Someone begged for mercy, which did not surprise Perfikot.

Or rather, this was normal. These people were not fools, nor were they brainless, nor were they the kind of idiots who, with a knife at their throat, would boast about being nobility, thinking you wouldn't dare kill them.

On the contrary, precisely because they were nobility, they valued their lives even more.

So when four Knights truly began to lift their blades and slaughter the noble council members in the assembly hall, those who quickly grasped the situation naturally knelt before Perfikot and begged her for mercy.

Yet Perfikot was unmoved, or perhaps the fate of these people was sealed when she decided to attend this hearing.

"I am a Count of the Empire! You have no right to kill me! I demand to see Her Majesty the Empress! I demand to see Her Highness the Eldest Princess! I demand a fair trial, not private execution!" An elderly man tried his best to maintain the so-called dignity of nobility, loudly crying out before Perfikot.

This elderly man might have been a decent Knight in his youth; at least now, even in old age, his skills had not completely faded. While the four Steam Knights were slaughtering the other nobles, he relied on his skills to dodge, not only avoiding immediate death but also having enough strength to make his demands to Perfikot.

Perfikot was somewhat surprised by this noble elder, after all, she saw these noble councilors as mere trash who were wasting resources by living, yet didn't expect there to be individual exceptions among them, leading her to explain.

"Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Eldest Princess have already abandoned your lives. In fact, when Duke Glouster informed me you wanted me to attend this hearing, your fate and end were already determined." Perfikot signaled the four Knights who were in the midst of slaughtering to pause, also explaining to the nobles still alive.

At this point, she was unconcerned about secrecy, so she straightforwardly revealed the truth: "Three years ago, I warned you of the impending apocalypse. You thought it was a fantasy, but the Imperial Center did not treat it as a joke. The Privy Council sent an expedition to the Arctic to verify my prophecy.

Thus, two years ago, the Imperial Center decided to build in the Northern Territory and use it as the basis to construct a shelter to help the Empire withstand the extreme cold of the apocalypse and survive this world-destroying disaster.

This is also why I could become the Northern Guardian of the Empire in just two years from being a young lady of an ordinary Baron family, and why Prince Edward left his estate to me.

Because now, only I have the ability to save everything, only I can lead the Empire safely through this apocalypse."

Saying this, Perfikot stood up, disdainfully looking down at the nobles in the venue, even though her position was at the lowest point of the whole arena.

She noticed the surprise and regret on the face of that noble elder, sensing that he was not one of those incompetent parasites, at least not in his youth.

However, evidently, the long years of privileged life had made him forget what a noble's duty was and why they were noble.

Thus, Perfikot had no intention of sparing him. They must be accountable for their actions.

Thinking about this, Perfikot continued, "So you deserve to die, both because your impediments and mockery delayed the Empire's response by at least a year and as punishment for hindering me!

Every moment you waste of my time here means a lesser chance for the Empire to survive this apocalypse crisis.

So Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Eldest Princess have abandoned you, even Duke Glouster, upon learning you intended to question me, immediately rushed to apologize, all to prevent your foolishness from affecting the Empire's future.

Perhaps you think I have no right to take your lives, at least not to massacre you like this. But apologies, you have become a gift, a gift for me to vent my anger.

Killing you is not because the Empire needs to eliminate you, but because I need to kill you to release the anger caused by the obstacles you've placed in my way the past years."

Perfikot's words were extraordinarily cruel, something these self-important noble councilors on the scene could never accept.

Yet when the Chain-Saw Sword of the Steam Knights roared once more, they were scared; they truly didn't want to die.

No matter how infuriating Perfikot's words were, at least now she truly held the handle of the blade, ready to take their lives anytime, so even if only to curry favor with Perfikot, they could only choose to believe what she said, and then beg her for mercy.

But Perfikot was unmoved, merely watching coldly as the four Steam Knights continued their slaughter.

However, that noble elder seemed much calmer, as if he had let something go, and he directly approached Perfikot, bowed his head to her and asked, "Guardian, I've realized my mistakes and misdeeds, and I am willing to die to apologize.

But I beg you to spare my family; let all the guilt be my burden alone. I am willing to bear any penalty you impose, only asking for my family's survival in this calamity, I beg your compassion!"

Looking at this noble elder, Perfikot couldn't help but sigh and shook her head helplessly, "You do have some noble responsibility left, didn't expect there to be one or two talents of use among this bunch of waste.

But unfortunately, everyone must be responsible for their actions, your past foolishness decides you cannot leave this venue alive today.

However, rest assured, the slaughter of you is merely my personal venting act, although it is permitted and tacitly approved by the Empire, it doesn't mean this matter will implicate your family.

Of course, I also hope you understand, all of this stops only if your family isn't stupid enough to continue provoking me afterwards.

If they do, I can only use more radical means to ensure my own safety and that the Empire's plans are unaffected."

Hearing this, the noble elder couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then he took off a seal ring from his finger and said to Perfikot, "This is my family's token. I will leave a letter explaining the situation, you just need to give it to my son, my family will pledge allegiance to you!"

After saying this, with Perfikot's tacit approval, the noble elder wrote his last words, then without hesitation, used a paper cutter to slit his own throat.

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