Emperor of Steel

Chapter 700: Operation Behead 2

The day after the envoys of the Southern Continent arrived.

Luke received reports from Hudson and Belfair.

“It was said that the Emperor has trusted the state affairs to Count Voltas. It was said that some external training was being done, a clear excuse, but in reality, Rudolf seems to visit the ruins under the Imperial Palace which is being managed by the Imperial Magic Tower.”

Hearing the report, Luke’s gaze turned serious.

“From when did the Imperial Magic Tower manage the ruins?”

“After Your Majesty has rescued Count Ferrero. It has been said that the excavation took time, and in recent months, a lot of research men and magic items were taken in there.”

“Magic items... have you gotten what they are?”

“Magic stones. Regardless of the quality, they were taking in large quantities of them.”

“Well, that means that the excavation of the ruins is done.”

The story that a large number of researchers and magic items were being delivered to the ruins meant that the excavation and restoration were done, and a full-scale research was initiated.

‘What is the reason for taking in large amounts of magic stones? The ruins need Aether to work...’

Maybe they devised a way to replace the Aether?

Or maybe they figured out how to use mana and turn it into Aether.

‘It would be better to hurry up.’

Luke decided to destroy the ruins before the Baroque Empire used them.

Accordingly, the other nations who had entered into the temporary alliance were being asked for an army.

-Rudolf is making a dangerous weapon?

“As dangerous as the undead.”

-That much? How the hell...

Charles of Irea seemed suspicious.

He was trying to figure out if Luke was trying to use his own troops under the context of war against the warlocks and Rudolf.

“You might know about Vers.”

Luke told them about the horrors which had happened in Nemesis, the brink of destruction they faced.

At first, he tried to explain about Vers.

However, seeing the expression on the faces of the Kings, including Charles, Luke didn’t feel like he had explained.

Everyone seemed to know about it.

-Well, isn’t that a pandemic that had destroyed the ancient civilization? It also terrified the capital of Baroque a few years back.

-Did he make that into a weapon?

-I heard that the body of the sick man who died due to the plague was used on a catapult and a castle was taken down...

The heads who were nervous immediately accepted the information.

Because if Emperor Rudolf did make Vers into a weapon, they couldn’t even start as to how it would be used.

Luke, who decided to lead the troops, called Marquis Rogers and gave orders.

“Marquis! I will entrust you with full control in this Operation Behead, so take over Nemesis, the capital of the Baroque Empire!”

“Yes! Trust me, leave it to me!”

Marquis Rogers, who received orders from Luke, hurried to Sherwood castle, the key point of the northern border.

Shortly after, the troops from each nation were sent through the long-distance teleport gates, and gathered at Sherwood Castle and marched north.

A total of 200,000 troops and 700 Gigants.

If the six nations joined forces, they could mobilize a lot more troops.

However, as they were in a hurry, the number of troops was small.

Even the other Kings were concerned about small numbers.

But Luke wasn’t.

“The goal of the operation was Nemesis, the capital of the Baroque Empire. As soon as possible, I plan to deal with Rudolf and his research in the north.”

The other places could be occupied at a later time with newly mobilized troops.

Of course, they weren’t marching north without taking any measures.

The Holy Empire and the Volga Republic decided to hurry up and mobilize separate troops to disrupt the northern and eastern borders of the Baroque Empire.

“Should I start moving too?”

Luke was thinking of acting separately.

No matter how fast the army advanced, it would take more than a month to capture Nemesis.

In the meantime, there was no law that said that Rudolf wouldn’t be able to operate the ancient ruins, so he planned on secretly destroying it.

He decided to lead his special troops which included Hwang Bo-sung and other Guard Knights.

However, someone noticed his movements.

‘I can’t leave this over to dad!’

Karen, who thought that, hid near the Symphonia palace a few days back, and waited for Luke to move.

And when Luke left with the troops, she immediately followed.

As El Kassel said, she had to end what she started.

Reina, who was busy dispatching the troops, and Luke, who were thinking about destroying the ruins immediately didn’t notice Karen’s movements.