Chapter 1496: The Suddenly Convened Morning Assembly

When the Imperial City Guard sent by Kesi arrived at the scene, the officer leading the team stood at the entrance of the street, looking at the scene before him, shocked by what he saw.

More than a thousand corpses of Keluo Ke soldiers were piled up in various postures on both sides and in the center of the street; the walls on both sides of the street were splattered with blood and fragments, and in several places on the walls, one could even see deep marks left by being cut by a Chainsword.

The officer stood where he was and spoke into the Communication Device behind him.

Cleaning up the scene will require at least two hundred people and three transport vehicles; bring more body bags.

The guards behind him began to move, walking quickly into the street to lift those corpses one by one from the ground and load them into the transport vehicles.

The entire cleaning process lasted for nearly one standard hour; when the last batch of corpses was loaded and hauled away, the Imperial City Guard washed the ground with water guns, and the deep purple water flowed along the drainage ditches into the underground pipes.

Imperial Palace Side Hall.

The ministers who lived in the official residence area near the Imperial City arrived first, wearing their respective deep purple or deep gray court robes, nodding and greeting each other at the entrance of the main hall.

The first to arrive were two administrative officials in charge of the Imperial City's logistics; they were both young and sat at the position near the door on the left side of the long table.

One of the Keluoke people picked up the tea in front of him, took a sip, and lowered his voice to say to the other Keluoke person.

Calling us to the side hall in the middle of the night, what's the situation?

The other Keluoke person shook his head.

I don't know, it was only said that His Majesty summoned us, no specific reason was mentioned. Have you heard any rumors on your end?

I heard the sound of transport vehicle engines in the East City District, but it was far away, so I didn't see the number clearly.

The third batch of ministers entered one after another.

Walking in front was the Imperial Finance Deputy Minister; he walked quickly to a seat near the front and sat down, then turned his head to whisper to a Judicial Department Official beside him.

Were you also called here suddenly?

The Judicial Department Official nodded.

The news was very urgent; I didn't even have time to change my outer robe before rushing over.

The Finance Deputy Minister's four eyes narrowed slightly.

Do you know what it's about?

I don't know, but on the way here just now, I saw guard troop movements outside the Imperial City East Gate, and all intersections in the entire East City District were sealed off. The traffic control level is very high, not a normal security check.

The two looked at each other and did not continue speaking.

Several more batches of people arrived in the side hall one after another, and about half of the seats were gradually filled.

The newcomers were all looking for familiar colleagues to ask about the situation in low voices, but no one could give an accurate answer.

After Gelun walked into the side hall, his gaze stopped in the middle area, and then he walked over there and sat down.

The Minister of Finance followed Gelun into the hall.

He looked in Gelun's direction and walked directly to the seat opposite to sit down.

Two young officials entered afterward; they exchanged a look and then dispersed separately.

After the four people sat down, there was no conversation.

An older minister nearby leaned over and asked Gelun in a lowered voice.

Lord Gelun, do you know what happened tonight?

Gelun turned his head to look at the man, his expression steady.

I don't know, I just arrived too.

The man nodded and sat back, not pressing further.

In the corner of the side hall, two young civil officials in charge of diplomatic affairs sat together, and one of them said.

I noticed a detail when I came in just now; the streets in the direction of the Waijiaoqu on the east side were all empty. Usually, patrol vehicles would pass by at this time, but tonight there wasn't a single one.

The other person said. The Waijiaoqu? The place where the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance delegation stays?

Yes, that area.

You mean... it has something to do with the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance?

I didn't say that, but His Majesty called everyone to the side hall in the middle of the night and sealed off the East City District; the target range is very narrow.

After another few minutes, the side door of the side hall was pushed open, and Kesi walked in from outside.

All the whispers in the side hall disappeared at once.

Kesi sat down in the main seat, his four eyes scanning the face of everyone present.

Kesi pushed the Data Pad on the tabletop to the side, clasped his hands together on the table, and began to speak.

Something happened early this morning. The commander-in-chief of the Eastern Border Defense Force, Xierta, without my authorization, mobilized twelve hundred assault soldiers on his own initiative, carrying heavy suppression weapons, entered the central city area of the Capital Star, and attacked the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance delegation station located in the Waijiaoqu of the East City District.

A commotion erupted in the side hall, and the officials exchanged glances.

This news is too explosive, isn't it?

Kesi continued.

The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance delegation carried out a self-defense counterattack. Xierta himself has been killed on the spot during the operation. His troops, twelve hundred men, none survived.

When these words fell in the side hall, the pupils of Gelun and the other three contracted slightly, not daring to show too much expression.

Kesi raised his right hand and beckoned to the attendant standing by the side door.

The attendant walked in quickly, holding a dark metal tray in both hands, with a layer of purple velvet cloth covering the tray.

The attendant placed the tray on the table in front of the main seat, then stepped back two paces and returned to his original position.

Kesi reached out and lifted the velvet cloth.

In the tray was a head.

Xierta's face was upward, all four eyes were closed, and his lips were tightly shut.

There were small amounts of bloodstains on his hair and skin, which had been wiped, but the cut mark across his neck was still clearly visible.

An old minister sitting in a front position shrank his body backward, his gaze quickly moving away from the head, not daring to look again.

Kesi said in an angry tone.

What Xierta did tonight is destroying the foundation of the Luoke Imperium. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is our ally, and their delegation is our guest. Their fleet is on the way, rushing to help us quell the rebellion.

And Xierta, taking advantage of the night to lead troops to attack an ally's delegation, what does he want to do? Does he want the Luoke Imperium to have one more enemy?

No one in the side hall answered.

Kesi stood up, pressed his hands on the tabletop, and looked at Gelun.

Gelun, do you know about Xierta's plan?

Gelun stood up from his seat, bowed in salute, and began to speak.

His Majesty, Lord Xierta did indeed express his concerns about the intervention of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance multiple times at the imperial council before.

But I am completely unaware of his action plan, troop deployment arrangements, or specific execution schemes.

My duties have no direct intersection with the border defense forces; he had no reason to inform me of these contents.

Kesi turned his gaze to the Minister of Finance.

And you?

The Minister of Finance stood up as well.

His Majesty, I do not know either; I am responsible for financial accounts, and military troop deployment is not within my scope of duties.

Lord Xierta's border defense forces have their own internal funding channels and did not go through the financial system, so it was impossible for me to know beforehand.