The Emperor was furious, not for the reason that it would bring a lot more complications to them if they tried to battle a Demon Noble while lacking a definite counter, but because the Angels made a fool out of him.
'Those deranged imbeciles! If they did not want to be summoned, they should've taken better care of their prisoners. Their incompetence is spanning across realms, how laughable.'
It was out of his position as a mortal to express profanity towards the Angels. However, he was already in a foul mood when he saw a scroll lying around the forest. Then, something of this nature happened? It would not be all that surprising if he suddenly went berserk out of enmity.
Meanwhile, the Rounds readily took not of the monarch's temperament. They rarely see him wear any expression on his countenance. At this moment, the only conclusion that they could make would be that his mental state was in the extremes. Thus, they kept their mouths shut all the while they organized themselves in a single file afore him.
Although the aura of sovereignty had lessened, as a result of the two Demon Nobles under his control being appropriated, the Rounds could sense an even more suffocating feeling as they observed the Emperor.
Clenching his fists tightly, with his eyebrows scrunched up and his eyes housing glints of animosity, trembling ever so slightly, from that stated did the Emperor appease his anger. He knew that it was no use fretting over what was gone for good.
He kept on saying that they needed to hasten, yet in actuality, they have wasted most of their time idling. Hence, he confronted his knights, who were patiently waiting for his orders, right away.
"Jibrail, now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Without asking any questions was the only fitting follow up after acquiescing to his commands. The knights promptly went out of Jibrail's way, choosing to stand behind the Emperor. Concurrently, Jibrail planted his feet on the ground, slowly forming the magic circle in requirement of the spell thereafter.
"nec dextrorsum, nec sinistrorsum"
Subsequent to uttering the incantation, a gust of wind slowly gathered around the knight's person. A few seconds passed, a modest storm was now brewing within an arm's span of his body.
"oculus dexter, oculus sinister"
All of a sudden, the violent winds surrounding Jibrail became still, enveloping his figure with a dense fog.
"quaere"
Jibrail closed his eyes as the magic circle radiated with light bearing the colours of a fading rainbow. Then and there, the landscape of the three fiefs appeared on his mind like a cinematic play.
A rather repulsed groan came out of his mouth before he began to talk, "The situation in the other two fiefs is nothing compared to Suma fief."
Once he heard his preliminary statement, his companions eagerly lent him their ears in order for them to know the predicaments that they needed to deal with.
"Regarding the populace inhabiting the three fiefs, I could see that nearly three-quarters of them were successfully rescued by the Archdukes and the Archduchess. They're currently at the southern border of the Oleves fief. However, for the rest, there are no signs that they're still within the barrier." Jibrail explained the matter about the citizens first, aware that the Emperor wanted to be informed of that foremost.
"There are no signatures at all?" Mikhail asked on behalf of his comrades.
"There are two possibilities. First, they were dragged inside the legion gates. Second, their physical bodies, together with their souls, were consumed by the horde of demons and monsters."
"I see. Then, now what you're at it, can you tell me how many legion gates are still open?" Mikhail queried even though the task was assigned to him. He figured that the casting of his spell would take time, so it would be better if Jibrail did it instead.
A window of repose descended in the group as Jibrail counted the gates. After a while, he finally responded.
"Currently, there are 96 legion gates that are open. I presume, upon entry, the demons and monsters lingered in the Suma fief. After all, most of the gates are situated in this fief. Fortunately, they were duly wiped out by Lord Mikhail and Lord Khamael. Still, I will not be able to distinguish the owners of those gates nor know how many are still waiting to be opened."
"Moving on, where is Zelel?"
"He is in the Orphema Forest. Well, I have been observing his route, yet he seems to be ceaselessly circumnavigating within a proximate space."
"Circumnavigating?"
"That is correct, My Lord. In addition to that, a little ways off from him, there is a man overtly watching Lord Zelel."
"Are you sure that that being is a human?"
"Yes, with the stature and semblance. The man might be in need of help."
"Alright, that's enough. Good work, Jibrail." Mikhail said as he led the way back to their initial spot, where the Emperor could see them.
Sagramore simply bowed his head prior to snapping his fingers that halted the activation of his spell. He proceeded to return to the rank and await for the monarch's orders.
Unfavourable circumstances corrupted their unforeseen mission. The sole thing for the knights to do was to listen to the person who had the shots in this footing, the Emperor. The monarch heaved a sigh ahead of addressing the matter.
"I'm certain that someone enlightened the Axhiven Knights apropos this occurrence. My guess is that it's the same person who gave me the scrolls or a comrade of theirs. Mikhail, thoughts?"
"I agree, Your Majesty. It is not possible that they would be able to transport that many people without being warned beforehand. Perhaps, a few hours before the Nobles' sigils were integrated? The question is, why did they not notify you? Also, as we traversed this fief, it appeared as if it's been abandoned for ages. There were no traces of people at all, considering that it has merely been a couple of hours into the barrier's emergence. Granting that they're powerful, why would they even act out a mass migration without a concrete threat?"
Mikhail articulated some of the doubts that had been bugging him. They were valid, to say the least, seeing that the other Rounds were nodding as they acknowledged his queries.
On the other hand, the Emperor opted to advance with his briefing, leaving Mikhail's inquiries to be answered at a later time.
"To enter the legion gates devoid of assurance of our safety is plain reckless. If the latter is really the case, we will not venture to a realm we have no knowledge of."
Atticus uttered those words without an ounce of hesitation. It was for a fact that, as the principal ruler of the empire, he had a duty to guarantee that the citizens could live in his domain peacefully.
Withal, what if it the captured civilians were beyond saving by the time they infiltrate? What if a pack of Demon Nobles gang up on them before they could escape? Then, who would be left with the governance? With how vast the Seraphiel Empire's territory was, chaos would definitely ensue if the Emperor, the Prime Minister, and the seven highest seated Knights of the Round Table suddenly abandoned their posts.
"We are prepared to take in this kind of conclusion, aren't we?"
An approximate of twenty million people occupied the three fiefs. It's a mystery how the Axhiven Knights dealt with that colossal number of people in a matter of hours. Nevertheless, the sole thing that the Emperor coveted to tackle was what's in front of them.
"In the event that we're not able to save the people, I will lock these three fiefs down the moment we get out of this barrier."
Disapproval was bound to arise among the patriotic individuals in the group, and the Emperor was perfectly cognizant of this propensity of his knights. Accordingly, he didn't give them an opportunity to complain.
"If you insist on self-destructing by plunging yourselves in those legion gates just to save five-million people, you can go. However, here's a food for thought - The Empire supports nearly six-billion people. Even if I am alone in this perspective, I will consider this mistake as a lesson and take preemptive measures so that something like this will not happen again."
The Emperor's speech completely stomped on their desires. He saw the rejection on their faces, so he sighed in resignation.
"In case there is still a feasible way for us to save them, I will do just that. Do not worry."
Immediately upon harkening his attempt to console their bothered hearts, the knights couldn't help but feel mollified of it. Even so, Mikhail shook his head and thought that it was incredible for His Majesty to be awkward in respecting their opinions.
"Ho-"
"Wait" Abruptly interrupting Mikhail was Jibrail who spoke up. He hurriedly glanced at the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I tried to recall the man's face. The one who was following Lord Zelel."
"Was it familiar?"
"Yes, I saw it in a portrait when I visited Countess' Lukan's estate. I'm certain that it's the late Count Rondum Lukan"