The Empire’s first Calamity Meeting was about to begin, and the person considered most likely to claim the title of Calamity had turned around and driven a blade into the Empire instead.
No one yet knew what kind of impact this would cause.
Marshal Garran had a headache.
"This kid is getting a little too arrogant."
The Blackwood City Incident had caused no small disturbance as well, but after considering Caelum’s strength and various other factors, the Empire’s upper ranks had ultimately failed to make up their minds to move against him.
After all, if they truly wanted to capture Caelum, they would have to dispatch several Legion Commanders, perhaps even combat strength at the level of a Grand Marshal.
No one knew how much effort that would take.
This time was different.
The Empire had no choice but to act against him.
And this capture operation might require the greatest number of high level fighters the Empire had deployed in the past twenty years.
At the meeting, Marshal Garran looked around at the nobles seated before him and asked for their final decision.
"Then, gentlemen, what is your final stance on this matter?"
"The dignity of nobles must never be violated!"
"This is a challenge to the Empire’s rule!"
"He must be executed!"
The nobles were united in their opinion.
Faced with Caelum, who had committed the act of wiping out an entire noble family, they took a stance of absolute refusal to forgive him.
They swore to have him publicly executed.
Knox remained silent.
In the world of Super Universe, he had never seen Caelum’s appearance.
In the World of Curses, Caelum had always worn the Nameless Mirror to conceal his identity.
When Caelum caused great trouble as Magnus during the Secret War, Knox happened to be in the world of Legend of the Empire.
So even now, he still did not recognize Caelum.
Although Knox and AXN had managed to enter the upper ranks of the Empire, in front of these long established great nobles, his words and opinions carried little weight.
It was not his turn to speak.
Marshal Garran looked rather troubled.
"If we are going to capture this kid, we will have to dispatch considerable combat strength. That is where things become troublesome. As Marshal of the Army, I am not suited to leaving my post without authorization."
At that, the nobles exchanged glances.
They realized Marshal Garran did not seem to intend to act personally.
The excuse, however, was perfectly valid. They had no way to refute it.
In truth, Garran was simply too lazy to clean up after these fools.
The nobles had always acted far too recklessly. He had known sooner or later they would cause trouble.
From beginning to end, his attitude toward this matter had been somewhat perfunctory.
Of course, the Empire and the nobles had to take action, but they could forget about dragging him into it.
"In that case..."
The nobles followed the momentum and made their proposal.
"Then send out the Executioner Unit."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
This was a secret Knox had only learned after becoming a noble and entering the Empire’s upper ranks.
The Grand Marshals and Legion Commanders were the Empire’s strength in the open.
In the shadows, the Empire had another extremely powerful force.
The Executioner Unit.
This unit did not have many members. For the past twenty years, its numbers had stayed at around fifteen.
It was a unit made entirely of nobles, and it dealt only with incidents related to nobles.
Every one of its members possessed combat strength comparable to a Legion Commander.
Some were even stronger.
Hidden within the great noble houses were many terrifying fighters.
The Executioner Unit was formed from the top combat strength of those families.
Not a single member could be underestimated.
To this day, the Executioner Unit had existed for more than eight hundred years.
It had never known defeat.
Even if the military did not stand on their side, the nobles could still rely on the power of the Executioner Unit.
This was the confidence of the upper nobles.
All of this was within Garran’s expectations.
Clearly, he too held absolute confidence in the Executioner Unit.
He did not believe Caelum could resist its power.
This was prestige accumulated over eight hundred years.
"Then it is decided."
Elsewhere, Caelum handed the outline drawing of Dusk Island to Sito.
"Now it is time for you to fulfill your promise. Help me find an island with this shape. It is called Dusk Island."
"This..."
Standing before Caelum, Sito no longer had his earlier composure. His entire body looked tense.
He had now seen just how ruthless Caelum could be.
With a bitter look on his face, he said, "Sir, this is almost impossible. The Empire is too vast. Finding one island from within it will be extremely difficult."
Caelum already had a plan.
"In a few years, your News Gazette should spread throughout the entire Empire, right? Use your news birds to help me search. That should not be difficult."
"That... perhaps a few years, perhaps more than ten. It is hard to say."
"Notify me whenever you find it."
Time was not a problem at all.
Caelum was not worried Sito would be unable to contact him either.
As long as the news birds spread throughout the Empire, perhaps even across the whole world, Sito would surely be able to find his whereabouts.
"Twenty years."
Before leaving, Caelum added one more sentence.
"If you still have not found Dusk Island after twenty years, then you no longer need to search. I will come find you myself."
Sito shuddered.
He immediately swore, "As long as the News Gazette still exists, I will never neglect your matter. Within twenty years, I will definitely help you find Dusk Island."
Caelum set out on his journey again.
After he left News Town, the military arrived there to investigate the extermination of the Saliver family.
Only then did they learn of Caelum’s whereabouts and identity, confirming him as the culprit.
On the road, Caelum was still wondering whether twenty years might be a little too long.
After thinking again, this seemed to be the fastest method available.
Besides, he might not truly need to wait twenty years.
Perhaps Sito would find Dusk Island in only a few years.
Not long after, the Empire issued a new wanted poster.
Only five months had passed, yet Caelum’s bounty had soared from 2 million to the astonishing sum of 5 million.
The speed of the increase left people speechless.
On the new wanted poster, the military gave Caelum the title Owl.
It was said that a certain Grand Marshal felt the title suited him very well.
In addition, the Empire declared that Caelum had committed unforgivable crimes and would be hunted with the Empire’s full force.
Yet it did not mention the extermination of the Saliver family at all.
When the Empire’s wanted poster and announcement spread across the country through the military, the common people erupted in discussion.
Once again, Caelum stirred a storm throughout the Empire.
Everyone was deeply curious about what Caelum had done to make the Empire so determined to capture him.
The matter fermented quickly.
Caelum’s name had already been famous. With this incident added on, his momentum immediately overshadowed the Calamity Meeting that was about to be held.
At a certain rebel stronghold, Cedran held Caelum’s newest wanted poster and could hardly believe it.
"A bounty of 5 million? What exactly did that kid do to the Empire?"
A flying Danger Beast landed on Tekular’s shoulder, bringing him the latest intelligence.
Tekular opened the report in his hand.
Only then did he understand the hidden reason.
"No wonder the Empire reacted so strongly."