Chapter 322 : Chapter 322

Chapter 322. Rainy Night, Royal Capital, Martial Law

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the pinnacle of the Royal Capital, the Royal Magitech Communication Tower stood like a black iron spike piercing through the night curtain.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍howling night wind carried cold threads of rain, and the figure of Captain of the Shadow Guard Esmeralda was like a feather melting into the darkness.

She ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍led several team members along the intricate ventilation ducts outside the tower, climbing upward without a sound, as though they had become one with the building’s shadows.

Inside ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the main control room at the top of the tower, the warm yellow light of the magitech lamps shone on the exhausted faces of several duty mages.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍long night stretched on endlessly. Some of them were sprawled across the control consoles, crystal-clear drool hanging from the corners of their mouths.

Others ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍leaned back against their chairs, letting out faint snores.

In the air, there was only the faint hum of the instruments as they operated, like a lullaby.

Esmeralda made a tactical gesture from the darkness, and several black shadows silently slipped down from the ventilation openings like geckos. Several matte daggers coated in high-concentration, fast-acting anesthetic potion pressed precisely against the mages’ carotid arteries, while their other hands clamped tightly over the mages’ mouths and noses.

“Mmph...” A young mage suddenly woke with a start. His pupils contracted from extreme terror, and he instinctively tried to mobilize mana to sound the alarm.

However, the cold blade pressed tightly against his skin, and the fast-acting anesthetic potion instantly seeped through the tiny cut into his bloodstream, rushing straight to his brain.

Only a muffled, indistinct groan escaped his throat, and the faint arcane radiance he had just gathered immediately collapsed.

Within a few seconds, the muffled groans that had risen one after another swiftly fell silent.

The duty mages did not even manage to let out a complete cry for help before they slumped down one after another in front of the control consoles, sinking into a sleep deeper than death.

Esmeralda stepped out. After confirming that all targets had been “neutralized,” she walked to the main control console. Her slender fingers accurately found the array’s core power-supply magic crystal, and she pulled it out without hesitation.

HUM—

The blue magitech light circuits spread across the tower rapidly dimmed and went out like a receding tide.

At that moment, the entire Royal Capital’s magitech communication network was completely paralyzed, turning the city into an isolated island of information.

...

Almost at the same time, another group of uninvited guests arrived outside the control console of the Royal Capital’s heavy city gates.

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

Heavy, orderly footsteps approached from the distance like the heartbeat of a giant.

Akash led the Northern Territory heavy infantry clad in Third-Generation Magitech Armor like a black steel torrent, surrounding the city defense troops’ checkpoint with overwhelming force.

“Who goes there?! Stop immediately! This is a royal city-defense restricted zone!”

The city defense commander was shocked and immediately drew his longsword. The soldiers behind him also swiftly formed ranks and raised their spears.

Akash wasted no words. He strode forward directly, pulled from his chest the royal seal representing Princess Sylvia’s supreme authority, and raised it high.

The golden lion emblem gleamed beneath the torchlight, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

“By the written order of Her Highness Princess Sylvia!”

Akash’s voice came through the Amplification Spellwork in his visor. With its cold metallic resonance, it instantly drowned out all the noise and rain at the scene.

“A sudden crisis has erupted in the Royal Capital, and the remnants of the rebel Moran have appeared! Effective immediately, the entire city is under martial law, and the Northern Legion will take over the defense of the city gates!”

“Anyone who dares obstruct the arrest of criminals will be treated as guilty of treason!”

The pressure of the royal seal, combined with the unbearable charge of “treason,” made most of the city defense soldiers exchange looks. The hands gripping their weapons were already slick with cold sweat.

The city defense commander stared fixedly at the glittering golden seal, his mind racing.

Although he was only a mid-ranking officer, anyone who could reach this position in the Royal Capital had political instincts far sharper than ordinary people. How could he have failed to notice the undercurrents surging these past few days?

Out of a soldier’s duty and caution, the commander covertly made a gesture to the communications soldier behind him, signaling him to immediately request instructions from the Garrison Command through the portable magitech array.

However, after fumbling with it for a few seconds, the communications soldier’s face instantly turned deathly pale. He moved closer and reported in a trembling voice, “Sir... it is not working. The magitech communication network is completely paralyzed. There is no signal response at all!”

The commander’s heart sank sharply, as though he had fallen into an ice cellar. The communication paralysis could not possibly be a coincidence!

Now, one of Princess Sylvia’s trusted subordinates was holding a seal that carried the highest regency authority, bringing the Northern Territory’s most elite magitech legion to take over the city defenses, while the entire Royal Capital’s communication network had been precisely severed...

This was clearly an internal reshuffling of royal power, and even more than that, it was the final step in the transfer of royal authority.

The other side had absolutely come prepared, and they had already effectively seized control of the Royal Capital’s overall situation.

When gods fought, mortals suffered. Were soldiers like them truly supposed to fight the princess’s elites to the death for the sake of so-called “rules”?

If they won, there would be no benefit at all. If they lost, they would be doomed under the charge of treason.

The commander weighed the pros and cons, and in an instant, he made his decision.

Since the seal was genuine, obeying the royal family’s orders was his duty in the first place. Why drag his brothers under him to their deaths for nothing? If his superiors asked about it later, he would simply say he had acted according to regulations.

Just as he was about to order everyone to lower their weapons, a hotheaded fool in the ranks suddenly stuck out his neck and roared angrily, trying to incite resistance.

“Do not listen to him! Without a written order from the King, the princess has no authority to directly mobilize the city defense troops! This is rebellion! Brothers, follow me and take them down—”

A cold glint flashed through Akash’s eyes, and he was just about to raise the Magiburst Gun with one hand.

CLANG—

A crisp sword cry suddenly rang out.

Before Akash could pull the trigger, the city defense commander had already turned and slashed down with his sword!

“Ah!” The soldier inciting resistance screamed. A wound deep enough to expose bone was cut into his thigh, and he collapsed straight into the accumulated rainwater, clutching the injury as he howled in pain.

The commander’s sword strike had been measured with extreme precision. It crippled the man’s ability to move, but left him alive.

He flicked the blood from his blade and shouted sternly, “All of you, shut your mouths! The royal seal is here. To see the seal is to see the sovereign! Anyone who dares defy it will end up like him!”

That sword not only cut down the hotheaded fool’s delusion, but also completely shattered the last trace of wavering in the hearts of all the other soldiers.

The commander took a deep breath, turned around, sheathed his bloodstained longsword, then dropped to one knee and bowed his head deeply toward the seal in Akash’s hand.

“The Royal City Defense Army respectfully obeys Her Highness the Princess’s decree! All personnel, lower your weapons!”

Clang, clang.

Spears and iron swords fell to the ground one after another. The soldiers retreated to both sides, clearing a path to the control console.

Akash looked at the decisive commander, then also put away his Magiburst Gun and gave a cold order.

“Lower the gate barrier!”

RUMBLE—

The enormous steel gate barrier slowly descended amid the roar of the winch. The heavy sound of metal scraping echoed through the deathly silent night sky, until finally, with a thunderous bang, it completely sealed off all physical connection between the Royal Capital and the outside world.

...