novelraw Chapter 37 : Chapter 37
Chapter 37 : Chapter 37
Chapter 37. Remington Huiyin
At the same time, in the Demi-Human Empire, within the imperial capital known as the “City of Ten Thousand Beasts,” Ronax City.
Inside the throne hall, the air felt completely frozen.
Regent Remington Huiyin sat upon the golden throne that once belonged to his elder brother, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the armrest.
Below the throne, the empire’s ministers and generals all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
It had been half a year since the old emperor was “assassinated,” and Prince Alectos had “fled in fear of punishment.”
“Half a year,” Remington’s voice echoed through the hall, every word heavy with pressure.
“My nephew who murdered his father has vanished from the face of the world.”
“The empire’s spies, scouts, and you generals and ministers who claim to be the pillars of the empire—none of you can tell me where he actually is.”
A bear-man general with graying fur stepped forward, his voice deep and heavy.
“Your Highness the Regent, we have already sealed all checkpoints leading to the human kingdoms and intensified patrols of the southern Dragon Mountain Range.”
“Prince Alectos… it is impossible for him to have escaped the empire’s borders.”
“Impossible?” Remington sneered.
“Then where is he now?”
“Is he hiding in some cave eating dirt?”
“A prince of the empire—alive or dead, I want to see him!”
“If he cannot be found, my position as regent will never truly be secure!”
He knew it very well.
Although he had suppressed all opposing voices with iron-fisted force and nailed Alectos to the pillar of shame with the accusation of patricide, as long as Alectos was still alive, he would always remain a usurper.
Those hidden dovish nobles within the empire were like venomous snakes waiting for the right moment to strike.
Just then, a guard hurried into the hall and knelt on one knee.
“Your Highness, Karl, a centurion of Shadow Claw, has urgent military intelligence to report.”
Remington frowned.
“Let him enter.”
Karl, clad in black leather armor, walked into the hall.
He looked exhausted, and a fresh scar ran across his face that had not yet fully healed.
Without wasting words, he presented an Image Crystal.
“Your Highness, we lost the target in the Dragon Mountain Range.”
“This is our final discovery.”
Remington accepted the crystal and injected Mana into it.
An image immediately projected into the air.
Several corpses appeared in the projection.
They were demi-human assassins who had been sent in the first assassination attempt.
Their bodies were frozen within black ice crystals.
Their expressions were permanently locked in the moment of terror.
The sharp facets of the ice crystals radiated a chilling energy that seemed to freeze the very soul.
The temperature within the hall seemed to drop several degrees.
“What kind of magic is this?” Remington’s voice sounded dry.
Karl lowered his head.
“We do not know.”
“But based on the residual energy, the caster must be at least peak Fifth Tier.”
“The strength of the Shadow Claw unit was insufficient.”
“We… did not dare to continue the pursuit.”
“Useless trash!”
Remington smashed the Image Crystal onto the ground.
The crystal shattered into fragments, and the projection abruptly vanished.
Fifth Tier.
Why would an unknown Fifth Tier powerhouse protect Alectos?
Was it some hidden family?
Or had someone from the human side intervened?
This unknown variable filled him with a rare sense of irritation and unease.
He waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw.
The ministers and generals felt as if they had been granted amnesty.
They quickly retreated from the hall.
Soon, the vast throne hall was left with Remington alone.
He walked toward the window and gazed out at the bustling City of Ten Thousand Beasts.
Yet his mood did not improve in the slightest.
He felt as if he were sitting atop a barrel of gunpowder, and Alectos was the fuse that could ignite it at any moment.
“Your Highness seems quite troubled.”
A hoarse voice suddenly emerged from the shadowed corner of the hall.
Remington’s body stiffened for a moment before relaxing.
He did not turn around.
Instead, he spoke coldly.
“Your people failed.”
“Even Blood Withering could not kill him.”
A figure cloaked in gray slowly stepped out of the shadows.
There was no energy fluctuation emanating from him.
He appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary person.
But Remington knew that this was precisely what made him terrifying.
“A minor accident,” the gray-robed man said.
“Those assassins were merely an appetizer we prepared for Your Highness.”
“Was not the real force, the Shadow Claw unit, also unable to accomplish anything?”
Remington turned around and stared at the gray-robed figure.
“I need an explanation.”
“Why did a Fifth Tier mage suddenly appear beside my nephew?”
“That is not important.”
The gray-robed man spread his hands.
“What matters is that he is still alive.”
“A living prince with legitimate royal blood will always remain a threat to Your Highness' rule.”
“I know that!” Remington roared.
“Therefore,” the gray-robed man continued, his voice carrying a strangely persuasive tone, “continuing to hunt him may no longer be the best choice.”
“Think about it.”
“Why are there still people within the empire who refuse to accept your rule?”
“Because they believe that if Alectos returns, everything will revert to the past.”
“They still cling to that illusion.”
Remington fell silent.
The gray-robed man continued speaking.
“To shatter that illusion, a greater crisis is needed.”
“A crisis that will unite all demi-humans around you.”
“A crisis that will make everyone forget about that runaway prince.”
“You mean…” Remington narrowed his eyes.
“War.”
The gray-robed man spoke two simple words.
“A war against an external enemy.”
“You want a full-scale war?” Remington rejected the idea immediately.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“The cost of a full-scale war is far too great.”
“Besides, the Holy Church and the Valeria Empire will not sit idly by.”
“No.”
The gray-robed man shook his head.
“Not a full-scale war.”
“Only a localized war aimed at a single target.”
“A wealthy, isolated target that has just gained a new ruler.”
He raised his finger and traced a direction through the air.
“The Northern Territory.”
Remington’s breathing paused for a moment.
The Northern Territory.
The northernmost land of the human kingdom.
Although the region remained frozen year-round and was unsuitable for agriculture, it possessed abundant mineral resources and lay far from the kingdom’s political center.
Recent intelligence reported that the king had handed the territory to an inexperienced young princess as Acting Governor.
It was the perfect prey.
“A war targeting the Northern Territory,” the gray-robed man said persuasively.
“In the name of the Regent, you will call upon all hawkish nobles to expand the empire’s borders.”
“Those fence-sitters will have no choice but to support you once the war horns sound.”
“As for the dovish faction still hoping for Alectos' return, they will be branded as traitors to their own kind.”
“The furious masses will tear them apart.”
Remington’s heartbeat began to accelerate.
He had to admit that the proposal was extremely tempting.
A victorious war could wash away every negative consequence of his usurpation and transform him into the empire’s true hero and ruler.
“We can help you,” the gray-robed man said, revealing his final bargaining chip.
“Our followers have already infiltrated the Northern Territory.”
“We can provide you with the most accurate intelligence.”
“We can even create the perfect excuse to begin the war.”
“Furthermore, in the name of our ‘god,’ we can ‘bless’ your army, making them stronger and more fearless.”
Remington stared at the darkness beneath the man’s hood.
He knew these people were devils.
Making deals with devils always required a price.
But right now, courage to gamble everything was the one thing he possessed in abundance.
“Why should I trust you?”
“Because we share a common enemy.”
The gray-robed man chuckled softly.
“The human kingdom.”
“Their peace is our threat.”
“You will gain the Northern Territory.”
“We will eliminate a threat.”
“That seems like a very profitable deal, does it not?”
Remington began pacing back and forth across the hall.
He was clearly tempted.
Rather than passively waiting for threats to arrive, it was better to strike first and crush every unstable element beneath the empire’s iron hooves.
His footsteps suddenly stopped.
“Very well.”
Flames ignited in Remington’s eyes.
“We will proceed exactly as you suggest.”
“I will plant the banner of the Huiyin family upon every inch of land in the Northern Territory.”
“I will make everyone understand who the true master of the Demi-Human Empire is!”
The gray-robed man bowed deeply.
His figure merged back into the shadows and vanished.
“Guards!”
Remington roared toward the empty hall.
Several generals hurried inside.
“Transmit my orders!” Remington declared with unquestionable authority.
“The First, Second, and Fifth Legions will assemble at the border of the Northern Territory.”
“Conduct military readiness exercises under the pretext of eliminating human bandits who have crossed the border and safeguarding the empire’s frontier!”
“In addition, issue a national proclamation.”
“Announce that the former prince Alectos has defected to the human kingdom and is colluding with the Northern Territory’s ruler to divide the empire.”
“Anyone who provides information about him will receive a reward of ten thousand gold and be granted the title of Viscount!”
Although Remington had no idea where Alectos had actually gone, fabricating a charge was easy enough.
The dark clouds of war began drifting toward the southern frontier of the Demi-Human Empire.
Meanwhile, Winter City was still immersed in the joy of reform and rebirth.
No one there had the slightest idea that a storm was rapidly approaching.