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Chapter 35: The Arken Empire
“Humans cannot be defeated.” That slogan has driven the Arken Empire to thrive since the death of Godwin. The first emperor, Geoffrey Arken, was a legendary warrior, strategist, and politician. He declared his intent to build an empire that would stand for centuries, and his vision remains intact even now.
The current emperor, Godfrey Arken, is the most incompetent and greedy ruler in the empire’s history. In any other kingdom, his reckless greed and erratic leadership would have led to its downfall in three years. Yet, he has managed to hold power for 40 years, and the empire still stands.
It’s said that the emperor’s authority comes from divine will, but in truth:
“The emperor’s authority comes from the Treasury.”
The treasures and holy relics collected by previous emperors support the empire. Controlling that Treasury means sharing in its authority, and every noble understands this well.
“They are blinded by gold and bow to gold.”
While the emperor remains incompetent, the nobles flatter him and praise his misguided decisions, accelerating the decay of the empire. Geoffrey’s vision of a thousand-year empire is eroding more quickly every day.
“So, where exactly do you plan to steal from?” Jed asked, baffled.
“The Sealed Vault,” Ferda replied.
“The Sealed Vault…”
Unlike the Treasure Vault, which holds valuable treasures and sacred items, the Sealed Vault has cursed objects and forbidden relics. It contains books of dark magic and tools made by those who worship demons.
Jed’s face grew even grimmer. Adding the Sealed Vault to the already deadly situation of stealing from the Treasure Vault doubled the risk.
“Just to clarify… What exactly are you planning to steal?” Jed asked hesitantly.
Ferda answered without hesitation, “The Shadow Magic of Barbatos, a great demon.”
Barbatos, one of the seven great demons of the underworld, was known as the demon of shadows and scheming.
“Barbatos…” Jed muttered, deep in thought. Then he looked up.
“Who’s that?”
“You’ve never heard of him?”
“Even those crazy Amon worshippers sometimes mention other demons, but Barbatos? Never heard of him.”
Although Barbatos was one of the seven great demons, he was relatively unknown. He didn’t lead followers like the others and preferred to operate in secrecy. He deliberately kept a low profile, avoiding rituals or significant sacrifices to grant power.
“But his conditions are extreme.”
Even low-tier spells like Shadow Hand were too difficult for most mages to master because mastering shadow magic required such precise requirements. Few even tried to track Barbatos down or seek out his magic.
“This is precisely why it can be a secret weapon.”
The obscurity of Barbatos’ magic meant no one would expect it. For mages, catching the opponent off guard was often the key to victory.
“Suppose you manage to steal this shadow magic…” Jed hesitated before voicing his concern.
“How do you even get to the Sealed Vault?”
Ferda crossed his legs and smiled faintly.
“You tell me. If it were you, how would you do it?”
“You’re throwing this at me now?”
“This is your area of expertise.”
“I’m no common thief. The only thing I’ve ever stolen is women’s hearts.”
“Quit the nonsense and answer.”
Jed sighed, resting his chin in his hand as he thought for five minutes. Then he spoke.
“Plenty of thieves have tried stealing from the imperial vaults. The closest anyone came involved a group of ten working together.”
“And?”
“From my perspective, you’d need at least twenty people and a year to pull this off. Are you hiring twenty thieves?”
“No.”
“Then how long will it take?”
“Immediately.”
Jed froze, unsure if he’d just misheard.
“You’re saying I’d have to do this alone?!”
“Exactly.”
“How am I supposed to do what a team of ten couldn’t manage?”
Ferda met Jed’s incredulous gaze with calm assurance.
“You can do it.”
Jed wanted to laugh in disbelief. But Ferda was equally unimpressed by Jed’s doubt.
“What a fuss he’s making.”
Jed Swallow. He was a born thief, though he was now little more than a flirting scoundrel. In the future, he would repeatedly break into the imperial Treasure Vault.
“And without a plan, at that.”
While officially recorded as three break-ins, Jed claimed to have entered the vault twelve times. He knew its weak points and how to exploit them, though that knowledge would only emerge later in his life.
“For now, he’s just an opportunistic womanizer.”
Ferda was counting on Jed’s potential, knowing his abilities would eventually shine through.
“Don’t worry. I’ll set the stage for you,” Ferda reassured him.
“You will?”
Ferda nodded, raising two fingers to his eyes.
“All you need are two sharp eyes. The rest is secondary. Understand?”
“Somehow, that makes me even more anxious.”
Jed’s unease grew. In his experience, when the preparation seemed overly simple, it meant the task required immense skill.
“Can I really trust this man?”
Jed had been tempted by Ferda’s promise to help him join high society, but the risks kept getting higher.
“You look troubled,” Ferda remarked.
“Wouldn’t you be, with your life on the line?” Jed shot back irritably.
Ferda smirked.
“Overthinking always leads to hesitation.”
If Jed refused, the plan to steal Barbatos’ shadow magic would have to be abandoned—or complicated further.
“Time to sweeten the deal.”
“There’s something hidden in the Sealed Vault,” Ferda began.
“The empire’s shameful secrets.”
“Secrets?” This aroused Jed’s curiosity.
“Among them are records about the Red-Eyed Clan.”
“What?” Jed’s frustration vanished instantly, replaced by determination. His eyes shone brightly.
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t break promises.”
Jed had made it clear: if Ferda lied or manipulated him, he’d leave without hesitation. His answer was simple.
“Fine. I’m in.”
Everything was going according to Ferda’s plan.
Before putting the plan into action, Ferda visited Count Consilus.
“Regent, I hear you’re planning to visit the empire,” Consilus greeted him.
“Yes,” Ferda confirmed.
“May I ask why?”
“Actually, I was going to ask for your advice. I have no specific reason, but I feel I must go.”
“I see. Perhaps you could mention the vacancy left by Thessalos Walcher and suggest the need for a suitable replacement?”
“Ah, I’ve already thought of that. There is someone I have in mind, but they haven’t shown up yet.”
“Would you like me to look into it?”
Ferda could talk about the person he was looking for, but he didn’t want to call attention to his search. If the person found out and hid, it would be a problem.
“Trust me, you’ll know them when you see them. They’ll leave you breathless.”
“Breathless? Could you elaborate?”
“You won’t need an explanation. You’ll understand immediately.”
“I see. As you wish, Regent.”
There had been no success in enlisting itinerant knights, but the hunt for protectors of the realm went on. Ferda remained confident the person he sought would appear eventually.
Consilus then suggested another topic.
“Perhaps you should inquire about the Grand Council?”
“The Grand Council?”
“Yes. All the kings and important nobles of Serdes meet there. Having someone confirm your identity could be useful. You could use it as an invitation for the emperor or the royal family to come.”
The emperor and his kin—annoying as they were—would be unavoidable acquaintances in the future.
“Good idea. I’ll use that as my reason for visiting. What’s the current state of the empire?”
“It’s a complete mess,” Consilus replied, shaking his head. “They’re currently divided into a three-way power struggle.”
“Who are the key players?”
“The emperor, the crown prince, and the second prince.”
“The emperor is fighting his own sons?”
Consilus nodded. “It’s absurd, but true. At one point, the crown prince and the second prince worked together to overthrow him.”
“And they failed.”
“Yes. While incompetent, the emperor is ruthless when it comes to preserving his power. He incited conflict between the two princes and neutralized the danger by playing them off one another.”
Turning enemies against each other and encouraging conflict—the emperor’s survival strategy was clear.
“Even in decay, the empire still has its teeth.”
“The three-way struggle is only on the surface,” Ferda observed.
“Surface?” Consilus echoed.
Ferda didn’t elaborate, but he seemed to know something more.
“Which side would you align with?” Ferda asked.
“Speaking for myself, I’d say it’s the Second Prince.”
“And why do you think so?”
“The Second Prince always prioritizes national defense. He actively goes to various places, drives out monsters, and expands the empire’s territory. He’s very interested in defeating monsters and is skilled enough to be compared to the First Emperor.”
What Consilus said was true. The First Prince was unable to enlist the military factions that were the Second Prince’s primary supporters. He used stories of his bravery to try to make up for his shortcomings.
“Of course, even he cannot be the definitive answer. He would have reached this far eastern area by now if he genuinely cared about defense.
“Indeed.”
Hearing his opinion, Ferda nodded as if he had made up his mind.
“Then I’ll write letters to the Emperor, the First Prince, and the Second Prince.”
“May I assist you?”
The Empire still believed Consilus, the Count, had more influence than Ferda, the regent. But Ferda shook his head.
“There’s no need. I’ll send them in the name of Regent Valdrova.”
“If that’s your decision…”
Ferda’s reason for sending the letters was simple: to gauge their intentions. The thirsty dig the well, and the desperate reach out. Ferda was curious to see who among them would extend their hand to him first. Count Consilus stepped back, sharing the same curiosity.
“There is something else I need from you, Count Consilus.”
“Just say the word.”
“Do you happen to have an unclaimed corpse?”
A body without a name, origin, or ties.
“An unclaimed corpse? Yes, I believe there’s one. A body was recently found near the estate.”
What excellent timing.
“That’s perfect. Put it on fire.”
“On fire…?” Consilus blinked in surprise. Not cremation, but a stake burning?
He hesitated, then asked cautiously:
“If I may ask… this is for the benefit of the eastern region, correct?”
“Of course. This isn’t out of personal desire.”
“Understood.”
“Make it seem like the person was the worst kind of criminal before you burn them. That’s all that’s necessary.”
“Haha, the gods will surely be displeased.”
Consilus played with the amulet around his neck, which represented Althea, the official religion of the empire.
“Is there anyone in this world truly without sin?”
“True enough.”
Desecrating an innocent corpse felt wrong, but Consilus said no more. After all, he trusted that Ferda’s actions would ultimately benefit the eastern region.
After sending the three letters to the Empire, Ferda climbed into his carriage. It was, of course, too soon to expect any replies. Ferda didn’t even intend to wait for them. The act of sending the letters itself was the key.
It is important to see how they respond to one-sided communication.
Accompanying him were Jed, Arwen, the knight of Consilus, and a group of soldiers under his command.
They finally reached a wide plain with a towering wall after a week of nonstop travel.
The Arken Empire.
The orderly fields and carefully tended crops created a picturesque view of the imperial capital, enough to stir excitement. Looking out the window, Jed smiled, brimming with enthusiasm.
“The Empire is always amazing. It’s worth visiting every time.”
“I see.”
Every noble and commoner dreamed of reaching the imperial capital. The Rosnova family had also once aspired to join the central aristocracy. But Ferda himself saw no need for it.
That place is a den of monsters disguised as humans, the beginning of true hell. Why would anyone want to go there?
Before long, they arrived at the great gate of the capital. Ferda informed the sentries of his identity.
“Please wait a moment.”
The sentry went to confirm his credentials in the guardhouse. Minutes passed, but no signal to proceed came.
“This doesn’t feel like a good start,” Jed muttered uneasily.
But Ferda thought otherwise.
“This is a green light.”
“A green light?”
“Making a noble wait means there’s a significant reason for it.”
Soon after, a luxurious white carriage arrived on the inner side of the gate. The need to switch carriages meant they were being escorted to the imperial palace. In other words, Ferda’s letters had received a response.
The knight leading the escort placed a hand over his chest and bowed deeply.
“Welcome to the Empire, Regent. I am Marco, captain of the 5th Imperial Knight Division.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Please, this way…”
Ferda followed Marco’s lead and boarded the new carriage. Jed also attempted to board but was stopped by Marco.
“I’m sorry, but who might you be?”
“I’m his hired hand.”
Marco’s face turned cold.
“Servants are not allowed in this carriage. Only those invited to the palace may enter.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Please step back. This carriage is bound for the imperial palace.”
Embarrassed, Jed stepped aside. Thus, only Ferda was escorted along the road to the palace.
Extravagant, to say the least.
If Ferda’s own carriage could be considered luxurious, the imperial carriage was on another level of comfort and elegance. Glancing out the window, Ferda saw clean streets and smiling citizens. It was a scene befitting a city of dreams, where hope flourished.
However, even with such abundance of happiness, there was always some misfortune. And that misfortune was now targeting Ferda.
With his sharp instincts, Ferda noticed a suspicious gaze. A man, hiding in an alley, was watching the carriage intently.
He’s targeting this carriage.
The soldiers guarding the area hadn’t noticed him. Early intervention seemed unlikely.
Stopping him before the attack begins… that should be possible.
Knowing that he could only rely on himself, Ferda summoned a sphere of mana in secret. Ready to counterattack at a moment’s notice, he waited.
As the carriage drew closer, the man leapt out, blocking its path. The horses neighed loudly, coming to a sudden halt.
