Chapter 47: News of Leon’s Death Spread Widely and the Resulting Uproar
Astralyn Capital—The Empire Of Holy Elysium
Astralyn, the capital of the Holy Empire of Elysium, stands as the epicenter of both commerce and governance.
Amidst its streets, day or night, the ceaseless hustle and bustle of its inhabitants never wanes.
Especially during the morning hours, the streets teem with merchants peddling their wares and eager customers bustling about.
It could be argued that Astralyn Capital, renowned as one of the most prosperous places in the world, is never devoid of activity or subject to sudden disturbances.
Yet, this morning, the tranquility was shattered by a startling proclamation from the palace: “The Sword Hero of Humankind, Leon Kruger, has perished in combat against the Demon Emperor in the Desert of Chaos.”
The astonishing and devastating news swiftly spread to the people of Astralyn Capital, leaving them in profound shock.
“This news is preposterous, isn’t it!? There’s no conceivable way that Leon Kruger, our revered hero, met his end so abruptly!”
“True! I’m also in disbelief! How could Leon, the mightiest of the three heroes, perish in such a manner!? It defies all logic!”
“I concur! How can it be that the sword hero has fallen before the demon emperor? Does this not portend a significant setback for our human race should the Demon Emperor strike?”
“Though highly unlikely, this proclamation came directly from the palace! It must hold some truth, doesn’t it?”
Instantly, the capital was ablaze with uproar, with discussions rampant in every corner, from taverns to markets, as its inhabitants grappled with the gravity of the news.
The once-vibrant atmosphere of the city plunged into a somber gloom.
This news could be deemed a fatal blow to them all. Never in the 7,000-year history since the era of the first three heroes had any hero fallen before fulfilling their primary mission: to vanquish the Demon Emperor.
Despite the presence of two remaining heroes, the prospect of overcoming the merciless Demon Emperor, deeply entrenched in the hearts of the entire populace, seemed insurmountable.
Furthermore, the palace’s announcement specifying the demise of the sword hero, Leon Kruger, only exacerbated the panic and outrage among the populace.
Out of the three heroes of this era, Leon Kruger stands out as a remarkably powerful and beloved figure.
It wasn’t just his imposing stature and strength that endeared him to the people, but also his calm and approachable demeanor, which differed from the attitudes of the other two heroes toward them, further garnering love and respect.
Just as society was engulfed in a state of profound panic, another announcement from the Palace swiftly circulated, declaring that the Empire would seek vengeance by dispatching a large-scale army led by the two remaining heroes.
This news acted as anesthesia for the initially despondent populace, instantly igniting excitement and hope.
“Defeat the Demon Emperor and the Demon Race! Annihilate them!”
“That’s right! Avenge the demise of our hero, Leon Kruger!”
“Revenge! Destroy!”
“Destroy!”
In an instant, fervent voices erupted from various corners of the capital, spreading at an unimaginable speed.
The 7,000 years of accumulated hatred in the hearts of the populace erupted like a flood.
All levels of society wholeheartedly endorsed the palace’s decision to launch a major attack, a move not seen since the era of the previous heroes.
While the capital was in an uproar over the news of Leon’s death, inside the imperial palace, a calm and quiet atmosphere prevailed, in stark contrast to the chaos outside.
This tranquility was particularly noticeable in the throne room, where only Velix and Jim, the Emperor and Prime Minister, conversed casually with each other.
“Is everything settled, Jim?” Velix, seated on the throne, observed Jim bowing respectfully before him and asked in a nonchalant tone.
Dressed in a white kimono adorned with delicate cloud patterns, Jim lifted his head slowly, offering a faint smile as he nodded toward Velix.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I arranged for the news of Hero Leon’s death to be spread throughout the capital an hour ago, and the results were flawless.”
Upon hearing his response, Velix nodded in contentment and offered a slight smile.
“Good! I’m delighted to hear that. Now, how did the public respond to the news of Leon’s death, Jim?” Velix continued to inquire, his tone tinged with coldness yet underscored by a hint of curiosity.
In fact, Velix had already guessed how the populace would react to the news of Leon’s death.
After all, Leon was a beloved hero, cherished by both the people of the capital and the entire empire.
This reality further fueled Velix’s jealousy and sense of threat toward Leon, given his immense popularity.
Moreover, this situation posed a serious threat to his position as Emperor, the supreme leader of the Holy Empire of Elysium!
Jim’s expression shifted slightly, and he released a small sigh in response to Velix’s question.
“As we anticipated, Your Majesty, the people of the capital are incensed by this news. Slogans seeking revenge for Hero Leon’s death are spreading throughout the capital and surrounding cities, which is far beyond our initial expectations,” Jim explained in his customary calm and nonchalant manner.
He had anticipated the profound anger of the people of the capital upon learning of Hero Leon’s death.
Nevertheless, the widespread reaction of the entire populace did exceed their expectations somewhat.
‘Tsk! I hadn’t anticipated that you, Leon Kruger, would be so adored by all,’ Jim mused to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The tumult in the capital was merely the beginning; once it permeated the cities of the Empire and even reached the territories of the Holy Orthodox, the uproar would peak.
Velix’s expression swiftly turned cold upon receiving this report, caught off guard by its unexpected magnitude.
“Leon, oh Leon, eliminating you was truly the wisest decision I’ve ever made,” he remarked nonchalantly, a sneer curling on his lips.
Following this revelation, he became even more convinced of Leon’s formidable threat.
Thankfully, he intervened before Leon could become too powerful.
Otherwise, given his exceptionally terrifying abilities and talents, it wouldn’t have been long before Leon could comprehend and inherit the entire will of the previous heroes housed within the Holy Sword of Zenith.
If that occurred, it would have been too late for him to eliminate Leon.
Velix took a deep breath, feeling the hatred in his heart gradually subside.
He turned his gaze back to Jim and inquired, “Has the news of our large-scale attack been disseminated?”
“Everything has been arranged, Your Majesty. The public is overwhelmingly supportive of our impending assault on the Demon race,” Jim nodded, his response casual yet assured.
“Good!” Velix exclaimed, a slight smile gracing his lips, everything proceeding as planned.
They were just awaiting a few remaining preparations before their plan could proceed smoothly.
As Velix was about to address Jim with another inquiry, the voice of the guardian at the throne room door interrupted.
“The head of the Marquis Leywn family, Guren Leywn, requests permission from His Majesty the Emperor to enter the throne room!”
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