Emperor Lawrence

Once the army of the Rising Sun Kingdom is restrained, the commander of the United Army was about to order what to do with them when they all see a beautiful woman fall from the sky. A woman they all recognize.

"Glory to the queen!"

Immediately, euphoric shouts rise from the United Army as they clear the way for their queen, Queen Reminiscent Euphony. Shortly after she touches the ground, Prime Minister Red Filament appears behind her and follows a few steps behind. Although some soldiers from the Dajhir Kingdom call out his name, their number is smaller compared to the cries of glory to the queen.

They both walk through the streets of the Digarte city, with Indolent Ice and his most talented soldiers following behind to ensure their safety. Not only them, but the enemy commander also follows, though with his limbs chained.

There are no citizens on the streets, they are all hiding in their homes. As soon as they see Queen Reminiscent Euphony, they immediately close their windows, fearing the death penalty for observing her.

It would not be long before they reached the castle of the king of the Rising Sun Kingdom.

Waiting for them in front of the gates is none other than the king himself, Fair Decree.

He is kneeling, not daring to look Queen Reminiscent Euphony in the eyes. In front of him lies an ornate sword on the ground, and behind him stands his only son, the current prince of the kingdom.

"Do you know your crime?"

Queen Reminiscent Euphony speaks with elegance and a noble posture, looking down at King Fair Decree.

"Yes, Your Majesty. My crime is conspiring with the Dajhir Kingdom to destroy the Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom, seizing all their resources without sparing human lives."

There is no resentment in his words, nor fear. From the beginning, this was one of the possibilities, and he accepted it a long time ago. There is only peace within him, the peace of knowing that everything is over. He will be remembered as a foolish king, but that is fine.

As long as the Rising Sun Kingdom exists, even if only in their hearts, he will die in peace.

"You know what you have to do."

In silence, King Fair Decree raises his head and looks at the sword in front of him. Once he unsheathes it, he directs it toward his neck.

"May my death be the end of the hatred between our kingdoms. I do not wish for my name to be avenged or used in a cause that generates even more hatred. Learn to live together, for the only thing we truly own is our life... our future."

After closing his eyes, his hands move the blade away from his neck, and the next second, he drives it toward his throat with enough speed to end his life in an instant.

Some brave citizens, who dared to watch this scene from their windows, cover their mouths, trying not to make any sound. For they are witnessing the death of their king, his last will.

But then something happens.

"Eh?"

The sword with which he planned to end his life stops. King Fair Decree opens his eyes and looks in surprise at the one responsible for this.

"What is your intention?!"

The one who stopped his sword with her own fingers is none other than Absolute Prominence.

She does not answer his question, instead, she looks at Queen Reminiscent Euphony. “Such a wise king is more useful in life than in death. Emperor Lawrence wishes to give him a chance, but it all depends on you."

In previous battles, King Fair Decree had withdrawn his troops from the cities before a massacre occurred. Not only that, he ordered them not to resist any soldiers who failed to retreat in time and not to incite rebellion. This is one of the reasons why the United Army managed to take four cities without much trouble. He truly cherished the lives of his citizens.

Queen Reminiscent Euphony's expression softens a little.

"Those were his words?"

"Indeed."

Absolute Prominence nods, but the truth is that Lawrence was much harsher in his words. It was she who added enough eloquence to exalt his figure.

Queen Reminiscent Euphony looks for a moment at Prime Minister Red Filament, the latter respectfully bows. He then approaches King Fair Decree and extends his hand.

"I've always wanted to see the inside of your castle. Why don't we talk while we take a little walk?"

King Fair Decree looks at his hand and then at Absolute Prominence, then sighs. He sets the sword aside and accepts the generosity of the Prime Minister.

All of them enter the castle of the Rising Sun Kingdom as guests of honor.

+++

Days later, the capital returns to normal. Although there are rumors about what happened, no one dares to speak them aloud until the king himself communicates them.

This war brought with it many deaths. So many that many of the kingdom's talented individuals could not bear the outcome and left the capital, though others, out of loyalty and patriotism, were compelled to stay until the negotiations with the Dajhir and Sky Blue Mountain Kingdoms were concluded.

During this time, the hidden actions of King Fair Decree were discovered.

He voluntarily hid information about the war and his plans, in order to antagonize the noble houses of the kingdom in the face of the eventual failure in the war. In this way, if the United Army were to win, they would welcome the Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom with a better disposition. This surprised both Queen Reminiscent Euphony and Lawrence himself, which once again made them glad they had spared his life.

In a formal ceremony, Queen Reminiscent Euphony accepted the Rising Sun Kingdom as a vassal state, thus accepting his oath. If there was anything different, it was that in King Fair Decree's speech, he referred to the Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom as the Sky Blue Mountain Empire. Words that Queen Reminiscent Euphony did not correct.

Conspiratorial rumors about the Fafnir Kingdom faded away, and instead, the name of Emperor Lawrence began to emerge with more force.

While everyone talked about what had happened, a private meeting took place.

A meeting attended only by the most important figures from the Sky Blue Mountain Kingdom, Dajhir Kingdom, and Rising Sun Kingdom. Queen Reminiscent Euphony is the leader of this meeting.

After the formal greetings and conversations, she extends her hand to introduce a very important man. Emperor Lawrence.

The kings, nobles, and prime minister rise from their seats to show their respect.

Lawrence smiles like a user of sacred magic, but this time he does not hide the ambition in his words.

"Soon, I will open the doors of my sect."

Only two people are shocked, revealing that this news is much more important than it seems. None of those present can ignore their judgment because these two people are none other than Queen Reminiscent Euphony and Prime Minister Red Filament, the ones who know the background of Emperor Lawrence!

Lawrence continues speaking, paying them no mind. "Currently, my sect is lacking in teachers and elders, but there is only one thing that abounds in my sect..."

"Resources."

He then proceeds to take out a book from his storage ring and hands it to the leaders of each kingdom, leaving it to their judgment whether to reveal its contents to their subjects.

As they read it, their expressions shine like never before.

"A treasure..."

"A manual that allows advancement up to level 200!"

While King Fair Decree does not hesitate to give the book to his subjects, Prime Minister Red Filament carefully stores it, and Queen Reminiscent Euphony promises to deliver a copy to her loyal followers at a later time.

"The technique you just read..." Lawrence pauses, then says: "It's incomplete."

"What--?"

"An incomplete technique can deliver this kind of result?"

Those who furrow their brows the most are the ones who couldn’t read the book. They all wonder just how fierce this technique must be to make others react this way.

Lawrence waits for everyone to fall silent before saying: “The complete technique will be available to the elders and teachers who contribute to my sect with their knowledge and teaching to future disciples. Like this first-class technique, there are many others. All with the potential to awaken a hunter’s true power.”

When he finishes speaking, everyone holds their breath. For these kinds of techniques are unique in the world, and the Emperor Lawrence is saying that his sect is brimming with first-class techniques? How on earth did he manage to get his hands on them?

They wouldn’t be able to control their emotions if they knew that, in reality, the limit of this technique isn’t level 200 but level 300.

Seeing their reactions, Lawrence smiles inwardly. ‘If those big shots could foresee the profits I’ll gain from their <alternative payments>, they wouldn’t have agreed. What’s at stake exceeds their capacity.’

These are the first-class techniques he accepted as alternative payment from the item owners of the Violet Twilight auction house, who couldn’t pay for his medicinal pills. These techniques might be valuable, but not enough in the Divine Plane, which is why those big shots agreed to this exchange.

If this news were to spread in the future, would they regret their decision?

But it’s too late now. No one can change the outcome.

“If you have someone in mind, don’t hesitate to let them know about this opportunity. Because once the conditions are met, I will open the doors of my sect to accept disciples. I hope none of you oppose your citizens’ decisions, everyone is free to try their luck.”

This may be a suggestion, but everyone knows it isn’t. No one would dare oppose Emperor Lawrence, not when their lives are in the palm of his hand.

His sect might be the only one in the Inferior Plane to enjoy such freedom in recruitment.

“Have you thought of a name for your sect?”

When this question arises, Lawrence doesn’t hesitate to mention its name.

“Path to Heaven Sect.”