Within a few minutes, Gabriel finished killing all the Nobles whose names were on the list that was given to him by Callum, only leaving a few Nobles who were still alive.
He stood still as blood dropped from his Sword. His Sword was covered in blood, but on his clothes, there wasn't even a speck of blood.
"The Noble Clan leaders who are still alive... I know you had no hand in what happened with Arecia Clan. However, you also didn't help them in times of trouble." Gabriel's cold voice echoed in the surroundings.
"You won't be killed, but you will still be punished!" he declared. "From today onwards, all your property belongs to the Royal Clan! All your noble titles are to be taken back! From today onwards, you are no more than mere commoners who aren't allowed to use any Royal Titles!"
The Nobles who were still alive were stunned. Even though losing their titles and wealth was heavy punishment for them, but it was nothing if they could save their lives!
They couldn't believe it! Gabriel was really letting them live? Even though the young man killed so many Nobles, he was being fair to them and letting them keep their lives? Despite losing everything, they felt impressed by Gabriel.
They all went down on their knees at once. "We will heed the Emperor's commands!"
"Good. Contribute to the Empire in the future, and I might think about returning your titles to you in the future! Leave now! And remember, from today onwards, all your personal armies will belong to the Royal Family as well, to be merged in the Royal Army! Duke Callum will take care of the armies temporarily in my stead!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" All the Noble Clan leaders felt their hearts racing. Even though Gabriel allowed them to leave, some of them were still suspicious if he was going to kill them before they could leave.
They all turned around and left together, praying to gods to not be stabbed from the back by Gabriel. Fortunately, they were all able to leave successfully.
After leaving the garden of death, they could finally sigh in relief. They hastily entered their carriages and left for their domains. They had to handle the transfer right away!
"Are you sure you want to let them leave?" Duke Callum appeared behind Gabriel, asking in a low voice. "It might get dangerous if they go against us or bring their armies to help."
"They won't," Gabriel answered. "They know the Royal Knights are with me. Their armies can't stand before the Royal Army. Moreover, I have a feeling that they're quite scared of me already. That's why I let them watch all the other Nobles who betrayed the Arecia Clan die with their own eyes."
He already considered every aspect of allowing the Nobles to leave today and only after he was sure if it did he allowed it to happen. Instead of looking at the short term picture, he was thinking of the long term situation. Each of his words that he told them before allowing them to leave was calculated.
"Allowing them to leave is more beneficial to us, especially with the bait I gave them about them being able to regain their titles in the future," Gabriel explained to the Duke who didn't understand why Gabriel didn't kill everyone here. "They won't tell others what truly happened here. If anything, they'll twist the story in my favor so the world knows that I was the innocent victim and the rightful heir."
"I really didn't think of this. So you showed them the punishment before luring them with rewards." A smirk spread across Callum's lips as he realized everything.
"Truly marvellous! Not only do we get all their property legally, but we also get them as witnesses. Even after losing their properties, they can still help us with their contacts and influences in managing their territories. Not bad!"
He already knew that Gabriel was a strong mage, but it was only now that he realized how far away this person had planned.
"What shall we do with the 'Royal' Clan?" he asked. Now only four people were left alive... The Prince, the two Princesses and their father.
Emperor Alecton still kept the red crystal in his hands, not revealing it. Even he seemed hesitant in using it. It was as if he didn't want to, as long as he had a choice.
"Young man, you should really not push people to the dead end. Things might really get dangerous for you!" The Emperor warned Gabriel. "You want the Empire? I'll give you the Empire! I'll abdicate the throne! Just allow us to leave safely! We'll never step foot in this Empire again!"
Even in this situation, the Empire was still able to stay standing. That in itself was impressive. He expected the Emperor to start grovelling at his feet by now. His behaviour was really strange for sure. However, Gabriel didn't want to let the man leave. The man had the main responsibility in Arecia Clan's tragic hate after all.
"If I truly let you leave, will I ever be able to justify my actions to Novius?" Gabriel asked. The man was the last person he wanted to kill. It didn't matter what happened after that! Nothing was going to stop him today!
"I'm warning you. If you kill me, not only you, but this entire Empire will be destroyed in the future!" The Emperor roared like a maniac. "Are you sure you want to place so many lives on the line just to kill me?! Don't force me! I want to live! Just let me live and we'll both be safe!"
With each word, the Emperor kept taking a step back. "Don't force me!"
"You just want to live?" Gabriel asked, filled with more and more anger the more he heard Emperor Alecton!
"Who didn't want to live amongst the people you killed? Did the men of Arecia Clan not want to live? Did the little children not want to live? Did their mothers not want to live?!" With each sentence, Gabriel's voice kept getting louder until he was almost roaring. "Tell me who didn't want to live, my dear Emperor! Tell me now!"
"I-i... I had no choice! I know I made a mistake! I regret my mistake! But are you really willing to put the entire Empire and millions of lives at risk for your revenge?" The Emperor's face was already pale. He didn't even know if he could make it out of here alive. "I promise you! If you kill me, your fate will be worse than a dog! You don't know anything! Don't be foolish!"
"Even if the gods want to protect you, you'll still die today!"
No matter what the Emperor said, Gabriel didn't care. He only remembered the days he spent with Novius and Cassius in the tower. Those two were like his family now. This man single handedly destroyed the entire lineage of Novius! He couldn't accept that! He couldn't let the man live!
"You do-" As the Emperor kept stepping back without looking behind, he tripped over a stone behind him, falling down.
No matter how much Emperor Alecton asked Gabriel to let him leave safely, Gabriel didn't care. Even the Emperor knew that the man was crazy in revenge.
Gabriel stopped right next to the Emperor, aiming the sword at the Emperor's throat.
"Today, I will die! But you won't live for long either! This is the last opportunity! Let me leave!"
"Death is a mercy for you... But I don't want to let someone like you live in this world a second longer!" Gabriel raised his sword.
The Emperor closed his eyes. "So be it... Don't blame me for what happens in the future!"
The Emperor clenched his fist tightly, crushing the red stone which was in his hands. At the same time, Gabriel also brought his sword down, slashing the throat of Emperor Alecton…
