The Rebellion of the Princes

Three months later.

Fresh news arrived from the royal capital of Proadas.

Several of Amigel's sons, dissatisfied with the thirteenth prince's sudden ascension to the imperial throne, fled the imperial capital for their fiefs, rallied their relatives, and rose in rebellion.

Among them, the fifteenth, eighteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-fifth princes-five princes in all-raised armies in their fiefs!

They intended to drag Milan Amigel off the throne!

The armies of the four princes fought the second Goblin Emperor across the Empire, plunging it into chaos.

Of the Goblin Empire's fifteen hundred noble lords, all were drawn into the rebellion except the two Grand Dukes on the frontiers and the rulers of thirty marquisates and more than five hundred counties, viscountcies, and baronies.

The various races across the continent also began to stir.

Some races even joined the princes' factions outright, seeking the greatest possible benefits.

Meanwhile, Lionheart, the tribal chief of the Human Race-the non-Goblin race closest to the imperial capital-was reading a letter in his hand.

"Lionheart, my brother. Our imperial father died under mysterious circumstances, and the princes are fighting among themselves. Countless subjects of the Empire have perished in this war! I had no intention of contending for the throne, but I know this rebellion must be stopped!"

"I have already secretly secured the support of Milo Azeba, the Grand Duke of the Southern Border."

"I know your Human Race Tribe can also ride Griffins. I would like your people to mount their Griffins and fight for me. Once we succeed, I will lift the many restrictions the Goblins have imposed on the Human Race and grant your people a tract of land in the Northern Border!"

"If you choose to support me, please send an envoy to inform me within three months so I can plan my troop movements. I will be raising my army in the coming days!"

Inside the camp tent, late at night.

Lionheart frowned at the nineteenth prince's letter in his hand, remaining silent.

Several elders of the Human Race and Fiona were beside him.

They, too, had passed around the nineteenth prince's letter to Lionheart, but their opinions differed.

Some thought the move was too risky. The Human Race numbered only a few tens of thousands, and they lived under the Goblins' watchful eyes day and night.

Others believed they could support the nineteenth prince. After all, penned in near the Goblins' imperial capital, the Human Race could suffer disaster at any moment on the emperor's whim. Now that they had a chance to leave the imperial capital, they could take the gamble!

The Human Race could hardly grow under the Goblin Emperor's nose anyway.

After three hundred years, their population had only grown to a few tens of thousands!

With everyone divided, Lionheart still struggled to make a decision.

This choice would determine the fate of the Human Race, and the pressure weighed heavily on him!

At that point, only his mother, Fiona, had yet to give her opinion.

Lionheart asked her directly.

"Mother, what do you think I should decide?"

The Human Race had only grown to its current population of several tens of thousands because the elders of the Sanctuary had sacrificed everything. He knew Fiona loved the Human Race even more than he did.

Fiona smiled at him.

"My son, you are the leader of the Human Race now. You must shoulder the responsibility for your people's lives. But on this matter, you could ask your father! I'm sure he wouldn't let this chance presented by the Goblin Empire's turmoil pass him by!"

At her words, Lionheart looked toward the distant east, in the direction of the Eastern Sea Coast.

"Father, then. I understand, Mother. A round trip from the imperial capital to the Eastern Sea Coast would take just over a month on a Griffin. There's enough time. I'll go myself!"

Twenty days later, Lionheart arrived at the Eastern Sea Coast once again!