The Capital—heart of the Empire, its richest and busiest city. Even deep into the night, certain districts still thrived, Entertainment Street chief among them. It only truly came alive after midnight. Elsewhere, though, darkness blanketed every street, especially now that the Emperor's crackdown had gripped the city in paranoia. As dusk fell, most residents scurried indoors, locking their doors tight.
Inside a carriage rolling through these darkened streets, Honest stared out at the gloom, lost in thought. Suddenly, a brilliant flash tore through the northeastern skies.
He narrowed his eyes at the familiar radiance.
Lightning—one of nature's most terrifying phenomena, and also the signature of the Empire's strongest Teigu. This made its wielder, naturally, one of Honest's greatest threats. Considering the clear weather, Honest immediately concluded who must have unleashed it.
But why was he outside the palace? Shouldn't he be guarding the Emperor?
In fact, while Honest had painstakingly plotted his rise, he'd underestimated both the Emperor and Budo.
True, after the recent assassination attempt, Budo should've remained at the Emperor's side. But this night's target was one of the most dangerous figures hidden in the Empire's shadows. Though the Emperor and Budo held Lancer in high regard, they weren't confident he alone could capture such a foe. Thus, Budo had to act personally. As for the Emperor's safety…
If the Empire depended solely on one man to protect its ruler, it would've collapsed long ago. If the Emperor were still vulnerable inside a palace fully prepared for attack, then perhaps the Empire itself was beyond saving.
Honest had never underestimated his adversaries. Instead, he'd carefully leveraged secrecy to create his advantage step by step. But tonight, something felt off—as if every plan he'd carefully crafted over the past decade was unraveling right before his eyes.
Where exactly did I miscalculate? What detail did I overlook?
The carriage rolled steadily onward until it finally halted before the Imperial Palace.
"Lord Honest, His Majesty has been waiting."
"I've kept His Majesty waiting; my sincerest apologies."
Honest feigned a trace of panic for appearance's sake. Yet, as he trailed behind Lancer, who led him through the palace halls, his expression quickly returned to calm. Only when Lancer opened the door to the Emperor's study did Honest inhale deeply.
"Your Majesty."
"Hm."
The Emperor's unusually curt and disdainful reply sparked unease in Honest's heart, but he kept his expression tightly under control.
"Your Majesty, may I ask why I've been urgently summoned to the palace tonight?"
"Why, indeed…? Lately, I had Sir Lancer investigate the Imperial Police, and he uncovered some very peculiar things—tracing them straight to the Imperial Fist Temple…and beyond."
Typically, confrontation between high-level figures began with careful verbal sparring—certainly not by drawing blades right at the negotiating table. Unfortunately, this was no negotiation, nor were they equals.
No matter how cunningly Honest played the game, until he openly showed his hand, he remained just a pawn without the courage or means to challenge the Emperor directly. And now…
"!!!"
"Honest! What do you have to say for yourself?!"
The Emperor's raised voice instantly thickened the tension in the study. Lancer reflexively tensed his muscles, his hand sliding to the bone-crafted lance behind him. The moment Honest made the slightest suspicious move, he would strike him down without hesitation. He'd waited far too long for this moment.
Countless times he'd dreamed of killing Honest directly but had always held back.
Though brutal, Honest was undeniably cunning. Lancer couldn't fathom how many cards the old fox held or when he'd finally reveal them. One misstep, and the blame might land squarely on Lancer himself. Two years wouldn't be nearly enough to escape the wrath of such an enemy. He'd spend the rest of his days hunted.
But now! If Honest so much as twitched suspiciously, Lancer could kill him on the spot.
Honest was no weakling, but Lancer knew he was stronger. Even without a Teigu, he'd match or surpass any Teigu user.
"Your Majesty, I have nothing to—"
BOOM!!
Honest hadn't finished speaking before his fist blasted toward the Emperor. But before it could even approach, a bone-crafted lance intercepted, blocking his path.
Seeing Honest openly attack the Emperor, Lancer felt excitement surge in his veins. Until moments ago, the Emperor had merely suspected Honest without proof—but this reckless act had erased all doubt. Honest had just revealed himself, sealing his own doom!
Yet when Honest's fist collided with Lancer's lance, Lancer hesitated in confusion.
Too weak.
Seizing on this instant of hesitation, Honest spun and bolted for the door—
Crackle—!
A fierce arc of lightning exploded, scorching the floor inches from Honest's feet. Clad in his powerful Teigu, Budo stepped grimly into the room.
"Honest! You truly betrayed His Majesty! Who ordered you?!"
Even now, Budo couldn't fully believe Honest was behind everything. Before the Emperor's patronage, Honest had merely been a minor noble. Ambition needed time and opportunity to grow—he couldn't imagine a mere decade turning Honest from a petty lord into someone who dared assassinate the Emperor himself. It seemed far likelier that an old, powerful family or even the Imperial Fist Temple was pulling the strings.
Yet Honest shook his head slowly.
"Who ordered me? Of course—that would be myself!"
Seeing Honest charge straight at him, contempt flickered in Budo's eyes.
He was well aware Honest possessed decent strength. But the lightning surging between his fists filled Budo with unshakable confidence.
At that exact moment, however—
A sinister light suddenly glowed beneath Honest's ever-present hat. Then, under everyone's astonished gaze, Budo's mighty Teigu—[Thunder God's Rage: Adramelech]—began to visibly fracture.
No one had expected such a scenario—not even Lancer, who stared in disbelief. He hadn't thought Honest already possessed that particular Teigu!
Crash!!
As shocked eyes watched, Honest's fist hammered directly into Budo's right arm, sending his entire body staggering sideways. Recovering instantly, Budo countered viciously, driving his left fist deep into Honest's abdomen—
BOOOOM!!
With another heavy blow, both men lurched apart.
Lancer, recovering from shock, had already fully raised his lance, charging forward. Yet Honest merely turned to face the Emperor, flashing a twisted, triumphant grin.
Then, space itself seemed to tear open beside him—
Schlick!!
Lancer's lance stabbed down violently, embedding deep in the empty floor.
Honest had vanished without a trace.
---
T/N: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GRHHHH FUCK ima continue
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
hehe every 100 followers on either instagram or twitter is 5 bonus chapters...? (for all tls ongoing)
discord.gg/wisetl
patreon.com/wisetl
instagram: hanbaowise
twitter: WiseKingOfUruk_