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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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In ancient times, the greatest and most terrible assassin group that protected the Philios Empire from the shadows was called the ‘Shade.’
Their blades showed no mercy, and their deep loyalty to the emperor could be described as madness.
“I never imagined they would be sleeping beneath the palace.”
At Count Pottas’s words, Marquess Blizzard nodded.
With the Empire Reconstruction Plan underway, the ‘sealed legacies’ left by previous emperors were scattered across the former territories of the Philios Empire.
They assumed at least one would remain beneath the palace, but never imagined the most brutal assassin group would be sealed there.
“To face the Edryger Kingdom, we need their power.”
Having obtained the ‘Silent Absolute’ and succeeded to the throne, they met the minimum condition to awaken the legacies of past emperors.
“Your Majesty, the palace underground is vast.”
It was Count Pottas, asking if they knew the exact location. Raymond nodded with a clear smile.
“Of course, I know the exact spot. So, there’s no need to worry.”
“Are you planning to act today?”
“The sooner, the better.”
Even now, the Haifel Empire was planning to push south through the monster forest, and the Tri-Nation Alliance was showing signs of movement. To counter them, the Philios Empire needed to reclaim its former glory.
The first step was to execute the Empire Reconstruction Plan.
“I will summon the elite agents of the Central Intelligence Agency.”
“What! The Royal Guard will protect Your Majesty wherever you go!”
“Neither is necessary. Only four more attendants will be added to the current group.”
It had been decided from the start. Raymond turned to Gestain.
“Bring the Red Tower Master, Blue Tower Master, Desia, and Sylvia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Though Gestain had called Raymond his lord before, now his title had changed. It naturally felt like his position had shifted.
“I will take charge of the guard while you are away.”
Marquess Blizzard said. Gestain nodded slightly and left the Fifth Prince’s palace.
About thirty minutes passed before Gestain entered the garden with Desia, Sylvia, and the two Tower Masters.
They had received no explanation during their journey and, seeing the Royal Guard leader and high imperial nobles with Raymond, looked at him for a briefing.
“Didn’t Gestain explain?”
“No, not at all.”
Desia nodded in response to Count Pottas’s question. Raymond sighed briefly and held his forehead.
He knew they were taciturn, but not to this extent. He thought it would have been better to give separate orders.
“Count Pottas, please explain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At the mention of the title ‘Emperor,’ which only one person in the Philios Empire was allowed to use, the quick-witted Blue Tower Master was the first to kneel. Desia, the Red Tower Master, and Sylvia followed suit.
“How much information should we disclose?”
“These are my people. Reveal everything.”
“As Your Majesty wishes.”
Count Pottas bowed respectfully, then turned to Desia and the two Tower Masters.
After a concise explanation with a clear beginning, middle, and end, the four showed different expressions.
The Red Tower Master, who usually showed almost no expression despite a hot temper, was as inscrutable as ever. Desia and the Blue Tower Master looked flushed.
The Blue Tower Master even shouted “Long live Your Majesty!” as if newfound loyalty had suddenly surged. Sylvia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“I heard it’s easy to get lost underground in the palace. Will it be okay?”
Desia asked. But with Sylvia there, there was no need to worry.
“We leave immediately.”
They headed straight for the palace underground. Everyone wore black robes with their hoods pulled low.
The guards and jailers of the underground prison had been handled by the Central Intelligence Agency agents Count Pottas had sent ahead.
‘Palace underground, 6th floor, 6th room.’
In the deep darkness lay the Shade, the assassin group that had protected the glorious era of the Philios Empire. Raymond recalled their location once more.
In 《Empire of the Dead》, the Empire Reconstruction Plan never activates. Only the Philios Emperor can trigger it, but all the royal family perished at the Blood Funeral. It was occasionally mentioned but never detailed.
Still, the detailed setting of the Empire Reconstruction Plan showed the author’s attachment to the Philios Empire.
Lost in thought while descending the stairs, they soon reached the 6th floor underground where the Shade slept.
[The palace underground holds traitors who refused loyalty to the empire. In ancient times, unconditional loyalty from local nobles meant the underground prison was almost empty. But as the glorious era ended and decline began, the prison gradually filled. When decline worsened, the prison emptied again because there was no power left to arrest traitors or troublemakers.]
Opening the door to the 6th floor, Raymond recalled the author’s notes. As described, most of the prison was empty. The declining empire no longer had the strength to imprison the disloyal.
Yet a few powerless prisoners remained, and their condition was very poor.
“Your Majesty, I should have tidied this up beforehand. This is a disgrace,” said Marquess Blizzard.
“Count Pottas, that was a mistake. I apologize.”
Count Pottas bowed his head. Raymond thought they should have ordered the transfer of prisoners when the agents limited the jailers’ patrols.
“I don’t mind. To rule the empire, you must face its dark side.”
“Truly, Your Majesty!”
Blue Tower Master Lysfield Dior said cheerfully. Seeing his increased flattery, Raymond shook his head slightly and moved on.
They soon reached the 6th room described in the notes.
Though old, the room had no security devices. Raymond opened the door with force and entered.
It was a large cell but held no prisoners.
Though it looked ordinary, Raymond knew from the author’s notes that this was the secret passage to the first legacy of the Empire Reconstruction Plan.
He searched skillfully and finally found the secret mechanism. Activating it, a wall opened to reveal a hidden passage.
“Th-this can’t be… It wasn’t here during the previous investigation…”
Count Pottas’s eyes widened as he muttered.
Because operating the mechanism required using mana while holding the ‘Silent Absolute,’ the Central Intelligence agents had naturally failed to find it.
“Go.”
Raymond gave the calm order and stepped forward. Gestain and Marquess Blizzard quickly followed. The others hurried to keep up.
“There was such a place underground in the palace…”
The longer they walked the secret passage, the more shocked Count Pottas became. He knew of the Empire Reconstruction Plan and had thoroughly investigated the palace underground by order of previous emperors but had never found any trace of this passage.
‘I thought he was extraordinary, but I didn’t expect this much.’
Knowing such a secret device existed made Raymond feel like an exceptional being. Count Pottas updated his evaluation of the current emperor, Raymond Philios, in real time.
“I feel the mana growing stronger.”
Red Tower Master Berenus Kyle said, and everyone nodded. The powerful mana rising from deep inside the passage made the mages tense.
The mana’s scent grew stronger as they advanced until a huge golden door appeared before them.
The Philios Empire and imperial crest were engraved on it. Holding the ‘Silent Absolute,’ Raymond slowly placed his hand on the red gem protruding in the center. The golden door responded.
First, the magical seal to block intruders was lifted, then the mechanical lock released, and the door opened.
“I will light the way.”
Berenus cast a light spell. A cluster of white light scattered in all directions, chasing away the darkness.
“Is this a tomb?”
Lysfield asked in a trembling voice. The cylindrical space was filled with black coffins marked with numbers on the walls.
Skulls covered the walls without coffins, and the eerie atmosphere made it easy to mistake for a tomb.
“It’s not a tomb.”
The lives of those resting inside the coffins still continued, so strictly speaking, it wasn’t a tomb. Raymond quickly scanned the cylindrical walls. The numbers on the coffins ended at ‘500.’ Since they started at ‘1,’ it seemed 500 people were sleeping here.
“Five hundred…”
They were the Shade, the worst and best assassin group in Philios Empire history. If all 500 could be mobilized, there would be no worry even if the Blood Funeral began immediately.
But there was one problem.
[The Empire Reconstruction Plan is not perfect. Even a prosperous great empire cannot maintain life for thousands of years easily. Putting them in hibernation is easy; waking them is the problem.]
Raymond recalled part of the plan’s setting and bit his lip slightly.
The chance all 500 would awaken was very low. So how many could awaken fully? That was the question.
“I can only pray…”
Muttering to himself, he stepped forward. Red Tower Master Berenus Kyle quickly approached and spoke.
“Are you going to start?”
His words held many meanings.
He was a Tower Master, considered closest to the rank of Grand Mage among high mages.
Moreover, the flaws of the hibernation spell were clear, so even without analyzing with mana, everyone knew they couldn’t awaken all of them.
“Is the problem not going to be solved?”
“Can it be solved?”
“Not for now.”
When asked subtly if the problem could be solved, Berenus answered firmly without hesitation. The current magic power of the Philios Empire was not enough to solve it quickly.
“I need them right now.”
Raymond spoke calmly but clearly.
“I will wake them now.”
His tone allowed no objections. In his raised right hand appeared the emperor’s flag, formed from golden energy.
“It is the emperor’s command! Shade, assemble immediately!”
Raising the flag, he shouted. It was no ordinary cry. Mana refined through the ‘Silent Absolute’ spread endlessly in all directions.
The golden mana waves spread widely in the cylindrical space, reaching the black coffins.
Thousands of years had passed, but the emperor’s command was great joy to loyal subjects. One by one, the seals on the coffins broke, and the lids opened.
What appeared were shadows with red eyes.
“After thousands of years! We have finally been called!”
“This will be the great beginning to reclaim the empire’s glory!”
The black shadows that flowed out with dark energy gathered before the Philios Empire and the emperor.
Seeing them silently approach, Marquess Blizzard, leader of the Royal Guard, and Gestain, captain of the elite guards, instinctively stepped forward. But Raymond raised his hand to stop them.
They are not enemies.
“The glorious history will begin again!”
“We will stand at the forefront of the beginning!”
“Though promised honor and glory may be absent, we will protect the darkness for the empire!”
“All according to Your Majesty’s will!”
The Shade bowed in unison.
Seeing them, a clear smile spread across Raymond’s lips.
Now that the protective darkness sleeping in the empire’s deepest place had awakened, the empire no longer needed to fear the deep darkness of the Edryger Kingdom.
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