4 Darkcross Town

Chapter 4: Darkcross Town

"Voting System? But the election happens only every 50 years. In the end, the ones who coverts the minister positions are not the wizards but nobles and some influential commoners, right?"

"Naive thinking. The wizards are not after the position. They slowly want to turn the whole continent into a completely new ruling system. By doing so, they can easily replace the nobles with commoner-born wizards and also manipulate them as their wishes. Somewhere in the near future, only the wizards will be ruling the whole place." His words caused Elise's face to turn grim.

She instantly realized what his words meant.

'At that time, this Royal Family will be nothing more than a glorious family of the past. We might not even be able to protect ourselves.'

"So, that's why you want Athena to become a wizard and also let her shoulder the burden of the Royal family when the time comes, huh?" A look of understanding appeared on her face. Although Elise was a 7th Circle Mystic Walker with good talent in Spearsmanship, she still couldn't face any of the Academic Professors.

"The Academy's strength is growing stronger day by day." She said solemnly.

"That's why we need to send some good seeds to the Academy and take it over from within. Although I and Allen are on friendly terms, my strength is nowhere near him. If they want to take over the Empire by force, we have no choice but to admit defeat."

"Haa, I think its better this way. If you had killed that infant as planned, she might have formed a grudge against the whole Royal family and became hard to control later. Moreover, Jeanne might have broken down completely." Elise shook her head and added with a mischievous smile.

"But from what Garvin said, that baby is bound to die before the age of 15. When that happens, Athena will realise the truth after going through hardships and come back more broken. At that time, she will be easily to be controlled. With her potential in swordsmanship, she might become the fourth Legendary Walker of Empire in the future, turning into a best guard dog for our sons. On the other hand, I have an excellent candidate for the wizard Allen's apprentice job. I know you want to give that child a better future; but she had already decided her path. Let's give that chance to our grandson. Also, he actually has a 'High' rank affinity in Water Element and could be considered as genius in the whole Empire like Athena. The only negative is that he is overly arrogant due to Daniel's pampering and didn't have any extra affinity. But as long as we send him to become the disciple of any Academic Professors, there is a high chance for him to become a powerful Wizard."

Even after the Empress said those words, Emperor Ian felt he had lost something more precious.

"Let's hope she will become one of the pillars of the Empire one day. I'll give her fifteen years break, so she can stay with that infant and face the hardship. Also, I heard some confidential information that a big storm is brewing in the north."

Elise's eyes turned dark.

"Velvet Eclipse Guild?" She asked with a stiff face.

"There are rumors that group actually started acting in the shadows and causing chaos to seek out potential seeds. After the United Alliance was split into Order Alliance and United Council, there is also a rift happening between all four emperors and other kingdoms. Frequent assassinations of Royals and important officials are also happening more often these days. It's as if someone is manipulating behind the scenes and orchestrating something big." Emperor said solemnly.

"But what they can gain by creating chaos here?" Elise asked in puzzlement.

"You might not know, but 'heroes' are born when there is chaos. To find out an excellent seed among the trashes, they would not hesitate to use any means. War might break out at any moment between the United Council and the Order Alliance. If such war occurs, the neighboring nations like the Viser Kingdom and Shadow Nation might scheme something and ally with the Order Alliance. At that moment, we will have no choice but to side with the United Council to stop an all-out war in this land." Emperor Ian said as he leaned on the bed and sighed deeply before adding.

"We should send Robert to the West Fortress to keep an eye on the Viser Kingdom and also to get more achievements in the military. That way, he can at least keep that reckless child of ours in check."

"Haa, Daniel is indeed has a bad temper. But you can't still think of him as children anymore. Thanks to certain someone's lustful plays, more and more geniuses are popping up within the family, making me feel like my two sons are only average." Elise spoke in a dissatisfied tone.

"I'm doing this for the family and the Empire. When Robert or Daniel ascends to the throne in the future, they should've at least a dozen of trustful genius subordinates, right? Even if they lose power to control the people, they will have enough power to dominate anyone through brute force." Ian grabbed the Empress's waist, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead.

"Umm, but you shouldn't forget the rule of the Royal Family. Even if you are the Emperor, you can't go against the Guardian Dragon' Jorvot,' darling. And unlike other Empires, all the concubines' children have the right to inherit the throne. Thanks to the 'Guardian's' absurd rule, two thorns had already popped up. The first concubine's second son has already gotten the support of Duke of Crimson Fort while the third concubine's first son has the backing of the Spade Family. If something bad happens to you, the whole Empire might envelop in blood and flames."

"I'm well aware of that problem. But don't worry. I've already kept a check on every other child through a special method. Wherever they go, whoever they meet, I'll know everything."

Although he was even cold and cruel to his sons and daughters, he never stopped worrying about the empire's and family's future.

...

Darkcross Town, Territory of Mirage Woods, Zenith Empire.

Year 1410, August 18th

In the heart of the vast island continent, nestled within the sprawling countryside, lay the charming town of Darkcross. It was a large town with a population of around 100,000 people.

As the morning sun broke through the mist, the quaint cobblestone streets came to life with the bustling activity of the townsfolk adorned in their elegant attire.

The rhythmic chugging of the steam engine train echoed through the air, announcing the arrival of passengers and goods from distant lands. The train station, an architectural marvel with its ornate ironwork and grand clock tower, served as a gateway to the other territories. As the locomotive pulled into the station, clouds of steam enveloped the platform, creating excitement and nostalgia.

Adjacent to the train station, the industrial district came alive with the clanking and whirring of machinery. Factories with tall brick chimneys dominate the skyline, emitting plumes of smoke that blend with the morning fog. The factory workers, dressed in rugged clothing, toil away amidst the clatter of gears and the hiss of steam escaping from the intricate mechanisms.

Darkcross's market square was a vibrant hub of activity. Street vendors peddled their wares beneath colorful awnings, hawking everything from fresh produce to handcrafted goods. The clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages resonated against the backdrop of cheerful chatter and the occasional brass band playing in the distance.

It was such a rush morning for many town folks.

It was around 8 A.M.

A single-storied house with a big lawn next to the Alm Street road stood, looking more like a commoner's one.

In the doorway of the house, a young and slender boy, his dark hair contrasting sharply with his fair skin, stood observing the passersby with a wide-eyed fascination. His innocent countenance, framed by a mop of black hair, revealed a round face that bespoke the purity of youth. Standing at approximately 105 centimeters, he appeared diminutive yet possessed quiet confidence.

The boy's eyes, a deep shade of blue, held a certain earnestness as he took in the world unfolding before him. Clad in a meticulously arranged ensemble, he wore a crisp white shirt and blue trousers, giving a sense of tidiness and perhaps a touch of formality. Adorning his back was a leather school bag, a symbol of his youthful academic pursuits and the adventures that awaited him within the realm of learning.

"Raven, did you take the lunch box I put it on the table?" A pleasant young maiden's voice echoed from inside, causing his eyes to widen.

"Ohh! I forgot!"

The young boy named Raven hurriedly turned around and ran inside to take the lunch box. But before he could take a few steps, a 165 cm tall young woman came from inside with a small bag in her left hand and blocked his path. She had the same black hair as him and appeared to be around 18 years old.

At that moment, she wore a dark greenish shirt and the same color pants and even held a black umbrella in her hand.

She was none other than Athena.

As soon as she approached Raven, she grabbed him with her right arm and kept him on her waist.

"Happy birthday once again. Did you do yesterday's homework, Mr. Perfect?" She asked while kissing him on his soft cheeks.

A bright smile bloomed on the young Raven's face as he nodded and responded proudly.

"I did all, sister. I also finished memorizing the thirteenth equation table in the Logistic calculation subject."

"Good boy." She nodded pleasantly and walked out of the single-story house. Afterward, she turned around while keeping Raven in her waist, locked the door using a metallic locker, and soon left the house.