The Dark Shadow Empire Royal Palace, in front of the main hall.
“Liliz, I want to see Her Highness.”
“Prince Vigelsa, Her Majesty is discussing an important matter with Uncle Frentz; no one is to disturb.”
“I have something important to tell Her Majesty. If it’s delayed, can you bear the responsibility?”
“Sorry, Prince Vigelsa, Liliz has the duty…”
“Pa!” A slap in the face sounded.
“Hmph! How dare a mere servant stop me from reporting urgent matters to Her Majesty?”
Liliz, who had 5 red marks on her face, was not afraid. With a wave of her hand, she was about to launch a signal to call the imperial guards to make a move. The man behind Prince Vigelsa took a step forward. Before there was any movement, Liliz felt the pressure of terrifying momentum locking on her, keeping her immobile.
“Liliz…” Catherine’s voice sounded from the main hall. Liliz felt the oppressive momentum collapsed instantly, “Bring them in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Liliz entered the main hall with Prince Vigelsa and his subordinate. In the main hall, Catherine sat on the throne, and beside her was Uncle Frentz. During Catherine’s ‘closed-door training’, as the uncle of Her Majesty Empress and the most senior prince in the royal family, Frentz acted as Regent on behalf of the empress. Then, when Catherine ended the training, Frentz immediately resigned and returned the power to Catherine.
Prince Vigelsa looked about 30 years old. He looked personable and handsome. Looking at the veiled Demon Realm’s top beauty on the throne, a greedy expression flashed in Vigelsa’s eyes. He bowed from a distance and said, “Your Majesty! Your Highness Frentz, please forgive my rudeness because there’s the latest top-secret intel that I want to report to Your Majesty.”
Catherine did not ask him to sit as she usually would. Instead, she said indifferently, “Tell me, Vigelsa.”
“I received the latest news that 3 days later, the Fallen Angel Empire will…”
Catherine’s faint voice interrupted him, “3 days later, the military parade ceremony will be held, and they plan to broadcast to the entire Demon Realm through magic television. The news I got yesterday is the top secret intel you said?”
Vigelsa showed an awkward expression, “It turns out that Your Majesty already has plans. It seems that I have been worried in vain, but there is one more thing. In a month, the martial battle championship of Raizen the Great will be held. Your Majesty should participate by then, right?”
Catherine nodded slightly, “I have received an invitation letter written by Raizen.”
Vigelsa immediately said, “This martial battle championship is no trivial matter. Raizen will play in person. It can be described as extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Your Majesty must consider it carefully.”
“What do you think I need to consider carefully? For example… the candidate for the crown prince?” Catherine showed a contemptuous smile behind the veil.
“Your Majesty is wise!” Vigelsa said seriously, “Although it may be offensive to discuss this topic, this is an aspect that must be considered as a controller of the empire.”
“You’re right.” Catherine suddenly changed her tone, “You broke into the main hall against my order to give me this so-called ‘reminder’?”
Vigelsa’s expression froze. He bowed his head and said, “I’m just dedicated to the empire. I ask for Your Majesty’s forgiveness for my rudeness. I’ll leave now.”
“Wait a minute.” Catherine’s voice was a little more stern, “Who hit Liliz in the face just now?”
Vigelsa was shocked, “Your Majesty. It’s just a misunderstanding…”
“Rojef, formerly known as Tusitan, intermediate stage of the Demon Overlord. Mammon Royal Family, good at disguise and transformation techniques. Lurking around Vigelsa for many years as a trusted confidant.”
Catherine’s indifferent voice shocked the man behind Vigelsa, and his first reaction was to pounce on Vigelsa. Vigelsa was caught off guard and was caught in the throat by his confidant, Rojef.
“As expected of Catherine the Great, you have actually seen through my identity a long time ago.” Rojef’s hand exuded a faint black mist, “With Your Majesty’s vision, you should be able to see that my dark element power has eroded into His Highness Vigelsa’s soul. I can crush her soul in just a thought. I just want to get out of here safely now. Your Majesty, please let me live. Otherwise, this Prince Royal Highness will accompany my death.”
“Trying to threaten a ruler… you’re not qualified.” As Catherine shook her head slightly, light flashed in her black eyes. Rojef trembled. Starting from the hand that grabbed Vigelsa’s neck, his body turned into pieces of ashes and dissipated.
Vigelsa, who escaped death, took a few steps back tremblingly, stood unsteadily, and fell to the ground. The calmness and temperament just now were gone.
Catherine gave Vigelsa a disdainful look, “Now, you can leave. If you dare to break into the main hall next time, you know the consequences… When you go out later, apologize to Liliz and I’ll forget about this matter.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Vigelsa scrambled his way out in cold sweat.
Watching Vigelsa leave, Frentz, who had been silent, said, “Your Majesty’s strength is getting stronger and stronger. It seems that the harvest of this closed-door training is quite large, but… if my old eyes are not mistaken, that Rojef’s power has already eroded into Vigelsa’s body. If he doesn’t get treated, he will become unconscious for a long time even if he doesn’t die. When Your Majesty was still a princess, Vigelsa once coveted Your Majesty’s beauty. He has not thought about making progress all these years and only knows to use small tricks. This time he even delusionally wants to become the crown prince. This hopeless man is really courting his own death.”
“Uncle has always been sharp in vision.” Catherine smiled slightly. She just did it on purpose just now. Vigelsa had been coveting her beauty and the throne behind her. It was fine if he really had the talent, but he was a loser. His ability did not match his wildness at all. It was just that the prince’s identity was somewhat special and it was a critical period now. Just in case, Catherine made a firm decision and used the enemy’s hand to get rid of this prince who might cause harm to the empire.
Frentz sighed, “I’ve been wrong about 1 person in my life and it almost ruined my daughter’s entire life. I regret not following your advice in the first place.”
Catherine knew who he was talking about and comforted him, “Forget it, uncle. The past is over. I heard that now Medilu has found the man he likes.”
Frentz smiled wryly, “Forget it. That bastard… haiz. Anyway, Medilu is settled down now. Okay, let’s not talk about that. Let’s continue our discussion just now.”
Catherine nodded, “Generally speaking, military parades are held in secret. Even if it is a celebration, it is only a formal military parade. Now the armistice agreement of the 3 empires is about to expire, and the Fallen Angel Empire suddenly announced that the military parade would be broadcast live through magic television at this time. I don’t know what the intention is. Unless Shea can have the power that deters Raizen or me, this military parade will only be self-defeating… For some reason, I’m a little uneasy. It feels like something big is about to happen.”
Frentz frowned, “It stands to reason that this is the calm before the storm. It’s not a good opportunity for Your Majesty or Shea and Raizen to make a move. As for Vigelsa, it’s just a small trick.”
“That’s right.” Catherine couldn’t figure out why, “Maybe I’m overthinking it.”
At this time, Liliz hurried in, “Your Majesty, Finance Minister Ayer has an emergency.”
“Let him in.” Catherine was slightly startled. Something that could be called an ‘emergency’ by Finance Minister Ayer was definitely not an ordinary matter. Therefore, Liliz rushed to report directly after considering it.
Soon, Finance Minister Ayer walked into the main hall. Finance Minister Ayer was a tall, thin middle-aged man with a shrewd face, but his expression was a little panicked now, “Your Majesty. Bad news, there’s a problem at the bank!”
“Bank?” Catherine was startled. She was in ‘closed-door training’ after Frentz ordered the establishment of an empire bank following the Fallen Angel Empire. By the time she came out, the banks had spread all over the estate. Since the 3 empires were vigorously establishing empire banks, and the income they had brought was considerable, Catherine did not deny Frentz’s decision. Since the development of the bank, it was very popular. Almost everyone had a magic card.
“It’s like this. Originally, due to various reasons, bank liquidity has begun to shrink. Recently, rumors have been circulating in all corners of the 3 empires, saying that the armistice agreement has expired, and the 3 empires are about to start a war again. Therefore, the currency will depreciate, and the food that can be bought with a white crystal coin may only be bought with a black crystal coin, etc. Although this rumor has gradually subsided with the efforts of various places, I don’t know why it suddenly spread rampantly these days. More and more people are withdrawing money. Since this morning, there have been long queues at the gates of the capital banks to withdraw money. If this continues, the magic crystal coins in the bank’s reserves will soon be exhausted. Once there is no money…”
Once this happened, not only the credibility of the empire would be greatly damaged, but also a series of terrifying consequences. Catherine immediately understood the seriousness of this matter, and her face became extremely solemn, “How long can the emergency fund of the national treasury last?”
“Let’s not talk about the various estates, as far as the capital bank is concerned, it will last at most 3 days.” Finance Minister Ayer said with a bitter smile, “If this frenzy of money withdrawals continues.”
“Why is the gap so big?” Catherine was shocked, and Frentz also showed a horrified expression. It was like a sudden fatal blow.
“Before this rumor started, there had been a number of large loans with long-term agreements. According to recent investigations, this seems to be the case with various estate banks. I suspect … that someone deliberately manipulated it.”
“According to someone, it’s like the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Catherine’s eyes trembled slightly as if recalling something from ‘someone’. “Finance Minister Ayer, 2 things. First, immediately mobilize all available funds to deal with this crisis; second, investigate the details of those long-term loan account holders and where the funds are going. No matter what method is used, we must get through this crisis!”
“Yes!”
“Liliz, immediately summon the ministers to the main hall for an emergency meeting.”
After Liliz and Finance Minister Ayer left, Catherine took a deep breath and gradually calmed down, “Uncle, it seems that we all misunderstood. In this most unlikely situation, the opponent actually made a move. Furthermore, this move hit a critical spot that we didn’t expect.”
Frentz nodded solemnly, “It’s really unexpected. Such an unprecedented method is almost impossible to guard against!”
“If I guess right, Raizen must have the same problem as us right now.” Catherine’s hand tightened on the armrest of the throne. “What a bloodless and deadly attack! I see, it turns out that after the 3 empires armistice agreement, he has already planned this attack… that damn guy!”
TL: Oh no no, don’t make your wife angry. Now she even got his daughter…
