Published: July 4, 2025
"Flying army, annihilated!"
"Impossible!"
The military staff were shocked by the report that reached the command center.
"It must have been that fireball..."
Only Rinsui maintained a calm voice, but inside, he was gnashing his teeth in frustration.
(Because of this, I wanted to have the adventurers attack after breaking through the main gate! If that had happened, even if the first few were shot down, we could have suppressed the tower launching fireballs from within and minimized the damage! Yet...)
The main gate still could not be breached.
However, there was a method in mind to break the main gate.
While the second rank adventurers were attacking, preparations were being made in the rear.
"Rinsui-sama, the 'Crimson Flame Needle' is ready."
The long-awaited report arrived.
But it was the staff who were surprised by those words.
"Rinsui-sama, are you really going to use the 'Crimson Flame Needle'?"
"That is a treasure of treasures... if used within the imperial capital, there will be no excuses."
"Moreover, in this situation, we may be able to fire it only once."
Even now, the staff hesitated.
While Rinsui was cursing the staff in his heart, he appeared calm on the surface.
"The reason the main gate hasn't fallen is solely because of Ruyao. If there is anything that can pierce Ruyao's 'Moonlight Causality' and reach Ruyao herself, I would like to know."
His voice was calm, but even so, the frustration he could not suppress seeped through his words.
And, naturally, there was no staff member who could answer Rinsui's question.
The 'Crimson Flame Needle' is a treasure that has been passed down through the Darwei imperial family for ages.
In this case, treasure means something that cannot be replicated by modern humans and causes phenomena that are incomprehensible.
The 'Crimson Flame Needle' is a treasure entrusted to Prince Bin by the second prince Kouri when Bin was sealed.
Prince Kouri had been entrusted by the crown prince during his lifetime with the management of three treasures.
They symbolize a certain kind of power.
However, with the ascension of the third prince Churei, one of the three treasures was handed over not to the crown prince, but by the order of Emperor Tsuin.
Furthermore, with the ascension of the fourth prince Bin, one of the remaining two treasures was also handed over by order of Emperor Tsuin, as the crown prince had already passed away.
Thus, the 'Crimson Flame Needle' was handed over to Prince Bin.
However, this only meant it was entrusted for management, and its use was not permitted.
It was clearly stated that its use was forbidden.
Should he use the entrusted 'Crimson Flame Needle'... there would be no doubt that the trust from the emperor to Prince Bin would be completely lost.
There was no question he would be stripped of his princely status.
Moreover, his life would also be in jeopardy...
Should he really go that far to defeat the Lyun Princely Residence, or rather, Captain Ruyao?
Among the staff, there were still those who had a semblance of sound judgment.
Of course, participating in this attack would not exempt them from any repercussions.
Whether they succeeded or failed in the assassination of Princess Shio Fen was irrelevant.
They were attacking the princely residence.
But they could also argue that they had no choice but to follow the prince's orders... such defenses would likely be raised.
They would undoubtedly be exiled from the imperial capital and stripped of all official titles.
However, they also believed that there could be a chance of reinstatement with time.
Each of them had their own connections to rely on.
Yet... if they used the 'Crimson Flame Needle' and completely drew the emperor's ire, the possibility of reinstatement would vanish.
No one would want to hire a staff member who had incurred the emperor's wrath...
That was the reason why the staff tried to halt the use of the 'Crimson Flame Needle.'
"Deploy all reserve troops to the front lines. Not just mages and sorcerers, but everyone!"
"R-Rinsui-sama...?"
"Make Ruyao even busier with her handling. We must ensure that she does not notice we are aiming for the 'Crimson Flame Needle.'"