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Chapter 505: The Council Meeting
Imperial Council Building, Senate.
This special chamber was located at the very top of the building, equipped with one-way magical mirrors that provided a panoramic view of Isthalia, allowing for surveillance of every corner of the city.
Compared to the main council hall, which could accommodate tens of thousands, the Senate chamber was much smaller, consisting only of a round table and several dozen seats.
However, only the true elite of the empire could participate in this chamber, where national policies and strategies were formulated.
One could say that the Senate was the true political heart of the Ember Empire, the place where its future was decided.
At this moment, within the Senate chamber, the three Grand Dukes—Langpu, Dolo, and Medrolash—sat at the forefront. As the "Pillars of the Empire," their importance was unquestionable.
Also present were Gold-Fang, leader of the kobold tribes; Guillermo, Minister of Technology; Alger, Commander of the Crimson-Scaled Guards; Anthony, Chief Knight of the Dragon-Oath Sanctum; and Misha, the Dragon Pact Sorcerer of the Tower of Inferno.
Anyone seated here held at least the rank of marquis—individuals capable of swaying events within the empire.
"Why has this Senate meeting been called so suddenly?"
"Indeed, by tradition, the next session should be in three days."
"Could something urgent have happened?"
"It wouldn't be—"
"Bang! Bang!"
Langpu tapped the edge of the table with his staff, the dull sound immediately drawing everyone's attention to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen—"
He cleared his throat.
"For nearly a year, the empire has been in a state of caution. I know many of you have been dissatisfied. Now… it is time for change."
"His Majesty has awakened from his slumber. That is the reason I have urgently summoned you all here."
Instantly, the chamber fell silent, all eyes turning toward the grand yet currently vacant throne at the end of the round table.
Across the room, various expressions flickered—anticipation, excitement, tension.
For the Prime Minister of the Empire had just delivered monumental news— His Majesty had awakened and would soon arrive at the Senate.
"Shhh—"
Under the expectant gazes of all, space in front of the throne began to ripple and distort.
Cassius, clad in deep crimson imperial robes and wearing a crown, appeared before them, followed closely by Olivia, who held a bundle of official documents.
"Your Majesty!"
All members of the Senate rose in unison, bowing toward the throne, placing their right fists over their hearts in a standard salute of loyalty.
Olivia quickly avoided the direction of their salute, hurrying to take her seat in the second row.
Cassius took his seat on the throne naturally, pressing his palm down to indicate they should sit. "No need for formalities. Please, be seated."
Even now, he still felt uncomfortable in his humanoid form, finding it too restrictive. If not for the limited space in the Senate, he would have much preferred his red dragon form.
Leaning lazily against one armrest, Cassius propped his chin with one hand and spoke calmly: "It has been some time. I trust you all know more about the empire's recent affairs than I do. For instance—"
He deliberately paused.
"The Abyssal Demons."
Cassius then turned his gaze toward the Senate members, clearly inviting them to express their views freely.
"Bang!"
Dolo immediately slammed his hand on the table, exhaling white smoke as he roared in anger: "Those abyssal pests have gone too far!"
He turned to Langpu, pointing at the wound on his ear. "Your Majesty, just look at what they did to Lord Langpu's ear!"
"They dared to openly attempt an assassination on the Prime Minister! This is a blatant insult to the empire!"
"And yet we have done nothing in retaliation. It is a disgrace! Do you know what the people of the empire are saying—"
"The demons are getting too arrogant!"
"Yes, my own city has also been attacked by demons. They are everywhere."
The chamber quickly filled with voices of anger, many expressing their outrage over the demons' increasing audacity and openly supporting Duke Dolo's stance.
Langpu, despite being the subject of discussion, remained completely at ease, leisurely sitting in his seat.
Dolo's so-called "concern" for Langpu's injuries was, in truth, a veiled attack against the Prime Minister's cautious policies, aiming to rally Senate support against him.
Misha furrowed her brows, standing up to interject: "The demons are indeed becoming rampant. I personally slew the Incubus in Isthalia. However, launching an offensive into the Abyss is unrealistic."
"During my time dealing with devils in the Fire Elemental Plane, I gathered much information about the Abyss."
"The traditional records suggest there are 666 layers of the Abyss—each filled with filth and blood, swarming with endless demons under the rule of various Abyssal Lords."
"Unless we can take control of Pazunia, any attempt to invade the Abyss would be nothing more than a futile expenditure of resources."
The faces of Dolo and the other military-aligned members darkened, but the more academically inclined members, those well-versed in the multiverse, nodded in agreement.
After all, they understood that the so-called "counterattack against the Abyss" was little more than an empty slogan.
Langpu nodded in approval, tapping his staff against the floor. "Our true enemy is the so-called 'Vengeance Demon' Jezal Slak, a demon lord whose domain is unknown, lost to time over the past ten thousand years."
"At present, the enemy lurks in the shadows while we remain exposed. Acting recklessly without proper intelligence would be foolish. However—"
The ogre archmage grinned, his grotesque face forming a smile.
"Now that His Majesty is awake, we can finally act without restraint and confront the demons head-on."
"His Majesty foresaw the demonic invasion through prophecy, and I have long been making preparations for this moment."
Dolo's expression darkened further, while Langpu turned his gaze toward the emperor, his eyes filled with expectation.
"Snap!"
Cassius did not speak. Instead, he simply snapped his fingers.
A massive magical projection materialized in midair, displaying a vast expanse of mountains, with towering snow peaks visible in the distance.
"That's Mount Thierry!"
"I've been there before."
Several people recognized it. Mount Thierry was the most famous peak in the Anstica Mountain Range, known as "The Backbone of the North."
Suddenly, a colossal black claw tore through the sky, ripping open an abyssal rift hundreds of meters wide.
A tide of grotesque, nightmarish demons poured out, their twisted forms blotting out the sky, casting chaotic shadows upon the land.
"Rooooaar!"
The image abruptly cut off.
Cassius' calm and steady voice echoed through the Senate chamber:
"According to prophecy, the Abyssal demons will launch a full-scale invasion of Anzeta— And the invasion begins in one month."
Raising his draconic scepter from the throne, Cassius stood up.
The entire Senate followed suit, all eyes locked onto their emperor, filled with anticipation, tension, and fervor.
Half-dragons, ogre archmages, hobgoblin warriors, Dragon-Oath Paladins, and kobolds bearing the appearance of standing red dragons—
These were the empire's mightiest warriors, each bearing dragon blood as potent as a true dragon's offspring, with challenge ratings exceeding ten.
Cassius surveyed them all, his gaze sharp and unwavering. Then, curling his lips into a cold smile, he spoke:
"Ladies and gentlemen—
A new war has begun."
Led by Langpu, the entire Senate once more placed their right fists over their hearts and declared in unison:
"For the Empire!"