A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 514 The Death of a Nobleman

In the magnificent banquet hall, melodious music filled the air as nobles mingled, exchanging toasts and greetings.

"Minister Kosoroo, when will Master Jiang arrive?"

The young prince Conrad said lazily.

"This will take a little more time."

Kosoroya replied helplessly.

"Is that so..."

"Today we meet here together to pay homage to Your Highness. Let us drink to our friendship!"

Conrad was about to say something when the nobles around him began to toast him.

"Haha, you're too enthusiastic, I can't help it."

As he spoke, Conrad ignored Kosoro's ashen face and went straight to responding to the nobles' toasts.

It seemed as if the banquet was held for him.

At the same time, Jiang Shuzhou's army received orders and split into several groups to head towards the castles of these nobles.

Although Jiang Shuzhou emphasized the importance of this banquet, some people still did not bring their wives, children, or elderly relatives, which was understandable, since Jiang Shuzhou really did not intend to let them off the hook.

But this was of no use, because everything they did was under Jiang Shuzhou's surveillance.

The atmosphere remained lively, with Conrad and the nobles treating each other with utmost respect, creating a scene of harmonious coexistence between the monarch and his subjects.

"What, you guys had a great time while I was gone?"

Jiang Shuzhou walked in with a smile on his face, holding one of his arms on each side.

In an instant, all the nobles froze, and the atmosphere on the scene instantly became infinitely more tense.

"Don't worry about me, just do what needs to be done and cherish this time."

Jiang Shuzhou said.

He paid no heed to their offense, for this would be their last banquet.

The melodious music continued to play, and the nobles conversed in hushed tones, their usual haughty demeanor gone, replaced by a cautious air.

"You're spoiling them too much."

Kosoroya quickly came to Jiang Shuzhou's side and said.

"And you? Aren't you spoiling that prince too much?"

Jiang Shuzhou remained noncommittal. His purpose this time, besides eliminating the nobles, was also to test Kosoroya's loyalty.

If he sides with Prince Conrad, then this place will not only be the burial ground of nobles, but also the burial ground of Kosoro.

"We still need to rely on his legitimacy, otherwise it will be difficult to rule the empire. After all, the empire has existed for tens of thousands of years and has an alliance, making it difficult to overthrow."

Kosoroya said.

"So, you're saying you're still on my side?"

"Of course, we signed a contract, and what would we do if there were no prince? Would we have to kill all the nobles?"

"In that case, how will we maintain our rule?"

Humans cannot imagine things they have not seen, and Kosoroya is no exception.

In his view, the alliance and the nobility were the two most important links in ruling the entire empire, and neither could be missing.

But for Jiang Shuzhou, these two things were completely side effects.

He is perfectly capable of finding an alternative.

"Kosoroya, do you know how to determine if a nobleman is guilty?"

Jiang Shuzhou asked.

"Based on faction identification?"

Kosoroya tentatively asked, sounding uncertain.

"You guessed wrong, the answer is..."

After a brief pause, Jiang Shuzhou snapped his fingers and then spoke.

"As long as someone is a nobleman, regardless of gender, age, height, or weight, we can simply assume he is guilty."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding nobles let out a series of pig-like screams.

"My hands! Why are they melting...?"

"My eyes! No, I don't want to die!"

"Please, no!"

Painful wails and curses mingled together, like a symphony from hell.

The dancers and musicians nearby fell silent instantly, too afraid to continue after witnessing the horrific scene of carnage.

"Don't stop! Keep the music playing and the dancing going! The banquet continues, everything as usual!"

Jiang Shuzhou's indifferent voice rang out, leaving them with no choice but to continue their performance with trepidation.

"How could this happen?"

As he watched the nobles' bodies gradually melt away, Kosoroya felt a chill run down his spine. He was completely unaware of any trace of Jiang Shuzhou's magic.

"How are we supposed to maintain this...?"

Kosoroya, who was about to say something, was stunned, and then his eyes trembled violently.

He realized a blind spot.

This is the empire, and the nobles are protected by an alliance. In theory, even if they die, they wouldn't be caught off guard so quietly.

Now, he could sense that the alliance showed no signs of taking any action.

"You...you've already..."

"That's right, forget about that old covenant, it's too cold and heartless. Embrace the new order, embrace Big Brother, and you will be reborn."

Immediately afterward, to Kosoroya's horrified gaze, Jiang Shuzhou walked straight toward Conrad.

"What do you want? I am the fourteenth prince, and my mother is..."

Seemingly sensing something, Conrad attempted to struggle.

Unfortunately, it was no use; in the face of absolute power, everything was in vain.

"Your mother and I are old acquaintances. We guarded this place together back then, right here in the fortress. Now she has died in the capital, and I am deeply saddened."

"Therefore, I plan to kill all the nobles to accompany her in death. Of course, there are also those old fogies in the Senate. After all, there is no ship in the new era that can carry them. It's time to sweep them into the dustbin of history."

Jiang Shuzhou's words were tinged with mockery. He was mostly telling the truth, except for his feigned grief.

When Rosemary died, Jiang Shuzhou laughed the loudest, for the time was ripe to wage war.

"If you do this, the whole world will rise up against you, and it won't end well!"

Conrad attempted a final struggle.

"Sleep peacefully. You won't die anytime soon because I need more research subjects, and you're just what I need."

As he spoke, a mysterious power surrounded Conrad, and soon he fell into a deep sleep.

He will never wake up.

Jiang Shuzhou mercifully spared him from conscious suffering; he will die unconscious.

As for research?

Jiang Shuzhou only wanted to study the connection between Conrad's soul and the covenant; he did not need Conrad himself to be conscious.

As for why others aren't given this treatment?

Every single person in Jiang Shuzhou's laboratory has a lot of lives on their hands; they are all heinous criminals. Jiang Shuzhou naturally wouldn't bother to waste his energy on dealing with them.

"Death is not scary; death is like a cool summer night, allowing one to sleep peacefully without worry. Go in peace."

With a wave of his hand, Conrad was teleported to Jiang Shuzhou's laboratory.

"As for you?"

"To die a worthy death is to continue the revelry into the final period of one's life."

The wailing gradually subsided, and the nobles were now completely annihilated, reduced to pools of flesh and blood.

Sometimes, the best way to eliminate a class is to physically destroy its members.

Just like now.