CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER7-THE ROYAL GUARD

Unnoticed by most, the sky gradually darkened, and the weight of night settled over the imperial capital.

Eight Elemental Assassins, their blades still reeking faintly of blood and straw, drifted back like shadows returning home. The Valoria Palace welcomed them in silence.

A glowing message appeared before Aurek’s eyes as he checked his summoned forces:

[Elemental Assassin]

[Quantity: 10]

[Initial Rank: Elite Rank Lv.9 (Can consume Emperor Points to further increase level)]

The very sight of these assassins, perfectly loyal to his will, made Aurek’s chest swell with satisfaction. His own strength had just risen, breaking through from elite rank Lv.8 to elite rank Lv.9.

The rush of power coursing through him left him nearly light-headed with exhilaration. To think that just yesterday I was a powerless fool, and today I can already feel the weight of strength gathering within me.

"Your Majesty," one of the assassins spoke, his tone respectful, his words as sharp as his knives, "the Blackfish Gang has been eradicated in its entirety."

"Furthermore," another assassin added coldly, "we discovered that their actions were directed by the city’s police department. We also found three awakeners among their ranks—they were agents of the Unicorn Trading Guild."

Aurek’s brow furrowed deeply. The web of conspiracies was tightening faster than he anticipated.

The police department...

In the Crossbridge Empire, the police were not like those of Earth. Here, the police corps wielded immense power—not only in maintaining law and order, but also in supervising officials and even engaging in intelligence operations and covert activities.

If this matter truly implicated the Minister of Police, then the trouble was far greater than a simple gang.

The Minister of Police was not merely an administrator. By imperial custom, the Minister was often appointed as Deputy Secretary of State, one of the three giants of the empire, standing just beneath the Emperor himself.

Aurek’s gaze hardened, and his voice grew colder.

"A pack of parasites," he spat. The glint of murderous intent flickered within his eyes.

The Western Gate of Valoria Palace

Meanwhile, at the western gate of the palace, Wood, the deputy captain of the Royal Guard, reclined lazily, savoring the rich flavor of fine grape wine. He swirled the liquid in his goblet with a self-satisfied smirk.

Just then, the hurried footsteps of a guard echoed from nearby. The man stumbled toward him, panting, his face pale.

"Deputy Captain! A disaster! The Blackfish Gang has been annihilated!"

Wood’s relaxed expression stiffened. He straightened instantly and demanded, "Are you certain of this?"

"I am certain," the guard stammered. "We don’t know who struck them down, but the killers were merciless. They skinned the bodies and hung them from the city walls as if to make a spectacle of them..."

As the guard’s words painted their grisly picture, Wood’s eyes narrowed, gleaming with shrewd calculation.

What a perfect opportunity.

William, the senior commander, had been troubled for weeks by the Blackfish Gang. If Wood could seize this chance to claim credit for their downfall, he would surely earn a handsome reward.

But then hesitation flickered across his face. William was a seasoned fox, not someone easily deceived. Attempting to fool him might bring more trouble than benefit.

No, better to bypass him entirely. Better to petition directly for a decree from the so-called useless emperor.

If he could obtain an imperial edict bearing the royal seal, then not even the Minister of Finance could deny him the generous bounty.

Wood snapped his hand through the air.

"Prepare me a commendation petition—at once!"

Half an hour later, Wood strode confidently toward Aurek’s residence within the palace, the petition clutched in his hands.

The emperor was, by all accounts, still in his coma. But that hardly mattered. As long as Wood could borrow the imperial seal and stamp it upon his petition, the treasure vaults would open.

A bounty of ten thousand gold coins—already he was dreaming of how to squander it. Fine silks, imported wines, courtesans from the eastern provinces...

But his greedy fantasies were interrupted by a voice as cold as steel ringing from behind him.

"Deputy Captain Wood. Why are you here in the inner palace when your post is at the western gate?"

Wood froze. He turned slowly, his face darkening. There stood Angie, eyes sharp with suspicion, her hand resting near her sword.

So it’s her.

A trace of disdain curled across Wood’s lips. He sneered, and instead of answering her accusation, he barked a question of his own.

"And who do you think you are, daring to question me? Tell me—has His Majesty awakened?"

"Not yet," Angie replied firmly.

"Is that so? Then allow me to see him myself."

Wood stepped forward arrogantly, shoving past her as though she were a mere servant.

Angie immediately moved to block his way.

"Deputy Captain Wood, ahead lies His Majesty’s residence. Without his command, you cannot enter."

"Who says I’m barging in? I’m here to report the annihilation of the Blackfish Gang directly to His Majesty."

Wood’s laughter was sharp and scornful. Suddenly, in one fluid motion, he drew his sword, the gleaming tip leveled at Angie’s throat.

"Do not delay the affairs of state! If you get in my way again, I’ll cut off your head!"

Before she could react, his sword thrust forward with lethal intent.

Angie twisted, but not fast enough—a shallow line of blood opened across her cheek.

She staggered back, stunned—not by the pain, but by the audacity. He truly dared to strike at me? Here, in Valoria Palace itself?

This was no mere arrogance. This was madness.

Her eyes blazed with fury. In truth, her strength was more than enough to end Wood’s life with a single stroke. But her loyalty to the emperor stayed her hand. She would not risk drawing unnecessary scandal upon His Majesty by shedding blood within these sacred halls.

Pressing her rage down, she steadied her sword and glared coldly at Wood.

"Deputy Captain," she declared, her voice like ice, "if you insist on forcing your way forward, you commit treason. And if you do so, the entire guard will fight you to the death!"

Wood froze. He had not expected her to respond so fiercely.

For a heartbeat, he wavered. The thought of beheading her for defiance flickered through his mind. But then reality set in—Angie was strong, and if she resisted, he might not win. And more importantly, was ten thousand gold really worth branding himself a traitor?

He spat on the ground and lowered his sword.

"Bah! Not worth the trouble. With you barking like a rabid dog, I’ll take my report to William instead."

Within the Palace

Aurek, meanwhile, remained unaware of the confrontation brewing outside his chambers.

His mind was consumed with thoughts of the empire. The events of the previous day had opened his eyes: the Crossbridge Empire was a viper’s nest, filled with shadows and schemes.

He spent the entire night poring over memories, seeking to understand the political undercurrents at play. Sleep did not touch him.

Nor was he the only one awake that night. Throughout the capital, countless nobles tossed and turned in their beds. For they, too, had learned of the Blackfish Gang’s fate.

The gang had not only been exterminated—they had been flayed alive and displayed upon the walls like grotesque trophies.

The message was unmistakable. Someone had defied the delicate balance of power that held the city together. Someone had broken the unspoken pact among the factions.

But who?

Spies were dispatched in every direction, racing to collect whispers.

And when their reports returned, the nobles were shaken to their cores. Not only had the Blackfish Gang perished, but even the awakeners from the Unicorn Trading Guild had been slaughtered—stripped of skin and hung for all to see.

This was not merely vengeance. This was an open declaration of war upon the Guild.

But who dared provoke such a titan?

The Imperial Guard

At that same hour, Gaia, commander of the Imperial Guard, prepared for the upcoming council meeting. He had not yet left his estate when a servant rushed into the chamber, his face drained of color.

"Lord Gaia! Terrible news! The Blackfish Gang has been wiped out, flayed, their remains hung from the city walls!"

The man’s voice trembled. "And not just them. The awakeners of the Unicorn Trading Guild—they were butchered the same way!"

"What!?" Gaia’s voice thundered, his brows knitting tight. Someone daring to lay hands on the Unicorn Guild’s awakeners was almost unthinkable.

His suspicion immediately turned to one man: Cardinal Austin, the red-robed archbishop. In all of Eryndor, only that ruthless priest had the power—and the audacity—to strike at awakeners so brazenly.

But as Gaia considered the matter, he allowed himself a smile. Perhaps this was not a bad thing after all. At the very least, the Blackfish Gang problem was solved.

The Inner City

Elsewhere, in the heart of Eryndor, Senator Heimerdinger also received word of the massacre. After a brief hesitation, he sent his own agents to investigate. Then, without delay, he dressed for the council and made his way to the Senate chambers.

When he arrived, he immediately approached William, the wizened minister, whose lined face carried the weight of many schemes.

"William," Heimerdinger said gravely, "the Blackfish Gang... who do you believe destroyed them?"

William’s eyes narrowed, his thoughts heavy. After a long pause, he met Heimerdinger’s gaze and spoke slowly.

"You suspect Cardinal Austin, do you not?"

Heimerdinger’s lips tightened.

"Given the circumstances, he is the only one with such ability."

William nodded slightly, though he remained silent.

In truth, eliminating the Blackfish Gang was no great challenge. William himself could have arranged their deaths easily. But doing so without leaving any trace, without provoking the tangled powers behind them, was a far different matter.

That was why this attack was so shocking.

Yet Heimerdinger shook his head suddenly.

"No. If Cardinal Austin had done this, he would have proclaimed it openly. And according to the reports I’ve gathered, the Cardinal has been immersed in prayer of late. It is unlikely he acted."

"Moreover," Heimerdinger continued, lowering his voice, "I have uncovered another lead. One of the Blackfish Gang’s minor associates claimed... all of this was the work of ghosts."