Emperor Lawrence

“Ha! You worry too much. Despite everything we've been through, that cautious attitude is still unpleasant.”

Lawrence is quite familiar with Coldness Divine, but enduring the temperament of a noble dragon is challenging. His level may be increasing slowly, but so is his patience with this woman.

He snorts, “Don’t ruin everything over a small grudge, she is your past-- no, not even that. She is a possibility that never happened.”

“Lawrence, when you know what it feels like to die hundreds of times, we’ll continue this conversation. Until then, don’t bother me.”

Coldness Divine disappears into the distance and Lawrence sighs as he follows her. He may not remember it, but this situation brings nostalgia to Coldness Divine. Because to meet that woman, something similar happened in one of her regressions.

“Wait here, human.”

How long has it been since the last time this arrogant woman referred to him as [human]? He simply smiles and shakes his head, waiting in place as she requested.

In less than three minutes she returns, but she is not alone.

“Don’t be captivated by her beauty, she’s a bitch on the inside.”

“Agh! K-Kuh! Who are you? What have I done to offend you?”

In the arms of Coldness Divine is a beautiful elf woman with heterochromatic eyes, the left eye green and the right blue. With beautiful features and long golden hair down to her heels, now soiled by the ground.

Lawrence observes her superficially, but his expression shows no joy.

“This is the first time we’ve met…”

The expert in magic formations, who once strengthened the magic formation Denial Domain and Coldness Divine's greatest impediment to destroying this sub-space before Lawrence's arrival.

“Noble Indolence.”

Noble Indolence, level 599. The commander of the private army of the Unquenchable Fire Brothel.

Since he learned of her existence, he has wondered whether to kidnap her and force her to create magic formations for him. He had not done so because her disappearance would increase the security of the Unquenchable Fire Brothel, because after all, she was someone special. But time passes and he decides to take the risk, only to discover two pieces of information.

Imperial Absence and the new level 500 prostitutes. For the former he decided to delay her capture and for the latter he understood that her capture would not cause a major fluctuation.

Because the security of the brothel would increase with or without her.

Although it is a pity that Noble Indolence has not come into contact with the laws of the world and, according to Coldness Divine, will never surpass level 699. His Path to Heaven Sect urgently needs magic formations for the main branch, only for this they were willing to take the risk.

“Let's go back, let's not waste more time here.”

Ignoring the resistance of that woman, they disappear from the place through a Dimensional Rift.

+++

Heaven’s Fortress City, capital of the Heavenly Path Kingdom. Divine Plane.

“Do you think it's that easy to meet with my lady? Excuse my boldness, but you are being too arrogant Emperor Lawrence.”

At the same place where he bought Erratic Delirium, today Lawrence presents himself before Frozen Lake seeking a meeting with her master, Reigning Myrias.

After stating the reason for his visit, the woman who previously hardly showed any emotion on her face, today expresses anger. Because after the destruction of her machination, for her there is only one outcome, enmity.

Lawrence is not angered by her response, instead he casually hands over three cards from his storage ring to Frozen Lake, as soon as she sees them, her confidence disappears.

“I want to meet with Reigning Myrias. As a show of sincerity, here is my address. If I don’t receive her visit before the auction, I will understand her answer. I apologize.”

He who has the upper hand has nothing to fear. For the first time in a long time Lawrence can predict what will happen, even against an opponent like Reigning Myrias. It is interesting to be able to achieve victory ahead of time, winning through schemes and connections, without lifting a finger.

This is the kind of person he would like to be, but unfortunately he was born too late. With the existence of so many factions and sects, only through war can he make his way to supremacy.

Watching his back, Frozen Lake returns to her usual expression.

Because to survive in this business, one must be a good leader or a good dog.

+++

Two days later.

“…Silent. I will miss this silence once the other disciples arrive.”

When Imperial Absence sees the sect master Emperor Lawrence alone, she hesitates for a moment before approaching him and starting a conversation. He is not the only one, in this strange place she has spoken with a woman like a fairy and with her disciple, with a beautiful woman with a long jet-black braid and also had a sharp conversation with a dragon woman.

She is a noble of blue blood, she mastered the art of speech even before she could walk.

“Although there are no servants, for the--”

“I’m sorry Imperial Absence.” Lawrence interrupts her and says: “It seems I have guests.”

Given Emperor Lawrence’s cheerful smile, she also smiles. “Go ahead, it was a pleasure talking to you.”

Once he bids her farewell, Lawrence uses his power as a God to convey his words to Serene Will, Coldness Divine, and Sky Petal. As soon as he teleports to a stationary door, seconds later the three women arrive.

“Just reveal your presence, not your faces.”

Having said this, he enters the stationary door followed by the rest.

The four of them appear inside a small house, while Lawrence undoes the stationary door, Serene Will and the others disappear without a trace.

Only then does he head to the entrance and opens the front door.

“Reigning Myrias, I was waiting for you. I apologize that my abode is not up to par.”

The person who appears behind the door is none other than the lizard woman, Reigning Myrias. Beside her is Frozen Lake and behind them three bodyguards of level 799.

‘That her scheme was so easily destroyed left an impression on her, huh…’

If before she dealt with him using level 700 hunters, now she directly jumped to level 799. This shows that she has recognized his power and… his threat.

Unaware of his thoughts, Reigning Myrias smiles cordially. “Emperor Lawrence, few are able to have a dwelling in the capital, you should not underestimate yourself. It’s a nice house, it reminds me of my beginnings.”

This is the first time they talk, the first time he hears her voice. It's somewhat laughable that her voice is so feminine when her body is that of a giant lizard, Lawrence uses this feeling to make his smile genuine.

“It’s a compliment coming from such a successful woman. Ah, come in, let’s continue this conversation inside.”

So many years playing an innocent user of sacred magic, he doesn't need to force his expressions and behavior, they come naturally.

This house he only uses as a teleportation point between his personal dimension and the kingdom's capital, but this does not mean it is unoccupied. He leads his guests to a warm living room, whose decorations and furniture are of the highest quality. After Coldness Divine and the others emptied so many treasure vaults, it's no surprise that the interior of his house is not below the wealthiest merchants.

But those who don’t know about this can only think of one thing.

‘Who is Emperor Lawrence? A simple intermediary could not afford all this.’

The most surprised by this are not Reigning Myrias nor Frozen Lake, who are used to handling large sums of money, but the level 799 bodyguards, who cannot hide their surprise at seeing such lavishness in someone who has not yet ascended to level 700!

After sitting down in front of his guests, the one who initiates the conversation is Frozen Lake.

“Emperor Lawrence, may I see the cards from that occasion again?”

“Yes, no problem.”

He hands her the three cards and she shows them to her master.

Reigning Myrias subtly narrows her eyes. ‘Ephemeral Principle, Eminent Greed, and Gate of Torment… Three factions are supporting Emperor Lawrence. It's impossible to know how far this support goes, but that’s not important.’

She nods her head and Frozen Lake returns the cards to Lawrence.

Then Reigning Myrias says: “Emperor Lawrence, there have been some embarrassing circumstances between us. The Green Wolves and then what happened with the slave Erratic Delirium.”

Her words are said with one purpose.

“I want to apologize on behalf of myself and my subordinates.”

To solve this problem before it escalates and gets out of control. Because from the beginning, this was nothing more than a game to kill her boredom.

“I have found the responsible party and I would like you to be the one to punish him, you are the most suited to make him understand his errors.”

Reigning Myrias removes a small cube from her storage ring and slides it across the coffee table, stopping in front of Lawrence.

“If you show it to Erratic Delirium, I'm sure he will recognize it.”

Lawrence picks up the cube and then is surprised, because there’s a person inside!

A man around 50 years old is inside the small cube, which is no larger than the palm of his hand, and he desperately bangs on its walls. Although it seems he is screaming, none of his words come out.

This man is none other than the [expert] mentioned by Erratic Delirium! Who recognized his talent and brought him before Reigning Myrias, only to sell him as a slave and then try to climb within her ranks!

“That man's greed knows no limits, after finding Erratic Delirium, he planned the kidnapping of his relatives and forced him to sell himself as a slave. During this time he heard about the Green Wolves and about the refiner Bearer of Light, resulting in this embarrassing situation.”

Clearly, she is trying to throw all the blame on one man, but this doesn’t matter to Lawrence, because from the beginning he only needed one thing from her…

An excuse to forgive her.

After all, what are Reigning Myrias’ schemes but mere small obstacles compared to all his life-or-death battles.

If he thinks about it, he didn’t lose anything. In fact, he gained some good things from her.

“I know this won’t be enough to make up for what happened, so I have a proposition for you, Emperor Lawrence.”

Reigning Myrias extends her hand, like a magnanimous woman. “Tell me what you want, as long as it’s within my power. I’ll give it to you.”

Just as Ephemeral Principle said, Reigning Myrias would not only apologize but also try to compensate him. Certainly a woman who knows when to advance and when to retreat. Lawrence does not dislike this kind of people, as long as they have not caused irreparable harm.

Throughout the conversation, Lawrence has hardly spoken, only made some gestures and expressions, but… if he speaks this time, his words will be equivalent to his response.

Because accepting her proposition is no different from forgiving her.

Reigning Myrias waits for his response with a calm look, but internally she is furious. Not with the man in front of her, but with how things were handled. If she knew that Emperor Lawrence would be such a capable man as to earn the support of other factions, she would have been the first to establish good relations with him! She would never have allowed something like this to happen!

“Actually…”

It is then that Lawrence speaks.

“There’s something I’m interested in.”

Reigning Myrias smiles cheerfully, “I’m listening.”

He hesitates for a few seconds before saying: “I want to enter the Wind Divider Kingdom.”

This was the idea of Serene Will when she read his thoughts.