novelraw Chapter 264 - 23: Taking on the Whole World (Part 2)
Chapter 264 - 23: Taking on the Whole World (Part 2)
"So as long as I can take care of them,"
"I can march straight to Gulad’s Central Imperial Capital without any resistance?"
In response to Qin Feng’s question, Kuge gave a solemn nod and answered respectfully,
"Yes."
"Your Majesty."
"Unless the Empire’s Eastern and Western Territories have secretly stashed away troops and are willing to bring those hidden main forces to reinforce the Imperial Royal City."
"Otherwise, the Empire’s Central Region will only have this much fighting strength left."
Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn’t help but click his tongue, his tone filled with incomprehension as he mused aloud,
"What is Flame Emperor Galukasa thinking?"
"He hollowed out his own reserves just to wage a three-front war. Isn’t that just handing someone else a golden opportunity to destroy the Gulad Empire?"
His tone shifted, growing more serious.
"Not to mention."
"That Grand Mage, Nesia, is also an Evil God Believer."
"With the power of the Regent King in his hands, all he has to do is make a few moves in the Gulad Empire’s Central Region, and this vast human empire will suffer a devastating blow..."
At this thought, Qin Feng suddenly stopped in his tracks. His expression grew grave as he began to ponder deeply.
According to Kuge, Flame Emperor Galukasa had been exceptionally brilliant since childhood. Everyone from Baludopa, the former Imperial Military God and one of the previous Five Dragon Generals, to the other high-ranking nobles in the court had sung his praises.
’Would a man like that... really make such a foolish mistake?’
’Is he an Evil God Believer, too?’
’Is he trying to deliberately drain his own nation’s power, as well as the military strength of other countries, to pave the way for the Evil God Invasion that won’t appear until the second phase?’
’But when I sent Ashes to eavesdrop on the conversation between the Duke of the Northern Territory and Nesia...’
’...it seemed that Flame Emperor Galukasa didn’t know Nesia’s true identity or his plans.’
’Besides, as a Destiny Hero, if he wanted to throw in his lot with the Evil God’s Influence from the Void, he could have just kept his identity as a Destiny Hero and pretended to vie for the title of Heaven’s Chosen Ruler.’
’Then, at the most critical moment, he could have turned traitor, catching all the Native Creatures and Lord Players completely off guard, and allowed the Evil God’s army to completely devour this world.’
’And as the Emperor of the Gulad Empire, Flame Emperor Galukasa could have used his position to slowly corrupt all the Empire’s top fighters and soldiers, making them all willingly join the Evil God Faction. Why would he need to sacrifice them all as pawns?’
’Or...?’
’Is he trying to deliberately create a doomsday scenario, a picture of absolute despair, only to then emerge as the savior who turns the tide, thereby winning the approval and support of the other Native Powers?’
’No.’
’That’s not right.’
’That argument doesn’t hold water either.’
’By sending his armies to wage a three-front war, he’s already offended every Native Power except the Dragon Realm.’
’Even if he did manage to solve the problems with the Evil God Faction later, it would just be cleaning up the mess from his own ridiculous actions. It would have nothing to do with "turning the tide."’
’Huh?’
’Could he really just be an idiot?’
’But Kuge is no idiot. On the contrary, he’s a top-tier talent with exceptional military and command abilities.’
’Since Kuge firmly believes his former emperor is an exceptionally brilliant and powerful man, then Emperor Gulad must have something up his sleeve that outsiders don’t know about. He’s definitely not some clueless fool!’
’So...?’
’What exactly is Flame Emperor Galukasa trying to do?’
’Why go to such great lengths to antagonize the other Native Powers?’
’And why cede power to an Evil God Believer?’
’Why let a "ticking time bomb" like that run rampant in his own country?’
’Could he not see that Nesia is an Evil God Believer?’
’Even if he couldn’t, why would he trust him so completely?’
’It would have been better to trust a top expert who served as one of the Five Dragon Generals for two generations—namely, the former Imperial Military God, Baludopa. He could have put him in charge of affairs in the Central Imperial Capital.’
’At least Baludopa was fiercely loyal to the Gulad Empire during his prime. Now that he’s getting older and his power is starting to decline, he’s hardly a flight risk.’
’Or he could have entrusted power to his own sister, Amilia.’
’Although the girl’s administrative ideals are a bit too idealistic, she’s at least Flame Emperor Galukasa’s direct blood relative and has never shown any ambition for the throne. She would have been a completely trustworthy choice for Regent King.’
’Nesia, on the other hand...’
’...is just a newcomer who only joined the Gulad Empire a few years ago.’
’What qualifications does he have to become the "Regent King" of the Imperial Capital, second only to the Emperor himself, and rule the entire Gulad Empire on behalf of a Flame Emperor who has left the capital?’
With that, Qin Feng’s brow furrowed, his tone certain.
"No."
"My intuition is telling me something."
"Something is definitely off here."
"Flame Emperor Galukasa is nowhere near as foolish as he seems."
"His going along with Nesia’s wishes to wage war everywhere, stirring up resentment and making enemies, isn’t some meaningless, idiotic act. It must be a means to achieve some important objective..."
To this day, Qin Feng’s intuition had pointed him in the right direction countless times. Every one of his judgments had been unerringly accurate.
Therefore, he had always had unshakable faith in his keen Sixth Sense.
So, while sending private messages to Mumu, mad madam, and the others to ask about the situation, Qin Feng calmed himself and began to sort through the cause and effect of all the recent events, trying to grasp the true motive hidden behind Flame Emperor Galukasa’s actions.
First, who stood to gain from the Gulad Empire going to war with other Native Powers?