DLERB -Chapter 167 The Traitors Have Boarded the Ship?

The night was as black as ink.

More than a dozen riders galloped wildly along the official road.

The pounding hooves shattered the silence.

Leading them was Lucas’s adjutant, Antony.

Clutched tightly in his arms was a brocade box.

Inside it—

lay Rome’s future.

And his future as well.

“Faster!”

“Move faster!”

Antony roared, lashing his horse harder with the whip.

The cold wind cut across his face like blades.

But his heart burned hot.

He could already imagine the senators rising to their feet in applause.

All of Rome cheering for him.

He, Antony, would become a hero of Rome!

“The general was right!”

One of the personal guards beside him shouted breathlessly.

“That Eastern Empire is already rotten to the core!”

“Their guards, their officials—they’re all greedy fools blinded by gold!”

Antony laughed.

His laughter overflowed with smugness.

“Of course.”

“No one can remain loyal in the face of gold.”

“When we return with an army of Divine Mechanism Crossbows, Roman eagle banners will cover this land!”

The group became even more excited.

Their horses galloped even faster.

At the horizon, the faint pale light of dawn began to appear.

Far ahead, the outline of a checkpoint emerged into view.

Border checkpoint of Donghai Commandery.

“Halt!”

A row of long halberds blocked the road.

Torchlight reflected off the cold iron masks of the Qin soldiers.

The Roman guards instinctively gripped their sword hilts.

But Antony remained calm.

He dismounted smoothly.

On his face was the same arrogance unique to General Lucas.

From within his robes, he pulled out a gold ingot.

Large.

Heavy.

Enough to allow an ordinary family to live comfortably for an entire lifetime.

He casually tossed it forward.

Clink.

The gold ingot rolled several times across the ground before stopping at the feet of a Qin centurion.

“We are leaving the border.”

Antony spoke in stiff Qin speech.

“Grant us passage.”

The centurion did not move.

Neither did the soldiers behind him.

The Roman guards tightened their grips on their weapons.

Antony frowned.

Too little?

A sneer rose within his heart.

Greedy Easterners.

He pulled out another gold ingot.

And tossed it over as well.

“Is it enough now?”

The centurion bent down.

He picked up the two gold ingots from the ground.

Weighing them in his hand for a moment—

he then raised his head.

Under the torchlight, Antony could not clearly see his expression.

“Not enough.”

The centurion’s voice was calm and emotionless.

Antony’s expression darkened.

One of the Roman guards stepped forward.

“How dare you!”

“You people—”

Antony raised a hand to stop him.

Then he smiled.

From his horse’s baggage, he directly pulled out an entire money pouch.

Heavy.

Filled completely with gold ingots.

Clatter.

He tossed the whole pouch into the centurion’s arms.

“Is this enough?”

The centurion held the money pouch.

He remained silent for a moment.

Then he waved toward the soldiers behind him.

“Let them pass.”

The halberds blocking the road withdrew.

A contemptuous smile appeared on Antony’s face.

He knew it.

Nothing in this world was impossible to solve with gold.

He mounted his horse again.

As he passed the centurion, he paused briefly.

“Your Emperor should pay you more.”

After saying that, he raised his whip.

“Hyah!”

The riders galloped away in a cloud of dust.

Atop the checkpoint.

The centurion watched their departing figures.

Then casually tossed the money pouch to the deputy beside him.

“Record it.”

“Yes, sir!”

The deputy acknowledged immediately.

The centurion walked toward the beacon tower beside the checkpoint.

From his robes, he pulled out a tiny bamboo whistle.

He placed it to his lips.

Chirp—

A sharp but subdued birdcall pierced the stillness of dawn.

The sound traveled into the distance.

…

Seagulls cried overhead.

The salty sea wind left a sticky feeling on the skin.

Donghai Commandery, Wanghai Town.

The largest tavern in town was closed today.

“My lord, this is the place.”

A Roman spy disguised as a Qin citizen spoke softly at the entrance.

“The owner is one of our men, and the ship is already prepared.”

Antony nodded.

Antony straightened his clothes and pushed the door open.

Inside the tavern, the lighting was dim.

A short, fat middle-aged man with a fawning smile immediately came forward to greet them.

“Oh my! Our honored guests have finally arrived!”

The tavern owner bowed repeatedly like a lapdog.

“You must have had a tiring journey, very tiring indeed!”

“The ship has long been prepared! It’s waiting at the dock behind the inn!”

“We’re only waiting for the tide to rise!”

Antony was very satisfied.

Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan.

He swept his gaze across the tavern.

In one corner lay a drunkard sprawled over the table, reeking of alcohol and snoring soundly.

Near the entrance, a servant lazily swept the floor with a broom.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

“Take us to our rooms,” Antony ordered.

“Yes, yes, of course!”

The owner led the way ahead.

“The finest rooms have long been prepared for you, my lords!”

They walked up to the second floor.

As they passed the sweeping servant, no one noticed—

the servant lightly tapped the broom against the ground three times.

Rhythmically.

The drunkard sleeping in the corner rolled over.

Then continued snoring.

…

Second floor, secret chamber.

Antony dismissed the tavern owner.

He carefully placed the precious brocade box onto the table.

Finally, he let out a long breath.

At last—

he was going home.

“Open it.”

One of the guards stepped forward and carefully undid the clasps of the brocade box.

The silk-wrapped blueprint rested quietly inside.

Antony’s gaze turned blazing hot.

He reached out a hand and gently stroked the silk.

“This is it.”

His voice trembled.

“Rome’s future.”

Several of his trusted men crowded around him.

Their breathing grew heavy.

“General,” one of them said excitedly,

“With this, we’ll be able to produce thousands upon thousands of Divine Mechanism Crossbows!”

“When that time comes, whether it’s the Germanic barbarians or the Qin people of the East, all of them will tremble beneath the iron hooves of the Roman legions!”

Antony smiled.

It felt as though he could already see that glorious future.

Carefully, he unfolded one corner of the blueprint.

The intricate and precise lines struck his vision once more.

“So beautiful.”

His praise came straight from the heart.

“This is a gift bestowed upon Rome by the God of War himself!”

Suddenly, he straightened his posture.

Imitating the bearing of an emperor.

Facing the empty air before him, he loudly proclaimed:

“Emperor of the East!”

“I, Antony, on behalf of the great Rome, declare war upon you!”

“Kneel!”

“Otherwise, the wrath of the Divine Mechanism Crossbows shall burn your Xianyang to ashes!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Wild laughter erupted through the secret chamber.

They were completely immersed in their imagined victory.

…

At the same time.

Xianyang.

Zhangtai Palace.

In the center of the great hall sat a massive bronze basin.

It was filled with clear water.

Several carved wooden leaves floated upon the surface, representing islands and reefs.

Ying Ziye squatted beside the basin.

Stretching out a small hand, he gently placed a tiny wooden boat onto the water.

The boat had been exquisitely crafted.

At the bow was carved a tiny golden eagle.

“Young Master.”

A shadow appeared silently behind him.

Kneeling on one knee.

It was a hidden guard of the Black Ice Terrace.

“Speak.”

Without turning around, Ying Ziye merely continued fiddling with the little boat.

“The target has arrived at Wanghai Town, at the ‘Fisherman’ Tavern.”

“Contact agent Wang Wu has already prepared the ship.”

“It is estimated that at the third quarter of noon, when the tide rises, they will set sail.”

The hidden guard’s voice remained utterly emotionless.

“They are currently in the secret chamber admiring the blueprint.”

The guard paused briefly.

“Antony is presently imitating His Majesty while delivering a pre-war declaration.”

Ying Ziye’s hand stopped moving.

He raised his head.

The childish face showed no expression whatsoever.

“Oh?”

he asked.

“What did he say?”

The hidden guard repeated the words exactly:

“He said that the wrath of the Divine Mechanism Crossbows would burn Xianyang City to ashes.”

Inside the great hall, Ying Ziye remained silent.

He simply stared at the little wooden ship carved with the golden eagle.

For a very long time.

Then—

he extended a finger.

White.

Soft.

With that finger, he lightly pressed against the side of the tiny boat.

Plop.

The little boat overturned.

It spun several times in the water—

then slowly sank to the bottom of the basin.

Ying Ziye stood up.

He brushed the water droplets from his hands.

“Let them board the ship.”

His voice was light.

As though he were discussing something utterly insignificant.