## Chapter 891 – 891. God’S Atlantis
“If anyone else had spoken those words to me directly, I would have cut off their head immediately. But you are one of the five pillars supporting the Empire. I do not doubt your loyalty. What is your reason for advocating the Crown Prince’s removal?”
The old Emperor’s voice was calm. But that was not strange. He was the Emperor who had ruled the Ustia Empire for a long time. Not just an ordinary empire, but an empire in a world overflowing with all sorts of superhumans and monsters. If he showed his emotions over something like this, it would be stranger.
I slightly turned my gaze to look at the Crown Prince. He was relaxed. His expression did not change. He showed not even the slightest agitation.
‘…Did he predict that Elena would come out like this?’
It could be an act.
Either way, it was clear that the Crown Prince was not ordinary.
“The Crown Prince has joined hands with forces outside the Empire.”
“Are you referring to the Angelus Legion? I am aware that you are also sponsoring a certain legion.”
She openly spoke about the Angelus Legion. Well, it was not surprising. It was just not officially stated, but everyone knew about the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Angelus Legion.
“The relationship between the Crown Prince and the Angelus Legion is more than just sponsorship.”
“Even so, there is no problem. I acknowledge that the Crown Prince seeking allies is also a part of his ability. Unless they are allies who do not fit his status. The Angelus Legion is not one that would lower the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
That was true.
The Angelus Legion was one of the top legions with a prominent status in Atlantis. Some even said that they were one of the two great powers, along with the Barclay Legion. Unlike the Barclay Legion, the Angelus Legion also had a good public image due to their service, support, and assistance.
“That is as you say, Your Majesty. If the Angelus Legion were a match for the Imperial Family, I would not have brought this up.”
“…Do you think that the Angelus Legion’s status is not a match for the Imperial Family? They are angels. The messengers of God. I believe that their nobility and integrity are not inferior even when compared to the Imperial Family.”
The biggest advantage of the Angelus Legion was their image as angels.
A legion run by actual angels, like those in the Bible. The single word ‘angel’ was enough to gain people’s favor.
“Great Emperor, Your Majesty. I have uncovered their true colors and found their ugly truth.”
“Ugly truth? …Interesting. But words without evidence are nothing more than slander.”
Elena did not shrink back.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I have secured all the evidence and have it with me. Before I reveal it, may I use magic in front of Your Majesty?”
The Emperor’s eyes briefly moved to the back and then returned. Behind the Emperor was the Millennium Gong. It felt more like he was checking if the Millennium Gong was in place rather than looking at it.
“Granted.”
Immediately after, Elena used magic. Following her elegant gestures, a magic circle appeared in the air. From the magic circle, documents and tools slowly fell to the floor. The evidence, piled up like snow, soon reached a height similar to Elena’s.
“…Duke Baldert. Is all of that evidence? It seems excessive….”
“I thought it was a matter concerning the future of the Imperial Family and the Empire, so I investigated and brought even the smallest details.”
“……There is too much evidence. Explain only a few of the most representative ones. I will have people conduct a separate verification.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Click.
Elena snapped her fingers. Blue butterflies fluttered around her.
A screen appeared in front of Elena. It was a shocking video. A winged angel was massacring humans. This was a video I was seeing for the first time as well. She was indeed working without my knowledge.
The nobles gasped and murmured. Before it became more chaotic, the Emperor raised his hand.
“Quiet.”
The surroundings became quiet in an instant.
“Duke Baldert, explain.”
“This happened about three months ago in the Whirlpool Village, which is in the 901st district. As you can see, the angels of the Angelus Legion massacred the villagers.”
The 901st district. It was not within the territory of the Ustia Empire. And it was a remote area that I did not know about.
“How was this video taken?”
“I recorded it by using my magic to recreate the memories of a survivor through illusion. The survivor is being protected at my main residence.”
“……Putting aside the verification of the survivor and that video. What was the reason for the Angelus Legion to attack that small village?”
“There was a gold mine under the village.”
“Indeed. But the question remains. The Angelus Legion could have negotiated with the villagers. Yet, do you believe they deliberately carried out a massacre?”
“Your Majesty. There is no reason for negotiation. Firstly, this area is far from the Empire. It is a place that does not even interact with the Empire. There was no one to protect them. Secondly, they can gain the greatest profit by monopolizing it.”
“Are you saying that the Angelus Legion carried out a massacre solely for their own benefit? …I will not make a judgment based solely on the Duke’s words. Since the representative of the Angelus Legion is here, I will ask her. Gabriel, what do you think of the Illusion Duke’s claims?”
The Emperor could not speak informally to Gabriel. Gabriel’s body was of high status, but her spirit was of her true self. Simply put, Gabriel was a god.
Gabriel slightly raised her head.
“They were heretics. Their thoughts and spirits were tainted by heretical doctrines, so they needed to be purified.”
It was a warm and gentle voice that put people at ease. The nobles around her nodded as if they were bewitched by something. It was not a special ability or skill, but an innate holiness.
Elena let out a sigh of disbelief.
“Do you think that makes sense? I have obtained testimonies from villages around the 901st district. They were ordinary villagers, not heretics or bandits. The Angelus Legion massacred a village solely for profit.”
“Ordinary people cannot distinguish whether someone is a heretic or not. We are angels. We have been fighting heretics for thousands, tens of thousands of years. Only we can perfectly distinguish heretics.”
Gabriel said. It was a far-fetched statement. However, more than half of the people here agreed with her. Was it because they were stupid? No. It was because the one who uttered those words was an angel. Being an angel gave her credibility.
“So that’s what she says.”
The Emperor said indifferently. At this point, I realized. The Emperor was not fair. He was not on Elena’s side.
This was a bit hard to understand. If he was an Emperor who had ruled the Ustia Empire for a long time, shouldn’t he be more wary of the Angelus Legion, an external force that had contacted the Crown Prince?
“…The things the Angelus Legion has done are not limited to that. They were brainwashing children, using them as slaves, and earning money through human trafficking. I will reveal the evidence.”
I knew about this too. I couldn’t not know. Because I had handled the work after receiving Elena’s request.
The 1,220th district, the White Land. The area ruled by the Angelus Legion. I captured Bishop Herpo, the ruler of this district and a hypocrite, and handed him over to Elena. I captured the angel Ariel alive. And Ariel had currently sealed herself. It was unknown when she would awaken.
Elena explained what happened in the 1,220th district, excluding everything about Ariel. She even showed a video of what happened to the children who were raised and sold there. Some quietly left the room, feeling nauseous.
“Gabriel. Can you explain this?”
“Of course, Emperor. This was done by a corrupted human. We will punish the corrupted human and take measures to prevent this from happening again in the future.”
It was a tail-cutting tactic.
“…A corrupted human? As far as I know, it was an angel who gave orders to that human.”
“That angel seems to have been corrupted as well. Unfortunately, we angels are not perfect beings. We will punish that angel along with the corrupted human.”
Exclamations of admiration came from here and there at that resolute decision.
However, some nobles quietly closed their mouths.
The difference between humans and angels.
Humans die and it’s over. But for angels, it’s just their avatar that dies. It is not a true purge in the real sense.
“Your Majesty. The things the Angelus Legion has done are not limited to that.”
Elena presented the evidence she had collected and denounced the corruption and atrocities of the Angelus for over an hour. Gabriel’s attitude was consistent. She either branded the humans they killed as heretics or repeated that she would punish the corrupted angels.
By this point, the atmosphere around them had changed. The atmosphere that had been defending the Angelus Legion had completely disappeared.
If this was the case, the Emperor would have no choice but to hold the Crown Prince and the Angelus Legion accountable. Among the corruption committed by the Angelus Legion, there were also things related to the Empire.
“Enough.”
The Emperor stopped Elena from speaking.
“That’s enough. I understand what you are saying.”
“…Then, Your Majesty. You must make a decision. Before the disgrace of the Angelus Legion taints the Imperial Family, you must sever the connection. Consider the future, punish the Crown Prince, and restore the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
Elena’s goal was not the Angelus Legion, but the removal of the Crown Prince. Even if the Angelus Legion could be dealt with later, the Crown Prince had to be removed.
“Duke Baldert. I am well aware of your loyalty. However, the Crown Prince’s position will be firm. The only one who will succeed me is the Crown Prince.”
Elena was taken aback. No, it was not just her. The surrounding nobles were murmuring. The Emperor had now acknowledged the Crown Prince as the next Emperor. It was a disaster for the nobles who supported the second and third princes.
“…I am lacking and cannot understand Your Majesty’s intentions.”
“You advocated for the expulsion of the Angelus Legion and the removal of the Crown Prince for the sake of the Imperial Family and the Empire.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That is correct.”
“However, the power of the Angelus Legion is necessary for the Empire. No, not just for the Empire. It is necessary for everyone in this world.”
“……I do not understand.”
“It seems that not only you but others also do not understand. Crown Prince, explain it yourself.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Crown Prince, having received the Emperor’s order, stepped forward. He smiled slyly at Elena. Elena’s brow furrowed.
“Nobles of the Empire, what do you think of the future of the Empire?”
“……”
The nobles kept their mouths shut. It was a debate between Elena, one of the Five Pillars of the Empire, and the Crown Prince. It was not a place where ordinary nobles could recklessly step in.
“Do you expect peace to last for a hundred years, a thousand years? Do you believe that the history of the Empire will be eternal? I say this as the Crown Prince. Throw away such beliefs.”
“…Crown Prince. Are you… disregarding the Empire?”
“Illusion Duke, you also know. Our world has already been destroyed once, and there is an end to Atlantis as well. Perhaps the next decade may not come. Atlantis might end in just three years. Do not forget that we have already experienced the end.”
“……Crown Prince. What kind of contract did you make with the Angelus Legion?”
“The Angelus Legion has promised the continuation of Atlantis and the prosperity of the Empire. Even if Atlantis ends, we will survive. Everyone, look far ahead. We must look far ahead. The Angelus Legion, the angels, will save us.”
The atmosphere among the nobles shifted towards the Crown Prince. A drop of cold sweat ran down Elena’s cheek.
“Your Majesty. The ultimate goal of the Angelus is not the salvation of humans but their domestication. Do you intend to turn the people of the Empire into livestock?”
“That is too exaggerated of a thought. What the angels desire is our faith. That is, by offering faith, we can receive the protection of the angels. Illusion Duke. Do you know that this is the 8th time for Atlantis?”
“…Yes. I know.”
“Then do you know the end of the previous seven Atlantises?”
“……”
“They were destroyed. Of course, there are exiles who returned to their original world. But we are not exiles. We are continentals. This world is our home, our world. And the destruction of this world is predetermined. There is only one way for us to escape destruction. That is to receive the help of the angels.”
