Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1269: Foiled Plans

The next day… Under bright suns with a gloomy atmosphere, the funeral for the emperor began in the eastern region of the capital Naraka.

Billions of people were out on the streets and watched the procession of the Emperor’s coffin with a glass cover through the broadcast, similar to how they witnessed Kahn’s coronation.

One could say that it was just as grand as the event that occurred two days ago, but instead of shock and excitement, it was the emotion of loss and grief.

All the powerful factions, the business corporations, and government officials also showed themselves as they collectively paid respect to the emperor who had passed away from his illness.

The body of the frail emperor reminded everyone that time stopped for no one. And even an almighty being, as a Peak 7th-stage saint, would fall to the annals of time.

The stark difference in his old visage and the posters on the walls of buildings and streets that reminded everyone of his previous dominant and majestic appearance just a year ago made many feel his death as a passing of an entire era.

The Cult of Darkborne, the Senate of the Republic, and the Nobles of the Imperial Faction also partook in the procession, including Kahn and his entourage as honorary guests.

The Procession was not just grand but also a beckoning of a new era that was to dawn upon the empire.

Millions of people were weeping at the loss of the Emperor.

The reason being that Oedipus Nox Luvian was actually a far kinder and more reasonable emperor compared to his father and his elder brother, who had been the Crown Prince for only a few years.

When it came to handling political matters with clans, businesses, and even taking up new contracts with the other forces, he was as ruthless and as cunning as one needed to be.

But many people still respected him not only because he became a 7th Stage Saint just 20 years after becoming the Emperor, but also because he greatly refrained from creating disputes that led to bloodshed, unlike his predecessors.

Some called him the weak emperor, and even many noble families called him a passive coward because he did not wage wars to gain supremacy like his father or the crown prince.

But after almost 30 years of his reign, people saw what his actions yielded.

The Imperial Family had regained their past glory. All the losses they suffered due to the war 50 years ago were recouped. Their forces had almost doubled, and people who served them lived prosperous lives under his rule.

The Imperial Faction now had a firm standing and was also integrated in many parts of society, unlike before, when they were a bunch of isolated elites who saw commoners as nothing but insects.

A lot of people who had allied themselves, such as manufacturers, business corporations, and distributors, all found their deals with the imperial faction fair and mutually beneficial.

The people who had been loyal to the faction even during their fall had now risen up in ranks, were rewarded for their loyalty, and felt indebted to the emperor.

Even the Cult of Darkborne, under Morrigan Morningstar’s lead, had an amicable relationship with the Emperor until he fell into a coma.

The senate had plenty of deals with the imperial faction, such as using their lands for agriculture or leasing mines for long term productions.

Oedipus Nox Luvian was not the kindest… he was the necessary evil. But he was not some monster, either, who sought death and destruction.

That was the reason why the entire Abyss Empire mourned the death of this man. Who not only reigned with an iron fist…

But brought perfect balance to the peace of the Abyss Empire.

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Meanwhile, as the chief mourner and the oldest among the surviving heirs of the Imperial Family… Valius Nox Luvian was the first to walk behind the coffin during the procession.

His face was aghast, grief and rage visible on his countenance as the entire empire watched how crestfallen he was at the loss of his father’s life.

A rumor had already spread amongst the people that he was chosen as the next emperor by Oedipus before his passing.

And the fact that he was the chief mourner also confirmed those rumors as facts since only the next person in the line of succession is allowed to hold that position during the royal funeral.

But what no one knew was that his expression wasn’t down because of the death of the emperor… but because of what happened yesterday at noon.

[Shit! Shit!! That fucking bastard foiled all of my plans!] thought Valius as he clenched his fist tightly.

What others saw as rage towards fate was actually directed towards the man who walked way behind in the long queue of honorary guests.

It was the Cult Leader of the Darkborne… the 9th Hero of Darkness, Kahn Salvatore.

Because after Valius saw what Kahn could do, along with the sudden entry of Vildred, the Lightning Dragon Emperor, and even Jeoseung Saja, the Envoy of Death, directly showing up during Kahn’s coronation… he was utterly defeated in spirit.

Based on history alone… He thought the new Hero/Heroine of Darkness would neither be as strong as he nor would they have much authority to force the Imperial Faction’s hand for cooperation during the Great War.

At best, they would have an equal standing in the collaboration.

But Kahn Salvatore turned out to be a greater threat even than Argos Belmont. And now, he was officially the Supreme Commander of the Abyss Empire.

And the biggest problem was that even his own faction, whether it was the common soldiers or even the noble clans… they were all fully supporting the Hero of Darkness and wanted to partake in the Great War after Kahn’s grand speech just 2 days ago.

There was no way to back out of his promise to join the Great War and offer complete support to the Cult Leader.

Valius was certain that he couldn’t even kill Kahn if they fought.

He lost on every front even before the battle began.

[Was I right to kill my father? I thought he would be the only thing that would stand as an indestructible mountain in front of my ambitions.

But the Hero of Darkness… it feels like the Heavens themselves are looking down upon my entire existence.] thought the future Emperor of the Imperial Faction.

[As for my great ambition to unify the Abyss Empire under my sole rule?…] wondered Valius as he looked at the coffin and the corpse of his father.

[Will I ever be able to see it become reality?]