novelraw #159 - Section 159
#159 - Section 159
As long as their equipment without magic fluctuations is not exposed, the City of Mysteries will be the nightmare of all intelligence organizations and dark domains.
However, currently, apart from the operation against the Tianming Army, Roger restrains the Dark Night Guard's eagerness to take credit, not allowing them to further disturb the spies from other countries infiltrating the empire, merely monitoring and observing.
Water that is too clear has no fish; if the empire truly becomes an information black hole, and various hostile forces continuously send new spies, they will discover their little secrets sooner or later.
At that time, their crushing advantage might turn into a dark war where enemies also develop, mutually upgrading intelligence technology and equipment.
So why ask for trouble?
Now they have a grasp of the enemies' locations and actions, they can control the information the enemy spies obtain and guide their actions.
Rounding it off, these enemy spies are basically their own people being paid by the other side. Why would anyone be so foolish as to ruin this great situation?
This wave is only because Tianming Instructor is openly targeting them, and the empire needs to obtain intelligence from her, so they conveniently wiped out the main force of the Tianming Army.
Roger always believes in eliminating the root of the problem. Besides the City of Mysteries, the Dark Night Guards in other locations have also taken action, arresting the remaining Tianming Army members in the area based on clues.
According to professional analysis, with the capture of Shati Veronica(夏蒂·维罗妮卡: Shati Veronica), the remaining Tianming Army members will probably find it difficult to hold on for long and will collapse on their own over time.
However, the empire has not been without losses.
The dark sentries around Dio's residence only feigned death, having prepared means to negate fatal injuries, so it was just a very realistic performance, with no actual casualties.
However, the guards thatMargaret brought were not so lucky, as it was Shati's spur-of-the-moment decision.
Additionally, several civilians who strayed into the battlefield were executed on the spot by the Tianming Army to prevent leaks.
In the subsequent battle, spatial lockdown was carried out to protect Dio, and the dissipated power was confined within the subspace, minimizing the damage to the City of Mysteries.
However, the city defense forces do not know much about these inside details. The Dark Night Guard and the military system are parallel to each other, and they did not report all the details toMargaret, only briefly informing her of the enemy's losses and our own losses.
Hearing that all of her guards had died in battle,Margaret inevitably felt some sorrow and anger.
Those guards had followed her for quite some time, fighting in the north and south, having weathered so many storms, yet they didn't expect to be ambushed by the enemy in the imperial capital, with not a single one surviving.
She ordered in a cold voice: "Investigate this matter thoroughly, find out the identity of the assassins, and never let them get away with it!"
The city defense commander nodded in agreement and left to carry out the order.
Higgs, the Gold Sleeve from the Dark Night Guard, did not answer immediately, his gaze strange.
The leader of the Tianming Army has been captured, and the main force has either been captured or killed. How could they possibly get away with it?
Contemplating the confidentiality regulations, now that the operation against the Tianming Army has been perfectly concluded, it seems that some information can be appropriately disclosed to the public, right?
Continuing to conceal it is just a redundant waste of the empire's manpower and resources, isn't it?
He confirmed that his logic should be correct, took a step forward, and reported toMargaret, who was still in the dark: "Reporting to the Left Prime Minister, there is no need to investigate this matter. The Dark Night Guard has already obtained detailed intelligence about the enemy. If you wish to learn more, you can apply to our Commander."
Margaret: ???
City Defense Commander: ???
After a moment of stunned silence,Margaret couldn't help but show anger: "You have detailed intelligence, yet you allowed the enemy to run rampant in the City of Mysteries, putting me and LordDio in danger?"
Higgs helplessly had to tell the truth: "Madam, LordDio was cooperating in the performance, and our Commander also arranged for someone to take care of the aftermath. Theoretically, there was no danger, so it doesn't count as being in danger..."
"Just because that kidRoger says it doesn't count? It's clearly that kid's misjudgment. If Lord Dio's hidden strength wasn't high enough, you might be here to collect our corpses!"Margaret became increasingly angry.
She spoke out on behalf of her subordinates and also on behalf ofDio!
Roger, you idiot!
Having a lot of intelligence and still causing this kind of thing, I would never do that if it were me!
Higgs suppressed his anger, stiffened his neck, and said: "Lord Charles's arrangement was not a problem."
He emphasized "Lord Charles" heavily, remindingMargaret: Although you are the Prime Minister, you are also a Marquis, please be polite to my Lord, don't call him that kid this kid!
"Oh? Are you Dark Night Guards so confident?"Margaret saw that this Dark Night Guard dared to argue with her, and her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Should she cripple one of his eyes again and have him become a demon hunter?
Higgs sensed that Margaret's mood was not right, but he did not back down, meeting her gaze calmly.
His right hand, wearing the Eight-Armed Space Gauntlet, was clenched, ready to strike.
Although he had been recruited by the government, he still had the air of a wandering knight, and he was also impressed by Roger's strength and wealth. He was very angry at the way this mixed-blood little devil was giving orders!
Many Dark Night Guards sensed that the atmosphere was not right and also came over, standing behind their Gold Sleeve Lord.
Unknowingly, Roger's prestige among the Dark Night Guards had become extremely high.
Even if the Prime Minister criticized and disrespected their Commander, they could not tolerate it!
Roger had cultivated the arrogance of the Dark Night Guards with continuous victories, extreme favoritism, and ample resources.
These professionals, whose average age did not exceed twenty-five, had killed countless dukes.
They recognized no one but the Empress and their own Commander, and they gave no one any face!
The city defense commander looked left and right, and found that there was no one he could afford to offend, so he tried to minimize his presence.
"Rebellion, rebellion, the empire's spies are going to rebel! I just asked if your work was in place, and you are going to attack the empire's Prime Minister?"Margaret was both angry and aggrieved.
TMD, I am a dignified Left Prime Minister, and I was just attacked, yet I casually complained a few words, and now I am going to be cut down by the Dark Night Guard?
You are really great Qing loyalists!
Just as the two sides were on the verge of conflict, a figure cut off Margaret's line of sight and also blocked Higgs's attack route.
Roger walked over with a faint smile on his lips: "Mary, if you want to know more intelligence, you can just ask me directly. I really didn't expect to involve you today. I'm sorry."
SeeingDio, Margaret's gaze instantly softened.
She quickly said: "Dio, don't apologize. I'm not targeting you. You're also a victim. It's all these Dark Night Guards who have intelligence but don't do anything..."
Roger said seriously: "I deeply sympathize with the fate of your guards. But the Dark Night Guard has done everything they can to complete their work. There are some misunderstandings here. I'll explain it to you later, okay?"
"Of course, that's fine.Dio, if you have something to do, go ahead and be busy..."Margaret lowered her head.
Dio's gentle words made her feel as if she had indeed gone a little too far?
"Thank you for understanding."
Roger, with his hand behind his back, waved vigorously atHiggs, signaling him to retreat quickly.
Margaret's information was insufficient, and she was concerned about the guards who had been with her for a long time. It was understandable that she questioned and suspected the work of the Dark Night Guard.
As forHiggs and other Dark Night Guards defending his reputation, it was a pleasant surprise.
Everyone is working for the empire, there is no need for internal friction.
Fortunately, after these days of getting along,Roger understood that this little ceiling fan has a personality that is soft rather than hard.
As long as he lowers his stance, takes the initiative to apologize, and says some soft words, things can be muddled through like this as long as it does not involve the Eternal Night Empress.
After comfortingMargaret with a few words,Roger pulledShati out of the dirt and teleported her to Maple Leaf Shadow Moon Palace.
Chapter 139 Come, the Inner Demon Domain is Served
The Eternal Night Empress received Roger's message and, knowing that he had controlled Shati Veronica(夏蒂·维罗妮卡: Shati Veronica), teleported back from the abyss to Maple Leaf Shadow Moon Palace to wait for him to bring the person over.
Tianming Instructor had fantasized countless times about breaking into the imperial empress's bedroom.
However, in the scene she imagined, she was leading a large army to break through the defenses of the Imperial Guard, looking down from above, looking disdainfully at the trembling Eternal Night Empress, and declaring to the world "Veronica will always come back."
Then, with a flick of her finger, she would blow up her dog's head.
But the reality was thatShati was wearing a magic-suppressing head ring produced by the Arcane Society and personally supervised by the Eternal Night Empress, unable to mobilize any magic power, and walked into the empress's bedroom like an ordinary person.
The Eternal Night Empress stood with her hands behind her back, looking down from above, gazing atShati with disdain.
But fate is indeed interesting. Both women were princesses who didn't have serious business back then, but now one is the leader of a rebel army and the other is an unprecedented empress, with completely different developments.
One victory and one defeat, and the momentum is even more worlds apart.
Actually, this was not the first timeShati had seen the Eternal Night Empress. When Ashford City was broken,Shati was protected by loyal guards and retreated to the secret passage, and she saw Xiao Ao charging at the front and blasting through the city wall with a wave of her hand from afar.
Even though she was an enemy, she still felt a little bit of handsomeness.
The Eternal Night Empress was really seeing this last member of theVeronica royal family for the first time, looking her up and down with a playful smile.
Her appearance was indeed beautiful, and her figure was okay. Despite being defeated, her demeanor was surprisingly well maintained.
But the most wonderful thing was this stubborn expression of unwillingness to accept the reality of defeat. It was really interesting!
Shati felt uncomfortable being watched, and could only force a expressionless face, using a nonchalant tone: "I was one step short. I admit defeat. Give me a quick death."
The Eternal Night Empress pretended to think seriously and said: "AuntShati, are you sure you were just one step short?"
Shati's expression almost collapsed.
Who is your aunt? Am I that old?
Moreover, since I have already lost, what is the point of counting how many steps I lost.
This vicious female emperor is not going to kill people!
Fortunately, Shati's mentality has been honed after so many ups and downs over the years, and she said in a deep voice: "Stop talking nonsense! Anyway, no matter what your plans are, I will not cooperate. Don't have any wishful thinking!"
The Eternal Night Empress showed a regretful expression: "If you properly explain the plans of the Seven Gods, I might really consider giving you a quick death."
"I'm sorry, don't say I don't know, even if I know, I won't say a word."
"It seems you hate the empire very much. We are clearly all humans... The Seven Gods are the common enemy of our world."
Shati smiled, but her eyes were full of resentment: "The enemy of the world is something that emperors like you need to consider. I am just a slave of a fallen country, and I only remember that you ruined my life, burned down the palace where I grew up, and killed my relatives..."
Roger, listening to this almost self-destructive statement, couldn't help but show a look of disgust.
In the game, the Tianming Instructor always waved the banner of "overthrowing the empress's tyrannical rule."
The Qing Teng Empire was militaristic and levied excessive taxes. Seeing the people at the bottom living in misery, players easily believed that she represented justice.
However, in this world, the Qing Teng Empire has not yet committed those mistakes.
On the contrary, the empire has just conducted a round of grand trials against the nobles, and the living standards of the people under its rule are leading the Eternal Night World, and it is hoped that it will continue to improve with the increase in national power.
Shati still maintained a strong hostility towards the Qing Teng Empire, revealing the characteristics of an avenger's paranoia, conservatism, backwardness, and selfishness.
If you really want to calculate it,Shati has killed moreVeronica people than the empire...
It's just that a princess like her would not sympathize with the people at the bottom, nor would she count those ordinary citizens as being killed.
She only remembers that her happy life is gone, and the glory of Veronica's empire is gone.
The so-called mentor is just one of the pawns of the Seven Gods, using her hatred to create a situation.
AndShati provoked more people, including players, to carry out this situation, which eventually led to the destruction of the empire.
The winner is the king, and the loser is the bandit. History is always written by the victors, and it has nothing to do with Shati's starting point, personality, or awareness.
Fortunately,Roger, as an Eternal Scholar, had already noticed this in the later game cycles.
But watching the goddess persona in the game collapse with his own eyes, and being so ugly under the beautiful skin, he was also very uncomfortable.
It was as if he had entrusted his pure feelings to a green tea, and found that all the beauty and happiness were false, deceptive, and unreal...
At this moment, he just wanted to shout: rnm's production team, refund the money!
BecauseRoger used the Phantom Dream Shield again in the battle, and had to withstand Shati's combat mage's extremely high attack power, as well as the magic he released to wash the ground, his mental power consumption was very serious.
The Eternal Night Empress could not hear Roger's inner voice, but seeing his expression change in the corner of her eye was enough to confirm that his understanding ofShati was even deeper, and his disgust had increased several levels at the same time.
This conversation, the evil empress did it on purpose.
AlthoughRoger had "sold"Shati to her, as a woman, she still had some doubts and worries about the relationship betweenRoger andShati.
In her opinion, this was some sinister and vicious old man taking advantage of her man's youth and ignorance, so he left behind a beautiful past.
Memories are always beautiful, and men always have a white moonlight and cinnabar mole in their hearts. The Eternal Night Empress did not want to become that pool of mosquito blood in the end.
Knowing that Roger's sense of justice was very strong and he sympathized with the people at the bottom, the Eternal Night Empress believed that as long as she provokedShati to make a self-destructive speech, it would be enough to directly blow up their past friendship.
Although she could not guess the specific relationship between the two, the current results showed that the Eternal Night Empress's combat goal had been achieved.
After all, theShati of this timeline had no friendship withRoger at all. He was just the target of her gambling agreement task.
So,Shati did not care at all what impression he had of her.
Of course,Shati would not care what the real players thought.
Just a pawn, that's all. If this one doesn't want to complete the mission, then we'll just replace them.jpg
So, in the end, the Eternal Night Empress won this secret war of favorability completely.