Chapter 102: Undercurrents Beneath the Celebration
Shady Veronica, known as the “Saint of Dawn,” was naturally extremely cautious.
If she wanted to capture Roger, she had to thoroughly analyze all intelligence about him first.
Without intelligence, how could she formulate a battle plan, a backup battle plan, and a backup for the backup battle plan…
In short, she was doing everything she could, mobilizing all her channels, to collect every piece of information about Roger Charles.
Her investigation even extended to how many times he wet the bed each night as a child.
The elites of the Dawn Army faithfully carried out their instructor’s orders.
As for the mutterings about “psychological profiling” and “Laplace” during this period, they were beyond the understanding of ordinary people.
Shady poured all her energy into studying Roger.
Debt made her capable of anything.
Now, Shady possessed a comprehensive amount of information, but the more comprehensive it became, the more she felt he was a complex and contradictory person.
His life for the first sixteen years was unremarkable. Ordinary wastrels engage in evil deeds, but he was merely a useless brother who never even harbored ill intentions, just enjoying his poverty-stricken happiness.
There was no evidence that he had ever strived or attempted to strive.
This intelligence actually aligned well with the Roger that Shady sensed in her inner demon domain: precisely because he was too weak and useless, Shady had initially completely overlooked him.
As a result, this Roger became the Empress of Eternal Night’s trump card for a miraculous comeback.
Subsequent reports in the “Empress’s Eulogy” spoke of Roger as a young strongman who single-handedly suppressed the magical power of the combined Orc elite army.
The Dawn Army had investigated soldiers from both sides who participated in that battle through magical means and confirmed the reports were not false; Roger did indeed display combat power beyond the legendary level in that battle.
By Shady’s conservative calculation, Roger in that state was equivalent to one-tenth of the Empress of Eternal Night, undoubtedly the second strongest person in the empire.
She speculated that the Empress of Eternal Night had helped him disguise his strength to prevent anyone from targeting Roger, deterring hostile forces from easily making him a target.
But then she immediately thought, the Empress of Eternal Night was an unparalleled ruler who built the Azurevine Empire; how could she have such a simple plan?
If Roger had been falsely portraying himself all along, pretending to be weak while actually being strong to lure her in, wouldn’t he be walking right into a trap?
However, it was also possible that she wanted to promote Roger, but he lacked the strength to suppress the empire’s officials, so was there still a problem of insufficient power?
Going a step further, was she deliberately exposing herself to help Roger maintain his disguise, hoping to draw out domestic opposition?
Such contradictory information caused Shady to tear up her previously prepared battle plans, feeling completely lost in a fog of suspicion!
“As expected of the woman who established the Azurevine Empire; such subtle moves hold infinite variations. I must be cautious, cautious, and even more cautious. I absolutely cannot be hasty!”
Shady felt provoked by old Jostar, acting rashly at an earlier time, resulting in the Dawn Army achieving nothing and her plunging deeper into debt.
Capturing Roger was now her last stand; there could be no mistakes. Therefore, accurate intelligence became the utmost priority.
With a two-month mission timeframe, as long as she had a comprehensive plan to handle all variables in the end, even spending fifty-eight days in preparation would be worthwhile!
Like the ancient proverb from the East, crafting a +3 transcendent weapon could double the efficiency of chopping firewood!
Her cautious nature, if placed in a game, would be like a choice on a player’s quest list, leading step by step towards a perfect ending through combinations.
However, in the real world, without the Save and Load Method or exploited players, Shady had to choose the most feasible path herself…
This required all of Roger’s intelligence to formulate a targeted action plan!
To this end, she personally infiltrated Audou and found Duke Nancarniton, who was in dire need of money.
This Grand Duke had gambled his entire fortune on a heavy investment in grain, awaiting a major famine.
Unexpectedly, Magoklah appeared out of nowhere, causing grain prices to fall instead of rise. The southern nobles like him were already contemplating jumping off the city walls.
At this moment, Shady offered him a loan, the condition being to test the useless brother of the Charles family. He desperately grasped at it like a drowning man.
She was now using the methods of the God of Knowledge, which had played tricks on her, to ensnare the “players” engaged in speculation.
Duke Nancarniton’s villa, after Shady’s departure.
Cornelia Nancarniton, a delicate young girl with long purple hair and a height of only 1.5 meters.
Although not tall, she inherited the excellent features of her parents, possessed outstanding magical talent, and as Duke Nancarniton’s youngest daughter, she was pursued by a throng of noble youths.
However, Cornelia had never had a boyfriend.
She had no interest in those playboys with endless schemes and silver tongues, and she most admired young heroes who achieved great deeds on the battlefield.
For instance, Roger Charles, who had recently defeated the Orc coalition army on the battlefield, was the latest hero in her heart.
Although he was previously known as the useless brother, a prodigal son’s return is invaluable. As long as he continues to achieve great deeds, she could accept his minor flaws.
Cherishing a girlish dream, Cornelia learned that he would also attend the victory celebration ball tomorrow night and immediately became nervous.
She anticipated that there would be no shortage of superficial women viewing him as prey tomorrow!
Cornelia was always confident in her looks and family background, but when faced with competition from all the noble girls in Audou, she couldn’t help but feel anxious…
Compared to Audou, the South was still lagging significantly. No matter how rich or influential her family was, they couldn’t cultivate refined taste.
In her daily life, she already felt more provincial than young ladies of the same social standing in Audou.
If they were to compete for beauty at the ball, she feared it would be a tragedy…
But a magical girl always finds a solution!
However, upon seeing her private funds depleted by magical experiments, she couldn’t help but pout.
For a magical girl to make a comeback against the odds, she needed money!
With that, she ran to her father’s study.
Less than three minutes later, Cornelia, now huffing and puffing, stomped her little leather boots and swung her short legs towards her bedroom, muttering:
“Father has gone mad! He wouldn’t buy me the latest flagship-class Amdy magical makeup palette but instead acquired more food than we can possibly eat! I’m not speaking to him this month!”
Cornelia felt truly on the verge of madness.
The magical makeup palette was an advanced alchemical tool invented by the Secret Society, containing a series of modifications for facial appearance and boasting high expandability and autonomy.
Even noblewomen who couldn’t cast spells could use it to enhance their looks.
Although Cornelia was already an intermediate mage, she wasn’t skilled in transmutation spells. Messing with her face might result in a guide titled “From Makeup to Disfigurement.”
This led to the magical makeup palette being increasingly sought after by noblewomen.
Among them, those produced by the Intel and Amdy merchant guilds were the most high-end.
However, the iteration speed of Intel family’s magical makeup palettes in recent years was like squeezing toothpaste; it was far from the performance improvements of the Amdy family.
At the same level, Amdy significantly surpassed Intel in aspects like coloring speed, color gamut coverage, and shaping precision. It even boasted dark magic effects, which were incredibly powerful!
The old Intel loyalists could only boast about stability and compatibility.
However, with the support of the Secret Society, Amdy’s magical makeup palettes had also progressed rapidly.
Cornelia had her eye on Amdy’s latest flagship, the “Beauty Ripper.”
Unfortunately, Duke Nancarniton was solely focused on hoarding grain, waiting for the noble alliance to pressure the Empress of Eternal Night into prohibiting Magoklah circulation, causing grain prices to skyrocket.
The funds she had just received from Shady were all reinvested by him at the bottom to buy more grain, leaving him with no spare cash to buy Cornelia the latest magical makeup palette.
Returning to her room, Cornelia took out the previous generation’s “Magic Makeup Palette 3600” given to her by a good friend, preparing to give herself the most fashionable look.
Just then, a gorgeous dynamic effect popped up on the magic makeup palette’s screen:
“Limited Edition Magical Makeup and Fashion Combinations, Click to Receive!”
A series of combinations, tailored to her appearance with makeup, hairstyles, and outfits that were almost perfect, trendy, and beautiful, immediately made Cornelia’s eyes light up.
Although she hadn’t heard any of her friends mention that the Amdy family had held such an event, she was still captivated by those magical makeup looks.
Her slender, jade-like fingers tapped the screen:
“Before claiming, please sign the privacy agreement (147 pages total).”
After a ten-second countdown, the light of a soul contract flashed in the young girl’s room and then vanished.
…
…
Eastern Coastal Bay of the Empire, a large alchemical laboratory belonging to the Amdy family.
The Amdy magical makeup palettes, which were trending nationwide, were researched and produced here, and the latter was responsible for remote control and services.
The reason it wasn’t in Audou was the necessity of obtaining a crucial material nearby, which was also key to their Intel business.
It was already late at night, but once mages entered research, they were completely engrossed, forgetting to eat or sleep and working day and night. Thus, most rooms in the laboratory were still illuminated by the light of magic crystals.
A middle-aged man, dressed in an intermediate alchemist’s robe, hummed a tune, seemingly radiating the joy of leaving work, as he emerged from a room constantly flickering with magical communication lights.
From his hand behind his back, black crystal dust continuously scattered, quickly turning from a spent pale white.
It was then sucked into the ventilation system.
Mixed with the magical refuse discharged from numerous alchemical experiments, the aura of the abyss appeared unremarkable.
…
…
Mid-July, Three Years of Eternal Night.
The Empress of Eternal Night personally led the campaign against the Orc tribes, defeating their thirty thousand strong army and capturing their royal city, Skrena City, avenging the blood debt of that night in Audou.
Three days later, a victory celebration was held in the City of Mysteries.
Countless commoners and nobles of the empire rushed to Audou, eager to witness the empire’s great victory after three years.
At dusk, bells chimed throughout the city. Numerous citizens poured out of their homes and lined the main roads into the city. Nobles had reserved viewing boxes in taverns and inns along the streets.
The sound of synchronized footsteps approached from outside the city, rumbling like thunder and growing closer.
Leading the procession was a man in a military dress uniform, his posture brilliant, wearing white gloves – it was the commander of this campaign, young Erwin Rommel.
He was followed by ten thousand seven hundred and sixty-four meticulously selected soldiers from the five legions that had campaigned against the Orcs.
While not necessarily tall, the muscles beneath their uniforms inspired envy in many noblewomen.
They represented seventeen nations of the empire, yet each possessed a fierce demeanor and sharp gaze.
They carried not swords but heavy black wooden boxes.
The citizens, who were preparing to welcome a returning hero, suddenly froze. The flower wreaths and streamers they were waving turned rigid in mid-air.
They guessed what was inside the black wooden boxes.
But those things seemed incompatible with the atmosphere of a victory celebration.
It was evident that these were the ashes of those who had fallen in the Battle of Kanthasak Desert.
The battle had been glorious, but one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four individuals had died in a foreign land, unable to return to their beloved homeland. They could only come back in this manner.
The procession of nearly twenty thousand people marched down the city’s main street, their synchronized footsteps resonating deeply, yet casting a slight shadow over the joy that had lasted for days.
At this moment, a projection of the Empress of Eternal Night appeared in the skies above Audou. Using some unknown magic, no matter which direction the city people looked, she faced them.
“The heroes have returned. Do you think those who gave everything for the empire do not deserve admiration?”
A slightly displeased question echoed throughout the city.
The Empress of Eternal Night, clad in a pure black gown, stood before a terrifying and majestic star throne, adorned with no jewelry.
She gazed down upon the entire city, her eyes filled with oppression yet also compassion, causing many to lower their heads in shame.
“Join me in mourning the heroic souls!”
The Empress of Eternal Night closed her eyes, placed a hand on her left chest, and lowered her bowed head.
She, who bowed to no one, lowered her gaze for the fallen soldiers?
Whether commoner or noble, all were moved by her actions and instinctively followed suit, mourning the heroic souls.
*Tap!*
*Tap!*
*Tap!*
The only sound in the silent City of Mysteries was the clatter of military boots against marble, escorting the ashes of the fallen towards their final glory.
A minute later.
The Empress of Eternal Night opened her eyes and raised a hand: “The sacrifices of this war, regardless of race, shall all be interred in the National Protection Forest!”
She opened a cross-planar teleportation array, and Rommel and his soldiers walked into a lush, verdant forest.
There were ancient trees, sturdy young trees, and new saplings.
This was a demiplane originally created by a great mage in the Azurevine Empire to reward meritorious generals, where they would be buried upon death, and a tree planted.
Over the centuries, as the Azurevine Empire grew, it became a forest and was thus named the National Protection Forest.
After the War of National Defense, the Empress of Eternal Night expanded the National Protection Forest into a magnificent structure. Not only generals but also fallen soldiers could be buried there.
Behind the empire’s glorious sweep across seventeen nations, the National Protection Forest continued to expand, recording the blood spilled along the way.
“Your Majesty is benevolent!” the citizens answered in unison.
“Is this the magnanimity of the Azurevine…” citizens of other nations watching the celebration from their homelands in the seventeen states mused with complex emotions.
“Nonsense! How dare these inferiors from the seventeen nations be buried in the National Protection Forest?” many imperial nobles exclaimed in anger.
The Empress of Eternal Night gave a faint smile, as if the reactions from all sides were within her expectations. Her form dispersed into the air:
“Enjoy the celebration, my subjects!”
The citizens looked up and cheered with even greater fervor than before:
“Triumph! Triumph! Triumph!”
This was not just a celebration for the living. The heroes who had died gloriously also deserved to enjoy the victory.
The empire’s people were warlike but fearless of death. The Empress of Eternal Night’s act of affording such high honor to the fallen further boosted their morale and intensified their fanatical devotion to her!
The soldiers, including Rommel, marching down Audou’s central street, had initially felt uneasy about parading ashes at the celebration, fearing it would provoke public indignation and spoil the festive atmosphere.
But thinking that their fallen comrades had the opportunity to return to Audou in such a manner, they couldn’t bring themselves to refuse such an arrangement.
It wasn’t until they heard the Empress of Eternal Night’s speech and the thunderous cheers that their lingering anxiety finally subsided.
Their backs straightened further, and their eyes burned with fierce determination!
For such an empire, for such an Empress, we are willing to fight to the last drop of our blood!
As the sun set and night fell, the much-anticipated grand celebration began.
Food, wine, fireworks, and dances.
How many beautiful stories would be born?
Yet, beneath the celebratory atmosphere, many high nobles exchanged glances.
Their “patience” had run out. The rift between them and the Empress was growing wider, and they felt the urge to take some action.
