Soon, someone discovered the corpse of the Holy City Guard's Count.
The news swept through the streets and alleys like wind, stirring up waves of panic.
But it no longer mattered.
Hyselins and Little March's mission had long been completed. The moment the "Assassinate the Empress" plan began, they had already cleared out all the Cleaners outside the small courtyard.
"Clean it up. Don't let blood defile Lord Demon God's residence."
"Yes!"
Wind swept up a few blood-stained withered leaves.
Subsequently, Hyselins led the Cerydra Legion in storming Augustin's manor, sealing away box after box of wealth and scroll after scroll of secret files.
The power and glory of the old nobility collapsed overnight.
Crowds discussed spiritedly.
At this time, Ryuga had already princess-carried Cerydra, continuing to purge the Council of Elders.
Everywhere they passed, hidden sentries fell, guards had throats slit, and one black shadow after another curled into twisted remains in wall corners.
The night had only just begun.
...
"Griffith, Governor of the Holy City's old royal dynasty, military commander of the border regions, responsible for maintaining the Holy City's security."
"The Lycaean Tyrant instigated internal chaos in Okhema, leaving the Holy City's periphery wide open—this was all caused by him."
Cerydra snorted coldly.
"You..."
Griffith's eyes widened. Wait, wasn't Cerydra supposed to be severely wounded in the abdomen from the attack? How was she completely unharmed?
"A traitor to the nation, huh?"
"Remember to choose sides more carefully in your next reincarnation."
The cold final words fell as blazing flames violently exploded in Griffith's chest.
Shadow Flame incinerated flesh and blood, charred blackness rapidly spreading into a massive void.
...
"Blum."
"Cerydra, how are you..."
"Holy City Bishop, responsible for all specific affairs of Okhema, including various taxes, laws, construction, and so on. In cahoots with the Icaria city-state, also one of Caenis's lackeys."
Cerydra didn't answer, merely reading out the charges one by one.
Everyone who needed purging was recorded in her mind.
BOOM~
Flames pierced through the chest.
"Violet, important member of the Council of Elders."
"Marcellus, Secretary of the Council of Elders, responsible for drafting documents, replying to letters, and such. The letters communicating with the enemy were handled by him."
"Augustus, Army Count, senior general of the Holy City. He was supposed to defend the outer fortress against the coalition forces but abandoned his post, causing chaos in the outer fortress's command and leading to its fall."
"Aubrey..."
As Cerydra's cold death-sentencing voice fell, names were crossed off the death register one by one.
Soon, over thirty Council of Elders members—whether colluding with the enemy, betraying the nation, or having connections with Caenis's faction—were all killed by Ryuga's chest-piercing flames.
How satisfying.
Cerydra only felt utterly refreshed.
"Who else?"
Looking at the empress in his arms, Ryuga smiled slightly. Light as a feather, only thirty kilograms.
About Qingque and Fu Xuan's height.
"Only two left."
Being carried in his arms the entire way, Cerydra's face was somewhat flushed.
Her little heart was pounding.
"Mm."
Ryuga nodded. One was Caenis, the other her most important deputy.
"The remaining small fries aren't worth troubling Lord Demon God."
"I think the citizens of Okhema will thoroughly enjoy this public opportunity I'm giving them to personally judge those vermin."
A hint of cold, beautiful smile flashed through Cerydra's eyes, playful yet tinged with mockery.
Ryuga smiled: "Mm, you understand popular support now?"
"Hmph, I'm not an idiot."
"So, um... could you put me down? I... I can actually walk on my own."
On the road, Ryuga had told her the story of the Solar Knight.
How could she not realize?
Cerydra's voice grew softer as she spoke, her ear tips flushing red, eyes downcast, gaze somewhat evasive, not quite daring to look directly at Ryuga.
Ryuga didn't respond.
Her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes tighter, her heartbeat like a startled fawn in the forest, 'thump thump' pounding against her chest.
Even her breathing became cautious.
"Let's talk after we're done."
Ryuga smiled.
Don't be fooled by her outward image as a cold, regal monarch—she was actually a 'little succubus.'
All her emotions could be seen from the 'succubus little wings' behind her waist.
For instance, when happy or excited, the little wings would flutter rapidly.
When angry, they'd flap up and down with great amplitude.
When nervous, they'd curl up.
Right now, they were fluttering like mad.
...
"Antonio."
"Count of the Holy Treasury of the Holy City, responsible for managing all the wealth of the entire Holy City."
"In league with Caenis, providing funding and locations for the Cleaners' activities, while Caenis helped him eliminate dissidents."
Cerydra looked coldly at the plump figure before her, comfortably half-reclined on a rocking chair, his belly protruding.
Ryuga's mouth twitched.
This guy must weigh three hundred pounds, right?
Since the Cleaners could replace personalities, why didn't he switch to a different body?
Hmm, maybe genetics?
"Hehe, Empress Your Majesty, I've already enjoyed a lifetime. Even if I die now..."
BOOM~
Shadow Flame once again pierced through his chest.
Ryuga hated this type of person the most—those who remained unrepentant.
He wouldn't give him a chance to finish speaking.
Antonio stared in disbelief, bloodshot veins instantly crawling densely across his eyeballs.
His obese chest heaved violently once, like a beached fat-headed fish making futile struggles on a dried riverbed.
Then, no more movement.
Those eyes filled with greed were covered by a layer of deathly gray-white stillness.
...
Cleaners' secret testing laboratory.
The girl was already unconscious, lying on the metal table. The Cleaners were preparing surgery to remove her spine.
Then extract Caenis's spine and replace it.
Somewhat like Spirit Cage's Spine Gu.
After connection, the memory personality would slowly overwrite the girl.
BOOM—!
Blazing tongues of fire like a mad dragon suddenly burst in, instantly sweeping through the entire laboratory, burning all the Cleaners into charcoal.
"Lord Demon God, you..."
Caenis trembled as she staggered backward.
Looking at the innocent girl on the table, Cerydra's eyes turned crimson, her silver teeth nearly grinding to dust: "Caenis, you truly deserve death!"
Between Ryuga's brows condensed an unmelting solemnity.
Such inhumane acts.
Must be killed!
Under the reflection of flames, his shadow was pulled infinitely long, like an ancient deity wielding judgment, accumulating fury capable of toppling the world in silence.
In the storyline, it was already the twenty-seventh generation of Caenis.
She wasn't an independent person, merely a fusion of twenty-seven generations—a shell filled with hatred and lust for power, wrapped in past memories.
"I'll leave it to you."
Ryuga's eyes signaled.
Caenis had assassinated countless Chrysos Heirs, including countless incarnations of Tribbie, as well as Aglaea.
He wanted to do it himself, but still left it to the little succubus.
Cerydra nodded, raising her hand and pointing: "Caenis, in the name of Okhema's monarch, I sentence you—to death!"
"No—Lord Demon God, I... I..."
Caenis shrieked in panic and unwillingness.
But before her words finished, they abruptly stopped.
Cerydra raised her hand and pointed. Instantly, brilliant crystal chess pieces condensed into form.
Twin horses neighed with heads raised high, carrying tremendous force as they thunderously collided!
BANG!
After the loud noise, Caenis was sent flying into the air like a withered leaf, bones shattering inch by inch under impact, flesh collapsing and withering under heavy pressure.
The twin horses didn't stop, again, again, and again...
They ran and collided tirelessly.
Until the body completely disintegrated into a sticky paste.
Only a head rolled into a corner, face twisted, eyes wide open, pupils still frozen with ultimate fear and unwillingness.
Mouth agape, still wanting to cry out, but only blood foam slowly overflowed.
Caenis was dead.
...
"Huff~, huff~"
"Satisfying!"
"Evildoers should die like this."
Cerydra said with disgust.
Ryuga smiled. No wonder she was called a 'tyrant.'
Hm?
In the chat group, Elysia was @ing him.
[Customer Service Pink Elf Miss]: "The human coalition has been defeated again. All technology and weapons are useless before the Herrscher of the Void. Tomorrow is her debut show. @Desert Reaper, are you still coming?"
[Desert Reaper]: "Of course."
Ryuga smiled. It was time to go recruit talents from the Previous Era.
Mobius, MEI, Vill-V, and such.
To be continued…