Arestia Empire'S World Domination
Chapter 46: Bloody Night, part 4

...—Suretz Border Town, Gardom— Kingdom...

...—18 December 1238—...

"Stop! Who're you?!" A knight standing guard at the gate of the mansion shouted loudly.

The dim atmosphere, only a few of the street lanterns were still lit, the knights guarding the mansion were very wary of someone who ran very fast approaching them.

"Emperor Arestia, Ares I! Tell me where Florentia is!" Ares retaliates fiercely, the pursuit of the assassins from Bloodytears as well as Dark Hand is not over yet.

"Don't lie, you idiot!" The knights suspected the figure of Ares, it is very unnatural if Ares came here without the slightest care. Moreover, since they had just met Ares, no one had memorized the look on his face, besides the reason for the dark atmosphere.

The knights raised their weapons, smote them to Ares who ran to them.

"Ck!" Ares clicked his tongue, feeling futile resistance.

A light killing Eve felt from behind her head, a dagger that was thrown lightly almost hit her military black clothes. Even so, Ares did not once feel the killing intent of the assailant.

Ares complained, the gaze immediately met the Eye of the Queen of Gardom, Olfrey, who gave a sign of a small alley between two other buildings near the Baron's mansion.

Understanding, Ares immediately headed towards Olfrey at full speed, running side by side with him.

"His Majesty the Queen has been safe elsewhere." Olfrey said straightforwardly, the jets of sweat also profusely soaked the skin of the face with the exposed black hood.

"Who?!" timpal Ares, shouting loudly.

"What do you mean?" Olfrey asked puzzledly, maintaining her escape speed.

TRANGS!

An arrow was thrown from the small alley that the two passed through. Without delay, Olfrey scolded him, without even turning her face.

"Who is the person who is accompanying Florentia at this time?!" ares asked, his words that felt filled with anger made Olfrey even more confused.

Olfrey learns that the answer to Ares's question is something that should be kept secret. Despite that, anxiety runs deep in the mind, Olfrey wonders why Ares did not question the existence of Florentia, but someone who accompanied him.

For Olfrey, Florentia's security was paramount, leaving him momentarily silent.

"Quick say, Idiot!" force Ares.

Judging that the information he was about to provide had little effect on Florentia's security, alongside Olfrey, who considered Ares a "clean" politician, he decided to open his lips.

"Marquis Nozo." Olfrey answered softly.

"Well?!" Surprised by the answer given, Ares became very panicked, "Take me there!"

Alarm in clanging instinct, Ares somehow sensed that Marquis Nozo, Berto, who should also be one of the Florentia confidants, was a dangerous figure.

Only one time Ares experience against Nozo at this time the world is still a game. He recalled, as he was fighting the Normadian Kingdom from the south, Ares felt that Nozo was very different, as if he had something hidden in his palm, although the character of Ares at that time had killed him right in the middle of the battlefield.

Olfrey's forehead wrinkled, not only astonished, she also suspected Ares' behavior. Even so, with Rapier—, which to Olfrey only looks like an ordinary sword— is still covered and the city is being overwhelmed by massive chaos, Olfrey considers if he can "handle" Ares when he does something suspicious.

"What do you want to do?" ask Olfrey sharply.

"Hurry up, my head is guaranteed!" Giving up Rapier, Ares said with confidence. His left hand drew a line on his neck, as if Olfrey was welcome to slash Ares' head if he did anything suspicious.

"Ck, follow me!" Retaliating, Olfrey did not take Rapier and increase his speed. Seeing the seriousness that Ares expressed, Olfrey gave up, deciding to bring the man beside her to the Queen.

Ares' speed slowly increased. Follows Olfrey while looking for another route to dispel the assassins who are after them.

Not far from the panic that hit the city center, Florentia and Leticia took asylum near the port to secure themselves. The knights from the two countries were on guard, making sure no one could break through their guard.

The gaze was fixed on the view of the night sea with many large ships that had lantern lighting, Florentia and Leticia were in a quiet atmosphere, only to feel the wind blowing towards the two.

"Is what I'm doing right?" Florentia said softly, lamenting some of the events in recent times that for him were very unpleasant.

Leticia simply fell silent, both of her hands involuntarily clenching, feeling unable to answer. Although since he was appointed the right hand of the Queen all his plans can be said to be successful, but this is no longer the case in recent months.

"Your Majesty, it's time." Berto's call, Marquis Nozo, makes them turn around, finding Berto as well as the heavily armed Gardom knights ready for escort duty.

There is a reason why Florentia took the helping hand of the Republic of Ecasia. In addition to the cooperation between the two countries since decades ago, seeing from the history that exists, the Morgan Family as the leader of the Republic of Ecasia can be said to have never broken in the agreement, making Florentia trust him more than Ares.

Although Gardom had more than 20,000 soldiers standing guard in and around the city, Florentia preferred to prioritize the stability of the city, beside him who had concerns over the safety of his life if Florentia and Gardom officials returned by land.

"How are the republican delegates doing?" Florentia asked straightforwardly.

"A search operation on them is underway, Your Honor. I hope that the entire Ecasia Delegation can be saved." Berto answered firmly.

"I see, I'll wait for you in the capital" said Florentia.

"Okay, Your Majesty!" reply Berto firmly.

Looking at the escort of the knights accompanying the Florentia departure, only a wry smile could be etched on Berto's face.

Another bit...

My success will be assured in 10 more steps...

Florentia and Leticia's footsteps had reached the deck, smiles and hand-waving to Berto and the Gardom officials that only the Queen could do, waiting until the ship increased its speed.

"Don't ride it, Queen Gardom!"

The shout of someone Berto perceived as an erratic factor immediately ruined the facial expression he appeared to be.

Everyone's attention turned, looking in confusion at Ares and Olfrey who barged in through the resistance the knights had done by beating them.

Thus with Leticia, Florentia could only stare confusedly, not understanding what Ares wanted to do.

Both Florentia's hands clinging to the barrier shook, a sign that as the ship slowly increased its speed, it could no longer keep up with what Ares said right after leaving the dock's lips.

"Don't listen to him, Your Majesty! He was only the ruler of the teri class! Continue your journey back to the capital!" Berto shouted loudly, panic could be felt from his facial expression.

As a result of Berto's tone, Olfrey, who understands human psychology, immediately understands something that Ares wants to go to. Despite that, Olfrey's footsteps could not reach, Berto— who feared his plan to take Florentia as a hostage was not reached— frantically gave the order, which he ordered, decided to do another plan that he really did not want to do.

"Foot!"

The cannonballs of several Ecasia Republic warships disguised by the darkness of the night were momentarily red, emitting sparks, a sign that the cannonball had just been fired.

Not far from the large Ecasia warships that were also near the shore, the impact of dozens of Ecasia warship cannons was definitely hit.

Along with her, the four knights escorting Florentia and Leticia took the knife hidden in the sleeves of their clothes, smoothing out each of the weapons to the Queen. Several other guard knights immediately took up positions, preparing to dispel as someone tried to obstruct what they were doing.

Before the Florentia hostage plan began, Berto had pocketed the support of nearly half of the Gardom nobility as well as the cooperation that the Morgan Family Head offered, allowing him to decide without thinking, aside from the panic that had previously struck his mind.

JRASH!

"Urghs!" Not only the chest, but the back to the abdomen Florentia felt pain, tremendous heat.

Very sudden incident, Leticia's eyes immediately blank. A person he idolized, someone to whom he had given complete loyalty, was killed right before his own eyes.

BOOM UP!

BOOM UP!

BOOM UP!

The cannon fire instantly shook the ship violently. Not only Leticia, the knights instinctively fell from the shock.

However, a dagger from the other direction had drawn towards Leticia. Sensing Leticia who was still in a state of great shock, Florentia used her body, which had been drenched in blood.

JRASH!

"Ukh!" A moment staggered, Florentia focused her mind, took out the dagger stuck in her body and returned it to the knight who had just attacked Leticia.

JRASH!

With all her might, Florentia lifted Leticia's light body, trying to throw her into the sea.

Her field of view changed, Leticia immediately became aware of the bad situation that had happened to her, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Both of her hands held back the body, Leticia was now hanging onto the backrest of the deck, "What are you doing, Your Majesty?!"

Although Leticia questioned her actions, Florentia only replied with a smile, feeling happy that she could at least save one of her subordinates' lives.

"I have repaid my debt to your late father... Uh..."

"Your Majesty!" Leticia tried to get back on board, but was held back by the tilted position of the ship and Florentia's hands.

"Thank you for being by my side..."

"Don't say nonsense, Your Majesty!" Leticia chimed hard.

Not the slightest heed to Leticia's words, Florentia could only smile, feeling her consciousness slowly fade away.

Leticia lost power over both hands. Florentia's compulsion had made him fall into the ocean. Even so, before he fell unconscious right after entering the veil of waters, a sentence that he would very much remember said from someone he was very proud of.

"Please take care of my daughter and all the inhabitants of Gardom. because they have not taken away the sin I have committed."

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