Chapter 2263

2263 - The Lord-2

Step

Step

Lord Glacion advanced through a long corridor cutting across an open area, his body balanced and his steps measured, but his expression was not clear. "I am still not certain about this."

"Lord Glacion, there is no need to overthink it." Servon quickly stepped to his side. "We have achieved a tremendous feat by annexing the Wing of Eternal Chaos under the authority of the Grave Empire—a feat worthy of celebration!"

"What does that have to do with making a personal visit to Lord Robin?" Glacion wondered hesitantly. "Perhaps the Shadow Swords have already informed him."

"They have informed him, yes." Servon showed a broad smile. "But don't you want to be there when I tell him the details? Don't you want His Majesty to praise you, even just a little? Come now, no need to be shy—I saw how you spoke about him that day!"

Servon's smile stretched from ear to ear.

A full week—that was the time it took him to agree with the two brothers on a very thorough and precise presentation, and to set a share that was neither too harsh nor too lenient.

Not as harsh as what most wing leaders had taken, but not as lenient as what Glacion had taken… In the end, they had provoked the Empire into moving its troops, and this was the punishment.

“…” Glacion’s steps slowed for a moment. He wanted to tell Servon that he didn’t care and didn’t want to go, but it was indeed an opportunity—to go to Lord Robin having helped significantly was better than meeting him for the first time during a summons or a crisis.

Yet he didn’t forget to glance beside him. “Why would you come with me?”

“To get my share of affection, of course, hehe. Wasn’t I the one who finalized the agreement despite all the obstacles?” Servon laughed. “It’s a chance to remind His Majesty of my existence. A simple ‘well done’ will suffice and elevate my standing. I’m not ashamed to admit it!”

By this point, they had already reached The Gate. Servon stepped forward and began discussing the coordinates with the guards, agreeing with them on the nearest gate to His Majesty.

“Don’t listen to him. It’ll be obvious that you’re going just to hear a nice word like that fool. Keep your dignity and return to where you came from. Donara is not a place you can go to just because you want to.”

“…?” Glacion turned sharply behind him.

It was Holak, walking behind them like a small mountain.

The many obstacles

that Servon had spoken of were meant for Holak and no one else.

Instead of leaving with Glacion, he refused and remained in place, trying to stir up trouble, set conditions, and force Servon to reject proposals. He was the one who made the negotiations drag on for seven days.

But he was also the reason the two brothers lost many privileges and made the division difficult. If Servon had been alone with them, he would never have been able to reach that difficult agreement.

His arrogant style and constant attempts to sabotage the negotiations made the two brothers extremely tense and willing to accept little. That man wanted war like a starving man who hadn't seen meat in years. As for what exactly they were preparing for him? They didn't want to know the answer.

"Haha, Lord Holak is joking." Servon stood in the middle. "Donara is a very important planet, but anyone who has taken an oath on His Majesty's personal tablets can go. I took one as the commander of the Third Army in the Young Belt, and Lord Glacion took one when he first joined, so of course we can go!"

“…I’m not surprised by this insolence and indifference—I’ve seen you use them with Lord Omis and Lord Omira.” Glacion began inspecting Holak from head to toe. “But from what I can see… you’re merely a Martial Emperor in body and energy. Where did you get this attitude that doesn’t suit you?”

Holak furrowed his brows deeply. “It stems from the absolute truth that I could knock out your row of teeth with one blow if we were on the same level.”

Pfft.

“If? How cute.” Glacion smiled, then turned and moved toward The Gate. “You’ve encouraged me to go. Now I want to see what that Planet Donara contains.”

By the last sentence, Glacion had vanished inside the Array.

“Don’t upset yourself, Lord Holak. All of this benefits the Empire, and Lord Glacion’s meeting with His Majesty will serve you, not harm you.” Servon clasped his hands and began to sweat.

“Save the flattery until we reach The Boss, and get lost!” Holak lifted his leg and kicked Servon toward The Gate.

“Whoa—!!”

Pfft.

Holak found himself alone for a moment, let out a sigh, and closed his eyes to rest his thoughts.

After the feeling of lost confidence that struck him on the day of the fight with the Executioner, he wanted to prove to The Boss that he was still useful, and that the title of Guard was still worthy.

It was no longer completely empty. And what better way to demonstrate this than by destroying a time-honored Millennium Empire like this?

But that damned icy one and that scaled serpent!!

"Ugh!" Holak took two more steps and vanished inside the Gate.

*Fwoosh*

*Distortion*

<Hmm? My consciousness is awake? This isn't supposed to happen during a space gate travel—Aghhh!!!>

*Distortion*

*Distortion*

Holak felt his body contract and expand, felt immense pressure, and felt his solid internal organs writhe and nearly tear apart.

Then, just as he felt his end was certain—

*Fwoosh—Thud*

"Damn it!!" Holak felt solid ground, pushed himself up, and began examining his body. "What happened? What happened?!"

"Shhh!!"

"Who are you shushing, you son of a—" Holak wanted to yell at whoever made that sound, but when he raised his head to look for the source, he saw a strange sight.

There were strange golden suns illuminating the sky, even turning everything golden.

One sun was shaped like a scale, another like a serpent eating its own tail.

And another like a gear with a broken tooth. That gear bore three rings engraved on its frame, while the inner area at its center contained a slowly rotating triangle.