Noxus Glory

Chapter 37 Darius, the Hand of Noxus

On the continent of Valoran, the Noxian Empire's army is the largest known in the world.

It includes both elite troops and hundreds of combat groups operating independently in the local area.

Each chapter is led by its own chieftain, officers, and captains, and has its own unique culture, hierarchy, and combat preferences.

Different battle groups can form larger battle groups and be responsible for specific field roles, such as front-line assault teams, heavy infantry, scouts, assassins, or cavalry—whichever suits their skills.

Inside the council chamber.

The ground was paved with clean, smooth, bluish-gray boulders, and the wooden seats in the central area, which should have been empty, were already occupied by many people.

They were the leaders and centurions of various battle groups within the camp, clad in armor and with solemn expressions.

A somber and oppressive atmosphere permeated the air. Everyone looked at each other, rarely speaking, quietly waiting for the person in the main seat who was resting with their eyes closed.

Until the last person sat down at the end of the conference table.

"General, everyone is here!"

Wilson walked to Darius's side and spoke in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Darius opened his dark eyes, his extremely imposing gaze sweeping over everyone in front of him, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

The position of leader of each warband is usually granted by an Imperial General.

Their own centurions and deputy centurions are appointed by the leader himself, which makes it easier to command the battle group and prevents disorder and chaos.

These job designations are basically for ordinary combat groups operating independently in local areas.

It does not include elite troops subordinate to Imperial generals.

In addition, unlike the position of leader, centurions need to have a wide range of abilities, not just military ones.

Moreover, the position of centurion is the easiest for someone from the commoner class to climb.

The leaders mostly belong to the aristocratic class and are extraordinary individuals.

"I imagine you have all received the message!" Darius leaned back casually in his chair, looking at the people at the front of the conference table.

"But don't forget our current duty: to conquer Freljord!"

"Someone seems to be trying to disobey military orders?!"

Almost as soon as Darius finished speaking, a commotion broke the silence in the hall, and everyone began to discuss it.

On the left side of the conference table, a gaunt man clad in black armor and wearing a noble badge sat on a wooden chair. His heart skipped a beat, as if a strange chill enveloped him.

He quickly glanced at the people around him, and after seeing their calm expressions, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"General, a coup has broken out in the capital, and Swain has become a rebel!"

"We must now change the Empire's strategy, immediately abandon the invasion of Freljord, abandon this war, and return to General Darkwell's aid!"

Suddenly.

Just as the gaunt man finished speaking, the noisy atmosphere on the conference table vanished, replaced by a deathly silence.

Many people turned their gaze to the gaunt man, some in amazement, some in mockery, some in pity, and some in anger.

Abandon the invasion of Freljord?

It sounds simple, but the implications behind this war are far beyond what a single leader can bear.

That not only represents the failure of the Imperial strategy, but also the cowardice and incompetence of Darius, the Hand of Noxus.

This also means that the northern border of the empire will be completely left undefended, allowing the Winter's Claw clan to plunder and kill at will!

"Haha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

Darius suddenly burst into laughter, a wild laugh.

His laughter echoed throughout the council hall, leaving only his voice.

"Perry, why do you think we can give up invading Freljord?" Darius stopped laughing and looked coldly at the thin man wearing the noble's insignia.

"Let me think. Your family has trade ties with the Darkwill family, right? Is it the slave trade in Shurima?"

"General, this is not the time to discuss family matters," Perry said in a low voice, his eyes darting away, unable to meet Darius's gaze.

"Commander Darkwell's fate is unknown. We need to return to the capital immediately to suppress the rebels and restore the glory of the Empire."

"General, don't forget your loyalty to Commander Darkwell!"

As soon as Perry finished speaking, several people stood up and echoed his words, some even calling out to those around them.

"For Darkwell!"

"For Darkwell!"

"For Darkwell!"

In the silent council hall, scattered shouts echoed.

But as time went by, it gradually disappeared, eventually leaving only silence and unease.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Darius rose and clapped, then slowly walked to Perry, his dark eyes, like those of a wolf, looking down at the weak lamb.

"Very inflammatory remarks, but I'm sorry."

"My loyalty is not to the one who sits on the throne, but to the empire beneath my feet!"

Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Perry's forehead. He swallowed hard and looked nervously at Darius in front of him. Darius's tall, armored figure brought a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Issue my order to strip Perry, Yaco, and the others of their leadership and centurion positions," Darius said coldly, completely shattering the psychological defenses Perry had built.

"Damn Darius, you have no right to do this. I am the chapter leader appointed by General Grans."

Perry abruptly stood up, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and glared at Darius with a ferocious expression.

Just as his hand gripped the hilt of the sword.

Outside the council hall, footsteps echoed as Noxian soldiers clad in blood-red armor and wielding sharp blades surrounded the group around the conference table.

It wasn't just these Noxian soldiers.

People who were once colleagues now glared at each other, drew their weapons, and pointed them at each other.

"Grans? He's not qualified to protect you!" Darius's tone grew colder, his eyes, like those of a black wolf, sweeping over the silent crowd at the conference table.

This brief, farcical incident has come to an end.

Perry and his men were disarmed and escorted away by Noxian soldiers.

Before leaving, Perry and the others still pretended to be reserved and proud, staring at Darius without bowing their heads.

Darius, completely ignoring the stares of Perry and the others, braced himself on the conference table, gazed at the remaining people, and said in a deep voice, "Now, does anyone have any questions?"

Faced with Darius's tough stance, the chapter leaders and centurions at the conference table shook their heads, indicating that they had no questions.

"Three days later, the entire army will set off and enter Freljord!"

Darius clenched his fist and slammed it on the table, his eyes fixed on the crimson imperial banner hanging on the wall.

"Noxus's military might is unstoppable!"

"Yes, General!"

A deafening response echoed through the council hall, and the remaining battle group leaders rose and left one by one.

In just a short while.

As the commands were relayed by the chapter leaders, the restless Noxian camp erupted into chaos, like boiling water, with countless voices mingling together and startling the falling snow.

The council hall, on the stone steps.

Darius, clad in heavy armor, stood on a high platform, overlooking the restless camp, his expression constantly shifting.

What just happened at the conference table has crossed the line he has always insisted on.

Although he used his prestige as the Hand of Noxus to forcibly strip Perry and others of their rights and suppress their thoughts.

But things are far from that simple. If the war is lost, he will definitely be impeached and slandered by the nobles.

"I have no choice!" Darius said with an unusually cold expression.

Giving up the invasion of Freljord is absolutely out of the question!

After Swain's coup, the issue was no longer whether to invade or not, but that the empire now needed a victory to restore its fallen glory.

Sejuani, the Claw of Winter!

Darius recalled his ruthless and cruel mother who rode the Juvask Boar, and his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

In this stalemate, too many Noxians have perished in Freljord.

He continued to pursue the imperial strategy of invading Freljord for three reasons.

First, while many fronts around the empire were either defeated or bogged down, only his northern legion still had spare strength.

He must win this war!

Even if it means sacrificing oneself, one must salvage the empire's crumbling glory!

Second, this was an imperial strategy devised by Darkwell.

Fundamentally, the fact that there is no fault to be found is the source of his confidence.

After all, no one could have imagined that the elderly man wouldn't even last a day under Swain's coup, causing his orders to fail to reach the Noxian capital.

Of course, even if the order came, he wouldn't carry it out!

Third, there was a letter from Draven.

Having left the battlefield and now residing in the Immortal Fortress, Draven seems to have found something he enjoys and has joined Swain's side.

The letter did not urge Darius to side with Swain; it only recounted some amusing anecdotes.

He never mentions taking sides, but Darius, as the older brother, can't understand the underlying meaning in his words?

Therefore, he chose to head north to Freljord, temporarily escaping the vortex of the empire.

There's one more.

For Darius, that might be considered a reason.

He and Swain were old friends, having worked together in the western chapters of the Empire, and had a good relationship.

The erudite and talented Swain was someone he once looked up to.

"I hope you've made the right choice, Swain!"

Darius looked back into the heart of the empire, his eyes seemingly traversing thousands of miles to see his old friend with graying temples, cleansing the corrupt and dark capital.

I've been quite busy during the National Day holiday, so updates will be a bit slower!

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(End of this chapter)