Chapter 172 - 168: The Old King is Dead, The Crown Hangs High

Chapter 172: Chapter 168: The Old King is Dead, The Crown Hangs High

"Is the information confirmed?"

"No doubt about it. The Imperial Capital is already descending into chaos!"

In a certain underground intelligence hub, countless people who made a living selling information scurried back and forth, their faces a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

The excitement stemmed from the rare intelligence they were circulating—the kind you might only hear once in several decades. It was of a level so high that these rats, who usually hid in the gutters, could never have imagined it!

The anxiety, however, came from the fact that this information signified the Empire was about to plunge into turmoil.

For rats like them, chaos was both an opportunity and a deadly crisis.

In the predictable chaos of the near future, would they be silenced by some ruthless, high-and-mighty figure for passing on a fatal piece of intelligence?

Or would they, with their silver tongues, attach themselves to a true hero and enjoy endless wealth and glory?

Everything was unknown!

But regardless, for now, they had to use the intelligence in their hands to seek the greatest possible benefit for themselves!

Time was an intelligence peddler’s life, and it was also money!

A withered hand clutched a crumpled piece of coarse paper, on which a single line of text was scrawled crookedly.

"Emperor Hein Benest has died of illness. The King Selection Ceremony begins again!"

...

Heta County. Red Crying Castle, the ancient and glorious ancestral home of the Heta family.

Back when the name "Heta" had yet to be defeated in the power struggles of the Empire’s elite, back when it still held the prestigious title of "Sword Duke," this place hosted lavish and grand banquets every day, allowing the nobles united under the Red Vulture flag to share in the fine wine called "Glory."

However, that was nearly a hundred years ago.

Now, the vast castle complex remained magnificent, but its circumstances, having fallen from "Duke" to "Count," inevitably cast a shadow of gloom over it.

Its master, however, did not think so.

The current Count Heta, Nerva Hodgson Heta—forty-two years old and in his prime—sat upon a wide throne cushioned with red velvet, a faint, cold smile on his lips.

The leaping flames in the fireplace illuminated his chiseled face and meticulously groomed short beard. Deep within their sockets, his hawk-like brown eyes glinted with unconcealed mockery and ambition.

"The King Selection Ceremony... Heh..."

His deep voice echoed in the empty, high-ceilinged hall, carrying a majestic quality like the grinding of metal.

"Such a boring political game. Those old fools really never get tired of it..."

Nerva tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling upon a figure standing in the shadows at the foot of his throne.

It was a gaunt middle-aged man dressed in a deep gray Magic Robe. His hair was impeccably combed, and his face was as deep and rigid as a stone carving.

"Wouldn’t you agree... Nasir?"

The family’s Mage Consultant, Nasir, bowed slightly. His posture was respectful, his voice steady and calm.

"My lord, you see things clearly. The Benitez family has merely usurped a throne that belongs to a true sovereign."

"Now that Hein is dead, his children will inevitably start fighting amongst themselves. This is the perfect opportunity for the Heta family to reclaim our ancestors’ glory."

A satisfied arc formed on Nerva’s lips.

He did not respond immediately, instead sinking deeper into the soft velvet.

At that moment, the two female attendants in gorgeous, form-fitting dresses standing beside his throne moved at the opportune time.

An attendant with curly, chestnut-colored hair stepped forward. Her slender, pale fingers deftly refilled his half-empty goblet with rich, crimson wine. Her movements were elegant and full of temptation, the amber liquid shimmering like a jewel in the firelight.

As she leaned over, a lock of her hair inadvertently brushed against the back of Nerva’s hand, bringing with it a faint, sweet fragrance.

"My lord."

Her voice was seductively soft, carrying the perfect amount of adoration.

"Lord Nasir is right. In all of Heta County—no, in the entire Empire—who doesn’t know that only you, with the ancient blood of the Red Vulture flowing in your veins, possess the true spirit to rule over all?"

"Those young masters in the Imperial Capital are nothing but clowns flaunting their family’s influence."

The other attendant, a blonde with blue eyes and a colder, more stunning beauty, gently picked up a plump grape from the fruit platter. She meticulously peeled it and held it to Nerva’s lips, her voice cool yet equally filled with admiration.

"King Selection? It’s nothing but a farce."

"A true king needs no one’s election. Destiny and Power will guide the way. The glory of Red Crying Castle will surely cover the land once more."

Nerva enjoyed the flattery of the wine and the women, letting out a low, pleased hum from his throat.

These sweet words were like the finest fuel, fanning the flames of ambition in his heart until they burned even hotter.

He could almost see himself grasping the scepter that symbolized ultimate authority, see the nobles of the Imperial Capital prostrating themselves before the sigil of the Heta family.

His family’s shame, a century of suppression—all of it would be washed clean by his hands!

Nasir stood silently at the foot of the dais, like a silent silhouette. His sharp eyes, however, were fixed intently on the master on the throne, awaiting the inevitable command.

A moment later, the goblet was empty. The fire burning in Nerva’s eyes subsided somewhat, but the sharp resolve within them grew even clearer.

He waved his hand, signaling the attendant to step back, and his gaze returned to Nasir.

"Nasir, the time... has indeed come."

The Mage Consultant bowed even lower.

"Yes, my lord. Your will is the direction Heta will take."

"With a single command from you, the dormant ’Shadows of the Red Vulture’ will be awakened, and our sleeper agents in the county and the Imperial Capital will act simultaneously."

"The entire Northern Territory will take this as its signal, raising the banner of secession from Harvia to welcome a new king."

Nasir’s voice was still steady, but it contained a trace of excellently concealed urgency.

However, contrary to his expectations, Nerva did not issue the command as he had anticipated. Instead, he grew even calmer.

Count Heta’s strong fingers tapped rhythmically on the cold metal armrest of the throne, making a soft, regular sound. His hawk-like gaze lingered on Nasir for a long time.

’Flags... signals... such glory...’

He repeated the words in a low voice, a hint of amusement in his tone, before his subject changed abruptly.

"Nasir, the matter I entrusted to you—gaining control of the Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce—how is it progressing? Yed Xavier... where is he now?"

A barely perceptible frown flickered across Nasir’s impassive face before vanishing.

"Reporting to my lord, within the United Commerce Association, more than half of the noble directors, weighing prestige against profit, have clearly indicated their intent to follow the will of the Heta family and acknowledge your absolute authority in Heta County. Their funds and networks are ready to be called upon at any time."

"Only the Xavier family, and a few smaller, stubborn families loyal to them, remain ambiguous in their stance. But they are no longer a major concern."

He paused, a rare, imperceptible tension creeping into his voice.

"As for Yed Xavier himself... our people had been keeping him under strict surveillance inside the Xavier Mansion in Heta City."

"However, two days ago, due to the negligence and misjudgment of our surveillance personnel, he found a brief ’window of opportunity’ and slipped from our sight."

"Based on our last piece of intelligence, it seems he recklessly left the County City, using the excuse that his daughter was in danger in Birch Town."

The Mage Consultant bowed deeply, a perfectly measured expression of self-reproach on his face.

"I have already dispatched Power to track him and handle the fallout, ensuring he will not become an obstacle to our plans."

"This matter... is my failure. I ask for your punishment, Your Lordship."

The hall fell silent for a moment, the only sound being the crackling of firewood in the hearth. The two female attendants held their breath.

After listening, Nerva showed no obvious anger on his face, but the finger tapping on the armrest paused for a moment.

He was silent for a few seconds, his gaze lingering on the top of Nasir’s bowed head as if weighing something, before he finally spoke slowly.

"Since we have yet to control the United Commerce Association’s largest and most stable source of funds, then..."

"The time is not yet truly ripe."

He shook his head slightly, the fanaticism and ambition in his eyes replaced by an almost cold-blooded rationality.

"War is a game of power, but it is even more a game of Gold Coins."

"Without sufficient cash flow to support it, the sharpest swords will rust, and the most loyal Soldiers will starve."

"The Heta County Noble Union Chamber of Commerce controls several key trade routes in Heta County and even the Northern Territory, as well as vast liquid capital. We must have all of this firmly in our grasp."

He stood up, his scarlet velvet cloak draping down with his movement. His tall figure cast a long, oppressive shadow across the hall.

"Continue advancing our control over the United Commerce Association, especially on Xavier’s end."

"Tell your people to be quick, and be clean."

The Count’s words carried a final warning. Then, without another glance at Nasir at the foot of the dais or the female attendants behind him, he strode off alone down the dark corridor leading to the depths of the castle.

His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, growing more and more distant, leaving behind only an oppressive silence and the flickering firelight.