Imperial Crown.

Chapter 590 Raven, you're so hard to kill!
It's you!!!

The burning pain on his face, the burning anxiety and worry in his heart… none of these compared to the sheer, utter humiliation of having his secret exposed in public! At this moment, his selfishness, his cowardice, his wretchedness… were all laid bare! As the saying goes, shame makes one reluctant to sheath their blade. Enraged and intoxicated, Hu Xia spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with a few teeth, and, mustering his courage, pointed at Raven and roared, “Isn’t all this because you’ve remained neutral! If you had found a backer earlier, our territory wouldn’t be in such a helpless and isolated situation!”

"Stop trying to give unsolicited advice with your simplistic and emotional mindset!"

Raven certainly wanted to rescue Thor and Hoaz! The reason he had Hu Xia contact Ferdinand and the others was to negotiate a peace treaty to get them released. In short, he had to admit defeat, to cede territory and beg for their release. This was the only option at the moment. Otherwise, with less than 3 Eagle Army soldiers under his command, did he really think he could fight head-on against an army of over 20? Did he really think Keynes was a small, divided federation of states like Eivor? Did he really think Keynes had stood the test of time for a thousand years because of the charity of the Holy See? If he could really do that, Raven would have already led his troops to the capital. What was he waiting for?
Even if Zolzahn doesn't die and Raven uses all his resources, he probably still won't be able to shake even a tenth of the Keynes Empire!

This is the naked reality!
Moreover, there are other uncontrollable variables at play, such as other empires eyeing the land, the orcish empire constantly encroaching, the Church of Light seizing every opportunity, and the Hand of Death lurking in the shadows.

Looking at Hu Xia's pitiful state, and knowing he had personally raised and watched him grow up, Raven couldn't help but soften. Although his expression remained cold and his tone uncompromising, Raven patiently instructed Hu Xia, preventing him from following Thor and his gang down a path of no return. "Hu Xia, you remember this," Raven said, "Politics is the most complex and ugliest subject in the world." Raven raised his fist. "This fist represents us." "And this castle represents the Keynesian Empire! It represents Habsburg!"

"Take your brain out of your heels and use it again." "Think carefully." "Do you think our fists can take on this castle head-on?" "Don't even mention that it was just a bunch of idiots like you who went with Zolzahn!" "Even I, if I went with Zolzahn, would not escape death!"

"You're right." "I didn't side with anyone. I didn't grovel like a dog!"

"But do you think anyone will be there for us in this disparity of power?" "Habs despises us from the bottom of his heart and is eager to kill me to demonstrate his greatness." "In his eyes, killing me is as easy as crushing an ant with a finger!" "Do you think he would he heed my pleas for mercy and surrender under these circumstances?"

"The old-school aristocracy has always been at odds with Habsburg." "They're eager to mend relations with Habsburg." "Do you think they'd risk a complete break with Habsburg to protect us?"

"Not to mention the new aristocratic lineage." "Those three families were nothing more than a pack of dogs kept by Habs!" "Even if Habs hadn't made up his mind to eliminate me," "they would have rushed out to bite me to show their loyalty to their master!"

"Prime Minister Hamilton." "He's an old fox with a thousand-year history." "Even if I stripped naked and sold my asshole to him, he would only play with me and then say, 'Not sexy enough!'" "Then he would smugly and proudly tell everyone about how he manipulated me."

"This is the situation and reality we face today."

"And this battle," "is our test." "Only if I can withstand it and survive will I have the value to be courted and invested in." "Naturally, I will be able to overcome the difficulties." "Until I demonstrate any value, absolutely no one will dare to let me cling to them!" "It's never that I don't want to, it's just that I can't!"

"It's like, even if you're short of money, you can't just walk out of your house, grab someone on the street, kneel down, and cry, 'Please, give me 300 gold coins!'" "It's the same principle." "Don't even mention 300 gold coins, even 30 gold coins, or 3 small gold coins," "no one will give them to you." "Because in this world, no one will ever give you money for no reason." "Unless you can demonstrate your own value," "then someone will be willing to pay for your value."

"Habs understands this principle, which is why he initially only sent nameless assassins. Later, he sent Ferdinand." "He wanted to apply maximum pressure, to see if I could withstand it! To see if I could survive!" "When the cost of destroying me far exceeds what he can bear, he will naturally choose to negotiate with me!" "Ferdinand also understands this principle, which is why he stopped at the North Sea Province, waiting for me to prove my worth." "This" is "the tacit political game between me, Habs, and the capital."

"And such a simple truth!" "yet you don't understand at all!" "You did such a thing behind my back!" "And you still have the nerve to criticize me!" Raven grew angrier and angrier, his face flushed as he roared, "Haven't I been good enough to you?!" "Haven't I given you enough?!" "Haven't I taught you enough?!" "My only mistake" "was underestimating the stupidity of human nature! "The selfishness of human nature! "The weakness of human nature!"

“Viston is my value!” “As long as Ferdinand’s family arrives,” “even if Ferdinand doesn’t choose to make peace with me,” “the others in the capital will see my value and choose to cooperate with me!” “And those nobles who were secretly murdered are also my value!” “At least they didn’t cause all the nobles in the country to stand with Habs and unite to attack me!”

"Delay and wait for a change in circumstances!" "That's my current strategy!" "The Orc Empire's offensive is fierce." "The Holy See of Light is stirring." "The Insa Empire is about to invade!" "A great upheaval, unprecedented in a century, has arrived!" "Great chaos is imminent!" "At that time, Keynes will inevitably collapse on its own!" "Being divided and dismembered is an inevitable fate!" "Only then will we sound the horn of our counterattack!"

"Instead of trying to fight a losing battle now!"

"Do you know?" "Hu Xia," "This is the bloody reality!" "This is naked politics!" "This is blatant self-interest!" "Not the convoluted, romantic garbage novels you write!" "Do you really think everyone else is an idiot?!" "Just by writing a few words, Habsburg collapses?" "Just by writing a few words, Ferdinand kneels down?" "If you weren't a flesh-and-blood person kneeling before me!" "I would want to tear you to pieces right now!" "Instead of holding back my anger and having to explain all the rules and regulations here to you."

"Do you really think our only enemy is Habsburg?!" "The Pope of the Holy See has arrived, eagerly awaiting a mutually destructive clash between me and Habsburg, so he can devour a piece of Keynes's cake!" "Which power around here doesn't want to seize a share of the profits?!" "And your impulsiveness!" "has almost destroyed all my trump cards and plans!"

These words had almost exhausted Raven's energy. Already suffering from a severe headache, as if an electric drill was frantically drilling into his brain, Raven suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.

He felt a tightness in his chest, as if a huge rock was stuck in his throat, making it difficult to breathe. He suddenly slumped onto the table. With a "whoosh," Raven swept everything off the table, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud thud.

Nancy

"Nancy!!"

"Nancy Fox!!!!!"

Raven seemed to have fallen back into that terrible hallucination, longing for someone to appear and save him. Just like in his past life, when he was in excruciating stomach pain, he would helplessly cry out for his mother. And in this life, the only person he could recklessly and wholeheartedly burn his body and soul for seemed to be that woman who had already passed away! And in Raven's heart, there was always a forbidden place, where his original sin was hidden. Hidden within was the person he owed the most, the person he felt most guilty towards, the person he felt most sorry for in his life—"The Fiery Rose," Nancy Fox.

His subconscious words also exposed his deepest desires and fears. So his eyes rolled back, and he screamed madly, tears streaming down his face. He desperately wanted to be saved, to be redeemed, to have his regrets mended.

Kang dang
The next moment, Raven completely lost consciousness.

"Homeowner"

Eric reacted quickly, rushing over to hug Raven.

"I'll fucking kill you!" The hyena's eyes widened, and he drew his greatsword, slashing at Hu Xia. In his limited understanding, Lord Raven's sudden fainting was all because of this brat Hu Xia!

Link hurriedly grabbed the hyena, "Hu Xia, you'd better leave!" Hu Xia, watching the hyena go berserk, scrambled out of the castle. Raven's heartfelt words had completely overturned his understanding and deeply touched him. He realized his mistake and was filled with remorse. He should have reported it sooner; otherwise, such a terrible mistake could have been made.

For that pitiful sense of "loyalty," he made the most regrettable decision of his life.

Upon reflection, Hu Xia finally understood the root cause—these second-generation rich kids had been too well protected! They never understood the Marquis's good intentions and hardships, nor could they see the current predicament and reality. This led to their reckless and disregard for consequences. Looking back, even the usually hot-tempered Thor and the usually calm and collected Hoyaz were dragged into it. Those who truly couldn't suppress their inner impulses and hatred were actually just a few like Beta. This was probably the selfishness and folly the Marquis spoke of.

But it was too late to say anything now. Hu Xiaang wept bitterly. His sobs, like those of an abandoned stray dog, pierced the still night sky in the cold wind.

……

"bang"

A colorful gem floating in the center of the altar shattered into dust and vanished into thin air.

Midals Continent, Keynes Empire, Molineir Province.

The provinces of Molineux and North Sea are the only two provinces that border the province of Nord. In fact, the borders between the two provinces and Nord appear to be about the same length.

Count Jonah belongs to the province of Molinell. The second-generation Prodigy, Moas, is Count Jonah's youngest son. Count Comos, who was extorted by Raven, also belongs to the province of Molinell. And Count Conrad, who was killed by the witch Margaret, also belongs to the province of Molinell.

The province of Molineux is now in complete chaos.

Comos took all the soldiers and went to the capital, disappearing without a trace. Conrad was secretly murdered, and his sons fought tooth and nail for the title. The most powerful and most anxious was Jonah, the only one still remaining in the province of Morinil.

So the Hand of Death took advantage of the situation and came to the province of Morinil.

Between the province of Molinell and the Bloodstained Highlands lies a vast, stagnant ocean. This is why the bandits of the Bloodstained Highlands often raid the province of Nord, not Molinell. However, this ocean is crimson red, hence its name, the "Bloody Abyss." The name "Bloody Highlands" originates from this sea. Legend has it that the waters of the Bloodstained Abyss flow down from Slaver's Bay. The reason for its crimson color is said to be the blood of countless slaves slaughtered in Slaver's Bay, which flowed here, forming this scarlet ocean.

The Blood Abyss was indeed extremely dangerous. Besides the sea monsters, even the fish were piranhas, incredibly ferocious. Therefore, ordinary people dared not even venture there, let alone fish.

Right now, in the very center of the Blood Abyss, a large ship is adrift. And the one controlling the sails is surprisingly a creature with a human head and a crab's body. And surprisingly, he's quite adept at it.

On the deck stood a small altar. Sissey stared at the shattered gems, his face ashen, frozen in shock. The area around the altar was already a bloody mess; at least 4-500 naked girls lay dead beneath it, their blood pooling in the grooves of the altar. The scene was gruesome and nauseating.

"Three!" "This is already the third fifth-tier starstone to be destroyed!!!" "No!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The octopus tentacles beneath Scythe's robes stretched out like blooming flowers, then pointed straight to the sky. Scythe himself raised his head and cried out in pain.

Hearing the sound, Chunzhu'er walked over sideways, his face showing surprise. "Failed again?" He glanced at the altar, shook his head, and sighed, "Sise, if it really doesn't work, then forget it." "Space-type gems are incredibly precious." "This can't go on like this." "That little bee has learned its lesson now; it doesn't sting people anymore. If you can't get his personal belongings, no matter how much you curse him, it won't help." "Besides, the blood curse on him is gone now."

"fart!!!"

"I was about to succeed! But someone interrupted me! It was a fire phoenix! She was desperately protecting that damned little bee!" "The first two times we failed, but we still severely injured that fire phoenix!" "The third time we were about to succeed!" "But someone interfered again!" "And from the Astral Plane!" "You idiot!" "Give me another Starstone! I guarantee I can curse Raven to death!" "Since this little bee is unwilling to cooperate with us, then let him die!" "How many times has he ruined our Holy Church's plans!"

Chun Zhu'er's face twitched twice. "Call me Mr. Krabs!" "Don't call me by my name!" Then his face darkened. "Where are the gems?!" "These three gems cost me nearly a million gold coins to collect!"

"Kill Raven!" "How many gold coins couldn't you get?!" Sissey said with exasperation, "The glory of the Holy Church... "died because of the stinginess of people like you!" "We've nurtured Thomas for so many years, and before we could even recoup our investment, he was driven to his death by Raven!" "We absolutely cannot wait any longer!" "Are we going to be thwarted by Raven time and time again, giving him credit?" "We must crush him before he fully matures."

"Then why don't you just go to Nord Province and kill Raven?" Chun Zhu asked, puzzled.

"This"

Sisay choked, "I heard Raven has a dragon. It's a great counter to us necromancers."

“That settles it.” Chun Zhu’er shook his head. “You yourself don’t want to risk your life, let alone others.” “Besides, the Pope has already arrived in the Keynes Empire, so even the Lord of Death probably won’t dare to show himself easily now.”

"Raven!" "You're so hard to kill!" "You're so hard to kill!"

Sisei stared at the altar and the precious offerings around it, then roared to the heavens in anguish. His octopus tentacles pounded incessantly on the deck, making a "bang, bang, bang" sound. Two streams of tears even rolled down his face. It seemed he was truly filled with resentment.

……

(End of this chapter)