Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points!-Chapter 125: In The Emperor’s Absence Part Three

The scent of burning oil and steel filled the courtyard, mingling with the crisp bite of the night air.

The torches lining the fortress walls crackled, their flames licking the stone and casting jagged shadows over the ranks of armored knights standing shoulder to shoulder.

Their breaths misted in the cold, the metallic tang of sweat and iron lingering beneath the sharper notes of oiled leather and damp earth.

Seraphine stood before them, her boots planted firmly on the worn stone, the chill seeping through the thin fabric beneath her armor.

The distant howl of the wind whispered through the high towers, rattling banners overhead, but all else was silent.

The knights waited, their grips tightening around the hilts of their swords, the faint creak of leather gloves the only movement among them.

Then, she spoke.

"Knights of the empire! The nobles think they can get away with their actions."

"They believe their treachery is buried beneath gold and silver, that their secrets are safe behind thick walls and silk-draped lies."

She let her gaze sweep across them, watching as the weight of her words settled into their bones.

"But we have seen through their deceit."

A shift. A slow inhale from the ranks, like the draw of a bowstring before release.

"They would sell out the Empire. They would let our people suffer while they feast on stolen wealth, drunk on their own arrogance." Her voice hardened, colder now, edged like the sword at her hip.

"And they think they will walk away, unscathed… unpunished."

"Not on my watch."

The words landed like a hammer striking iron.

Seraphine exhaled slowly, the cool air stinging her lungs before she spoke again, softer now but filled with even more intensity.

"We are knights of the Empire. The tip of its spear. The shield against ruin."

She lifted a gloved hand, flexing her fingers slightly before curling them into a fist.

"We do not hesitate. We do not falter, we exist to serve the emperor, the empire and its people."

The sound of steel sliding free filled the space as a few knights instinctively touched their weapons.

"And we do not let traitors live… fools who would break their oath of service to the Empire."

A beat of silence. The tension was no longer anticipation—it was purpose. A force, building, waiting.

The knight could feel the will of their captain, igniting a fire within their very hearts.

Seraphine pulled and raised her sword. The light from the torches glinted off the blade, a silver promise in the night.

"We shall march to the home of those traitors, cut down any who are foolish enough to stand in our way and bring those bastards to justice. Five hundred of you with me."

"Let's move out."

"For the empire!"

"FOR THE EMPIRE." The knights roared in response as they all pulled out their swords, raising them up high.

The Empire's wrath was not coming.

It was already here.

Seraphine pointed her sword to three knights at the front row.

"Kael. Laris. Esten. Step forward."

The three knights obeyed immediately, their movements crisp.

Seraphine unfolded a large, worn map onto a stone table, pressing it flat with one hand while pointing to a marked location with the other.

The parchment smelled of old ink and ash, the result of a hundred battles planned under the flickering torchlight.

Her finger traced the path leading westward.

"We will be splitting into three forces, each targeting key noble holdings that form a triangle of control within the heartland."

She tapped on the first marked estate.

"I will personally lead an assault on the Damarion estate with two hundred knights. We will hit them hard and fast—before dawn. This estate is built upon fertile plains, leaving little natural cover for retreat. Once we breach the outer perimeter, they will have nowhere to run."

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She met Kael's eyes, her tone firm.

"Kael, you are my second in command for this assault. Ensure the men are prepared for fortified resistance—we may face heavy cavalry, given the nature of their land. No supplies are to be left intact. Damarion's household guard is trained, but they are not imperial knights, thanks to the miracle tye emperor performed we are by far stronger. Cut down anyone who resists. The rest will be bound and marched back to the capital for trial and execution."

Kael bowed his head slightly. "Understood, Captain."

She then shifted her focus to the second location.

Her finger moved to the northernmost part of the map.

"Laris, you will take one hundred knights to Velmont Stronghold. Lord Adrian Velmont controls the northern border, and intelligence suggests he has been allowing enemy forces to cross unchecked, mostly the one responsible for the large army the nobles were able to organise for the siege. His stronghold is built into the mountains, surrounded by treacherous terrain, making a direct assault costly."

She met Laris's gaze, her voice firm.

"You must divide your forces. Use scouts to navigate the mountain passes and ensure you are not walking into an ambush. Velmont has trained rangers—archers with deadly accuracy. Engage in close-quarters combat where possible and cut off his escape route to the western gorge. If he flees into the highlands, he becomes a phantom we may never catch."

Her expression darkened.

"Leave no room for retreat. If Velmont falls, the northern border is secured."

Laris nodded, his voice calm. "I will see it done captain."

Finally, Seraphine turned her attention to the east.

Her gloved hand moved to the coastline.

"Esten, you will take two hundred knights and strike Lady Morwen Ralford's estate. She has been using her fleet to move supplies and men from our enemies, making her one of the most dangerous traitors among them."

She straightened, her expression severe.

"Ralford's estate is positioned along the cliffs, heavily fortified from land assaults but vulnerable from the sea. She will attempt to escape if given the opportunity. Your first priority is to cut off all routes to the docks—send men ahead to secure the coastal path before launching the main assault."

Her voice dropped, sharp as steel.

"Ralford is known for her cunning. She will have contingencies in place. Expect hidden tunnels and last-resort ships waiting beyond the bay. If she reaches open water, we will have lost our chance. Some of our mahes will follow you. Use them to disrupt her fleet—conjure storms, sink any vessel that tries to flee. The estate itself will be heavily guarded, but with her retreat cut off, her forces will crumble."

Esten's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "She won't escape captain."

Seraphine looked at her officers, measuring their resolve.

"Speed and precision are our greatest weapons. These nobles believe they are safe behind their walls, but by dawn, they will face the full weight of the empire's judgment. Move swiftly, strike hard, and leave no room for mercy."

She drew her sword and pointed toward the horizon.

"For the Empire."

The three knights saluted in unison.

"For the Empire."

The plan was set. The traitors' fates were sealed.

….

….

The knights sat astride their horses, their armor gleaming under the cold moonlight. Below them, teleportation magic circles pulsed with mans, humming softly with an otherworldly glow.

At the head of the formation, Sylvana stood tall, her green and white robes rippling in the breeze.

Beside her, Tower Master Lucien adjusted his spectacles, watching the scene unfold with an almost boyish excitement despite being an old man the marvel of witnessing such grand megib being casted made him feel young again.

Sylvana's gaze swept over the gathered warriors, her expression composed yet firm. "Before you depart, I will cast several enhancements to ensure your strength, resilience, and swiftness in battle. The Emperor's enemies will find no sanctuary, no refuge. You will be relentless."

A murmur rippled through the ranks, but Seraphine inclined her head in gratitude.

"Your presence is an honor, Lady Sylvana. The enemy will have no chance to resist."

Sylvana offered a small nod before lifting her staff, its crystalline tip pulsing with raw magic. She closed her eyes, and a moment later her mana surged outward.

The air thickened with energy, and then, without warning, massive beams of green light shot upward from the teleportation circles. The radiance consumed the knights, swallowing them whole. In a blink, they were gone.

Silence fell over the courtyard. The wind whispered through the empty space, carrying the last echoes of the spell's power.

Lucien let out an exaggerated sigh, then turned to Sylvana with a wide grin. "Master, can I follow you?"

Sylvana exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers to her temple. "Lucien, you are the Tower Master. You must remain here and ensure the capital's safety."

Lucien pouted dramatically, such an act was unbecoming of him, but he only acted this way around here, folding his arms. "I will, I will. But sometimes I feel like you just want to get rid of me again."

Sylvana shot him a sharp look. "Now is not the time for this."

Before Lucien could retort, she vanished in a shimmer of green light, leaving him alone in the courtyard.

Lucien huffed, pushing up his glasses. "She always does that."

Still, a smirk remained on his lips as he turned on his heel and strode back toward the tower.