Chapter 202: The Culling
Rael jogged across the land while ordering every single one of his Zoombas to roll out of the dungeon.
And just as expected, less than an hour later, messages started flooding in.
<Karina: Hey! I just opened the map. What the hell is going on? There are a lot of blue things running out of Celestara. Also, Aztera has a lot of people leaving the capital as well. Did a war start?>
Oho, my eye in the sky showed up, Rael mused with a chuckle.
<Rael Sutekh: Yep, we're at war right now. Can you monitor them for the next few hours? More if possible. I'd like a real-time location on their army.>
A few moments later, she replied.
<Karina: Of course. Anything for my benefactor. Oh... one more thing, I think Drivania is making a move as well. There are a few people gathering on the outskirts of the capital, Lunareth. Judging from their movement, they're heading into the Holy Kingdom.>
He raised a brow. <Rael Sutekh: Anything else?>
<Karina: Yes... I believe there's a party waiting for Drivania's troops in the Holy Kingdom's city, Sanctis. Though it might just be some sort of event. Nevermind, I take that back. Even Ogarak is gathering some troops.>
"...?"
He was really confused now.
Initially, only Aztera and Celestara were supposed to go to battle. However, it seemed that a few players had entered the war as well.
Namely, Drivania and the Holy Kingdom. As for Ogarak, he really hoped they weren't staging a rebellion but were preparing to help Celestara instead.
Aside from that, Rael sped up his pace, and when he finally reached the sands of Aztera, he sent a message to Zafira.
<Rael Sutekh: I'm going to go eliminate some nobles. How are things on your end?>
<Zafira Sutekh: Yrgon is on board to assist us if anything goes wrong. Also, the dwarves are coming tomorrow, so make sure you wrap up your little massacre by then, okay?>
He chuckled. <Rael Sutekh: I'll try.>
With that, Rael turned to one of the watchtowers by the side, and without a hint of hesitation, summoned his Violin Blade and shot an explosive note toward it.
The power behind the note was too much for the tower to handle, so it collapsed. Unsurprisingly, there wasn't a single person present.
So he really did expect me to attack. Here I thought he might think of me as some kind of pushover, Rael thought with a slight smirk, and headed toward another tower.
Then another, and another, until finally, he had gotten rid of all five watchtowers surrounding the northwestern part of Aztera.
As for his constructs?
<Rael Sutekh: Where are the blue dots now? The same ones who were in Celestara earlier.>
He received a reply five seconds later.
<Karina: They're around ten minutes away from Sylvaran. As for the soldiers of Aztera, they are circling Veltharin. I think they're preparing some sort of defensive formation.>
They are...? I really doubt that, Rael thought with a slight frown.
While he was underestimating King Diederich, he could assume that the number of tricks up his sleeve was limited.
But just how limited...?
<Karina: The soldiers around Veltharin aren't moving anymore. But there seems to be a bit less of them now.>
The moment he read those words, he halted, a frown tugging at his lips.
<Rael Sutekh: Check on Celestara. Give me insight on any anomalies.>
It was a bit annoying to micromanage Karina like this, but he had no choice. After all, since he didn't want Zafira to exert herself, he left her with the basic country-building chores.
But it was a bit of a pain in the ass to convince her. I had to offer up a tray of food... maybe that's why I had that nightmare earlier. Can I even have nightmares...? Aren't I the Nightmare King?
Anyways...
Now that he had destroyed all five towers, it was time to put his other plan into motion.
• Teleport to a random corrupt Count-ranked noble (Rare): 10,000,000 Trell
He purchased exactly ten of these.
Ten scrolls appeared in his palm, and he stored nine of them before taking a glance at the one he kept.
There was some sort of glyph on the scroll, and while he couldn't read it, he knew what it did.
Therefore, without wasting any more time, Rael ripped the scroll.
Immediately, his vision shifted as a strange pull enveloped his body. Yet in the very next moment, he found himself sitting on a comfortable chair in some luxurious gold-tinted office.
And in front of him sat a noble doing paperwork while sipping wine.
He had the crest of a Count, and when he finally noticed Rael, he got up from his seat and pulled out a handgun, aiming it right at Rael's forehead.
"What do you think you're doing in my office?" the Count asked with a composed expression. "I thought the door was locked. I guess I might've snoozed off..."
Just as Rael was about to open his mouth and speak, the Count pulled the trigger, sending the bullet flying right at Rael's forehead.
However...
[HP -11,852! 1,151B/1,151B]
"Ouch," Rael muttered, wiping away the bullet's residue.
It was as if the bullet had struck metal, but aside from a tiny prick, Rael couldn't even feel it.
"My body is pretty durable... sir?" Rael said playfully, causing the Count's expression to contort to one of horror.
"W-Who sent you?" the Count asked, the handgun in his hand shaking wildly. "I-I can pay you double... no, triple, if you spare my life!"
"Yeah... about that," Rael trailed off, scratching his cheek. "Admit to the crimes you've done, and I'll spare you. That was the deal my employer mentioned."
"Okay!" The Count took a deep breath and put the handgun down before taking a seat.
"I've committed many grave sins. Human trafficking, gun trafficking, embezzlement—"
"I think that's enough," Rael cut him off with a sigh and stood up.
He walked over to the Count, picked the handgun off the table, and placed it against the Count's forehead.
"Any last words?"
"B-But you promised!" the Count shot back, attempting to stand up.
However, the sheer amount of pressure Rael was exuding made the Count unable to even move.
"Cool last words," Rael remarked and placed his finger on the trigger.
"I want you to know that this isn't personal."
With those final words, Rael pulled the trigger.
—BANG
The Count slumped onto his table, blood oozing into the paperwork.
And as for Rael, he tossed the handgun into his inventory and took out another scroll.
Nine more to go.