Emperor of Steel

After the magical communication with Karen was done, Luke called Baron Hudson, the chief of the Intelligence agency, and ordered him to closely monitor the trends of Emperor Rudolf.

“You mean Rudolf?”

“I heard that something of a strange movement is being seen there.”

Hudson went silent.

Thinking that Luke has always ended up using the Holy Empire or any other information source other than Argos.

Hudson left the room taking the order, and Luke called for Belfair who was in the control of the Baroque Imperial Intelligence agency.

He had attendants take a close look at Rudolf and the Baroque Imperial family.

“Not like that, but there was something to report on him. It was said that Rudolf, who is a war lover has actually asked to cease the battle.”

“He did?”

“And these days, Rudolf doesn’t really trust Imperial Intelligence very much.”

The reason was the series of mistakes that had happened from their part.

Of course, the mistakes were because the slaves did a good job of infiltrating the information.

“There is a story that the new information organization was formed by gathering the SS Knights and the other trusted people. Then, the existing intelligence might be taken down or asked to work in the dark…”

“I don’t know, but we might finish it before that happens.”

At Luke’s words, Belfair’s eyes sparked.

“No way, will you conquer the Baroque Empire?”

“It will be hard to take it down at once. But it isn’t impossible to cut a little from it.”

Occupying the capital, killing the Emperor, Imperial family members, and the other high ranking nobles would destroy the nation.

It was because the nobles who were relatives to the Imperial family, or the nobles who claim that they were loyal to only the Imperial family would lead a rebellion.

But in Luke’s view, the Baroque Empire was very unlikely to survive in that way.

The direct line of the Emperor wasn’t existent, and all the influential Imperial families had already disappeared due to the battle for the throne which happened in the past.

In addition, there seemed to be very few nobles who remained loyal due to the tyranny which Rudolf had shown.

‘In such a situation, if Rudolf’s neck got cut, the Baroque Empire would collapse.’

Whether the lords who were holding their breaths would turn into independent nations or they would surrender to a powerful nation, the Baroque Empire would disappear into history.

And for that to happen, Rudolf had to be removed.

‘The same goes for the underground ruins.’

In order to prevent anyone else from misusing it, all about the ruins and the related records had to be destroyed.

Luke made up his mind and then proceeded.

A few days later, Luke met with the envoys of the Song Empire and Yemaek.

He heard that two weeks ago, they were sending in their leaders and asked for coordinates, and they arrived.

However, Luke who saw the representatives couldn’t help but frown.

“I am the princess of the Song Empire, Jo Mimi. I heard about Your Majesty’s reputation from my brother.”

“I am the princess of Yemaek, Ja-hye. After hearing about Your Majesty Luke’s achievements from the King, and his admiring words towards you, I volunteered for this.”

Jo Mimi was wearing a traditional attire of the Song Empire, she was a gorgeous woman resembling a single rose, and Princes So-hye’s younger sister Ja-hye wasn’t that flashy and more like a wildflower.

At first glance, Luke was able to understand why the two nations sent them as representatives.

Luke, taking a look at them, asked.

“In order to punish the Northside of the Empire, the two will have to follow me to the battlefield… will that be alright?”

Jo Mimi and Ja-hye immediately replied as if they were waiting for that question.

“Hoho, I am a person who learned martial arts from a young age, so I can overpower men with my bare hands.”

“I am also confident that I can do my part in the battle as I have learned archery and zen from my ancestors.”

‘Did they calculate such thing and send them here?’

Luke had no reason to refuse their help, and he couldn’t refute their hold because they were women who were sent as representatives, so he agreed.

“Well, I can’t do anything more then. Do well.”

He did say it, but Luke had no intention of letting things go according to Jo Won-rak or King Biryu’s plans.

“I heard that the knights, sorry, well the warriors who came with you were excellent. Could you introduce me?”

At Luke’s words, Jo Mimi and Ja-hye introduced their warriors and escorts who were standing behind them.

Both the nations sent their most elite warriors to support their princess.

In the Song Empire, General Zegal Hui, who had been promoted to the High General post, had sent Eorim and Central troops.

They were all excellent in martial arts and all reached the master stage.

Yemaek was nothing less when compared to the Song Empire.

Eulji Hwang, the son of Eulji Dok-mun, brought his men and the members of the Black Demon Horse unit.

“Our Song Empire decided to send in 30,000 troops along with Eorim as the main unit.”

“We, the Yemaek also planned and decided to bring in 10,000 troops, mainly of the cavalry including the Black Demon Horse unit.”

It wasn’t a lot.

And as the Rhodesia continent war centered around the Gigants rather than cavalry, the allies of the Southern Continent wouldn’t be able to stand in the front line.

However, if they were all at the Absolute powerholder level, they would be of great help in assisting allies or disturbing the enemies.

“Thank you. Please let the Emperor and the King know that their help will never be forgotten.”

“Ho ho ho, considering the help that Your Majesty has done for my brother and the Song Empire, this is nothing.”

“As a part of the alliance, this is the least we can do.”

There were two people who were watching this happen from a distance, the conversation between the princesses and Luke.

Erwin and Zegal Soha.

“Huh?! Trying to act cute and innocent, I can see their tricks from here!”

“I know. Even though we worked so hard for all those years, we only managed to get a small place in His Majesty’s mind, it isn’t reasonable to see those tailed foxes bringing in troops and get his support.”

Among the Yemaek proverbs, there was the one saying which went like this—’Don’t bother the person who hands you the rice cakes and drink the kimchi soup right away’.

And in the eyes of the two, the princesses were exactly like that.

“By the way, these days, Princess Reina, well, Her Holiness seems to be slowing down.”

At Erwin’s words, Zegal Soha answered with a shrug.

“She seems to be busy preparing for the war.”

Whenever she had time, Reina would always use the long-distance teleport gates to visit the Symphonia Palace and enjoy secret meetings with Luke.

However, in recent times she hasn’t come over that often.

“Yes, the Black Tower and the Katarina magic tower are also pretty busy.”

Erwin, the Court mage.

Zegal Soha, the Court Tactician.

They were also helping, but the Black Tower and the Katarina Magic tower were currently putting all their efforts on upgrading the Gigants for the war in the north and producing new Gigants.

The existing ones were being equipped with the artificial muscle, new magic circles, and a new production of Gigants especially for the Blood Hawk Knights were being done.

So they were on work night and day, and there were many wizards who haven’t been able to go to their homes for more than months.

Nevertheless, the shortcomings were entrusted to the small and medium-sized Magic towers within the Kingdom and they received the manpower from them.

It wasn’t just the Magic Towers that were busy in the Kingdom.

Each of the Knights squad, including the central army, were all training in preparation for the war, the army would say that the day for war isn’t far away and that they were performing battle simulations.

“When this battle will be done, will there be a chance for us to be embraced by Your Majesty?”

When Zegal Soha suddenly asked with concern on her face, Erwin comforted her.

“I don’t think that it will be hard until Arsene or the Veritas Magic tower enters the scene.”

“After that?”

“I don’t know. At that time, Her Holiness has said that she would withdraw from her position as the Pope and return to His Majesty’s side…”

During the founding ceremony, Reina had spoken to the two of them.

She let them stay by Luke’s side and gave them permission to win Luke’s heart if possible.

So they tried when she wasn’t there, but taking Luke’s heart wasn’t that easy.

“If Princess Reina is kind, she won’t throw us away once she comes back. However, I don’t think that he is going to stop getting competitors.”

The Rakan family was the most wanted blood lineage.

Knowing it well, even Reina and Luke would want descendants.

Therefore, it might not be just the Song Empire and Yemaek, but a lot more other Kingdoms and nobles would want that lineage in their family.

“We will have to work very hard.”

“Yes, let’s try appealing our hearts to His Majesty.”

Until the last year, the two women would spew venom at each other, but now they held hands at their collective will.