Chapter 76 – Revolutionary Army Hideout

The political party suppression led by the imperial family became full-fledged, and various institutions of the Empire began to compete to purge and eliminate key figures related to party activities.

Although political rallies were officially banned, the citizens who were angry at the imperial family’s atrocity merely hid in deeper and darker places.

Their heat did not subside at all compared to before, but was rather burning fiercely, growing larger than before.

Furthermore, the Revolutionary Guard that shielded them also grew to the point of rivaling the Imperial Army in size.

The secret support of the Guild Federation was also playing a part in this.

Thus, Kaiser, who was overflowing with leisure despite being suppressed, read down the headlines of the newspaper published as of today in the secret base of the Golden Age Party.

[Imperial Family and Golden Age Party Clash Escalates…… Empire Stands on the Threshold of Civil War -Imperial Daily-]

[Magic Tower, Circumstances of Intervention in the Political Situation Captured -Capital News-]

[Order Division Surfaces…… Imperial Family and Golden Age Party, Each Obtains the ‘Name of God’ -Sanctuary News-]

The situation was not bad.

External forces, excluding himself and the imperial family, would align anywhere and declare support according to their respective interests.

‘The Magic Tower fellows will align with the imperial family. Because they will be strongly attracted to the treasures possessed by the imperial family.’

He was also aware of the Immortal Heart.

Because although it was not a Dragon Heart, it possessed a value comparable to it.

It was an item that those belonging to the Magic Tower would naturally show interest in.

‘But this side also has prepared a lot.’

Thanks to that.

The Magic Tower forces were not the only ones showing interest in the imperial family.

‘Since even the witch of the Purgatory Witches showed interest here, there is no need to say more.’

If it were a normal progression, the Magic Tower forces would have all aligned with the imperial family.

But not now that he had become Kaiser.

‘I won’t be swayed like the real Kaiser. Because this side also has prepared a lot.’

One of his ardent party members informed him of someone’s visit.

“Representative. The one called the Magic Tower professor has come with his teaching assistant. What should we do? Will you meet him?”

Was there only one or two professors?

“Who exactly is it?”

“He identified himself as Chair Professor Kane.”

Professor Kane.

To think he, a Lazarus Villain, would come all the way here.

Kaiser cheered inwardly.

‘Indeed, it seems he was more attracted to what I possess than the Immortal Heart.’

Kaiser knew exactly what he wanted.

“Yes, I will meet him. Please guide him in right away.”

Soon after.

A tall university professor, who naturally had to lower his body when passing through the door, appeared.

With broad shoulders and long limbs, he was quite imposing, and he was one who possessed a sturdy build not typical of a professor.

He did not come alone, but came with his teaching assistant.

Before talking, Kane wanted to eliminate unnecessary elements.

Here, his teaching assistant could not be an exception either.

“You wait outside.”

“Yes, Professor.”

The teaching assistant wearing glasses bowed her head and went outside somewhat flusteredly.

Kaiser, who was more interested in various perverted progressions than seeing the ending, recognized the teaching assistant’s identity, which no one knew, at once.

‘Luna Maxion…… the little witch.’

For now, she wore simple attire and there was a somewhat clumsy atmosphere remaining, but her true worth would be after she entered the Purgatory Witches.

Her appearance after becoming a witch would be completely different from now.

Should it be said to be like a butterfly that shed its cocoon and took flight?

“Professor. Please sit this way.”

A villain among villains.

But for now, he was an ally.

Kaiser sat with him, showing a sly smile.

“We met before, didn’t we? I am still grateful that you looked over the mana bomb.”

The two were not meeting for the first time.

“It is a relief if that was of help.”

Even to Kaiser, he was a figure who exuded a considerable sense of intimidation.

If he did not hold the position of professor, he might have been mistaken for a neatly dressed knight.

“As you know, Professor, people are declaring support from here and there according to their respective positions. I did not know you were also interested in the revolution, Professor.”

Kane spared his words.

In fact, he was not in a position to support the revolution.

Even so, there was a reason he was in this place.

Because of ‘that’ which he possessed.

Kane broached the subject.

“Although you might not know well, Representative. Her Highness the Princess and I are not strangers to each other. Therefore, normally, I would have strongly supported the imperial family.”

“Is that so?”

Kane maintained a heavy expression.

“The world is undergoing a great change. The imperial family is not what it used to be. Therefore, I have something to say to the Representative.”

“What is that?”

“There is a club to which Her Highness the Princess and I belong. It is thanks to that club that we are close.”

Kaiser smiled slightly.

He had an expression showing that he knew what they were talking about.

“Was there such a thing? I did not know.”

“Although it might feel a bit early, my thought is this. If the imperial family eventually crumbles after this strong-against-strong confrontation, I plan to invite you to the club I belong to.”

Incorporation into the Lazarus.

Normally, Kaiser would have become a Lazarus Villain in such a way.

“Thank you even for the words. To think you would invite me to such an interesting club.”

“Since Her Highness is currently present, I only introduced it for now. Since there is no harm in joining, I hope you do not listen to it too lightly. I will talk about the formal joining separately later.”

“I will keep it in mind for now.”

“Ahem! More than that, they say you possess that, correct?”

Kane broached the subject, and Kaiser laughed inwardly as if he had fallen for it.

“The Tears of God.”

* * *

Having given a special order to his two subordinates.

Rashid, who ended up acting alone for the time being, rode his magitech bike toward the slums located on the outermost part of the capital.

The secret base of the Golden Age Party was established there.

Although it was information he already knew, he had also received guidance in advance from the subordinates sent by Kaiser.

The place he arrived.

The street was silent and quiet, but Rashid could feel the gazes guarding against him from here and there.

‘The stronghold of the revolutionary army.’

In the buildings that were so old that it wouldn’t be strange if they collapsed at any moment, and in the underground waterways entangled like blood vessels beneath the ground, the main force of the revolutionary army was stationed.

Particularly, the structure of the underground waterways was excessively complex, so even if the Imperial Army raided, it was close to impossible to wipe them out.

‘At the present point, it is close to impossible for the imperial family to beat down the revolutionary army.’

There were several reasons for this.

First, the position of the revolutionary army had not yet been discovered.

And the only forces through which the imperial family could exert clear control were the Imperial Army and the Imperial Guards.

‘The imperial military is practically a separate force.’

Although the imperial family and the Golden Age Party were currently growling at each other while keeping check, there was another invisible force in the Empire.

The military command that controlled the regular Imperial Army.

Thus, it was close to impossible for the imperial family to mobilize the regular Imperial Army to wipe out the revolutionary army.

There was also the fact that they could not leave the front line empty, but the military also had other intentions.

‘Nine times out of ten, they will be watching this situation with enjoyment. Because they will be aiming for a windfall.’

Regular Imperial Army Commander, Leon Stout.

Although not at the present point, he was a figure who would save the Empire in crisis in the future and be revered as the father of the nation.

And he was also Kaiser’s next nemesis.

‘The Conquering Knights won’t step up in this matter either. Because the Conquering Knighthood strictly belongs to the regular Imperial Army.’

As Rashid, who got off the magitech bike, looked around, there was a boy who approached him.

Although he was a boy with his hat pressed down deeply over worn-out clothes, his eyes were exceptionally bold whenever he raised his head.

“What is someone from the Holy Order doing here?”

The boy had not approached without reason.

It was the revolutionary army’s procedure to distinguish between enemy and ally.

“Revolution in the heart. I came to meet the party representative here.”

The party slogan was the first passkey.

“Follow me.”

At the place the boy guided, men with sturdy builds were waiting for Rashid.

All belonging to the revolutionary army.

“What is an Inquisitor doing all the way here?”

Because all Valhalla Halls located in the capital were closed by the imperial family, this method was the only way to meet Kaiser.

“Has the party representative not spoken about me yet? Rashid Preston. I am an Inquisitor. I met your party representative several times.”

The one who was the leader among them bowed his head.

“We are sorry for the inconvenience. Because the imperial family is suppressing us so fiercely, we needed our own verification procedure.”

“Guide me to the party representative. I have business to meet him.”

“Yes, Inquisitor. Please follow us.”

The place they arrived following them was inside a building that could be reached by going up through the complex underground waterways.

There were several revolutionary army knights there, and she was also there.

Veronica of the Crimson Hair.

She spoke, smiling gently.

“My, is this a coincidence?”

Rashid could not believe his eyes.

In the heart of the Revolutionary Guard.

To think he would meet her, of all people.

“Or is it inevitability?”

Hiding his expression, Rashid cursed Kaiser inside.

‘What on earth did he offer? Why is the witch attached to the revolutionary army?’

Normally, it was right for the witch to show interest in the imperial family.

Because the Immortal Heart held that level of value.

It was so in the previous progression, and it should be the same now, but.

In reality, it was not.

“Why is an executive of the Purgatory Witches attached to the revolutionary army?”

Her answer was simple.

“Well, because there is something to suck dry here?”

“What did Kaiser promise you?”

“Are you curious about that?”

“No, not really.”

Recalling past events, Rashid showed open hostility toward her.

“More than that, was it you who killed my superior back then?”

“Your superior? Who?”

“Are you going to keep playing dumb? There must be an Inquisitor of the Jaeger family whom you killed in the Holy Order back then, right?”

“Ah, the Inquisitor of the Jaeger family? Was that your superior?”

“If so?”

She laughed, raising the corners of her mouth slightly.

“Then shouldn’t you say thank you instead? To think there was a person in the world who liked their superior.”

The light mockery was temporary, and she, whose expression cooled down freezing, passed by Rashid.

Rashid stared at her silently.

‘I must ask him what on earth he offered to have that woman attach herself.’

Veronica was a figure who belonged to the eccentric side among the witches.

A witch whose normal prediction was impossible.

A woman whose whim was so severe that it was hard to even distinguish whether she was an enemy or an ally.

‘Maybe it is fortunate. Since one witch is secured.’

Not all of the Purgatory Witches would support Kaiser.

Witches had strong individualities, so they rarely joined forces.

Saying they would join forces in words, yet having different intentions individually, was the essence of a witch.

“Oh my, Brother……”

At the place they arrived under the guidance of the party member, an unexpected figure was waiting.

“But why are your clothes……”

To her, who was cautious just in case, Rashid spoke casually.

‘Even Kane is attached? That Kaiser fellow seems to have prepared in his own way. To think even Kane would be attached.’

“To see you in a place like this.”

As far as Rashid knew, the Magic Tower professor was also a figure who stood on the imperial family’s side.

‘Did he prepare even the Tears of God? Otherwise, there would be no reason for Kane to come all the way here.’

“Was your name Luna Maxion?”

As she looked around at the surroundings, Rashid spoke first.

“I became an Inquisitor. Many things happened in the meantime.”

“Heh…… really? If you are an Inquisitor…… isn’t that a high-ranking position in the Holy Order?”

It was not merely a high-ranking position, but the ultimate boss of high-ranking positions.

Rashid asked casually.

“More than that, you seem to have grown a bit taller?”

“Yes! Because I am still in my growth period. I grew a little more since we last met, Inquisitor. About three centimeters?”

It was visible that her youthful look was slowly disappearing.

Rashid replaced his reply by lightly nodding his head.

Just then, the Magic Tower professor, who had finished his private meeting with Kaiser, was seen.

Seeing him, Rashid lightly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

‘I am of a personality that returns everything I receive.’

Rashid intentionally blocked his path.

Although the Magic Tower professor glared at him who blocked his path with a displeased look, it was the same for Rashid.

“You are the Magic Tower professor.”

Just as he was treated at the university hospital back then.

“Did even a bug clinging to demons have interest in the revolution?”