Evening.
Several pitch-black figures drifted carefully through the Imperial Palace of the Northern Country, observing their surroundings every few steps to see if anyone was passing by.
"As expected, just as we observed before, this is the time when there are the fewest people in the Imperial Palace..."
"Heh, that Little Empress really loves holding banquets. In just one month, she's held nearly eight of them. Does she love banquets that much?"
"Apparently it's because of some promise... she promised that Dux Gladiorum, Hysilens, that a grand feast would be held after every victory? I don't know the exact details, and investigating such intelligence is basically meaningless anyway."
Cerydra was currently holding a feast with the Chrysos Heirs in the Marmoreal Palace. For certain people, this was the perfect opportunity!
The retainers who had followed Barbara and the others to the Northern Country from the Revolutionary Army quickly seized upon this vital piece of intelligence and chose to set the assassination time for the evening.
As for the midnight timing Barbara had mentioned... that was naturally fake!
The high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Army had long considered the possibility of the Assassination Clan's betrayal, so they would never tell them the true intelligence. They would even use those girls to deliver false information to Cerydra to confuse her about the actual time of the assassination.
On the front lines of the battlefield, neither the Empire nor the Revolutionary Army was confident in fighting the Northern Empire. Therefore, if they wanted to win, they could only use one method...
Assassination!
Of course, for a powerhouse, most assassination methods are ineffective because the bodies of some experts can completely ignore blades, making it impossible to hack them to death.
Even if fragile spots like the eyes or throat are attacked, they can survive unscathed.
After careful consideration, the Revolutionary Army chose the most reliable method: poisoning!
Several assassins from the Revolutionary Army quickly found the location of the kitchen based on the routes in their memory. Aside from the chefs, there were basically no defensive measures here, making it easy to mix poison into the food.
"Is this the poison prepared by the leader? Just looking at it makes one's heart skip a beat!"
One of the assassins took a translucent bottle from his waist, looking at the poison inside with some trepidation.
It was no ordinary poison, but a new type created by mixing over a hundred different poisons and undergoing testing. It looked like an envoy of chaos, ready to take away any living creature at any moment...
Considering Cerydra's unique status, the Revolutionary Army could never use ordinary poison; who knew if common toxins would even work on her?
Therefore, they abandoned the concealment of the poison, choosing not to make it colorless and odorless, but keeping it in its most primitive state of chaos... only in this way could the poison's effects be maximized!
"And that's that..."
After confirming that no one was watching, the assassin quickly dripped the poison into the most magnificent cup. Needless to say, this was the fine wine intended for the Imperator.
"I believe that after Cerydra drinks this cup of wine, she will definitely show an expression we could never imagine!"
"Eyes rolling back, tongue hanging out?"
"Stop thinking about those useless things. We need to leave quickly before they find out!"
After finishing these tasks, the men in black departed. However, they did not notice a Pink Bird on the ceiling, tilting its head and watching them with a look of realization in its eyes.
"They really couldn't sit still... it seems Master's worry was correct!"
A few minutes later, the members of the Revolutionary Army Delegation dressed in black did not immediately flee the city. Instead, they changed back into their ordinary clothes and returned to the feast of the Chrysos Heirs.
Fleeing now would only arouse constant suspicion. Furthermore, for the sake of the Revolutionary Army, they had to see Cerydra drink the poison with their own eyes; otherwise, everything they had done during this time would be in vain.
"You've arrived? Welcome!"
"That young man over there, quite handsome!"
The Revolutionary Army Delegation had built good relationships with many Chrysos Heirs during this time, and a portion of the intelligence within the Imperial Palace had been obtained through questioning these people.
To avoid causing baseless suspicion, they integrated all their questions into daily life, making it impossible to detect through any means.
Even if someone saw through it, there was no way to prove it.
"She's here!"
After a long while, Cerydra emerged from a side passage with Hysilens and Esdeath, laughing with the Chrysos Heirs and immersing themselves in the banquet.
The cup of wine the assassins had poisoned happened to be delivered into the crowd at this moment, moving step by step toward Cerydra.
Although the several members of the Revolutionary Army were laughing and talking with the Chrysos Heirs around them, they were secretly observing Cerydra's situation.
The Imperator has picked up the wine cup!
She's about to drink!
As long as this cup of poisoned wine is consumed, the Revolutionary Army's goal will be achieved. All that would be left is to completely annex the Northern Country and make it a part of their Revolutionary Army.
But a sudden hand directly shattered the fantasies of these people—it was Dux Gladiorum.
"As Dux Gladiorum, I thank everyone for your assistance during this time, and I also thank the Imperator for giving me this opportunity..."
When they saw Hysilens pick up the poisoned wine, the assassins' hearts jumped into their throats.
This poisoned wine is meant for the Imperator! Why are you, Hysilens, getting involved? Put the wine down now!
The feeling of being so close to a goal only to have someone else intercept it was incredibly frustrating. One must know that assassinating an Emperor is no simple task; if it fails once, it is extremely difficult to succeed a second time.
This was very likely the only chance for the Revolutionary Army to assassinate Cerydra, and they did not want the efforts of these past months to go to waste.
Under the worried gazes of the assassins, Hysilens finally put the cup down, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief.
But next, Esdeath made her move.
"As Dux Alptraum, I also thank my colleagues for their dedication in successfully guiding Her Majesty the Imperator's country in a positive direction. This is an unprecedented step forward..."
Stop talking, we don't want to hear this!
The assassins' eyes were nearly popping out of their heads. It was just a single assassination, so why were so many people coming out to intercept?
Can we just get to the point!
"Alright, everything that needs to be said has been said. Now it's my turn, isn't it?"
Cerydra took the wine cup and held it high under the excited gazes of the assassins.
"The mission of the Chrysos Heirs is to protect the world. As my warriors, you will naturally join me in reconstructing the world's Laws..."
"So that everyone can live a happy life, just like the Northern Country today. Do you have confidence?"
"Of course we do! Long live Empress Cerydra!" xN
As the deafening voices of the Chrysos Heirs rang out, an accident happened after all.
The sudden, earth-shaking roar from hundreds of Chrysos Heirs caused even the surrounding air to vibrate.
And as luck would have it, Cerydra seemingly failed to hold the wine cup steadily, and the poisoned wine within fell into the bath.
The assassination had failed...
Looking at the bath slowly being dyed red by the wine, the expressions of all the assassins turned vacant. Had the plan they prepared for months really been declared bankrupt in such a manner?
Frustrated thoughts immediately surfaced among them, but they quickly pulled themselves together. They hadn't exposed their identities yet; they were still the Revolutionary Army Delegation.
If one assassination failed, they just had to wait for the next... wait... why do I suddenly feel so dizzy?
The Revolutionary Army assassins, who had intended to regroup, suddenly found their eyelids becoming heavy, and their consciousness began to fade.
It was only at this moment that they suddenly remembered...
There were over a hundred types of poison in that wine; a single drop could take the life of a Super Class Danger Beast, and they themselves...
Seemed to be in the bath too?
We're doomed...