After Being Sold Out By The Empire, I Decide To Assist The Demon King-Chapter 292 - 36 Plan Code: [Pure Empire]

"Knock, knock, knock~"

Heidlin knocked on the workshop’s door... She looked a bit disheveled at the moment.

*What should I say?* She was now outside the Alchemist Workshop. The entire area was impacted by numerous explosions, and it always seemed to happen right as she passed by.

Although those alchemists mentioned things like "the governor’s aura," "airflow pressure," "minor temperature deviations," they were probably doing it on purpose...

Because at a time like this, coming to seek out the Imperial Royal Alchemist, Gurela Jinesis Parada, was clearly not a great idea... So it made sense that Heidlin was disliked.

But, what she had to do indeed wasn’t a great thing... She was there to persuade Gurela not to be the first to defect, even though she knew it wouldn’t make a difference.

Someone would always be the first; it didn’t necessarily have to be Gurela. fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm

"Hmm? Come in."

A girl’s voice came from inside the workshop. Heidlin took a deep breath and pushed the door open... What greeted her eyes was an immense collection of glazed lampstands and countless connected glass tubes.

This was where the most advanced alchemical crystals of the Empire were born and gathered. From new magic armor materials to experimental wands, all were overseen by the Chief Royal Alchemist.

That was Gurela...

But after a quick scan around, Heidlin did not see her... Although they hadn’t officially met, Heidlin had heard about her—a girl with short chestnut hair and wearing glasses with glass lenses.

Uh, where was she?

"Miss Parada? Miss Gurela Jinesis Parada?"

Upon Heidlin’s call, a girl’s voice emerged from a book pile on one side: "Just call me Gurela, I’m here... State your purpose, lowest rank."

Following these words, Heidlin looked at Gurela, who raised her head from the bookpile... Yes, just as the rumors said, she wasn’t exactly sloppy but looked inexplicably despondent with her glasses.

"Can’t you call me ’Tenth Rank’ instead?"

Heidlin said this somewhat helplessly, watching Gurela get up warily. She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say or where to begin.

*Should she straightforwardly say, "Don’t betray the Empire?"*

*Or should she say, "Please don’t leave the Empire and be the first to defect?"* But wouldn’t that be too humble...? After all, Gurela was the betrayer.

"So, when are you planning to see Teacher Yila?"

Heidlin asked, swallowing nervously and bracing for resistance. Yet, Gurela simply said, "Very soon, if there’s someone taking the lead, I’ll join..."

Gurela honestly expressed her thoughts, then pointed at the surrounding equipment and said, "I’ve prepared spells for packing up. What about you? When are you leaving the Empire?"

"..."

Eh?

Heidlin froze, then realized—Gurela thought she was part of the Yila Faction, which wasn’t entirely wrong since apart from orders from Her Majesty, Heidlin would also listen to Yila... After all, Yila was her teacher.

As long as the orders didn’t conflict, most of the Yila Faction governors would follow Isabella’s orders... It was the same for the Empress Faction (though they were fewer in number).

However, this gave Heidlin a line of thought.

"I’m not sure. I wonder... If we all leave, what will become of the Empire?"

To Heidlin’s words, Gurela shook her head. She had not conducted experiments recently, so she had time to chat. She gestured for Heidlin to sit opposite her and said, "Who knows~ Perhaps the Duchy will overrun it..."

Gurela seemed indifferent.

"Well, if little Ulrichla leaves too..."

Gurela began, analyzing the situation with the precision of an alchemist, "If little Ulrichla leaves with the army, the Empire will undoubtedly fall apart..."

Thus, Gurela Jinesis Parada, as an Imperial Duke, spoke as if the "Empire" was just a meaningless country... As if she wasn’t a native of the Empire herself.

"..."

Heidlin suddenly realized, for people like Gurela and Shara... The Empire itself wasn’t that important. The "nation" didn’t symbolize honor or a sense of belonging.

*Would her persuasion have any meaning?*

*Gurela wanted to go to Yila... Was there any way to stop her?*

*If she were to lie, it would easily be exposed, then there would truly be no chance. The Yila Faction’s departure was already certain.*

*Is it inevitable? It seems... inevitable.*

*The trend of the times... cannot be stopped.*

"..."

*Was there any other opportunity...?*

Heidlin pondered hard... But at that moment, her mind was filled only with images of her and a few colleagues defending Isabella and fleeing from the occupied Royal Capital.

"Is something wrong, lowest rank?"

Gurela asked, seeing Heidlin’s pale face, and concernedly said, after shrugging her shoulders, "If you’re not feeling well, you can drink some of this... I mimicked the ’All-purpose Potion,’ cool, huh?"

Gurela looked quite proud.

"Cool... yeah, really cool..."

Heidlin could only answer perfunctorily, then something suddenly struck her: "Gurela, do you think... the Empire and Isabella are two separate entities? We might..."

Heidlin didn’t know what she was saying or what she wanted to say... Asking Isabella to leave the Empire too—wasn’t that ridiculous, and would Her Highness agree?

"Hmm? You mean..."

Before Gurela could grasp Heidlin’s meaning, a white sparrow flew to the workshop’s window, tapping on it with its beak, making a "knock, knock, knock~" sound.

"Sorry, please wait a moment... It’s a letter from little Ulrichla."

"..."

In silence, Gurela glanced at the letter tied to the pigeon and then looked at Heidlin, speaking knowingly, "Oh, I get it... You don’t need to be so roundabout if you’re conveying little Ulrichla’s message."

Heidlin: ???

Heidlin: Little Ulrichla means... General Ulrichla Jem Goodwin, right? We just met on the battlefield recently...

...

"Okay, I understand. I will act as planned this Sunday... Looks like I don’t need to take my equipment. Just wondering if Yila would be willing to return afterward."

Gurela said, patting Heidlin’s shoulder with a smile, before succinctly replying to the letter and putting it back into the pigeon’s cylinder... Watching the pigeon fly away, her eyes were full of anticipation for the future.

...

Heidlin: ...

Heidlin: Wait, what exactly are they planning to do?!

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