# Chapter 81
The Imperial office of Emperor Raziel of the 82nd Caron Empire.
It’s a place where the air feels heavy due to the enormous workload that always fills and overflows the interior. But today, that weight surely wasn’t due to the workload alone.
“…You may leave now.”
The Emperor of the Caron Empire, who had been silently listening to the report, finally spoke after a long while. The messenger, whose mouth had been going dry since finishing his report, hurriedly bowed and left the office.
After the sound of the door closing.
Marquis Anton Reifley, the Prime Minister who was alone with Raziel in the office, slightly furrowed his brow.
Four territories had been conquered in an instant. And in just a day and a half at that.
Although they were relatively small territories, the speed of their fall was truly unbelievable.
Yet it was understandable given that the opponent was Grand Duke Ion Verdit, who led the Immortal Army. The army of Ion Verdit, composed of undying knights, was truly terrifying to the Caron Empire.
That’s how frightening an “Immortal Army” is.
Humans unlike humans, who rise again shortly after suffering fatal wounds and their hearts stopping.
The miracle that, among the numerous magics existing in the distant ancient times, only the great sage called the “God’s Representative” could perform, was now being vividly recreated by the hands of the Grand Duke of the neighboring country.
But the biggest problem wasn’t that the Immortal Army had laid waste to four territories, but something else.
Count Chepel Lance, who reportedly moved alongside Ion Verdit’s Immortal Army.
And Count Levi Aden, who had become a prisoner.
Knowing who these men were, Anton couldn’t help but doubt his ears despite hearing the vivid report from the messenger.
Who was Count Chepel Lance?
He was one of only three close aides to Raziel, the absolute Emperor of this Caron Empire. Though he held the title of Count, his words carried more weight than even the two Dukes of the Empire, and he was a skilled knight who could turn any weapon he held into a formidable instrument of war.
Above all, like the other close aides, Chepel Lance had dedicated infinite devotion and loyalty to Raziel.
Such a person had suddenly joined the enemy commander and invaded allied territories. Not only that, but he had no hesitation in following Ion Verdit toward enemy territory. This was a part Anton could not comprehend.
‘Count Lance… What on earth happened?’
He had thought there was not a single speck of foreign matter in his devotion to Raziel, but was that his own naive misconception?
‘And to think Count Aden would become a prisoner.’
All three of Raziel’s close aides knew what power Levi Aden possessed. They also knew well that he who looked like an innocent child was not a mere human, and that he was the only natural enemy capable of neutralizing the otherwise invincible Grand Duke Ion Verdit and his army.
For that reason, they had assigned the most trustworthy Count Chepel Lance to him, hoping that he would soon dispose of not only that ominous army but Grand Duke Verdit as well by his own hands. The Levi Aden that Anton had observed certainly had enough power for that.
‘Was it because of Count Lance’s betrayal?’
Count Lance had sided with Grand Duke Ion Verdit, intentionally isolating Count Levi Aden and allowing him to become a prisoner. That seemed to be the most plausible speculation at present.
As arbitrary speculations piled up in his mind.
Anton, whose head was throbbing as he couldn’t gauge where things had gone wrong, gazed steadily at his emperor. Raziel was staring at the door through which the messenger had left, his face expressionless, lost in thought.
Anton, who had been waiting for Raziel to speak, finally broke the silence first.
“I honestly can’t believe it. That Count Lance would betray us.”
“…”
Anton had thought that Raziel would also harbor doubts about this point, but surprisingly, he showed no reaction. It was only after a few seconds of silence that Raziel’s lips parted.
“It’s entirely possible if Ion Verdit used his ability.”
“His ability…”
Anton made a belated sound of realization.
“Blood imbued with Ion Verdit’s ability awakens the dead and subjugates their souls. The devotion Chepel had for me would have become nothing before his ability.”
Anton’s face turned grave at Raziel’s words.
The devotion that the Immortal Army shows to Ion Verdit is not much different from what he himself feels toward Raziel. If anything, it might be even stronger.
The ability to instill an irresistible, forced loyalty in the dead along with new life, making them obey completely until the day they die again, was truly more cruel than anything else.
Anton’s face hardened.
“Then isn’t it dangerous? Count Lance knows too much.”
“It doesn’t matter. I have preparations for this occasion as well.”
Raziel’s gaze turned to a small brooch pinned to the left side of Anton’s chest. It was a modest brooch that seemed somewhat out of place on the prime minister’s elaborate attire. The blood-red jewel embedded in its center was oddly eye-catching.
Without adding any more words, Raziel rose from his seat and walked toward the door. Anton naturally stuck close behind him and draped a black cape with elaborate embroidery over his shoulders.
“Though it was unexpected that not only Chepel but also Levi fell into his hands, it might be for the best.”
Raziel placed his hand on his collarbone as was his habit. His gaze darkened.
“Even if the order of filling them in is different, the end result when all are gathered… is bound to be one and the same.”
❖ ❖ ❖
It felt like being deeply immersed in water made of profound darkness.
It was so comfortable and warm that, if possible, he wanted to remain asleep like this forever.
‘Asleep…?’
Only then did he realize that he was sleeping.
‘When did I fall asleep?’
His mind was foggy.
As soon as he realized he was asleep, light began to seep through the darkness. It soon flickered busily as if to torment his vision, covered by thin eyelids.
‘I was definitely at the old castle in Retrouva…’
His mind suddenly cleared as he vaguely recalled the old castle in Retrouva. In response, his tightly closed eyelids twitched and then lifted stiffly. Although he had to furrow his brow at the bright sunlight, his vision soon fully recovered.
What he saw was a window with warm sunlight pouring in, thin curtains fluttering lightly in the cool breeze, splendid furniture visible in various places, and a warm chair naturally positioned beside the comfortable bed where he lay.
Levi tensed his nerves before trying to get up.
Fortunately, there was no one in what appeared to be a bedroom. However, he could sense faint presences outside the room. Three… no, four people.
Thinking that the presences felt outside must be those guarding this bedroom, Levi moved his cleared vision to examine the room once more. Only after confirming again that nothing unusual was detected did he slowly raise his upper body to sit.
“Ugh.”
As he sat up, he felt a sharp pain in his side. Instinctively placing his hand on his side, Levi frowned when he noticed his attire had changed.
Not only was he wearing a noticeable flowing white shirt, but also light earth-colored pants that clearly prioritized comfort over mobility. Whoever had dressed him, these comfortable clothes, which Levi had never worn before, felt rather awkward and uncomfortable to him.
‘Who put these clothes on me…’
Before Levi could finish his thought, there was one person who came to mind.
“You know I can’t attack you.”
“If you call my name, I’ll get off you.”
Recalling the kind face that person had shown at the last moment, his lips naturally pressed firmly together.
“Sleep well, Levi.”
The one who had subdued him was certainly that man, Ion Verdit.
Levi lightly placed his finger on his lips, remembering the Immortal Army and Ion Verdit who had suddenly barged in. For some reason, the heat from that moment still seemed to linger on his lips.
‘How did he do it?’
He remembered swallowing something while engaging in the strange act of kissing.
The tangy yet oddly sweet taste of blood that accompanied it.
It didn’t take long to figure out what he had swallowed and how it had served its purpose.
He felt as if he could still taste the warm blood that had temporarily counteracted his ability.
With a tense face, Levi scanned the spacious, luxurious bedroom with his eyes, removing the blanket covering his body and lowering his legs to the floor. During this, his eyes rested on the defenseless window without even a latch.
If this truly was Ion Verdit’s domain, it was actually fortunate.
He didn’t know why he had been placed in such a lavish room rather than a dark dungeon, but assassinating someone under the cover of night was his specialty. He thought that if he just hid in a secluded place until nightfall, he would have an opportunity to behead Ion Verdit.
Then, a strange sound reached Levi’s ears.
Clink—
The peculiar sound of chain links colliding with each other.
Having been chained and tortured multiple times by Kalvern, it was a sound Levi could not possibly mistake.
Habitually hunching his shoulders, Levi’s gaze fell on his left ankle. There was a shackle he hadn’t noticed because it was padded with soft cloth, and a long black chain connected to it.
