NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 114: ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
"Hah, I hate annoying tasks like this. Let's just get on with it and take a good ol' nap. I deserve it," Demon Baron Slit complained.
"You say any more, and I might have to just kill you. Your complaining is beginning to infuriate me," Baron Jait shot a glare at Slit, his patience wearing thin.
His ears were beginning to hurt from the countless complaints by Slit.
"So, what's the plan, Jait?" Baron Slit asked, his tone laced with boredom.
"Simple. I shapeshift into one of those human knight commanders and discreetly draw the attention of those annoying guards while you sneak in and accomplish the task given to you. Those damn knights should be here, but it seems we can't count on them. We'll proceed as instructed," Baron Jait said, his form shifting as his muscles contorted and his skin rippled. Within moments, he had taken on the exact appearance of Commander Joshua. Without another word, he sneaked into Valeria Castle.
Demon Baron Jait moved like a silent shadow, his stealth nearly impossible to detect.
Baron Slit, on the other hand, scaled the castle walls with ease, slipping through the dim corridors until he reached the personal chamber of King Edmund.
"Sigh, he sleeps so comfortably. Must be a damn fine bed he's got there. Wish I could just take a few hours of shut-eye on it, but Jait would most likely have my head if I did," Slit muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he approached the unguarded king.
King Edmund slept peacefully, unaware of his pending doom.
"Tsk. You dare to sleep peacefully while I work my ass off," Slit complained to the sleeping man.
"To think Earl Kodiac agreed to this plan... but I must admit, the plan is solid. Human, be grateful to be fed the seed of the Demon God," Baron Slit muttered, pulling out a wriggling seed that seemed almost alive. The grotesque object pulsed in his palm as he forced it into King Edmund's mouth, holding the sleeping monarch down to prevent him from making any noise.
"Quite an easy job, actually. Pathetic defense," Slit scoffed. "Well, that's that." He swiftly exited through the window, scaling down the castle wall before vanishing into the night.
Jait, having received the signal from Slit, made his move. He approached the king's bedroom, ensuring that he was seen by a guard before stepping inside.
"You there! Stop!" The guard shouted, alerting others as he ran towards the room.
The unfortunate guard barely had time to react before Jait disposed of him with a clean strike. As the others arrived, their expressions twisted with shock upon recognizing the perpetrator—Commander Joshua of the Grey Empire.
"Fucking Grey Empire... To think you'd try to assassinate our king even while we wage war against the demons. We were fools to form an alliance with snakes like you," Greyjoy, the commander of Valeria's army, snarled.
He clenched his fists in rage, taking in the gruesome sight of fallen knights littering the floor. The supposed culprit, standing with a cold, unreadable expression, made his blood boil.
Jait stared at the furious commander, unfazed by his outburst. With calculated movements, he turned, intending to finish off the king. His sword gleamed under the dim torchlight as he aimed for Edmund's heart.
"Not on my watch!" Greyjoy roared, moving with inhuman speed to block the attack.
"Tsk, I failed," Jait muttered, realizing that further engagement would be pointless. Without hesitation, he leaped through the castle window, disappearing into the night.
"After him!!" Greyjoy commanded, his instincts screaming that Commander Joshua—no, the imposter—would not simply fall to his death.
"What's going on?" King Edmund groggily woke, rubbing his eyes as the chaos around him registered.
"Your Majesty, I'm glad you're unharmed. Grey Empire sent a commander to assassinate you," Greyjoy informed him grimly.
"What?! Those damn bastards! I knew we shouldn't have trusted that damned snake! Send a message to King Arthur and the other rulers. The Grey Empire must answer for this!" King Edmund thundered, his fury shaking the room.
******
"My lord, there is disturbing information that demands your urgent attention," the Minister of External Affairs spoke hesitantly, standing before Emperor Augustus's chambers.
Waking the emperor from his slumber was no small risk—one wrong move, and he could lose his head.
"What is so urgent that you dare wake me? Speak," Emperor Augustus's voice was thick with irritation.
"King Edmund has sent a message demanding an explanation for an attempted assassination on his life. He claims it was the doing of Commander Joshua," the minister explained nervously, his palms sweaty as he kept his head low.
Emperor Augustus frowned deeply. "So, the demons made their move already, huh? No need to waste time on the demands of a weak king. We will discuss this matter in the morning. I will pardon you this time for disturbing me, but there will not be a next time."
The minister swallowed hard. "My lord, I'm afraid the situation is direr than that."
Emperor Augustus's gaze sharpened. "And what exactly makes the situation so dire? Do you think I should worry over a single kingdom I could crush at any moment?"
"No, my lord. Forgive me, but that is not what I meant. King Edmund is not the only one demanding answers. King Arthur has also accused us of an assassination attempt on his life, claiming our knights were responsible."
The emperor's frown deepened. This was not a simple matter. Warring with those two kingdoms was troublesome enough, especially with the ongoing war against the demons.
"Very well. Send a message to them explaining the situation. We are being played."
"Forgive me, my lord, but it is far more complicated than that..." The minister's voice wavered. "King Richard and King Adam have been assassinated. Their commanders have also pointed fingers at us. Chief Krain, the Elf Queen, and the Beast Queen were also attacked. They all believe it to be our doing."
"What?!" Emperor Augustus's rage erupted like a storm. His veins bulged as his hands clenched the silk sheets of his bed. "To think they would create so many enemies against us at once... There's no way we can wage war on all of them."
The realization settled like a lead weight in his gut.
"Inform every minister and commander! We need to discuss this immediately!"
"At once, my lord!" The minister bowed hastily before rushing out of the emperor's chambers, his heart pounding from the sheer tension in the air.