Cherreads

Chapter 2 - Chapter2-Summon, the Strongest Assassin!

The vast and empty palace chamber was shrouded in silence.

Before Aurek's eyes, tiny motes of starlight began to gather in the air.

He did not hesitate. Without a second thought, he burned through all the Emperor Points he had, spending them all at once to summon ten Elemental Assassins.

It was a reckless gamble, but Aurek had his reasons. Emperor Points replenished at a steady rate of ten points per day. And given the perilous situation he was in, he needed strength now, not tomorrow. Each additional Elemental Assassin at his side meant an extra layer of security.

[Summon Successful]

The system's cold prompt echoed in his mind.

In the blink of an eye, the starlight thickened, threads of blue weaving together. Ten silhouettes gradually took shape before him, their outlines hardening into solid forms.

What emerged were ten figures—silent, deadly, clad in light armor woven entirely of shimmering starlight.

They knelt before him in unison, their movements crisp, sharp, and utterly without wasted motion.

"We greet our Lord."

Their voices were as one, low yet powerful, their loyalty radiating with unshakable certainty.

These soldiers, born of the Emperor's Scepter, possessed absolute allegiance. No doubt, no treachery—only unwavering service.

Aurek nodded, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. A transparent window appeared in front of him, revealing their details.

[Elemental Assassin]

Quantity: 10Initial Rank: Elite Rank, Level 8 (can consume Emperor Points to level up)Skill: Elemental Merge (The higher their initial rank, the stronger the skill effect)Unit Introduction: A unit specialized in assassination. They can merge with the elements around them, enabling them to slay targets below Expert Rank with near-certainty, and even granting a chance to assassinate those at Expert Rank.

Aurek's heart thumped wildly.

They can assassinate even Expert Rank powerhouses?

His lips curled upward into an expression of exhilaration.

The most astonishing part was that their levels could still be raised further.

Right now, they were at Elite Rank—and already capable of slaying above their weight class. If he elevated them to Expert Rank… would they not be able to kill even Hero Rank warriors?

And if that became true—what then was there to fear from the Ordon Theocracy?

"Show me your strength," Aurek commanded coldly.

In an instant, the ten Elemental Assassins vanished. Not a sound. Not a shadow. The only sign they had been there was a faint breeze that brushed across Aurek's face.

"…Invisible. No wonder they can slay above their rank."

His eyes narrowed, awe gleaming within them. These were killers born of silence and shadow—perfect tools for survival and vengeance alike.

With such weapons under his command, Aurek finally exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

At least now, he had the barest measure of protection. He didn't have to fear being slaughtered in his sleep.

But even so, ten assassins were not enough.

For self-preservation, perhaps. But to reverse the fate of the crumbling Crossbridge Empire? Far from sufficient.

No—what he needed was more. More points. More soldiers. More strength.

Emperor Points.

He had to earn them. Piles upon piles of them.

And according to the system's prompt, the way to gain points was brutally simple: kill enemies.

A slow, wry smile crept across Aurek's lips.

Enemies?

Of that, he had no shortage.

Inside the empire, corruption festered.

The Grand Marshal herself, the ministers of every department, countless nobles—they were all wolves in sheep's clothing, bleeding the empire dry while bowing with false smiles.

Even here, in the very capital, gangs and syndicates flourished unchecked. Hundreds of criminal factions ruled the alleys and backstreets, their roots entwined deep into the empire's soil.

Outwardly, they all maintained a veneer of respect. They knelt when required, addressed him as "Your Majesty" with polished courtesy. But behind his back, their actions were nothing short of treason. Every one of them was digging the empire's grave.

And beyond the empire's borders, hostile nations loomed like hungry predators. Mercenary bands, merchant guilds, trading consortia—they all circled like vultures, eager to rip away their share of flesh from the weakened beast.

And above all stood the greatest enemy of all—

The Ordon Theocracy.

The cruel irony was that the empire's very survival depended on the Theocracy's protection. Without Ordon's shadow looming above, Crossbridge would have already been devoured.

The thought drew a sneer from Aurek's lips.

Everyone, it seemed, thought only of carving up the empire. Not one of them spared a thought for the common people, the vast masses who bore the weight of all this corruption and exploitation.

To the so-called mighty, the peasants were nothing more than ants—creatures to be trampled without hesitation.

But for Aurek, this was something he could not, would not accept.

Perhaps it is fate that I came here.

The empire was already rotting, its sickness too deep to be cured by half-measures.

If the ship was to be saved, all the vermin had to be purged.

And to do that, Aurek first needed time. He needed power. He needed to build his foundation carefully, step by step.

Before I deal with outside enemies, I must first put my own house in order.

This was the path. The empire had to be consolidated under his absolute control, or it would all crumble before he even took his first true step.

His thoughts sharpened, a plan forming as swiftly as lightning.

The Theocracy's parasitic grip meant one thing: they still saw value in draining Crossbridge. And so long as they had not decided to crush it outright, Aurek still had a window—time to grow, to evolve, to sharpen his blade.

His most pressing task now was clear: acquire as many Emperor Points as possible. The more, the better.

As for the assassins he had summoned? For now, they were more than sufficient.

After all, the empire itself had long relied on mercenaries for its security. And the highest it could afford were barely Elite Rank. His assassins were on par with the best of them—and far deadlier.

As Aurek pondered his next move, the sound of hurried footsteps reached him.

The doors to the chamber opened, and Angie returned. At her side was a white-haired elder with sharp eyes and a gentle smile, and behind him, a graceful woman in a healer's robe—Doctor Melina.

Angie's gaze fell upon Aurek, who was now standing tall beside his bed. Her eyes widened, her expression caught between shock and delight.

"Your Majesty—you're on your feet?" she exclaimed.

"Quickly, let Doctor Melina examine you. Please, lie back down and behave, alright?"

Her tone—gentle, coaxing, almost sing-song—was the way one might address a child.

Aurek's lips twitched involuntarily.

She's… treating me like a toddler?

Then again, given the humiliating history of his predecessor, it was no wonder she saw him this way.

Still, Aurek straightened his back and coughed lightly.

"I'm fine. Have Doctor Melina stand down," he ordered.

Angie froze.

This was the first time she had ever heard her emperor speak in such a tone—firm, commanding, utterly unlike the stammering, hesitant boy she knew. For a moment, she simply stood there, stunned.

Aurek's eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong? Do my orders no longer carry weight?"

Her whole body stiffened. Quickly, she bowed her head, voice flustered.

"N-no, Your Majesty! As you command!"

With that, she ushered the bewildered doctor away, leaving only the elder behind.

The man's eyes narrowed as he studied Aurek.

When did His Majesty become like this?

Gone was the timid, dim-witted boy who shrank before shadows. In his place stood a young man whose gaze was so sharp, so commanding, that even he—the seasoned statesman—felt hesitant to meet it directly.

Those eyes… they were the eyes of a ruler.

And as he examined Aurek, Aurek's own gaze swept over him.

William Winston.

Secretary-General of the Crossbridge Empire. A pillar of the Royalist Party.

Much of the empire's survival these past years could be credited to him.

In Aurek's inherited memories, Winston was one of the very few men whom the former Aurek XVI had truly trusted. During the emperor's two-year coma, Winston had acted as regent, painstakingly balancing the empire's politics, holding the fraying seams together with both hands.

"Secretary-General Winston," Aurek said evenly. "It has been a long time."

Winston blinked, startled. Then, regaining his composure, he bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, your awakening is cause for celebration throughout the empire. We had feared the worst… but it seems fortune has smiled upon us after all."

Aurek inclined his head slightly, then wasted no time with pleasantries. His tone was sharp, direct, regal.

"William. I need you to brief me on the current state of the empire."

More Chapters