A week later, Caster officially ascended the throne as the new Emperor.
The entire Empire was filled with laughter and joy, a universal celebration.
For the people of the Empire, the Emperor was not rely a symbol, nor a token, and certainly not a feudal slaver oppressing the populace. When Caster bowed his head to allow Morgan to place the crown upon him and listened to the proclamation read by the Pri Minister, Caster knew that his role as Emperor represented a responsibility, a trust, and the people’s hope for the future.
Just as Sigma had done in the past, leading his troops on campaigns in all directions, nearly exterminating the Catastrophe Legion of the West Continent, and then establishing this prosperous Empire, the people elevated the Emperor to a godlike status, and the Emperor, in turn, had the duty to create a peaceful and contented environnt for his citizens.
Following the coronation, Morgan began introducing Caster to each of the Civil Minister Knights present. Although Caster was familiar with so of them, beginning with Lancelot, they nonetheless tirelessly introduced themselves, their expertise, and their areas of skill.
Not everyone could be Sigma. Even though Caster had inherited Sigma’s power, the knights and civil ministers present didn’t expect him to imdiately display the valiant and invincible combat skills of Sigma. As Emperor, they hoped Caster would first learn the skills of recognizing and employing the right people.
After introducing the twenty-four Civil Minister Knights, Caster, at the urging of those present, reviewed each of his troops.
The Emperor’s Forbidden Army consisted of twelve divisions, each with five hundred n, led by twelve Seat Knights. Beyond these were the extraordinary reserves of the Forbidden Army. These reserves served in various capacities: so as Royal Court guards, so as patrolling soldiers across the Empire, and many more as local defense forces in other cities. They were both the spearhead and the rear guard. When active-duty mbers of the Emperor’s Forbidden Army were reduced due to war, these experienced reserves would imdiately fill their ranks.
The Empire had been established for two hundred years, and the numbers of the Emperor’s Forbidden Army had remained unchanged, thanks to that massive reserve force.
Where did these reserves co from?
From the people!
Thus, the Empire’s army and its people were virtually one. Knights protected the populace, and the protected people grew up to beco knights.
As Emperor, Caster needed to understand each division of the Forbidden Army: their strength, their preferred style of warfare, and their experience in battling the Catastrophe Legion, among other things.
After reviewing the Emperor’s Forbidden Army, next in line were the Catastrophe ssengers.
The Empire now had over two hundred witches, but not all witches were Catastrophe ssengers; after all, a considerable number of witches had only recently awakened and were not yet entrusted with significant duties. However, the active-duty Catastrophe ssengers, including Morgan, numbered 128 and were all present.
Likewise, as Emperor, Caster needed to gain as much understanding as possible of these Catastrophe ssengers’ abilities.
Of course, due to the large number of Catastrophe ssengers, if each one introduced themselves, it would inevitably waste a great deal of ti. Since Caster had already received a roster of all the Catastrophe ssengers, he could take his ti to familiarize himself with them later.
But for now, the most important thing was promises and oaths. As Emperor, Caster needed to pledge before everyone to maintain the status and treatnt of the Catastrophe ssengers and witches. Subsequently, led by Morgan, the Catastrophe ssengers would swear an oath to continue their loyalty to the Empire for the rest of their lives.
This was the coronation ceremony of the new Emperor of the Empire. There were no song and dance feasts, no exhibitions of rituals and music, only review after review after review of the troops.
Even during the entire review process, everyone, including Caster, was prepared for combat.
Because according to Morgan’s prophecy, during one of the Empire’s celebrations, the Catastrophe Legion would stage a surprise attack on the Imperial Capital, supported from within by converts. Though the exact details had not been revealed in the prophecy, the new Emperor’s coronation was certainly a celebration of the Empire.
However, even after the coronation had ended, no one spotted a trace of the Catastrophe Legion, and the soldiers patrolling in secret found not even a single convert, leaving everyone to busy themselves for nothing.
But Morgan’s prophecies were never wrong; if not this ti, then the next.
And the next ti...
"It’ll probably be the day the divine hall is completed," said Le Cheng with a smile.
By this ti, night had fallen, and the new Emperor’s coronation ceremony was long over. Le Cheng had taken the opportunity to visit Caster’s residence.
The day the construction of the divine hall is completed, the Empire will officially announce Gaia as the Guardian Deity of the Empire. If all goes well, Gaia’s power will pour into this world. anwhile, the Catastrophe Legion worships Khorne. Obviously, they would not allow such an event to occur and would certainly devise ways to sabotage it.
Although by the ti the Catastrophe Legion realizes Gaia’s descent, it might be too late, let’s not forget the existence of the converts—these half-committed fellows.
News about Le Cheng, the Divine Envoy, and Gaia had already spread widely in the Imperial Capital; it just hadn’t been officially declared yet. But certainly, the converts must have already gotten the ssage.
"So, if I were a convert, I would definitely choose to detonate en masse on that day, ruining the entire celebration," Le Cheng said.
Caster, who had been through an entire day of military review and was already very fatigued, instantly perked up upon hearing this and frowned, "Then how should we respond? Just like today, being on guard, I always feel it’s too passive. And if we let the converts blow themselves up within the city, it might lead to massive civilian casualties."
"You needn’t worry about that, I have actually found so converts already."
"Really?"
"Haven’t you noticed?" Le Cheng pointed to his chest, "Through soul visualization, we can see the soul form of each person. While the souls of most people are quite ordinary, the souls of converts are different. They don’t have a fixed form but are like a blaze of fire, fervent and impetuous, burning everything around them while also consuming themselves."
"You can even do that?" exclaid Caster.
Le Cheng retorted, "Can’t you see it?"
"No, it’s not that I can’t, it’s just... perhaps it’s because my soul visualization technique isn’t quite proficient. I can only see a vague outline of other people’s souls. For example, Guinevere’s soul, in my eyes, looks like an egg, round and plump."
"You’re the egg!" Guinevere imdiately protested upon hearing this, "My soul is clearly a cat, as Le Cheng has said!"
Le Cheng nodded; his cat form was copied from Guinevere, a fierce yet clingy kitten. However... when a cat curls up and lies still on the ground, and you blur its contour, it does indeed resemble an egg.
"I didn’t say you were an egg; I just said it looks like one."
"Even looking like one is not okay!"
Le Cheng raised his hand to halt their playful banter, "Anyway, I can identify the converts, so the rest is simple. Since you’ve just been crowned Emperor, you can use this as an excuse to launch an event to distribute so benefits to the people, trying to get everyone out of their hos. Then, I’ll look them over one by one, mark all the converts, and on the day the divine hall is completed, we’ll gather them all up and finish them off with a bang, for hell’s sake."
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