The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

The Imperial Expedition Corps entered the foothills of the Crimson Highlands before sunrise.

Mist covered the road.

The mountains ahead looked like enormous walls rising from the earth, their peaks disappearing into gray clouds.

Thousands of soldiers moved slowly through the valley.

Wagons creaked.

Horses snorted.

Armor rattled with every step.

Scouts disappeared into the forests and returned with reports.

For the first few hours, everything remained orderly.

Then the first problem appeared.

The Commander's Decision

Colonel Gareth stood beside the expedition map.

"Three routes."

He pointed toward the mountains.

"The main road is safest, but it will take us two additional days."

His finger moved north.

"The northern trail is shorter."

Then south.

"And the southern trail leads directly toward the villages that reported the monster attacks."

Several officers immediately spoke.

"We should take the northern route."

"The southern route is too dangerous."

"We can't waste two days."

Kael listened without speaking.

Darius stood behind him.

Walter crossed his arms.

The Black Dragon officers waited.

A young noble officer stepped forward.

"Colonel."

"There's no reason to send the Tenth Prince toward the southern villages."

He looked toward Kael.

"The Imperial Expedition Corps can handle the investigation."

Kael glanced at him.

"Then why were those villages included in our orders?"

The officer's expression tightened.

"They were."

"But..."

"Your soldiers aren't experienced enough to operate independently in unfamiliar territory."

Walter's eyebrow rose.

"That's interesting."

The officer looked toward him.

"What's interesting?"

Walter smiled.

"You've never fought beside us."

"So how exactly did you decide we're inexperienced?"

The officer's jaw tightened.

Colonel Gareth raised his hand.

"Enough."

The camp became quiet.

He looked at Kael.

"What do you recommend?"

Kael studied the map.

"The southern route."

Several officers immediately objected.

"It's too dangerous."

"We don't know what's there."

"Exactly."

Kael tapped the map.

"That's why we should investigate it."

He looked toward Gareth.

"If monsters are being pushed out of the mountains, the villages closest to the mountains will tell us where they're coming from."

Gareth stared at the map for several seconds.

Then nodded.

"Agreed."

He pointed toward the southern trail.

"Black Dragon Company."

"You'll investigate the villages."

The noble officer stepped forward.

"Colonel, with respect—"

Gareth cut him off.

"The order has been given."

The officer bowed stiffly.

"Yes, Colonel."

But the look in his eyes made his feelings obvious.

This wasn't over.

A Separate Road

The expedition continued.

By midday, the main force separated from Kael's company.

Fifty Black Dragons turned south.

The Imperial banners disappeared behind the trees.

Darius rode beside Kael.

"We have a problem."

Kael looked at him.

"Which one?"

Darius glanced backward.

"The nobles."

Kael already knew.

"They don't like us."

"They don't like that you're giving positions to people they believe are beneath them."

Kael looked toward the soldiers.

Several branch-family soldiers were riding near the rear.

"They'll have to get used to it."

Darius nodded.

"It may not be that simple."

"No."

Kael's expression became serious.

"It won't."

The Village

Three hours later...

Smoke appeared beyond the trees.

Kael raised his hand.

The entire company stopped.

Grom returned from ahead.

"Village."

"About thirty homes."

"Nobody outside."

Darius immediately ordered the soldiers into formation.

"Shields up."

The company advanced carefully.

The village gate stood open.

No guards.

No villagers.

A broken cart lay across the road.

Blood stained the wooden wheels.

Walter's expression changed.

"Everyone stay alert."

They entered.

Doors hung open.

Food remained on tables.

A child's wooden toy lay abandoned in the dirt.

But there were no bodies.

No survivors.

No signs of a normal evacuation.

Grom crouched near the road.

He touched the ground.

"Tracks."

Kael dismounted.

"How many?"

"Too many."

Grom pointed toward the forest.

"Monsters."

Then he pointed in another direction.

"People."

Darius frowned.

"People?"

Grom nodded.

"Someone came here after the monsters."

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"So we're not only dealing with monsters."

One of the branch-family soldiers approached.

"Commander."

Kael turned.

"We found something."

He handed Kael a torn piece of cloth.

A military insignia was stitched into it.

Imperial.

But not from their unit.

Darius examined it.

"This belongs to the main expedition."

Walter frowned.

"Why would Imperial soldiers be here before us?"

Kael looked toward the forest.

"That's what we're going to find out."

A few minutes later...

A group of soldiers from the main expedition appeared between the trees.

The noble officer from earlier led them.

His expression immediately hardened when he saw Kael.

"Prince Kael."

Kael nodded.

"You came quickly."

"We were ordered to investigate the village."

Kael looked at the insignia.

"You've already been here."

The officer paused.

"We arrived before you."

"Why didn't you report the missing villagers?"

The officer's eyes narrowed.

"We didn't find anything worth reporting."

Kael looked around the empty village.

"Nothing?"

The officer shrugged.

"Monster attack."

"Villagers probably fled."

Grom immediately shook his head.

"No."

Everyone looked at him.

Grom pointed toward the forest.

"People didn't flee."

"They were taken."

The noble officer laughed quietly.

"You're going to trust a goblin's judgment over Imperial soldiers?"

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Several Black Dragons tightened their grips on their weapons.

Grom remained calm.

Kael stepped forward.

"You will not insult one of my soldiers because of his race."

The officer's smile disappeared.

"And there is the problem."

"What?"

"You continue treating them like equals."

Kael stared at him.

"They're soldiers."

"They earned their place."

The officer scoffed.

"Blood determines status in this empire."

Kael's voice remained calm.

"Not on my battlefield."

Silence.

Darius stepped between the two groups.

"Enough."

The officer turned away.

"We'll investigate the western side."

Kael watched him leave.

Walter quietly muttered,

"That went well."

Kael ignored him.

"Find the villagers."

The Black Dragons established camp outside the village.

No one slept comfortably.

Kael sat away from the others.

His sword rested beside him.

The mountains loomed overhead.

The moon barely illuminated their peaks.

He closed his eyes.

Kael inhaled slowly.

Silver Knight Aura emerged around his body.

He held it steady.

Ten seconds.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Then he introduced Light Magic.

Golden mana flowed into his legs.

His aura became unstable.

He immediately stopped.

Again.

Silver Aura.

Light.

Stop.

Again.

Silver Aura.

Light.

Night Aura.

The dark violet energy appeared.

His muscles tightened.

His heartbeat accelerated.

Kael gritted his teeth.

"Too much."

He released it.

Sweat dripped from his chin.

Night Aura was powerful.

But he couldn't use it recklessly.

If he entered a prolonged battle like this...

He would exhaust himself.

He tried again.

This time...

He didn't force Night Aura through his entire body.

He concentrated it into his legs.

The dark aura wrapped around his feet.

Kael moved.

BOOM!

He shot forward.

Then stopped.

His boots carved lines into the dirt.

He looked down.

"Better."

Again.

Short burst.

Stop.

Short burst.

Stop.

He was learning.

Night Aura wasn't something he needed to keep active constantly.

It could become a weapon of timing.

A sudden acceleration.

A single decisive strike.

That was far more efficient.

Kael made a small cut across his palm.

One drop of blood floated above it.

He shaped it into a thin needle.

Then split it into three.

Then five.

His concentration increased.

The needles moved around him.

Left.

Right.

Behind.

He stopped.

His breathing became heavier.

Blood magic required precision.

One mistake...

And he could injure himself.

He dismissed the technique.

Tomorrow he'd continue.

Kael stood.

The night had become unusually quiet.

No insects.

No birds.

Nothing.

Then...

Crack.

A branch broke.

Kael reached for his sword.

He looked toward the trees.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

Another sound.

Crack.

Closer.

Kael's night aura flickered around his feet.

His eyes narrowed.

Then a small figure emerged from the darkness.

A child.

Dirty.

Terrified.

Kael lowered his sword immediately.

"Easy."

The child stumbled forward.

Kael caught him before he fell.

The boy was shaking violently.

Darius and Walter rushed over.

"Commander!"

Kael crouched.

"Where is your family?"

The boy looked toward the mountains.

His lips trembled.

Then he whispered four words.

"They took everyone."

Kael's expression hardened.

"Who?"

The boy pointed toward the Crimson Highlands.

"They came from the mountain."

Then...

Something enormous roared in the distance.

ROOOOOOOOAAAR!

Every soldier in the camp stood.

Horses panicked.

Weapons were drawn.

Kael slowly looked toward the mountains.

The expedition had only been underway for one day.

And already...

The Crimson Highlands had shown them that the monster attacks were far more complicated than anyone had expected.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!