Chapter 255

#255 Episode: Tin Knight and the Empire’s Banquet (5)

– First Exam <Sieve>

– Applicants: 84,197.

– Passers: 4,694. That’s 306 less than the originally planned 5,000.

– Exam Content and Significance

(…)

– Specifics by Exam Location.

– Exam Location 1

All participants from the Lenart Duke family eliminated by the Tin Knight and Dorothea Aschengard.

– Exam Location 2

Maris von Lenart and her group dominated over half the quota and passed.

– Exam Location 3

All participants from the Lenart Duke family eliminated by Adelheid von Lenart and Sophia Hubris.

– Exam Location 4

Lenart Dojo trainees made up over half the quota and passed.

– Exam Location 5

Alingd Goodwitch and her wizard contingent passed smoothly. There was some conflict with a few from the Lenart Dojo, but no clashes with the main family.

– Exam Location 6

The Patriotic Youth Corps clashed with members of the Lenart family. Many casualties occurred on both sides, but the Patriotic Youth Corps narrowly emerged victorious.

Flap.

The pages of the report, exuding a subtle floral scent and smooth texture, turned as the veiled eyes scanned the letters amidst the white spaces.

Somewhere, the Empress claimed victory; elsewhere, Lenart gained the upper hand. However, the most common outcome was surprisingly that both sides advanced to the next exam without a clear winner or loser.

It couldn’t be helped.

Unless you had no choice but to eliminate your opponent to pass, why would you risk facing off against tough contenders when weaklings were strewn about?

So.

– Exam Location 13

Hilda von Lenart. Participated alone without other allies from the family. Slaughtered all other participants who did not forfeit. Passed as the sole survivor.

This was an act bordering on madness, disregarding any forethought.

Unless.

“…Are they trying to provoke us or something? They seem irreverent.”

Empress Meridia.

At the quiet slip of her words, a minister waiting with the submitted report felt his entire body go rigid.

The expression of the veiled Empress was unreadable, but it was evident that she harbored considerable displeasure.

He knew well that this feeling was not directed at him, yet the awe surrounding her was enough to send chills down his spine.

Empress of the Empire. Guardian of the Royal Family.

In the past, there were those who maliciously mocked her as just a ‘beautiful woman with nothing else to offer’ and ‘a witch who devours her offspring to maintain youth,’ but those critics had either been removed one by one during her regency or met even worse fates as karma caught up with them.

Recalling the stories of various royals who plotted against the young Crown Prince only to meet ‘accidental deaths,’ the minister swallowed hard.

“Is this all there is regarding Werner von Lenart?”

“Yes. After returning to the capital from Nemea Castle, he’s been holed up at home without making any special moves. He didn’t participate in the recruitment exam either.”

“Is that so.”

The Empress’s demeanor was regal, and every movement radiated an air of unapproachable grace.

There was no hint of the naïve lady that showed when she was alone with the South Witch.

While still adjusting the details of the second exam and deciding on investigations and responses to key individuals, a guard standing at the door to the Empress’s room alerted her of a new visitor.

It was an unexpected and sudden arrival without prior notice.

Considering that many nobles were eagerly awaiting even a brief exchange with the Empress, this was exceedingly rude and unusual. Still, no displeasure could be detected from the Empress upon receiving her guest.

“Mother. Were you in the middle of work? Did I interrupt?”

“Not at all. I was just about to take a break, so your timing is perfect.”

At the Empress’s warm words, the Crown Prince’s face softened.

Despite trying to maintain a dignified demeanor, he was still just a boy on the verge of his tenth birthday.

Compared to seasoned political players, he had much room for growth.

Many voiced concerns about whether it was too early for such a young boy to be the head of the vast Empire, but the Empress thought differently.

‘Experience can be gained once he sits upon the throne. But the chance to sweep away those dangerous individuals might not come again.’

Now, with the formidable Magical Kingdom rendered incapable of external projection due to internal struggles.

With information spread from the Tower of Control, cracks of suspicion and chaos had begun surfacing within the Lenart family.

She firmly believed that this moment was the perfect opportunity to eliminate threats to her son.

As she ruffled the young Crown Prince’s hair, the Empress’s gaze held a chilling light.

***

The exams continued, and with each round, numerous candidates were eliminated.

Notably, many names related to the Lion Duke’s bloodline appeared on the disqualification list.

Members of the Lenart Duke family were astonished.

“Lord Feldoeus was eliminated in the second exam? By a monster wearing a puppet mask no less!?”

“The disqualification rate for our bloodline is far too high. Over three hundred participated, and we have barely one hundred and fifty left!”

“While the Patriotic Youth Corps and the Empress’s forces may not be terribly powerful, the problem lies with the wizards under the Archmage’s command. They seem to have completely disregarded their own chances of passing in a bid for mutual destruction!”

You could argue that in the first exam where eighty thousand were reduced to five thousand, a fifty percent pass rate was astounding, but the Duke’s perspective was different.

That three hundred was the number of direct descendants with golden blonde hair, the heirs of the Lion Duke.

Each one was supremely skilled enough to be sanctioned as the Empire’s elite.

As long as they weren’t forced to directly clash with the wizards from the South Witch’s faction or with each other, they were ‘naturally’ expected to remain until the very end.

“Still, we have plenty of other forces still under our influence, so let’s not be so pessimistic…”

“This is a matter of symbolism!! If the direct descendants keep falling while only secondary students and military officers remain, will people accept that as our family’s strength?”

Of course, it was only to be expected that the three hundred direct descendants were not the entirety of the Lenart Duke family’s strength.

The disciples from the dojo, elite knights from established alliances, and strong military figures.

They had many forces still available, and plenty had advanced without being disqualified.

The royal family had ultimately decided to select one thousand individuals in this recruitment exam.

Of course, that was only the initial recruitment. Everyone knew that number could very well increase later.

However, even if more people were added, surpassing the influence of the initial candidates and leaders would be almost impossible.

Therefore, the plan was to secure the command posts with blood relatives and instill a significant force among the soldiers to control the Emperor’s direct military.

But if the underlings, who were meant to serve those blood relatives, were the only ones left?

Even if that happened, it wouldn’t be impossible to fill in the gaps, but it would undoubtedly look bad.

Most critically, unlike blood relatives, these recruits were intertwined through mutual interests, making them inherently untrustworthy.

For now, the family’s power was strong; that was fine, but if the Duke’s influence waned and the time dragged on, who could say how things might unfold?

“We need to take some precautions!!”

“Precautions? What do you suggest we do? The exam is overseen by the royal family, and unless it’s explicitly disadvantageous to us, there’s no way to intervene from the outside.”

“Still, we can’t just sit back like this! What if an imperial direct army forms and turns against us?”

“Isn’t that a bit overkill? What’s the big deal if one army is formed? How strong could it possibly be?”

“What if we get complacent and things deteriorate to the point of no return?!”

“That’s right! We need to act immediately!”

“Could we request His Majesty to take some action?”

“I’ve already tried that. But His Majesty merely said, ‘Earn your place with strength,’ and nothing more…”

“How frustrating can this be!!”

“Not to mention the Empress! How long has our family dedicated itself to this Empire!!”

Dissatisfaction directed at the royal family for their seeming disregard.

The anxiety of possibly losing the power they currently enjoyed.

As if feeding on those negative emotions, murmurs of unrest began circulating.

“Is there any longer a reason to remain loyal to such a royal family?”

“Why does His Majesty keep asking us to be patient? What exactly have we done wrong?”

“If it weren’t for the Lenart family, the Empire wouldn’t even exist! To use us recklessly and then label us as potential traitors, what on earth is this strange behavior?”

It was not yet a toxic poison that could infect the entire Lenart family.

There were undoubtedly those who harbored love for the Empire, loyalty and trust towards the family head, and honor as warriors, so the Duke’s family was not without support.

However, the continuous external pressure had weakened the moderates and neutrals, forcing them to listen to the radical voices.

Watching this unfolding scene from the shadows, the Elder Council Leader quietly smiled.