My profession panel inspires loyalty.

[All transoceanic magic arrays have been deactivated. Target locked: the entire territory of the White Eagle Empire!]

[Activate Contingency Plan: Skyfire!]

[With the fastest speed and the most ferocious intensity, the entire White Eagle Empire will fall!]

The order is issued with thunderous force!

[In the Crimson Abyss, the Seventh Alliance warriors, who had just been complaining about the tough skin of the lords on the Abyss battlefield, suddenly froze.]

Although the drop rate of Divine Crystals is high, overall it's not as satisfying as gaining war merits by attacking distant continents.

After all, how can exchanging extraordinary resources for military merits be as efficient as launching a devastating attack from the distant ocean or continent?

The next moment, their faces lit up with ecstatic joy!

The overall strength of the White Eagle Empire seems to be inferior to that of the Far Ocean Continent!

So for them, this is even easier than going home and beating up the neighbor's bratty kid!

[Some soldiers from the combined regiment even swore, "Damn it! Military merits fell from the sky!"]

After all, the mainstream offensive weaponry of the White Eagle Empire right now is still the magic-guided cannon.

The most powerful of all the warbands is still the Thunderhawk Knights.

For the Red Heart Society, a legendary organization that received gifts from eight different time periods, the White Eagle Empire was far too outdated in terms of offensive military equipment, warband organization, and command tactics.

Putting everything else aside, based solely on the centuries of dedicated development in the previous timeline, the soldiers of the Seventh Joint Regiment could easily destroy the White Eagle Empire's bridge command tower using the accuracy of their secondary weapons!

For the elite members of the Red Heart Society, who were already accustomed to the Abyssal Demon Tide and the Unlimited Warfare, this was nothing short of a dimensional reduction attack!

The absolute firepower barrier created by the technological gap is enough to turn all of the White Eagle's proud defensive fortifications into costly targets for fireworks the moment the war begins.

[The Red Heart Army, forged in bloody battles and tempered by ideology, valuing honor and shared ideals above life itself, ruthlessly crushed the White Eagle Army, whose morale was wavering and plagued by class conflicts!]

Not to mention the enormous gap in troop coordination, tactical systems, battlefield control, and logistical support. For the soldiers of the Combined Regiment, the White Eagle Empire was simply a moving source of merit points!

[Military merit!]

That's a ladder to progress!

[As the Red Heart Society waged war against the White Eagle Empire, the towering magical shield of the Silver City, a symbol of the White Eagle Empire's thousand-year glory, crumbled under the overwhelming beams of the "Elemental Stripping Matrix."]

When the Red Heart Army's suffocatingly heavy ground forces and the magical battle formations hovering in the air, like a cold, ring-shaped mountain range, completely surrounded the imperial capital, a deathly silence fell over the luxurious golden council hall of the White Eagle Palace.

How could they not understand now?

That so-called foundation, that Red Heart Society's fear of the White Eagle Empire, was nothing but a beautiful dream woven by them all, enough to deceive the entire empire!

His Majesty Charles is wise and mighty!

He had already seen the finish line!

We, these blind fools, have single-handedly pulled the final curtain down on the entire empire!

[However, Crown Prince Bai Ying was unwilling to give up. Based on the Red Heart Society's reaction, he could roughly guess the friendly relationship between his father and the Red Heart Society.]

[Just as the Crown Prince of White Eagle arrived at the front lines to encourage all the soldiers and battle groups, the suffocating silence and despair brought by the Red Heart Society were something a crown prince who had risen to power through rebellion could not inspire.]

At that moment, the Red Heart Army's orderly and solemn formation suddenly parted like a red sea, slowly shifting to both sides.

A figure slowly emerged from within.

When the figure was fully exposed to the sight of the White Eagle Imperial City soldiers, screams erupted like a tsunami, sweeping across the entire city wall!

It's His Majesty!

[It's His Majesty the Emperor!]

Was he rescued by the Red Heart Society?

Countless eyes stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the familiar figure below the city.

Charles VII, dressed in a simple yet perfectly fitting navy blue suit, stood calmly before the Red Heart Army, facing the once-proud but now crumbling walls of his imperial capital.

【Soldiers of the White Eagle Empire!】

Charles VII's voice was steady and resonant, devoid of anger or accusation, conveying only a weighty statement.

I am your Emperor, Charles Winston VII.

After introducing himself, he slowly opened his arms, as if embracing the entire capital, or perhaps all the bewildered soldiers ahead.

His gaze swept over the faces filled with shock, confusion, fear, and a glimmer of hope, and he continued speaking.

Now, you have two paths before you.

[First rule: Lay down your weapons, step down from the city wall, and stand in the ranks of the Red Heart Army behind me.]

You are not surrendering, but as glorious warriors, choosing to continue following the emperor you once served, towards a new, truly hopeful and bright future!

There, your bravery will not be buried by noble titles, and your blood will not bring you luxuries enjoyed by a few, but tangible benefits!

The glory you have achieved through your struggles is enough to provide your parents, wives, and children with a peaceful and prosperous life, and to give you the resources and honor to continuously climb to the peak of power!

The substantial information about the Red Heart Society's merit system contained within instantly ignited a strange light in the eyes of many low-ranking officers and soldiers who had experienced the Empire's recent military reforms and tasted their tangible benefits!

The second path is to pick up your magic guns and grip your rune spears tightly!

Aim them at me!

[Right here, in front of the Red Heart Society's massive army, fire upon your emperor!]

Ask yourselves honestly, is the future promised by Emperor Charles VII, or the soil beneath the feet of that despicable traitor, to which you have chosen to pledge allegiance?

These words instantly plunged the city walls into chaos. In a monarchical state like the White Eagle Empire, the loyalty of soldiers to the emperor had always been a core national value.

So when this option was presented, the soldiers' minds went blank for a moment.

They looked down at His Majesty the Emperor, arms outstretched, completely unguarded, calmly facing the arrows and cannons of the entire capital below the city walls, and then at the silent, yet devastatingly powerful, Red Heart Army formation behind him.

Finally, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the magnificent yet cold White Eagle Palace behind them, a symbol of supreme power at that moment.

Over the years, His Majesty Charles's personal reforms to the military, including improved soldier benefits, the establishment of merit records, and substantial compensation for the wounded and disabled, have tangibly changed the lives of countless ordinary soldiers and their families.

Many of them had portraits of His Majesty the Emperor hanging on their walls and battle commendation orders personally signed by His Majesty placed by their bedsides.

Now, he's ordered to personally shoot and kill His Majesty?

That would hurt more than tearing out your own heart!

At this moment, the oath of respect and loyalty to Charles VII burns deep within the souls of every Imperial soldier!

[The Crown Prince of White Eagle, sensing the unrest in the army, quickly began to deliver a speech.]

Soldiers!

Don't be fooled!

[The person standing below isn't my father at all!]

My father, His Majesty Charles VII, has long been ill from overwork in governing the country and is now resting under the care of his medical team!

What's appearing before you now is nothing but a counterfeit created by the Red Heart Society using despicable shapeshifting magic or high-level dark alchemical golems!

[A treacherous counterfeit!]

[A despicable tool used to bewitch and undermine the White Eagle's will to resist!]

If the two armies are locked in a stalemate, with neither side possessing equal strength.

The White Eagle Crown Prince's inflammatory slander might actually make these soldiers hesitate.

But now the Crimson Heart Society possesses overwhelming power; even the magical barrier erected in the capital over hundreds of years cannot withstand a single attack from them.

Under such circumstances, they simply couldn't fathom the point of Chixin deceiving them in this way.

Is it fun?

Chapter 211 The Collapse of the Empire, the Beginning of a New Era

Sometimes, the truth is just that simple and unadorned.

In most cases, lower-level workers and soldiers are not entirely stupid.

When the answer is completely etched into everyone's minds, even if they don't want to know the truth, the truth will still seep into their minds.

Therefore, the Crown Prince of the White Eagle Empire's attempts to seduce the public had no effect whatsoever.

[Even members of the elite battle groups nearby, eager to demonstrate their loyalty to Charles VII, seized the opportunity when the Crown Prince of the White Eagle Empire was not paying attention and directly captured him!]

Even for these top professionals, their loyalty to the former emperor wasn't entirely pure.

But the current situation is clear to even a fool.

Following the Crown Prince of White Eagle, the most likely outcome is that one will be reduced to ashes.

[By following the White Eagle Emperor Charles VII, given his relationship with the Red Heart Society, he might indeed be able to secure a stable position within the society.]

Charles VII, observing his crown prince being suppressed by two powerful warriors, felt no sense of victory.

Instead, a chilling sense of utter despair slowly rose within him, a chill that penetrated to the bone, even overshadowing the ruthlessness and cunning expected of an emperor.

[If one's own crown prince truly possesses the courage and resolve to organize a resounding and decisive resistance, to live and die standing.]

Raise the flag, unite in solidarity, and fight against the heavens!

Even if it was a doomed failure, a final swan song burning with the last vestiges of the old aristocracy's blood and pride, it would at least leave a few embers of refusal to be extinguished on the ruins of the empire, adding a touch of tragedy and epic depth to the end of this era.

Like the monarchs in ancient texts who died for their ideals, at least their names can be engraved on their tombstones as warriors.

But now it seems that the successor he personally chose and nurtured is, as he predicted, utterly incompetent.

From the flawed planning at the beginning of the rebellion, to the inherent weakness of attempting to leverage the power of aristocratic clans during the rebellion, and finally to the dual collapse of mind and body when facing absolute power at the last moment...

Everything points to one core issue: this heir lacks the crucial backbone and will necessary for an emperor, especially one in turbulent times.

It is in dire straits that true heroes are revealed.

[From the perspective of choosing an heir, my judgment was clearly flawed.]

In May of the 131st year of the Extraordinary Calendar, the White Eagle Empire, symbolizing the last bastion of the old order, officially completed its handover.

This clash between the new era and the old era was devoid of fierce street battles and a united defense; instead, it was filled with a cold silence and the routine sealing of archives.

The speed of power shifts is dizzying; yesterday's nobles were discussing how to maintain their dignity, and today they are already struggling to adapt to the rules of their new masters.

[And here, in the White Eagle Empire's highest-security prison, the Crown Prince is imprisoned.]

[According to Charles VII's thinking, he actually wanted to save face for the ruling class of the White Eagle Empire.]

However, within the Red Heart Society, the concept of equality for all was deeply ingrained.

Therefore, the Crown Prince of White Eagle was imprisoned in the highest prison for seven major crimes under White Eagle law, including treason and rebellion.

Charles VII looked at his heir and sighed.

Is it really that urgent?

Even after I die, won't the White Eagle Empire still be yours?

This is not a question, but a statement imbued with a sense of absurdity.

After all, this coup d'état was undeniably absurd, and even as one of the parties involved, I still found it somewhat difficult to comprehend.

Assuming there truly exists a formidable foundation that even a loyal heart would fear, you should stand with me, and with the supreme imperial power.

Powerful families and imperial power are forever irreconcilable opposites!

Only the most foolish heir would truly entrust everything to a powerful family.

[If you possess powerful forces and are only doing this to exploit aristocratic families, intending to make things easy for yourself and discard them after they've served their purpose, then I won't say anything.]

But what you're doing is utterly foolish!

As the Crown Prince listened to Charles VII's earnest words of instruction, a glimmer of hope inexplicably arose in his heart.

[Father...haven't you given up on me yet?]

Seizing the opportunity, he knelt down and began to confess his mistakes to Charles VII, begging for his forgiveness.

At the same time, he used his mother, the current Empress of the White Eagle Empire, as a shield.

He hoped his father would spare his life for his mother's sake!

Although this was a serious crime of treason, as someone in a position of power, he was all too aware of the intricacies involved.