Free Web NovelChapter 482: Chapter 482: Imperial Death Warriors
"There’s, there’s an ambush?" Claire looked shocked at the scene before her.
The half-elf girl clearly had trouble understanding why she was being attacked as soon as she returned to the continent of Edwen.
"Located in the Nelson Forest, in the northeast of the Empire, this is a teleportation portal for the Imperial Inquisition." Ashley said calmly, looking around. "According to Imperial regulations, this area is under secret military control. No one is allowed to enter this region without the permission of the Council."
"I see. It looks like you’ve been abandoned." Ying Lili nodded slightly, understanding the situation.
"That’s only natural, isn’t it? After all, His Majesty wouldn’t want the goose that was about to be in his cooking to fly away." Ashley gave a self-deprecating smile.
"You, what are you talking about?" Claire felt a bit confused listening to their conversation. She still wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
"How foolish, my dear sister." Ashley sighed, looking at Claire as if she were an idiot. "Since outsiders can’t possibly get in here, don’t you understand who’s ambushing us?"
Drip, drip.
As they were talking, several individuals dressed in white robes and wearing golden masks walked out of the bushes. Each of them held a strange black crossbow, but there were no bolts on them.
"The Saint Luo Institute?" Claire recognized them instantly from their attire.
These were members of the Saint Luo Institute, the royal family’s intelligence unit. But why were they here? Could it be... At that moment, Claire finally understood.
The one who truly wanted them dead was Emperor Shenwu.
So Ashley was telling the truth? Everything was the Emperor’s plan, and she was just a pawn in his eyes?
"Sinner Ashley Lavender, sinner Claire Lavender, you are accused of murdering nobles, plotting a coup, and betraying the Empire." The leader of the Saint Luo Institute fixed his gaze on the two sisters and said coldly, "According to Article V of Imperial Law, you are hereby arrested."
"My, what serious charges!" Ashley blinked and smiled. "We’re definitely going to be burned by purgatorial fire, right? How terrifying!"
"You should have expected this outcome when you betrayed the Empire." The Saint Luo Institute leader’s voice remained icy, as if he hadn’t heard her sarcasm. "Your ancestors would be ashamed of you!"
"We betrayed the Empire?" Even Claire, who usually seemed a bit dim, couldn’t hold back. "Who made that decision? The Emperor? Did he witness our betrayal with his own eyes? Don’t be ridiculous. These charges... he’s just trying to protect his own interests!"
"Insulting His Majesty is a crime punishable by death!" The Saint Luo Institute leader shouted angrily and pulled the trigger of his crossbow.
Zing.
A stream of azure light shot out, forming a long arrow.
Ying Lili finally understood why these crossbows didn’t need physical bolts. They actually used the user’s magic as ammunition, with the magic self-condensing into an attack similar to a magic arrow.
"This is quite interesting," Ying Lili commented softly, her figure vanishing from her spot at the same time.
Bang.
The azure arrow struck Claire’s raised golden shield and shattered. Behind the Saint Luo Institute leader, a flash of snow-white silver light appeared.
Squelch, squelch.
Bright red blood splattered onto the green grass and black soil.
The Saint Luo Institute leader turned around in a daze, only to see his dozen or so subordinates lying on the ground. And the mysterious figure in the cloak stood there, calmly meeting his gaze.
"How is this possible..." The Saint Luo Institute leader stood frozen, an expression of disbelief on his face beneath the mask.
"Nothing is impossible." Ashley walked up to him and removed his mask. "Your surprise comes from not having seen a wider world."
"Modra?" Claire recognized him now, and said incredulously, "You’re a member of the Saint Luo Institute too?"
Claire’s Glorious Army was the Empire’s Royal Guard unit.
Rod, who was killed by Ying Lili, was the Glorious Commander of the Fourth Legion. Claire was his second-in-command. And the Modra before them was one of the sub-commanders of their Fourth Legion.
In Claire’s memory, he was a rather shy young man. He didn’t talk much, but he cared about his soldiers. She never expected him to be a member of the Saint Luo Institute.
The Saint Luo Institute was truly everywhere.
"Well, well, an acquaintance?" Ashley blinked. "Then that’s even better. Answer a few of our questions, and we’ll let you go, how about that?"
"I will not betray His Majesty!" The young man named Modra’s eyes were firm, even carrying a sense of tragic conviction. "None of you will escape. His Majesty will never let you go..." Before he could finish, black blood flowed from his mouth.
Thump.
Modra fell backward, lifeless.
"Tsk, tsk. They really did brainwash him thoroughly." Ashley didn’t seem too disappointed and crouched down to search his body for any useful clues.
"You knew he would commit suicide?" Claire’s face darkened, and she stared at Ashley.
"Of course I did," Ashley replied without looking back, busy with her task. "No one from the Saint Luo Institute survives a mission failure. That’s their creed."
"Then why did you say that? Were you deliberately provoking him?"
"Not at all. I was just testing him. What if he was someone with a weak will? There are people like that, right?"
"That wasn’t a test. That was just your own wicked sense of humor!"
"Oh, if you say so, then so be it..."
"You!"
Seeing the two sisters arguing again, Ying Lili rubbed her temples and changed the subject, forwarding the screenshots she’d just taken to a group chat: Currently in another world, received a warm welcome right upon arrival... I have a feeling this trip will be very harmonious and pleasant!
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