Chapter 190: The Foundations of Conquest

Inside the silent, subterranean sanctuary of Mayor Henar’s secret library, the air was heavy with the metallic tang of fresh blood.

The decapitated corpse of Councillor Mamel lay sprawled across the cold stone floor, drenched in a rapidly expanding pool of his own crimson gore.

Yet, the brutal scene did not draw a single glance from the figure sitting at the mahogany reading desk.

Roy continued to flip through the ancient manuals, his eyes scanning dozens of thick, leather-bound codices every few minutes.

Scrolls of forgotten mana manipulation techniques, body-tempering secrets, and tactical warfare formations were systematically digested and stowed away into his spatial ring.

Suddenly, the torchlight illuminating the high stone walls flickered violently.

The ink-black shadow cast beneath Roy’s chair rippled like a dark pool of water.

From the silent darkness, a slender, voluptuous figure materialized out of thin air.

Alisa stepped onto the blood-slicked stone, completely unbothered by the slaughtered councillor rotting beside her boots.

She gracefully crossed her hands over her waist and bowed her head low, her emerald eyes shining with absolute, unwavering devotion.

"My Lord," Alisa greeted softly, her voice melodious in the quiet vault.

Roy paused, holding a yellowed scroll mid-air.

He turned his head to look at her, a low, smooth laugh escaping his lips.

Still wearing the middle-aged, sharp-featured face of the dead Councillor Edwaris, he tilted his head in mild amusement.

"I must admit, Alisa... I am using another man’s breath, skin, and mana core," Roy said, a light smirk playing on his borrowed features.

"How did you figure out it was me so quickly?"

Alisa raised her head, a stunning, wickedly beautiful smile gracing her lips.

"The skin of a mortal man can never hide the radiant light of your divine essence, Apostle," she answered smoothly, her tone dripping with quiet reverence. "No matter what form my Master takes, my soul will always recognize where your shadow steps."

Roy nodded approvingly, tossing the scroll back onto the stack. "Well spoken. Tell me... do you bring any interesting reports from the lower districts?"

Alisa nodded, her expression shifting into one of sleek, efficient professionalism. "Everything is proceeding precisely according to your grand design, Master. Duchess Eurenia has already secured the subterranean prison complex beneath the palace foundation.

The Grey Falcon-Kin and Crimson-Spotted Leopards have been thoroughly liberated from their chains."

She paused slightly, her emerald eyes glinting.

"However, Eurenia has instructed them to remain hidden within the deep underground tunnels for now. If hundreds of panicked beastmen suddenly burst into the streets during this lockdown, it might alert the Mayor’s garrison prematurely and disrupt your plans."

Roy let out a satisfied hum, rising slowly from his carved leather throne.

He casually tossed the final manual he held onto the wooden table, letting it clatter against the quiet stone.

"That is quite considerate of you two, I must say," Roy murmured, his deep voice carrying a cold, sharp edge.

He smoothed down his velvet sleeves, stepping over the pool of blood surrounding Mamel’s corpse.

"Kaelos City once stood proud with nine Martial Masters anchoring its defense," Roy continued, his eyes glowing with a faint, dangerous golden-crimson light.

"I have already slaughtered seven of them. The power structure of this city is effectively hollowed out."

He turned his gaze toward Alisa. "Find the remaining two Martial Masters. Execute them quietly, then await my final signal."

Alisa bowed her head. "It shall be done." She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her brows furrowing slightly as she raised her eyes. "If I may ask, My Lord... what of Mayor Henar?"

A dark, cold smile bloomed across Roy’s face.

"I will handle Henar personally," Roy declared, his tone laced with absolute finality. "As for the ancient fool sent by the Glorious Mythical Sect... Duchess Eurenia will handle him."

Alisa’s eyes widened slightly in realization.

"Eurenia has been suppressing her primordial rage for far too long under their human hunting squads," Roy said softly, his voice echoing with predatory anticipation. "It is time she loosens her leash and tastes their blood. Once Mayor Henar breathes his last, I shall completely erase Kaelos City from the face of this continent. But before that inferno begins..."

Roy locked his piercing gaze onto Alisa, his expression turning stern and unyielding.

"...ensure that every single beastman is led far beyond the mountain passes, completely clear of the blast radius."

Alisa dropped to one knee, placing her hand over her heart. "I hear and obey your divine will, Apostle. Not a single soul of our brethren shall perish in the flames."

Without another word, her body dissolved back into the ink-black shadows on the floor, vanishing completely into the night.

Left alone once more in the secret library, Roy slowly stretched his long arms, the joints in his shoulders popping softly.

He walked up to the mangled, blood-drenched body of Councillor Mamel, looking down at the dead man with a cold, ruthless grin.

"To catch a big fish... one must first sacrifice a small fish," Roy whispered into the dim vault, his voice dripping with dark malice.

He raised his eyes toward the stone ceiling, looking past the stone and timber, gazing directly toward the high sanctuary where Mayor Henar sat trembling in fear.

"Kaelos City must burn... so that the Glorious Mythical Sect is forced to react," Roy murmured, a terrifying, divine aura vibrating off his body as his form began to warp back into his true, radiant wolf-man appearance.

His golden hair cascaded down his waist, shining like liquid sunbeams in the torchlight.

"And once the Glorious Mythical Sect has been utterly crushed under our boots..."

Roy’s golden-crimson eyes burned with an terrifying light that shook the subtle foundations of the library.

"...these vast, rich lands shall be conquered and swallowed by the Kingdom of Varania."

He stepped out of the secret vault, leaving the dead human masters in the dark behind him.

"Tonight... marks the very first step of Varania’s grand expansion into the Ten Continents."