Chapter 267: The Empire's Holy Sword
However, when Legate added with a hint of mockery, "It is a pity that Rhodes didn't leave any statues behind. Otherwise, I would have toppled his as well, letting this founder of human magic taste what it is like to be trampled by future generations..."
"Your Majesty!" Friedrich spoke suddenly. His voice remained steady, but it carried an unprecedented, icy firmness that instantly cut off Legate's speech. "Please watch your words."
Legate paused, looking at his teacher in surprise.
His teacher rarely spoke to him in such a tone.
Friedrich slowly raised his head. Under the hood, his black eyes stared directly at the Emperor as he spoke, enunciating every word.
"Toppling the statue of the Holy King Norne might only incite the anger of Ersten's citizens, which is still within the acceptable cost of conquest. But if you publicly express disrespect toward the God-slayer Rhodes, or even attempt to desecrate him..."
His voice dropped lower, becoming even heavier. "That is tantamount to standing in opposition to every human mage in the world."
"At that time, we will face not just the resistance of the Kingdom of Ersten, but unimaginable hostility and obstruction from the entire community of human mages."
"Even the elves might become involved. I beseech Your Majesty to reconsider."
The God-slayer Rhodes had a very good relationship with the elves. After all, one of his closest companions, Serie, was an elf.
Moreover, given the long lifespan of elves, those who had met the God-slayer Rhodes back then had not all died out yet.
If His Majesty truly committed such a blasphemous act, he would genuinely become the public enemy of the entire continent. At that point, even Friedrich would not be able to protect him.
Furthermore, subconsciously, Friedrich himself did not wish for any blasphemy against the Lord God-slayer.
Legate was stunned by the rare severity and warning in Friedrich's eyes.
He fell silent for a few seconds. The arrogance on his face receded slightly, and he forced a stiff smile. "Teacher, you speak too gravely. I was merely joking. Please rest assured."
He naturally understood that Rhodes's status in the hearts of mages was akin to a god. He wouldn't do something stupid enough to provoke public outrage.
What he said just now was merely venting.
Legate quickly changed the subject, tapping his fingers on the armrest of the throne to bring the focus back to their current predicament. "Alright, enough of that."
"Teacher, the problem now is that Serie. As long as she remains in the Kingdom of Ersten, Fidel will have a constant stream of high-quality mages. Are we just going to watch helplessly as the gap closes?"
"Perhaps we should coexist peacefully. Legate, you know that given Ersten's transcendent status, it will not affect your plan to unify the continent."
"Peaceful coexistence..." Legate uttered these words with obvious unwillingness.
Friedrich fell silent for a moment, seeming to weigh the options.
However, Legate suddenly chuckled softly. The gloom from earlier seemed to be swept away, and his face regained that confident, ruthless expression of having everything under control.
"However, Teacher... regarding how to solve the trouble that is Serie..." Legate leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping lower, carrying a dangerous undertone. "I already have a way."
In the grand hall of the Imperial Palace, as Emperor Legate's understated words fell, Friedrich could no longer maintain his composure.
He lifted his head completely, the hood sliding back to reveal his aged face. A trace of deep shock flashed through his black eyes as he looked at the Emperor, his gaze full of inquiry.
"Legate, what exactly is this method you speak of?" In his surprise, he even addressed the Emperor directly by name.
Legate did not get angry at this.
The mage before him was not only the teacher who had raised him since childhood but also his staunchest supporter and the existence he trusted most in this country.
A slight disrespect in speech wasn't enough to anger him.
Friedrich thought to himself.
In recent years, massive amounts of treasure from the imperial treasury, as well as incredibly rare magical ores, had vanished without a trace.
Of course, he had seen guards transporting them out of the palace several times. But when he inquired, he was told it was a top-secret imperial matter known only to His Majesty—even he was not privy to the full plan.
Although Friedrich could have used his magic to secretly track the destination of these treasures and ores, considering it might incur His Majesty's displeasure, he pretended not to know.
Now, for some reason, he vaguely sensed that the method Legate spoke of was related to this matter.
He paused slightly, his gaze falling on Legate like a physical weight, as if trying to pierce through the gorgeous imperial robes to see the true plot in his heart.
"What exactly have you been planning in secret?"
Facing his teacher's probing gaze, the Emperor showed no displeasure at being questioned. Instead, he revealed an even more triumphant and mysterious smile.
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he waved his hand lightly, as if dispelling the anxiety in the atmosphere.
"Teacher, there is no need to worry. As it happens, that item was just completed recently." Legate stood up and walked down from the throne. "Today, I invite Teacher to accompany me to witness the ultimate weapon I have prepared for the Empire."
Saying this, he took the lead, walking toward a hidden side hall at the rear of the palace. Friedrich followed silently, the ominous feeling in his heart growing heavier.
Passing through several corridors guarded by strict magical barriers and elite guards, they arrived before a door cast from some dark metal.
Legate reached out, mana surging at his fingertips, and pressed it against a complex magic circle on the door.
Moments later, the heavy door slid open to the sides, revealing a brightly lit, spacious secret chamber inside.
At the Emperor's command, four attendants carefully carried over a long, rectangular metal box.
The box was crafted entirely from an unknown golden metal, its surface inlaid with magnificent gemstones. Judging solely by its appearance, it seemed to be in the decorative style favored by dwarves.
The attendants placed the box steadily on a stone pedestal in the center of the chamber, then bowed and retreated to the side, awaiting further orders from their Emperor.
"Open it," Legate commanded, a trace of uncontrollable excitement in his voice.
An attendant stepped forward, placing both hands on the mechanisms on the sides of the box. With a soft click, the lid slowly opened.
In an instant.
An indescribably sharp sword light erupted from the box!
The entire chamber seemed instantly filled with the brilliance of the sun, making it impossible to keep one's eyes open. Fortunately, the blinding light lasted only a moment before quickly fading.
Simultaneously, a powerful wave of energy swept out like a tsunami, causing even a powerful mage like Friedrich to feel his breath catch. He subconsciously took a half-step back, the mana in his body automatically circulating into a defensive posture.
After the light fully receded, the true appearance of the item in the box was revealed.
It was a longsword.
The blade was slender, presenting a white-gold hue that seemed to flow with starlight.
Its design was ancient yet carried a strange aura. An unknown gemstone emitting blazing light was embedded in the pommel, and the guard was wrapped in dragon-scale leather. The entire sword looked incomparably magnificent.
It lay quietly in the box, constantly radiating a palpitating majesty and power.
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