Chapter 71: Those that lurk in the dark

What!? What was that shock just now!?

President Gentner, What is happening!?!

Its alright, please calm down. A few slaves just rampaged a little.

The fat merchant, Gentner explains the situation in a calm manner to the customers who came to buy slaves from him.

Gentner was standing on a theatre-like stage while his customers are watching him from the audience seats. There are 20 customers with him today, all of them are nobles who support slavery who live inside the imperial capital.

This place is the basement of the Gentner company and this room is their secret auction house.

The underground tunnel is complicated and many guards were stationed at the entrance to take care of their security.

Confident that no intruder would be able to get to him, Gentner was calm.

However.

This is surprising, to think that President Gentner himself is running a slave business.

What!? Guha!? Agh!! M, M, My leg.

The person who slowly came up to the stage was none other than Elna. The place she came out from was originally the slave entrance for the captured slaves that would be auctioned off and was the place where Gentners guards were stationed at.

Those guards were all finished off by Elna and now Christa and the other children are watching Elna from there.

Gentner tried to think of how is this happening and that now he couldnt escape. Elna had slashed at both of his feet. The wound was shallow enough for him not to die but it is deep enough that he couldnt run away. Her slash was that precise.

Captain of the Third Knight Corp of the Imperial Knight Order, Elna von Amsberg is here. You are under arrest under the charge of abduction of Her Imperial Highness the Princess and slave trading.

A, Amsberg!? Wh, Wh, Why!?

Why? Its because you are a criminal thats why. I will cut you down if you try to move. Dont think you can easily escape from an Amsberg now.

The customers put their waists back on their seats.

They are all nobles of the imperial capital.

They know the horror of the Amsberg well. if one of them appeared in front of you, you are done. They are something like a grim reaper to them.

H, Hiii! H, Help me..!

Help? You just abducted an imperial princess and thats all you are saying?

I, It was a request!

Right. Thats why I am not going to kill you. I will have you spit out everything later alright?

That would be troubling.

Accompanying the voice, a dagger flew toward Elna.

Elna parrys it.

The Masked Assassin uses that gap and goes for Gentner.

Elna then blocks the dagger that the Assassin stabbed out with her sword.

Theres no way I would let you silent him now would I.

So I have to deal with you first after all.

The voice was muffled. Elna couldnt tell if the owner is a man or a woman because of the mask the Assassin is wearing.

Irritating that the mask has been catching on lately, she keeps stopping the Assassins attacks.

The assassins attacks were quick and the assault of daggers from both left and right hands of the Assassin managed to drive Elna to the corner of the stage.

However,

It seems you are holding back because you are trying not to collapse the building arent you.

I am. But,

Elna Raises her sword up the moment the Assassin aims for her torso. The Assassin who plunge deeper toward Elna than intended couldnt dodge Elnas counter.

It was a counter-attack that was born from completely reading her opponents intention.

The Assassin who wanted to quickly settle the match will aim for an area where the most damage can be dealt and Elna knows that attack would be coming from her experience.

Guh!

The Assassins shoulder is severely cut.

The Assassin tried to quickly move away but at that moment, Elna uses the difference in their speed to close the gap.

While taking care not to collapse the building, she judges how much power she could use and goes at the Assassin.

At that moment, the Assassin immediately switched objective.

Using the right hand, a dagger was thrown toward Gentner.

In exchange for that, Elnas sword pierces the Assassins abdomen.

Uwaaaa!! Blood, theres blood everywhere!!??

Cough

Tsk!.

Immediately pulling out her sword, Elna rushes toward Gentner.

The dagger stuck deep inside Gentners chest. Its a heavy wound. If she leaves him alone he will die.

While she was thinking so, the building greatly shook.

Almost at the same time, it starts to collapse.

This is.!?

I think its better for you to escape quickly..

Holding their abdomen, the Assassin was moving away from Elna.

Given the shaking and the current situation, theres no doubt that the Assassin did something to the building.

Not to mention Christa, Rita, and the other children slaves, Gentner is an important source of information that she must protect.

Elna gave up pursuing the Assassin and chose to escape.

Everyone, follow me!

Tightly tied Gentners wound, Elna started carries him with her.

With the current situation, theres no choice but to quickly get everyone to the surface.

With that in mind, Elna leads the children and Gentners customers toward the exit.

This one has important key information! Absolutely do not let him die! And arrest all those following behind me as well!

Arriving at the surface, Elna instructed the knights stationed there and ordered the arrest of the nobles.

The Imperial Knights were immediately dispatched via the Emperors direct order. They head toward the direction where Elna flew straight at and surround the headquarter of Gentner company.

They were joined by the Imperial Capital Garrison and were about to storm the place but Elna came out just before that.

Dont overlook anyone who came out of that place! Those who have nothing to do go and check out all of the Gentner companys branch offices now.

After giving her directions, Elna speaks to one of the imperial knights she familiar with.

It was a knight who excelled at healing magic.

She leaves Rita to that knight.

Its already alright. Ritayou did great.

Unnn..my belly hurt

It will be cured soon.

Rita..

Rita who is laid down is receiving treatment on the spot.

Christa is grabbing her hand and staying beside her.

Rita was working hard until now but perhaps she finally felt relieved, she slowly lost her consciousness.

Rita!?

Its alright, Your Highness. Please let her rest.

But.

Your Highness. Please leave her to him.

Urged by Elna, Christa stands up.

There were tears in her eyes but she managed to leave Ritas side.

For now, its best to let the Emperor know that shes safe.

That was what Elna thought but she immediately knelt down quietly after she heard the sound of a large number of horses galloping.

Christa!

It was Emperor Johannes himself who called out to Christa as he rushed toward their direction.

Behind him were a large number of his escort knights and Franz.

Without being able to wait for their return, he came to the scene himself.

Ooh! Christa! You are safe!? You are not hurt!?

Y, Yes.Otou-sama. Ah, no, Your Majesty.

Otou-sama is fine, dont mind it! Im glad, I truly am

Johannes quietly repeats how glad he felt many times while hugging Christa.

In the meantime, Franz turns away the nearby ordinary citizens. This is both for the Emperors security and to avoid getting the citizens involved.

Then, when the only ones left are the knights and the soldiers from the imperial capital garrison.

Johannes stands up and looks at Elna.

His eyes are burning with anger.

Otou-sama.?

Even though you were by her side, how could this happen! Elna! You are one of the captains of the imperial knight order and you cant even protect a single princess!!

My deepest apologieseverything was my responsibility.

Exactly! You just drove the reputation of the Amsberg to the ground!

O, Otou-samaElna is

Be quiet. I am talking to Elna right now.

Im, Im sorry..

Being stared at with stern eyes, Christa was scared and her body visibly shrinks.

She then looks at Elna who is slowly shaking her head sideways at her.

Elna. do you have any excuse?

I have none.

Its simple to tell him that Zuzan called her away. At that time, Zuzan was also calling for Christa. Nevertheless, the fact that she went to Zuzan alone was Elnas decision.

Even if Zuzan and Zandra become suspects with the investigation, that decision was Elnas responsibility.

One cant afford a forceful method inside the inner palace. It was because of that preconception that Elna left Christas side. That was Elnas mistake no matter how one looked at it.

I will hand down your punishment later. Until then you are to stay at your house.

Yes

Saying so, Johannes takes Christa back to the castle.

Elna kept staying down like that for a while.

How did it go?

The assassination has failed. However, even if they can save his life, he shouldnt be able to talk for a while.

I see. Good work.

Hearing so, the masked assassin, Xiaomei makes her report.

Her body is under severe pain because of the curse but it is a tolerable pain for Xiaomei who has undergone intense training since a young age.

With this Leonard will not stay quiet, they will surely have an all-out war with Zandras faction soon. This is a good development.

But Amsbergs prodigy will probably be relieved from the imperial knight order with this incident.

It will be temporary. She was punished because the Emperor has no other choice after all. He will probably take her back in when the situation calms down.

Even if its just temporary, Leonards faction will be free to use Elna von Amsberg during that time. That woman is dangerous. When she didnt hold her sword I thought that I could somehow manage her but once she started wielding one she was like a completely different person. I thought that she was some kind of monster back then.

Thats the Amsbergs for you. Their minds switch during battle. It was nothing surprising. If she became too much of a problem then I can just pull her back to the imperial knight order myself.

Shouldnt she be eliminated instead?

She is my promising future subject. There hasnt been any emperor who has a bad relationship with the Amsbergs after all. Its a good time to sell them a favor as well.

However..

Xiaomei appeals while enduring the pain.

it was true that she seems manageable when she doesnt hold her sword.

If you can keep her away from the succession war then there should be nothing to worry about.

Even though she is holding a grudge against her, Xiaomei felt that Elna was a worthy enemy.

However,

I am different from the other candidates. They only desperately aim for the throne not what to do with it afterward. In that sense, I am different from them. Spare me from dealing with the resentment from my own subjects. Besides, even if I dont move, Zandra and Gordon will.

.Understood.

Continue to follow my mothers instruction in the inner palace. Get your wounds healed for now. This is not the time for us to move yet.

Yes.as you wish, Your Highness Eric.

Saying so, Xiaomei disappears from Erics sight.

Seeing her off, Eric slowly starts walking.

All the while having a smile on his face.

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