Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 745

The atmosphere in the imperial court instantly turned frigid.

The Empress’s face, seated opposite, paled, and the faces of the Imperial Guard commanders guarding the court were filled with shock.

“…Hmm.”

A heavier groan flowed from the dragon throne.

“You said they are a rebellious group.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress opened her mouth.

“Your Majesty, a rebellious group out of nowhere? That’s absurd…”

“I apologize, but.”

Woo Heon cut off the Empress’s words.

“There are many people in the world, and as many people as there are, there are different situations and thoughts. Although Your Majesty’s sacred reign spans the world, there have always been those who covet the Emperor’s dragon throne.”

It was a remarkably bold statement. At least, it was not something easily said in front of the Emperor.

The Empress’s eyes turned venomous.

“Eunuch, watch your words. This is the Emperor’s court.”

Woo Heon bowed his head.

“The situation is dire, and my words were too harsh. Please forgive me.”

“You… !”

At that moment, another voice came from the dragon throne.

“The eunuch has only spoken the truth. Raise your head.”

The Empress’s face flushed red.

‘That fool!’

The man who was the ruler of the nation and also her husband.

However, she had no affection for the Emperor. No, there was definitely affection at first, but now, the emotion had faded to the point where even the memory of it was hazy.

The Empress spoke impulsively.

“You said there is a rebellious group?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“If there really is a rebellious group, does that mean they started a rebellion without any preparation?”

“I am sorry, but I do not know what kind of preparations they have made. I only know that such people exist.”

“Eunuch, you are a loyal subject of the Emperor, overseeing both the military and administration. Remember that your sin is great for not noticing this beforehand.”

As it was in the past, the eunuch’s power in the current imperial palace was higher than that of any high-ranking official. However, no matter how high his power was, he could not interfere with the military and administration.

The Empress was openly telling the Emperor that the eunuch was meddling in areas he should not be.

The word ‘loyal subject’ itself was full of sarcasm.

Woo Heon lowered his head.

“How can I turn a blind eye to that sin? It is a clear and great sin that I, who should serve Your Majesty with all my heart, could not even detect the movements of such an outrageous rebellious group.”

Woo Heon smiled. It was a bitter smile that only the Empress could see, not the Emperor on the dragon throne.

“However, these are dangerous individuals that even the Changwei [a secret agency] under Your Majesty’s boundless grace could not detect. We must seize this opportunity to eliminate them all and protect Your Majesty’s dignity and the Imperial family’s honor.”

‘I will receive my punishment after this matter is resolved.’

The Empress’s eyes twitched at his confident statement.

‘Something’s off.’

The Empress knew well that Woo Heon was a sly and annoying man, but his mind was sharper than anyone else’s.

There was no way he would create a situation to expose rebels without any reason.

The crime of rebellion or treason was a major incident that shook the entire nation, not just the imperial palace.

Naturally, the impact was enormous, as was the weight of the crime. If the accusation of treason turned out to be false, he would face a backlash.

No matter how powerful he was, it would be difficult to withstand it. No, it would be impossible.

‘What on earth is it?’

The Empress felt an unknown unease.

‘How can he be so sure? Could it be…’

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.

‘Is he trying to strike at us?’

That couldn’t be.

The power struggle between her and the eunuch was as dirty as any power struggle in the history of the imperial family. However, there was a clear line that should never be crossed due to the power and goals each possessed.

One of them was rebellion or treason. It was a weapon that should never be touched, even in a power struggle that used any means necessary.

‘That can’t be. The eunuch isn’t a fool. Why would he start a rebellion at this time…’

Suddenly, the Empress’s eyes wavered.

The three experts sent by the Martial Alliance came to mind.

‘Although it’s a hasty guess, each of their strengths is reported to be so great that they could threaten the current martial world.’

The Empress also knew that the eunuch was a member of a heretical cult.

However, she had never thought seriously about it. It was an unforgivable crime to worship a heretical cult and even hold rituals for evil gods in the imperial palace, but she did not know how much power they actually possessed, nor did she want to know.

A heretical cult was just that, a heretical cult.

They were the ones who corrupted the minds of the people and gnawed at the country, but that was all. She thought that if she won this power struggle, she could just mobilize the Imperial Guards and eliminate them all.

However, the martial artists said that they were extremely dangerous individuals.

A force that was not lacking in strength even when facing the martial world. And there were three such heretical cults.

She was surprised at the time, but soon forgot about it. To the Empress, all heretical cults were the same.

Preconceived notions were so terrifying. If she had tried to discuss it further, she would never have come to this place.

The Empress’s face turned pale.

‘If the force behind the eunuch is really that strong…’

She didn’t know how strong the martial world was, but it was significant enough that the imperial family and government officials couldn’t easily touch them. What did it mean that such power was dormant behind the eunuch?

‘Even if they face a backlash, they could seize the imperial palace if they wanted to?’

A chill ran down her spine again.

However, the Empress soon thought that it was impossible.

Although she had a moment of doubt, it was absurd to bring in outside forces to seize the imperial palace.

It was not a matter of power, but a matter of politics. Even if they seized the imperial palace in such a way, they would lose much more than they would gain.

Who would recognize power seized by force? The throne was not like that. If it were a position that could be seized by the powerful, there would have been thousands of rebellions in history.

If the eunuch tried to seize the imperial palace with the power of the heretical cult, then all the power of the empire would be directed at the eunuch and his heretical cult.

It would not be about seizing the full power of the imperial family, but a real war. No matter how bold he was, he would not dare to do such a thing.

While the Empress’s mind was racing, a loud thud echoed from somewhere far away, shaking the ground.

The Empress was startled. The sound from outside the court was this loud. It was clearly a tremendous roar.

A voice came from the dragon throne.

“What is that sound?”

Woo Heon lowered his head.

“The situation is urgent, so I have no choice but to mobilize the Imperial Guards to capture the rebellious group.”

“The Imperial Guards?”

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. However, the power of the rebellious group is that great. Therefore, I have also sent the hidden experts of the Eastern Depot [a secret police force], so we can eliminate them all, albeit belatedly.”

A moment of silence fell.

The Empress asked in a calm voice.

“Who exactly are these so-called rebellious groups?”

Woo Heon smiled coldly.

“They will be suppressed soon, so please wait a little longer, though I apologize.”

* * *

Bang!

With a tremendous explosion, the third palace gate shattered into tens of thousands of pieces.

Even though it was a wooden palace gate, its thickness was greater than the length of an adult man’s arm. Such a thick and large palace gate was shattered in one blow.

“W-what is it!”

“Don’t panic!”

The palace gate that had disappeared. The wooden fragments scattering and flying. And beyond that, there was a majestic swordsman emitting a blue light in his eyes.

“Those clothes?”

“It’s the uniform of the Thousand Captain of the Great General’s Palace! They are a rebellious group, capture them immediately!”

There were no words of surrender or kneeling. Except for the Great General, they were ordered to kill unconditionally.

‘If that’s how it is.’

Whoosh!

Yeon-wi’s body stretched out like taffy.

Before one could even blink, Yeon-wi, who had moved five lengths, pushed the front-line warrior with his left hand.

Chiriririring! Kugugung!

“Ugh, aaaaaaack!”

“W-what is it!”

“Hold on!”

It was just a light push, but the warrior who was pushed back fell, knocking down about thirty soldiers.

It was not a strike that broke bones, nor was it a strike that shattered internal organs with the Inner Strength Technique [a martial arts technique that focuses on internal energy].

It was just a push. However, the force was so strong that not only the warrior but also the soldiers fell.

Most of those who fell had one of their limbs broken.

That was enough. Yeon-wi had no intention of killing the Imperial Guards.

‘Where is it?’

Paaah!

Yeon-wi stepped on the shoulder of a soldier approaching from the left and soared high into the sky.

‘……!!’

The Imperial Guard soldiers looking up at Yeon-wi were shocked.

He stepped on a person’s shoulder and flew into the sky. The height was over seven lengths.

The night sky where it was hard to find clouds. A swordsman with a sword drawn, looking down at the ground with the bright moonlight behind him.

That sight strangely shook the hearts of the soldiers. It was a scene that did not seem to happen in reality, and even though the distance was far, they could not take their eyes off the swordsman’s figure.

Yeon-wi’s eyes flashed.

‘There it is.’

Beyond the Imperial Guards rushing out.

There were a few people wearing black clothes and blue robes with red tassels.

‘Eastern Depot!’

It was an organization headed by the eunuch, the head of the eunuchs, and it was a dangerous organization with more power than the famous Imperial Guard.

They did not go through any judicial institutions and had the authority to arbitrarily arrest not only the people but also officials, so their fear shook the empire.

But what about now?

‘I knew it.’

From those wearing the Eastern Depot’s uniform, he felt a very familiar aura.

‘The Divine Flame Cult!’

Hwaaaaaaak!

In an instant, the sword energy that had risen to its peak covered Yeon-wi’s entire body with a blue glow.

Whoosh!

Shock appeared on the faces of the soldiers.

Having flown high into the sky, it was natural to fall back down. But Yeon-wi did not. It seemed as if he kicked the air once, and then flew across the sky to the back of the Imperial Guards.

‘This can’t be!’

Thousand Miles of Cloud Movement [a martial arts movement technique].

It was a posture that was somehow upright while moving as if flying.

It was the divine movement of a noble man who did not succumb to unjust external pressure or malicious power. Unlike Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had cultivated the Four Divine Energies, Yeon-wi’s posture in using the Thousand Miles of Cloud Movement was surprisingly upright.

And it was fast.

In the blink of an eye, Yeon-wi’s body fell behind the experts wearing the Eastern Depot’s uniform.

“Amazing!”

Jin Sa, the leader of the Red Orchid Unit of the Eastern Depot and a warrior of the Divine Flame Cult, had invaded the capital.

Hwarurururuk!

As soon as red flames formed at the tips of his neatly spread fingers, the red fire surged over his hand and up to his elbow.

It was the Divine Flame Cult’s ultimate martial art, the Fire Dragon Demon Blade. It was an advanced martial art that produced cutting power like a sword with bare hands.

“Judging by the sword, you must be the head of the Yeon family.”

Pung! Hwarurururuk!

All the members of the Red Orchid Unit standing next to Jin Sa raised the Fire Dragon Demon Blade. Although not as much as Jin Sa, they all seemed to have deep mastery.

Jin Sa’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

“I heard that you also killed our warriors. Let’s see how great your martial arts are…”

Thud!

Jin Sa could not finish his sentence.

A head flying high into the sky. The headless body slowly tilted.

Yeon-wi was standing in front of the body that was falling.

Not a single drop of blood was on Yeon-wi’s sword.

“Next.”