Era of Upheaval

The Empire’s political circles were in absolute turmoil.

Like an enormous boulder thrown into a tranquil lake, two pieces of news created massive ripples in the Empire’s power structure.

The purge of Prince faction forces.

News of the Southern Corps’ Western expedition.

Those with their feet in power sensed these events weren’t mere incidents.

Great change would soon come to the Empire.

The nobility’s social circles became veritable forges of rumors.

At ball halls, salons, and mansion reception rooms, intense debates raged daily over these two topics.

“The underground competition is over now.”

In one mansion’s reception room, a Margrave leaning on silk sofas swirled his wine glass.

“Whatever the reason, Loen Franz drew her sword first… The Prince faction won’t stay quiet either.”

“But having suffered crippling damage, I wonder if they can even manage containment, let alone counterattack.”

Someone rebutted the Margrave’s doubt.

“Have you forgotten Grand Duke Vakell? The East’s formidable power still stands. Frankly, if he diverted frontline elite corps units South, even the Franz house would be helpless.”

“Really now, that’s too extreme an assumption. That would mean civil war, and His Majesty wouldn’t sit idly watching that spectacle.”

While predictions about the Prince faction’s future diverged,

conversation naturally shifted to the Western expedition.

“More importantly, what does Your Grace think of Loen Franz’s Western expedition? Do you believe she’ll achieve another overwhelming success?”

The elderly Duke paused meaningfully at the question, adopting a deliberately serious expression.

Other nobles’ gazes converged around him.

“Well… circumstances differ considerably from the South, making it truly difficult to predict rashly.”

“Don’t be like that, give us at least a hint.”

The Duke hesitated briefly before lowering his voice to share information secretly.

As if revealing some great secret.

Despite his polite tone, the Duke’s attitude was remarkably arrogant.

“Since I’ll share this specially… According to our intelligence network, there are successive reports of witnessing large-scale demon forces in the West.”

Horror and disbelief flashed across the nobles’ faces.

“Large-scale demon forces… Surely not! Are you speaking of Hell Legions!?”

The Duke waved his hands dismissively.

“What terrible talk! Unless dimensional gates opened, how could they cross to this realm? I merely mean multiple demon groups.”

“Hmm… If even demons stir, Western chaos must be far worse than expected.”

The Duke nodded.

“That’s why I can’t carelessly predict success for her Western expedition. Unlike the South, obstacles litter the path everywhere.”

At the Duke’s words, hope’s light gradually appeared on some nobles’ faces.

“About time she stumbled once.”

“Indeed!”

While unseen hands moved frantically beneath the surface,

another shocking announcement struck the capital, adding fuel to political upheaval.

That was:

“From today, we unite under the name Franz Alliance!”

The birth declaration of a massive political coalition, with Franz house at center, joining hands with Bastard house and Princess Elia’s faction – a leading candidate for imperial succession.

Place meat on a silver plate, press with left fork, then cut with right knife to eating size.

Then elegantly pierce the cut meat with fork, put in mouth, savor taste and aroma while swallowing silently and smoothly.

This was imperial nobility’s dining etiquette maintained for hundreds of years.

Perfect restraint and dignity without a trace of disorder.

Scrape, scrape, stab.

But now, echoing through Franz mansion’s splendid dining hall were crude, rough noises far from etiquette.

Karin Franz’s movement froze at scraping plate sounds and forceful meat-stabbing fork noises.

Still in her meat-cutting posture, her deep black eyes turned toward the noise source.

As expected.

The noise’s source was none other than her daughter, Loen Franz.

Where was etiquette? Just fighting aggressively to fill hunger.

Yet she resembled Karin perfectly in looks and presence, making it more infuriating.

Karin unknowingly sighed deeply.

“Oh…”

‘Where did she sell all that learned dining etiquette… Must’ve forgotten completely.’

But what could be done?

Ultimately they’d expelled her from home.

Karin smiled self-deprecatingly.

Of course, had she known Loen would show such dramatic change, she’d have kept her home somehow.

Anyway, too late now to tell her to quit being an inspector.

They’d gone too far.

‘Yes. Too late…’

Not just Loen’s disagreeable dining habits.

All surrounding circumstances, Franz house’s standing, the Empire’s power structure…

Everything reached a point of no return.

The Prince faction purge sealed it.

Now Franz house had only one path.

Run forward looking only ahead.

Thus, whatever the cost, they absolutely must seize victory in this fierce power struggle.

‘I expected this day would come…’

Actually facing reality brought complex feelings inevitably.

Karin suppressed mixed emotions and spoke toward her intensely eating daughter.

“Loen.”

A summons carrying weight.

“That was too reckless.”

Brief but meaningful words.

“I hope you’ll be more cautious next time.”

Loen looked up at her mother after setting down her fork.

Mother and daughter’s gazes crossed over the wide table.

“Remember, as high as we’ve risen, many want to pull us down.”

“Understood.”

“And please! At least inform the house before such important actions. We need to prepare too, don’t we?”

“Yes…”

Karin’s voice involuntarily rose in frustration. But as if nothing happened, she quickly returned to normal tone, continuing gently.

Retaliation for the Prince’s interference was necessary.

But Loen’s method was somewhat extreme and overly hasty.

Knowing this, Loen quietly listened to her mother’s nagging.

Though she had reasons for her actions,

no need to voice them and irritate her mother further.

That would only extend lecture time.

“Loen.”

At mother’s call, Loen looked up again.

“Yes?”

“My advice ends here.”

At the long lecture’s conclusion, Loen’s expression brightened slightly.

Seeing her daughter that way, Karin momentarily choked up but suppressed emotion and moved to main point.

“Yes. Moving to main point, what did you want to say earlier?”

“Hmm.”

Loen hesitated before speaking gravely.

“Reviewing Western expedition plans, we’ll need more supplies and support than expected.”

Conclusion: asking for more money.

Truly an extreme unfilial daughter.

Of course, since Franz house could grow rapidly thanks to Loen, her demands were arguably legitimate.

Karin’s expression turned serious.

“I had something to tell you about that.”

Swish.

Karin lifted her lap napkin to clean around her mouth.

“I’ll start with conclusion.”

Pausing briefly, she finally spoke.

“Franz Alliance resolved to provide unlimited support for your Southern Corps’ Western expedition.”

Loen’s eyes widened.

Unlimited support? Far more generous than expected.

Conversely, complex emotions crossed mother Karin’s face.

Privately, her heart tore sending her daughter into another deadly mission.

But this was Loen’s chosen path.

Then as parent, only one option remained.

Pour all Franz resources generously to slightly increase her expedition’s success probability.

Karin looked directly into Loen’s eyes.

Her voice held both parental complexity and house mistress’s coldness.

“Loen. Every power-seeker’s eyes watch you.”

Her voice dropped low.

“Therefore, failure absolutely cannot happen, Loen. Remember this.”

Loen nodded.

“For this, the Alliance decided unlimited support. If you need anything, anytime, don’t hesitate to request.”

“Understood.”

After receiving ‘intelligence the Alliance discovered’ from mother, Loen immediately headed with companions to where the corps waited.

Finally reuniting with corps at vast plains, Loen immediately approached Operations Staff Bern to ask situation.

“Were there irregularities?”

Bern answered with crisp posture.

“No, Corps Commander. No reportable irregularities. Morale is peak, soldiers’ condition good.”

“What about gateway side?”

Loen’s gaze turned toward distant, faintly visible massive walls.

“The gateway… do you mean? According to scouts, nothing unusual from normal.”

“…I see.”

After thoroughly completing final checks with other staff, Loen finally ordered advance.

Soon Southern Corps reached gateway entrance.

Creeeeak—.

Massive steel gates opened with heavy sound. But what poured through wasn’t welcoming crowds but dozens of heavily armored knights. Mounted, they galloped and halted before corps. Leading was Southwest Gateway’s defense commander with stern expression.

He dismounted and approached Loen with polite bow.

But awkwardness and tension clearly marked his face.

“Corps Commander Loen Franz, your long journey was arduous. However…”

The defense commander continued.

“Unfortunately, imperial approval for Southern Corps’ Western expedition hasn’t arrived. Therefore we cannot permit corps passage currently.”

Cold silence flowed. Staff behind Loen exchanged puzzled looks.

Imperial approval still pending?

“I see.”

Loen answered briefly while producing something from within.

The ‘Emperor’s Special Authority Certificate’ personally delivered by the Director when secret decree came down.

A certificate containing one sentence: ‘Faces no constraints performing inspection duties; permitted independent judgment and operations if necessary.’

The fundamental reason Loen could move freely despite being mere Senior Investigator.

Whoosh.

Loen tossed the certificate to the defense commander. Staff looked puzzled at her somewhat rude, arrogant attitude. That’s not like her?

“!!”

The defense commander’s face paled with shock reviewing contents.

The Emperor’s undeniable seal stamped below.

His trembling hands returned authority to Loen.

“…Confirmed. But regulations require corps commander signature for movement. Though troublesome, please accompany me to gateway command for signing?”

The defense commander glanced around Loen while requesting utmost courtesy.

After brief silence, Loen stared coldly at him.

Finally Loen nodded.

“Understood. Lead the way.”

With Psyche, Seraphine, and Armored Knight Corps commander, Loen followed defense commander into gateway.

The short distance to command building.

Loen’s gaze sharply scanned gateway knights surrounding their group.

Tense appearance, slightly trembling fingertips, anxiously wavering eyes.

As expected.

Certain of something, Loen spoke gently.

As if asking health of long unseen acquaintance.

“Defense Commander, how is your wife? I heard you both attended Franz mansion function long ago. My mother asked me to convey her gratitude from then.”

The defense commander’s shoulder twitched at sudden personal question.

He stuttered momentarily confused.

“Ah… yes, my wife does well. Please thank the duchess for her kind regard.”

“Understood.”

Awkward silence returned.

Entering gateway command building, damp, cold air enveloped the group.

Strange atmosphere felt from knights lining corridors.

Walking lengthy corridors, Loen spoke again.

Unlike before, her voice carried cold edge.

“Defense Commander. What exactly did they offer?”

Instantly, defense commander’s steps halted completely.

Behind his back, Loen continued coldly.

“Did they promise to resurrect your wife who died of illness?”

Every movement ceased simultaneously.

Loen’s party and surrounding gateway knights.

As if time froze.

Suffocating tension crushed the corridor.

Soon the defense commander’s shoulders began trembling finely.

He questioned back.

“Haha. What do you mean?”

The laughing man turned slowly toward Loen but—

Splash—!

From Loen’s hand, a mana blade flash diagonally bisected his upper body.

Surprise attack without resistance chance.

Thump.

The defense commander collapsed helplessly without even screaming.

His eyes remained wide with disbelief.

“!!”

Escorting gateway knights stared dumbfounded.

Seizing that split-second gap, Armored Knight Corps commander struck like lightning.

He instantly beheaded two nearest knights.

“Current Release.”

Simultaneously, currents from Seraphine’s fingertips covered corridors.

“Damn it!!”

Finally realizing they’d fallen into a trap, traitor knights desperately attempted counterattack. Too late already.

The corridor instantly became chaos with blood, screams, and magical flashes.

The first engagement before even entering West.