Chapter 696 - Rudolf’s Stratagem 1 (1/2)

Chapter 696: Rudolf’s Stratagem 1

Baroque Empire.

The Empire, which had been proud of its heritage and wins over the last 500 years, was entering the decline with every passing day.

The nation was divided because of the civil war, and the Emperor’s exploitation and the rebels in the various places almost turned it into rags.

Emperor Rudolf lost the support of the denominations and the people’s sentiment as a result of his effort to increase the military strength of the Empire by diverting the Empire’s funds.

The military power, which was regarded to be the strongest in the continent, wasn’t the same as before.

The power of the Sword Emperor and the SS Knights under the command were still strong, but due to the frequent wars, the power was decaying from below.

As the nation’s livelihood declined, officers and knights began to embezzle the funds to fill their vaults, and the soldiers deserted their roles whenever they felt in crisis.

Because of that, winning in a war turned impossible.

And that was why the recent war with the Volga Republic ended without any benefit to the Empire.

Enraged Emperor Rudolf, found out those rats who ate away his funds and punished them, but nothing of significant change in the Empire.

Nobody said anything, but everyone knew that the Empire was in its current state because of the Emperor.

The lower-powered nobles were often residing in their manors or took refuge in other nations.

Those who couldn’t hide or run away would sigh and wait for their savior to appear and end the hellish time they were having to endure.

That was how things were.

Strange rumors circulated in various parts of the Empire, including Nemesis.

Nemesis, Imperial palace.

There were two people in the Emperor’s office.

It was Rudolf behind the ornate desk, and Count Voltas, bowing in front of him.

“Count, did you hear the strange rumor in the capital?”

When Rudolf asked, Voltas began to sweat.

He did think that it was strange as Rudolf suddenly summoned it, but he didn’t think that Rudolf would have heard the rumors which were spreading throughout the Empire.

Voltas replied as calmly as he could.

“It is just a rumor which some spies must have told. We are searching for them and will punish them right away, so please don’t stress over it…”

“That so?”

Rudolf, who was holding his chin with his hand, remained silent for a moment and then spoke once again.

“Even then, it is a little weird.”

“Weird?”

Rudolf, who got up from his seat, continued to speak by pointing to the map in the office.

“I hate to admit it, but it is true that there are people in this world who have the power to kill me. Luke de Rakan and my half-brother Reichard…”

The Emperor who had a bitter smile on his face, soon had a frown and anger registered on his face.

The most promising candidate to kill him came to his mind.

Arsene, the indestructible monster of the Veritas Magic tower!

“Why is it? Why is the name of a princess who suddenly disappeared 500 years back leaving people alone, being heard once again?”

The last princess of the old Libiya Kingdom and her knights will return one day and destroy the blood of Karno de Baroque!

And the flag of the forgotten kingdom will flutter once again!

That was the rumor which had been circulating in the Empire.

Count Voltas released informants to investigate who was the one who made that ghost story.

Some said that it was said by an old elf astrologer, while the others said that it was heard in a temple of Goddess Belize.

There was also a story about an old priest from the South.

The bottom line, it was impossible to trace it back to the definite origin.

If it was the work of the neighboring nations, they would have immediately found out the spies and punished them for spreading such rumors, but it seemed too absurd for the neighboring nations to use a princess who died hundreds of years back.

“We are seeing it as an act of Libiya Kingdom, and we asked for a detailed investigation to be carried out.”

“Reichard’s work… is that really his?”

Instead of a princess who disappeared hundreds of years back, Reichard would have used his mother, who was killed unjustly, and emphasized his own Dragon blood and the former Emperor whose reason for death wasn’t clear.

‘Anyway, there is something which came to my mind because of that b*tch princess being mentioned.’

The ruins under the Imperial Palace.

The ruins, which were destroyed during the escape of Count Ferrero, were currently being restored and investigated.

From what Rudolf knew, the ruins were created by ancient wizards who sought after the power of Time.

The research hadn’t moved much, so he had forgotten about it, but because of the recent rumors, he got reminded of it again.

‘I need to find out how things are going on down there.’

Rudolf wanted to head down to the ruins, and if there was no progress, he would blow the throats of the wizards who were working down there.

These days, he didn’t really like the Imperial Magic Tower.

It has been several times since the production of the Gigants was disrupted, and the loyalty to the Imperial family had also declined, and some wizards were secretly fleeing away.

During the last war with the Volga Republic, the Iron Mages deserted their positions.

And escaping into the enemy camp after the desertion of post was considered to be a felony, but they had the audacity to sabotage the Gigants to run away.

Breaking the core parts and turning the magic stones into counterfeit ones.

The bigger problem was to inform Volga men of their actions, and causing the Baroque to lose the war.

For that reason, the Marquis and Meister of the Imperial Magic Tower, Kepler, took responsibility and withdrew.

Rudolf didn’t have any other people who could replace him, so Kepler was asked to return, but even then, Rudolf didn’t have the power to place his trust in the Tower.

And his patience was limited.

If they showed disappointing results again, Rudolf decided that he would clean up the Imperial magic tower.

‘It was an atmosphere where the republicans and the rebels who have separated their paths would avoid the war for a time being. In this time, I need to clean up that Imperial tower and build a new one to replace it.’

Rudolf decided firmly and went to visit the ruins.

As the Emperor silently went over along with his SS Knights, the wizards who noticed them in the ruins were flustered.