Folu Province, the forest on the outskirts of Folu City.
When Cohen Keda and his men rushed to the forest day and night, the sky in the east had turned slightly white. Assassination operations could not be carried out during the day, so Cohen had to order a rest.
The sentry was sent out, the soundproof magic barrier was released, and the tired guards huddled together in twos and threes to take a nap. They had to hide their tracks to avoid the defenders along the way, so most of the journey was spent walking through the mountains and forests, and everyone was very tired.
Wrapping his body in a black cloak, Cohen, who spoke little during the journey, fell asleep with his back against a big tree. His lips were pursed tightly, and his face looked very bad. The black iron long sword was held tightly in his arms.
In his arms, the end of the sword hilt resting on his left shoulder was always trembling slightly in the cold and wet wind... This was the only thing that could reveal the emotions in his heart.
We must take action before the news of the murder of the Governor of Conson Province reaches here. In this case, the assassination operation will go more smoothly.
The rock stood far away, his eyes full of worry. Ever since he was a child, this half-orc has never been as anxious as he is now... Chief Cohen is getting more and more wrong, but he can't do anything about it.
The guard who took over the shift passed by the rock, and the archer captain, the beautiful elf woman, stood behind the rock.
"Is this right?" Dinah said softly: "We should continue to let Mr. Cohen bathe in the rain of blood and immerse himself in hatred?"
"Is there any other way?" Rock replied in a muffled voice, "I can only let the commander vent."
"Don't you realize this danger?" Dinah looked at the rock with deep eyes, and a mocking smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "As the captain of the Guards, you are really passionate!"
The rock was dumbfounded. The orcs didn't have enough understanding of such a cryptic language.
"Don't you understand?" The elf turned his head and looked at Cohen: "The so-called hot blood means that what is in the head is not brain matter, but blood that boils when shaken slightly."
"You..." The anger in Rock's eyes flashed away, and his clenched fists unclenched. For Rock, these elves have a very special status. His own name was given by elves. In the entire dark army,
No one would be rude to the elves.
"Then tell me, what else can you do? The four wives and the commander's father failed to persuade him, so who among us can persuade him?"
"Maybe no one can persuade you, but we can't give up." Dinah said calmly: "I'll stay with you for this operation."
"Okay." Rock nodded, and added hopefully: "Be sure to keep an eye on your commander!"
This day is the seventh day after the New Year. According to tradition, residents of the Divine Alliance will gather their families for a dinner on this night. Of course, noble families are no exception.
It was night, and the back hall of the Governor's Mansion in Folu City was ablaze with gorgeous magic lights. The Governor's family was having dinner together at the dining table. Rich and delicious food was placed on the long dining table, and next to the shining silver tableware was a unique
Flower baskets, accompanied by laughter and laughter, the atmosphere is so beautiful...
During the New Year, the Governor received many rewards, and he became more generous than ever. Even the guards patrolling the garden put on new clothes.
Two guards were patrolling the back garden, and their soft chatter and laughter suddenly stopped. Their bodies slowly fell limp on the sidewalk, and were then dragged into the flowers.
Black shadows, one by one, entered the Governor's Mansion silently.
Dinah followed Cohen closely. She was surprised to find that since entering the garden, Lord Cohen's face had returned to color, his breathing had become very steady, and even the sword in his hand no longer shook.
"Are you bloodthirsty?" The beautiful elf frowned.
More than fifty people divided into four groups and quickly cleared several passages leading to the back hall. Cohen led a few people directly to the main entrance of the back hall.
"Who?" A guard at the door asked a question before someone cut the blood vessels in his neck. He stared wide-eyed and squeezed his neck with both hands, hoping to stop the blood from spraying out - but
All this was in vain. When his enemies survived under the Knights of Light, their abilities were no longer something ordinary soldiers could deal with.
"Excuse me, dear Governor." Cohen walked into the back hall with a kind smile on his face and sat casually on a chair at the dining table: "Do you mind having an extra guest?"
The expressions on the faces of the governor, several of his wives, as well as their parents and children, or about a dozen people, froze at this moment, and they stared at this uninvited guest in surprise.
"What?" Cohen looked disappointed: "The dignified governor of a province doesn't even give his guests a glass of wine?"
"I have everything I want." The governor calmed down and restored the demeanor that a high-ranking official should have in the shock: "If you are a guest, I have everything you want. But here are my family members, and it is not very convenient to talk. Please
Let’s talk in detail in the front hall.”
"My family is so nice! Such a warm atmosphere is very rare." There was no trace of danger in Cohen's smile: "It's not something shameful, let's talk here!"
"Guest, can I know your name?" The governor suppressed his anger and stared at the person in front of him: "You should also know that this is the minimum etiquette!"
"Do you really want to know? I'm afraid that saying my name will scare the children." Picking up a crystal wine glass, Cohen said with some embarrassment: "Madam, you are so beautiful. One of my friends likes you very much.
With this elegant violet perfume on my body, can you pour me a glass of red wine?"
The young governor's wife looked at her husband with helpless eyes, but her husband could not give her any help in this situation. She could only stand up, hold the wine jug with trembling hands, and pour the red wine in the jug.
In the cup.
"Well, it's a very good wine." Cohen took a sip, raised the glass in admiration, and observed the color of the red wine under the light: "The aroma is very authentic... Why, you insist on me telling you your name?"
The Governor nodded: "Yes."
"Cohen Keda." Cohen put down his wine glass with a bright smile on his face: "My name is Cohen Keda."
The governor's wife who was close to Cohen screamed, and the wine bottle fell to the ground. Not only that, but also everyone fainted. There was even more chaos at the dining table... When it calmed down a little, everyone stood against the wall, in front of
The only one standing was the pale governor.
"Look! I just said it would scare people." Cohen showed a very innocent look on his face and picked up the sword beside him: "You insisted on me saying it."
"You, are you really Cohen Keda?"
"Who says it's not the case! What's the benefit of pretending to be a member of the Keda family at this time?" Cohen lowered his head, then raised his eyes that had regained their original color and looked at the Governor.
Unfortunately, the governor did not react as quickly as the governor of Conson Province. He even asked in a trembling voice: "You, what do you want?"
"What do I want?" Cold laughter echoed in the room, and Cohen stood up slowly: "I'm here to visit the governor of Folu Province - the rebel of the Sibia Empire!"
"Do you think that your family and three provinces can change all this?" After realizing his fate, the grieving governor suddenly gained backbone: "You're dreaming! You can't change this world. You will never change it."
Nothing can be changed. We have the support of various empires and temples, and we have taken control of the overall situation!"
Cohen put away his smile and unsheathed his sword.
"I am changing." He took a few steps forward, pointing the tip of his long sword at the Governor's Adam's apple: "I am changing, bit by bit."
"Spare my life..." The courage that had been inexplicably swollen dissipated under the fierce momentum of the other party, and the Governor kept retreating: "I don't want to die yet."
"Face it calmly!" Cohen said calmly: "You can give me a smile."
"No, don't come over...ah! My hand...ah!"
Screams rang out, and the governor, whose arms were cut off, turned into a bloody man.
There was a scream and sobs behind the Governor, and a dozen frightened faces appeared in front of Cohen's eyes...
"This is the sound, this is the feeling." Cohen closed his eyes slightly and slowly inhaled the air mixed with the smell of blood into his lungs: "It's been a long time...grab his child."
The elf walked up, snatched the child from the hands of a struggling woman, and carried it to Cohen.
The child's cry was hoarse, and his big, bright eyes had lost their flexibility and stared blankly at everything in front of him.
Lifting the long sword and just as Cohen was about to take action, the elf called out softly: "My lord."
Cohen looked at the elf's face with questioning eyes, and Dinah's eyes became extremely clear at this moment.
"Well..." As if something entered his eyes, Cohen shook his head and blinked his eyelids: "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." The big elf smiled tiredly.
Cohen didn't notice anything unusual. He frowned and looked around, then turned around and put away his sword with a disgusted expression.
"Keep the child." Cohen walked to the door and ordered the rock: "Kill the others."
"Yes!" Rock answered, picked up the sword and walked in, not forgetting to cast a grateful look at the elf.
The elf glanced at the rock angrily, and then covered the child's eyes with his hands.
The night sky outside the window is still beautiful, but the strong smell of blood begins to float in the air...
Dark Province, Dark City Governor's Mansion.
The messenger sent back by Amaterasu entered the gate of the Governor's Palace within a quarter of an hour. The four internal affairs supervisors and the minister of state were listening to his report. This was news about the person they cared about most.
"At a dance on the day before the New Year, six members of the governor of Conson Province and his family were killed. Also killed were the high priest of the Conson City Temple and a dozen nobles." The messenger with chapped lips said: "The seventh day after the New Year.
At night, the governor of Folu Province and his family were all killed except for three minor children..."
Visu Keda sighed and pinched his head with his fingers.
"During this period, in these two provinces, as long as they were resolute and loyal to the rebels, people from various noble families were assassinated." At this point, the messenger hesitated for a moment: "The methods... are all quite bloody."
"What a big trouble." Visu Keda asked in a low voice: "Can we get the specific whereabouts of 'him' now? How is the situation over there developing?"
"Some time ago, the rock was in contact with us, but we don't know about it now, but Amaterasu-sama has already rushed to help with his people." The messenger replied: "The people around the Holy City are in a state of uncertainty, and the noble officials of the rebels are all in danger.
.Since receiving the order from the Prime Minister, Amaterasu-sama has sent people to spread rumors. Amaterasu-sama asked me to tell the Prime Minister, please be at ease and never let 'him' lose a hair, even if it is tied.
Bring me back, sir."
"Tie him back? I wish it were so easy." Visu Keda said with a wry smile: "You have worked hard too, go and rest!"
"yes."
As soon as the messenger left the room, the four internal affairs supervisors cast their eager eyes on the Prime Minister.
"There's nothing I can do about it." Visu Keda shook his head and said helplessly: "Now, the most important thing is for him to figure it out. Since he left us, it means that he doesn't need our opinion now.
"
"But what about 'his' safety?" Wen Sili asked worriedly: "That's in the territory of the rebels!"
"Dark Moon has a special power. I have sent a letter to Dark Moon a few days ago asking them to set off. There will be more assassinations on the rebel territory, and he will be hidden as much as possible." Weisu said:
"Because he was afraid that these powers would be discovered by the temple, the late emperor put them in the Dark Moon. If they were in the Holy Capital during the rebellion, the rebels would pay a greater price... As a father, I can only do so much.
"
"Father……"
"I have been used to worrying about 'him' since I was a child." The Prime Minister looked at the official documents on the table and said, "We should just focus on the present! Lu Man is holding the coronation ceremony today..."
At this time, the Holy City, the Royal Palace.
Several official documents had been distorted in Luman's hands, and the "Emperor" who was about to ascend the throne turned frighteningly pale - this was not entirely because of the cassava, but more importantly because he felt that the situation in front of him was very harmful to him.
unfavorable.
First, the high priest of the Holy City Temple repented and no longer hosted the enthronement ceremony for him. Then the red-clothed left priest issued an order to withdraw the Knights of Light who protected him. The mercenaries from various countries were also preparing to leave... Until now, he has received another call
News that two provincial governors and dozens of their officials died unexpectedly!
Each of these things has a bad omen, so how can it not make people angry?
"Your Majesty, will your enthronement ceremony still be held?" The Prime Minister asked cautiously from the side: "The current situation is not good for us."
"The ceremony will be held as usual..." Luman said with difficulty: "We can get through this difficulty. As long as we survive this short period of time, they will all come back to please me."
"Yes." The Prime Minister nodded and said, "What about the vacancies for the two governors?"
"Send a substitute. You write a list and I will approve it after the ceremony." Luman leaned his head on the back of the chair: "Are you sure that it is Cohen Keda?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Tell me why."
"Because I just received intelligence that Cohen Keda is busy arranging military affairs in the Dark City. How could he go around the Holy City to kill people?" The prime minister replied: "Say it's not him! Those who survived also said that he killed people.
The other one is black eyes. But I think that black eyes are easy to dress up, but it is much more difficult for real people. We should not focus our limited energy on assassins."
"No matter how many there are, just think of the assassin as Cohen Kedar. I want his head to calm the people." Luman said with his eyes closed: "Our power has been hidden for so long, and it's time to go out and do some activities."
Let those who have left me see if I, Luman, would have accomplished nothing without them!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"We must pay close attention to military affairs." Luman stood up: "The ceremony is about to begin. This is a grand and formal enthronement. You should also prepare."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At noon on this day, amid the festive and warm ritual music, under the enthusiastic eyes of all the followers, and surrounded by the royal guard of honor, His Majesty Luman left the palace and walked along the newly decorated road to the altar. The enthronement ceremony was held as scheduled!
For the smoothness of the ceremony, each resident family in the Holy City received another "royal reward" of two silver coins. In addition to the New Year's reward, each family received seven silver coins in less than a month. According to the household registration
, there are more than 200,000 households in the holy capital, with a population of nearly one million. Luman spent a lot of money this time.
The money has been spent, but no one can guarantee that the expected results will be achieved.
During the rebellion, armies from various countries raged in the Holy Capital for three days, causing irreparable damage to almost all families in the Holy Capital.
Countless husbands who have lost their wives, countless parents who have lost their daughters, countless children who have lost their mothers... This overwhelming hatred cannot be soothed by a mere seven silver coins.
The majestic altar was shrouded in the cold eyes of countless residents of the Holy City. Under the strict guard, countless rumors quietly surged through various channels.
"Appeared, that person appeared..."
"Kill more than ten nobles and capture them easily."
"Just like a strong wind blowing, it never leaves anyone alive..."
"Just one person has killed hundreds of people."
"Like a murderous demon."
"He is the new murderous demon!"
"Please bless him..."
In front of the dinner table, beside the fire, and in countless corners, rumors and emotions like this are flying all over the sky. People first scan the surroundings with vigilant eyes, and then lower their voices to convey their hopes to others.
In a slightly safer place, even the wandering bard was singing in a hoarse voice: "The long black hair flying from the Dark Moon Province! His dark eyes are sad, and the long black iron
The sword flashed with the light of hatred in the night..."
On the day Luman ascended the throne, Kitai Province.
This is a province that was seriously injured in the imperial rebellion. Because of the complicated situation, the governor who guards it is a military general. This forty-year-old major general governor is always busy patrolling various cities. Even Luman's coronation ceremony was not completed.
Unable to attend.
When military generals govern a chaotic province, their policies are always simple.
"Let me do whatever you have to do. Those who farm will farm, and those who do business will do business." The governor's words were not many, but they were very important: "Those who are idle will die!"
As a result, Kitai Province showed a "prosperous" scene under such a decree. Farmers were absentmindedly digging the ground during the New Year; merchants gathered in the market, but there was nothing to sell; artists played with all their strength.
Playing festive and cheerful music, but I don’t know where today’s dinner is…
The governor led his guards to patrol various towns every day. Today, he came to a small town thirty miles away from Folu City, where there is a market.
The Governor rode his horse and walked slowly along the street. The people in the market worked hard on their own things, fearing that they would become "idle" in the eyes of the Governor.
"The New Year's bells are ringing, the lights are shining red on the children's faces, New Year..." An old bard was playing and singing immersed in it, but his voice was suddenly a little out of tune: "New Year, New Year, New Year is coming..."
The young bard in charge of collecting money followed the old poet's gaze and was surprised to find a young man in a black cloak walking out of the alley opposite... He lowered his head slightly, with his hood casually draped behind his head. , revealing long black hair, and a gorgeous long sword tucked under his left side.
Black clothes! Black hair! Long sword!
The two bards, one old and one young, looked at each other with extremely shocked eyes, slowly stepped back, and finally stood against the wall.
The young man with black hair dropped a few copper coins at the roadside stall, took a bowl of goat's milk from the frightened boss, and while drinking, walked to the middle of the road and stood still.
The vanguard of the Governor's Guard reined in his horse. He was more than twenty horses away from the young man. His black hair fluttering in the wind made the guards in the front rows break into cold sweat.
No one dared to move among the traders in the entire market.
"New, fresh goat milk..."
The merchants shouted with tears in their voices: "New Year's gifts...exquisite jewelry..."
The old bard's voice was hoarse and he could no longer sing anything. In order not to become an "idle" and be beheaded, he took out two flutes and handed one to his companion. The two of them immediately started playing. .
The flute dance music accompanying the group dance began. The sounds of the two flutes were thick and simple, and the other was light and cheerful. In the past, this cheerful rhythm and beautiful melody would have made everyone present want to move. But now, everyone only feels that this dance music contains a strong murderous intention.
The Governor on the horse exhaled a breath and touched the handle of the knife with his right hand.
The black-haired young man drank the last sip of goat milk and threw the bowl back to the roadside stall.
"Your Majesty the Governor." He showed a bright smile and said loudly: "How are you doing in the New Year?"
"The rebels of the Keda family, don't you only kill people at night?" The governor asked with a sneer: "I am a military commander, not a civil servant without martial arts skills. I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to assassinate me on the street."
"Wrong." Cohen, who looked relaxed, raised his right hand, raised his index finger and shook it: "It's not an assassination, it's a slaughter."
The governor roared angrily, and the guards at the front of the guard unsheathed their swords and urged their horses forward; the tall center guard immediately leaned toward the major general; the guard turned around and began to clear the retreat passage.
With a metal clang, Cohen took a step forward and drew out the black iron sword with his right hand. A fiery red halo appeared and slowly rotated around his body.
Amidst the screams, dense crossbow arrows were fired, knocking off more than thirty guards who rushed towards Cohen. At the same time, dozens of men in black appeared on the roofs and windows on both sides of the street, aiming their crossbows at him. To protect the major general's bodyguard.
"Kill!" Cohen's eyes were filled with rage. He leaned forward and rushed toward the guards. The red halo around his body vibrated with his footsteps, and the hem of his black cloak floated high behind him!
"Kill!" About half of the men in black on the roof jumped down and joined the surrounding guards in a massacre.
Piercing screams rang out from the rear group. The guards who turned around to clear the retreat encountered several tough men in black. Dozens of them were blocked on the retreat path, unable to advance or retreat.
These men in black howled like beasts and wildly waved the long-handled swords in their hands to kill the guards. Every swing failed, almost killing each step. The guards lay dead on the ground, bleeding.
"Exquisite jewelry... jewelry... Oh my God! Don't come here!"
More and more blood spattered in front of the bard, and the flute dance became intermittent...
Magic chants sounded faintly, the air moved strangely, and even the sound of the flute became distant and closer. When all this was restored, only two or three officers were left around the general and governor.
"We all said this was slaughter." A cold voice sounded, but still in a joking tone: "Why don't you believe it?"
"Cohen Keda!" the major general, whose face was covered with blood, scolded: "You have the guts! You..."
There was a sound of a sharp instrument piercing the flesh, and blood foam rose in the air. The major general was split in half, including his man and his horse.
"Whether you have the guts or not, it's not your turn to judge." Cohen Keda returned the sword to its sheath, pulled up the hood and left calmly.
On the streets full of blood, there were more than 300 corpses strewn about, but none of them were innocent passers-by.
The businessmen looked at each other and nodded. After watching the murderer leave, they still kept yelling.