The Prince Wants To Retire

23. Who is the real number one in the empire?

Following Kariel’s order as he left the palace, the palace moved quickly.

The Continental Congress was interrupted by another sudden catastrophe.

“A powerful earthquake occurred in the northeast of the empire.”

At the words of the 2nd prince, the heads of the countries who participated in the Continental Congress made faces of confusion.

Since the third prince was nowhere to be seen, I thought something had happened, but it was bigger than I thought.

The pope was also listening to the second prince with a serious expression, as if he had been informed in advance.

“You mean it happened in the northeast of the empire?”

“exactly. It is said that the damage is great because it is on an unprecedented scale.”

The 2nd prince looked at the king with a bewildered expression on his face.

“I think we should be suspicious of the warlocks.”

What happened on the escape route of the warlocks.

Everyone nodded as the incident took place in the northwest and southeast.

“For now, it would be better to end today’s meeting with this.”

Everyone nodded at the words of the 2nd prince and hurriedly left the place.

If an earthquake of unusual magnitude had been caused by a warlock, there was no way that it would not happen anywhere else.

That is why the leaders of each country hurriedly ordered to investigate the whereabouts of the black magicians.

As the schedule of the Continental Conference was put on hold, Marquis Sicario also hurriedly followed Kariel to the north.

At the same time, all departments of the empire started moving to resolve this issue.

“These are nasty bastards.”

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Jaylon Paul shook his head again at the fact that this happened because of the presumed warlocks.

Since it happened in the Northeast, the Iron League, which was able to afford it, moved calmly to grasp the situation in the palace where the envoys were staying.

As a result, it was found that this situation was more serious than expected.

“It seems that we have misunderstood all this time.”

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Jayron was able to realize once again that warlocks were far more dangerous than he thought.

I thought it was sorted out to some extent while preventing the northwest and southeast incidents, but it wasn’t.

Even at the time of participating in the Continental Congress, I only thought about the future situation of the West Continent and the balance of power, but that didn’t seem right.

“I think we should actively support the Alliance until we completely drive out the warlocks.”

Upon recognizing that the power of the black magicians was stronger than expected and that they were beings that would seriously damage the peace of the West Continent, all of Iron’s envoys nodded.

All of the members of the Shinigami were the top lords who were leading the big bosses, so it was a situation in which the calculation was over which would lose more money, supporting the Empire or the Warlock’s threat.

So, agreeing to Zeron’s words, he began to determine the amount and goods to be donated to the Empire and the Holy Land.

Ironic’s policy was finalized when it was decided to fund the subjugation of the warlocks.

Operation name: Become close with Prince Kariel!

The top shareholders who felt that there would be a future for the Iron Federation only when they became close with Kariel, who was judged to be the center of the empire, saw this support as an investment for the future.

Dealing with a warlock as a bribe to befriend Kariel?

From the merchant’s point of view, it was a surplus business. Of course, the fact that black magicians were so dangerous came to the fore, so the support plan was passed unanimously.

And it was the same in other countries as well.

The two countries in the south were relatively free because they happened in the northeast, but in the case of principalities it was serious.

Although it was only a matter of the castle and the empire now, it was because the possibility that the territory of the duchy would also be threatened in the process of crossing the mountain range was high.

That’s why the Duke directly ordered the Marquis of Chardonna to return to the Duchy.

“Be prepared in case Roman comes over.”

“Yes! Lowering.”

The Marquis of Chardonnay, bowing his head at the Prince’s orders, hurriedly moved to return to the principality.

The king, who ordered the execution of the warlocks who were hiding in the east after keeping Roman in check, received the information coming in one after another with a serious expression.

“after… … I mean, it’s northeast… … .”

With a troubled expression on his face, the king began to make plans for the future. The principality, the weakest among the countries gathered at the Continental Congress, was at a loss as to how to deal with it, so they had to plan something and respond.

However, there was a place that was more urgent than this principality.

It was the kingdom.

“Did the warlock really enter the labyrinth?”

“… … Yes, Holy. I am sorry.”

Seeing the paladin unable to raise his head, the Pope clenched his fists and trembled.

“The current earthquake must have happened when the warlocks woke the beast.”

“It seems so.”

“dare… … .”

The Pope, who had always had a kind expression on the paladin’s reply, trembled with an expression of anger infrequently.

An existence that he never wanted to reveal from the standpoint of a denomination that worships the sun god.

This beast once devoured the sun, which is a disgraceful myth from the standpoint of Seongguk.

He has been managing for hundreds of years, and deliberately put monsters into the labyrinth, disguising it as a dangerous place where he cannot set foot.

However, the warlocks brought up their shameful history again.

“You should go.”

“Yes.”

The sunblade bowed in response to the Pope’s command.

He, who is considered to be the most sacred person in the Holy Kingdom except for the Pope, personally led the army and moved to the labyrinth.

The Pope was unable to move because the Continental Congress was not yet finished.

There was a problem for the Pope to move directly, unless the magic beast escaped from the labyrinth.

Moreover, if the pope moves, everyone on the continent will be interested in the labyrinth, and then the disgraceful history of the Holy Land will be illuminated again.

“How was it buried? … .”

It was a history that Seongguk sank to the bottom of the water for hundreds of years with all his might.

But it would never be possible for it to start to rise again.

Whoops!

The damage that Seongguk took due to the Warlock could not be properly estimated.

Removal of the Imperial Temple.

huge compensation.

The status of the western continent that has fallen into the abyss.

Here, even the humiliating history was re-examined.

This must be stopped, so the Pope, who secretly gave the full power to the Sunblade and instructed him to solve the labyrinth, collapsed on his chair.

The pope closed his eyes for a moment, resting his messy head on his head, and muttered with a sigh.

“after… … The empire alone is too much… … .”

The pope shook his head and denied the terrible situation that had happened in his generation, but the situation was already irreversible.

Now, what Seongguk has to do is somehow seal it so that the worst doesn’t happen.

To do so, he divided the huge number of troops into two, sending one to the earthquake zone and secretly directing the other to the labyrinth.

* * *

In this way, the seriousness of this situation began to be known on the continent as even the strongest people were removed from the castle and returned to their own countries and moved the army.

“An unprecedented earthquake in the Northeast?”

Newspapers directly reporting the swift response of the Holy State and the Principality.

The news of the earthquake that had occurred on the continent instantly focused all attention on the earthquake.

In such a situation, the news about the Warlock was also spread.

“Is there a warlock behind this situation?”

“This time, the Warlock did the job!”

“In case of any contingency, the army of the Principality has moved. The Marquis of Chardonnay returned to prepare for Roman, and there is a possibility of sending one corps to the northeast… … 」

“Sungguk! We will send two corps to investigate!”

It was the news that the Seongguk and the Principality were urgently moving their troops, but their news had to be buried quickly.

「First Prince Kariel! Directly lead the army to the northeast!”

“Imperial Hero! Shall we solve it again?」

As the news spread that Kariel had headed directly to the northeast, the attention of the people of the empire began to focus there.

Then other countries began to roll their heads fiercely.

“As expected, was the crown prince’s retirement a ceremony to show off?”

“… … It seems so.”

When the King of Talos spoke with a bitter expression, Duke Cleta replied in a heavy voice.

As soon as the earthquake occurred, the officials of the empire moved quickly.

As the Northern Margrave joined Kariel, the Northern Army was ready to move to the Northeast.

In addition, Seriel ordered the Central Army to form a corps to help Kariel.

All of this happened in less than a day.

It was only possible because Kariel took the initiative, because I had seen it while attending the Continental Congress.

King Talos, who directly felt the difference in speed between the presence and absence of the first prince, could only sigh.

“If the empire is in danger, the first prince could always return.”

“Actually, the competition for crown prince could be nothing more than a show off ceremony.”

“I can’t be careless.”

At King Talos’ words, Duke Cleta nodded slightly.

“I have to make a move before the empire gets any bigger.”

“Yes, if the two princes are bigger, the first prince will have room. Before that, we must find a way.”

Why did Kariel, who has overwhelming support, step down from the throne on his own?

With a little thought, it was easy to understand.

It was meant to sweep the western continent from darkness and restore the great glory of the empire.

If the talents of the two princes were not enough, it would be unknown, and that was not the case, so it was a possible assumption.

“okay. Before the 1st Prince tried to massage the Western Continent in the dark as planned… … .”

King Talos spoke with a serious expression on his face.

Then Duke Cleta nodded.

Perhaps, he could have had to hang the prestigious gates of the country, but it is self-evident that the western continent will be eaten by the empire if he waits anyway.

It was more meaningful to try desperately than quietly surrender, so I tried to prepare for the situation.

“Make plans as soon as you return.”

“Yes.”

When King Talos spoke seriously, Duke Cleta lowered her head and replied.

And the same situation was happening in Roteon.

* * *

“It is dangerous.”

“Yes, if we drive out the warlocks, the empire might move forward in earnest.”

At the words of King Roteon, Duke Pyres said with a serious expression.

This time, I was convinced after seeing that the Eastern and Northern Marquesses moved around Kariel.

‘The real emperor of the empire is the first prince!’

He judged that Kariel, who had more influence than the current emperor, was the pinnacle of the current empire.

“I guess I’ll have to change all the information about the empire.”

“Yes, that information is out of date.”

The Empire was already preparing to soar, but the old information network was meaningless.

Rather than relying on the existing information network built on rotten parts, it was important to newly grasp the hidden power of the empire.

I had to find Kariel’s hands and feet to move in the dark so I could prepare for the future.

“Reorganize all information networks in the empire centering on Prince Kariel.”

“I will.”

King Roteon gave the order with the intention of replacing the entire information network that had been built over decades.

It was unknown how much money would be needed to create the information network again in the future.

Still, if we didn’t do it now, there was no future for Roteon.

“It’s an empire that wants to recreate the glory of the past… … .”

An empire that occupied most of the western continent, leaving only small countries.

King Roteon clenched his fists because he couldn’t go through those days again.

No matter what, I couldn’t let the empire go back to those days.

* * *

While the heads of each country focused on Kariel and the Warlock, Kariel was frantically receiving reports about the Northeast and the Labyrinth.