Martyrdom?
Who?
Leon's pupils shrank violently. For a moment, he wondered if he had misheard.
Crack!
At the same time, the sound of glass shattering echoed through the banquet hall.
It was the other barons holding their wine glasses. The sudden news was so unbelievable that they froze in shock, unable to hold onto their glasses, accidentally letting them crash to the floor.
The shattered glasses spilled their wine, some of which even splashed onto Viscount Finn.
But Viscount Finn had no time to care about that now. He opened his mouth.
He wanted to speak, but suddenly found the words caught in his throat. When he finally forced them out, his voice was so low and strained that even he felt something was wrong:
“Who? Who did you say has fallen in martyrdom?”
Seeing Viscount Finn lose his composure in shock, Ratahn swallowed hard, suppressing the sense of absurdity he still felt.
With a solemn expression and a steady voice, he replied:
“It is Prince Guilliman—His Royal Highness Crown Prince Guilliman Cassius!”
“According to the latest battle reports from the front line, the Nightmare Empire dispatched several Epic rank assassins last night and launched a sudden counter-charge to push the front line forward, using it to draw away the attention of Prince Guilliman's guards...”
“Subsequently, led by inside informants and spies, three Epic rank assassins infiltrated His Highness's tent...”
“Prince Guilliman, unfortunately... has fallen in martyrdom.”
Ratahn delivered the intelligence sent back from the front line word for word, not daring to alter a single detail.
A deathly silence fell over the banquet hall.
Even Leon stood frozen in place.
Though he had left many of his enemies baffled in the past, this time, it was truly his turn to be baffled.
What the hell did they mean by the Crown Prince leading a campaign only to die on the battlefield?
Where were Guilliman's guards?
Even Aaron was accompanied by Aleph-One, an Epic rank expert. If nothing else, they could at least ensure his safety and hold out until reinforcements arrived.
And yet... you're telling me that on the front line, a place personally overseen by a Legendary expert, Guilliman was assassinated by Nightmare assassins?!
Were Guilliman's guards completely useless?
Did the Legendary expert stationed at the very front line eat something bad and go take a dump while the assassination was happening?
Leon felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity.
In a world where transcendent power existed.
In the most powerful empire on the continent of Ommisiah.
On a front-line battlefield guarded by a Legendary expert.
The first Crown Prince of the Empire, successor to the Sage King, and revered by countless citizens of Heron—Guilliman Cassius!
He had died just like that, inside his own tent?!
Leon took a deep breath, fixed his gaze on Ratahn, and pressed, “Where did this news come from? Is it absolutely confirmed?”
Ratahn answered decisively:
“It is absolutely true! This news was printed in an extra edition published by the Imperial Truth daily!”
The Imperial Truth daily... the most authoritative newspaper in Heron, representing the will of the Sage King...
If it was published by the Imperial Truth...
Then there was absolutely no possibility that the news of Guilliman's assassination was fake.
Leon pulled his mind back from the shock of Guilliman's martyrdom. He looked at Viscount Finn and said in a deep voice:
“Viscount Finn, please place the entire city on high alert immediately!”
“...Yes! Yes, Young Master Leon!”
Viscount Finn also realized the gravity of the situation.
Nightmare's assassination of Crown Prince Guilliman was by no means an impulsive act, but a meticulously planned operation!
Therefore, the Nightmare Empire was bound to have a follow-up move.
Whether this follow-up move was targeted at the front-line battlefield or aimed at sabotaging the logistics hubs of the Heron Empire remained unknown.
Before His Majesty issued new orders, he had to firmly control the situation in Stormveil City, which had suddenly grown volatile due to Guilliman's death!
Viscount Finn ignited his Battle Qi and immediately rushed out of the banquet hall to instruct his subordinates.
Leon then turned to Bishop Miles and said:
“Bishop Miles, please return to the cathedral immediately to guard the sacred relics kept there.”
“I understand.”
Miles also wore a grave expression as he quickly walked out of the banquet hall.
After the two left, Leon turned his gaze to the barons and town mayors in the banquet hall, speaking in a calm but unquestionable tone:
“Everyone, the banquet ends here.”
“Now, please return to your respective towns and villages immediately to appease the public and stabilize the people's hearts.”
“Furthermore, until further orders are received, you must remain in your respective villages and towns. Do not leave without authorization.”
“Otherwise... you might find Nightmare assassins knocking on your doors.”
“Yes! Yes, Young Master Leon! We will definitely stay in our towns!” Zachary was the first to respond upon hearing this.
With the first response, the other noble town mayors all agreed as well.
The banquet held to celebrate the eradication of the undead army in Endless Bay thus came to an abrupt halt.
Leon walked out of the banquet hall with Alicia and Ratahn, arriving on the city streets.
At this moment, the city streets were already in utter chaos due to the explosive news of Guilliman's martyrdom.
“Is the news real? Are you sure there's no mistake?!”
“The benevolent and generous Prince Guilliman... has he really fallen in martyrdom?”
“Where were the guards?! What were the guards protecting His Highness doing? Were they all just standing by and watching?!”
“Three years ago, I personally went to the imperial capital to attend the Mandela Festival hosted by Prince Guilliman. I even caught the candy thrown by His Highness. Back then, how heroic and high-spirited he was...”
“Nightmare... the Nightmare Empire!!!”
When the citizens of the city saw the news in the Imperial Truth daily, they were all shocked beyond belief.
Some citizens who closely followed the empire's current affairs had tears in their eyes, unable to stop themselves from sobbing.
They regularly followed the empire's events, big and small, and would praise for half a day any decree issued by His Majesty the Sage King that benefited the nation and its people.
They would also dance with joy at the news of some wicked noble being punished.
And so, when they learned that Prince Guilliman, renowned for his benevolence and love, the Prince Guilliman who had once charged into a magical beast's nest alone to rescue trapped citizens, the Prince Guilliman who had personally pushed for benevolent policies such as the National Retirement Security Act and the Heron Artisan Working Hours Security Act, had actually been assassinated by enemy assassins on the front lines and laid down his life for the country, they could not help but weep!
In their eyes, they mourned the young prince who had always held the people of Heron close to his heart.
In their eyes, there also erupted a terrifying wave of hatred.
It was hatred for the Nightmare Empire, and hatred for the vampire race.
An absolute, irreconcilable hatred!
Beholding the burning hatred erupting from the city's citizens, Leon, who had just walked out of the banquet hall, suddenly paused.
His expression shifted slightly as a suspicion pierced his heart like a spike.
“No, no, no... That is a Crown Prince, an heir apparent nurtured from birth to ascend the throne...”
Leon shook his head violently, trying to cast the suspicion from his mind.
And yet, having experienced the Soleneum tragedy, the current Leon... could not shake that suspicion no matter what!
Rate on N.U.
