Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 632: Cabinet Members

The Elders of the Wargrave family floated in the air with calm, composed ease, their eyes and facial expressions serene and utterly unbothered, as though they had not just arrived with the clear intent to confront and potentially clash against the Royal family itself.

Malrik, who was on the verge of engaging with the Commander and Vice Commander, allowed a faint smile to form at the corners of his lips at the arrival of the Elders; he did not speak, uttering not a single word, he simply inclined his head in a subtle nod toward them, and in perfect unison, the eight of them returned the gesture, their acknowledgment silent yet deeply understood.

’It seems my youngest brother must have sent me backup,’ he mused inwardly, a brief smile touching his thoughts at the realization, his anger momentarily fading at the comforting notion of support, only for it to surge back the very next instant as his focus snapped sharply back to the Commanders before him, his gaze turning ice cold once more.

"What is the meaning of this, Elders of the Wargrave family?" the Commander of the Imperial Knights demanded as he held his broadsword firmly in one hand, his face now twisted into a deep, unmistakable frown; it was one thing for Malrik to attack, which, although bold, could be understood given his evident anger, but for the entire upper echelons of the Wargrave family to make a move in such a manner was nothing short of outright madness.

"Are the Wargrave family staging a coup against the Empire?" the Vice Commander questioned sharply, his tone hard, brisk, and filled with restrained hostility, his grip around his sabre tightening slightly as he spoke.

"Commander of the Imperial Knights, I should be the one asking that question; on what grounds do you dare charge a Wargrave with treason?" Morthen Wargrave asked with an air of indifferent calmness, his voice neither raised nor strained..

"And as for you," the second Great Elder of the Wargrave, a woman, Morgana Wargrave, spoke with a composed and measured tone, her words directed squarely at the Vice Commander, "you should shut up when your Commander speaks; those second in command should learn to shut the fuck up," Morgana stated, her gaze locking onto the Vice Commander’s without the slightest flicker of hesitation or restraint.

At Morgana’s words, the very air seemed to tremble further, as killing intent surged violently across the sky, as though the Vice Commander was on the brink of erupting at any given moment, the pressure of his suppressed fury becoming almost tangible.

"The First Sun dared to utter words about usurping the throne, killing the Emperor, and accusing the Emperor of mind manipulation; all these are punishable by death under the Zarethorn Imperial Law," the Commander stated firmly as he met Morthen’s gaze without retreat, his stance firm.

Mind manipulation was merely another ability within the world of Crymora; it was not outlawed under any existing law, nor was any form of ability inherently deemed evil or forbidden, for no individual had any control over what they awakened, and power, in its essence, was neither righteous nor wicked, it was merely a tool shaped by its wielder.

"Ohhh... is that so?" Morthen asked, a calm, almost amused smile forming on his lips, "well then, here is the First Sun; I would very much like to see you carry out the Laws of the Empire," he continued, the dangerous curve of his smile deepening, laced with quiet provocation.

The other Elders remained silent, not a single one of them choosing to speak, instead allowing Great Elder Morthen, the first and oldest among them, to handle the situation entirely.

The Commander did not dare to make a move; although he had attacked Malrik without hesitation earlier, this time he stood facing nine Crownstar Life Rankers. Furthermore, while many of the current generation might not fully grasp it, Morthen Wargrave was far more dangerous than most realized, and the fact that he held the seemingly passive position of a Librarian did nothing to diminish the terrifying reality of his strength.

Thus, a stalemate settled over the battlefield, though in truth, it was not a stalemate born of equal hesitation, but rather a deliberate stillness maintained solely by the Wargraves, their restraint controlled, intentional, and ominously patient.

Yes, the Imperial family was not to be attacked recklessly due to numerous Imperial Laws and intricate political complications, but in this moment, none of that held any real significance. When a Wargrave stood in danger, the rest would stand behind them without question or hesitation, regardless of whether the situation was right or wrong. Discipline could come later, consequences could be handled upon their return, but in the face of external threats, unity was absolute.

In the very next instant, ten distinct Crownstar Life Rank presences erupted violently from within the Imperial Palace, surging upward and towering into the sky; almost simultaneously, ten streaks of radiant light shot upward with incredible speed, arriving beside the Commander and Vice Commanders of the Imperial Army in a display of overwhelming power.

These ten new presences were none other than official members of the Imperial family cabinet, figures such as the Prime Ministers and other high-ranking authorities, each of whom wielded immense influence within the Royal family and over the daily operations of the Empire. After all, an Empire of such vast magnitude could not possibly be governed by the Emperor alone; it required a network of capable individuals, trusted aides, and powerful figures to maintain its stability and control.

"How dare the Wargrave family cause trouble at the very heart of the Empire," one of the Royal cabinet members spoke, his tone flat yet heavy with suppressed anger.

"We are not attacking; we simply require the Emperor to compensate us for attempting to mentally manipulate one of our heirs, as well as to compensate us for attacking our First Sun and falsely framing him for treason." Morthen stated with a nonchalant shrug.

Despite the shift in numbers, twelve Imperial representatives now standing against nine Wargrave members, not a single Wargrave displayed any concern or reaction to the apparent disadvantage, their expressions steady as though the numerical difference held no meaning whatsoever.

Upon hearing Morthen’s words, both the Commander and Vice Commander were utterly livid; disbelief flooded their expressions as they struggled to process what had just been said, questioning whether they had truly heard correctly. The First Sun had stormed the Imperial Palace, and yet now they stood here demanding compensation, such audacity bordered on sheer insanity.

"The arrogance... you dare demand compensation from the Emperor himself? It seems the Wargrave family has long outgrown their usefulness," another Cabinet member declared coldly.

"I would very much like to see you attempt to weed us out then, Mr. Cabinet Member," Morgana responded instantly, without missing a beat, her words carrying a direct and unapologetic challenge to both the Imperial family and its governing authority.

The third Great Elder, Damian, casually rolled his shoulders as he spoke, seemingly to himself, yet his voice carried clearly to every individual present, "it seems it is finally time for me to stretch myself after remaining idle at home for a few months."

At his words, faint, almost eager smiles spread across the faces of the eight Elders, their battle intent beginning to ripple outward in waves, their presence steadily intensifying with each passing moment. At their core, they were Wargraves, beings who thrived amidst battle and bloodshed, and now, the prospect of a confrontation against the Imperial Palace stirred something deep within them.

"It seems the time for words is finally over," Malrik stated coldly, his tone laced with frost as his hand slowly moved toward his soul-bound katana, Solaris, his intent unmistakably clear.

The temperature in the sky began to rise at an alarming rate, the very air warping as though space itself threatened to melt into liquid under the immense and suffocating pressure of twenty-one Crownstar Life Rankers gathered in one place, their combined presence distorting the fabric of reality as the tension reached a breaking point.