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Chapter 82: The Gods' Lament: Radiant Magic Array
🕑 Added 2025-01-09 23:34:54 +0000 UTC“Who struck again?”
“And they even used alchemical explosives!”
The gunpowder technology of the Old Continent was roughly equivalent to that of Earth's World War I. However, due to the presence of extraordinary abilities, the development of technology was somewhat skewed. Alchemical explosives elevated the power of explosives to a new level, comparable to the high-explosive weaponry of World War II.
The anti-magic armor-piercing rounds in Charlot's hands were masterpieces of alchemical explosives.
If alchemical explosives were used directly to create bombs, their power would be devastating.
Charlot sighed. While he was secretly relieved that the explosion hadn't occurred in his jurisdiction, he also mourned the lives lost in the tragedy.
He hurried down from the rooftop and said to his subordinate, “Dubin, pick ten swordsmen to come with me. The rest of you, guard the district.”
Dubin eagerly agreed, quickly assembling ten men to follow Charlot.
Charlot refrained from taking everyone with him out of concern that the assassins responsible for the explosion might flee into the Lukavaro District. If someone managed to escape from Lukavaro District, it would bring endless blame upon him.
As Charlot and his men rushed out of their jurisdiction, they were greeted by a scene of destruction. Half the street had been obliterated, leaving blackened debris everywhere. Severed limbs and dismembered bodies littered the ground.
Although Charlot's heart tightened with grief, he moved swiftly through the carnage without stopping. He did, however, notice something unusual—among the wreckage lay rapiers and several broken canes. A thought surfaced in his mind: Why didn't the assassins use guns?
Not far ahead, the shattered remains of a coffin lay open, the bodies of Grand Duke Ferdinand and his wife sprawled out. Their opulent clothes were covered in soot, their corpses appearing as though they had been scorched by kerosene, devoid of their usual grace and dignity.
Further ahead, a dazzling, crystalline white sphere floated in the air. Twelve priests had formed a Radiant Magic Array, shielding the new Duke of Behemoth Principality, Franz Joseph.
Though Charlot had never studied at Royal Hogwarts University, he had heard of this magic array handed down by the Lord of Radiance.
Named after radiance itself, the Radiant Magic Array was hailed as the continent's strongest defensive magic array, often referred to as the "Gods' Lament."
It was said that a high priest of the Lord of Radiance had once used this array to withstand a full-force attack from an evil god, leaving the radiance unshaken and resolute.
Of course, the Behemoth Principality did not possess such powerful priests, nor did Franz Joseph have the status to summon high priests as bodyguards. These twelve Radiant Priests were the personal guards of Emperor Julius VI of the Fars Empire, holding extremely lofty positions.
The Royal Hogwarts University carried the royal prefix because the Lord of Radiance recognized the authority of the legitimate empire and permitted his followers to protect its emperor.
Aside from Byron, the vampire-established empire, the emperors of the other great empires on the Old Continent were also guarded by Radiant Priests.
However, the Radiant Priests serving other countries were not graduates of the Royal Hogwarts University of the Fars Empire.
Charlot dared not approach, fearing that the Radiant Priests might mistake him for an assassin and "purify" him on the spot. Instead, he offered a salute from afar, following imperial etiquette.
Charlot then instructed his men to take off their coats and lay them on the ground, carefully moving the bodies of Grand Duke Ferdinand and his wife onto the makeshift shrouds.
This act, while ultimately meaningless, would still earn him credit.
The scene was set—two corpses, lying on a field of patrol guards' coats. Any superior arriving at the scene would inevitably ask: “Who did this?”
Charlot activated Eye of Insight, scanning the area. Apart from Franz Joseph and the twelve Radiant Priests, no other living souls remained. Whether the assassins had escaped or perished alongside the Grand Duke was unknown, but Charlot saw no reason to pursue the matter.
It was only after a long while that the twelve Radiant Priests deactivated the Radiant Magic Array. One young priest approached the bodies of the Grand Duke and his wife. With a complex hand gesture, a wave of magical energy washed over their corpses, cleansing them of all soot and debris.
The young priest turned to Charlot and asked, “Are you the Head Overseer of the Lukavaro District City Patrol Guards?”
Charlot nodded, making an effort to appear both mournful and indignant as he replied, “We had just handed over our previous task when we saw this… tragedy unfold!”
“So I led my team here to see if there was anything we could do.”
The young Radiant Priest remained expressionless and said, “I will remember your name and report your loyalty to His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“But now, please leave immediately.”
Charlot did not hesitate, nodding slightly before turning and leading his men away.
Dubin couldn't help but ask, “So we just came here, laid out our coats for the Grand Duke and his wife, and left? Shouldn't we do something more?”
It was only after they returned to the Lukavaro District that Charlot said calmly, “If you want your entire family to vanish, you’re welcome to go back…”
Dubin fell silent, mumbling under his breath, “It’s not that serious, is it?”
Charlot raised an eyebrow and said, “Feel free to take a gamble!”
“Win, and you’ll satisfy your curiosity. Lose, and you’ll lose everything.”
Dubin didn’t understand the phrase "lose everything," an idiom from Earth, but Charlot’s tone was enough to get the message across.
Though he still felt somewhat indignant, Dubin was not foolish. Young and brash as he was, he knew Charlot’s approach was the wiser one.
After a while, Dubin muttered under his breath, “Boss, aren’t you curious at all?”
Charlot smiled faintly and replied, “Of course I’m curious!”
“But I only indulge in free curiosity. Curiosity with a high price tag? I’ll let those with more expendable family members satisfy theirs.”
Something about Charlot’s smile sent a chill through Dubin’s spine. It wasn’t Charlot himself that scared him, but the empire as a whole…
As a veteran patrol guard, Dubin knew all too well that curiosity could be deadly. He had seen more than a few colleagues perish because they were “too curious.”
When Charlot’s team returned to No. 1 Falcon Street, they spent hours waiting for the transport convoy before executing another escort mission. Exhausted and starving, Charlot finally declared that everyone should eat their fill.
Dubin personally led a team to buy an entire cart of food and twenty barrels of ale, showing no concern for Charlot’s wallet.
After the city patrol guards ate and drank their fill, Charlot was just about to dismiss them when a carriage rolled into their office courtyard.
Mason intercepted the visitors, having fully embraced his new role as a patrol guard. Diligently, he said, “This is the Lukavaro District Patrol Guards Office. If you have no official business, please leave at once.”
The carriage driver, a robust and impeccably dressed woman, responded haughtily, “My mistress is the Head Overseer of Lukavaro District Patrol Guards. Summon Mr. Mecklenburg at once.”
Mason was stunned and quickly ran to find Charlot.
Hearing that his "partner" had arrived, Charlot was somewhat surprised. Following Mason to the carriage, he offered an imperial salute and asked, “Is it Lady Mavis?”
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