Ludovic couldn't believe the scene unfolding before his eyes.
Yes, Frondier and Lily being in cahoots? That much he could understand. In fact, Ludovic had considered that possibility.
Unlike the others, Ludovic had suspected Lily from the beginning, and he was still unsure about Frondier. The claim that Frondier was a devil seemed exaggerated, even to his own eyes.
But what was this now?
Lily was kneeling before Frondier.
Frondier spoke at that moment.
"Isn't it just as you thought?"
Frondier's brazen attitude. Ludovic's sword naturally flared up with a murderous aura.
"Frondier! Do you not understand the situation you're in! You've missed your last chance to avoid suspicion!"
There was no turning back now.
Frondier directly commanded Lily, making her kneel before him.
The relationship between Lily and Frondier was now clear, and it was worse than initially predicted.
These two, who were thought to be either giving orders to Lily or in an equal relationship, were actually in a situation where Frondier was the one giving orders.
Since Lily was a devil, it was certain that Frondier was a devil too, and the real mastermind was Frondier.
"You have just declared yourself an enemy of the Empire! Frondier!!"
Ludovic's voice, fueled by aura, resonated loudly beyond the mansion.
Most people would freeze and collapse at the roar of Zodiac Ludovic, but Frondier only frowned slightly, as if it was somewhat noisy.
'Enemy of the Empire.'
He didn't know exactly who the culprit was, but he knew they were related to the Imperial Palace.
They probably acquired the information about Lily being a devil a long time ago. They must have been aiming for this situation from the beginning.
Until just recently, Frondier fought for the Empire. Alongside Ludovic and Lily, who were right in front of him. All the prominent strongmen gathered and fought a desperate battle to protect the Empire.
Frondier was in charge of most of the overall operations in the Imperial Council and charged into the enemy's base as a spear himself.
That's how he became a hero. He thought it was undeserved. There was no one who wasn't necessary for victory.
All the personnel deployment, strategy planning, and desperate struggles to defeat Belphegor, all for this?
Frondier spoke with the same self-deprecating face.
"Let's say I became an enemy of the Empire."
His eyes, unlike Ludovic's, were calm, devoid of any killing intent or momentum.
"What does the Empire intend to do?"
"What are you talking about?"
Ludovic was shocked by Frondier's words, then gritted his teeth and looked at him.
He declared himself an enemy of the Empire and then asked about the Empire's response.
The arrogance that he could arbitrarily make the Empire his enemy, but the Empire couldn't easily do the same.
"There's no need for the Empire to move."
Reading his intention, Ludovic took a stance.
"Because you will die here. Along with Lily."
"Oh my. Does the Zodiac kill innocent people recklessly? It would be right to punish them by proper law in the Imperial Palace."
Ludovic leaped forward. The other Zodiacs followed him.
Frondier, who defeated Belphegor. His skills were still unknown, but these were the Zodiacs. The Empire's ultimate weapons. Moreover, Frondier was still a young man who hadn't even reached adulthood.
However, Frondier spoke languidly, facing their fierce killing intent.
─It would be good for you too, to do it by the law.
The moment Ludovic met Frondier's eyes, he was overwhelmed by an indescribable fear.
The power of a devil. The power of Frondier, which even most devils couldn't withstand and would lose their lives to.
However, as expected of the Zodiac. Ludovic only stopped for a moment before rushing towards Frondier again. The other Zodiacs, though a little slower, followed.
But Frondier wouldn't miss that momentary gap. His Obsidian extended, surging towards the Zodiacs.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
The Zodiacs, who lost their momentum due to the devil's power, had to withstand the Obsidian's attack while staying in place. Their auras were strong, but the Obsidian, a fragment of Helheim, was adept at piercing through auras.
While they were dealing with the Obsidian, Frondier spoke to Lily.
"I've set up a portal outside. Go through it."
"Wh-What are you going to do?"
Lily looked at Frondier with a worried face.
Honestly, she didn't think Frondier would lose this fight.
Of course, the enemies were the Zodiacs, but the power Lily felt from Frondier had already surpassed the level of the Zodiacs. While there was room for variables, it wasn't enough for Frondier to lose.
What Lily was worried about was what came next.
Frondier's situation was driven to the edge of a cliff. He deliberately revealed himself to protect Lily, making it clear that she was under his control. Regardless of the truth, Frondier was already a devil from the Empire's perspective.
"Don't worry and go."
Frondier's tone remained the same. No anger, no contempt. However, that calmness was strangely chilling.
Something flashed through Lily's mind.
'Is he planning to kill them all?'
Kill all the witnesses here, right now. Including Ludovic.
It was a brutal and violent plan, but it could buy some time. Since the Zodiacs were acting under the Emperor's orders, something must have already happened in the Imperial Palace.
If they could just use Philly, it might be possible to gloss over this.
Lily nodded and moved away. Leaving her room, which was already wide open, was too easy. Lily flew through the air and left.