"The bad news is that the holy army on the Desert of Chaos battlefield was utterly annihilated, and the sword hero, Leon Kruger, was declared dead on the battlefield after facing the sudden appearance of the Demon Emperor!"
The guard's voice reverberated loudly throughout the throne room.
His breath caught after uttering these words, as if he had exhausted all his strength, emphasizing the magnitude of the terrifying news.
The mere mention of 'Death of the Sword Hero' was inconceivable; it was only natural that he couldn't contain his fear.
If this news were to become known to all the people, whether within the territory of the Holy Empire of Elysium or in the Holy Orthodox territory, it would undoubtedly trigger a terrifying uproar.
The status of heroes is considered sacred, and 7000 years is an incalculable span to engrain this sentiment in the hearts of humanity.
Consequently, the potential impact of this news, if it were to spread, is beyond imagination.
Including this guard, who currently wore a pale expression, awaiting Velix's decision on the matter.
Unfortunately, Velix, seated on the throne, wore a face indifferent to this news, with even the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"I see. I understand, and I will take care of it. You may leave." His response, sounding indifferent and seemingly unconcerned, caught the guard off guard, as it was not what he expected.
Suddenly, a horror etched across his face, impossible to conceal, as he gazed at Velix, whose expression remained composed and emotionless, as if the news had failed to evoke any response.
"Y-Your Majesty... this news... what should—" His sentence remained unfinished as Velix's beast-like glare fixed itself on him, with an unmistakable air of death emanating from it.
"I said... get out!" Velix's tone was icy and menacing, carrying a heavy weight of pressure.
The guard, already pale with fear, suddenly found his breathing labored, as if Velix's pressure had tightly gripped his lungs.
Swiftly, he bowed his head slightly and hurried out of the throne room in terror, fearing that if he lingered any longer, his life might be extinguished on the spot.
Glancing at the guard's back, who hastily departed, Velix's eyes remained indifferent, deeming this incident a trivial episode unworthy of attention.
Afterward, he calmly shifted his gaze toward the three individuals standing before him.
"The three of you have firsthand knowledge of the death of the sword hero, Leon Kruger, as per the plan. However, unexpected events have been unfolding on the battlefield—the emergence of the highly mysterious Demon Emperor, necessitating increased caution on our part." His eyes narrowed sharply after he uttered these words.
On the other hand, Jim Terra, Rain Violet, and the other woman, Natasya Nox, the Grand War General of the Holy Empire of Elysium, who adorned herself with blonde hair and heavy iron armor, also wore expressions of vigilance.
The term "demon emperor" alone sent shivers down their spines, alerting them to the utmost.
A fearsome figure, also the eternal adversary of the three heroes of mankind.
The air of caution among them intensified not only due to this fact but also because the Demon Emperor's identity in this era remained shrouded in mystery and secrecy, leaving them in the dark about the appearance of this elusive figure.
Even the intelligence agencies of both the Holy Empire of Elysium and the Holy Orthodox faced challenges and stagnation in acquiring information about the Demon Emperor.
Consequently, this unfavorable situation left them profoundly shocked upon learning of the Demon Emperor's sudden appearance on the battlefield.
"It is indeed surprising, but there's no need for excessive concern," Velix reassured the three, immediately alleviating their anxieties.
"Alright, let's return to the previous topic. The demise of the sword hero, Leon Kruger, will undoubtedly send shockwaves throughout humanity, and I aim to minimize the impact of this revelation. Therefore, Jim, I entrust this matter to you," Velix stated, continuing his explanation and appointing Jim as the person in charge of this crucial affair.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Leave it to me," Jim calmly replied, pressing his index finger against the center of his glasses.
Upon hearing this, Velix nodded in satisfaction and shifted his gaze towards the short, loli-like woman beside Jim, Rain Violet.
"Rain, for your dedication and hard work in creating the poison to eliminate Hero Leon, I will ensure you receive a fitting reward." Velix praised her without hesitation, recognizing her successful efforts.
Truth be told, he was initially skeptical about the effectiveness of the poison Rain had concocted.
After all, it was widely known that Leon, as the hero of mankind, possessed a high immunity to any poison.
Fortunately, this meticulously crafted plan yielded results that were not disappointing.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty," Rain replied with a slight bow, her tone indifferent.
Even with such a compliment, it failed to elicit any reaction on her petite, emotionless face.
Velix offered a slight nod before turning his gaze towards Natasya, who had maintained a silent demeanor, refraining from uttering a single word.
"Natasya, I have another task for you. Despite the successful elimination of the hero Leon as planned, we also suffered losses with the elite army being wiped out by the Demon Emperor. Thus, I need you to boost the morale of the Empire's army." Velix spoke casually, entrusting this crucial matter to Natasya, the Grand War General of the Empire.
"As you command, Your Majesty," Natasya replied calmly, bowing her head slightly.
Her beautiful face exuded a robust, heroic aura, a testament to the numerous wars she had participated in.
Despite her quiet demeanor and few words, her name resonated worldwide as the Sword of the Empire.
On the flip side, Velix found great satisfaction in the trio, harboring confidence that despite the absence of the sword hero, who once posed a threat to his position, the Empire would endure and maintain its formidable stature.
In addition, there were still two other heroes ready for the defense of humanity.
"Alright, the three of you can go, and rest assured, I will bestow upon you a special reward for today's achievement." Velix didn't detain them any longer and made sure to acknowledge their deserving reward for their accomplishments.
The three bowed in unison and turned to exit the throne room.
However, a sudden realization struck Jim, prompting him to turn back toward Velix at the throne.
"By the way, Your Majesty, there's something I forgot to ask. Even if I manage to suppress the news of Hero Leon's death, it will still be extremely challenging to conceal it from the Holy Orthodox," Jim stated, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
Upon hearing this, Velix's face remained as composed as ever.
"Don't worry about it, Jim. I'll handle it later," Velix assured him, providing reassurance.
"In that case, I apologize for troubling you, Your Majesty," Jim replied respectfully before quietly walking out, following Rain and Natasya, who had already left ahead.
Observing the departure of the three, Velix leaned against the back of the throne and closed his eyes briefly.
"Holy Orthodox, huh?" he murmured, and an extraordinarily beautiful woman appeared in his mind.
Slowly, he drew a slight breath and reopened his eyes, maintaining an indifferent demeanor.
"It will be a bit challenging considering this woman's close relationship with Leon..." he whispered before vanishing from the scene.
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AN: Cough! Don't forget the support! Thank you and stay tuned!