Seventy-two hours after the Fourth Prince Rhine ascended to the position of Regent King, the air in the Imperial Capital was as tense as a bowstring drawn to the full.
The storm had yet to strike, but the wind outside the west city was already lifting the dust.
From afar, the mountains echoed with a rumble akin to war drums, as Duke Raymond and the Second Prince Kaelin’s coalition army approached.
anwhile, the west city wall of the Imperial Capital had been completely locked down.
All drawbridges retracted, the three-layer gates descended, streets emptied, and the Forbidden Army along with the academy guards were armored and ready.
The entire city resembled a giant beast, curling up and waiting for the first bite of the impending tear.
Rhine stood atop the highest command tower of the west city wall, with a thick crimson carpet underfoot, contrasting absurdly with the muddy battlefield outside the city.
One hand held a cup of red tea, its scent oddly prominent in the damp cold air before the rain, while the other hand wielded a silver-plated telescope, overlooking the densely packed coalition army below the city.
The tower was crowded with civil servants and nobles of the Imperial Capital.
They were all draped in light armor styled like ceremonial attire, most faces turning pale at the sight beyond the city.
Duke Simmons stood behind Rhine, gripping a cane with both hands.
His eyes were fixed on the horizon’s seething shadow: "Your Highness... that... it seems it’s more than just an army..."
Rhine turned his head slightly, giving him a steady look almost to the point of casualness: "Duke, be calm."
He gestured for Simmons to look outside the city wall.
Outside the city wall, a faint golden light shield shimred intermittently, as if covering the entire city with a slightly trembling protective barrier.
"Do you see it?" Rhine gently swirled his tea cup, "This is the sacred protective array of the Imperial Capital, burning two thousand gold coins every minute.
The array is maintained by fifty-seven court Grand Mages, and their costs along with the costs of the magic crystals are personally borne by . Even the magic crystals have recently risen in price."
Simmons swallowed: "Your... Your Highness, spending so much money is really..."
"Of course, it’s worth it." Rhine interrupted him, continuing to gaze outside, "Unless the coalition has the Hamr of God, it won’t break through this layer today."
He gestured for an official to open an observation window.
On the city wall, rows of newly installed heavy crossbows and arc-shaped giant shields glinted with tallic shine under the light.
Gears and chains connected large catapults, the stones engraved with demon patterns, weighing three tis more than regular rocks...
Rhine remarked indifferently: "Each weapon is more expensive than those old-style knights’ lances of Raymond by a whole Baron’s Domain."
Then he glanced at another spot within the city.
"The Fifth Knight Order garrisons the Inner City District." Rhine stated softly. "The Eleventh Knight Order guards the city wall. The Eighth Knight Order arrays on both sides of the royal road."
Rhine continued: "These three orders total seven thousand n, the Empire’s most elite knights. They originally had no fondness for , but after hearing about my generous reward system... their loyalty beca surprisingly strong."
The nobles in the tower visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Simmons bowed his head respectfully: "Your Highness... How exactly did you manage to win these knights’ hearts? Indeed... only you can achieve this."
This flattery, angled with a hint of ingratiation, was evidently not natural, yet it perfectly suited Rhine’s pleasure.
Rhine tapped the cup softly with his fingertips, seemingly savoring the taste of recognition.
"It’s very simple." He raised the cup in a gesture, his gaze calm yet sharp, "I told them that with , loyalty can be bought."
As these words fell, the nobles in the tower nodded, smiles spreading on their faces, as if they had just heard so brilliant political wisdom.
The air was filled with agreeing flattery, yet it ironically suffocated even more.
Through the telescope, the dense coalition army was trying to adjust their formation before the storm, like a giant beast ready to strike.
Rhine slowly closed the scope, his tone light as a casual chat: "They look formidable."
"But to capture this city..." He raised his head, gazed at the golden array shimring in the sky, his voice low and assured:
"It would take months, but within half a month, other knight orders stationed outside will co to support us. All we need is to hold our ground, and this Imperial Capital is the Empire’s strongest fortress."
He gently sipped the red tea.
"Don’t worry, Simmons." Rhine chuckled, "The Imperial Capital is unbreakable. At least not today."
As soon as he finished speaking, the shadow outside the west city suddenly began to surge. The sound of war drums thudded heavily against the rain, as if so colossal beast was awakening.
The nobles held their breath, peering outward.
Rhine raised the telescope again, reflected within the lenses was a legion detaching from the coalition formation, stepping through mud towards the Imperial Capital.
He sneered lightly: "Raymond finally willing to make a move?"
Karen stepped closer, his brow slightly furrowed: "It’s the Tenth Frontier Legion, Your Highness. They seem to be testing the city’s defenses."
"Cannon fodder." Rhine uttered coldly two words, his tone both mocking and carrying a hint of anger towards rebellion, "These border mongrels dare not guard the frontier properly, yet dare co to the Imperial Capital for treason."
The nobles in the tower imdiately nodded in agreent.
"Your Highness speaks the truth!"
"Such uncouth wretches don’t even have the right to set foot in the Imperial Capital!"
Rhine heard this to his satisfaction, a slight grin forming at the corner of his mouth.
"I needn’t give orders." He set down the telescope, gave the tea cup a gentle swirl, "The defense system is already prepared."
In that instant, a thunderous roar echoed from below the city wall, as if the entire Imperial Capital was taking a deep breath.
The faint golden light shield suddenly brightened, dazzlingly bright, like cleaving a rift in the night.
Dense lightning patterns erged on the shield’s surface, each flashing with turbulent electric light, like a swarm of golden serpents clinging to the city wall’s periphery.
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