Chapter 154

Amber still believed in her own values, even if they were skewed, they couldn't be too skewed; at least they were much better than the nobles of that world.

[Necrass: I know, sigh... wait for my news!]

Chapter One: Princess Necrass.

After closing the Chat Group, Necrass took another look at the surrounding layout.

She had bought herself an intermediate-level Identity Card before entering, and although the place she was in could not be described as magnificent, it was still considered very wealthy.

The reason she was born here is because she was the illegitimate daughter of the emperor at that time.

Her mother's encounter with the emperor originated from a lost Blood Imperial Arm. Drinking its blood would grant the user the power of Dragon Species. As the most powerful Imperial Arms at the founding of the empire, it was meant to protect the empire. However, because this Imperial Arms could only be inherited through bloodline after being consumed, its power would gradually weaken with each bloodline.

Coupled with war and assassinations, this Imperial Arm was eventually lost forever.

Her mother passed away not long after giving birth to her because she could not withstand the power of her bloodline, but her daughter was born with dragon horns and Dragon Tail.

This strange occurrence startled the midwife and shocked the emperor.

From birth, Necrass displayed intelligence and physique unlike that of ordinary children. Her strength—enough to shatter trees with her fists at the age of three and easily break steel bars at the age of six—seemed to tell people of the return of a former top-tier Imperial Arms wielder.

Worried that Necrass's presence would affect the child, the Queen wanted to demote her to a remote place. The minister was about to retire. Although Necrass was an illegitimate child, the old emperor believed that she would become an asset to the empire sooner or later, so there was no need to offend her. He simply entrusted her to the minister to take good care of her. In order to appease the Queen's resentment, he also took the opportunity to strip Necrass of her right to inherit the throne.

From then on, although she remained a princess, she was more like a noblewoman without a title. Very few people knew her identity as a princess, because she lived in the minister's mansion and many people regarded her as the minister's illegitimate daughter born late in life.

Twelve years had passed since he first arrived here. During this time, the emperor died suddenly from overwork, and the empress was depressed because of his death. Not long after, she also passed away.

After the successive deaths of the two supreme rulers of the empire, a man named Ernest used his ruthless methods to help a young illegitimate son ascend the throne. He was then appointed as a minister by the young emperor and began a cruel and decadent reign.

Anyone who disagreed with him was framed and killed. Increased taxes made the country miserable, and corruption and crime became the daily routine for officials. The entire vast empire was transformed in just two years.

Eugene, a former minister, returned to the capital because he was furious at Ernest's political tactics.

The timing of Necrass's arrival coincides with the point at which he is about to return after his departure.

Unlike the basic Identity Card used by Castorice, the intermediate Identity Card simulates the user's past identity based on the user's personality and behavior, and flashes through the user's mind quickly like a movie.

If Necrass remembers correctly, this former minister, or rather her adoptive father, is the character who was intercepted and killed by the Three Beasts on their way back in the original story.

Not only was he killed, but his daughter, who was worried about his safety and personally acted as his bodyguard, was also brutally skinned and died suddenly because she could not bear the pain.

Thinking of this, Necrass's purple eyes turned completely cold.

The intermediate Identity Card will simulate and supplement based on her personality and behavior. With Necrass's understanding of the plot, she has naturally made preparations in advance. At this moment, the guards around Eugene may seem to be ordinary people, but this is just the Death Fire she left on them that has not yet been ignited.

The moment they are killed, the Death Fire will take over their lives.

Of course, the guards accepted Necrass's Death Fire knowing this.

Like master, like servant. Eugene was honest and upright throughout his life, and his guards naturally shared the same character. Knowing that there might be problems on this journey, they were willing to accept the insurance that Necrass had provided for them.

Knowing the danger of the Three Beasts, she did not hold back her power, giving the guard captain the strength equivalent to Imperial Arms User. Among the Three Beasts, Niu's direct combat strength is not strong. Although she has a Teigu with decent support capabilities, her soul is not affected by voice control.

Liver's strength is not weak, but there was no water on his way back, and without his Teigu, his threat level will be greatly reduced.

This leaves Daidas as the only one capable of direct combat.

In the original work, he was instantly killed by Brand, but that doesn't mean he was weak. The Three Beasts who were taken in by Esdeath as her personal guards could not be weak. It was simply that Brand was too strong.

The captain of the guards could not possibly be as strong as Brand, but given the immortality of the spirits, they were more than capable of holding their own against the Three Beasts.

As for why Necrass didn't go herself...

In his Remembrance, it was Eugene sternly prevented Necrass from accompanying him.

Few people knew Necrass's true identity, but the empire's high-ranking officials were well aware of it. At this critical juncture when the empire was teetering on the brink of collapse, many were willing to gamble on Necrass and try to overthrow the current emperor and his ministers.

Eugene was not someone who couldn't bear to shed blood; he knew that sometimes change required bloodshed as a backdrop, but... that was when there was no other way.

Before trying, he didn't want Necrass to have her hands stained with blood, nor did he want the empire to face a major reshuffle that it might not be able to withstand.

That's why he refused to bring Necrass back to the capital at this time.

In fact, Necrass could understand Eugene's thoughts, but she knew better than Eugene how dark the capital was at this time. It was several times darker than the Togawa family. Having been away from the center of power for so long, Eugene's understanding of the imperial power structure was outdated.

If you get in their way, they will really kill you.

Shaking her head, Necrass fully understood the current situation. Necrass got up from her desk in the bedroom and walked straight out of the room.

Although the guards can manage the situation, problems may arise if this goes on for too long. Going to their aid at this point is the safest course of action.

This assassination attempt will likely make Eugene realize just how corrupt the empire has become.

Let him face reality, so that Necrass can unleash her full potential without any worries.

"Second Miss".

The maid at the door bowed respectfully to her.

"Go and prepare the carriage."

Necrass's movements did not stop in the slightest because of her voice. Although Eugene had told Necrass to wait for news at home, the maid did not offer any dissuasion to Necrass's order.

They respected Minister Eugene and Miss Treya, but after Necrass took over the management of the manor and the estate, they were captivated by the second young lady, whose every word and action exuded an incredible charm.

With a natural leader's charisma, miraculous ability to come back from the dead, and a benevolent yet precise management style, wouldn't any servant find it hard to refuse such a master?

Chapter Two: The Corpse... stood Up.

"This village also..."

On his way back to East Ridge City, Eugene had passed by the village countless times.

He had seen many villages so dilapidated that they were almost deserted, but each time he saw one, it filled him with heartache and anger.

"The people are clearly the foundation of the nation..."

On the carriage, Eugene, dressed in a winter coat and without a single decent accessory, had tears in his eyes. This trip to the capital had been almost entirely fruitless. There were far fewer people with good intentions than he had imagined; he couldn't even count five in the entire court.

This desperate isolation left Eugene powerless.

They simply didn't have enough voice or power to make the Empire change, let alone compete with Ernest; they couldn't even make a splash.

The blonde girl sitting next to him felt pain in her heart when she saw her father so sad. However, after Eugene retired, he did not let her learn any political matters in order to avoid suspicion. He even left the management of the territory to Necrass.

The only thing Treya could boast about was her martial prowess, which was no less than that of the captain of the guard.

Nevertheless, she comforted him, saying, "I think a father who can return to his nest in the capital with the people in his heart is truly great!"

However, Eugene was already troubled and not so easily comforted, "Now is not the time to play it safe. For the sake of the empire, I must fight that minister to the bitter end."

Now that things had come to this, he knew he had to bring Necrass to the capital.

Those officials who obey the ministers are just like the ministers themselves—cunning and treacherous officials who prioritize personal gain. When the benefits are great enough, it's not impossible for them to turn against the ministers. Fortunately, my trip to the capital this time was mainly to observe the situation, and I didn't show any inclination.

In this way, they won't be overly wary of me and will likely see me as one of their own, someone who can also get a share of the spoils from the current emperor.

"Don't worry! I learned these martial arts skills precisely for my father's safety!"

Treya confidently raised the long spear in her hand, and when talking about her favorite and skilled areas, she couldn't help but reveal her girlish charm, which finally made Eugene smile.

"Haha, I'm so proud of my daughter's bravery as a father."

He stroked his beard. He had a daughter late in life, and Treya was practically all the pride he had accumulated over the years.

However, after laughing, he continued, "But don't forget, more important than me is protecting Princess Necrass. She is the only hope for changing the empire."

Treya naturally knew Princess Necrass's identity. She had complicated feelings towards this princess who was four years younger than her and whom she had watched grow up.

It contains both the older sister's affection for her younger sister and her awe of the younger sister as she grows into a qualified leader.

Just as the two were starting to relax, the carriage suddenly stopped.

"This is?"

Anger rose again on Eugene's face. "How many times has this happened already? Even the deputy governor of the capital shouldn't have this many bandits, right?"

Treya was also dissatisfied. Her father had just started to feel happy when someone came to block their way. But when she lifted the curtain, she saw a situation that left both father and daughter stunned.

The people blocking the car were not a gang of robbers, but only three people.

Their convoy consisted of more than twenty people, and apart from the father and daughter, they were all bodyguards. It was clear that such a convoy could not be taken down by just three people, and the people on the other side were dressed smartly, not like bandits or robbers.

Something's not right... something's really wrong!

"Father..."

Treya gritted her teeth.

"Don't make any rash moves, Treya!"

Eugene also vaguely realized what was happening. One of the three people opposite him was definitely Imperial Arms User, or... all three of them were.

But if that's the case, it means the other party is one of Esdeath's Three Beasts... even among Imperial Arms User, they would be considered quite strong.

"Master! Miss! You must get out of here immediately!"

The captain of the guard led everyone to stand in front of the carriage and untied the horses from the carriage.

Eugene didn't want to abandon them, but he knew even more clearly that he had to live up to their determination to die, and that he had to escape even if he was exhausted. This was the best way to repay their faith.

"I and you all..."

"Treya!"

Just as Treya was about to fight to the death, she was interrupted by Eugene's stern voice before she could finish speaking. She turned around in surprise, noticed her father's pained expression, and fell silent.

"Father...! Mount your horse quickly!"

Knowing that this was not the time to be willful, Treya said no more, took the reins and helped Eugene onto the horse, then jumped up and sat on it herself.

"Hahaha, they still want to escape, Daidas."

Seeing the actions of the convoy ahead, Niu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Daidas's Imperial Arms, wielding two great axes, possesses the ability to relentlessly pursue enemies, no matter where they run, as long as Daidas has the strength.

"Swift action and excellent judgment."

As a former general, Liver showed his appreciation for the professionalism of the guards in front of him. They were just a group of ordinary people who had never been on the battlefield, yet they had such strong discipline.

I don't know how they trained.

However, no matter how outstanding they are, they are still just a group of ordinary people.

"Daidas".

Liver looked at the muscular man beside him.

"Is it finally time to go? I can't wait to accumulate more experience points."

The muscular man chuckled, then charged into the group of guards and swiftly and decisively cut one of them in half at a speed the guards couldn't catch.

In the blink of an eye, seven people died. The loss of a third of their manpower in an instant filled all the guards with fear, but also a secret sense of relief.

Fine...

Fortunately, they received the second young lady's 'gift' before they came out.

He killed all the guards in the blink of an eye. Even the guard captain was powerless against this strength that surpassed that of ordinary humans. Just as Daidas was about to continue to increase his experience points and complete the mission, he suddenly saw purple flames burning on the ground.

"What's going on...?"

The sudden strange phenomenon puzzled Daidas, but the intense heat forced him to step back from the corpse.

"What's going on...?"

This time, it was Treya who spoke up, as she had originally planned to dismount and cover the rear so that her father could escape first.

Liver looked at the burning corpses on the ground and a sense of unease rose in his heart.

"Take care of the target quickly! Then retreat immediately!"

He urged them on while drawing his sword from his waist and charging straight at Eugene and his daughter.

However, the soldier who should have died suddenly stretched out his arm, thrusting his spear toward Liver's advancing path.

Forced to stop, Liver stared wide-eyed at the corpse.

"The corpse... is standing up?"

Chapter Three: Convergence.