Chapter 376: [374] Sin
The return to the Imperial Capital was swift and uneventful. With no need for delays or diversions, the journey took less than half a month.
Only a select group made the final stretch into the capital: Esdeath, August, the Three Beasts, and a handful of soldiers. The majority of the northern army remained stationed at the Empire's borders.
Even the corrupt Prime Minister wouldn't permit Esdeath to march back with her entire force of 100,000 troops. This was no ordinary imperial army—it was Esdeath's personal military. In the frigid north, the Emperor's decrees and the Empire's laws held no sway. Esdeath's word was absolute.
The Prime Minister, despite his alliance with Esdeath, remained wary of her. She was, after all, a true madwoman. Though their cooperation was mutually beneficial, he had contingencies in place to ensure her power didn't grow unchecked.
Chief among these safeguards was the Empire's second General, General Budo—a staunch traditionalist who adhered to the principle that military leaders should not interfere in political affairs. While Budo turned a blind eye to the corruption of officials like the Prime Minister, he protected the more conscientious factions within the government.
As long as the young Emperor remained under his control, the Prime Minister felt secure. Budo's presence acted as a counterbalance to Esdeath's influence, a safety measure in the Prime Minister's delicate web of power.
The Imperial Capital, the heart of an empire with over a millennium of history, was a sprawling metropolis of decadence and despair. It was a haven for the powerful, a hell for the oppressed, and a breeding ground for sin.
Before even setting foot in the city, August could sense the dense miasma of malevolence that hung over it. The sheer scale of corruption, depravity, and suffering was overwhelming—a twisted symphony of human vice.
"This place..." August muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of wonder and revulsion.