Chapter 12 – The First step to Empire- II
As dusk fell, the streets of Carnatic City glowed with lantern light. The buzz of evening trade, chatter from inns, and the slow echo of horses filled the air as Vector arrived at his second destination:
The Silver Crown Alehouse, a historic tavern wrapped in elegance and legacy.
Renowned for its vintage spirits, impeccable service, and refined clientele, it welcomed merchants, nobles, and even the occasional Lionheart officer, all drawn by its exclusivity.
But much like the Leon Restaurant, the Silver Crown was anything but ordinary.
It too was owned and operated by the Astrum family, concealed under layers of wealth and discretion.
Beneath its lavish surface lay one of the family's most secure intelligence hubs, a hidden web of secrets, shadow corridors, and silent meetings untouched by Lionheart's suspicion.
As Vector stepped inside, the polished wood gleamed beneath chandeliers, and soft harp music floated above the murmuring crowd. Well-dressed servers moved with practiced grace between tables, every movement choreographed.
One of the servers caught sight of him and subtly stiffened, then approached Vector to show him his destination.
"This way, sir," he murmured, leading him to one of the private rooms.
At the end of the corridor, the server paused and entered the private room with him.
Inside, the server and Vector stood before a wall paneled in dark mahogany. The server reached forward and pressed three discrete points across the panel. A faint click echoed, and the floor shifted.
A section of the floor eased open, revealing a narrow stairwell descending into darkness.
Without a word, Vector stepped down.
The door sealed behind him, cutting off the world above.
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Beneath the Silver Crown, a torch-lit chamber spread out, reinforced with stone arches and steel bracing. One of many hidden sanctuaries maintained by the Astrum family across Elaris.
Inside, thirty-one loyal subordinates stood waiting in silent formation. Robes, travel leathers, and armor mixed in the crowd—each figure handpicked, trained in secret, and bound to the Astrum name by oath and blood.
At the forefront stood Marcus Rowan, the cool-headed tactician; Tristan Vale, the ghost among men, unreadable and silent; and Rhea Arden, sharp-eyed and sharp-witted, her gaze as steady as her sword.
Near the back wall, leaning casually against a support pillar, was Sebastian Sinclair, silver streaks lining his dark hair, his long coat immaculately worn. Though middle-aged, his presence hadn't dulled.
Vector gave him a single nod, which Sebastian returned silently.
Vector stood in front of them after giving the greetings and started to tell the reason for the unexpected meeting.
"As you all know, I called this meeting… but first, let me tell you: I have left the Gardener post." After saying this, Vector paused, as Rhea, as usual, asked the first question.
Rhea asked, "Young Master, isn't the Colonel Estate the most strategic place to gather intelligence? Why did you leave it?"
Vector replied with a smile, "The reason for this is that I obtained critical intel that will allow us to gain the upper hand against the Lionheart Empire."
"...and obviously, to lead the new operation we are about to undertake. As the leader of the operation, I had to leave," Vector said, and added with a teasing glint, "or are you planning to lead it if I don't?"
Rhea laughed heartily. "Hehe… Young Master, without you, who here dares to claim they could lead this team?"
Vector knew Rhea's mischievous and lively nature, so he ignored her nonsense talk.
He then pulled out a folded parchment and stepped forward, unrolling it across the long oak table—a meticulously drawn replica of the operation map he had seen in the Colonel's study.
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Operation: Break the Fang.
The Empire is sending 1,500 elite troops to Vantara Village to build a hidden base. They'll circle through the Naga Forest and hit Ironfang Hill City from behind.
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He traced the route on the map.
"The Naga Forest spans both Elaris and Redfield. The Ironfang Mountains lie to the east, but the forest surrounds them like a crescent."
"If they complete this route… Ironfang Hill City falls."
"Then we hit first?" Tristan asked.
Vector nodded. "We'll use their own intel against them. Vantara won't become their stronghold; it'll become ours."
A moment of silence followed.
Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice calm but pointed. "Ours, as in the resistance's... or the family's?"
The question lingered in the air—not a challenge, just a need for clarity.
Vector didn't hesitate. He looked each of them in the eye, his voice firm, unwavering.
"A stronghold of the family," he said. "But we won't involve the family's elite force. Let them focus on protecting Avalon."
Avalon, the heart of Novastra, was surrounded by three occupied provinces: Solara, Arya, and Ashmont, and bordered by Aurora and Redfield, the last two free states.
Therefore, Avalon had to face a three-sided attack from the Lionheart Empire forces. And all the resistance experts were concentrated in Avalon—that's why the Lionheart Empire had not yet captured the capital of the Novastra Empire.
The Astrum family, one of the core forces, had also provided its experts to resist Lionheart.
These experts—the elders of the Astrum family—were 4th-stage Body Refining practitioners, the highest level of power achievable in this world.
"I won't dilute their strength," Vector said.
Vector thought in his mind 'I'll build our foundation here, and I'll resist the Empire using the Void System.'
Vector emphasized, "We are going to claim Vantara. I'll build a sovereign territory, a foothold belonging solely to us, not to Lionheart or to the Novastra Liberation Front."
He proclaimed further, "From there, I'll revive the Novastra Empire. Not the crumbling remnant that was taken from us… but the empire we were meant to become, the true Novastra."
Silence spread across the chamber.
No one spoke.
No one questioned him. No one asked how. No one doubted whether they had enough men, weapons, or resources.
They didn't need to.
These were the Astrum family's shadows, loyal through years of secrecy and survival. Now, their heir stood not as a relic of old glories, but as the spark to increase the family's influence and power.
Vector pointed to the center of the map.
"They've already captured Arya, Ashmont, Solara, and just six months ago, they took Elaris."
He looked up.
"But this didn't start recently. Ten years ago, when the Lionheart Empire first struck Arya, they already had cannons and muskets."
Tristan exhaled sharply. "While we were still swinging steel and riding horses."
Vector nodded. "Novastra clung to its traditions, martial training, body refinement, and war formations passed down for generations."
"Our army consisted only of Blood Energy awakeners... while Lionheart recruited common people into theirs."
Vector continued his explanation,
"Why? Because Lionheart's science advanced in firearms and technology.
They can now equip ordinary soldiers with these firearms—and their firepower is nothing to scoff at."
"They can defeat Blood Energy awakeners from a distance… in certain circumstances, they can even kill a 1st-stage Body Refining practitioner."
"They outpaced us with gunpowder, supply chains, and sheer firepower. Now they have disciplined troops, field cannons, and fortified transport lines."
"Though the Lionheart Empire hails from distant lands, they've developed advanced naval technology that allows them to move troops and supplies with brutal efficiency."
"After plundering Arya, Ashmont, and Solara for nearly a decade, their resource stockpiles have swelled. And now, they've begun deploying even more soldiers directly from the mainland, preparing for a full-scale expansion."
Rhea's fist tightened. "It's not a war of warriors… It's a war of firearms."
"Exactly," Vector said. "And if we don't shift our approach, Redfield will fall like the rest."
He added, "And then there will be no Novastra Empire left in the world... The fall of Redfield means the fall of Avalon and Aurora."
He paused, just long enough to let the gravity settle.
"But this time, we have something different."
"We have intel, time to prepare, and a spark they don't see coming. We will strike first… we will turn their plan against them."
"It's their turn to be surprised."
And just like that, the fire returned to the room, not from rage or desperation, but from the purpose to defeat the Lionheart Empire.
[To be continued….]
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