Book 8: Chapter 469: Military Standoff at Austin City and the Bizarre Situation Hidden in the Kerklav Academy

At the southern region of the Coristel Human Continent, within the borders of the Gabriel Empire, the southern Chelsea Imperial Highway. Under the escort of the Sarnia Duchy’s Sixth Guard, the bandits ambushing the students were all routed. Even though they were imperial soldiers in disguise, Bella’s subordinates did not expose their disguises and disbanded after collecting their weapons.

As for the Armored Demonic Warbears that appeared behind the carriages, they had already retreated in compliance with the show. Bella unfolded the map and had a look at it. The political situation in the Gabriel Empire was really confusing right now so the capital was divided into the “Prince Retainment Faction” and the “Prince Abolishment Faction” and was constantly in a state of battle.

Emperor Alfred the Third who was caught in the middle was in a dilemma. On one side is his younger brother, Prince Frauer, and the other is his father-in-law, Prince Angus. In addition to these two factions, the western region of the empire has been controlled by the Emperor’s older brother, Prince Brad, who has cut off the west into an autonomous region with the support of the Human Continent’s Nation of the Archers, the Kristoff Empire.

The eastern region of the Empire is controlled by the largest clan, the Renard family, while the central region is controlled by a nameless prince. Among the various fragmented forces, the strongest one is Grand Duke Bellina. She controls the southern and the northern regions of the empire. Other than the Norlander Duchy in the south that’s still holding on without budging, most of the duchies have already submitted to Sarnia Duchy. Under the control of Underworld Demon King Cornice, Sarnia Duchy had taken advantage of the Empire’s political turmoil to expand its sphere of influence and now completely surrounded Norlander Duchy.

The Gabriel Empire’s north is bordered by the Manasvir Empire that is located at the center of the Human Continent, which is already under Bella’s control. Under Bella’s acquiescence, the forces of Grand Duke Yale, the Manasvir Empire’s southern warlord, invaded the northern region of the Empire on a large scale and entered in a confrontation of strength with the invasion of the Kristoff Empire at the Empire’s west.

Nowhere is peaceful in the Empire now. Based on tradition, summer is when the Gabriel Empire’s Hundred Flowers Festival is held. This matchmaking activity is set to take place near a land of flowers by the Manasvir Empire’s capital. Emperor Alfred the Third had invited the princes and noble sons of other empires to participate in the political matchmaking party. Some duchy heirs are also invited to come.

None of the princes who came here are from the Manasvir Empire. The only members left of their royal family are Empress Manya Felan and a dozen princesses, as well as some imperial concubines. Empress Manya Felan and the princess have already been taken by Bella, so Bella was actually equivalent to the Manasvir Empire’s “Emperor”. Only, she hasn’t made her identity public and could only use the fake identity of Princess Manasviel, Empress Manya Felan’s sister, for now.

The strange atmosphere in the carriage remained the same, only the people have changed. Succubus Queen Aisha and Demon Empress Samith have already flown back to the Demon Ark to await orders. Bella secretly invited “Moonlight Swordsman” Grand Princess Kliveny and “Celestial Swordsman” Princess Khalifa over to talk about something. Kriss was still resting in the president’s carriage and did not come.

Kliveny and Khalifa, the two princesses, sat down where Succubus Queen Aisha and Demon Empress Samith had been sitting. The two beautiful swordsman vice presidents who were used as stools had their faces turn even redder. It was enough that they had to be bullied, but now they were actually bullied by their own student union presidents. To think these two imperial princesses would actually acquiesce to Bella’s strange hobbies.

“Princess Khalifa, Princess Kliveny, it’s so hot today so why wear your uniform? Your faces are already so red and you’re sweating so much. You should get naked just like me!”

“Bella, don’t mess around! We’re almost at the academy, we can’t do it in the carriage…”

“Yeah! Just look here, you can do whatever you want later back at the academy!”

Even though both Princess Kliveny and Princess Khalifa said no, their bodies are still very honest and they stripped down with much self-awareness. Then, they crossed their hands in front of their thighs and quietly awaited Bella to scold them. In front of the demoness Bella, they didn’t even have any hint of their pride as princesses. Seeing how obedient and alluring they were, Bella almost pulled them over to bully them.

Bella was currently embracing “Darkness Swordsman” Miss Ivy and “Aquamarine Swordsman” Vice President Emily with each arm and they have already been bullied until they were limp and couldn’t move, which is a good time for someone to take over. Bella got up and left the sofa, going over to the two princesses and picking them up, then bringing them to the lounge at the back of the carriage, pushing them down onto the small bed without saying a word.

The two princesses looked flustered at Bella and had already forgotten their identities as swordswomen that could resist, but which one of the beauties in the carriage wasn’t a skilled expert? In front of Bella’s strong battle prowess, it doesn’t matter how strong a human beauty is, they can only play the part of the lamb, awaiting slaughter.

Bella climbed up and hugged them both with one on each side and began talking. Kliveny and Khalifa didn’t know whether they should laugh or cry. Couldn’t Bella be more serious? Do they have to move to the bed to talk? She’s not planning to go straight to doing that after talking, right?! They are now only prey to be bullied by Bella. Knowing that they can’t get away, the two princesses could only start talking business with Bella in this ambiguous atmosphere.

“Princess Khalifa, Princess Kliveny, it’s better if you two don’t return to the academy for now. It’s already under someone else’s control. You two may be fine if you return but the students with you might not be.”

“Bella, do you know something? We’re the princesses of this empire after all. Even if they’re vying for the throne, those people won’t really do anything to us, will they?”

“Bella, you…You’re not thinking of invading the empire, are you? Please don’t do that. Us sisters are willing to give our all to you, so can you please not do that?”

“I don’t want to invade; it’s just your Emperor and his relatives are a bit too good at stirring trouble. Also, you two are too naive. You’ll easily be taken advantage of.”

Kerklav Academy was not located in the Gabriel Empire’s capital. According to Bella’s “Demonic Eye” in the skies, Kerklav Academy is located in the city of Austin, is already under siege, and has already fallen under the control of some unknown empire’s army.

Bella was worried that the other side would use the safety of the academy to threaten Princess Khalifa and Grand Princess Kliveny, as well as Princess Kriss, to do things they aren’t willing to do. If Bella were in their shoes, then she would have done the same. Only a bad person can understand the way a bad person thinks. She arranged for Sarnia Duchy’s Sixth Guard to come over just in case something bad happened.

In addition to the Sixth Guard, Underworld Demon King Cornius had also urgently dispatched the Third and Fifth Guard, numbering a total of more than ten thousand gunners and cannoneers holding hundreds of firearms aboard the Grim Airship Fleet, rushing towards Bella’s direction. They have already arrived at the imperial city Austin ahead of them.

“By the way, Princess Khalifa and President Kliveny. You two don’t come out for a while. There are too many people eyeing you. I’ll find some people to act as your doubles.”

“Bella, what about Kriss? Doesn’t she need a double as well?”

“Her strength is much greater than yours and she has her own way of disguising herself. Alright, it’s decided. Just stay here in the carriage these couple days and wait for me to come back and love you.”

Bella put Princess Khalifa and Princess Kliveny on the bed and had them hold each other face to face. Then, Bella transported their clothes to Phantom Queen Aisha and Demon Empress Samith, who were on standby. These two will be the ones responsible for acting as the two princesses, Khalifa and Kliveny.

The succubus race is able to use disguise magic, especially disguising as beauties. Among the beauties of all races, the humans are the easiest to disguise as. Under Succubus Queen Aisha’s transformation, another Princess Khalifa and Princess Kliveny appeared in the carriage. Bella looked at them carefully. These two demons really are able to get their disguise on point. Even the hair and eye colors are the exact same as the original and the body was practically the same as well.

Succubus Queen Aisha is pretending to be Princess Khalifa while Demon Empress Samith is pretending to be Grand Princess Kliveny. Other than the difference between their busts, they were practically the same as the originals. The subtle differences in their breast size is something only an “old veteran” like Bella who had “pushed” many girls down could judge. Outsiders really couldn’t tell.

When the carriages of the academy neared the imperial city of Austin, the situation had already become very tense. Three guard legions of the Sarnia Duchy have already gathered here and set up their cannons to confront the army defending the city. The imperial army was demanding that only the academy’s carriages enter and that the guards had to stay outside.

Sarnia Duchy’s guards refused to accept it, reasoning that the imperial troops have no way of providing Emperor Alfred the Third’s written order. These troops belonged to other forces, so naturally they could not provide it, and thus the two sides confronted each other outside of the city.

“Are you trying to rebel? This is Austin City, not your Sarnia Duchy. If you’re smart, you’ll…”

“What? You can’t even show you’re on the emperor’s side and you’re trying to put the city under martial law. Aren’t you the ones who are rebelling? You think that pitiful gate of yours can stop our airships?!”

The imperial army generals stationed at the city gates were sweating bullets. Even though they had tens of thousands of defenders stationed in Austin City and Sarnia Duchy’s guards who came to besiege the gate numbered only around twelve thousand, the other party had the support of firearms and a variety of cannons that can easily blow open the city gates. They also had hundreds of airships from the Grim Airship Fleet in the sky. If they really fought here, then they really did have the ability to destroy the city gates.

As both sides were at a standstill, out came three beauties from Kerklav Academy’s carriages: Princess Khalifa, Grand Princess Kliveny, and a blonde beauty that seemed to be their retainer. The only one not seen is Princess Kriss. When the two princesses were seen coming out, the tension between both sides eased a little. If the princesses are out, it indicates that there’s still a chance of negotiation and not necessarily a fight.

“What’s going on? We’re trying to return to the academy; what are you blocking the gates for?”

“Your Highness Grand Princess Kliveny, the lord of the city has asked that you head to Kerklav Academy with Princess Kriss. He says there is important business he needs to discuss with you.”

“Is that so? Kriss isn’t feeling well today so she won’t be going. I’ll just go with Khalifa.”

The soldiers made a special request, inviting the princesses to head to Kerklav Academy alone while the rest of the students would standby here, which was just a diversionary tactic to separate the princesses from the elite swordsman students so they could be picked out. They are mainly aiming to separate them from the “Nine Swords” of the academy.

They had originally thought that Princess Kliveny would refuse this request and had already prepared backup plans in advance. Unexpectedly, the grand princess agreed without a moment’s hesitation. This reaction was obviously outside of their expectations, but they can’t exactly say there’s anything wrong with this. Grand Princess Kliveny only asked to bring this blonde secretary with her, to which the garrison quickly agreed.

Under Bella’s arrangements, Kriss did not appear for the reason that she was “feigning sickness”, and the participating Princess Khalifa and Grand Princess Kliveny aren’t the real deal either. They are disguises by Succubus Queen Aisha and Demon Empress Samith. Even the golden-haired beauty is just Bella dressing up a little as a passer-by.

The real Princess Khalifa and Grand Princess Kliveny are still in the carriage, guarded by Demon God Angel and Evil God Mia, two top-tier existences. Bella is confident that three people are enough to see what kind of snake oil these soldiers are peddling. Many Demonic Beings have already hidden in the skies. If they really did get ambushed, the demons can come down at any time to launch a surprise attack.

Not knowing that they were being fooled, the Austin City’s garrison welcomed Bella and the two princesses into the city and brought them to Kerklav Academy in a carriage. The nearest academy to the Gabriel Empire’s capital is Elitechra Warrior Academy.

Austin City’s streets have long emptied out. The garrison seemed to have established something like martial law, an emergency order that requires the authorization of Emperor Alfred the Third to be issued. As for which faction this group belonged to, Bella could not tell for the time being, so she decided to personally confirm the background of this imperial army.

Kerklav Academy, one of the Twelve Academies, is also known as the Swordsman Academy thanks to most of the students’ main professions being that of swordsmen. The school was said to be named in memory of the first swordsman of the Human Continent, Kerklav, and the size of the academy was about the same as Olsylvia Academy. The sizes of the Twelve Academies were basically about the same.

The pillars at both sides of Kerklav Academy’s gates are in the shape of two giant swords stabbed straight into the ground, and a large number of imperial army soldiers are also gathered there. These soldiers are dressed in full body armor and the emblem signifying their affiliation had intentionally been taken off. You could tell at a glance they were here to launch a coup.

Bella did not point that out either and continued into the academy as if she didn’t know anything. After entering Kerklav Academy, they were faced with the main passageway of the academy, called the “Sword Passage”. Sword monuments are erected on both sides of the passage to commemorate the famous swordsmen who appeared in the history of the Gabriel Empire. There were many of them, more than ten thousand from the looks of it, starting from the academy’s gates. These sword monuments lined both sides of this passage through all of Kerklav Academy.

If time permitted, then Bella would have been interested to look around at all the monuments of the famous swordsmen who appeared in the ten-thousand-year-long history of the Nation of the Sword and to catch up on their stories. However, as things are a bit off inside Kerklav Academy right now, it wasn’t the time for it. 

Bella and the girls did not see a single student of the Kerklav Academy. No boys, no girls, or even teachers, only patrolling soldiers. This was very abnormal. When President Kliveny led her team to participate in the summer exchange tournament, she only brought a small portion of the elite students. There are more than 60% of the students staying behind at the school so it was too strange for them to not see a single person.

Moreover, Bella could clearly sense dark magic in the air in this swordsman academy. She couldn’t help it; it was easy for her to detect the energy of her peers as a Demon King. Even though it was currently day, there was an oppressive aura around the Kerklav Swordsman Academy which filled up the whole campus. Bella sensed it as soon as she stepped through the gates.

The Gabriel Empire is a land of swordsmen with almost no magic professions. Even in the capital, there were only a few mages existing there. Austin is not located in the capital, so it was a big problem for magic to even appear here.

“Lord Demon King, our Demonic Eye has detected the presence of Demonic Beings in the academy. They’re not from our side. Do you require assistance? We can send flying demons over at any moment.”

“No need, just let them stay on standby. I knew something was off on the campus. Do you sense the presence of other Demon Kings? If yes, then help me check which Demon King’s subordinates these are.”

“We didn’t sense anything, Lord Demon King. We aren’t sure if they are sent by Demon Kings.”

The Demonic Eye lurking in the clouds reported this important information to Bella through telepathy. After receiving it, Bella continued to act as if she knew nothing.

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