Inside the empty palace hall...
Before Napoleon's eyes, motes of starlight began to gather out of thin air.
Without a moment's hesitation, he spent all his available Emperor Points to summon ten Elemental Assassins.
This move wasn't reckless—it was calculated. After all, he had just learned from the system that Emperor Points regenerate at a rate of ten per day. And given the precarious state he was in, the more Elemental Assassins he had under his command, the safer he would feel.
[Summoning Successful]
In the blink of an eye, the shimmering blue starlight in front of him coalesced into ten human figures.
Their bodies were draped in light armor forged entirely of celestial energy—star-forged armor that shimmered with otherworldly beauty.
"Kneel before our Lord."
The ten Elemental Assassins dropped to one knee, their movements swift and precise, radiating a chilling aura of silence and discipline.
These warriors, summoned through the Emperor's Scepter, possessed unwavering 100% loyalty to Napoleon.
He nodded in satisfaction as a panel of information materialized in front of him:
[Elemental Assassin]
Quantity: 10
Initial Level: Elite Rank Lv8 (can be upgraded using Emperor Points)
Skill: Elemental Merge (Effectiveness scales with base level)
Unit Description: A specialized assassination class. Capable of merging with natural elements to become nearly undetectable. Can reliably assassinate targets below Expert Rank, and has a chance to kill even Expert Rank opponents.
Napoleon's heart surged with excitement.
These weren't mere foot soldiers—they were lethal ghosts born to kill. The fact that they could potentially assassinate even Expert Rank powerhouses while only being Elite Rank themselves was astounding.
And the best part? Their level could still be increased!
Just imagine—if they were already capable of punching above their weight now, what would happen when they reached Expert Rank themselves? Would they be able to kill Hero Rank enemies too?
If that day came, would even the dreaded Ordon Theocracy dare to underestimate him?
The mere thought made Napoleon's blood pump faster.
"Show me your strength."
With a single command, the ten assassins vanished into thin air.
Not even their shadows remained—only a faint breeze stirred the silk curtains.
Napoleon's eyes widened in amazement.
"Incredible. Not even a trace left behind... No wonder they can kill across ranks."
He now understood why they were so feared—and with their presence, his heart felt lighter.
He finally had a means to protect himself.
No longer did he need to fear being quietly eliminated in the dead of night.
But that was only the first step.
With just ten assassins, he could survive—but it was far from enough to pull the French Empire out of its current downward spiral.
What he needed now was simple, and clearly written in his mind:
Emperor Points.
He needed far more than ten a day—hundreds, thousands! And the fastest way to obtain them…
Was through killing enemies.
…Enemies?
That was the one thing he wasn't lacking.
The empire was riddled with corruption and treachery. From the Grand Marshal to various ministers, not a single one could be fully trusted. Even within the capital, criminal syndicates and power-hungry nobles had built sprawling underground networks.
Outwardly, they treated Napoleon with respect.
But in the shadows, they were already digging the empire's grave.
And outside the empire, rival nations watched like vultures, while mercenary bands, guilds, and merchant alliances all sought to profit off the French Empire's fall.
Not to mention the Ordon Theocracy—his greatest enemy.
The irony was, the only reason the empire had lasted this long was because the Theocracy still found value in it.
Napoleon let out a soft, bitter chuckle.
Everyone was fighting to carve up the empire, but none spared a thought for the ordinary people—the masses who made up 90% of the population.
To these so-called elites, commoners were nothing more than ants to be trampled.
But Napoleon…
He couldn't stomach that.
Maybe his arrival in this world was fate.
The empire was terminal—on the verge of collapse.
Unless he purged all the rot, there would be no salvation for this sinking colossus.
But first, he needed to gather strength in the shadows.
Before he could fight external enemies, he needed to secure his internal foundation.
His first priority would be to reclaim full control over the empire.
…
Napoleon's thoughts moved quickly. He already had a rough outline in mind.
The Ordon Theocracy wanted to drain the empire dry.
Fine.
That meant they wouldn't interfere—not yet. And that gave him time to grow.
His focus now was clear: obtain as many Emperor Points as possible, by any means necessary.
And his Elemental Assassins? They were more than enough to start with.
Even the most expensive mercenaries the empire could afford were only at Elite Rank.
Just as he was deciding where to strike first—
The palace doors opened.
The Grand Marshal returned, leading an elderly man with snow-white hair and a statuesque woman in a tight, physician's uniform.
When she saw Napoleon already standing, her eyes went wide with disbelief.
"Your Majesty! You're… you're standing?!"
"Quick, let Dr. Melina examine you! Please, lie down, Your Majesty. Be good now~"
Her tone was oddly gentle—like she was coaxing a child.
Napoleon's eyebrow twitched in irritation.
Is this… how she treated him before? Like a toddler?
Then again, considering how his predecessor behaved, it made sense.
He coughed lightly. "I'm fine. Have Dr. Melina step outside."
The Grand Marshal froze, caught completely off guard.
It was the first time she had ever heard Napoleon give a direct order—firm and commanding.
For a moment, she didn't know how to react.
Napoleon frowned.
"Why? Does my word no longer carry weight?"
"N-No, Your Majesty!"
She stiffened, quickly bowed her head, and led the doctor out of the palace chamber.
Only the old man remained—gazing at Napoleon in stunned silence.
Was this truly the same man?
The timid, dull-witted boy who could barely speak in full sentences…
Gone.
In his place stood a young emperor with a commanding presence and piercing eyes that made even him—the seasoned old man—feel unsettled.
As he observed Napoleon…
Napoleon was observing him as well.
William Winston, the Secretary-General of State of the French Empire.
He was also a high-ranking member of the Royalist Party.
According to the inherited memories, he was one of the very few people Napoleon XVI could fully trust.
During the emperor's two-year coma, Winston had served as the Regent, managing state affairs and keeping the fragile balance from crumbling entirely.
"Secretary-General Winston," Napoleon said with a small smile, "it's been a while."
Winston blinked in surprise, then bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty… you've finally awakened. This is truly a moment worth celebrating."
Napoleon gave a slow nod, then cut straight to the point.
"Secretary-General Winston, I want you to give me a full briefing on the current state of the empire."