“Ning Cuo, there are enemies everywhere! We can’t tell friend from foe!”
Enemies in the Roman Imperial Palace, countless enemies?
It sounds like a joke.
Nero, who had rushed out after Ning Cuo, turned pale at those words.
If this got out, Nero’s authority would be seriously damaged.
The emperor of the Roman Empire was besieged in his own stronghold.
How ironic!
But upon seeing Nero, Toler hesitated for a moment before quickly walking up.
He leaned close to Ning Cuo's ear.
“Sir, those people are shouting slogans about killing you, you have to run! We’ve cleared a path for you. I’ll cover your retreat.”
“Kill me?”
Ning Cuo’s expression turned slightly bewildered.
But she quickly understood: Nero was the legitimate emperor of the Roman Empire and possessed supernatural powers.
Those nobles would have to be crazy to actually think about confronting her directly.
But she was different. This investigation must have revealed her background to these people.
Her role as a spy was revealed by the Pope, but with no evidence to prove it.
She was a bottom-tier figure in the Church, with no real power except the title of ambassador.
Assassinating her in the palace would deter Nero, while also giving them leverage to negotiate with the Church.
Understanding everything, Ning Cuo chuckled. If that was the case, this was another opportunity.
“I have sworn allegiance to Emperor Nero. How can I abandon my monarch at such a critical moment? Say no more, take me to the front lines.”
Her righteous words echoed through the passage.
Nero’s eyes showed a flicker of satisfaction, but she said nothing, just tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.
Toler didn't waste any time, and quickly moved forward.
The moment they reached the inner city wall, Ning Cuo could see from the height the neatly formed cavalry corps attacking the city gates.
They wore shining armor, and their warhorses were also clad in armor. From the various flags they held, it was clear that they came from different families.
Nero walked over as well, looking at the soldiers at the bottom of the city, wanting to see who had dared to be so audacious.
But at a glance, her brows furrowed.
“Mathiu Oberstein, do you know what you’re doing?”
As the Roman emperor, Nero’s words carried an unmistakable anger. The Senate was leading an attack on the Roman Imperial Palace.
To assassinate a subject she had appointed, wasn't this slapping the emperor in the face?
But Mathiu Oberstein, who was standing in formation below the city, showed no remorse, still speaking with righteous conviction.
“Emperor, we are not betraying you! Look at the people of Rome, we have dedicated ourselves, devoted our lives, all in order to eradicate the villains around you with our lives! The Church cannot be trusted!”
Mathiu Oberstein’s words turned all eyes to Ning Cuo, who had been silent.
The noble families’ soldiers, trained from childhood, had anger in their eyes, as if they would charge onto the wall to tear her apart the next second.
After all, family was everything to them. Even the emperor’s will was not as important as the family's.
They knew in their hearts which held more weight.
And Ning Cuo was well aware that she had to take the high ground in terms of public opinion.
The entire Senate had come out, and Nero’s military intimidation was already useless.
She was the emperor, and the emperor had to consider the entire empire.
If they truly went to war, the entire Roman Empire would collapse immediately.
It was important to remember that the front-line armies were still run by these nobles.
Even if they were corrupt, without them, the Roman Empire could not defend itself.
“Mathiu Oberstein, is this your so-called loyalty?”
Ning Cuo’s voice remained calm as she pointed at the Senate’s soldiers who had nearly occupied the entire inner passage.
“Today you can lead troops to attack the Roman Palace, so tomorrow can you control the emperor’s will, and the day after tomorrow will you usurp the throne?”
Mathiu Oberstein in the city below was about to speak, but Ning Cuo continued.
“Furthermore, I am acting on the Pope’s orders, representing the will of God! You claim that our Church cannot be trusted, are you saying that you intend to declare war on our Church on behalf of Rome?”
Before the words finished, several of the lesser nobles, who had been swept up in the crowd, widened their eyes.
They were not part of the Senate. This was a huge burden to bear. They could not afford to offend either side.
The current Pope was practically in control of the entire religious world. The Crusades had gone on and on, and the trials in God’s name had been carried out again and again.
“You, the other nobles who are following the Senate, or the other members of the Senate who are unaware of the truth, I know that most of you have been deceived by Mathiu Oberstein.”
“If you lay down your weapons and leave now, I swear by the name of God that I will not hold it against you! But if you continue to be stubborn, the emperor of Rome and the God in heaven are watching you!”
This threat was certainly not an empty one for most people.
Religion’s influence ran deep in Rome, and the emperor's authority was supreme.
If you offended both of these powers at the same time, even as a noble, you would be isolated and alone, if not surrounded by enemies.
The few nobles around Mathiu Oberstein hesitated.
They were there to secretly get some benefits, and followed because they saw that there were many people. After all, Nero was not insane enough to kill them all.
But the current benefits weren't enough for them to offend the emperor and the Pope at the same time.
Only Mathiu Oberstein knew in his heart that they had no way out.
If Ning Cuo truly represented the Pope and had mended relations with Nero, the Senate would only live or die sooner or later.
Since there was no way out, he simply raised his weapon and pointed it at Ning Cuo on the city wall.
“We are all for the Roman Empire, and you, a mere missionary, how dare you claim to represent God and the Pope! You are using your words to deceive the empire! Everyone, attack the city with me now! Kill Ning Cuo and defend the empire!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Oberstein's knights blew their trumpets.
They pressed forward, sweeping along the confused others.
Just looking at the army below, Ning Cuo roughly counted, estimating that there were several thousand cavalry alone.
The palace guards weren’t many, even with her own troops, they only numbered just over one hundred.
After all, no one could have imagined
That the Roman emperor would be besieged in her palace.
“Quick, quick, quick! Organize defenses! Guard the pass!”
Toler, displaying his vast military experience, immediately began to arrange defenses.
Under his command, the Imperial soldiers took over all parts of the city wall.
They pulled out the palace’s original boulders, arrows, and prepared for battle.
They protected Ning Cuo in the center area.
As for Nero?
They didn’t care!
Seeing Ning Cuo’s unwillingness to retreat, even though they were outnumbered, they were not afraid in the slightest!