Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 790 - 136: Mirror Image

A massive evacuation is underway.

This is the last darkness before dawn, and everyone's heart in the camp is in their throat. They all know the consequences of attacking the Empire's airship and killing nobles. If they fall into the hands of the Imperial Army, even death might become a luxury for them. As those identified as "rebels" by the Empire, they are aware of the methods the Imperial Army uses on others.

Executioners as notorious as the Flayer exist in large numbers, these devils take pleasure in tormenting others.

The nobles of the Empire would bring the rebels out in public and execute them with extreme punishment. Just the thought of the torture devices used by those devils sends shivers down their spines.

Lance held a giant sword and stood in front of the camp, shielding the rebels who were packing their luggage and counting their numbers behind him.

Meanwhile, torches illuminated the entire forest on the other side.

The sound of footsteps from afar brought hope to the nobles near the airship. They waved their hands towards the Imperial Army dressed in silver-white armor.

During this period, they were not idle either.

The nobles and wealthy merchants gathered to discuss their story for the Imperial Army. Once they returned to the Imperial Capital, they had to explain to the families of the deceased nobles about their demise, a matter that could even involve Duke Ash. Just the thought of that person made the nobles shiver with fear.

If their explanation does not satisfy the true great nobles of the Imperial Capital, Duke Ash's men might break into their houses at midnight—Baron Fulin died in Gear City, and everyone knew Duke Ash would not let it go, not only because Fulin was his beloved illegitimate son, but it also concerned the honor of the Simpler Clan in the Silver Radiance Empire.

However, they had already agreed on a perfect story.

"It was the Rebel Army, and the Grand Swordmaster Lance betrayed the Silver Radiance Empire and colluded with the Rebel Army!"

The moment the Imperial Army arrived, the nobles couldn't wait to tell the prepared story. Even with his face covered, the Grand Swordmaster Lance was easily recognizable. In the Empire, people over two meters tall were rare. It was rumored that Lance was not a resident of the Silver Radiance Empire; he came from some small village outside the Empire, possibly possessing half-beastman blood.

Some sharp-eyed nobles speculated that the commander of those ambushers was the Grand Swordmaster Lance, and even if he wasn't, they still had to say so because it would divert the attention of those great nobles to dealing with the former "Empire's strongest man."

"Moreover... the Hero Solan also betrayed, he accepted Lance's invitation, followed him to the rebel camp, and they have now become the Empire's greatest enemy. You must immediately conduct a search in the woods!"

In a blink of an eye, the nobles threw their initial promises out the window, "The Hero seems to be seriously injured—this is your best opportunity!"

The nobles' words reached Ilya's ears, far away in the Imperial Army barracks in the Imperial Capital, sitting in front of her was a young man in silver-white armor with red short hair, equipped with a Knight's Sword.

"Rebel Army?"

Ilya looked suspiciously at the young man across the square table. This was a new term to her.

"Just some vagrants."

The young man said, "Some vagrants ran away after defying the local nobles, they set up camps in the woodland areas outside the city to take in people in similar situations. In terms of numbers, some camps of vagrants have already begun to take shape."

"Sounds no different from bandits."

"That's one way to look at it."

The reason these people were not classified as bandits is that, although they inhabit areas outside the cities, they do not threaten passing merchant caravans. Their main sources of livelihood are farming and hunting. Among them, some people with connections would purchase firearms from black market merchants to arm their group.

Thus, the Imperial Army uniformly classified them as the Rebel Army.

This was their first daring attack on the Empire's transport airship.

"Why would the Imperial Army allow their existence?"

"Because of your mission, Holy Mage."

The red-haired young man's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, and he was not daunted by Ilya's status at all, "Before your mission's success, a large-scale massacre would not be conducive to the Empire's image."

Another "internal reason" is that the Imperial Army in various places is unwilling to actively provoke a group armed with firearms and ready to fight to the death. They are more accustomed to dealing with civilians who have lost their will to resist, who do not dare to defy nobles even when facing imminent death.

Unless the commander of the Imperial Army personally leads the troops, they maintain a state of mutual non-interference with these "mice" living outside the Empire's major cities.

"If the information from those people is true, then the situation is different."

The fact that Grand Swordmaster Lance and even Hero Solan had joined the ranks of the Rebel Army created a significant threat to the Empire. It wasn't just about those scattered remnants finding a leader. They were also very likely to leverage the Hero's reputation to grant their rebellion the name of "justice."

"Now our mission is complete." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Ilya stated, "It's the Imperial Army's turn to fulfill your duties."

"That requires a direct order from His Majesty Henry himself." The red-haired young man was not buying it, "Holy Mage, you have no authority to give orders to the Imperial Army. Engaging with the Rebel Army at this point would plunge the Empire into a prolonged state of war for the next one or two years."