Chapter 149: Understanding the Situation (3)
'Erik suddenly cut an adventurer's throat?'
Ruelle's eyes widened in shock.
Erik's actions were too drastic.
He just asked one question and then suddenly slashed the neck?
"According to interrogation results, those three bastards were cooperating with Black Mages."
anwhile, as he spouted such words, Ruelle felt at a loss for words.
Asking and answering, finding evidence, or sothing like that.
None of that happened.
This wasn't an interrogation.
'Is... is this right?'
No matter how she looked at it, it was nothing different from a one-sided execution.
Ruelle felt the need to clearly understand this situation.
So she headed to the temple and quickly summoned Jang Du-sik and Janson.
Then Erik gave an order.
"Du-sik, stick it on the spear shaft."
In other words.
He was telling him to publicly display the executed adventurer so that all the people of the empire could recognize him.
"Get out of the way!"
Jang Du-sik swung his club, pushing through the crowd of adventurers.
Then he picked up the severed head that fell on the ground and stuck it on the spear shaft.
"Boss, the Imperial Security Bureau says they'll cooperate."
In the anti, Janson called soldiers over and more thoroughly blocked the path of the adventurers.
As the situation developed to this point, Ruelle beca even more flustered.
'This is... not what I brought them here for—.'
She brought them to stop it, but they were actively cooperating instead?
Erik blocked the front of the adventurers, and the area around them was surrounded by soldiers.
'Still...'
She was just surprised at how drastic the actions were.
In her heart, Ruelle knew that the dead had reasons to die.
'Erik isn't the type of person to kill just anyone.'
The problem was that the target was adventurers...
Weren't adventurers the largest force in the Labyrinth?
Despite her concerns, the situation grew increasingly serious.
Kuung!
Erik manifested Divine Power.
It was ferocious and massive, just like when facing monsters of the Demon Realm.
The sanctity that dominated all directions contained the wrath of a god.
"Ugh!"
"Kugh."
A trendous weight crushed down on the adventurers.
It wasn't as if the adventurers were just a disorganized mob, so high-ranking adventurers led by the Guild Master began to protest.
"What kind of atrocity is it to kill those who don't burn in sanctity by connecting them to Black Mages!"
"At least provide so evidence!"
They had a point.
Any reasonable person would provide at least a minimum explanation here.
However, the opponent was Erik.
Instead of answering, he posed another question.
"Those who intentionally hard the empire here, raise your hands."
At those words, the adventurers exchanged glances with each other.
It wasn't that they felt caught.
It was just an atmosphere of wondering whether to force through with brute force in this coercive situation.
With ten thousand adventurers departing in a procession, they thought it would be enough to simply push through with numbers.
"Adventurers, absolutely do not use force!"
However, the Guild Master stopped the adventurers in their tracks.
It was saying there was no point in making a bigger fuss.
They could take revenge later in the Labyrinth after leaving the empire anyway.
After the Guild Master stepped forward, the commotion subsided a bit.
Then another question was heard.
"I know Hua Tuo, raise your hand."
At this point, the Guild Master had a different thought.
'Is that guy insane?'
The way he asked questions to the adventurers with colorful, gleaming eyes was no different from that of a madman.
'He obtained such martial prowess at fifteen, so it's no wonder his head would be broken... Wait?'
However, Erik's subsequent actions startled the Guild Master.
"Du-sik, go capture those guys with the red mark over there."
"Got it!"
"Janson, hand over that 200-man clan over there to the imperial forces. They're the ones who intentionally hard the empire."
"Yes, boss."
Erik specified his exact targets.
Following his words, his subordinates attempted to restrain the adventurers.
Even as the situation pressed this far, the Guild Master prohibited forceful retaliation by the adventurers.
Instead, he stepped forward himself and directly protested.
"W-What possible reason could there be to persecute adventurers!"
"Do you really think so?"
Erik approached the Guild Master.
As his massive fra drew closer, a shadow fell over the Guild Master's vision.
The Guild Master swallowed hard as he gazed into those colorful, gleaming eyes.
Then Erik spoke.
"You just stood by and watched."
At that chilling statent, the Guild Master lowered his head.
"Yes, as befits one who turned a blind eye, keep watching to the end like that."
A clear hierarchy was established.
Erik stared at the procession of adventurers with a twisted smile.
What would unfold from now on was execution.
Erik called Jang Du-sik.
"Du-sik. I want you to do it like you did with Peran, but your skills haven't dulled, right?"
At that question, Jang Du-sik grinned and twirled his club.
"Co on now, what are you doing doubting my specialty, bro?"
Jang Du-sik imdiately stepped forward in front of the adventurers.
Crack! Snap! Thwack!
Then he casually broke several legs and declared:
"Those guys have suspicions of complicity and cooperation, but His Majesty the Emperor has shown rcy. If you leave behind everything you possess, we'll forgive you!"
***
More adventurers than the Imperial forces lined up before Jang Du-sik.
"Cough it all up."
"W-What exactly is the reason I have to hand over the fortune I gathered—."
Jang Du-sik began extorting the adventurers' wealth.
Since they were being robbed of their entire fortunes, resistance was inevitable.
Snap!
"Crack!"
When he smashed a few heads as an example, they all beca ek sheep and began complying with his orders.
Watching this, Janson asked:
"Boss, is this... correct?"
While understanding catching the criminals, wasn't this just plain extortion?
Such a thought occurred to him.
"You must not have heard earlier."
Erik briefly explained the purpose of confiscating their wealth.
"People are born naked and return to earth—such is the natural order! Leaving the empire is the sa......"
Janson seed impressed by Erik's words and nodded vigorously.
"That's a fine saying indeed. However, is such an imperial decree a fact?"
"It's a pre-emptive asure and then a report, but a fact is a fact."
What will beco a fact by the flow of events can be considered a fact from a practical standpoint anyway.
Erik nodded calmly.
As he watched the scene of Jang Du-sik's extortion unfold, a worried question was heard.
"But, don't you think the situation is unfolding strangely?"
"What do you an?"
"The empire declared war not long ago, and... adventurers aren't leaving the empire?"
Erik pondered for a mont, and soon grasped Janson's concern.
Was he reminded of Earth's history?
"Janson, are you saying the war situation is flowing into a structure of empire versus the entire world?"
"Yes, that worries ."
Like Germany and Japan in World War II, there were quite a few cases of self-destruction by making the entire world an enemy?
"That's unnecessary worry."
However, Erik was unwavering.
"The empire has the Eternal Majesty the Emperor."
Just as the Emperor had shown Erik infinite trust and rcy, Erik likewise believed in the Emperor's power.
"Besides, the Astia Religious Order will also be joining the empire soon."
If the Emperor's steadfastness combined with the forces he had brought in, the empire would be eternal.
"Furthermore, before the entire world unites, the Solar Holy Nation will already be walking the path to destruction."
Before the structure of 'entire world versus empire' even ford, one nation was certain to fall.
War had already begun.
The empire's vanguard had completed fortification and fought the initial battle.
"Unless the Solar Holy Nation releases the Saint of Lu-Solace, the empire is overwhelmingly in a favorable position."
"I see."
When the explanation reached this point, Ruelle cut into the conversation.
She had intended to just listen, but a question arose.
"Erik, is it really certain that the Astia Religious Order is coming to the empire?"
"Isn't the fact that Riferoze remains in the empire proof that the Pope's heart has completely turned toward us?"
"Ah... That makes sense."
Ruelle recalled old mories.
Unlike Erik, who traveled through war-torn conflict zones as training grounds, Riferoze used to periodically return to the Papal See.
But this ti, there was no such thing, was there?
"Besides, if you think through the process of elimination, isn't it the sa?"
A world-war-scale conflict will occur.
The calamity of the Labyrinth from the Great Cataclysm will increasingly consu the world.
"The Religious Order has reached its limits in single-handedly blocking the Demon Realm."
This was already proven fact in the previous battlefield.
It was sothing that could only be barely blocked when the Pope and Julius stepped forward—the army of monsters.
"Indeed, knowing the Pope's character, there's no way he'd go to the Garcian Kingdom or the Alliance."
Ruelle also ca to full understanding and nodded repeatedly.
Moreover, she also hardened her resolve.
'I can't be a burden either.'
A deep determination filled her cyan eyes.
She touched the ring Erik had given her and resolved that she too would greatly contribute to the turbulent world.
Such resolute determination was...
"I need to expand the prayer etings! And I must build the concert hall quickly!"
To exercise dignity as the empire's idol.
Tens of thousands of spectators weren't enough.
'My popularity is Erik's strength.'
She set her sights on ten million imperial citizens.
'Holding a prayer eting before an audience of ten million....'
Just imagining it made her fingertips tremble.
To such a steadfast will, Erik let out an admiring sigh.
'It's only courteous to repay sincerity with sincerity.'
Erik pointed to the wealth that Jang Du-sik had piled up.
"Can you see that?"
"The adventurers seem to be richer than I thought."
"I'm going to use that to build Ruelle's concert hall."
"Ah!"
In the midst of such an emotional whirlpool, Erik's face suddenly twisted.
"Guild Master, what's the problem now?"
He had lowered his tail, but what more was wrong now?
Erik tilted his head.
"I heard your delirious rambling about continental politics quite well. It was rather impressive."
"Delirious rambling—. Well, that's how it would sound from your position."
When Erik smiled cunningly, the Guild Master's face contorted.
With a bit of Labyrinth rat experience, he looked so nacing that even Janson paled.
"How can a Religious Order mber do such things to an adventurer?"
At that question, Erik's shoulders shrugged as if exasperated.
"You said the reason for leaving the empire was that I belong to the empire, but now you're calling a Religious Order mber. No matter how free-spirited adventurers are, you can't just throw whatever you want at soone, right?"
Hearing those words, the Guild Master's face softened.
"Heh, certainly the justification ca from your side."
As if he was never upset, he smiled warmly.
"So you were calling us friends like children, huh?"
"How did you."
When the Guild Master looked flustered, Erik quietly drew his sword.
"Releasing that much presence, how could I not notice?"
The Imperial Capital Arman.
The Great Arcane Barrier set by the Imperial Court's Magic Tower Master had been broken through.
It was overwhelming speed.
The mont the barrier broke, no alarm sounded.
And the beings that appeared caused no impact at their arrival point.
The barrier simply appeared to have been slightly breached and then sealed again.
However!
"You're quite large for what they called a children's fight."
Ten people appeared silently.
Their cloaks bore the mark "S-Rank"—indicating the redesignated rank of adventurers.
"S-Rank adventurers, interesting na."
Unlike their silent appearance, the presence they emitted was overwhelmingly oppressive.
Erik gazed at the cloak's emblem with a wry smile.
"I'd appreciate it if you considered it more intuitive."
Among them, one adventurer who appeared to be the representative stepped forward.
On his cloak, not one but two S's were drawn.
Erik's eyes glead brilliantly.
Then the adventurers' true identities were revealed.
[ 20 Reinforcent Rudrick's Colossal Soldier Set - Legendary Grade]
[ 20 Reinforcent Giant's Heavy Armor Set - Legendary Grade]
.
.
.
An S-Rank adventurer group, all equipped with fully-enhanced Legendary set equipnt.
However,
'There's not a single Possessor among them.'
***
—Boss, what should we do?
—Brother, those guys' montum isn't to be taken lightly!
Words brushed past Erik's ears.
Like a dormant dragon in the great sea, they concealed exceptional power within their silence.
Weren't they powerful beings who went beyond the wall and handled Labyrinth items better than Possessors?
'To match set equipnt at 20 enhancent...'
The adventurers' headquarters.
How was that place even run?
Multiple questions arose.
"Why? Can't you see the discrepancy in our abilities? It's funny that you bully the weak but call yourself a saint."
The S-Rank adventurers approached Erik.
Jang Du-sik tried to step forward with his club, but Erik stopped him.
Instead, he stepped forward himself.
"I've co out. So what's your plan?"
The S-Rank adventurers had such sturdy bearing individually that they weren't easy opponents.
However, Erik was hardly in a position to be outdone, was he?
Swish!
An adventurer drew his sword.
The aning was clear.
"Drawing steel in the middle of the Imperial Capital, huh. This could be fun."
"Are you serious?"
Erik also drew the [Sword of Creation].
After that, he warned the adventurers.
"This is the empire."
"We have the justification."
The S-Rank adventurer ntioned justification.
After that, he pointed to the severed head stuck on the spear shaft and the adventurers' confiscated wealth.
"Adventurers' legitimate activities are beyond the empire's jurisdiction."
One S-Rank adventurer left an afterimage as he rushed at Erik.
[ 20 Reinforcent Rudrick's Great Sword - Legendary Grade]
'Is he really showing off with just a Legendary 20?'
A flurry of sword slashes poured down.
Erik smiled wryly and responded with the [Sword of Creation].
Ting!!!
At a single clash, three sword rings echoed.
He blocked the adventurer's sword in the first strike, deflected it in the second, and severed the adventurer's arm in the third.
"Hmph! So the rumors about the saint and whatnot weren't empty after all, huh?"
When one fell, the others moved.
Unlike before, Erik also tensed.
'That one is on a different level.'
Among the S-Rank adventurers, a man wearing an SS-Rank cloak.
Even considering the difference in weapon grade, that one didn't seem easy.
'Just how long are they planning to watch....'
However, Erik had sothing he could rely on.
Thus, he issued another warning.
"This is Arman, the heart of the empire."
"I said we have the justification, didn't we?"
A 10-against-1 situation.
Erik's trapezius muscle twitched.
Was it anger?
'He's pleased?'
From Ruelle's perspective watching from behind, this was elation.
Why was he happy in such a tense situation?
The reason was clear.
In an instant, a silver afterimage flashed.
Kuung!
The Imperial Guard General appeared.
Incomprehensible speed.
Sohow, a general in silver armor now stood before Erik.
From his presence, clear protective intent could be felt.
The general asked:
"Adventurers. Do you dare commit rudeness on the land of His Majesty the Emperor?"
The general, who unleashed a massive silver aura, displayed a ferocious bearing.
His appearance was far more dramatic than the adventurers'.
'Isn't the general weak?'
Ruelle tilted her head as she watched the general.
She recalled how his strike was blocked by Janson from the start, then suffered before Mongma and was thoroughly beaten by Riferoze.
Contrary to Ruelle's concerns, the adventurers displayed extre tension.
"You're not planning to protect soone who oppressed ten thousand adventurers and killed so of them, are you?"
The SS-Rank adventurer stepped before the general.
Then the Imperial Guard General asked:
"Is there any reason needed for the empire to protect the empire's loyal servants?"
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