Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Esdeath’s reaction was swift; in fact, just two days later, she rode a Danger Species back to the Imperial City.

The entire Imperial City seemed calm, but most people, upon seeing Esdeath return, could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. No matter how you look at it, this General is famed far and wide; her return deep down made most people’s hearts settle. Of course, many were still watching to see what the General would do next.

”Squeak———”

The door of the great hall slowly opened, Esdeath stepped into the hall. She had been here many times and was quite familiar with it. Normally, at this time, the ministers should be here, and the Emperor would sit on the throne, with Minister Ernest behind him.

But now, the place was empty.

No, there was one person.

”You arrived a day later than I expected, Miss Esdeath.”

”......”

Upon hearing this voice, Esdeath raised an eyebrow and looked up, only to see a figure in a white robe seated on the throne, watching her.

Seeing this figure, Esdeath immediately gripped the hilt of her sword.

”Are you the one who killed the Emperor?!”

”That’s correct.”

Fang Zheng, sitting on the throne, shifted his position and nodded.

”In fact, I have something to discuss with you......”

”But I have nothing to discuss with the intruder of the Imperial City who killed the Emperor!”

With Esdeath’s words, an endless coldness immediately spread, and in the blink of an eye, the entire hall was frozen in ice. Then Esdeath suddenly extended her hand and pointed forward. The ice block instantly exploded, binding Fang Zheng within it, as Esdeath leaped, stabbing fiercely at the figure seated on the throne!

”Swish—————!”

The sharp sword blade pierced through the throne and the ice block, but the figure in the white robe was nowhere to be seen.

”Such aggressiveness, yet it was within my expectations.”

Fang Zheng appeared behind Esdeath, shrugging his shoulders.

”But Miss Esdeath, I’m not here to fight you......”

Though Fang Zheng spread his hands indicating no hostility, Esdeath merely grinned a cruel smile, followed by......

”Moko Potoma!”

With Esdeath’s murmured incantation, time instantly stopped flowing. Esdeath once more gripped the Longsword, looked forward—then, her eyes widened in surprise.

In this place where even time and space were frozen, the figure in the white robe had already disappeared.

Could he be hiding?

”I do not wish to fight you, Miss Esdeath.”

However, to Esdeath’s increasing astonishment, the voice came once again. Even though time had stopped and space was frozen, theoretically, no one except herself could escape this confinement, but to Esdeath’s surprise, the other party was still able to move and speak freely within her ultimate technique!

”I just want to make a small deal with you.”

”Let’s hear it.”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s words, Esdeath fell silent for a moment, then withdrew her power. Subsequently, Fang Zheng casually stepped out of the shadows beside her.

”Very simple, just a small request: I hope you will become the Emperor of this country and rule over it.”

”.........Are you dreaming?”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Esdeath showed a hint of surprise. She hadn’t expected such a request from the other party. Then, Esdeath seemed to think of something.

”As a proposal gift, it’s quite heavy.”

”Uh...... very sorry, actually, I have no interest in you.”

Upon hearing Esdeath’s response, Fang Zheng silently wiped off some cold sweat. It seemed love truly changes a person. In the past, Esdeath wouldn’t have thought about such matters.

”But I do intend to give this to you as a wedding gift.”

”......What do you mean?”

”Miss Esdeath probably has someone she loves, but unfortunately, your pursuit seems to have had no effect.”

”You seem to know quite a lot......”

Hearing this, Esdeath frowned, a cold killing intent flashed in her words, but Fang Zheng seemed unfazed, continuing to speak.

”Miss Esdeath is considered a beauty in both figure and looks. If such fervent pursuit leaves him unmoved, it must mean he has no feelings for Miss Esdeath or already has his own lover. Luckily, that gentleman currently does not belong to the latter, so you still have a chance.”

”But what does that have to do with what you’re saying?”

”Previously, Miss Esdeath, you pursued that gentleman, but you were rejected, which isn’t surprising. Although you’re the Grand General, this title is only effective within the Empire. As a person from Lugnica, he naturally doesn’t need to care about an Imperial General’s thoughts and subsequent influence.”

At this point, Fang Zheng stopped in his tracks, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

”However, if Miss Esdeath you were to propose a relationship as the Emperor of the Northern Empire, then even if that gentleman is unwilling, he wouldn’t be able to reject you as decisively as before. After all, the Northern Empire is several times stronger than Lugnica. Surely, the gentleman knows the consequences of offending the ruler of such a powerful empire.”

”But that doesn’t mean he will fall in love with me.”

Upon hearing this, Esdeath’s expression softened a bit, though she remained quite composed.

”Of course, the Emperor’s title is only a foundation to ensure that the gentleman doesn’t easily reject your confession, but then you both need to communicate and interact... Here, I have a second gift for you.”

”There’s more?”

”Correct.”

Fang Zheng snapped his fingers, and a piece of paper flew out from his hand, gently landing in front of Esdeath. Esdeath picked up the paper and glanced at it.

”What’s this?”

”Previously, when I killed the Emperor, I had a battle with the Hunter Troop. At that time, I discovered someone interesting in the Hunter Troop... She is Theresia van Astraea.”

”...Astraea?”

Upon hearing this name, Esdeath immediately looked up at Fang Zheng, who nodded.

”Exactly, she is the grandmother of the man you have feelings for—Reinhard van Astraea.”

”Why is she in the Hunter Troop?”

”I am not quite sure about that. My information shows that she was sent by Anning Dao to negotiate with Minister Ernest, who then introduced her to the Hunter Troop. But why she is here is difficult to say. Oh, incidentally, here’s another piece of information: Reinhard has always felt guilty about his grandmother. When Theresia led the charge against the White Whale, her ’Sword Saint’s Divine Protection’ suddenly transferred to Reinhard, leading to Theresia’s loss of power and eventual demise. So Reinhard feels as if he killed his grandmother...”

”Where is she now?”

”I’m sorry, that’s beyond my abilities.”

Fang Zheng shrugged.

”After the previous battle, she fled immediately. I don’t know where she went. But I believe, if you inform Reinhard that Theresia appeared in the Imperial City, he will surely seek his grandmother’s whereabouts, and then you will have the chance to strengthen your relationship.”

Upon saying this, Fang Zheng sighed.

”Well, Miss Esdeath, that’s as much as I can do. I wish you success in winning Reinhard’s heart.”

After these words, Fang Zheng bowed slightly to Esdeath and intended to leave.

However, at this moment......

”What benefit does this bring to you?”

Esdeath’s voice sounded again.

”You killed the Emperor, the minister, General Budd, all to have me ascend the throne, weren’t you? If this isn’t driven by foolish blind love, then why?”

”Allow me to correct you, Miss Esdeath. The deaths of the Emperor, the minister, and General Budd were predetermined actions, not for your sake but for this nation. Minister Ernest corrupted the court and deserved execution. The Emperor paid no heed and lost the responsibility as an Emperor, thus deserving punishment. General Budd failed to protect the Empire and was negligent, deserving execution...”

Saying this, Fang Zheng chuckled.

”So, regardless of whether you agreed, their fate was sealed, and I chose you because I see the potential for Miss Esdeath to become a great Empress.”

”...You have no intention of becoming the Emperor yourself?”

”I’ve held that position till I’m sick of it; I’m not interested in it for a while.”

”I’m surprised; I thought you were in cahoots with the Revolutionary Army.”

”We had a certain degree of cooperation, but only at lower levels. I have no regard for those who betray the nation for power and cede territory. If Miss Esdeath you were to hang those fellows on lampposts, I’d be delighted to watch the spectacle.”

”An interesting man.”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s reply, Esdeath smiled.

”Have you considered staying to serve me?”

”I’m sorry, we protect the populace’s Free Will and never associate too closely with any ruler. Thank you, Miss Esdeath, for your offer, but I must decline.”

”...Alright.”

After a brief silence, Esdeath waved her hand; the ice wall initially sealing the hall quickly melted away, and Fang Zheng bowed and proceeded to leave.

”One last question, your name?”

”We don’t need names, all is illusion, everything is permitted. We walk in darkness to serve the light, we are merely... assassins.”

With these words, at the entrance of the hall bathed in sunlight, Fang Zheng’s silhouette vanished completely.