than anyone else that the lord of the sword emperor is plotting a rebellion using that power.”
match!
The emperor clapped his hands, and the angry crowd calmed down at once.
“Tion Hyran’s testimony may seem incomprehensible. I also know very well that it will be difficult to accept because it is such a sudden story. But hear me, my people. I am willing to forgive Hi-Lan for instigating civil war and treason if they return the stone even now.”
As the speech came this far, curiosity and anger were forming in the hearts of the crowd.
What the hell is that white stone? Is it something that really exists? If so, why isn’t Hailan handed over to the imperial family?
It was natural to have such doubts.
“The Emperor of the Empire, Amir Viment. Jim declares. I will stop the purge as soon as Hi-Lan returns the stone. However, if you do not ask for forgiveness from me until the end, the Darkness Castle will disappear in ashes.”
* * *
What the emperor said in his speech was transmitted to the Geomhwangseong in an instant.
“Emperor, you son of a bitch…! How could he do this to Hiran? white stone? That’s not even funny! You make up such nonsensical stories because there is no justification? Even so, he is the highest of the empire!”
“That madman will definitely pay the price. Since he is the emperor and he respects him, he seems to think that Hi-Lan was really weak and stayed quiet.”
“The throne will be stained with his blood. It was Hi-Lan from the beginning, not the Bement family, who deserved to sit there. If it wasn’t for Hiran, the empire wouldn’t exist!”
The warriors gathered in the meeting room were each raising their voices in anger.
Most of them looked like they were going to attack the palace at any moment and fight.
Uncertainty was clearly sprouting in the hearts of the warriors.
Anxiety had already begun even before the emperor’s speech.
“It’s not just about gathering like this, let’s hit first! What is the dignity of Geomwang and what does its name mean? You have to let that kid know.”
“He’s being framed for treason, but I’d rather show him what real treason is. They say that a few traitors passed over and the emperor raised his troops. As long as Sir Lorne exists, they will eventually fall down and pray before our swords!”
They all looked at the one sitting in the seat of honor and shouted.
It was Dante Hailan, the county of Suga of Hailan.
Dante barely showed any sign of exhaustion on his face. However, she couldn’t hide her red eyes and dry lips from burst blood vessels.
“Come on Sir Ron…!”
“Sir Ron…!”
The uneasiness of the unmanned was no different. It was because of Lon Hiran, the culprit who summoned all the warriors to this place with just dignity without any action.
It has been several days since the unmanned people gathered, but Ron has not yet appeared in front of them even once.
‘Grandpa…’
Now Dante knew Ron’s condition. For some time ago, Ron’s illness had grown so rapidly that he could not hide it.
Ron is currently unconscious.
Dante was in command of the Geomwangseong on his behalf. And as time went by, the unmanned people who gathered were also suspicious. Whether the black emperor is really healthy.
I couldn’t get over the doubt.
Ron’s absence was equal to the absence of the whole of Hiran. It wasn’t that there wasn’t a single person in Hiran except Ron, but it was obvious what the outcome would be if the war went on without him.
The feeling of pressure and helplessness made me feel sick to my stomach.
I felt dizzy after not being able to sleep for several days, and convulsions occurred in various parts of my body if I did not concentrate.
‘A weak body makes it hard for me even at times like this…’
Dante gritted his teeth and met the unmanned eyes.
It felt like I had to tell the truth.
“…Your grandfather is currently in a deep illness and is unconscious.”
At Dante’s words, the warriors’ angry voices died down. Those who had already noticed were not so shocked, but those who did not know felt struck by a thunderclap.
“Sir Ron… you mean he’s unconscious? Could it be that the injury you received that day has deepened?”
“Why are you telling me that now?”
“Without Sir Ron, there would be war…!”
As Dante was about to reply, an old knight clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.
“Without Lord Lorne, will you not fight alongside Hylan? You’re talking embarrassing things. Except for Sir Ron, are the rest chaff, not knights? We came to protect our friendship with Hylan to fight against the emperor’s rampant behavior, not to overthrow the empire, led by Lord Lorne.”
His name was Shuras Helter, the head of the Helter family.
Shuras avoids making uncomfortable answers, but Dante has no means to erase their anxiety unless Ron gets up from the bed.
Enemies that would be difficult to handle even if they were firmly united were approaching, but many of the warriors had no choice but to think a lot about the cracks created by Ron’s absence.
‘Without Sir Ron, the war is inevitable.’
‘If we lose the fight against the emperor, not only we will die, but all of our blood and relatives will be brutally murdered…’
Also, as soon as they learned that Ron was ill, this thought also came into their heads.
‘What if the white stone the emperor spoke of… really exists?’
‘If the emperor’s speech is true, it is best to return the stone and end the situation. Should I hope that the absurd story is real…!’
Silence passed.
Soon, just as someone was about to raise the question of whether the emperor’s speech was true, urgent footsteps were heard outside. It was the sound of commanders running.
“Sogaju! The emperor’s troop movement has been confirmed. The vanguard army will arrive at Geomwangseong within three hours…!”
