CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER21-A NEW MILITARY UNIT

The [Emperor’s Scepter] had changed.

Because its rank had recently been elevated, the rewards it bestowed had also undergone an upgrade. No longer did it merely gift Aurek with daily points. Instead, it now granted him soldiers.

At present, Aurek possessed only one type of unit: the Elemental Assassins. Thus, on this day’s sign-in, twenty new Elemental Assassins materialized before him. Compared to yesterday’s mere ten points, this was a direct doubling of benefit.

The assassins, clad in their light gear, appeared in perfect order. As soon as they emerged, the twenty new recruits dropped to one knee in unison and bowed deeply.

"We greet our lord!"

Their voices rang with sharp, disciplined fervor.

Aurek gave a faint nod of acknowledgment. Yet as his eyes drifted over the gathered assassins, his attention was irresistibly drawn to one among them.

Something was different.

Whereas all the other Elemental Assassins wore armor of blue-dyed cloth, this one figure stood out. His armor gleamed with a golden hue. Not cloth, but light metal plating that shimmered like sunlight against steel.

Aurek’s gaze sharpened. Instinct warned him that this anomaly was no mere coincidence. Without hesitation, he called forth the entity’s attribute panel.

[Special Unit: Gold Assassin]

Rank: Expert Rank, Level 1

Unit Description: A unique existence within the Elemental Assassin class. Possesses triple attack and triple defense. Capable of short bursts of flight. Can merge seamlessly with elemental energy. Has an exceedingly rare chance of assassinating even Hero Rank opponents.

Quantity Owned: 1

His breath caught.

This was no ordinary soldier.

Below it, he glanced at the rest of his units:

[Elemental Assassin]

Rank: Elite Rank, Level 8

Quantity Owned: 39

Aurek’s mind reeled.

By the gods... could my luck truly be so absurd?

It was only the second day of the Scepter’s upgrade, and already he had drawn forth a special unit. And not just any special unit—this one was of Expert Rank!

He could hardly believe his fortune.

Expert Rank awakeners were figures of genuine reverence within the empire. To find one, alive and trained, was to find a pillar of strength for a nation. Even a mere Expert Rank, Level 1, was an individual of power and authority unmatched by most.

And yet now Aurek possessed one such warrior as a loyal subordinate, bound irrevocably to his will.

His lips curled into a subtle smile of satisfaction.

The Gold Assassin, though technically a special evolution of the Elemental Assassin class, still retained the assassins’ most dreaded trait—their ability to blend seamlessly into the elements around them. With this bug-like ability, as Aurek thought of it, the Gold Assassin’s practical strength would surely rival, if not surpass, even those a level or two above him.

What made Aurek’s pulse quicken further was the final line in the description: "Has a low chance of assassinating Hero Rank powerhouses."

The words lingered in his mind like a forbidden promise.

Yes, the chance was slim—but the possibility existed. That meant it was not impossible.

And the Hero Rank was the highest echelon of mortal combatants. Across the entire Crossbridge Empire, there were fewer than ten living beings who had reached that summit.

For Aurek, the appearance of this single Gold Assassin had already surpassed every expectation. Today’s reward had shaken him to his core.

He let the silence linger for a long moment before finally speaking.

"From this day forth, you shall be the commander of all Elemental Assassins."

The Gold Assassin placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "Yes, my lord!"

Satisfied, Aurek dismissed his assembled troops with a casual wave. One by one, they dissolved back into the space from which they had been summoned.

Only then did he turn and depart his chambers, making his way toward the hall where today’s Royal Council was to convene.

Angie, his ever-loyal attendant, followed at his side as always. She walked with her usual graceful composure, but her voice was hushed, almost conspiratorial.

"Your Majesty, last night Lord William and Lord Heimerdinger came to the gates of Valoria Palace seeking an audience. However, since you were in meditation, we refused them entry."

She hesitated before continuing, her eyes flickering briefly toward Aurek’s expression.

"In addition... there was a great upheaval at the fortress of Minister of War Nock. His entire family has been slain—Nock alone remains alive. Furthermore, Butler Brown of the Unicorn Trading Guild perished there as well."

Angie relayed all the details she had gathered about the night’s bloody events in Eryndor. All the while, she stole discreet glances at her sovereign, trying to discern his reaction.

For she could not shake a growing suspicion.

Everything about Aurek had changed. The way he carried himself, the power that seemed to radiate from him, the calm authority in his words—it was as though he were no longer the same emperor of only a short while ago.

And these events... these sudden massacres of powerful enemies... could they not be his work?

Her heart pounded as she awaited a reaction.

But Aurek merely offered a faint, indifferent hum of acknowledgment. His expression remained serene, unshaken, as if the news concerned him no more than a passing breeze.

Angie’s own composure nearly broke. Inside, she trembled. So it is true, she thought. All of this was indeed His Majesty’s doing.

The thought terrified her, but it also filled her with awe. For if the emperor could slay even an Expert Rank awakener with such ease, then he commanded a power greater than any had imagined.

The Council Hall.

Aurek sat upon the central throne-like seat reserved for the emperor. In his hand, as always, he clutched the scepter tightly. To the casual eye, it was but a symbol of sovereignty. Yet to Aurek, it was far more. It was his hidden weapon, his means of overturning fate itself.

As the officials filed into the chamber, they bent in deep bows.

"We greet His Majesty the Emperor!"

Their voices filled the hall, reverent and disciplined.

Only one figure stood straight and unbowed: Minister of War Nock. His eyes, bloodshot and wild, locked upon Aurek with burning hatred. His gaze was so venomous that one might think it could pierce steel.

Aurek, seated upon his throne, met the stare without flinching. His expression was cold, detached.

To him, Nock was but a minister who had dared defy the crown. A man who had thought himself above imperial authority. And such insolence could have but one conclusion.

If you will not recognize your emperor, Aurek thought grimly, then you will pay the price.

The seasoned officials quickly sensed the tension. Many shifted uneasily in their seats, their eyes flickering between Nock and the emperor. A storm was brewing.

Suddenly Nock’s hoarse voice broke the silence.

"It was you. I knew it was you!"

His words rang out like a curse. His chest heaved with fury. "Aurek, why are you so merciless?"

Gasps erupted across the chamber.

The officials stiffened, their faces etched with disbelief. Had they heard correctly? Was Nock openly accusing the emperor himself?

Impossible. Preposterous! How could the boy-emperor possess the might to slaughter an Expert Rank awakener and obliterate a noble family overnight?

All eyes turned, incredulous, toward Nock.

At the front row, William’s expression darkened. His voice lashed out like a whip.

"Nock, what are you doing? To speak so irreverently of His Majesty—have you considered the consequences?"

But Nock ignored him. His hatred was unrelenting, his rage uncontainable. He took another step forward, his teeth clenched.

"If you meant to annihilate my family, then why spare me? Why let me live?" His voice cracked into a bitter scream. "Is it because you wanted me to suffer? To watch, helpless, as everything I loved was torn away?"

His face contorted. "Aurek, you are nothing but a butcher!"

The air turned heavy with shock.

Never before, even in the declining days of the empire, had anyone dared speak such words to the emperor in public. To insult him so directly, to spit upon the dignity of the crown—it was unprecedented.

William and Heimerdinger surged to their feet, their fury blazing.

"Nock, you’ve lost your mind!" they shouted.

But Nock’s own roar drowned them out.

"Silence! You fools are the ones who are insane!" His voice was ragged, broken, yet filled with venom.

"What emperor? Bah! In my eyes, he is nothing but a pathetic wretch!"

The chamber fell into stunned silence. Officials gaped at him, horrified. Even those who had long considered Aurek little more than a figurehead never dared to voice such contempt aloud.

Nock had gone mad—utterly, irreversibly mad.

And yet, beneath their shock, curiosity burned in every heart.

What truly happened last night?Could it be true, as Nock claimed, that all of this was orchestrated by Aurek himself?

But... how could that be?

After all, Butler Brown had been an Expert Rank powerhouse. How could a young emperor, thought to have no strength of his own, possibly slay such a man?

Jacoff, Troy, and many others sat frozen in disbelief. Their minds refused to accept it.

Yet the seeds of doubt had already been planted.