Chapter 191

Gabelin was a large metropolis, meaning that it also came with a huge administrative bureaucracy in tow. To spread out its weight, different government offices were divided among the districts. The Department of Administrations headquarters, in particular, was a five-story building that helped oversee the entire Empire. On a daily basis, it would busily sift through all citizen inquiries and complaints. In the waiting room on the ground floor, people watched Isaacs trial on screen.

Whats he saying?

People looked to their colleagues, confused by Isaacs declaration, but those who had been waiting bolted up and unsheathed their weapons hidden beneath their clothes.

Bang bang bang!

People screamed and dropped to the ground at the sound of gunfire. The Empire had previously released information about the other worlds weapons, so the general populace was well aware of the firearms power and distinct sound.

When people first learned about the existence of firearms, they were shocked by its ability to deliver death faster than their eyes could follow and the thundering sound that followed.

But they soon learned that what seemed like a powerful weapon was, at its core, just a ballistic weapon using gunpowder to fling projectiles at a target. The Empire revealed its repeater crossbow, which far surpa.s.sed that of firearmsin the peoples eyes, firearms werent much of a threat in comparison.

Of course, reports of the other worlds main weapons of war at land, sea, or air sent waves of panic through military personnel. But the Empire quickly called for the development of similar weapons, to which the military eagerly stepped up. But to ordinary citizens, firearms were just as threatening as the repeater crossbows.

Everybody get down! We will kill anyone who resists!

Group 3 stand by, Groups 1 and 2, clear the floors above us. Captured the Commissioner alive. Move!

What are you doing!

Bang!

One of the office workers stood up, only to be shot down a moment later. Screams pierced the building, everyone quaking in fear.

After corralling everyone into a corner, they began setting bombs on the buildings pillars. Gunfire echoed from floors above, and a group of people poured out from the stairs soon after.

The Commissioner?

Hes secured.

A middle-aged man was dragged down the stairs. He seemed to have resisted, as his face was bruised and b.l.o.o.d.y. Brolen, who had been appointed Commissioner a short while ago, didnt understand what was happening.

Who are you guys?

You should already know.

Thats why Im asking, you traitors.

The armed men smirked. The man who seemed to be their captain kicked Brolen down.

Well gladly go down as traitors if its for the Empire.

Kuk!

The employees rushed to Brolens aid. One of the armed men who had been planting the bombs shouted.

Charges are set!

Good! Kick everyone out except for the high officials!

With that, the soldiers shoved the people in the lobby out of the building. Everyone broke out in a full sprint the moment they were out of the lobby, relieved to have escaped.

The armed men truly caught them with their pants down. Most of the executive branchs employees had left the building to help maintain public order in case of an emergency at the festival or diplomatic event.

Otherwise, the entire building wouldnt have fallen so helplessly to a group of mere five or six men, even if they were armed. The tax department especially was the executive branchs muscle, since some of its employees were retired Central agents.

Commissioner Brolen and the heads of each of the branches were roughly escorted to the centre of the lobby. Brolen was silently cursing himself for not training in his spare time when he realised something as he looked at the hostages.

I dont see the heads of construction, taxes, and patents?

One of the heads blurted in between sobs.

Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds killed our

Brolens face hardened. He shot up and shouted.

Do you truly plan to destroy the Empire!

The heads of the three departments Brolen mentioned were all non-humans. High-ranking non-humans within the Empires bureaucracy were likely notable individuals in their own races, and non-humans were very sensitive to each and every casualty of their own to begin with. They were sure to hold the Empire responsible for these deaths.

Formerly the Vice-Director of Strategy during his time with Central, Brolen knew exactly how vital non-human cooperation was in these dire times. These deaths were no mere casualties. The captain of the armed men approached the anguished Brolen.

Wasnt it a matter of time anyway? This is humanitys last stand. You should just stay and watch.

The Aegis was a satellite city of Gabelin. It was a residential area for the Empires Capital Defence Force, where soldiers and their families resided.

The Capital Defence Force always kept a handful of strike teams on call at all times, and it immediately sprang into action when all the reports flew in from the many districts.

The police headquarters has been demolished? Theres a hostage situation at the Department of Administrations headquarters, and the only thing thats unscathed is the fire department. Ha, all this ruckus just because they couldnt even handle that? This is why you humans are Tsk!

McCain, Commander of the Capital Defence Force, grumbled about the situation in the control room. The humans tightly gripped their fists underneath their desks.

It wasnt particularly strange to see non-humans sitting at a high position within the Empires bureaucracy, considering their long lifespans and formidable physical capabilities.

But McCain had replaced the previous commander at the behest of the radicals to monitor the Emperor and crush him if he were to do anything suspicious.

As expected of someone who despised humans, his blatant favouritism towards non-humans and constant criticism of humans sent waves of unrest through his men. But McCain didnt care for it. In fact, any who complained about it were transferred to a remote location.

Gabelins fire department has requested a.s.sistance.

The commander replied to his human advisor with utmost disdain.

The army has to mobilise over something like this?

Hehehe. Youre completely right, sir. The fire department should just handle it all.

Everyone in the control room looked at the vice-commander with disdain as he continued to b.u.t.ter the commander up with praise.

He had been well-respected by his men, but his true nature came to light when the new commander arrived. The commander looked at his vice-commander with annoyance.

You dare treat me like you, a spineless human? I dont enjoying cleaning up the messes of you stupid humans, but I don t have any interest in neglecting my duties. Declare an emergency, and mobilise the first-response strike team.

Everyone was quite relieved to hear the Commanders order, but the vice-commanders grumling paralysed the room.

You should have stayed put.

What?

The Commander turned his head in utter disbelief at what he had just heard. The last thing he saw was a repeater crossbow pointed at his face.

Stab stab!

The Commander failed to even react as bolts flew at his face at point-blank range. His body fell onto the ground, his face now a pin cus.h.i.+on.

W, what are you doing!

Security!

The men fell into panic for a moment before calling for security. The vice-commander spoke to them grimly.

Im sorry. Die for the Empire.

G, get down!

The vice-commander took off his coat, revealing countless claymores lining his body from top to bottom. The military officers in the control room were well aware of that weapon, as they had a keen interest in the weapons of the other world. The officers screamed. Soon, a loud explosion reverberated through the building, followed by thousands of steel fragments ricocheting through the control room.

Gabelin was originally designed as a fortress city capable of defending against any invasion. That was why there were only a limited number of roads where a ma.s.sive number of people could pa.s.s through.

And in order to go from one district to another, they had to pa.s.s through checkpoints. Walls overlooked strategic checkpoints. Guards were always on patrol atop these walls and at the gates, checking the ident.i.ties of those pa.s.sing through.

On special occasions, the volume of people pa.s.sing through the gates typically swelled. The guards prepared themselves for what they expected to be an exhausting day, only to find the streets empty once the broadcast started.

Wow. Have you ever seen the streets so empty in broad daylight?

One of the guards spoke to his compatriots, scanning the empty streets in surprise. A soldier who was leaning on a wall spoke, yawning.

I guess theyre all holed up in their houses, watching the broadcast.

Man. I wish I could watch too.

Whats the point? Hes going to be executed anyway.

Who knows? Maybe his followers will stage an attack to rescue him.

Idiot. Thats exactly why theyre holding the trial in the inner plaza. I dont know if hes got anyone left, and even if there were, how could they possibly infiltrate the royal palace?

No. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d smuggled technology from the other world before anyone else did. He could usewhats it calleda plane and fall from the skies.

Drop in from the sky when there are so many guards here? Itd be more plausible if they dropped those things they call bombs instead. But the entire city of Gabelin is a no-fly zone, so the entire place will go into an emergency state the moment we even see an airs.h.i.+p.

But his followers will have weapons from the other world. Wouldnt he use some innovative method?

Their trinkets did look strange at first, but they arent much once you know what they are.

The leaning soldier scoffed as he shot down the other guards speculation again and again. Much of the fear and mystique of the firearm had disappeared after Isaac failed to kill even a single person in the Gabelin train station attack.

Huh? Hey, the captains on patrol.

The guard leaning against the wall quickly straightened up after he spotted the captain. Although he was lenient enough to allow just two men on the walls when streets were completely empty, he most certainly didnt like his soldiers goofing off when there were tasks to be done.

Close the gates.

Nothing to re sorry?

The guard, trying to pretend that he hadnt been goofing off, started off by shouting nothing to report, But before he could finish, the captain interrupted, causing him to bite his tongue midway.

I said close the gates! Its an emergency!

The two soldiers hurriedly manned the mechanism. With a loud noise and a gentle rumble, a giant steel gate dropped, blocking the path.

Withdraw.

What? But

Didnt you hear me? Its an order. Withdraw.

Albeit confused, they still followed their captains orders. When the soldiers disappeared, the captain approached the gate mechanism and attached the bomb he pulled out from his pocket.

The captain looked at the mechanism blankly. He was starting to have second thoughts now that he was at the final step. During his youth in the slums, he was just trying to survive until the next day came. But with the Dark Royales support, he was educated and made something of himself. Though it wasnt the most successful life, it was still a decent one.

The Dark Royale had explained how dangerous this mission is, and why this mission had to be done. Some may have thought it wasnt worth doing after the explanation, but not him. The captain knew just how imperative it was for him to die.

The Dark Royale had ordered everyone partaking in this mission to prioritise survival and minimal casualties, but that was only if they could pull off the mission undetected.

It was simple enough to discretely install the bombs with his rank as captain, but he didnt want to live with sacrificing the lives of his men.

It seemed the mission was already in progress. Chaos reigned in the streets in between the heavy thuds of boots in the distance. The captain sighed, and he pressed the detonator.

I have no regrets. For the Empire.

The Central Broadcast Station controlled all broadcasts throughout the Empire. And as such, it was broadcasting Isaacs trial in the Royal Palace and the emissaries arrivals at New Port City live.

Because there was still a shortage of people capable of working the broadcast machinery, most of its current staff were Central agents. And they were just kicking back and watching the broadcast.

With all the combat agents of Strategy gone, its remaining non-combatants were transferred to other directorates. The Directorate of Strategy was disbanded, and Surveillance was on standby indefinitely. Thus, all the agents working with the broadcast equipment were from the Directorate of a.n.a.lysis.

To the agents of a.n.a.lysis, the Empires current struggle was like a fire across a river. So even as they watched the trial, it was still from a third person perspective.

As a broadcast station, all information arrived here first. Aware of its importance, the radicals had sent some of their warriors to act as security and carefully monitor human activity. So when all of these short, concise reports flocked in after Isaacs announcement, the warriors sprang into action. But the agents of a.n.a.lysis had the first move.

Couch! Poison!

How Pendletons going to get whats coming to him!

Gas made of silverflower powderlethal to werewolveswas pumped throughout the broadcast station. Werewolven warriors writhed in pain and collapsed.

Silently, the a.n.a.lysis agents made sure of their deaths by shooting their corpses before gathering their bodies in one spot. Soon enough, the warlock leading the Dark Royale arrived with a group of men. They then cornered the civilian staff and contacted the a.n.a.lysis agents.

The warriors?

Theyre all dead.

The warlock nodded. And asked again.

The plan?

Our operations at the police headquarters and Department of Administrations headquarters were successful. Of the 13 defensive walls, 7 were successful. 4 were somewhat successful, and will be repaired soon. Two failed completely.

The Capital Defence Force?

From the report, theyve been thrown into utter confusion, as all high-ranking officers were killed

The fire department?

They seemed to be struggling to keep up with all the problems coming at them. The broadcast station also received their request for a.s.sistance.

Were cutting it close. Now is a battle for time. The broadcast station is the most important one, so set up a defensive perimeter.

The fire department was always on high alert during festivals in order to more effectively respond to fires and accidents. Many of its staff were dispersed throughout the city, a.s.sisting the police and hospitals to capture criminals and help the injured.

The nearly empty fire department building now acted as the control centre for responding to all the incidents in the capital in place of the police headquarters.

Angela was a moderate elf and the head of the fire department. She cursed her past self from thirty minutes ago for even complaining that her capable subordinates had left her nothing to do.

She was envious of Reisha, who became the hero of the elves as the first real symbol of another world. She was also impressed with Isaacs final words, remembering that he was the one who gave Reisha the opportunity to become the hero. But afterwards, she was overwhelmed with a constant stream of reports from all over the capital.

The police headquarters has collapsed!

Theres a hostage situation in the Department of Administrations building! All high-ranking officialsincluding the Commissionerare being held hostage!

The gates at the security checkpoints have been destroyed! The civilians are in an uproar right now!

Send a rescue party to police headquarters! And order the police station closest to the Executive headquarters to deploy immediately! This is an emergency! We will centralise and coordinate communication between the police, the Department of Administration, and the firefighters. Tell everyone to follow the firestations order as per the emergency manual!

Angela gave order after order seamlessly, untangling her men from the chaos. Her long tenure at the fire station was truly reflected in both her demeanour and expertise. Personally, she rather enjoyed human company, especially their praise after saving their lives.

No matter what happened, the manual had procedures for a situation like this. The fire station workers immediately moved according to Angelas orders and quickly sent the word to activate police and fire station reserves.

And contact the capital defence forces for reinforcements!

That could be considered treason!

I will take responsibility! Move it! And contact the royal palace immediately!

The employees immediately turned the dials on their communicator before shouting back.

Its no use! Were not getting through!

What?!

Angela quickly realised that even the broadcast station had fallen. This was very unexpected; she may not have liked the werewolves, but they were very capable.

The men who had grown accustomed to the convenience of the communicators were now helpless without them.

Send all the reserves! If the communicator isnt working, move your bodies!

Angela realised it would take much longer for peace to return to the city now that the communicators were down. Suddenly reactivating the old system after being accustomed to the new technology might create some friction, but it was the only way.

Suddenly, the screen showing the trial cut out momentarily, replaced by masked men armed with firearms pointed to a number of people corralled into a corner.

One of the employees sobbed as they watched the horrors on screen.

What is going on?