The Dark Shadow Empire Royal Palace, in front of the main hall.
âLiliz, I want to see Her Highness.â
âPrince Vigelsa, Her Majesty is discussing an important matter with Uncle Frentz; no one is to disturb.â
âI have something important to tell Her Majesty. If itâs delayed, can you bear the responsibility?â
âSorry, Prince Vigelsa, Liliz has the dutyâ¦â
âPa!â A slap in the face sounded.
âHmph! How dare a mere servant stop me from reporting urgent matters to Her Majesty?â
Liliz, who had 5 red marks on her face, was not afraid. With a wave of her hand, she was about to launch a signal to call the imperial guards to make a move. The man behind Prince Vigelsa took a step forward. Before there was any movement, Liliz felt the pressure of terrifying momentum locking on her, keeping her immobile.
âLilizâ¦â Catherineâs voice sounded from the main hall. Liliz felt the oppressive momentum collapsed instantly, âBring them in.â
âYes, Your Majesty.â
Liliz entered the main hall with Prince Vigelsa and his subordinate. In the main hall, Catherine sat on the throne, and beside her was Uncle Frentz. During Catherineâs âclosed-door trainingâ, as the uncle of Her Majesty Empress and the most senior prince in the royal family, Frentz acted as Regent on behalf of the empress. Then, when Catherine ended the training, Frentz immediately resigned and returned the power to Catherine.
Prince Vigelsa looked about 30 years old. He looked personable and handsome. Looking at the veiled Demon Realmâs top beauty on the throne, a greedy expression flashed in Vigelsaâs eyes. He bowed from a distance and said, âYour Majesty! Your Highness Frentz, please forgive my rudeness because thereâs the latest top-secret intel that I want to report to Your Majesty.â
Catherine did not ask him to sit as she usually would. Instead, she said indifferently, âTell me, Vigelsa.â
âI received the latest news that 3 days later, the Fallen Angel Empire willâ¦â
Catherineâs faint voice interrupted him, â3 days later, the military parade ceremony will be held, and they plan to broadcast to the entire Demon Realm through magic television. The news I got yesterday is the top secret intel you said?â
Vigelsa showed an awkward expression, âIt turns out that Your Majesty already has plans. It seems that I have been worried in vain, but there is one more thing. In a month, the martial battle championship of Raizen the Great will be held. Your Majesty should participate by then, right?â
Catherine nodded slightly, âI have received an invitation letter written by Raizen.â
Vigelsa immediately said, âThis martial battle championship is no trivial matter. Raizen will play in person. It can be described as extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Your Majesty must consider it carefully.â
âWhat do you think I need to consider carefully? For example⦠the candidate for the crown prince?â Catherine showed a contemptuous smile behind the veil.
âYour Majesty is wise!â Vigelsa said seriously, âAlthough it may be offensive to discuss this topic, this is an aspect that must be considered as a controller of the empire.â
âYouâre right.â Catherine suddenly changed her tone, âYou broke into the main hall against my order to give me this so-called âreminderâ?â
Vigelsaâs expression froze. He bowed his head and said, âIâm just dedicated to the empire. I ask for Your Majestyâs forgiveness for my rudeness. Iâll leave now.â
âWait a minute.â Catherineâs voice was a little more stern, âWho hit Liliz in the face just now?â
Vigelsa was shocked, âYour Majesty. Itâs just a misunderstandingâ¦â
âRojef, formerly known as Tusitan, intermediate stage of the Demon Overlord. Mammon Royal Family, good at disguise and transformation techniques. Lurking around Vigelsa for many years as a trusted confidant.â
Catherineâs indifferent voice shocked the man behind Vigelsa, and his first reaction was to pounce on Vigelsa. Vigelsa was caught off guard and was caught in the throat by his confidant, Rojef.
âAs expected of Catherine the Great, you have actually seen through my identity a long time ago.â Rojefâs hand exuded a faint black mist, âWith Your Majestyâs vision, you should be able to see that my dark element power has eroded into His Highness Vigelsaâs soul. I can crush her soul in just a thought. I just want to get out of here safely now. Your Majesty, please let me live. Otherwise, this Prince Royal Highness will accompany my death.â
âTrying to threaten a ruler⦠youâre not qualified.â As Catherine shook her head slightly, light flashed in her black eyes. Rojef trembled. Starting from the hand that grabbed Vigelsaâs neck, his body turned into pieces of ashes and dissipated.
Vigelsa, who escaped death, took a few steps back tremblingly, stood unsteadily, and fell to the ground. The calmness and temperament just now were gone.
Catherine gave Vigelsa a disdainful look, âNow, you can leave. If you dare to break into the main hall next time, you know the consequences⦠When you go out later, apologize to Liliz and Iâll forget about this matter.â
âYes, Your Majesty.â Vigelsa scrambled his way out in cold sweat.
Watching Vigelsa leave, Frentz, who had been silent, said, âYour Majestyâs strength is getting stronger and stronger. It seems that the harvest of this closed-door training is quite large, but⦠if my old eyes are not mistaken, that Rojefâs power has already eroded into Vigelsaâs body. If he doesnât get treated, he will become unconscious for a long time even if he doesnât die. When Your Majesty was still a princess, Vigelsa once coveted Your Majestyâs beauty. He has not thought about making progress all these years and only knows to use small tricks. This time he even delusionally wants to become the crown prince. This hopeless man is really courting his own death.â
âUncle has always been sharp in vision.â Catherine smiled slightly. She just did it on purpose just now. Vigelsa had been coveting her beauty and the throne behind her. It was fine if he really had the talent, but he was a loser. His ability did not match his wildness at all. It was just that the princeâs identity was somewhat special and it was a critical period now. Just in case, Catherine made a firm decision and used the enemyâs hand to get rid of this prince who might cause harm to the empire.
Frentz sighed, âIâve been wrong about 1 person in my life and it almost ruined my daughterâs entire life. I regret not following your advice in the first place.â
Catherine knew who he was talking about and comforted him, âForget it, uncle. The past is over. I heard that now Medilu has found the man he likes.â
Frentz smiled wryly, âForget it. That bastard⦠haiz. Anyway, Medilu is settled down now. Okay, letâs not talk about that. Letâs continue our discussion just now.â
Catherine nodded, âGenerally speaking, military parades are held in secret. Even if it is a celebration, it is only a formal military parade. Now the armistice agreement of the 3 empires is about to expire, and the Fallen Angel Empire suddenly announced that the military parade would be broadcast live through magic television at this time. I donât know what the intention is. Unless Shea can have the power that deters Raizen or me, this military parade will only be self-defeating⦠For some reason, Iâm a little uneasy. It feels like something big is about to happen.â
Frentz frowned, âIt stands to reason that this is the calm before the storm. Itâs not a good opportunity for Your Majesty or Shea and Raizen to make a move. As for Vigelsa, itâs just a small trick.â
âThatâs right.â Catherine couldnât figure out why, âMaybe Iâm overthinking it.â
At this time, Liliz hurried in, âYour Majesty, Finance Minister Ayer has an emergency.â
âLet him in.â Catherine was slightly startled. Something that could be called an âemergencyâ by Finance Minister Ayer was definitely not an ordinary matter. Therefore, Liliz rushed to report directly after considering it.
Soon, Finance Minister Ayer walked into the main hall. Finance Minister Ayer was a tall, thin middle-aged man with a shrewd face, but his expression was a little panicked now, âYour Majesty. Bad news, thereâs a problem at the bank!â
âBank?â Catherine was startled. She was in âclosed-door trainingâ after Frentz ordered the establishment of an empire bank following the Fallen Angel Empire. By the time she came out, the banks had spread all over the estate. Since the 3 empires were vigorously establishing empire banks, and the income they had brought was considerable, Catherine did not deny Frentzâs decision. Since the development of the bank, it was very popular. Almost everyone had a magic card.
âItâs like this. Originally, due to various reasons, bank liquidity has begun to shrink. Recently, rumors have been circulating in all corners of the 3 empires, saying that the armistice agreement has expired, and the 3 empires are about to start a war again. Therefore, the currency will depreciate, and the food that can be bought with a white crystal coin may only be bought with a black crystal coin, etc. Although this rumor has gradually subsided with the efforts of various places, I donât know why it suddenly spread rampantly these days. More and more people are withdrawing money. Since this morning, there have been long queues at the gates of the capital banks to withdraw money. If this continues, the magic crystal coins in the bankâs reserves will soon be exhausted. Once there is no moneyâ¦â
Once this happened, not only the credibility of the empire would be greatly damaged, but also a series of terrifying consequences. Catherine immediately understood the seriousness of this matter, and her face became extremely solemn, âHow long can the emergency fund of the national treasury last?â
âLetâs not talk about the various estates, as far as the capital bank is concerned, it will last at most 3 days.â Finance Minister Ayer said with a bitter smile, âIf this frenzy of money withdrawals continues.â
âWhy is the gap so big?â Catherine was shocked, and Frentz also showed a horrified expression. It was like a sudden fatal blow.
âBefore this rumor started, there had been a number of large loans with long-term agreements. According to recent investigations, this seems to be the case with various estate banks. I suspect ⦠that someone deliberately manipulated it.â
âAccording to someone, itâs like the straw that broke the camelâs back.â Catherineâs eyes trembled slightly as if recalling something from âsomeoneâ. âFinance Minister Ayer, 2 things. First, immediately mobilize all available funds to deal with this crisis; second, investigate the details of those long-term loan account holders and where the funds are going. No matter what method is used, we must get through this crisis!â
âYes!ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âLiliz, immediately summon the ministers to the main hall for an emergency meeting.â
After Liliz and Finance Minister Ayer left, Catherine took a deep breath and gradually calmed down, âUncle, it seems that we all misunderstood. In this most unlikely situation, the opponent actually made a move. Furthermore, this move hit a critical spot that we didnât expect.â
Frentz nodded solemnly, âItâs really unexpected. Such an unprecedented method is almost impossible to guard against!â
âIf I guess right, Raizen must have the same problem as us right now.â Catherineâs hand tightened on the armrest of the throne. âWhat a bloodless and deadly attack! I see, it turns out that after the 3 empires armistice agreement, he has already planned this attack⦠that damn guy!â
TL: Oh no no, donât make your wife angry. Now she even got his daughterâ¦