CHAPTER 66: THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR 1

(Third Person POV)

Inside the meeting room of the Imperial Palace.

Five individuals were currently seated — these were the people responsible for managing the entire empire.

They could be considered the pillars holding the empire upright.

They sat around a large table, all seats occupied except for one at the center.

"So, do you know the reason for this sudden meeting?"

The question came from a man with brown hair and hazel eyes, appearing to be in his mid-forties.

This was Jordan Smith, the Minister of Defense and the one responsible for the empire’s security.

His physique was well-trained, as he had reached the Master level — considered one of the strongest individuals in the empire.

"We’ll find out when the Emperor arrives,"

Replied a woman in her thirties.

She was Daria Moon, the one responsible for the empire’s economy. She had light orange hair and striking blue eyes.

Suddenly, the door to the meeting room opened, and a young man with black hair and blue right eye and red left eye entered.

As soon as the five saw him, they stood and bowed deeply.

"We greet the Emperor."

Orlax waved his hand, signaling them to sit, and then took his seat at the head of the table.

"Thank you for attending this sudden meeting despite your responsibilities."

The five nodded and waited for Orlax to continue.

"The reason for this meeting is to inform you of what is going to happen next and what each of you must do."

He tapped the table, and its surface transformed into something resembling a screen.

He took out his phone, connected it to the table via a cable, and the screen of his phone was displayed on the table.

"Read this document carefully, and then we will continue."

The five — or rather, four of them — began reading the document, since Armanthor had already read it.

"What the hell is this?"

"Those bastards!"

The four reacted with curses, shocked by the information about the court’s crimes.

"If you have any doubts, here is evidence of crimes committed by three individuals. This information was gathered personally by the Empress, with the help of Alex, the head butler of the palace."

The screen shifted from the document and began displaying several video clips.

In the first video, a man was seen raping an innocent girl, who screamed and cried, begging him to stop.

Everyone recognized him as a well-known member of the court.

Everyone was horrified by the footage — even Armanthor, who hadn’t seen anything like it before.

In the second video, another man appeared, killing several people in a brutally savage manner, a satisfied smile on his face.

Several people felt nauseated by the gruesome sight, but managed to compose themselves.

In the third video, documents appeared showing a court member conspiring with a noble to raise taxes and embezzle funds.

Once the footage ended, a deadly silence filled the room.

But there was one expression on all their faces:

Rage.

Raw fury on their faces, as if they were ready to tear someone into a thousand pieces.

"As you’ve seen, these are just some of the many crimes committed by members of the court over the past twenty years."

Orlax continued, seeing that he had everyone’s full attention.

"That’s why I’ve decided to abolish the court’s presence in the empire."

He placed his hands on the table and watched their reactions.

"Your Majesty, pardon me,"

Armanthor suddenly spoke and asked for permission. Orlax nodded, allowing him to speak.

"If you’ve already decided, why did you gather us here?"

A smile appeared on Orlax’s face as he turned his gaze toward the others.

"Because I want to know — who is with me, and who is against me."

Several floating screens appeared around Orlax, each displaying some text:

[Armanthor: Loyalty 93]

[Daria: Loyalty 84]

[Jordan: Loyalty 85]

[John: Loyalty 04]

[Lyric: Loyalty 83]

’Found you.’

Orlax rose from his seat, drawing everyone’s attention, and began circling the table.

"I wanted to understand how the court could commit all these crimes for twenty years without anyone knowing — unless..."

He stopped behind a man in his fifties with black hair streaked with gray.

"There was a traitor in the empire."

In a flash, Orlax’s hand moved and gripped John by the neck, lifting him into the air.

Everyone stood in shock at the scene.

"So, Minister of the Interior, do you have any last words before I kill you?"

"Khoughgh!"

John struggled to breathe under Orlax’s iron grip and couldn’t speak.

"Your Majesty, wait — I want to speak with him."

Armanthor stepped forward, requesting Orlax to let go, prompting a questioning look.

"I want to extract information from him. It’s better to use him for our benefit, then dispose of him."

Orlax nodded, releasing John and dropping him to the floor.

"Cough, cough... I swear I didn’t do anything! Why are you accusing me without evidence, Your Majesty?!"

John’s face carried an innocent expression as he spoke, as if he were being wronged.

"John, we’ve been together for over thirty years. Yet you betrayed the people of this empire. Why would you do something like this?"

Armanthor asked with a conflicted expression.

John was someone everyone had trusted, and it was hard to believe he had betrayed them.

"Armanthor, I’m innocent! I swear! You believe me, don’t you?"

Kick!

Orlax kicked John violently in the face, sending him crashing into the wall.

"Boogh!"

John vomited a large amount of blood as his internal organs took damage from the blow.

"Don’t spout such nonsense. Tell us what you know, or die suffering. Speak — now!"

Orlax couldn’t stand watching someone lie while swearing innocence.

"Please... I... am...innocent..."

John muttered weakly, still clinging to his innocence, causing the others to hesitate.

"Your Majesty, maybe... maybe John really is innocent."

"Yes, please reconsider."

Lyric and Daria spoke, unable to bear the scene due to their past friendship with John.

Orlax ignored their words, drew his sword, and approached John.

"You brought this on yourself."

He raised his sword high and swung it down toward John, who looked terrified.

"Stop! Stop! I’ll confess! I’ll confess!"

Orlax’s blade halted a hair’s breadth from John’s neck as he heard the plea.

Tears streamed down John’s face as he spoke again.

"They’re holding my family hostage. I swear I didn’t want to betray the empire, but if I didn’t do it, they would have killed them."

John collapsed, pitiful in his current state.

"Sigh... Why did you do this, John..."

Armanthor sighed, recalling decades of memories with his old friend.

’The Imperial Court fights differently — not with swords, but by exploiting weakness. I must be cautious dealing with them.’

Orlax sat in his chair, lost in thought for a while.

"Why didn’t you tell the former emperor or me about your family? That would’ve been far better than betraying us."

John slowly rose and leaned against the wall, blood spilling from his mouth.

"Your Majesty... If you saw your whole family — wife, children, grandchildren, relatives — all chained, able to die in a second... what would you do?"

A bitter smile formed on John’s face, recalling that horrific sight.

Orlax took a long time to consider his answer before speaking.

"I don’t know, John. But I certainly wouldn’t submit to my enemies and betray this empire."

"Hahaha... well, I’m different, Your Majesty. I’d sacrifice the world before letting my family suffer. So I bound myself in chains... even if it meant betrayal."

John laughed manically, wiping away tears.

"But believe me — it wasn’t easy. Betraying this empire, its people, all my friends... it was never easy. And even if I told you or the former emperor, would you really go to war for one man?"

John cried with anguish, hating himself deeply.

Everyone in the room looked at him with pity and sorrow.

"Yes."

Orlax’s sudden reply made everyone turn to him.

"I would go to war for just one person."

Orlax stood and sat next to John, looking him in the eyes.

"If that person is one of my people, then I’ll gladly go to war for them — even if I must fight alone."

Everyone was stunned by his words. They now looked at him in a new light.

Especially John, who stared in disbelief before tears gushed like a waterfall from his eyes again.

"I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for betraying the empire. But please... do whatever you want with me. Just save my family. I beg you... please save them."

John dropped to his knees with difficulty and pleaded.

Orlax grabbed him by the shoulder and lifted him gently, returning to his seat.

"Of course. I’ll save them. You should’ve said that from the start."

Everyone sat at the table as John wiped away his tears, stood with difficulty, and looked at everyone in the room.

"Now, we will begin the meeting to plan the upcoming war against the Imperial Court. Everyone, pay attention to what I’m saying."

Orlax sat on his chair as he looked at everyone with a sharp look and took a deep breath before he started speaking.