Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 129: The Clue

In the dimly lit underground passage, the old emperor paced anxiously by the bedside, his steps growing increasingly restless as the situation dragged on. He cast a worried glance at the others, whose pace seemed to slow with each passing moment, further fueling his agitation.

“What’s the matter with you lot? Why is this taking so long? Isn’t this supposed to be a simple task for you?” he barked, his voice tinged with desperation.

The hooded figure across from him didn’t bother to look up, responding in a calm yet unsettling tone, “My dear Emperor, the current situation is far from sufficient. We haven’t yet obtained what we desire. And who’s to say you won’t renege on our agreement once you’ve got what you want?”

“You insolent—!” The old emperor’s anger flared, but he knew the man was right. He wanted to minimize his losses, after all.

These were his subjects, after all. They could sacrifice themselves for him, and the Empire could be rebuilt. No matter how rampant these monsters became, they would eventually retreat to their dark corners. Once he secured a new body, he would usher in a new era, leading the Empire to yet another glorious age.

In time, history would remember him as a wise and just ruler. No one would ever learn of his deeds; they would only sing his praises.

Lately, the fear of death had grown stronger within him. The guards and servants he had chosen were all meticulously trained, their loyalty unquestionable. They would lay down their lives for him, and now, they were all stationed outside.

The emperor's spies had long since outlived their usefulness; they had become nothing more than traitors. But that was of little concern to him. They couldn’t stir even the smallest ripple against him.

He could contend with anything—save for time and mortality.

“You had best hurry, and don’t think I won’t notice any tricks you might try to pull. Or else…” A flash of cold, steely resolve glinted in the old emperor’s otherwise cloudy eyes, as though his younger self had resurfaced.

The man, hidden beneath his dark robes, simply chuckled at the threat. “But of course,” he replied, unfazed.

The lifeblood of a nation, once stolen, could never be restored. The pity was that the old emperor was no longer in his right mind. He still believed that with a younger body, he could lead the Empire to new heights.

What he failed to understand was that losing the world’s energy meant losing the light of day. The monsters infesting this place would only grow in number until the Empire’s fate was sealed in death.

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Could he not grasp this truth? Perhaps, in the faint remnants of his sanity, he did. But what of it? It wasn’t his concern—he would leave it to his descendants to worry about.

Athena and Babron were never ones to exchange pleasantries. She was certain that, given the chance, Babron would have no qualms about driving a dagger through her heart.

After all, Babron’s son was still held captive by the old emperor.

The two of them sat casually on the steps of the Spymaster’s headquarters, basking in the sunlight, watching the surrounding soldiers valiantly battle the encroaching monsters.

After a while, Athena felt something soft brushing against her foot, accompanied by a peculiar odor.

A layer of mud, clearly dredged from the sewers, had somehow found its way onto her leg, emitting a faint stench.

That was when Mikmik appeared in her field of vision, a creature more intent on dirtying her up than seeking her out for companionship.

“Do you have a plan, Duke? The defense tower is within the palace walls. Could you breach it?”

Babron cast her a cold, sidelong glance. “That… is quite impossible. The emperor’s forces and mine are evenly matched. An all-out assault would be required, but how could we ensure the tower’s safety in the process?”

“I thought as much,” Athena sighed.

She picked up the now filthy white Persian cat that had turned black from the grime, and the two pairs of eyes—hers and Mikmik’s—stared intently at Babron.

He merely raised an eyebrow at Mikmik’s sudden appearance, but asked no questions.

“Could you create a diversion, Duke?” she inquired.

Babron, combining Mikmik’s ability to move unnoticed, had already pieced together her intentions.

“Director Athena, I always thought you were a cold and heartless person. Yet here you are, showing concern for the common folk,” he remarked, shaking his head with a wry smile.

If not for the plight of the ordinary people outside, Babron couldn’t fathom why she would go to such lengths. Betraying the emperor would be tantamount to sentencing herself to death, with no reward to show for it.

But Athena remained unfazed. It made no difference to her whether she offended one side or both, so long as she didn’t cross the System.

As Babron’s forces continued to rescue more civilians, these people naturally gravitated toward the soldiers, gathering around them in increasing numbers.

Babron rose from the steps, maintaining the grace of a noble, and ascended to the platform above.

He tapped the ground with his cane, exerting an invisible pressure that instantly silenced the once-chaotic surroundings. In a moment where many lives hung in the balance, with rat-like monsters still on the prowl, he began his speech.

“My dear citizens, please allow me to address you as such!” His voice boomed, resonating in every ear, bringing a strange sense of calm.

Athena recognized the technique; Alfred had used it before.

“Our emperor has betrayed us! He has struck a deal with these monsters, which is why he refuses to activate the defense tower to vanquish them. He has chosen to discard our lives!”

“He is no longer our emperor! He is more despicable than the monsters themselves. He is unfit to be our ruler. Now, I shall lead us in his overthrow. Who will join me?”

The crowd erupted into murmurs. The news was too much for them to process, especially after just surviving the rat plague and losing loved ones.

They had barely begun to feel relief when Babron, the head of one of the nation’s oldest noble families, now stood before them, claiming that their emperor had betrayed them.

The defense tower wasn’t inactive due to technical difficulties; it was a deliberate act by the emperor himself!

“How could this be? Why would the emperor do such a thing? What could he possibly gain?”

“It’s a lie, surely. I’ve heard rumours that Duke Babron has had rebellious intentions.”

“No, it can’t be. The Babron family has always protected us, and the emperor has been acting strangely in recent years. The taxes have become unbearable.”

“Then what’s going on? Why hasn’t the defense tower been activated? Why did my loved ones have to die?” someone screamed in despair.