touchnovel Chapter 1017: War
Chapter 1017: War
Chapter 1017: War
The three Royal Guards grew solemn. Even Lord Mighty let go of Khan's head, retracting his arm to wear a firm stance. The Emperor had expressed his desires, so it was their job to see them to their fulfillment.
The Emperor also looked as solemn as ever. If anything, expressing his desires so bluntly had intensified his presence, applying a heavy weight on the area. The world told Khan that was the most important moment in his life, but sadly, he couldn't take that specific wording seriously.
"[I'm really not into that, My Emperor]," Khan announced. "[Besides, you guys are way too tall for my tastes]."
The Emperor, the strongest evolved warrior Khan had ever seen, leader of one of the mightiest forces in the universe, and wielder of immense power, remained speechless for a few seconds.
The Royal Guards mimicked the Emperor's behavior, but Lord Mighty suddenly sealed his broad mouth, and his cheeks inflated as laughs filled it. Khan's words had been worse than thousands of sneak attacks, causing a reaction the huge Thilku couldn't control.
Lord Mighty's lips seemed about to give in when Lord Envoy touched his arm, teleporting him away. The technique sent the Royal Guard far enough for Khan to lose track of his presence, but the distant, loud laugh that reached the area quickly revealed his new position.@@@@
The Emperor remained impassive during the comic event, seemingly unaffected or too used to it to care. His silence also ended, but Khan would have never expected similar words to leave his mouth.
"[You misunderstood me, Blue Shaman]," The Emperor declared, "[And we wouldn't create suitable offspring]."
'Shouldn't our lack of wombs be the problem here?!' Khan exclaimed in his mind. He would glance at Lord Enforcer to check whether the Emperor was serious, but the latter's intensity made it impossible for him to look away.
"[I meant]," The Emperor continued as if the previous exchange didn't happen, "[You have proven yourself, Blue Shaman. The Empire can accept your strength and goal]."
"[I'm stunned]," Khan admitted, "[And confused. I don't understand why I'd get a domain and Lordship]."
"[The Empire paid close attention to your behavior]," The Emperor explained. "[My soldiers trust and respect you. Your motivations and resolve are clean, and your power can defend your pride]."
Everything the Emperor had said was true, but Khan remained unconvinced. Sure, he had favored the Empire over the Global Army over the years, but that still didn't sound enough to grant him Lordship.
Moreover, Khan felt unable to accept a deal he couldn't fully understand or any kind of deal, really. He could sense his very existence opposing compromises. The Empire was better than the Global Army in that field, but politics remained politics.
However, the Emperor wasn't done yet.
"[And]," The Emperor continued. "[My Empire needs new wars to fight. Go forth freely, Blue Shaman, and bring back that enemy of yours, for the Empire will continue to wage wars as long as I exist]."
Khan didn't know how old the Emperor was, but everything clicked together now. The Empire's seemingly idiotic endless expansion wasn't mindless at all. It had a precise reason, which stood right before Khan's eyes.
'How?' Khan mentally gasped as understanding dawned upon his mind. 'That's-.' Khan couldn't even finish his thoughts. He had seen countless strange and impossible things in his travels, and many often came from him, but that realization shocked him to the core. The Emperor's immense and heavy existence and the Empire's vast domain weren't only connected. The former had caused the latter for no other reason than his element. The Emperor brought every Thilku trait to the extreme, using his entire species to strengthen himself.
"[Yes, Blue Shaman]," The Emperor declared as if reading Khan's mind. "[War is my element, so bring me as many wars as you can. The Empire is an extension of my will, and I will see all of them to their conclusion]."
The faint excitement Khan had sensed inside the Royal Palace was evident now, echoing through the broken arena and stretching far past it. That passive but intense aura stirred his own battle drive, almost making him want to jump into the first available war headfirst. The Royal Guards weren't any better. Actually, they were far worse off than Khan. Their loyalty to the Emperor made them accept that excitement wholeheartedly, and their very existence fueled it to spread it further.
It turned out the Empire wasn't one of the most fearsome species in the universe. It was a weapon for the Emperor to wield at will to increase his reach and accomplish what a single individual didn't have the time or ability to achieve.