The throne room did not empty immediately. All of them remained in the same place to know more what is happening in the town.
Even after Kael's declaration the atmosphere remained heavy like the entire kingdom itself was holding its breath waiting to see what kind of ruler had just taken the throne.
Kael stood at the base of the steps he was no longer seated above everyone. That alone did not go unnoticed.
Shen Yao's eyes flickered slightly.
'A king who doesn't cling to the throne…Interesting'.
If the players would have got this role most would have remained seated issuing commands from a distance intoxicated by authority. But Kael had stepped down almost instinctively as if he had no intention of ruling from comfort.
Rodric however seemed to approve.
"The eastern region awaits orders Your Majesty."
Kael didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the official who had delivered the report.
"You said it's rebellion and disappearances of people."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Give me more details."
The man swallowed lightly under the pressure of Kael's gaze.
"The villages in the eastern territory have stopped paying taxes over the past month. Several local leaders claim the crown has failed to protect them."
A pause.
"They say sending resources is meaningless if people vanish overnight."
Shen Yao stepped slightly closer.
"Disappearances. Tell me the frequency of disappearances?"
The official responded quickly.
"At first week it was a single person but in one or two people disappeared every few weeks."
His voice grew tighter.
"But recently in upcoming weeks entire households had disappeared."
That changed things entirely about this situation. This was no longer a simple problem which can be solved and clear the floor.
Rodric's expression hardened.
"That is no longer simple situation my lord, not one or two but entire household gets disappeared this is a serious issue."
Kael nodded slightly.
"Yes, this is the serious we must consider at all costs and when I see this situation this instils fear in us so that we can't clear this floor."
He turned his gaze toward the massive open doors leading out of the throne hall.
"Fear creates rebellion faster than oppression ever could."
Shen Yao smirked faintly.
"Correct when fear creates, the opposite force takes advantage of it, so you understand what it means right?"
Kael understood what his master meant 'there is someone out there taking advantage of this situation, could he be the person who is doing all this, maybe let's see'.
"Who governs the eastern region?"
The official hesitated.
"A regional lord Your Majesty. Lord Halven."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And what has he done about it?"
Silence, that alone was enough of an answer.
"…Nothing" Kael concluded.
The official lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Veyron finally spoke.
"Then he is either collided with the forces or just incompetent to handle this situation".
Rodric added calmly,
"Either way, he is a suspect for now."
Kael turned slightly, glancing between the two.
Then "Prepare to move."
The words were simple but decisive.
The official looked up, startled.
"Y-Your Majesty? You will personally?"
"Yes."
Kael didn't hesitate.
"If I'm the king, then I deal with the problem directly."
Shen Yao chuckled under his breath.
"That's one way to establish authority."
Kael shot him a glance.
"Or the fastest."
The palace courtyard was vast.
Rows of soldiers stood in formation their armour gleaming under the pale sky. Warhorses were being prepared, supplies gathered, messengers running back and forth with urgency.
Kael stepped out followed by Rodric, Veyron and Shen Yao.
Everything stopped. Every soldier turned.
And then they knelt in perfect unison. The sound echoed across the courtyard.
"Your Majesty!"
Kael paused just for a moment and he was surprised about this situation which got unfolded and he started to measure something. Yes, the authority which was given to him instantly. From the looks of it there was no resistance, doubt and hesitation from him and also the subjects following him. This was not earned but granted to him because of the exceptional performance in 25th floor.
Which meant it could also be taken back.
"…Rise."
The soldiers stood immediately.
Rodric stepped slightly forward.
"The army is ready to mobilize."
Kael scanned them.
"How many?"
"Five hundred knights. Additional infantry can follow if needed."
Kael shook his head.
"No not needed."
Rodric blinked.
"No?"
Kael's voice remained calm.
"If I march with an army, it confirms their fear."
Shen Yao's eyes lit up slightly.
"Ah… I see your angle."
Kael continued,
"Rebellion fuelled by fear doesn't get solved by overwhelming force. It gets worse."
Veyron tilted his head slightly.
"Then we go with minimal force?"
Kael nodded. "Small unit is better and its Faster."
Veyron gave a smug face towards Captain Rodric. Captain Rodric was shocked because he thought he was just an undead with human form and slightly more intelligent, but to give a smug face he thinks he's more reliable than me, interesting challenge accepted.
Rodric crossed his arms.
"Small the number it will increases risk."
Kael looked at him.
"It also increases control."
A brief silence followed.
Then Rodric nodded.
"…Understood my majesty."
The ride was quiet because there was nothing to say but at the same time everyone is thinking on what to say at this situation
Kael rode at the front his posture steady his eyes fixed ahead.
Shen Yao rode beside him occasionally glancing at him with interest.
"You're adapting fast as a role of the king."
Kael didn't look at him.
"When you think about It I don't have time not to."
A faint smirk.
"You don't even question why the system chose this kind of trial?"
Kael finally responded,
"It doesn't matter why."
A pause.
"I just need to clear it."
Shen Yao chuckled softly.
"You're either very focused… or very reckless."
"Both works."
Behind them Rodric maintained formation with a small unit of elite knights.
Veyron moved silently like an assassin his presence barely noticeable despite being right there.
As they approached the eastern territory the atmosphere changed.
The roads became emptier. Villages appeared but lifeless around. Doors were shut. Windows closed. There were no children's, no farmers, not even one sound.
Kael slowed his horse.
"…They're watching us."
Shen Yao nodded.
"From inside."
Rodric's hand rested on his sword.
"This level of fear something is very wrong."
Kael dismounted.
"I will go in first."
Rodric immediately objected.
"That's too dangerous my majesty let us handle it from here."
Kael looked at him.
"If they see soldiers first, they won't talk."
A pause.
"They'll hide even more, even the information which we want right now"
Veyron spoke calmly "Or run."
Kael nodded "Exactly."
He stepped forward walking toward the nearest house. Kael removed is armour, removed his weapons if something happens, he can draw a weapon or make a barrier.
Just the presence was enough. He stopped at the door and knocked once, there was silence and after some time a faint sound was heard from inside
He heard movements and whispers.
The door creaked open slightly.
An old man peeked through his eyes filled with suspicion and fear.
"…Who are you?"
Kael looked directly at him.
"I'm a mercenary leader sent by the king to know what was happening in this eastern region."
The man's grip tightened on the door.
"…You…. it's another lie."
Kael didn't react instead he spoke simply.
"From the investigation we heard that people are disappearing."
The man froze.
"And also, you stopped paying taxes because you think the king abandoned you."
There was silence in the air.
Kael stepped closer.
"I didn't."
The man's eyes flickered.
"…Who are you?"
Kael met his gaze.
"…I'm here to solve this issue please cooperate with us."
A long pause.
Then the door slowly opened wider.
The house was dim.
A few others sat inside the old man's family members, all looking tense, all watching Kael like he was either their last hope or their next disappointment.
Shen Yao entered quietly behind him. Rodric and Veyron remained outside.
The old man spoke first.
"From past several weeks they come at night."
Kael listened.
"Initially there were no sound or warning. People disappeared left and right and all around us. And our family never ever came out of the house"
A woman added, her voice trembling,
"From past one week we see shadows something moves in the dark."
Shen Yao's expression sharpened.
Kael said, "Are those monsters?"
The old man shook his head.
"…Not like any we've seen."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Can you describe more about them."
Silence.
Then "…We can't."
Kale thought 'That was worse because of the fear of the unknown they do not who is the enemy around them and no signs of pattern.
Kael turned toward Shen Yao.
"This doesn't look like natural."
Shen Yao nodded.
"No. I feel this is controlled by someone."
Kael's gaze darkened slightly.
"Which means…"
"…Someone is behind it" Shen Yao finished.
Kael stepped back outside.
Rodric immediately approached.
"Well, any information my majesty?"
Kael looked toward the empty village.
"They're not rebelling because of the crown they fear"
A pause.
"It's because they are surviving."
Veyron spoke quietly.
"Then the enemy is not the innocent people."
Kael nodded.
"It never was in the beginning."
He turned toward Rodric.
"We set a trap tonight."
Rodric's eyes sharpened.
"…Tonight?"
"Yes."
Kael's voice was steady.
"If something is hunting them…"
A faint cold smile formed.
"…Then we let it come."
Darkness swallowed the village, there were no lights hovering around not even streetlights or house lights were on and not even a single movement from anyone around.
Everything was still too still.
Kael stood on the rooftop of one of the houses his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Rodric and his knights were hidden.
Veyron stood in the shadows.
Shen Yao leaned against a wall watching.
"Excited, isn't it?" he asked.
"It's my first time to do something other than the battle or fighting against the monsters and to become a detective its one of my Wish-list to be fulfilled."
Suddenly in that moment he felt it. A sudden shift in the barrier which he has released surrounding the entire town. He could feel the presence which was cold and wrong at the same time.
"…It's here."
The air grew heavier. The shadows moved in the middle of the night. They did not move naturally.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"Don't move until I say."
A whisper. Then a scream could be heard from inside one of the houses. Everything exploded into motion.
Kael dropped from the rooftop instantly. The door burst open and from inside he saw a figure.
No not a figure but a distortion of a figure.
Something looked humanoid but not fully formed.
Its body flickered like smoke.
Its face it Didn't exist. Only darkness.
The villager was being dragged pulled into that darkness.
Kael moved very fast.
His hand shot forward and grabbed the villager and at the same time the creature turned.
And for the first time It noticed him.
Silence. A brief, unnatural pause.
Then it jumped.
Kael's eyes glowed faintly.
"…Got you."
And the real battle of the 26th floor finally began.