Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Chapter 404: Ascending the Throne (1/2)
Chapter 427: Chapter 404: Ascending the Throne
The earth exuded the scent of rain, and under the gaze of the surrounding people, Darren simply nodded calmly, accepting the surrender of the Adley Royal Family from a superior stance.
In that moment, the people who had come to surrender all breathed a sigh of relief, as they had always feared “Iron Mask Man” Darren from the Fischer family would plunder and massacre the Imperial City.
Darren looked around, frowning.
With considerable concern, he looked at the old man and asked, “Why? Why have only the five of you from the Adley Royal Family come here? Give me a valid reason, why are the others not here?”
“Because…”
The old man bowed his head, his expression complex, and after hesitating for a long while, he chose to speak the truth without concealment:
“Cardinal Albert of the Salvation Church took most of the members of the Adley Royal Family away. Those people are now with the Salvation Church in the Lorne Empire and they will never return to Cyart.”
“They will never pose a threat to the Fischer family again.”
Hmm, taken away by the people of the Salvation Church…
Seeking refuge?
After hearing this, Darren’s frown deepened, quickly realizing this was no small threat; however, since those people had already been taken away, it was too late to stop them.
He chuckled coldly, his eyes filled with a chilling intent that terrified the old man.
“It’s no wonder they’re called the ‘Weird Light’, who can manipulate spatial powers so swiftly.”
In fact, deep down Darren was well aware that the Salvation Church had ample reason to intervene in worldly matters, since the Adley Royal Family were descendants of ancient saints of the Church, with Divine Blood flowing through their veins. They couldn’t sit by and watch the Divine Blood clan be completely wiped out.
“Let it be, then.”
Darren slowly shook his head, contemplating deep inside.
“Retreating ten thousand steps, not encountering them in the act of withdrawing is also a blessing. After all, ‘Weird Light’ could instantly subdue Uncle Chris, and I’m probably no match for him either, not to mention people like Aldrich might be unpredictable…”
Darren was already well informed about Cardinal Albert, the “Weird Light” of the Salvation Church. He knew that this top-level power wielder could freely manipulate spatial forces, always surrounded by an invisible spatial barrier, possessing near invincible defenses, unapproachable even by ordinary Monarch Transcendents.
Even among the many fearsome beings at the upper-tier Monarch level, Cardinal “Weird Light” ranked as one of the strongest.
“And no matter what, we cannot truly come to blows with the big figures of the Church.”
Even after taking Cyart, he was well aware of his place.
After all, Cyart was only a small Eastern kingdom, and the power wielded by the Fischer family was limited; they dared not and could not provoke the Salvation Church, one of the most powerful True Gods Churches.
Though the Six Great True Gods Churches were not allowed to directly intervene in secular conflicts, retaliating against an aggressor was undoubtedly within the permissible scope of actions.
“You’ve made the right choice.”
Darren spoke calmly to the old man, void of joy or sorrow.
“Lead the way, take me to the Imperial Palace.”
Since it was not necessary to exterminate all members of the Adley Royal Family, there was no need to strike against the few who remained; it also gave face to Queen Peggy Adler.
With the heavy footsteps of men and the neighing of horses, the conquerors slowly entered the bustling yet serene city. Their weapons glistened with a cold light in the sunshine, and every step they took proclaimed the arrival of a new order.
The people on both sides of the streets shut their doors tightly, casting fearful and complex looks through the cracks of the windows. Mothers hugged their children close, and the elderly bowed their heads with sighs, their hearts filled with unease and anxiety about the unknown.
Aldrich followed close by Darren, taking a deep breath.
It was fortunate that the Siyate Imperial City did not completely succumb to the flames of war. Most of the city’s people had been sacrificed during the early stages of the Plague of the Dead, or had died from subsequent events. It would have been terrible indeed if “Iron Mask Man” Darren were to commit further slaughter.
In his heart, he harbored some fear towards Darren, sensing vaguely that the man was always suppressing something deep within himself.
It was a terrifying madness! It was as if he wanted to burn everything to ash!
“His Excellency Bain was a kind and gentle man, yet one of his successors, Darren Fischer, is a completely different ‘madman.’ It’s probably the existence of the Fischer family that acts as a lifeline to his sanity, preventing him from plunging completely into darkness.”
As the troops of the Northern Kingdom Army penetrated deeper, the atmosphere in the city grew increasingly oppressive. Yet within this oppression was mixed a subtle anticipation of the end of the old order and the possibility of something new.
Although this hope was buried deep beneath the people’s fear, it was impossible to detect.
Along the way, Darren issued his orders calmly.
“No one in the army shall harass the people. No wanton destruction, no arson. Anyone who disobeys will be sentenced to death.”
When the army finally reached the outskirts of the Imperial Palace, and as people’s gazes lingered on the grand building symbolizing power, the atmosphere of victorious joy reached its peak.
The palace gates were pushed open amidst a thunderous roar, and the ancient and solemn aura rushed towards them.