Chapter 1486: Kesi Takes Action

Chanaisaikong watched this drama of the Kroke Imperium and whispered to himself.

It seems the Kroke Imperium has plenty of trouble of its own.

Keleisen of the Ash Star Alliance exchanged a look with his companion, both of their gazes carrying the air of watching a show.

Watake of the Yinsan Alliance leaned back in his chair, his compound eyes rotating slowly as his gaze swept back and forth between Kesi and Duke Kusa.

Lu Zhenda sat in his seat, set his wine on the table, and understood a few things in his heart.

Are these the internal hidden dangers Kesi mentioned? Jumping out on the first day of the coronation—earlier than Kesi expected.

On the main seat, Kesi slowly stood up, his gaze fixed directly on Duke Kusa.

Duke Kusa, you say you wish for a clear explanation. I will give you an explanation now.

Kesi raised his right hand and beckoned to an attendant standing by the side door of the great hall.

That attendant ran out quickly and ran back just as quickly in less than a minute, holding a Data Pad in his hands.

The attendant handed the Data Pad to Kesi with both hands.

Kesi took the Data Pad, then flipped it over, facing the front toward Duke Kusa.

On the Data Pad was a video; in the frame, an aged Kroke lay on a hospital bed.

... I have decided that Kesi shall succeed to the throne. He is my son... He has the ability to lead the Imperium... These are my final words...

The video was only a dozen seconds long. After the video finished playing, Kesi turned the Data Pad back, closed the playback page, and looked at Duke Kusa.

Regarding the late Emperor's final decision, only the late Emperor himself, myself, and one minister were present at the time. That minister has already died in the turmoil, so Duke Kusa, you cannot find any witnesses who were present. However, the video file itself has undergone the Kroke Imperium's highest security-level encryption certification and cannot be tampered with.

Duke Kusa's brow furrowed even tighter; he looked at the Data Pad that had been pressed onto the tabletop and did not speak.

Kesi continued.

Duke Kusa, I understand your concerns. The late Emperor departed too suddenly; many things were not able to be explained in person. But the video is here, the words the late Emperor spoke himself are here. You have heard them; do you intend to defy the late Emperor's decree?

Duke Kusa remained in Silence for a moment.

The two nobles beside him did not interject either.

Duke Kusa finally lowered his eyes and bowed slightly.

Since it is the late Emperor's final decision, we naturally comply.

He sat back in his seat, and the two nobles beside him sat down as well.

Kesi sat back down, waved his hand, and said to the attendant.

Continue the banquet.

The attendants began to move again, and the sound of footsteps and the clinking of cups and plates gradually restored the atmosphere in the hall.

At this moment, Lu Zhenda suddenly stood up, did not greet anyone, and walked straight toward the side door.

Gewanuosai followed, and a Kroke attendant chased after him for half a step, bowing to ask.

Does the lord have any needs?

Take us to our quarters.

The attendant nodded, walked quickly in front to lead the way, stopped in front of a door, pushed it open, and stepped aside.

The attendant stood at the doorway and said.

My lord, this is the accommodation prepared for you. There are attendants on duty at the end of the corridor outside; if you have any needs, you may summon them at any time.

Understood, you may leave.

The attendant bowed and exited, gently closing the door.

The door lock clicked shut.

Lu Zhenda walked to the window and looked at the garden outside. The Kroke Imperium's Imperial City in the night was quieter than he had imagined.

Gewanuosai stood inside the doorway of the room, motionless.

Lu Zhenda turned around and leaned against the windowsill.

It certainly won't be peaceful here tonight.

Gewanuosai's voice came over steadily.

Rest assured, my lord, I will protect you. The Lamenters squad is on standby in the corridor outside. They have set up two observation points in the shadows on both sides of the courtyard; any suspicious, abnormal movement approaching this building will be discovered immediately.

Lu Zhenda nodded and walked to the table to sit down.

Kesi shouldn't be sleeping tonight; those three old nobles made trouble in the great hall earlier in front of everyone. Although the video suppressed it, those Diplomats present are all shrewd; who couldn't see that Duke Kusa and the others weren't convinced in their hearts?

So Kesi will make a move tonight?

He must make a move. To have his legitimacy questioned to his face on the first day of his coronation—if he doesn't clear out these ringleaders in the shortest possible time, more people will jump out tomorrow.

Gewanuosai said.

The guards around those old nobles during the day didn't look like many.

What Kesi needs to do is make them bear the charges and fall; only then can it be convenient for him to rule the Kroke Imperium. After arresting the people tonight, he will finalize the charges before dawn tomorrow, and announce the results of the handling the day after. If he gets things done within three days, no one will dare to speak out openly afterward.

If the conviction isn't handled well, won't it leave behind a handle? Can Kesi do it?

Lu Zhenda smiled and nodded.

There are plenty of reasons; they already handed over the handle during the banquet in the daytime. Questioning the legitimacy of the throne in public is, to put it broadly, treason.

The video file has the late Emperor personally designating Kesi to succeed, yet they still dared to question it in public; this is failing to obey the late Emperor's decree. This one point alone is enough to make an arrest.

In the second half of the night, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside.

Lu Zhenda opened his eyes, stood up, walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and looked out.

In the direction of the east side of the garden, several searchlight beams cut through the night sky, the beams sweeping back and forth between the towers and walls of the Imperial City.

Slight footsteps came from the corridor outside the window.

Gewanuosai tilted his head from the side of the door; the footsteps grew closer and closer, stopped at the door, and then came a series of rhythmic knocks.

Gewanuosai did not open the door immediately and asked.

The voice of that Sergeant from the Lamenters squad came from outside the door.

"My lord, an arrest operation has occurred on the east side of the Imperial City. The Luoke Imperium army has mobilized at least two battalions to surround the residence of Duke Kusa, and two other locations have been surrounded, specifically the mansions of the two nobles who followed Duke Kusa during the day. The arrests have already begun and are expected to end soon."

"Is the resistance fierce?"

The Sergeant's voice came through the door panel.

"The first exchange of fire was at Duke Kusa's residence, where his guards organized a resistance. The Luoke army broke down the doors and stormed in directly; it lasted about a few minutes."

"Duke Kusa himself has already been restrained and is being escorted toward the Imperial City's underground prison. There was no decent resistance at the other two locations; after a few guards were killed, the rest laid down their weapons."

"Were all the guards killed?"

"They encountered resistance when breaking down the doors, and the Luoke army killed them on the spot."

"Understood, you may go."

The footsteps outside the door retreated, walking back into the depths of the corridor.