Bad Born Blood-Chapter 153

Chapter 153

‘Madman’s strategy.’

That word pierced through my mind.

I continued to act irrationally and illogically. My choices were impulsive, even endangering my own safety. Because of that, Akbaran fell into greater chaos than the rulers had anticipated.

‘I willingly placed even my life on the scales.’

Everyone values their own life. Even those who pursue values greater than life itself do not take their own lives lightly.

‘The status and career I’ve built up.’

I was an ambitious man. I acted boldly to climb the ranks. As someone who started at the very bottom, I had to risk my life repeatedly to make it this far. I survived countless gambles where failure meant death, and that was how I reached this position.

Yet, I made the decision to throw away even the status I had built by risking my life.

‘Even I didn’t expect myself to act this way.’

Even after the storm began, I was endlessly torn.

‘Which means even the Emperor couldn’t have predicted my actions.’

I deliberately chose only paths that led to mutual destruction to get what I wanted. For the Emperor, those were the worst possible choices.

My actions and decisions had resulted in immense losses for the Emperor. It was inevitable, really—because my motivations led me there.

...This entire situation was nauseating to me. No matter how many grand justifications I attached to it, that was the core of it. I despised the idea of things unfolding according to the Emperor’s will.

‘Rebellious nature.’

That rotten trait had always been within me.

I had tried to make rational decisions. But none of the rational options sat well with me.

Before I knew it, I had chosen the madman’s strategy. I wondered how infuriating my existence must be for the Emperor. The thought was amusing enough to make me laugh.

‘A Shadow using a full-body prosthetic must be one of the Emperor’s strongholds.’

We still didn’t know what power Ivan had warned us about. But aside from that, the Emperor’s greatest weapon was undoubtedly the Shadows.

‘The Emperor has sent out Shadows he never wanted the world to see. That means he’s cornered.’

He had scraped together his elite forces to intercept us. Even if the Emperor emerged victorious tonight, he would not be able to suppress the rumors about his secretive personal guard.

A direct unit under the Emperor that wasn’t even part of the official military structure. Once its existence was exposed, the idea that the Emperor’s true goal was the "dehumanization of soldiers" would gain credibility. His rule would face challenges moving forward.

‘But I haven’t succeeded yet. So it’s too soon to celebrate.’

...I was still the one being pushed back. If this continued, the Emperor would take a hit, but we would be the ones facing complete annihilation.

“Luka, if you have any hidden strategies left, now would be the time to bring them all out. I can’t think of a way to stop them right now.”

Francec spoke as he drew his sword from his sleeve. He was preparing to fight as well. His forces were already collapsing from the outside in.

The power-armored prosthetics that had descended from the sky showed no mercy, cutting down and stabbing soldiers as they advanced toward us. Our weak firearms couldn’t penetrate their armor, the bullets ricocheting off uselessly. Even heavy explosions only managed to make them hesitate for a moment.

‘Francec and I are surrounded.’

It sounded absurd, but it was the truth. Twenty-two power-armored prosthetics were closing in on us and the army from all directions. The only escape route was the sky.

“Is there any airborne vehicle that can be summoned, even in this weather? Something special, reserved for the Imperial Household?”

“If there were, I would’ve called it already. Even the attendants who served me in the palace were all my father’s people. The only ones I can call my own are the ones gathered here.”

Up until a few days ago, Francec had never even considered rebelling against his father. He had no preparations in place for unexpected developments.

“I-I surrender! I surrender!”

“I was forced into this! My loyalty is to His Majesty...!”

Cowards who had lost their fighting spirit began shouting their surrender. This force had been formed out of sheer momentum, so the moment cracks appeared, it was all over.

And of course, there were the traitors.

Bang!

I swiftly drew my pistol and fired. My bullet lodged itself into the eye socket of a noble who had been aiming for the back of Francec’s neck.

“Gah! Ack, kuh!”

Clutching his shattered eye, the noble staggered away in a desperate retreat.

Francec’s forces crumbled like dry sand. Soldiers who had once feigned bravery now trembled, either collapsing to their knees or scrambling to escape.

The nobles and officers were no different. The more cunning ones had been targeting Francec, but upon noticing my presence, they hesitated and began trying to flee instead.

Crack!

However, the Shadows hunted down the escaping nobles and officers. The sensors of the power-armored prosthetics could pick out key individuals even in a crowd.

“If I fail to protect you, I won’t have the chance to say this later, so I’ll say it now. You did everything you could, Your Highness. This disaster is my mistake. I’m sorry, Francec.”

Even as I spoke, my mind was frantically analyzing the situation, searching for a way to survive.

Some of the Imperial Guard, caught in the civil war, were attempting to move toward us. However, their forces were not strong enough to stop the Shadows.

“You have nothing to apologize for. If it weren’t for you, I would have died without knowing a thing. Even if the truth hurts, it’s still better than a lie.”

Even if the truth hurts, it’s still better than a lie.

That was something I needed to hear right now.

Click.

Francec held a gun in one hand and a sword in the other, just like an Imperial Guardsman.

My brain was burning up, working at full speed. The effects of the drugs were wearing off, and I could feel the heat in my head.

Click, click.

Then, a strange sensation disrupted my train of thought.

‘Something’s off.’

My instincts picked up on the anomaly. I had to decipher it as quickly as possible. Any delay in judgment could be fatal.

‘The soldiers who surrender or flee aren’t being killed.’

The Shadows ignored the soldiers as long as they didn’t display hostile actions.

‘But the nobles and officers... they’re killed if they try to run.’

They were either shot down or pursued and eliminated. But not all of them were being killed.

‘Nobles and officers who surrender are spared.’

That was strange.

‘Why would the Emperor spare nobles who rebelled against him?’

It didn’t make sense. One of the Emperor’s objectives was to root out and execute disloyal nobles. Summary execution was far more efficient than capturing them for a trial.

‘They’re not even using weapons of mass destruction. With that many power-armored prosthetics gathered in one place, they must have high-powered weaponry available...’

The Shadows were minimizing casualties.

“Your Highness, put down your weapon.”

“You’re saying we should surrender? Even if we survive here, it’ll only be for a short while...”

“There’s no time to explain! Do it, now!”

I shouted. One of the Shadows was already raising its gun in our direction.

Thud.

Francec and I dropped our weapons. I raised my hands first, making it clear I had no intention of resisting.

‘Did my madman’s strategy actually work?’

I kept replaying Kinuan’s message in my head. My thoughts revolved around it, not missing a single detail that might hold significance.

‘If I succeeded, that means the Emperor is willing to negotiate. But what is he conceding?’

My thoughts couldn’t advance further. I didn’t have enough information.

Gather more intel, Luka. Fit the missing pieces into the blank spaces. Figure out the picture Kinuan has drawn!

The Shadow kept its gun trained on Francec and me. However, my prediction had been correct—it didn’t pull the trigger.

“Your Highness, give your orders to the remaining forces.”

I muttered to myself. I didn’t know what was happening, but I had to keep Francec’s forces intact as much as possible. We couldn’t afford to lose any more.

“Surrender! Do not resist!”

Francec’s voice rang out. The soldiers had already lost their will to fight long ago, and while the nobles and officers seemed bewildered, they still lowered their weapons.

Vrrr— Vrrr—

One of the power-armored Shadows stepped forward, stopping in front of us. After scanning us briefly, it addressed Francec with a formal tone.

“Y-Your Highness is f-first in the s-succession order. P-please p-preserve your life.”

Francec remained silent for a moment before his expression twisted. He must have sensed something was off as well.

‘Why are they suddenly emphasizing the succession order?’

It was obvious that, on the surface, Francec was first in line for the throne. But why state it so explicitly in a situation like this?

And another thing—the Shadows weren’t looking at me. Not a single one of them was paying me any attention. They treated me as if I were just one of Francec’s subordinates.

I was someone who had severely provoked the Emperor. And yet, the Shadows neither regarded me with wariness nor issued any warnings.

‘They’re acting like I don’t even exist.’

What the hell was happening in Akbaran?

“Wasn’t your mission to eliminate us?”

I directed my words at the Shadow’s back. It stopped momentarily but gave no response before continuing forward.

Think again, Luka.

Where did I miss something? Gather the clues, rearrange the pieces, and keep at it until the answer reveals itself.

I didn’t even bother wiping the blood dripping from my nose.

Drip.

I had nearly blacked out just now. Something inside my head felt like it was snapping. A blood vessel, maybe—who knew?

‘Unintentionally, my plan turned into a madman’s strategy. And Kinuan said it worked.’

So what kind of compromise had the Emperor made because of me? Why had the Shadows come here? Why weren’t they killing us? Wasn’t I supposed to be a key figure? If my strategy had truly worked, shouldn’t I be the first person they tried to negotiate with? Then why bring up Francec’s succession order instead?

Vrrrrr—

I focused so intensely that even the hum of the machines stretched and warped in my ears. I traced the Shadows’ movements, tracking their destinations. I saw where they were headed.

‘Ivan Accretia?’

The Shadows were moving toward the command vehicle where Ivan was being held.

...I was stunned.

“N-no... no way... this is impossible...”

My reasoning pointed to a single conclusion. But it was something that shouldn’t—couldn’t—be happening.

What the hell just happened?

What exactly?

Why?

How does this picture come together?

Why did it turn out like this?

Does this even make sense?

Right now, at this moment?

I felt as if the world were collapsing around me. I had reached a conclusion that no one else here had even begun to consider.

And I didn’t know if that conclusion was fortunate or disastrous for us.

Everything was chaotic—no, it was unnatural.

Only a tangled, incomprehensible confusion whispered reality into my ears.

Thud.

I collapsed onto my knees. Blood poured freely from my nose and mouth.

Biiiiiiiiii—

A high-pitched ringing filled my ears, and my field of vision shrank to an extreme degree. I could barely make out anything beyond my immediate surroundings.

“Luka? Y-you can’t collapse now. This isn’t over yet. Hemillas still might—”

Francec tried to support me.

“...No. Everything just ended.”

I spoke with a hoarse voice. The taste of blood filled my throat.

Crash! Bang!

The sound of the command vehicle being forcibly opened rang out. My hazy, tunnel-like vision barely allowed me to see what was happening, as if I were peering through a telescope.

How is this even possible?

The questions wouldn’t stop. If I kept thinking like this, I was going to die.

Yes, this must be the easiest way to kill an Akies Victima user. Just throw an unsolvable mystery—one that can only be reasoned out but never resolved—right into their reality.

Even now, I was the only one who had realized what was happening. Even Ivan, the person at the center of it all, likely had no idea.

Swish.

A Shadow pulled Ivan out of the command vehicle. Half of his prosthetic body was destroyed, and he remained seated in the chair as he was brought outside.

Thud.

The Shadow who had extracted him knelt on one knee and paid his respects.

Ah... So my guess was right after all.

Until the very end, I wished it wasn’t true.

No—was this really the better alternative? Was this the result of the path I had shaped? Had my actions truly led to this outcome?

Was this outcome actually better for me?

It was becoming difficult to think. I no longer knew. Too many things were tangled beyond recognition.

Thud! Thud!

One by one, the Shadows arrived before Ivan and knelt. The sight of an entire unit of power-armored prosthetics swearing allegiance must have been surreal.

“His... Majesty has... passed. In... accordance with... the Imperial... rites...”

The monotonous voice of the power-armored prosthetic uttered something shocking. The expressions of those who heard it must have been contorted beyond description—twisted in shock, disbelief, or something in between.

Its words were slow and drawn out.

But in summary, the message was simple: Emperor Yuri Accretia was dead.

And because of that, the Shadows had urgently appeared before the next emperor.

That emperor was not Francec. It was Ivan.

“...Therefore, the next leader... of the people... and protector... of the Empire... is you... Ivan... Accretia.”

“The bloodline... of the Founding... shall guide... our path.”

“Accretia... forever.”

The Shadows spoke with an eerie calm.

“Luka, w-what... is happening... right now?”

Even Francec stammered, speaking like the Shadows. This situation could reduce even the most eloquent speaker to a fool.

I felt the same as him. I had no idea what was happening. They said the Emperor was dead. But was that even true? Or was this some elaborate deception to navigate through this crisis?

‘No—that’s impossible.’

The Imperial Family placed absolute importance on securing legitimacy and justification for their rule. A flimsy lie like this might help them escape the current situation, but it would destroy the Imperial Family in the long run.

One of the Shadows stood and whispered something into Ivan’s ear.

-It is destiny.

Emperor Ivan Accretia spoke his first words.

Even though he was barely able to support his own body, his voice carried an overwhelming vitality. It radiated with such an intense energy that even I, with my fading senses, could feel it.

Ivan was like a newborn child—a helpless mass of life, incapable of doing anything on his own.

But within him lay infinite potential.