The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

Chapter 629: “Don’t Recognize Me?”

Imperial Capital, Before the Imperial Palace.

A massive number of Imperial Knights, unprecedented in scale, stood in formation before the main gate of the Imperial Palace, like an army ready to face an enemy, completely blocking the entrance. They stood firm, their morale high, like a knightly army defending its position.

This scene shouldn’t appear in a nation’s capital.

But today, not only did this scene appear, but an actual enemy army arrived before them.

“Rumble…!”

With a thunderous roar, a group of Imperial Knights on horseback charged into the plaza, their hooves pounding the ground.

“Boom!”

The Imperial Knights guarding the palace reacted instantly, stepping forward in unison and drawing their weapons.

Some raised their swords, others their massive shields, their defensive stance firm and resolute, more like a seasoned army than knights.

Behind this Imperial Knight army, archers could be seen nocking arrows, and numerous mages raised their staves, ready to cast magic.

The Imperial Knights charging into the plaza were equally imposing, clad in heavy armor, mounted on warhorses, and wielding giant lances, forming a battle formation, facing off against the knights guarding the palace.

The entire plaza transformed into a battlefield, a scene of two armies facing each other.

“F… Father…!”

Geno, in the center of the Imperial Knight formation, gripped his sword, his voice trembling.

Until just now, this young master of the Renitra family had been smug, shouting commands among the Imperial Knights, seemingly enjoying his authority.

But now, he seemed intimidated by the opposing Imperial Knights, his smugness replaced by nervousness. Clearly, this young master had never been on a battlefield, never witnessed such an intense confrontation.

Saliro, standing beside Geno, felt ashamed of his son. Under normal circumstances, he would reprimand Geno severely.

However, today wasn’t the time.

Saliro suppressed his disappointment and calmly looked at the opposing army, slowly walking forward from the Imperial Knight formation.

Geno immediately followed, hiding behind Saliro timidly.

Saliro came to the forefront of the army, facing the enemy.

“Are you planning to rebel, Princess Capeline!?”

Saliro shouted, immediately accusing Capeline of treason.

Capeline’s cold voice echoed,

“To accuse me, a legitimate descendant of the royal family, of rebellion, you better be prepared to bear the consequences, Vice-Commander Renitra.”

Riding her warhorse, Capeline slowly emerged from her forces.

Beside her, Rockto and Tilly followed closely, one expressionless, the other serious, looking imposing.

Geno’s gaze was first drawn to the valiant Capeline, a look of infatuation in his eyes, then shifted to Tilly, his infatuation turning into a lovestruck daze.

Saliro, noticing Geno’s behavior, felt a surge of anger, wanting to kick him away and send him back for retraining. If it weren’t for wanting Geno to gain some presence and attention in this situation, to prepare him for inheriting his position, Saliro wouldn’t have brought this unreliable fellow here.

Now, he had gained presence, but he might also lose face.

Saliro could only look away, continuing to shout at Capeline,

“If Your Highness isn’t planning to rebel, then why bring troops here with the Bigusler family, who are suspected of treason?”

Saliro was determined to pin the blame on either Capeline or Rockto, constantly accusing them of rebellion and treason, taking the moral high ground.

If it were someone less astute, they would have already fallen for Saliro’s cunning scheme.

Unfortunately, although Capeline was upright, she wasn’t stupid.

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?” Capeline said indifferently, “As a legitimate descendant of the Imperial Family, I wanted to enter the Imperial Palace and expose the treacherous consort who has been harming the country for years. But you, the Vice-Commander of the Imperial Knight Order and head of the Renitra family, led an army here, trying to block my path. I think you are the one who wants to rebel and commit treason.”

Capeline’s words hit Saliro hard.

Saliro narrowed his eyes.

“Your Highness’s words are too serious,” Saliro said, maintaining his composure, “I only received news that suspicious individuals intending to harm the Empire were approaching the Imperial Palace, so I’m here to fulfill my duty of guarding it.”

“Really?” Capeline said coldly, “Are you saying that I’m a suspicious individual intending to harm the Empire? Is that what you mean?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Saliro said righteously, “Your Highness is a legitimate descendant of the royal family and naturally not a suspicious individual.”

“Then why are you blocking my path?” Capeline’s gaze turned dangerous, “Since when did the Renitras have such authority?”

“This is a misunderstanding, Your Highness,” Saliro said without fear, “If it were only Your Highness, you could naturally enter the Imperial Palace. We would never stop you.”

This meant that except for Capeline, everyone else had to stay here, including Rockto and Tilly.

Capeline smiled.

“You’ve made quite the plan,” she said indifferently, “Do you think I would risk entering alone?”

“Risk?” Saliro feigned ignorance, “What danger could there be for Your Highness in the Imperial Palace?”

“You know very well,” Capeline looked deeply at Saliro and said in an unquestionable tone, “Vice-Commander Renitra, ambition isn’t a bad thing, but helping and serving the wrong person will ultimately harm not only yourself, but also the Renitra family.”

Saliro’s expression changed slightly.

But after a moment, he glanced at Rockto and returned to normal.

“Your Highness’s words are too serious,” Saliro said in a deep voice, “In short, I’m just fulfilling my duty here. If Your Highness wants to enter the Imperial Palace, please do so, but everyone else must stay here.”

Saying that, Saliro raised a hand.

“Boom!”

The Imperial Knights under his command slammed their weapons and shields against the ground in unison, creating a thunderous roar.

Their momentum was earth-shattering.

Rockto, his eyes cold, also raised a hand.

“Boom!”

The Imperial Knights on horseback stepped forward in unison, creating an even more powerful roar.

The number of Imperial Knights behind Capeline and Rockto was ten percent greater than those led by Saliro.

Under such circumstances, in terms of morale and momentum, Saliro’s side was at a slight disadvantage.

Saliro knew this very well.

However, he wouldn’t show weakness.

“Think carefully, Princess Capeline,” Saliro said meaningfully, “Don’t forget, Prince Harvis is still in the Imperial Palace, as is your mother.”

This time, it was Capeline’s expression that changed, turning cold and grim.

“Are you threatening me?” Capeline stared at Saliro.

“I’ve already said, I wouldn’t dare,” Saliro said, withstanding Capeline’s cold gaze, his expression unchanged, “As I said, if Your Highness wants to enter, we will not stop you. This is also the Imperial Consort’s order.”

As for the others, Saliro definitely wouldn’t let them in.

Otherwise, if they caused trouble in the palace, it would be a problem for them as well.

At least, Saliro didn’t want to see Mara face too much of a threat, nor did he want to see Harvis rescued during the chaos.

Moreover, if Capeline entered the palace alone, even if she exposed Mara publicly, Mara wouldn’t be in trouble.

At that time, as long as they captured or even killed Capeline, there would be no witnesses.

Thinking of this, Saliro’s expression softened slightly.

Just then…

“Did your Imperial Consort say whether I can enter?”

When this casual voice echoed throughout the plaza, everyone, including Saliro, tensed up and held their breath.

“Rumble…”

With the sound of turning wheels, a carriage, separating the Imperial Knights on horseback, slowly drove forward and appeared before Saliro and the others.

Capeline, Rockto, and Tilly subconsciously stepped aside.

Saliro narrowed his eyes and looked at the carriage.

The carriage was quite luxurious, bearing the Bigusler family crest, clearly belonging to a high-ranking noble.

Saliro couldn’t see inside the carriage.

He only saw a young man sitting in the driver’s seat, holding a whip and driving the horses with interest.

The young man seemed a few years older than Capeline, his clothes not flashy but not ordinary either, clearly belonging to a noble.

But the style of his noble attire wasn’t from the Empire.

It was…

“A Kingdom noble?” Saliro recognized it and asked in a deep voice, “And you are…?”

This probing question was met with a smirk from the other party.

“Don’t recognize me without my cloak, Vice-Commander?”

These words made Saliro’s pupils constrict.

He knew.

This person was the mysterious expert who annihilated the Raifurut family.

Chapter 630: “Everything is Ready.”

“It’s you…!?”

Saliro’s reaction was dramatic. He couldn’t believe the mysterious expert who annihilated the Raifuruts and forced him back at the Bigusler residence was such a young noble from the Kingdom. Shock filled his face.

Shien, still smirking, suddenly vanished from the driver’s seat.

Saliro tensed, about to react, but he was too slow.

“Slap!”

Shien’s hand landed on Saliro’s shoulder. He appeared silently before Saliro, just like before, a smile on his face.

“Seems like the Vice-Commander has a short memory,” Shien said, patting Saliro’s shoulder in a friendly manner, “Remember my face and voice this time, so you don’t make the same mistake again, understand?”

Shien’s friendly words made Saliro’s face darken.

The surrounding people finally reacted.

“Aaaaaah…!”

Geno, terrified, screamed and tried to retreat, but stumbled and fell.

“Boom!”

The surrounding Imperial Knights, seeing Saliro restrained by Shien, instinctively surrounded him, their weapons pointed at him.

“Stop!” Saliro shouted. He knew these knights were no match for Shien. With his teleportation, they couldn’t even touch him.

Saliro, intending to intimidate Capeline and force her to enter the palace alone, or start a battle here to protect Mara, was now the one being intimidated.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, staring at Shien.

Shien, still nonchalant, glanced around, a mocking and indifferent look in his eyes.

That look reminded Saliro of the Raifurut family’s fate. He shuddered.

“…You want to enter the palace and see the Imperial Consort, right?” Saliro said, suppressing his emotions, “The Imperial Consort has also instructed that if it’s you, you can enter the palace, go to the throne room, and see her.”

“Oh?” Shien looked at Saliro, “So your Imperial Consort wants to see me?”

Shien was intrigued. He hadn’t met Mara yet.

But…

“I’m not the only one who wants to see the Imperial Consort. Everyone here wants to see her,” Shien said to Saliro with a smile, “Let’s all enter the palace and have a good meeting with our dear Imperial Consort.”

“No!” Saliro instinctively replied, “Except for Princess Capeline and you, no one else is allowed to enter the Imperial Palace!”

Saliro was ready for Shien’s reaction. Although the rumors of the meteor shower were terrifying, he couldn’t back down now.

Let everyone enter the palace to see the Imperial Consort?

Was he joking?

That would be like letting Rockto’s army surround Mara! This was unacceptable.

Saliro didn’t know that Shien wasn’t asking for his permission.

“If the Vice-Commander isn’t willing to let us pass, then I’ll have to take everyone in myself,” Shien said, feigning helplessness.

“Take them in?” Saliro was stunned, then his expression changed drastically as he realized something.

But before Saliro could stop him, Shien teleported back to the carriage. An astonishing magic power erupted from him, enveloping everyone in their camp.

“Quick! Stop them!” Saliro shouted desperately.

The Imperial Knights reacted instantly, attacking without hesitation. Countless arrows and magic spells rained down like a barrage.

But it was too late.

“Swoosh—!”

With a unified whooshing sound, the tens of thousands of knights on Shien’s side vanished.

A large area of the plaza was instantly empty, and the arrows and magic spells landed harmlessly.

“Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom—!”

Explosions echoed, damaging the plaza’s ground and kicking up thick dust and smoke.

“Damn it!” Saliro’s face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead.

He knew he had miscalculated. He hadn’t expected that mysterious expert to be able to teleport so many people at once.

And their destination was likely inside the Imperial Palace.

Shien had not only teleported tens of thousands of people but also passed through the highest level barrier of the Imperial Palace, successfully infiltrating it.

“How is this possible…!?”

For teleportation to carry multiple people and even bypass a barrier required not only a high skill level but also an immense amount of magic power.

Shien had taken tens of thousands of people through the largest barrier protecting the Imperial Palace. The magic power required was enough to drain, even kill, a Legendary Grand Magician, and the success rate was less than ten percent.

This didn’t even consider whether anyone possessed such a high-level teleportation skill.

Yet, Shien had done it.

“Enter the palace!” Saliro roared, “Don’t let their army approach the throne room!”

The Imperial Knights obeyed, charging into the palace.

Saliro glanced at Geno, who was still sitting on the ground dumbfounded, his anger flaring.

“How long are you going to embarrass yourself!?”

Saliro kicked Geno.

“Ah! Father, don’t hit me!” Geno screamed, scrambling to his feet and running away.

Looking at Geno, Saliro made a decision.

“After this battle, I must change my heir.”

Such a useless person, even with some strength, would only lead the family to ruin if he became the head.

It was better to spend resources cultivating his other children. Perhaps, with enough support, some of them could become capable leaders.

Thinking of this, Saliro didn’t stop, rushing into the Imperial Palace.

However, the scene before him made him stop and his face darken.

The main gate of the Imperial Palace was blocked by an army.

Rockto, with Tilly by his side, stood at the forefront of a group of Imperial Knights, as if having switched places with Saliro, and said impassively,

“Unfortunately, this path is blocked today.”

Rockto’s magic power surged.

Behind him, Tilly and all the Imperial Knights also released their magic power.

Their imposing stance made Saliro admit that today’s battle might be difficult.

…

Meanwhile, Shien’s group was heading towards the throne room as quickly as possible.

“This way!”

Capeline dismounted and charged forward, drawing her expensive-looking knight’s sword.

The female knights of the Broken Blade Knight Order immediately followed.

Shien and the others also got off the carriage.

“Lilith,” Shien said.

“Mm-hmm!” Lilith nodded, her evil aura surging as she flew into the sky and disappeared.

This was Shien’s prearranged plan with Lilith. As their trump card, Lilith wasn’t meant for frontal assault, but to control the battlefield.

Shien guessed that Mara still had some hidden tricks.

Therefore, he wouldn’t reveal Lilith’s existence so soon.

Not just Lilith, Shien also instructed Yulin to wait in the sky, ready to break through the Imperial Capital’s barrier and join the battle if necessary.

“Everything is ready,” Shien said to Diere, “Let’s go.”

Diere nodded firmly.

She had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Diere drew her dual blades and charged towards the throne room with Capeline and the Broken Blade knights.

Shien, however, stood still, closing his eyes and sensing the Imperial Palace.

He frowned.

“What’s going on?” he muttered, “This strange magic power wasn’t here before.”

Upon entering the palace, Shien sensed a subtle and eerie magic power that made him uncomfortable.

“Is this Mara’s preparation?”

Shien opened his eyes.

“Let’s see what else you can do.”

Shien vanished in a flash.