Chapter 153: Why Does Your Majesty Rebel?!
When it came to nobles, Noah would crush them without mercy.
However, how to deal with the members of the Senate and those officials was not something Noah had decided from the very beginning.
Noah gave them a chance.
That was, during the time Merlin was stirring up trouble, Noah would spare no effort to gather evidence of their crimes.
If they truly hadn't committed any major wrongdoings, then they could be stripped of their titles but spared their lives—even allowed to continue serving as officials.
But...
They disappointed Noah, and even disappointed Lucius.
These senators were not without merit, but their merits were far outweighed by their faults!
They initially supported Lucius's rise to power and tolerated his foolish behavior precisely because they wanted an emperor like Lucius—one who paid no attention to governance and wasn't particularly bright.
Only then could they pursue their own selfish ambitions.
If it weren't for Manaka Sajyou, Rome would have long since fallen apart.
Even with Manaka Sajyou, the Senate had still fortified their position as solidly as an iron barrel.
Even when Britain declared war on Rome, the military could see the flaws in the upper echelons' decisions, yet they endured and dared not speak the truth.
Even when Quintus made erroneous decisions, they dared not question them, only obey.
Then, during Odin's brief reign as emperor, no matter how sound his policies were, the senators would find ways to obstruct them.
Not a single one was passed, no matter how correct they were!
Therefore.
Noah sentenced them to death.
Or rather...
They left themselves no path to survival!
The troops Merlin brought to Rome were the Enforcement Knights.
Kay even came along.
Originally, according to Noah's expectations, the Enforcement Knights should have been busy suppressing all of Hibernia at this time and might not have been able to come. So, he told Merlin to bring any elite force he could, without specifying which one.
After all, Britain had the Divine Era Blessing, while Rome did not.
Britain's equipment had also been upgraded with alchemically synthesized metals, while Rome's had not.
So, to suppress just Rome City, any elite force would suffice.
But what Noah hadn't expected was that the Enforcement Knights suppressed Hibernia—in just three days!
At the time, Noah was puzzled. With so many people in the nations of Hibernia, even if they were pigs, it seemed impossible for Kay and his men to round them all up in three days!
But after Kay arrived, Noah listened to his report and understood.
Kay had first learned from Merlin about the significance of the piercing magic spear to Hibernia, and then had Merlin use it as a pretext to summon the rulers of the Hibernian nations.
After that...
—They were wiped out in one fell swoop!
The so-called Hibernian Allied Army was crushed head-on by the Enforcement Knights!
These Enforcement Knights, whose alchemical potions had mostly reached Level 3, with some even at Level 4, were still one tier away from all being Level 5 and fully equipped. But dealing with the Hibernian Allied Army was no problem for them!
Thousands against tens of thousands—such a massive numerical disparity—and Kay won the battle in one go, even pursuing the Hibernian Allied Army.
Then, in three days, with three battles and three victories, the nations of Hibernia surrendered!
So when Merlin said Noah needed an elite force in Rome this time, Kay and the Enforcement Knights immediately volunteered to come.
Naturally, other elite units in Britain disagreed.
Thus, a fierce competition erupted over this assignment back in Britain. Ultimately, after everyone acknowledged that the Enforcement Knights were indeed Britain's current top elite force, Kay led them to Rome.
Kay, wielding his piercing magic spear, along with the Enforcement Knights.
Under the cover of Merlin's Illusion Magic, such a team silently air-dropped near Rome City!
The tactical result of this was a dimensional reduction strike against the entire Rome City!
Rome City was not without garrison legions, but caught completely off-guard by the idea of anyone assaulting the city, they were subdued within mere clashes.
Those who intended to resist to the death surrendered upon seeing Lucius.
With them captured, the remaining nobles and officials naturally lost all capacity for resistance.
Essentially, after Quintus produced a fake Lucius to suppress the turmoil, Rome City was taken.
At the palace, members of the Senate, upon learning that the force that dismantled Rome's garrison was from Britain, began to stir.
"Britain... Damn it, how could those Britons fight their way here!?"
One official, blind to the situation, spoke thus.
But this time, the words that would usually garner unanimous agreement found no echo.
After this statement, the meeting first fell into silence, then an official spoke these words...
"Don't be so discourteous. Even if it is another nation, we should not be so barbaric—what 'damn Britons'? That is King Arthur and his army."
Upon realizing that British forces had already suppressed the entire Rome City, leaving them unable to call for aid or flee, in this meeting, Noah and the others quickly transformed from "damn Britons" into "King Arthur and his army," and ultimately advanced to "the great King Arthur, His Majesty, the Chosen King, the Roman Emperor recognized by the Pantheon, and his invincible army!"
This was the sole outcome of the meeting.
As for the rest...
These ministers and officials had no intention of resisting to the death.
If the enemy is at the gates, then surrender!
Hurry up and start the next round, don't waste time!
They quickly reached this conclusion, to which Manaka Sajyou smiled without comment.
Hearing that the upper echelons had discussed such a thing, the palace garrison legion was, of course, indignant!
They intended to defend to the death!
The palace garrison legion and the Court Mage Corps stood together, deciding to simply ignore those Senate members and hold out to the end!
Even if all were to die in battle, they would never surrender!
With this conviction, they deployed their defenses.
Each one was resolute in belief and absolutely without intent to betray Rome.
And then...
"You Senate rebels, still planning to resist to the end, huh!?"
Huh?
These defenders had prepared to fight Britain with all their might, but what they actually encountered was not the Enforcement Knights, but the garrison troops of Rome City.
Moreover, these seemingly traitorous fellows actually dared to turn on them upon meeting!
Just as they were both furious and bewildered, about to shout—"You bunch of traitors, what are you so proud of?"—they spotted several figures emerging from the opposing ranks.
Leading them was Noah.
And beside Noah...
—Isn't that our emperor, Sword Emperor Lucius!?
Then...
We, your subjects, were prepared to fight to the death—why has Your Majesty rebelled!?