Emperor Of Steel [EN]: Chapter 85

10. The Elves’ Trap

Emperor Rudolf’s orders were relayed directly to Luke. This was because the messenger familiars of the Imperial Intelligence Department in Nemesis had informed him.

“What? They’re spreading rumors that I’ve learned black magic and secretly joined forces with a group of black mages?”

“Yes, Master. Such rumors are currently circulating in the capital and some other regions. It seems the Emperor intends to capitalize on these rumors. The problem is that the rumors are quite plausible and intriguing, so they’re frequently on people’s lips.”

Upon hearing Belfar’s report, Luke wondered who, among those who disliked him, had spread such a baseless rumor. There were many people in the Baroque Empire who disliked him, including Marquis Myers. However, after hearing the content of the absurd rumor, he couldn’t just laugh it off. While some of the story was ridiculous, it also included truths that only a very few people knew.

‘Black mages using the mark of the Black Moon… this is about the Dark Moon Tower.’

Rumors and tall tales aren’t made up of just lies. They are created by mixing some truth with a large number of falsehoods. That’s why people believe everything is true once they find out that even one part is factual.

‘Just who the hell…?’

Luke was certain that someone who knew some of his secrets had spread the rumor. He needed to find out who the culprit was, but it was also important to assess how far the rumor had spread and how to deal with it.

“Do my vassals know about this?”

“Not yet, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before they find out.”

The messenger familiars of the Intelligence Department did not follow the Emperor’s orders. However, the rumor was so intriguing that it was spreading rapidly without any special effort.

“Hmm, this is going to be troublesome.”

Luke had solidified his territory with his outstanding skills and leadership. The support of his vassals was immense. However, there was one taboo in the Lakan family, a family of heroes. That was black magic. They were never to be associated with black magic. It was clear that his vassals, upon hearing the rumors, would soon come in droves to demand an explanation.

“Master, how about turning all the vassals into familiars at this point?”

“That would cause a series of suicides.”

His vassals had persevered with pride as members of a hero’s family since the days when the territory was impoverished. If they found out that their lord was trying to bind them with the power of darkness, they would not hesitate to take their own lives or risk death to expose the truth. If suspicions arose and a commotion broke out in this process, Luke’s position would only become more difficult.

“Anyway, did you find out who spread these rumors?”

“According to the Imperial Intelligence Department and Henri, it wasn’t Emperor Rudolf or Marquis Myers who did it.”

“Then who?”

“We don’t know yet, but we’ve mobilized all the messenger familiars to investigate, so we should find out soon…”

At that moment, Luke’s eyes suddenly changed. Belfar, sensing something, stopped speaking mid-sentence and scanned the surrounding area for any detected energy.

“There’s an intruder in the mansion, Master.”

“I know. To break through the knights’ defenses, they must be no ordinary uninvited guest.”

Since Henri’s assassination attempt, the security of the Lakan estate had become impenetrable. They had increased the number of guards and alarm magic, making it as tight and solid as the Baroque Imperial Palace. To break through that and infiltrate the mansion meant they were no ordinary person.

“Judging by their stealth, they’re not human.”

“Shall I deal with them?”

“No, they don’t seem to have any killing intent, so they’re not an assassin sent to kill me. Don’t kill them, but capture them and bring them to the secret laboratory in the fortress.”

Breaking into the mansion at this late hour was a capital offense. However, Luke, sensing something, ordered them to be captured alive.

“Understood, Master!”

Belfar, having transformed into dozens of bats, quickly left the office.

“To dare to infiltrate this place, they must have a death wish. What could their purpose be?”

He had an ominous feeling. With the rumors about his secrets circulating and this incident occurring, his unease did not subside easily.

Shortly after, Belfar returned, having captured a dark elf, bound tightly. Luke, who had teleported to the secret laboratory of the fortress in advance, frowned the moment he saw the dark elf’s face. It was someone he recognized.

“You are clearly…”

“It’s Hairun. It’s been a while, Marquis Lakan.”

Hairun, an agent of the Volga Intelligence Department who had tried to kidnap Princess Reina in the past. Perhaps because of the past incident, a cold voice flowed from Luke’s lips.

“What brings you here? You don’t seem to be here to kill me.”

“Are you aware of the rumors circulating in the Empire recently?”

At those words, Luke glared at Hairun with a menacing look. Hairun, startled, lowered his head to avoid his gaze.

“I wondered who was spreading rumors about me, and it was you elves.”

When he felt uneasy earlier, Erewine’s warning had come to Luke’s mind. To be careful because the Volga elf representatives might target him. He had a hunch, but he never expected things to unfold like this!

‘Yes, the elves of the Volga Republic would be well aware that I’m cooperating with the Dark Moon. There are elves and half-elf mages in the Dark Moon as well.’

Knowing the culprit, his frustration eased a little. Luke spoke to Hairun again.

“So, what’s the reason for secretly infiltrating the mansion? You didn’t come just to boast that you’re the culprit, did you?”

“I’ve brought a letter from Elder Nanas, who is currently the head of the Elven Representative Council.”

“Elder Nanas?”

“Yes, she is a great leader, a fairy grand mage, who is designing the future of the elves.”

‘Hah, a great leader, my foot! Just a petty elf blinded by greed, trying to stab an ally in the back.’

He had never met the fairy named Nanas, but somehow, her actions made her seem more human than humans. Moreover, Hairun himself seemed to have some dissatisfaction with Nanas, as he slightly frowned when mentioning her.

“Anyway, let’s see that letter.”

At Luke’s words, Belfar searched Hairun’s person and presented the letter.

To Marquis Luke Lakan,

There is something I wish to discuss with you in detail. Please meet me in the Melvin Valley of the Volga Republic in a week. If you do not come, I will expose to the world the fact that you are protecting the Dark Moon in the Jason territory, as well as the truth about the Holy Empire’s Pope.

Crack!

Nanas’s letter was crumpled in Luke’s grasp. Luke glared at Hairun with fierce eyes and asked.

“Is this the will of the entire elven race, or is it Elder Nanas’s personal will?”

“I-It’s the will of the entire elven race.”

At Hairun’s answer, Luke paused for a moment, then looked up at the ceiling and burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! This is the will of the entire elven race?”

After laughing for a while, Luke drew his sword from his waist.

Clang!

Hairun’s face turned pale. As the purple sword light cut through the air and fell towards him, he tightly closed his eyes. However, instead of his head falling off, the rope that had been binding him was cut.

“Go. Go and tell them that I will come within the deadline.”

Luke even opened an exit for him to leave. After hesitating for a moment, Hairun quickly disappeared from his sight.

Watching Hairun leave, Luke muttered as if he was disgusted.

“As expected of elves, they’re not good at lying. Anyway, this incident has made one thing clear. Elves are no different from humans.”

Perhaps that was only natural. In ancient times, it was the elves who enslaved the primitive human tribes of the frontier and taught them civilization. The current excessive greed of humans, which the elves despise, is also influenced by the elves who enjoyed great prosperity under the rise of the Avalon Magic Empire.

‘Not all humans are bad. The same goes for elves. The problem is with some at the top. Those who are not satisfied with what they currently have, even with power and authority, and seek more, have been disrupting the world.’

Because of such people, unfair things like violence, exploitation, and wars frequently occurred in the world. In the process, someone loses a loved one. Consumed by sadness and hatred, they commit violence and cause further chaos. As the saint said, sin begets sin, and blood calls for blood.

Luke did not deny that he himself was a sinner. However, he vowed to use his power to punish other sinners.

‘Anyway, I feel much lighter. I won’t feel particularly bad about wiping out those elf representatives or whatever they are.’

Luke decided to deal with Nanas and the elf representatives. Of course, those who defend them would also be punished.

‘If Erewine finds out, she’ll try to stop me somehow. But it’s already too late.’

Right now, Erewine was tirelessly visiting the elven chieftains and elders, trying to persuade them. He had no intention of informing her about this matter. If she found out, she would try to stop him and be a nuisance.

Melvin Valley. In the center of this valley was a forest filled with only black, withered trees. The nearby residents called this place the ‘Dark Forest’ and avoided it at all costs. Most of those who entered the forest either died or returned as invalids. Recently, hundreds of elves had entered this cursed place. The one leading these elves was a fairy female mage with a cold beauty. She, who was also an elder of the fairies, was in the process of creating a peculiar structure in the center of the Dark Forest. However, not many knew what it was.

“It’s almost complete. We’ll be able to finish it on time.”

As Nanas smiled faintly while looking at ‘it,’ Hairun appeared and knelt before her.

“I’ve returned, Elder Nanas.”

“Good work. What did that person say?”

“He said he would come here.”

“Hah, as expected! He has no choice but to come since his identity is about to be exposed.”

“But…”

Hairun, about to say something, saw a dwarf worker collapse while working on ‘it.’ Other elves around him shook him, but he did not move. A Lycanthrope examined him and shook his head; it seemed the dwarf worker had passed away.

“It seems to be a difficult construction.”

“It will be completed within the deadline, so there’s no need to worry.”

“But the sacrifice is too great.”

As far as Hairun knew, over 50 elves had died while installing this structure in the Dark Forest. Those who had completely lost their energy and become invalids were several times that number. However, Nanas did not care.

“It’s a sacrifice that must be made. Did you think we could subdue the successor of the Demon King without any sacrifice?”

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

“It’s a sacred sacrifice to revive Avalon. History will remember and praise them.”

While Nanas was giving a passionate speech, another elf collapsed. He did not die, but he was completely exhausted, and cold sweat was constantly dripping from his pale face.

‘A sacred sacrifice…’

Hairun looked at the structure that his fellow elves were creating at the cost of their life force. This massive structure, built on cursed land, was a trap to capture Marquis Luke Lakan, the Rune Knight and successor of the Black Sage, Seimon.

‘There is no reward without sacrifice. But is what we are doing really something that will be praised by history?’

Hairun’s doubts were greater than before. He was certain of one thing. That this matter would be concluded before he found an answer related to it.

‘Three days left.’

In three days, Marquis Luke Lakan would arrive here. And his actions, which once stirred the continent, would end here. The trap prepared by Elder Nanas was several times more powerful than when they faced the Sword Master and the 8th Circle Grand Mage of the Volga Kingdom in the past. Even a Sword Emperor, not just a Sword Sage, could never avoid it. A bitter expression did not easily fade from Hairun’s lips as he looked at the structure.

(To be continued in Volume 10 of Steel Emperor)

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