Venus rubbed her temples and continued to instruct:
“First, settle the wounded. Everyone is to temporarily remain in the embassy. Do not go out without my orders.”
Baron immediately bowed.
“Understood.”
Venus thought for a moment, then added:
“The royal capital is very tense right now. If our people run around at a time like this, it will be easy to clash with the Kingdom's people. It is already chaotic enough.”
Baron took his orders and withdrew.
Soon, only low whispers and the suppressed groans of the wounded remained in the hall. Venus stood up and walked over to the treatment area, looking around.
Seeing her approach, an accompanying warlock quickly bowed, and Venus asked him directly.
“How is the situation?”
The warlock wiped away a handful of sweat and replied in a low voice.
“No one is in life-threatening danger. However, one of the mages has sustained severe damage to his mana circuits, which might severely affect his strength even after recovery.”
Venus looked at the unconscious mage.
He was pale, his chest wrapped in thick bandages, his breathing ragged. If the warlock had not been maintaining recovery magic beside him, he probably would not have held on until now.
She watched for a moment, then simply said:
“Do your best to treat him.”
The warlock solemnly complied.
Venus lingered in the hall for a bit longer, let out a heavy sigh, and turned to leave the embassy.
She walked through the streets alone, heading toward the Magic Tower.
The royal capital was no longer as bustling as before, with most commoners staying inside their homes.
Occasionally, some commoners could be seen peering out from their doorways, their expressions tinged with fear.
A moment later, she arrived at the palace backyard where the Magic Tower stood, still as towering and desolate as ever. Today, however, there were many more Imperial Guards stationed outside the tower, and the mages coming and going were in a greater rush than usual.
As soon as Venus approached, the mage guarding the entrance recognized her.
“Lady Venus.”
The mage quickly bowed. Venus looked up at the Magic Tower and asked:
“Is Hogg here?”
“The Royal Preceptor is in his office.”
The mage hesitated for a moment, then added:
“He instructed that if you came, you could go straight up.”
Venus raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Oh? He knew I would come?”
The mage did not dare to answer, simply lowering his head and stepping aside to clear the way.
Venus stepped into the Magic Tower.
The inside of the tower was as quiet as ever, with mages occasionally hurrying past in the corridors clutching thick stacks of documents. Everyone wore a look of exhaustion, and even their bows seemed much more rushed.
Hogg's room was on one of the upper floors.
When Venus pushed the door open and entered, Hogg was standing before a massive wooden desk, looking down at several lists on it.
Piled beside him were numerous damaged staves, identity badges, and fragments salvaged from the battlefield.
His long hair was casually tied back, and his face lacked color. The exhaustion from continuously casting high-intensity magic last night had clearly not yet fully healed.
Hearing the door open, he did not look up.
“You're here.”
Venus paused at the doorway.
“You knew it was me?”
Hogg stopped writing and said calmly.
“There aren't many people who can walk straight in without being announced at a time like this. You are one of them.”
Venus walked over to the desk and glanced at the lists.
They recorded the names, identities, vocational ranks, and brief descriptions of the locations of death of those who had fallen. Next to many names, it simply read: “Body not recovered.”
“The Kingdom's losses are too heavy.”
Hogg closed the lists, his voice low:
“More than half of our high-level professionals have been lost, the court mage division is practically crippled, and the academy has lost many instructors.”
He paused here, his fingers pausing on the desk.
“However, civilian casualties are far lower than expected. Looking only at that, it is a stroke of luck.”
Venus nodded.
“The Empire's side is much the same. The accompanying mages were nearly wiped out, and over half the guards were lost. Our overall casualties are also quite severe.”
Hogg looked up at her, his expression carrying the same exhaustion.
“It is a miracle that we managed to resolve this incident. To weather an entire Abyssal Rift with only this much loss is practically unheard of.”
Venus knew this, of course, but this miracle was not of their own making.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Hogg swept the documents on the desk to one side and sighed wearily.
“So, you came all this way to find me not just to tell me about the Empire's losses, right?”
Venus did not deny it. She pulled out a chair by the desk and sat down, her posture still casual, but her tone was much more serious than usual.
“Now that the crisis is resolved, it is time to complete the task entrusted to me by the Emperor.”
Hogg's gaze instantly shifted. His expression, which had been somewhat loose due to fatigue, became sharp once more.
“You came all this way to bring this up. What do you mean by this?”
Venus met his gaze without flinching.
“I don't mean anything by it.”
She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I'm just telling you to be prepared.”
Hogg did not speak immediately. Venus continued:
“You saw the power that man displayed last night with your own eyes. Based on Oslama's judgment, the Empire initially predicted that he was key to our survival. But now, it seems that statement was far too conservative.”
After a brief pause, she added:
“It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he holds the key to the survival of all humanity—and even the entire world.”
Hogg frowned and retorted bluntly.
“Mr. Li does not belong to your Empire.”
“I know.”
Venus replied quickly.
“Of course he doesn't belong to any single faction, nor is he someone anyone can just order around. I know this better than you do.”
Yet, Hogg's expression did not soften. Venus looked at him, her tone turning sharp and resolute.
“But no matter what, the Empire will bring him back. That will not change.”
The air in the room seemed to suddenly grow oppressive. Hogg's gaze sank slightly, his expression turning adversarial as he spoke in an unfriendly tone.
“You think you can do that?”
“Even if I can't, I must try.”
Venus answered frankly.
“You should understand that the Empire's actions are not for the selfish desires of some individual, nor are they for so-called face. If he truly holds the key to the Empire's survival, then we have no retreat.”
Hogg replied coldly.
“The Kingdom has no retreat either.”
Venus raised an eyebrow.
“That's why I came to warn you.”
She stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the royal capital as it gradually returned to normal, sighing:
“After last night, I am certain... No matter the cost, we must bring him back. And the conditions we offer will surely be better than the Kingdom's.”
Hogg's face darkened.
“You think you can sway Mr. Li with terms?”
“Why? Is that not allowed?”
Venus turned around, her tone natural.
“He likes running a teahouse. The Empire can give him the best shop in the quietest district—and if there isn't one, we can build it immediately. We can provide the most precious tea leaves and water sources.”
“If he likes money, the Empire has plenty of gold coins. If he likes peace and quiet, the imperial family can guarantee that no one will disturb him.”
“Power, wealth, status... as long as he desires it, the Empire can provide it without hesitation.”
“If he doesn't like the imperial family or the Emperor, that's fine too. The Empire is so vast and populated, we can always find someone who pleases him.”
At this point, Venus's expression became exceptionally cold, even... cruel.
“To make a great contribution to the survival of the Empire, I think... those little fellows will choose to abdicate of their own accord when the time comes.”
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