In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 61 The Calamity of Casimir? The Submission of the Nearl Family
"emperor?"

Margaret Nearl, struggling to lift her head and look directly at Chen Qi, revealed her beautiful face, covered in dust, and suggesting she was only thirteen or fourteen years old.

A sneer appeared on his face.

"What kind of emperor are you? You're just an executioner."

"Besides 'go to hell,' I have nothing to say to you, a blood-stained executioner."

Having said that, Margaret, showing no fear, mustered all her strength to raise her head, her bloodshot eyes staring intently at Chen Qi, who was standing inches away, and coldly said:

"Kill me now, you filthy executioner!"

"I will await your arrival, along with the Kazimierz knights you killed!"

"Sister! No!"

However, just as Margaret was preparing to die a heroic death, a child's innocent cry from the crowd broke the peace.

Soon, under the watchful eyes of Margaret, whose expression changed drastically, and all those who had been drawn to the child's voice, the situation became clear.

A Kuranta (horse) girl, about six years old, with light blonde hair very similar to Margaret's, ran towards Margaret with teary eyes.

Upon recognizing the person who had approached, Margaret, her defenses crumbling, even forgot to conceal her relationship with the girl running towards her, and cried out in a trembling voice:
"Maria! Don't come any closer!"

"Maria! Don't go over there!"

Meanwhile, behind the girl named Maria, a girl who looked only a few years older than Margaret also made the same anxious voice.

Unfortunately, their voices came too late.

Realizing that the two women might be related to the assassins who attempted to assassinate the emperor, Kim Yul-beom-wai immediately arrested them both.

In less than a minute, the merciless Golden Law Guards, showing no mercy, brought the two women together in front of Chen Qi in the same way they had subdued Margaret.

“Maria, Aunt Zofia…”

Looking at her relatives who had fallen into the same predicament as her, Margaret's resolute eyes finally welled up with two lines of tears that were hard to describe as either regret or resentment.

"Uncle Marna...didn't you tell him to leave the Grand Knight Territory as soon as possible?"

"Why are you staying? Why are you going to your deaths like me?"

"Who would want to die with you! It's just that the Letanian army stormed in so suddenly, and the city was under lockdown, I didn't have a chance to escape with your sister!"

The blonde woman, referred to as "Zofia," reprimanded Margaret with extreme impatience:

"You said you were going to stay in the Grand Knight Territory and live or die with Casimir. I thought you were going to fight the Letanian army to the death. Turns out you were planning this?!"

“This is a crime that sent our whole family to their deaths, where do you think we can escape to, Margaret!”

"And more importantly, you didn't even take me with you when you went on this mission!"

"If you had just told me, wouldn't I have helped you assassinate the emperor? Maybe with my help, you would have succeeded!"

Realizing that Margaret's crimes were enough to wipe out the Nearl family, Zofia, in a fit of desperation, expressed the same hatred for Letania.

Since it's already a crime punishable by the extermination of an entire clan, let her have some fun before she dies.

"elder sister!"

Even though young Maria was pale with fright, she still mustered a sliver of courage and said to her idolized older sister:
"I am also a knight of the Nearl family!"

"Even if I die with my sister, I won't be afraid!"

"Oh? You're all fearless and want to be heroes?"

"The knights of the Nearl family are truly heroes of Kazimierz."

Facing these three fearless women from the Lin Guang family, Chen Qi's words were full of admiration, but the hint of sarcasm in his tone was obvious to everyone.

In the hearts of the kneeling Kazimir commoners, these three girls from the Lin Guang family had already been sentenced to death by this terrifying emperor.

The trembling commoners didn't even dare to raise their heads.

The parents, holding their child, closed their own eyes while simultaneously covering the child's pupils with their hands.

They were all afraid.

They were terrified that this cold-blooded and ruthless emperor could be smiling one second and then beheading the three girls from the Lin Guang family in the street the next.

Beside Chen Qi, Jian looked at Margaret, who had failed in her assassination attempt on Chen Qi, and her two family members who had no regrets even though they were caught in the crossfire. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes as well.

However, due to their differing stances and actions, Jian opened his mouth but hesitated to utter words of pleading for them.

After all, she knew very well that the man beside her was an emperor.

If he were to let even those who tried to assassinate him go, it would not only damage his imperial authority but also put him in a dangerous situation.

In the future, as he conquers more and more countries, it is believed that more and more people will want to take his life by various means.

Therefore, although Jian admired them, she would not beg for their mercy.

But at this moment, Liselotte, who was trying to activate Originium Arts again but found that her power had been sealed by Chen Qi once more, unusually suggested to Chen Qi:
"...Your Majesty, I don't think it's right to just kill them like this."

"Oh?" Chen Qi glanced at Liselotte beside him and asked with interest:

"Tell me, Liselotte. What reason do you intend to give me to let these three people who want my life go?"

"...Your Majesty, the members of the Lin Guang family hold an extraordinary position in the hearts of the Kazimierz people."

Liselotte knelt on one knee and said with utmost respect:
"If His Majesty kills them here, it will only incite a rebellion among some of the Kazimierz people, thus cementing their status as heroes."

"Therefore, for the sake of Your Majesty's future rule, and to demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence, it would be better to turn them into slaves and exile them to the harsh borderlands."

Liselotte's words this time were naturally driven by her own ulterior motives.

With her sister Hildergard having betrayed her, Liselotte must seek help from others.

This time, seeing Margaret and her group, who dared to assassinate Chen Qi at such a young age, Liselotte saw a glimmer of hope.

Liselotte hoped to save Margaret and her group first. As long as the Lightbringer family was alive, Kazimierz could still threaten Chen Qi's rule.

In this way, her hope of overthrowing the tyrant increased by one point.

“...You’re right, Liselotte.”

“I almost got consumed by my emotions and let them get what they wanted.”

However, upon hearing Liselotte's words, Chen Qi also showed a look of sudden realization, and his tone softened.

Just as Lizarda, overjoyed, and the surrounding Kazimierz civilians thought that the three girls of the Nearl family could escape their fate.

The next second, a cruel and dangerous smile appeared on Chen Qi's face as he said calmly:
"Then, shall I make them sinners of Kazimir forever?"

With that dangerous smile, Chen Qi turned his gaze to Margaret, who, though unaware of the meaning, vaguely sensed that something was wrong and was covered in cold sweat.

But the verdict he announced was completely unexpected by everyone present.

"Those who attempt to assassinate the emperor shall, according to the law, be punished by extermination of their entire clan."

“However, since Liselotte has pleaded for you, I will not kill you this time.”

"However, the crime of assassinating the emperor still needs to be punished."

As he spoke, Chen Qi deliberately moved closer to Margaret, whose face had turned deathly pale as she realized what was happening.

"—Then let all the Kazimierz people of the Great Knight Territory atone for your sins with their deaths."

Chen Qi's voice was incredibly calm, even as relaxed as if he were saying, "I'll kill a bird tonight."

But the moment his clear voice fell, everyone present instantly felt a bone-chilling cold, as if they had fallen into an ice cave!
"you you……"

“Oh, don’t be so nervous, Miss Margaret. I won’t let them die in vain.”

Looking at Margaret, whose lips were pale and whose voice trembled with fear, Chen Qi's tone held a hint of mischievous teasing as he spoke softly:

"They won't die immediately, at least not before they're completely drained of their value."

“I had hoped that, barring any unforeseen events during this tour, this place would be governed as part of Letania.”

"But your assassination attempt has made me change my mind."

"Since the Kazimirs will rebel against my rule no matter what I do, why don't I choose a more efficient method?"

“I plan to build a concentration camp in Qasimir specifically to detain you uncivilized Qasimirians.”

"They will live in places worse than those infected in Ursus, building railways, mining, and doing all sorts of arduous work for Letania every day."

“The Qasimir people imprisoned there because of you will live a life worse than that of slaves.”

“There, they can be beaten, humiliated, and even killed without reason. When they are hungry or tired, all they get in return is whips and torture!”

"Of course, even if you die, you will still have value."

“I will throw you into the crematorium, and render your corpses into oil to make soap for the rest of the Qasimir people to enjoy!”

Chen Qi's voice was so soft and gentle, like a teacher patiently answering questions for her students.

But to Margaret, who was listening to all of this, every word Chen Qi said felt like being thrown into a pot of boiling oil.

Pain, torment, agony.

Just imagining the scene Chen Qi described made Margaret feel a pain worse than death.

Moreover, according to Chen Qi...

These Qazimirs have fallen to this state because of her actions. She is the one who killed countless Qazimirs.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

"Kill me!! You tyrant! Butcher! Kill me now!!!"

Finally, under intense mental torment, thirteen-year-old Margaret's psychological defenses completely collapsed.

She desperately raised her head, letting Jin Lufawei's halberd cut open the flesh on her neck, as if she wanted to die in this way.

For Margaret now...

Rather than making her accept the fact that her actions had killed countless Qazimirs, it would be better to just kill her.

Compared to this, which subject her to endless torment of her conscience.

Death is simply the easiest ending.

"Oh no, how could you die?"

Looking at Margaret, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown, Chen Qi scoffed.

"If you die, how will the people of Kazimir know that they have fallen to this state because of the famous 'Lightbringer' family?"

"You must bear witness to all of this for me, to witness how the Qazimirs died because of your righteousness."

"Take him away."

After saying that, under the desperate gazes of Margaret and countless other Kazimierz, Chen Qi waved his hand dismissively.

Liselotte never expected things to develop this way. Looking at the cold-blooded king before her, she no longer dared to speak.

Instead, seeing that Chen Qi seemed to really be making this decision, she trembled and was about to shout at Chen Qi.

But at that moment, the appearance of one person changed everything.

"—Your Majesty, Lady Letania."

"The current head of the Linguang family, Cyril Linguang, accompanied by his second son, Marna Linguang."

"I implore Your Majesty to have mercy."

Just as Margaret and the others were about to be dragged away by the Golden Law Guard, and all the onlookers in Qazimir were about to become slaves.

An aged and trembling voice broke the tense atmosphere that was about to erupt.

When everyone's eyes involuntarily turned to him, almost all the Kazimierz people present immediately recognized who the newcomer was.

"That's—the head of the Linguang family, Cyril Linguang?!"

"That war hero from Kazimir? He actually came?"

"The head of the Lin Guang family, can he... can he save us?"

“Grandfather…and Uncle Marner…”

Margaret, Maria, and Zofia, who were supposed to be dragged away, stared blankly at their grandfather, who was struggling to walk and whose hair and beard had turned white.

And beside him, there was Uncle Marner, expressionless, with only melancholy between his brows, and no trace of fighting spirit left.

But the next second, something happened that shocked Margaret, and indeed all the people of Qazimir.

With great difficulty, Cyril stood before Chen Qi with the help of his second son. The next second, without hesitation, he knelt down on both knees before the Emperor of Letania!
"boom."

"Your Majesty the Emperor, I am Cyril Lingguang, the head of the Lingguang family."

“I am aware of the heinous crimes committed by my descendants in the Lin Guang family, and I know that my sins are unforgivable.”

"I only beg Your Majesty to punish only my Lin Guang family and not to let the disaster spread to innocent people."

As he spoke, the old knight, who was on his last breath, lowered his head, which should have been incredibly proud, towards Chen Qi in a humble manner.

Even Marna, who was by his side, after struggling with her inner thoughts, followed her father's example and completely broke her pride.

In the end, the knight-errant also knelt down and lowered his head.

They only hoped that their dignity could buy a way out for the Kazimir people.

"—You people from the Linguang family really love playing the hero."

However, Chen Qi remained indifferent and unmoved by this scene, responding only in a cold tone:

"The more you act this way, the less likely I am to let you die."

"I will destroy the backbone of this country and make Kazimir submit to my rule."

"In reply to your Majesty..."

Cyril, who needed a moment to catch his breath before speaking, lowered his head even further and replied, seeing that Chen Qi was still unwilling to change his mind:

"Your Majesty's concern is merely that the people of Kazimir will use the Lin Guang family's prestige in Kazimir to destabilize your rule."

"I, on behalf of the Lin Guang clan, am willing to surrender to Your Majesty."

"Grandpa?!"

However, when she heard her grandfather, a war hero, say "surrender" to this tyrant, Margaret's expression changed drastically.

But this time, before Margaret could even speak, Marna, who was kneeling on the ground, coldly rebuked:
"Shut up, Margaret!"

"Don't you understand the current situation? Kazimierz has been conquered, and we hold the lives of countless Kazimierz in our hands!"

"Do you really want to cost the lives of thousands of Kazimir people because of your own mistake?!"

"Does someone like you deserve to be called a knight?!"

"..."

Marna's angry rebuke left Margaret speechless; she didn't know how to refute it, nor did she have the right to refute it at all.

"Oh? Surrender?"

Cyril's words finally hit the mark that Chen Qi had been hoping for, and his tone softened slightly as he calmly asked:

“Then, Cyril Lin Guang, answer me.”

"What can the surrender of your Lin Guang family bring me?"

"The knights of the Lin Guang family are all willing to become His Majesty's vanguard in conquering foreign lands."

Sensing that Chen Qi was showing signs of relenting, Cyril seized this crucial opportunity and immediately said:

"We are willing to offer our entire families as hostages, at Your Majesty's disposal."

"At the same time, we are also willing to lead the knights and silver-speared steeds who originally belonged to Kazimierz to fight for Your Majesty in all directions."

"Oh? How can I trust that you, who command the army, won't collude with those conquering knights to stab me in the back?"

Chen Qi sneered coldly.

"...We are willing to persuade the Knights of Conquest and the Silver Spear Pegasus to also offer their families as hostages to Your Majesty."

Faced with this soul-searching question, and with the lives of thousands of Kazimir people threatened, Cyril ultimately chose to utter these words, which could be described as "selling out his country for personal gain."

The battle-hardened old man understood that what the cold-blooded emperor had just said to Margaret was nothing more than a threat.

If he were truly such a cruel ruler, neither the Gallic remnants who submitted to him nor the Syracuseans would have the peaceful life they enjoy today.

What this emperor wanted was a stable reign over Kazimir.

But faced with the fate of countless Qasimirians, Cyril dared not gamble, nor was he worthy of it.

All he could do was make the Linguang clan bear all the blame.

At least in this way, the lives of the Qasimir people can be guaranteed.

At least this way, even if the "Near Light" clan is called traitors, they can have a clear conscience.

"I only beg Your Majesty to spare the people of Kazimir."

"The Lin Guang clan is willing to prove themselves to Your Majesty through time and achievements."

“We are of help to Your Majesty’s grand cause.”

"..."

Cyril crushed all the glory, dignity, and responsibility of his life into dust and transformed it into a sincere plea.

The heart-pounding silence lasted for a good ten minutes.

Finally, the emperor before them calmly delivered the verdict they had been waiting for.

"...I grant your request."

This short sentence sealed the fate of the Kasimir people.

The Qazimirs finally avoided becoming slaves.

At the same time, it also signifies that there is no longer anything on this land that can threaten Chen Qi's rule.

Kazimir was thus completely pacified.

(End of this chapter)