Before the assassinations, Alaric had also taught Nitocris a simple spell, Repelling Magic.
This spell existed in many worlds.
Its usual purpose was for spellcasters to drive away ordinary people, preventing them from discovering the secrets of magic and also protecting them from being caught up in the mysterious world.
Before carrying out the assassinations, Nitocris did not forget to use this magic.
It prevented outsiders from accidentally entering the "crime scenes" and discovering that the ministers had been murdered.
As for those inside the residences, aside from the targets, without exception they were all simply knocked unconscious by Nitocris.
However, when Nitocris drove her dagger into the heart of the sleeping Minister of Finance,
there was no hesitation, nor even a trace of regret.
At the moment of true killing, Nitocris was as calm as a veteran assassin of many years, cold, decisive, and utterly merciless.
Of course, once the assassination ended, her composure immediately collapsed.
First came the excitement and joy of avenging her great hatred, followed by waves of confusion after taking a life.
Those who had never killed would never understand the fragility of life.
Even such a large human being was no harder to deprive of life than crushing an ant.
Now Nitocris had truly felt the fragility and insignificance of life, and she had also truly realized the existence she would one day have to command and face.
Then, without surprise, Nitocris began to sob quietly.
For such a kind-hearted Pharaoh, one who sincerely cared for her people, to kill with her own hands, to strip someone of life, even if that person was her enemy, was something she found deeply difficult to accept.
Watching Nitocris with reddened eyes and a pitiful expression, Alaric even felt the urge to step out from hiding, take this young girl who bore the burden of a nation into his arms, and comfort her with tenderness.
But in the end, he did not do so.
Because he knew that all of this was a path Nitocris had to walk, a responsibility she had to shoulder.
If she could not bear even a few lives, then how could she bear the weight of an entire country in the future?
So Alaric could only watch as Nitocris endured her pain.
She had to pass through this on her own.
Only if she could withstand it and show the resolve to carry the burden of lives would she truly become an outstanding Pharaoh in the future.
Fortunately, Nitocris's talent and strength of character were as extraordinary as Alaric had imagined.
After sobbing for a while, she slowly regained her composure.
Although her eyes were still red, the helplessness and confusion from before had faded. Her gaze had become firm.
After carving several symbols beside the Minister of Finance's bed, Nitocris finally gathered her strength and left.
She headed toward the home of her next target.
…
…
That night, Nitocris truly accomplished something she had once found unimaginable.
Throughout the entire night, she traveled across Memphis, visiting the homes of dozens of people.
Among these dozens were the Vizier of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Chief Justice, the Minister of Finance, several generals, priests of Ra, Horus, and Osiris, and others…
Without exception, these were the masterminds who had murdered her elder brother, Meraran II, and were now the ones who held Egypt's true power.
For Nitocris, this night of assassinations was not merely a technical task, it was also a physical one.
After all, she had to traverse their residences scattered throughout Memphis.
These people all possessed immense authority and wealth, commanding countless slaves and guards.
And to prevent any accidents, the "Peerless Assassin" Nitocris knocked unconscious all their families and servants.
According to Alaric's calculations, over the course of the night, Nitocris had knocked out more than a thousand people.
Such an enormous number, if not for her demigod physique, far beyond that of ordinary mortals, she would never have had the strength to do it.
In short, Nitocris accomplished it all.
When her final strike killed the Vizier of Upper Egypt, her greatest enemy, who had been suffering from days of "madness,"
when she returned to the palace trembling,
when in the royal garden she lifted her cloak and dispelled her concealment before Alaric, who had long been waiting,
this poor girl, tormented by hatred, was already in tears.
"I was pushed onto the throne of a puppet Pharaoh by those in power who scorned the gods. On my throne, besides the radiance of divinity, there must also be,
Ah… surely it has been stained red with blood.
But I must never forget my brothers who were slaughtered one by one.
I must not forget the regret and unwillingness of the former kings, nor can I forgive those lowly ones who dared to toy with the glorious throne of the Pharaoh.
At last, I can deliver punishment to those who dared to defy the throne of a king and god. I can punish those traitors who dared to harm my beloved brothers.
Thank you, Thoth. Thank you for giving me this chance. Without you, I might have… only been able to sacrifice my own life to avenge this hatred."
"That's not true," Alaric shook his head. He wiped the tears from her face and comforted her.
"This was your own effort. It was also their retribution. In any case, it's all over now, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's all over." Nitocris smiled through her tears.
"But no matter how you comfort me, I know that the chance to take revenge with my own hands was given by you. I could never have done this alone."
As she spoke, she brought Alaric into the great hall of the palace.
Lifting the carpet, a large cellar door appeared on the floor. Opening it and descending the stairs led to a vast, dark chamber.
The room was enormous and empty.
After lighting torches, Alaric saw that its overall decoration was extremely luxurious, though parts of it remained unfinished and crude.
On the four walls were patterns of the Eye of Horus.
"Do you see?" Nitocris pointed at the Eyes of Horus.
"This is an underground palace I built for revenge, though it is not yet complete.
Originally, without you, once it was finished, I planned to invite those nobles here under the pretext of celebrating the harvest.
Behind these Eyes of Horus are mechanisms connected to the sluice gates of the Nile.
At that time, I would have sealed the doors and opened the gates, drowning those guilty ones in the blue waters of the Nile."
"And then?" Alaric asked softly.
"And then?" Nitocris smiled with a trace of sorrow. "Naturally, I would end my own life here, so that I would not suffer retaliation from their followers."