Chapter 24: The Most Innocent Bystander in History
Splintered wood mixed with stones clattered to the ground, blood splattered in a spray near two large craters, and a hole over five meters in diameter appeared on the front wall of the mansion.
Sonia, her face full of bewilderment, had just tried to get up from the ground when a stabbing pain came from her collarbone—a piece of wood had pierced into her body. Compared to the three diplomats from the Simoro Empire, she was already lucky.
A large group of soldiers rushed into the mansion. After seeing the carnage inside, their gazes all turned to Su Xiao, who was now the highest-ranking imperial official present.
"Lock down the area within a 5-kilometer radius. Apprehend any suspicious persons alive, no matter the cost."
Su Xiao sheathed the long blade in his hand. His right arm was still numb; this was his first experience with the power of a steam high-pressure cannon. As far as he knew, at least a dozen of these things were hidden inside the Lurenfei Palace and the Moon Goddess Monastery.
Su Xiao didn't expect these disguised soldiers, who were actually superhumans, to find any clues. In the current situation, only two groups could have done this: the remnants of the Ninth Unit, or the Simoro Empire.
As for why the Simoro Empire would assassinate their own envoy, the reason was simple: to muddy the waters. The envoy, Nigal, died in the capital of the Dawn Empire—this was like mud falling into a crotch; even if it wasn't shit, it looked like it.
The Simoro Empire naturally wouldn't care about the amount of reparations, but don't forget, it was a country with a moral obsession. Its citizens could tolerate local battlefield defeats, but they couldn't tolerate paying reparations to a foreign power. Once the news of reparations was confirmed, the citizens, merchants, and even some lower-level officials would become dissatisfied with the royal family.
Even in war, envoys weren't killed, let alone during post-war negotiations. There was no doubt that the Simoro Empire would make a big deal out of this, and not just against the Dawn Empire.
The current situation was likely something the old Holy King had foreseen days ago, which was why he had sent Su Xiao as the representative for this meeting.
As for preventing this assassination, the old Holy King and the Moon Goddess could certainly have done so, but what would be the point? To force the Simoro Empire to pay reparations?
The Simoro Empire wasn't a truly defeated nation. If pushed too far, the two countries would only resume fighting. Moreover, Su Xiao felt that the two countries were far too tacitly cooperative, likely planning something.
What truly puzzled Su Xiao was why the Moon Goddess had sent Sonia. Had this woman fallen out of favor with the Moon Goddess?
The mansion was sealed off within minutes. The 1,000 soldiers from the Simoro Empire were disarmed, their armor and weapons confiscated.
A superhuman disguised as a soldier hurried over to Su Xiao and whispered:
"Sir, all the Simoro soldiers have been disarmed. Their armor is all pure gold! It's just coated with a layer of iron paint."
Hearing this report, Su Xiao confirmed that this was definitely the work of the Simoro Empire, and it wouldn't be easily resolved.
"Confiscate it."
"Yes."
Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that this was the work of the Ninth Unit remnants, in which case the blame might have been shifted onto him.
The Simoro Empire had never intended to pay reparations openly from the start. As for the three who came, they were merely sacrifices, including those 1,000 soldiers. As expected, they would all die on the return journey.
The struggle for power was always brutal, let alone when it escalated to the open and covert struggles between two nations.
The aftermath at the mansion was quickly handled. The remains of the three envoys were sent back to the Simoro Empire. The assassins' bodies were also found. In a tower three kilometers from the mansion, the steam high-pressure cannon had been destroyed, and all 15 assassins had committed suicide.
'Miraculously,' all 15 assassins were from the Rodan Empire. After discovering this, the Dawn Empire sent messages to both the Simoro Empire and the Rodan Empire.
By noon that day, the Simoro Empire received the news. Their royal family was furious. After personally sending people to verify the evidence, they pointed the finger at the Rodan Empire.
The Dawn Empire took the same stance, sending envoys to denounce the Rodan Empire.
This left the Rodan Empire completely bewildered. They had originally been bystanders, happy to see their two neighbors at odds. But now the situation had turned; the two powerful neighbors had both turned their spearheads on them, denouncing them, and it seemed not impossible that they would unite and declare war on them.
By evening that day, Su Xiao learned of this news. If the old Holy King, the Moon Goddess, and the Simoro Empire's royal family hadn't secretly communicated beforehand, he would have twisted off his young adjutant's head and used it as a stool.
This was obviously pre-arranged collusion. What war reparations? That 53.9 tons of gold was essentially a bribe.
The Simoro Empire's intention was clear: 'Our national strengths are about equal, and we can't achieve much in a short war. So let's join forces, first take out the poor one, and then settle the score between us, so that poor bastard doesn't take advantage and clean up both of us after the war.'
The Dawn Empire's reply was simple: 'Alright, let's kill him.'
After the envoy Nigal was killed, almost all citizens believed there would be conflict between the two countries. But who would have thought that the unluckiest one would be the Rodan Empire?
As soon as the remains of the envoy Nigal were sent back to the Simoro Empire, he was posthumously enfeoffed as a hereditary count, awarded the Empire's First-Class Medal, the Heroic Spirit Medal, and the Moon Blessing Medal.
The dazzlingly intricate maneuvers of the old Holy King, the Moon Goddess, and the Simoro royal family left the Rodan Empire completely dumbfounded. They were sitting at home when a pot fell from the sky—a pot big enough to crush them.
"So that's how it is!"
Inside Su Xiao's residence, the young adjutant slapped her thigh in sudden understanding. At the same time, a chill ran through her heart. These rulers were far too sinister. Offending them, you wouldn't even know how you died.
Compared to the Rodan Empire taking the blame, Su Xiao was more concerned about one thing: the Simoro Empire had completely reconciled. As for going to war with the Rodan Empire, that wouldn't happen in the short term. The two empires would first strangle the Rodan Empire through trade imports and exports—for example, the Dawn Empire would stop supplying advanced steam machinery, and the Simoro Empire would cease exporting minerals.
In the short term, the two empires wouldn't jointly attack the Rodan Empire; instead, they would enter a true honeymoon period.
This meant that the opportunity for the old Holy King and the Moon Goddess had arrived. This period was very suitable for eliminating their opponents, even though the follow-up matters regarding Eagle Marquis were only about 80% complete.
As it turned out, Su Xiao's guess was correct. The next morning, the old Holy King summoned Su Xiao.
At the Lurenfei Palace, in the southern district's greenhouse.
The old Holy King kept glancing at Su Xiao as if guarding against a thief, afraid that Su Xiao would break another of his beloved flower pots.
"Attacking the Moon Goddess Monastery from the front—what are your chances?"
The old Holy King spoke, asking a question that left Su Xiao slightly puzzled. He really hadn't expected the old Holy King to plan a frontal assault on the Moon Goddess Monastery. It was too impatient, not in line with the old Holy King's steady yet ruthless character.
"Almost impossible. The monastery has over 4,000 Moon Apostles permanently stationed there, and the total number of steam guns and steam high-pressure cannons is at least over a hundred."
As Su Xiao replied, his mind was rapidly calculating.
"Is that so? What if I give you 6,000 superhumans and seal off that area for over 10 hours?"
The old Holy King put down his watering can. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he broke into a loud, dry cough.