Episode 579
Chapter 150. When the Price Must Be Paid (Part 2)
Dante had commissioned Mumei to assassinate the emperor and bring back his severed head.
If possible, he wanted the emperor captured alive, but Owl assigned the task of killing the emperor to Yona.
No assassin could find and kill the emperor faster than Yona, and Owl feared that before Mumei’s blade could reach him, the royal family might secure the emperor’s person first.
That was why Owl refused the request to capture him alive. Yona possessed assassination skills that even surpassed his own, but she was uncontrollable.
There was no way she would spare the emperor after seeing him in person. The emperor’s attack on Hailan threatened not only the empire but also Jin, Yona’s beloved younger sibling.
Though it was regrettable, Dante had no choice but to accept Owl’s terms for the same reasons.
No matter how deep his grudge, Dante was not the type to capture and torture the emperor.
So the most certain and swift method was to secure the emperor’s head and display it in the square, signaling that the empire had broken free from his rule.
But against everyone’s expectations—
Yona returned with the emperor alive, smiling brightly, bringing him to the Second Castle of Hailan, the imperial capital where Jin and Dante waited.
“Heh, kiddo. You have no idea how much I wanted to kill this scrawny old meat sack.”
Owl was the most shocked by this. Seeing Yona dragging the unconscious emperor like a sack, he nearly dropped the cigarette he was holding.
“Yona… how did you even think to bring him back alive?”
“I figured the kid would want to deal with him more than I would, hehe. Did good, right?”
Yona tossed the emperor lightly in front of them, and Owl frowned with concern.
“Are you alright?”
Since the chaos of Gliek swept over Inse, Yona’s previously manageable chaos had begun tormenting her again, just like before.
Her chaos was reacting to the dark power of Gliek’s chaos—the very source of her affliction.
Owl knew this and was here to discuss it with Jin.
“I’m okay for now, hehe. I’m not killing just anyone I see. And if the kid likes it, I can hold back a little!”
Yona’s face was pale as she claimed to be fine. Suppressing the murderous intent that chaos forcibly amplified was no easy task.
Born a killer steeped in chaos from birth, her true nature was surprisingly kind and pure for someone from Runkandel.
Jin had been the first to see that inner side of Yona during their trainee days, and thanks to him, she had learned to control her chaos—and was still holding on despite its recent instability.
“I won’t assign you capture missions anymore.”
“Thank you, sister. But please, always put your own condition first from now on.”
“My kid worries about me.”
“Of course.”
“Hehe, good, good. Well then, I’ll take a short break. I should be fine by tomorrow evening, so kid, just wait for me. Let’s have some fun!”
“Of course.”
After Yona disappeared out the window, Owl rubbed his forehead. Jin’s expression darkened as well. They had been discussing something before Yona arrived.
“Sir Owl, was it really that bad?”
“Yes. When that Gliek woke up, she went into a full-blown rampage. Luckily, all the top assassins, including me, were nearby, so no one died. But if we hadn’t been there… I don’t even want to imagine.”
Jin’s eyes fell on the wounds on Owl’s face and hands—injuries sustained while subduing rampaging Yona.
‘Even with the top ten assassins present, Owl still got hurt?’
No one had expected Gliek’s awakening to trigger Yona’s rampage.
“Amela and the Prochi siblings also had seizures from Gliek’s energy, but they calmed down shortly after the Balmel Alliance, with Runkandel’s help, left the battlefield.”
Now, with only remnants of Gliek’s power left, things had returned to normal.
“So this only happens to those infected with a certain level of chaos?”
“That’s my theory. Have you ever seen the true form of Yona’s chaos?”
“I have.”
“Amela is also infected with chaos. Yona once came to suppress Amela’s chaos, but the difference between their chaos was incomparable.”
Jin pointed to documents on the table.
“These records show other cases of demonic possession and rampages besides Yona’s. Balmel’s intelligence and journalists have reported similar incidents worldwide.”
Among the rampagers, none displayed power as overwhelming as Yona’s. Though they required knights and mages of at least seven or eight stars to subdue, none compared to her.
If the scale of chaos determines how one reacts to Gliek’s energy, Yona’s chaos was on a completely different level.
Sigh.
Owl let out a frustrated breath.
There was currently no way to prevent chaos-infected individuals from going berserk.
And Owl truly cared for Yona, seeing her as more than just his successor.
Jin felt the same frustration.
“I’ll keep searching for a solution.”
“Mumei will share any related information with the Balmel Alliance as soon as it comes in.”
Owl now treated Jin not just as Runkandel’s Rider but as the Supreme Commander of the Balmel Alliance. It wasn’t just personal respect or gratitude toward Yona.
The world’s balance had shifted after the Sword Emperor War, and Mumei might not be able to maintain neutrality much longer.
“Well then, I should go keep an eye on Yona. With this, the mission is complete. Jin, Dante Hailan.”
Dante had kept his gaze fixed on the emperor lying on the floor while the two spoke.
“Yes, Sir Owl. I will pay the additional reward for capture as soon as you inform me…”
Owl shook his head at Dante’s words.
“No need. If you think about it, Mumei owes Lord Ron as well. Besides, I owe him from my youth.”
Owl pulled a single artificial flower from his pocket.
“Since Lord Ron is now at the Sword Emperor’s Star, I can’t offer this to him directly. When a temporary memorial is erected in the empire, please present it to him on my behalf.”
As Owl spoke, Jin and Dante looked down at the emperor. His torn clothes, shabby appearance, and gaunt body told the story of his fugitive life.
“He seems to have received no protection from the royal family.”
Jin’s observation was met with a nod from Dante.
They both knew the royal family’s refusal to protect the emperor wasn’t just because of public sentiment.
It meant the royal family no longer held the most important trump cards, including the ‘Mine Transformation.’
“I will announce my regency to the people at noon.”
Smack, smack!
Dante slapped the emperor’s cheek, forcing him to stand.
“Ugh, ugh!”
“Amir Biment, traitor to the realm.”
“Dante… Hailan?”
“In two hours, you will stand in the imperial square where you incited rebellion against Hailan. Your fate will be decided there.”
The emperor showed little surprise, as if he had already let go of all hope. He knew the royal family had abandoned him.
Moreover, even Ziplo had broken his promise during the first battle, leaving him with no real support.
“Ha ha ha… You plan to publicly execute me and declare the era of Hailan? Will you cut off my head with that sword yourself?”
“No, it won’t be Hailan’s vengeance that kills you…”
With a swish, Dante pulled back the curtain and opened the central window, revealing a crowd gathered like a cloud in the distance.
The people were shouting, demanding Amir Biment be brought out to be torn apart.
If not, they threatened to riot immediately.
“This is the will of the people.”
The emperor’s calm eyes darkened and trembled.
What Amir Biment feared was not death or torture. It wasn’t being abandoned by the royal family or losing his title.
It was the vengeful voices of the people—something he didn’t even realize himself.
Though cruel and twisted, Amir Biment had truly loved his people as emperor.
-They have no power to stop me, nor the will. They may like Hailan more than me, but they won’t risk their lives for him. I find their foolish, annoying ways endearing and lovable.
Words he had spoken to Alton Hailan in the imperial square just before the Sword Emperor War.
But unlike then, the people now were ready to die to kill the emperor.
Their resolve was shattering the emperor’s pride, arrogance, and stubbornness. He was not yet prepared to part with his people.
A pitiful man who had spent his life in a misguided, unrequited love was now about to meet death at their hands.
Amir Biment found it more agonizing to realize the truth only now than to lose his throne and face death.
Two hours later.
The emperor, cast out into the square, was pelted with stones by the people until not a trace of his form remained.
Even after the ground where he once stood was stained only with blood, flesh, and bone fragments, the crowd refused to leave, unleashing curses upon him.