“Sylvia, did you say your sister was in the capital?”

“Yes, Your Highness the Fifth. Please, protect her from the Second Prince!”

Instead of Sylvia, Siadin answered instead. The sight of her shouting was so sympathetic.

“Isn’t the Fifth Prince’s main forces here in the Black Mountains?”

There was also an option to send a small number of people to use the Warp Gate of Marquis Crayer, but, even a wealthy aristocrat would incur burdensome costs. The Elves could not afford it.

That’s why Sylvia wanted to give up her sister’s life.

“Isn’t there a communication magic? The Marquis Crayer and me have the finest wizards.”

“I’m sorry, but aren’t all your men here? And the red tower and the blue tower are under surveillance. It’s going to be hard to move troops to save Arya.”

“You know a lot.”

“I’m sorry, I heard it all from his Highness the Second Prince.”

Raymond smirked at Sylvia’s response. Like what she have said, his people are all here and the Red and Blue towers are under surveillance by the other princes. But there’s one thing Sylvia doesn’t know.

“There’s one person I can move around in the capital, the Imperial Guards.”

It was Ivan Lowes, captain of the Imperial Guard.

He was almost sentenced to death for failing to respond quickly after the banquet hall was attacked, but as Raymond miraculously came to save the day, he managed to preserve his position and promised to do him a favor in return.

Raymond had forgotten it all this time, but thanks to Sylvia, he remembered it.

“You know where your sister is, don’t you?”

“Yes, I know exactly where she is.”

Sylvia answered Raymond’s question with a nod. She put a tracking spirit on her sister, Arya, in case a day like this comes.

It was such a small spirit that, not even the Second Prince’s men would not notice it.

“That’s enough. I’ll move the Imperial Guard, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“Thank you, Your Highness the fifth.”

Sylvia bowed her head once again. He said he would save her sister. She thought she wouldn’t be able to see her anymore, but it seems that there was hope.

Even Siardin, who always thought of her honor and pride, bowed slowly with gratitude.

“Gesteine.”

“Yes.”

“Unlock them.”

“Do your really want to let them go?”

“They’ve been honest, so I’m going to show my trust.”

Raymond smirked as Gesteine looked at him, who seemed to be asking, “They could’ve run away.”

“Your concern will not happen.”

Raymond said with strong conviction.

Not only did he convey that he knows how to purify the world tree’s spring, but he also said he would save her sister, so if Sylvia doesn’t have any other thoughts, she will not run away from here or harm anyone.

“Do I also have to release the mana restraints?”

“Do it.”

“Okay, sir.”

Gesteine did not ask any more. He, along with Desia, unlocked Sylvia and Siadin’s restraints.

“You should not betray my trust.”

With the survival of clans and kinsmen at stake, Raymond didn’t they would have guts to betray him. He knew that and asked for a reassurance of trust.

“I think you know better than that. I cannot betray you under these circumstance.”

As expected, she is smart.

* * *

Sylvia and Siadin gained limited freedom as they were freed from the restraints.

Because letting the two elves roam the camp site was in many ways unreliable, Raymond assigned them some reliable Imperial Guard as escort and watch over them.

In order to minimize the confusion of all troops in the stronghold, he declared he would protect them under the name of the Fifth Prince, still he has some people watch over them.

Fortunately, Sylvia seemed to understand her situation here.

“Fifth Prince, can you trust those two elves?”

Shortly after Raymond declared protection to Sylvia and Siadin, the two tower Master came to his side immediately.

Red Tower Master didn’t say anything about the situation, but Lisefield Dior, the Blue Tower Master, was suspicious of them in many ways.

“They’ve been used, but they’re very involved in the assassination attempt against you. You shouldn’t trust them prematurely.”

“The old man seems to have a lot of distrust.”

“They are not ‘humans,’ Your Highness the Fifth.”

There was a lot of distrust in Lisefield’s eyes. Seeing it, Raymond spoke.

“Old man, aren’t you the tower Master of the Blue tower before you’re a Great wizard?”

“Of course, Your Highness the Fifth.”

“Then you know what world tree’s spring water means to the elves……?”

Lisefield could not immediately answer Raymond’s question. Hiss eyes were moving around and either looked at the Master of the red tower or Gesteine.

Finally, Berenus Kyle, the Master of the Red Tower, who was leaning against the wall as he watched the chaotic behavior of the Blue Tower, opened his mouth as he approached them.

“THe master of the blue tower is just concerned about the safety of your highness the Fifth.”

“Well, that’s right.”

At Berenus’ words, Lisefield nodded quickly.

“Yeah, it’s my fault I didn’t elaborate…….”

Gesteine and Desia were the only ones at the scene of the deal, except Sylvia and Siadin.

The two tower master did not know what had happened inside the barracks. Come to think of it, it was not strange that the Master tower owner was concerned about safety.

Raymond gave a rough explanation to the Master towers. His face turned pale when he heard that they wer holding them hostage by contaminating the world tree’s spring waters of the Platier Elven tribe.

“Your Majesty, I strongly recommend that you burn down the forests of those dammed elves.”

Berenus’ red eyes shone sharply. As if determined, his voice and gaze remained steady.

“If you approve, I’ll ‘clean’ the forest with all the troops with the red tower.”

Why were the tower owners overreacting?

After a short thought, Raymond was able to recall the reason.

“Red Tower.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Fifth.”

“Is it because of the Tribal Union?”

“Yes, it would be detrimental to the Pilias Empire if rumors spread to them that your Highness had touched the world tree’s waters, which was the sanctuary of the Elves.”

He seems to have planned a murder destruction in fear that the honor of the Pilias would be damaged, not actually the safety of the second prince.

“You don’t have to do that.”

Raymond was firm with his plans.

“Fifth Prince, after the Great War, the tribes of the Western Continent were completely scattered and severed each other connection, but in the Eastern Continent’s Tribal Union remains strong. I’m afraid if they hear this happening in the deep woods, something unsavory will happen to the Pilias Empire.”

Unlike the Western continent, where humans command at the top, the Eastern continent was completely controlled by the Tribal Union.

The terrain of the two continent was different in the first place. Unlike the flat land of the western continent, most of the lands in the eastern continent is made up of deep forests, so humans there have been at a disadvantage since the beginning of the war.

“Red tower Master, you won’t be worried about anything.”

“Are you sure?”

Raymond grinned and nodded at Berenus’ question.

“In the near future, there will be no Tribal Union crossing the high mountain range.”

He was sure of it. In the three volumes of the novel ‘The fallen Empire’ the Tribal Union had never crossed the high mountain range.

The biggest reason was the patrols. Defeated in the Great War on the East Continent and driven into the high mountains, they contracted the Western Continent’s Protectorate of Steel to survive and in return they were given the mission of a patrolman to intercept tribal groups heading to the West Continent.

They never left the high mountain range, and unlike the Black Mountains, no one was able to enter the high mountain range, so the bordering countries only deployed troop.

The Ice tower of the Heifel Empire was also unknown. However, Raymond wouldn’t know their existence if he hadn’t read the novel.

“However, Your Highness the Fifth…….”

“Is there any record of tribal union forces crossing the high mountain range after the Great War?”

He thought it was faster to ask this question than to explain the existence of patrols.

“None.”

Berenus replied, nodding slowly. Even if he did not know the existence of the patrols, he had no choice but to shut up because the Tribal Union had never invaded the continent beyond the high mountain range.

“Then take my word for it. A Tribal Union cannot be our threat. Not yet.”

Although there were no traces of the Tribal Union till the novel’s third volume, there was still a “Possibility”. Therefore, if ever the author released a fourth volume when he came here there was a possibility of invasion from them.

However, he didn’t need to concern himself about it right now.

The Second Prince and his possible death at the end of the first volume was not yet resolved. It’s good to prepare for the future, but it wasn’t good to go too far.

“I’ll trust and obey your Highness, the fifth Prince.”

A short explanation of history as evidence was enough to make Berenus Kyle, the Master of the Red Tower, let go of their concern.

“All right.”

Raymond nodded with a satisfied look. It was unexpected that the red tower Master, not the Blue tower Master, overreacted, but the discussion was over anyway.

“This is settled, shall we move on to the next issue?”

Soon, where the gaze was directed, there was the Blue tower master, Lisefield Dior. He tried to turn a blind eye to him, but when Raymond didn’t take his eyes off on him, he ended up with an awkward smile.

“Do you need some communication magic?”

When asked by Lisefield, Raymond nodded and said.

“Secretly, can you get in touch with the Imperial Guard Captain?”

~~~Read at Krnvl.xyz for faster updates and advance chapter~~~

***

The Imperial City was attacked twice. Since then, Ivan Lowes, the captain of the Imperial Guard, has spent days and nights tightening the city’s guard and increasing patrols.

Sometimes, he and his men checked the vigilance of the night.

Today, as usual, he was on his way back to his mansion after completing a vigilance check. He felt someone following him and took his hand to the sword handle hanging from his waist.

“You’d better come out in peace.”

Recently, security in the capital as well as in the Imperial Palace had been tightened. He was willing to put blood on the sword, turning swiftly in a direction he felt, and pulling it out.

A clear Aura erupted along the blade.

“I am Elias, the first elder wizard of the Red Tower. Do you have a minute?”

“What does the Red Tower need from me?”

Ivan’s attitude was cold even though he presented himself.

“There’s a lot of eyes around.”

“Is it enough to care about the other eye?”

At Ivan’s question, Elias nodded slowly and looked around. His keen sense did not convey any sign of others.

Even assassins would not be able to avoid the eyes of a Great wizard, so it would be good to borrow shadows under the darkness and deliver the words of the fifth prince here.

After rolling his eyes around and looking around one more time, Elias made a decision. He took a few steps toward Ivan and narrowed the distance.

“This is the message of His Majesty the Fifth.”

Ivan’s eyes glowed at Elias’s words. He owed the Fifth Prince.

“I don’t think that’s the right thing to discuss here.”

He had no choice but to hear him. Ivan Lowes, who served as the captain of the Imperial Guard, was a loyal servant to the Pilias Empire and the Emperor, as well as a supporter of the First Prince for the succession.

It was not good for others to see him talking to the Fifth Prince’s subordinate.

“Let’s go to my mansion for now.

There was a secret room in the mansion. All the people who work in his mansion are asleep, so there was no concern that a wizard of the red tower visited was exposed.

Elias was not even dressed as someone from the red tower, he look like just a simple acquaintance from the bystander eyes.

Ivan entered the secret room of the mansion with Elias.

“Now tell me.”

“The Fifth Prince request to immobilize your men in the capital.”

“Why?”

“He want to rescue someone.”

Ivan frowned at Elias’s answer. The explanation was too short.

It did not even met the required information to mobilize the Capital Guards, let alone the Imperial Guards. Shouldn’t he at least confirm that it doesn’t harm the First Prince?

“I need more explanation.”

Ivan asked for a supplementary explanation, and Elias gladly nodded and continued. Of course, he didn’t tell him that this was connected to the second prince.

In the first place, Raymond, the Fifth Prince, did not tell Elias about the Second Prince.

The connection between the Second Prince and the Kingdom of Edgar could not be proved yet without enough evidence.

“……that’s all. Now it’s up to Lord Ivan’s choice.”

The explanation was over and Elias left the mansion in a hurry. Ivan, who was left alone in the secret room, agonized for a long time, and soon took the sword he had left next to him and left the secret room.

“Right now, call the Imperial Guards and the Capital Guards!”

The whole camp was surrounded with magic. A red light that flew to the sky was now descending at a high speed towards them.

Even assassins with little knowledge of magic, could see that this spell was casted by Wizard of a higher level.

“Avoid it!”

“The, the ground is frozen!”

The sky was red and the ground was covered with a layer of thin white ice. The assassins failed to avoid it and the rain of fire poured over their heads.

“God, High-ranking magic…….”

Sylvia, who was watching the scene from afar, was astonished.

Growing up in the woods, she never had a chance to encounter a High-ranking magic spell in her entire life.

“This is the fear of battle…….”

They were the servants of the Second Prince, the same servants who slaughtered her fellow elves in the green forest. Now, all of them fell helplessly in front of an unexpected high-ranking magic spell.

“Madam, I think we need to step down.”

Siadin approached Sylvia carefully and whispered. But the assassin next to them heard it and pulled out a sharp dagger.

“You must secure our retreat in case of emergency! If you make an unauthorized move, you’ll lose your life!”

Sylvia noticed that these two people’s voices were full of fear.

“I’m not going anywhere, so don’t worry.”

Sylvia turned her head back to the battlefield after stating her answer.

She hope all the servant of the Second Prince, who slaughtered the elves right in front of her, will die, but right now she had no choice but to pray for their victory if she wanted to survive. If the servants of the Second Prince were killed and captured, not only her but also her whole tribe will be in danger.

“The Wizard!”

Among the servants sent by the Second Prince, there was a High-ranking wizard. As he lifted the staff together with a flap of his robe, the cold white ice covering the ground melted away.

“Cough!”

Although he is said to be a High-ranking wizard, cancelling a high-ranking magic still caused a burden on his body.

He staggered with blood pouring from his nose and mouth. In cancelling the magic spell alone he already exhausted all his Mana.

“Run!”

“Find the High-ranking Wizard. We need to get rid of him first!”

Their feet were freed thanks to the sacrifice of their companion. The Moon Knights and assassins scattered.

They kept their eyes alert looking for their goal, but it was neither the blue nor the red tower masters that appeared in front of them, rather it was hundreds of men were heading towards them.

“For the Pilias!”

Imperial soldiers and knights were marching towards them while intermediate wizards from the tower supported them behind with magic.

“Lightning Arrow!”

“Ice Spear.”

Mana fluctuated and their magic was soon complete. Sharp pieces of ice poured out and a lighting arrow headed towards them.

The Second Prince’s men fell helplessly. They are assassins, they were supposed to be secret blades that hide in the dark and stealthily kill the enemies. There was no way they could have countered attack properly in this situation.

“What, what is our wizard doing!”

The assassins rushed to find the wizard that went with them, but except for the old exhausted High-ranking wizard, there was only one quasi High-ranking and three intermediate wizards. They all used their mana with all their might, but the magic power led by the Fifth Prince’s men was too good.

“What the hell is Fifth Prince doing? When did he bring such great wizards from?”

While the Second Prince’s men collapsed and died in the chaos, the Moon Knights used their “complete hiding” to hide themselves in the shadows.

“Cough!”

“Where in the world are the moon knights…!”

The Second Prince’s men slowly died searching for the missing Moon Knights. As their last hope disappeared, the assassins had fallen faster.

“The Second Prince’s men are falling.”

“I don’t care. We only have to kill the Fifth Prince.”

They have a reason for helping the Second Prince today, but the real goal was the assassination of Raymond Pilias, the Fifth Prince, whose name was written on the black book.

It didn’t matter if all the servants of the Second Prince died. Moon Knights will only achieve their purpose.

At some distance away from the battlefield, the Moon Knights gathered together for a brief conversation and scattered to find the Fifth Prince again.

* * *

“Don’t stand back and fight! We are the proud Imperial Army of the Great Pilias Empire!”

Raymond was watching a little further from the battlefield, and the voice of the Imperial Commander, Casillas, was heard all the way to where he was.

It seems like he increased his volume using his Aura.

“Don’t you think it’s time for you to come out?”

“Do you mind if the Tower Masters are gone on your side?”

Gesteine, who heard Raymond’s words, approached cautiously and expressed his concern.

The most powerful men the Fifth Prince have are the two tower masters. But now they were ravaging assassins on the front line.

With the Moon Knight suddenly disappearing, the only stronger ones standing by the Fifth Prince was the retired Imperial Guard.

Gesteine, Desia, and the Shadow Squad would always remain on his side, but right now it was not known exactly how many Moon Knights were there, so they can’t let their guard down even for a second.

“The Shadow Squad commander is worrying too much.”

Desia tried to continue the conversation further, but soon noticed someone approaching in the dark.

“Enemy!”

Gesteine also pulled out his sword immediately at the scream of Desia. A clear Aura started surrounding the sword.

“Fifth Prince, do not get away from my side.”

The red-masked Jace stood closely to Raymond.

“They’re here.”

A cold smile spread around Raymond’s mouth. Despite being the Moon Knight’s targets, he did not lose his composure.

“They are coming.”

A black figure soared from the shadow.  Soon there were Moon knights around them.

“Seven people?”

There were seven who showed up, but it wasn’t known how many Moon Knights were still in hiding. The Moon Knights were all scheming people.

Raymond shifted his gaze to the side without saying a word. Desia, who received his eye signal, spread her Mana to search all over the place.

“There are a few more hiding beyond the shadow.”

She must at least be at the level of a Supreme Wizard to completely see through their Hiding. Since Desia was close to becoming a Supreme Wizard, it was possible for her to vaguely detect how many people were hidden in the shroud of complete hiding.

“You can think of more than five people, given the strong energy beyond the shadow.

Was Raymond’s relaxed atmosphere contagious? Desia remained calm despite more than 10 hostile Moon Knights surrounding her.

Was it because of the conviction that the shield will not breached?

As her level of magic gradually rose, her confidence was also getting higher.

She don’t need to bother herself from thinking anymore. She should be facing the Moon knights now.

“I don’t remember inviting you here.”

“You won’t say long, Fifth Prince.”

Was there no room for further conversation?

Moon knights soared into the sky.

Half of them went back into the darkness, and those still showing up threw their daggers.

Some hid into darkness, some used black manna, and some cloned themselves. It could be seen how advance was the techniques of the Moon Knights were.

“Step back!”

Desia exclaimed in a shrill voice. The Shadow Squad members, who were trying to run forward, stepped back at her order and a shield was created in front of them with a blue mana.

The blue-colored giant shield prevented the Moon Knights from throwing daggers. It wasn’t over yet.

Three Moon Knights jumped over the shield, by hiding in the shadows.

Appearing right below their tents, they threw daggers at the nearby Shadow Squad members.

“Argh!”

Two members of the Shadow Squad have fallen. Then, as shadow split to other places, five moon knights appeared and attacked. Two more members of the Shadow Squad collapsed.

By the time the other Shadow Squad members rushed to intercept, the Moon Knights had already disappeared into the shadows.

“Spread.”

“But Prince, that’s what they want.”

Scattering around should be done to reduce damage. Raymond ordered in a calm voice, but Gesteine opposed it.

Spreading narrows the range of action of the Moon Knights because the Shadow Squad members are deployed in a wider range, however, the defense of Raymond will weaken.

“I don’t intend to survive alone.”

At Raymond’s answer, Gesteine chewed his lips and ordered the Shadow Squad to scatter around.

As the Shadow Squad members scattered, the Moon Knights were no longer able to make their way back.

“Fifth Prince…….”

“Desia, prepare your shield.”

They’re coming.

Blood spurted from the neck of the Shadow Squad member who was guarding in front of them.

Four black shadows were seen jumping over the body of the Shadow Squad member, who couldn’t even scream and fell helplessly.

“The blood of the Emperor Pilius’s family! How dare you point a weapon at safety!”

Gesteine set off from the ground and swung his sword forward. The wielded blade cut the neck of a Moon Knight who was taking the lead.

“Be careful, a high-ranking knight!”

“Collaborate!”

A shadow of darkness was torn and another Moon Knight appeared. Another Shadow Squad dust had collapsed, and five moon knights rushed towards Gesteine to occupy him.

“The rest attack the Fifth Prince.”

The Moon Knights moved quickly. One onthe left, one in front and one in the right sides, 3 dark blade aimed at Raymond’s vital point.

“Desia.”

“I know, Your Majesty the Fifth.”

Again, the blue shield prevented each dagger from advancing.

“Distant attacks don’t seem to work!”

“Close! Closer and closer!”

Aura rose from the daggers drawn by the Moon Knights. Jace, who was sitting still beside Raymond, also moved.

The moment he had moved, the two Moon Knights collapsed.

“Moo, what happened!”

“There’s seems to be another high-ranking knight!”

Feeling a sense of crisis, all the Moon Knights tore up the darkness and appeared.

“There are more enemies than I thought.”

Under the mask, Jace’s face hardened. Contrary to what Desia said, there were more hidden Moon Knights.

There are six new moon knights, so there were eleven except for those Gesteins were dealing with.

Although he was an excellent knight enough to be selected as the Imperial Guard, he was already retired due to his old age.

Eleven Moon Knights with ferocious spirit, if they all attack him at once, Jace wasn’t sure if he could protect the Fifth Prince.

“Dame Desia, I ask you to protect his Highness the Fifth Prince!”

Jace shouted as he rushed toward a Moon Knight. He made a move first because he knew well that he couldn’t win if he was defending.

He showed off his strength attacking seven of them, but the remaining four rushed toward Raymond and Desia.

Seeing the shadow running toward them, Raymond created a fire spell.

“Fire Spear!”

“Ice arrow!”

The fire spear penetrated the darkness and soon there was no more shadows.

The distance between the three Moon Knights was too close to complete a High-ranking magic.

The ice arrows that Desia hurriedly completed pierced into the body of a Moon Knight.

Their number is reduced by one, but there are 2 more and their distance was getting closer.

Desia tried too hard to gather Mana, but before the spell was completed, she was attacked and the magic scattered like a mirage.

A destruction scroll, Raymond didn’t expect them to bring that expensive disposable artifact.

Raymond didn’t even think of this. The corners of Raymond’s mouth twisted and the Moon Knights rushed towards him like a flock who found their prey.

“The Fifth Prince! Cough!”

Desia collapsed coughing up a handful of dark red blood.

“Your Highness….”

Even as she collapsed, Desia reached out her bloody hand to complete the spell.

If it weren’t for Raymond, it wouldn’t have been easy for her to get to this point so quickly. She was very afraid that he would suddenly disappear in front of her eyes.

“We’ve got the shield!”

“There’s no energy from Mana!”

“The Fifth Prince is left alone! Attack him now!”

The Moon knights moved. Raymond did not back down, despite the appearance of the Moon Knights rushing towards him.

Raymond raised his right hand as he took a step forward to confront them.

“Did you think I was alone…”

Aura started gathering on his right hand. It soon became a sword.

“Aura?”

“Wasn’t the Fifth Prince a wizard?”

Raymond kicked the ground and narrowed the distance between him and the Moon Knights, who were taken a back for a moment.

“One thousand knights are with me…….”

Both his eyes glowed sharply together with the Soul Sword.

“I am by no means alone.”