TOTCF2

Chapter 46: Hide and seek (1)

The test to determine the person who would become the next ruler of the Empire.

The Garden of the Stars where the candidates for the test gather…

There were numerous palaces surrounding the garden at the center and the candidates resided with their helpers in these palaces.

“…Your Royal Highness.”

Second Imperial Princess Olivia.

She had returned alive from Precinct 9 out in the western part of the Empire. Her body that almost died still had some internal injuries that had yet to recover, but she was able to move around a bit and use a portion of her necromancer abilities.

‘They’re empty.’

The First Imperial Prince Palace and the Fourth Imperial Prince Palace… They were both empty.

One of the candidates, who had been in the garden, quickly turned his head away after making eye contact with her.

However, there was a sneer on his face.

“Tsk.”

Imperial Princess Olivia clicked her tongue.

‘They must see me as a failure now.’

The First Imperial Prince, who was a strong contender, along with the Fourth Imperial Prince, who was determined to be quite skilled, and the former mercenary, Zero, went missing in the polluted lands of Precinct 9.

“…They died?”

However, most people believed that they were dead.

‘And although the Imperial Palace never announced it, the rumor is spreading beyond the capital to all over the Empire?’

The Imperial Palace also didn’t seem to be trying to stop the rumors.

In fact, they revealed a list of missing individuals and gave a rough explanation of the Imperial candidate test.

This was normal, as if it was not announced live; it was always announced afterward like this.

Of course, a lot less was revealed than usual.

The effects were nonetheless shocking.

‘His Royal Highness passed away during the test?’

A lot of comments came about how the most likely candidate to become the next Emperor had died.

‘Thanks to that, the incident where the House of Huayans was attacked has quieted down.’

The news that the citizens of the Empire had been talking a lot about was buried by this more shocking news. Of course, Olivia was certain about something.

‘The Imperial Palace and the Emperor will be more focused on the attack on the House of Huayans than the death of his own children.’

The Second Imperial Princess frowned.

‘The Emperors of each generation turned the dead candidates into undeads and controlled them as their subordinates?’

Olivia clenched her eyes shut after recalling the terrible truth that she had heard.

The Capital and over half of the Empire still did not know the truth about the ‘black tree’ and the ‘purification.’ They prevented the people of Precinct 9 from saying anything under the justification of their investigation while keeping things quiet at the capital.

It was simply known as an incident where they were investigating the black rain in Precinct 9 and ran into a large mutant monster that resulted in the noble sacrifices from the deceased in order to protect the wall.