Chapter 462: Glory to the Empire (1)
– Frey Starlight’s Pov –
As the snow continued to fall endlessly over the western edge of the Empire...
Winterfell stood shrouded in white.
One by one, the ships were prepared, battered constantly by the freezing sea waves.
The Empire’s fleet was moments away from launching its most decisive raid yet against the Ultras.
Among all the ships, there was one that stood out ..
A black vessel bearing the banners of the major noble families and ruling powers of the human side.
It was the ship leading the vanguard.
And I was on board.
Unlike the other ships, which were packed with soldiers, this one held only the members of our special squad ..
With the exception of the ship’s captain, who handled the helm.
That man was an old sailor with rough features and a missing eye, giving him the look of a pirate in my eyes.
He spent most of his time chatting with Bloodmader, the two of them speaking endlessly about life, past wars, and stories they both lived through.
The old man wasn’t exactly normal.
He could even be called insane.
After all, only a madman would willingly board the vessel destined to be the very first to encounter the Ultras’ retaliation.
But when I really thought about it, maybe that old man was wiser than the rest.
Given the sheer amount of power packed onto this ship, our odds of being completely wiped out were very, very low.
Standing on the starboard side, I gazed out into the void ..
Toward the frozen sea we were about to cross.
"It’ll take us two full days to reach the Bay of Shezclar... the same place where the last battle took place."
As I stared into the waves, a voice joined me ..
My friend, and partner-in-crime: Ghost Umbra.
He wore a full black outfit that resembled the assassins from games like Assassin’s Creed, complete with a hood and lightweight gear that made movement easy.
What I wore wasn’t all that different... except mine was much heavier.
"Not much left then."
I commented indifferently, standing shoulder to shoulder as we both stared out at the sea.
"Come to think of it... it was snowing hard that night too."
"Yeah. Red and white go well together, don’t they?
This pure snow is far too easy to dye red."
Ghost said that with a strange calm ..
And we both remembered that night.
The night we killed someone we once called a brother.
Thinking back, I remembered something Ghost said that night ..
Something about consequences. About paying the price.
That we had become sinners now... and would be punished for what we’d done sooner or later.
"Maybe the price will be paid soon."
"It will be."
Ghost’s reply confirmed we were thinking the same thing.
We both smiled grimly, leaning against the railing of the ship.
"Just make sure we kill the bastards who caused all this before our turn comes. Let’s make them pay."
He voiced what was already obvious.
He didn’t even need to say it.
"Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure they do."
I could barely restrain my killing intent in this moment ..
The blades inside me trembled.
The Ultras, Gvardiol, and perhaps even Beatrice, since she was the one behind that cursed game...
They’d all get their fair share.
"What are you two doing, off on your own in a place like this?"
Wearing his gleaming armor, our third companion approached ..
It was Snow.
"Unlike you and your shining presence, we prefer the shadows."
I was serious.
We looked dull compared to him.
Snow sighed in frustration, clearly feeling left out again.
"It’s not like I chose to be in the spotlight."
"I know.
But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re the star tonight, does it?"
"No comment."
Snow scratched his head, visibly annoyed by the responsibility that had been suddenly dumped on him.
As the crowned hero and wielder of Vermithor, he’d been chosen to give the speech before the raid began.
His words would be heard by the entire ten-thousand-strong fleet,
As well as the entire force stationed at Winterfell’s military harbor.
I found the whole situation amusing ..
Because with my face, I was never going to be picked for that job anyway.
"What’s with that look? All you have to do is go up there and say a few flowery words. That’s it."
"Easier said than done."
Snow continued grumbling, leaning on the railing beside us.
He looked more nervous about giving that speech than about the war itself.
"Let me give you a little tip. It might help make your big moment better."
"Oh? I’m listening."
Once he showed interest, I gave him my advice.
"It’s simpler than you think.
Humans are easy to lead.
All you need is something flashy ..
Like a bright explosion, or fireworks right as you finish your speech."
I was completely serious.
But Snow didn’t seem to believe me.
"And here I thought you were going to give me some real advice."
"I am serious so you know."
"That just makes it worse."
Even Ghost agreed.
"I don’t think something like that would work."
To him, it sounded just as ridiculous.
"Neither of you understand the art of presentation."
There wasn’t much I could say if they refused to believe me.
We kept talking about it for a while longer, sharing moments that felt like echoes from the past...
Until silence finally settled between us.
"It’s our first time again since Londor, isn’t it?"
Snow brought it up—our old adventure.
The time we traveled to another planet in search of the unknown.
This time, it wasn’t a different world...
But a different continent.
"Yeah. This time, it’ll be even harder."
After all, this was war.
"Let’s give it everything we’ve got...
For those still alive ahead of us ...
And the dead we left behind."
Snow clenched his fist, golden eyes glowing with determination.
As for me and Ghost, our expressions darkened.
We both fell silent.
Snow was probably thinking about him.
Danzo.
A pang of guilt struck me.
He was the only one we had left in the dark...
The only one who didn’t know what really happened.
Snow was the very definition of a hero—
Something far too bright when compared to someone like me... or an assassin like Ghost.
He would’ve never agreed to what we did.
He would never have killed Danzo ..
Not even in the final moment.
Maybe he would’ve let him fully turn into a demon first, Then fought him afterward.
Because... that’s just the kind of person he was.
That’s why we had to keep him out of it.
We both carried the weight of that choice—
And neither of us dared to imagine how he’d react .. If he ever found out that I was the one who killed Danzo.
And no one else.
I often wondered how he’d take it.
Maybe he’d resent me.
Maybe he’d hate me.
I didn’t know.
What I did know... was that my friendship with the Empire’s shining hero was starting to buckle under the weight of secrets.
And I didn’t know what the future held for us.