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“Apologies, Your Majesty, for accidentally allowing him to sneak into the palace and disturb you,” said the knight, holding his sword and bowing slightly to Emperor Reinhardt as an apology.

Emperor Reinhardt looked at the intruder, restrained by his knight, and waved his hand, saying with a smile, “It’s alright. You can leave now.”

The knight hesitated slightly, but the intruder, dressed in a mage’s robe, spoke up, “Your Majesty is a sixth-order knight, and at this distance, what would you fear from a mere mage?”

It was indeed the truth. In a one-on-one duel between a mage and a knight, the mage was at an absolute disadvantage, especially when the distance was too close.

If this mage who had broken into Phoenix Palace wanted to harm Emperor Reinhardt, at this close range, his head would probably be twisted off by the sixth-grade knight before the first syllable of his spell would even leave his lips.

“Hmph!” The knight glared fiercely at the intruder, finally withdrew his sword, bowed to Emperor Reinhardt, and then quietly retreated.

“They say they call you ‘Mister Ji’, is that correct?” Emperor Reinhardt poured himself another glass of red wine, grinning at the mage that stood across him.

“It’s merely a title, Your Majesty. You may call me whatever you wish.”

Mister Ji lowered his hood, revealing a slightly pale face that bore the signs of time and trials. He walked over to Emperor Reinhardt and bowed respectfully.

Emperor Reinhardt looked at his impeccable courtship and laughed, “After more than three hundred years, it’s hard to believe you still remember all the formalities.”

“Of course, remember,” Mister Ji replies solemnly, “If I dare not mention my surname and forget the etiquette, what difference would there be between our family and the ignorant commoners?”

“Heh, you seem to hold quite a grudge,” Emperor Reinhardt observed bitingly.

“I dare not, Your Majesty. Our St. Sean family has always maintained their loyalty as subjects. Unlike some people, they forget their station the moment they taste success, taking your gracious favor as an entitlement.”

“Loyalty?” Emperor Reinhardt scoffed as if he had heard some great joke, “When your family’s ‘judge’ plunged his sword into the ‘Dark Emperor’s’ back, was he also maintaining his loyalty?”

“Your Majesty, amongst even the purest flock of white sheep, there will inevitably be a black sheep. You can’t ignore our St. Sean family’s centuries of loyalty just because of the betrayal of the judge.

Just as you can’t deny the St. Lorenzo family’s status as a model of knights because of Prince Lexie’s arrogance.”

Seeing Mister Ji always steering the conversation towards Prince Lexie, Emperor Reinhardt couldn’t help but laugh, “Prince Lexie is my dear uncle and also a powerful Holy Knight. Do you think he’s not qualified to be a role model for knights?”

“Your Majesty, to be a model knight, you need not only strength but also virtues.

Prince Lexie is unquestionably strong, but as a side member of the St. Lorenzo family, he is arrogant, often usurping the banquet hall of the Phoenix Palace for his birthday celebrations. Such presumptive behavior severely tarnishes the virtues of a knight.”

“Mister Ji, you make such a risky venture to Phoenix Palace to see me, only to sow discord between Prince Lexie and me? If that’s the case, hehe, well then, your St. Sean family should remain dormant for another three hundred years.”

Facing Emperor Reinhardt’s ridicule, Mister Ji remained unruffled, seeming unflappable as though nothing in the world could move him. He simply shook his head and said,

“No, Your Majesty, my visit is actually concerning the North Territory.”

“The North Territory? Huh, I heard you’ve made quite a stir up there! Even went so far as to ally with the trolls. What, do you think I can’t kill a human traitor like you?”

“Your Majesty, please calm down first. Please think carefully about this, over these years I’ve been in the Troll Empire, has their power grown or weakened?”

Emperor Reinhardt swirled his glass of red wine, scoffing disdainfully, “What? Are you going to claim the credit for Marquis Garcia’s accomplishments now?”

“No, Your Majesty, that’s not what I meant. As a bulwark in the north of the empire, the St. Hilde family is undeniably deserving of glory and admiration, and I would never dare to take such credit.

I merely wish to inform you that trolls are only a tool in my hand, in regard to which I have neither feelings nor loyalty.”

“So who is the target of the tool in your hand now?”

“The St. Hilde family,” Mister Ji replied without hesitation.

Emperor Reinhardt did not show any surprise. Clearly, he had been aware of this all along.

“So, what brings you to me?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t interfere in the upcoming war in the North Territory.”

“Ha ha ha ” Emperor Reinhardt suddenly burst into laughter, “Have you forgotten that Duke St. Hilde is the Queen’s elder brother? Why do you think I’ll just sit back and watch a descendant of a former traitor wrest control of the North Territory?”

Mr. Ji seemed prepared for Emperor Reinhardt’s challenge.

He slowly retrieved a scroll from within his wide mage robe and respectfully handed it to the Emperor.

Emperor Reinhardt took it, a touch of puzzlement on his face.

Unrolling it, he found it crammed with elf text.

Having received rigorous court education, Emperor Reinhardt could certainly read elf text, but the more he read, the more furrowed his brow became.

Mr. Ji stood by, waiting silently.

Nothing filled the hall but steady breathing.

Although the scroll did not contain much, Emperor Reinhardt spent half an hour perusing it. When he looked up again, the carefree expression on his face was gone, replaced by a grave seriousness:

“How can you assure me it will be successful?”

Mr. Ji bowed again and calmly said, “I will demonstrate it to you in the North Territory. I just hope you can afford me the opportunity. Besides, I always believe Prince Lexie does not qualify to hold a birthday banquet in Phoenix Palace.”

This time Emperor Reinhardt didn’t respond. After a long pause, he finally nodded:

“Alright, I’ll give you a chance.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” A smile finally appeared on Mr. Ji’s gaunt face.

“How many people have seen this scroll?”

“Three, including yourself.”

Emperor Reinhardt squinted. There was no hiding the apprehension that filled his sharp eyes. “Who else, other than you and I?”

Mr. Ji, however, remained silent.

An oppressive atmosphere filled the hall. Visible heatwaves permeated the air.

Emperor Reinhardt’s eyes had turned golden. Countless fine gold lines crawled on his face, like a golden mask.

An unseen pressure flooded the hall, suffocating.

Mr. Ji was like a lone boat bobbing about on a tempest, seemingly on the verge of being torn to shreds by the raging waves.

Yet his expression remained as indifferent as usual, seeming to ignore the intimidating aura of Emperor Reinhardt.

No one knew how much time had passed when the storm suddenly subsided.

The golden glow quietly receded. Emperor Reinhardt once again donned his lazy, nonchalant posture, as if everything that just happened was an illusion.

“Well, Mr. Ji, I’ll give you this chance. Prove to me, through deed, that you are worthy of becoming the new Lord of the North Territory.”

Only then did Mr. Ji let out a sigh of relief. He was not at ease as he appeared.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”