CHAPTER 609: THE GABELLA EMPIRE’S TURMOIL 7

TL: Rui88

Antonio arrived before the emperor’s bedchamber, but he paced back and forth in front of the door for a long time, reluctant to enter.

Aldridge, who had followed him, took a step forward and said to him, “Your Highness, since it has already happened, the scene that follows must be faced. Evasion solves no problems.”

“You are right, my scholar,” Antonio said.

He straightened his clothes, his expression stern, and lifted his foot to walk up the steps.

The guards standing at the door saluted him. Of course, these guards were all Antonio’s men. The emperor’s original guards had all been reassigned elsewhere.

As soon as Antonio entered the door, he saw Ambolov standing there. Ambolov walked forward and said, “Your Highness, your father is in low spirits right now. He needs the comfort of his closest kin. Please go in quickly.”

Antonio patted Ambolov’s shoulder. “You have done very well. Thank you for your guard, thank you for protecting my father.”

After speaking, he walked past Ambolov and entered the bedroom within.

On the bed in the bedroom lay an old man with a haggard face and a sorrowful expression. The Emperor of the Gabella Empire seemed to have aged a dozen years in an instant.

His eyes had lost their former radiance and were filled with turbidity. His hair was disheveled from his own tearing. His skin had lost its luster and become dull.

His Majesty the Emperor seemed to no longer care about the outside world. Even when Antonio walked into the room, Bartley Griffin did not lift his head.

The court maidservant standing by the bed saw Antonio arrive, and a look of awe appeared in her eyes. She now knew that the young man before her was the future ruler of this empire. A single word from him would decide the fate of countless people.

The maidservant bowed in salute. Antonio waved his hand for her to withdraw. The prince came to the bedside and called softly, “Father, I am here.”

Only then did Emperor Bartley Griffin slowly raise his head. “You’ve come?” he said, his voice laced with hoarseness.

Antonio gently sat down on the edge of the bed. The emperor looked at his second son beside him. Suddenly, he reached out and hugged Antonio tightly, bursting into loud sobs.

Ambolov, outside the door, heard the emperor’s cries and immediately rushed in, only to see such a scene.

Antonio also extended his arms and hugged his father tightly, his own eyes growing moist.

Antonio said slowly, “Father, I will govern this country to be even better. She will become the greatest nation in history and carry the glory of all humanity.”

Antonio stayed in his father’s room for half an hour before coming out. Outside, he saw someone who was a pleasant surprise…Siegfried.

Antonio went forward and embraced him. “My friend, my brother, I need you by my side so much right now.”

Siegfried warmly returned his embrace. “I will always be by your side, Your Highness.”

He glanced towards the bedroom door and asked with concern, “His Majesty… how is he?”

Antonio shook his head. “This has been too great a blow for him. My father needs time to heal the sorrow in his heart, but eventually, he will come to realize that this is now reality.” ŖÂ𝐍о𝔟Ěᶊ

“Speaking of which, how did you appear here?”

According to the plan, Siegfried was supposed to lead the army with Marshal MacDonald to a position near the imperial capital and attack the satellite city garrisoned by Duke Dias’s trusted men.

Siegfried smiled and said with some disdain, “Those trusted men of Duke Dias are simply too weak. Now only one satellite city is still resisting.”

“Marshal MacDonald said that leaving him to command the army was more than enough, and that I should lead a portion of the soldiers back to the imperial capital quickly to intimidate those who are still sitting on the fence.”

Antonio said, “When we made our move, Duke Dias somehow got wind of it and actually ran. He fled outside the imperial capital and went into hiding. We still haven’t found him. Therefore, I suspect he is hiding in this satellite city that is still resisting. You send someone to inform Marshal MacDonald that he must be extremely careful and absolutely not let the Duke himself or any remnants escape.”

“Your Highness, I will certainly handle this well. Please rest assured!” Siegfried replied very seriously.

After coming out of the emperor’s bedchamber, Antonio convened a meeting of the Council of Ten.

“Your Highness!” Master Matt proposed a motion at the meeting.

“That fellow Barnett has been missing for too long. We should go find him.”

As the most powerful close-combat spellcaster, Barnett held a pivotal position in the Arcane Society and was the undisputed leader of their faction. But embarrassingly, Barnett had been out of contact for several years.

In the beginning, the upper echelons of the Arcane Society did not think much of it, because Barnett had an arrogant personality, had always been a loner, and had always done as he pleased. His personality was not likable, and his inclusion as a member of the Council of Ten had an element of compromise.

Many people were secretly glad that this fellow did not often appear before them.

But even so, for such an important figure to have disappeared from the organization for so long was, in any case, inexcusable. He had even been absent from such an important operation as Prince Antonio’s seizure of the imperial capital.

This was no longer a personality flaw! It was a serious dereliction of duty, and he had to be punished.

But before that, the Arcane Society had to find him first. To find out what he was currently doing. Or whether he was no longer in this world. In fact, many people hoped for the latter.

Antonio said, “Considering he has not returned to Gabella for such a long time, we must include the possibility that Barnett has defected into our considerations.”

“I agree with your thinking!” Master Matt said, nodding.

“And to deal with his possible defection, we must send powerful figures to deal with him. Barnett is, after all, a powerful close-combat spellcaster and requires someone of the Council of Ten’s level to deal with him. Your Highness, please make the appointment!”

“I would like to hear your opinion, Master Matt.”

Doherty Matt considered for a moment. “I suggest dispatching Master Ordennel and Lady Redflame Mariana to search for Barnett. Ordennel is a master of mental magic and would be a powerful restraint on Barnett. And Lady Mariana is skilled in manipulating flames. If Barnett has defected, the cooperation of the two of them will certainly be able to mete out punishment. Moreover, Barnett’s last known whereabouts were in Ordo. Lady Mariana is from Ordo, she is very familiar with that place.”

“Since that is the case, then let it be so.”

Antonio agreed with Doherty Matt’s suggestion.