novelraw Chapter 74: Forcing Entry into the Imperial City
Chapter 74: Forcing Entry into the Imperial City
Celestial Destiny Imperial City.
Not exceedingly majestic, but it is of the utmost luxury.
Unlike the Princess’s Mansion which glitters due to Natasha’s draconic aesthetic, the Inner Palace of the Celestial Destiny Imperial City where the Emperor resides is genuinely gold and jade in glorious splendor.
The Princess’s Mansion uses gold plating, having merely the color suffices, but the Inner Palace of the Imperial City truly uses pure gold as columns and jade as bricks, exhausting the Empire’s wealth to bring the supreme enjoyment to the Emperor.
When the Imperial Palace was remodeled, even saying it was a waste of resources doesn’t suffice; truly, "one palace built, ten thousand skeletons wither."
Due to the Emperor’s oppressive tyranny and forced labor, in just one year, the number of laborers who died and commoners who lost everything reached a million.
Even with the national power of the Celestial Destiny Empire, this is enough to cause significant damage, yet all of this was just for His Majesty the Emperor to expand the palace.
The most ironic part is that during the most intensive construction period in Celestial Destiny Imperial City, the citizens who died from forced labor and poverty that year exceeded those who died at the hands of the Demon Race.
The Emperor is no Demon Race, yet he kills more skillfully than the Demon Race, even the destructive Demons sometimes give their enemy a quick death, and it’s even heard that some demons don’t wish to kill.
Even the Demon Race has good demons, but the emperor is a full-fledged demon.
Lynn feels no psychological burden to kill such a human emperor, even if, by a forceful calculation, he could already be considered half his father-in-law.
"Who goes there! Halt!"
Step by step, as Lynn approached the Imperial City, the guards at the gate were naturally not blind; they spotted Lynn striding forth at the first moment.
"Ahead lies the restricted area of the Imperial City; intruders shall die!"
Seeing Lynn not stopping after being questioned, and showing no intention of revealing his identity, the guards immediately shouted stern warnings.
Due to the emperor’s nature, it’s impossible for either the nobility or high officials to possess a passage order; without an imperial summons, anyone attempting to enter the Imperial City commits a grave crime.
"He... he is Lynn! The one the Chief Steward instructed us to watch for! Quick, report inside! Hurry!"
As Lynn walked a bit closer, a sharp-eyed guard finally saw his face clearly and was frightened by the visitor.
The legendary high-level Saint Tier, the person whom the Chief Steward specifically instructed them to report immediately has truly arrived!
"Run faster, let him count his own days of doom."
As Lynn walked all the way to the base of the Imperial City, nobody dared to lay a hand on him, even the most dutiful guards knew their lives mattered more than their salary.
What a joke; how many silver coins do I earn per month, and they expect me to stop a high-level Saint Tier?
Pah! If it weren’t for them providing food and payment, who would protect this emperor?
So, when Lynn forcibly entered the Imperial City, aside from closing the gate, the outermost guards did nothing to resist.
They simply stood there, watching as Lynn kicked down the heavy steel gate and burst in; no one dared to raise their weapons against him.
Even those with timid hearts dared not grip their weapons too tightly, fearing to cause a small misunderstanding that might cost them their lives.
"Lynn has broken in!"
Once Lynn had stormed in and walked away, the guards on the outer perimeter of the Imperial City began to discard their armor and weapons, wailing as if crushed by an army.
...
...
As Lynn delved deeper, he finally encountered scattered resistance.
The Emperor, rich and powerful, always entices some who hold illusions to die for him willingly.
And then they truly sell their lives, but it’s a pity one can only sell it once.
"Those who don’t want to die, stand aside; those who do, come forth!"
Lynn deliberately wielded a coarse iron sword he’d bought on the way, cutting into the crowd; even his backup weapons or collection pieces, he’d deem too dirty.
Any Divine Blood is fouled beyond tolerable, not even a drop wants to be tainted.
With Lynn’s overwhelming level, even using a measly level-10 White Iron Sword against the so-called Royal Guard, he can cut down scores.
Without utilizing any skills, simply using the Basic Swordsmanship, learnable by warriors at level 7, there’s not one Royal Guard who can withstand a strike from him.
As for defense, don’t make me laugh; should they breach his defenses, he’d tear off the level-800 War Armor he wears beneath his knightly attire!
"Slash..."
"Slash..."
"Clang."
The sound of blood spraying and weapons clattering continues unabated; Lynn charges straight through the crowd, without pausing even once.
Because those he faced were not demons, just enablers of tyranny, Lynn did not allow them a particularly gruesome death, usually granting a swift one.
Only because they were plentiful yet weak, a single sweep typically cut down many at once, inevitably leaving some unfortunate enough to be sliced in half or lose limbs.
Amidst the flying flesh and a rain of blood, Lynn furrowed his brows tightly; though he mentally tried not to regard them as people, merely NPCs or grindable creatures, the real slaughter still discomforted him somewhat.
Everyone harbors kindness and malice, but Lynn only has kindness, for he currently feels extremely nauseated.
The absence of censorship turning the blood green truly causes discomfort; previously, cutting down a necromancer in the underground lair meant less due to their sparse numbers, unable to form the idea of blood rivers.
The main point is, former necromancers are humanoid monsters within the game; Lynn had killed them frequently and easily, but now with the Royal Guard... this was his first creation of a bloody inferno.
Yet, Lynn felt no pity for them; from the moment they chose to serve the emperor, none among them was innocent.
...
"Commander Stern! Quickly send someone strong to stop him! His Majesty needs time to transfer!"
The urgently arrived Imperial Chief Steward was an effeminate middle-aged man, presumably a eunuch, but wielded great authority within the palace; even the Legion Commander of the Royal Guard had to heed his orders.
"Who to send that’s not doomed? Even if I personally confront him, could I withstand three minutes or five?"
Commander Stern blew his greying beard high with anger.
What small genius dared to offend a high-level Saint Tier, didn’t they know the strongest among this Royal Guard isn’t yet level 650?
Don’t mention the few who aren’t willing to lay down their lives for the emperor; even if the entire legion united, they might not withstand a high-level Saint Tier’s assault.
The reason they’re rated above the 700-level cut, compared to experienced 600-level Saints, is justified.
If three to five seasoned Saints joined forces, perhaps they’d contend with one high-level Saint, yet His Majesty dispatched top-tier domestic experts abroad or to the battlefield, driving away a significant portion; where to gather several experienced Saints now?
Among the Empire’s prominent noble families, such a lineup could easily form, but who at present will stand against him?
Likely, many among them hope for this generation’s emperor’s demise too...
No solution here, it’s a persistent division of interests between the crown and nobility over generations, with this emperor indulging the least and seizing the most.
The common folks wanting him dead is one thing; amongst the nobility, besides a few staunch loyalists, many also wish to replace him.
"You think you’re capable? Handle it yourself; my missus is calling me home for dinner."
The strongest within the Imperial City, Commander Stern, waved off the Chief Steward dismissively, departing promptly.
With his prowess, he feared no revenge from the emperor; none under him could kill him, at worst he’d flee abroad; for such an emperor, risking his life to confront an unwinnable foe was utterly worthless!