Declaration of War

"Only you two are left."

The sound echoed in the audience hall.

With a million-strong army, the most powerful on the continent, almost rivaling the Dusk Moon Dynasty, the empire, named after holiness, is the true sovereign of mankind, and the emperor's whip can punish any disobedient nation.

But its messenger arrived arrogantly and left utterly terrified.

With its unparalleled influence across the continent, half of all spellcasters in the world are disciples of the Arcane Council, and its extensive network of connections, the Arcane Council almost symbolizes the path to exploring the ultimate mysteries of the world. Such an international organization, with just a single command, is enough to bring the magical power of any small country to a complete standstill.

But its messengers suffered a second humiliation, with one of them even dying on the spot.

The loosely organized interest groups in the northern part of the empire, a combination of power and wealth, formed a behemoth of nobles, wealthy merchants and local officials. Its economic and military scale, even if it was only a part of the empire, was far beyond what Goth could match. Although it was only a younger brother compared to the empire and the Council, its actual power had already surpassed most small countries and duchies.

But the messenger who came to collect the debt fled in a panic, his back completely hunched.

Guided by the will of the behemoths behind them, these three envoys stirred up a storm in Goth's court and among the people. Not long ago, they made various demands here with a seemingly humble but actually arrogant attitude, and Goth's ministers could only listen in silence, not out of fear of the envoys in front of them, but out of fear of the power behind them. Goth's chaos and internal and external predicaments all stemmed from the ruthless oppression of the world's powers.

But now, all external pressures have vanished.

The arrogant envoy bowed his head and listened attentively, his arrogance completely vanished.

But the oppressive atmosphere in the audience hall did not dissipate; in fact, it became even more gloomy. The Goth dignitaries present were not pleased by this; instead, they became even more uneasy.

Because the one who made the arrogant envoys leave in disgrace was no longer their ally.

Perhaps it was before, but his actions in the last few days have pushed him to an unfriendly opposing side.

What he's saying now is—only you are left.

You are not us.

This designation clearly draws a line between them.

Regret began to grow in my heart.

Awkwardness, confusion, regret, and entanglement weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

But the herd effect is evident again. When these powerful figures, each with their own agendas, gather together, they all hope that someone will step forward to ease the tense and awkward atmosphere.

Whether it's an apology offered to gracefully back down or compensation provided, as long as today's matter is dignified and the matter is resolved, there will be ample time to mend the broken relationship. This is a common rule among nobles. Just as the gentlemen present here have also engaged in open and covert struggles, even bloody conflicts, they did not fight indefinitely or to the death. Even if they lost or made concessions, they would simply offer appropriate compensation.

... All that's needed is for one person to step forward and ease the tense and awkward atmosphere.

But this person definitely can't be myself.

Many people were secretly glancing at the Grand Duke, some even giving him meaningful glances, but the Grand Duke on his throne merely squinted, ignoring everything.

The Goth nobles present then regretted their actions. Before the coup, they had used various means to restrain Kang De's potential supporters. His Highness Landisidun, the second son of the Grand Duke, the high priests of the Church of the Sun, and even Princess Tina and the Sword Saint Cascading Snow were not present.

Now there's not even a way out.

They exchanged glances discreetly, pondering how to gracefully end the day, but none of them had the courage. Count Cassat, who had spoken so eloquently before Kang De, was now slumped on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably, with several nobles subtly surrounding him.

The wisdom and meticulousness of the nobles were on full display at this moment. They had reached a tacit consensus: now that the situation had reversed, Count Cassat had lost all say. Whether he wanted to continue his provocation recklessly or beg for mercy from Kang De in fear, the nobles who were knights would restrain him immediately—begging for mercy from Kang De would certainly be accompanied by betrayal and treachery.

Therefore, we must not let him speak.

However, this thoughtfulness did little to resolve the current awkward situation.

Just as they were hesitating, they heard Kang De's voice.

"What, none of you have any last words?"

The calm voice contained not a trace of anger or murderous intent.

But it struck people's hearts like a heavy hammer.

Some with poor self-control even cried out in surprise, causing a stir in the crowd. Even seasoned nobles with deep-seated composure and countless battles couldn't help but be moved, and various mumbled words in low voices emerged. People's faces showed unease and anger, and some had already quietly retreated.

"How?"

Kang De asked in surprise, "You all seem surprised? Why are you standing here? Why do you believe these false rumors and slander me while I am fighting for the future of this country? Isn't it because you fear the siege and threats from other nations, think I can't hold on, and are afraid that everything you have will vanish into thin air? So you chose appeasement and compromise, you chose to kneel down like dogs, and you chose to betray me?"

"You thought I couldn't win, that even I couldn't withstand the siege of all nations, that supporting me would mean being purged and stripped of everything by them, so you made this choice—but now I've won! I've broken the blockade of all nations, and I've forced them to swallow their pride and admit defeat!"

"So why are you surprised? You chose to betray me to avoid having your country conquered and your families destroyed by other nations, and why do you think I, Kant, will let you go after winning? Do you really think that what the Empire and the Council did, I, Kang De, cannot do?"

At this point, his voice was already stern and harsh.

Protests erupted from the crowd. "We're not just doing this for ourselves..."

"OK!"

Kang De pointed to the empty space on the left. "So, as the rumors have spread and the people have been incited, I have gone from being a guardian to a schemer. Amidst the spread of so much malicious talk, those who spoke up for me, Kang De, stopped the unwarranted slander, or believed that I had no malicious intent and that their opposition was merely due to their adherence to their own ideals and beliefs, choosing to compromise for the peace of the nation or the tranquility of their families—which side can they take?"

Many people tried to move aside, Kang De said sternly, "Think it over! Under the heavens and with the eyes of the gods, what you have said and done will leave its mark in the river of time. Those who dare to lie about this matter, remember my words today: once your lies are exposed, I swear on my soul, you and your family will live for at least another year!"

Only a dozen or so people hesitated slightly before walking over without hesitation.

"Fuck you."

Kang De, enraged, laughed coldly, "Do these adults who remain silent or secretly instigate this really believe that I, Kang De, am a villain with ulterior motives?"

"The Empire stood idly by when you needed help the most, conspiring with the Elves to divide Goth among themselves, and even brutally murdered Tina in Glittering Sand Town. Meanwhile, the Arcane Council, hailed as the guardians of the world, turned a blind eye to Goth's fall under the Elves' iron heel, but now that they see an opportunity to profit, they're running away faster than anyone else!"

"And what about me! For your war, I clashed with the elves, wielded a Forbidden Spell, fought two decisive battles, suffered hundreds of thousands of casualties, discovered the Paradox Element, and was willing to share it with you, and this is what I got in return!"

"Just over ten days ago, you were all grateful to me, and how many of the gifts filling the two storerooms of the Maple Leaf Palace were from you! How many of the mountain of invitations were you handing over to the Grand Eunuch with fawning smiles!"

"How long has it been, and I've already become a villain with ulterior motives, someone who dares not stand up for the past. Answer me one more question: are you stupid or evil for believing those rumors? Answer honestly, and I'll let you go!"

A fierce storm raged, fury soared, and a chilling aura of killing intent filled the air.

"You don't need to answer. I already know. You are nobles, important figures. How could you be fools? You're not fools, you're too shrewd, so shrewd it makes me nauseous! Nothing in this world happens without a reason. Seeing you, I understand why Goth fell from a powerful nation to this state, manipulated by empires, and invaded by elves! It's because of you shameless scum, so shrewdly concerned only with yourselves! Even the most powerful nation will be gradually eroded and corrupted by you so-called nobles!"

Looking at the silent elites, Kang De raised an eyebrow and sneered.

"What, you're not going to say anything? You think getting scolded by me is enough? I know your tricks. Things have come to this point. You knelt before the Empire and the Council so readily, so kneeling before me again won't hurt. It'll just cost you some money, but you'll learn your lesson and stop opposing me. Find a way to get Tina to whisper in your ear, and find some people I can't refuse to act as intermediaries. Then this matter can be slowly forgotten..."

"--dream!"

"I can tell you today that this is just the beginning. It's not something that can be resolved by killing a few scapegoats to vent our anger! Letting you bastards continue to lord it over the country that Cleveland and Valentan fought so hard for. It's an insult to them. Prepare yourselves. You fear the Emperor and the Council's tyranny, then I'll show you the methods of Kang De!"

Upon hearing this, even the most shrewd and calculating old nobles paled. Their plan was indeed as described: to lie low and accept the ridicule, to send a scapegoat to his death, to bleed heavily, and to appease Kang De's resentment. This was the prevailing rule throughout history: the loser would submit to the victor, and the latter would not pursue them to the bitter end; this was the established custom.

But now, Kang De clearly has no intention of following this rule.

In other words... is he going to wage war against all of Goth's vested interest groups?

That's enough.

The Grand Duke, seated on his throne, finally spoke.

The roar of Goth Lion dispelled the unease in everyone's heads, and many breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Teldrassil is Teldrassil. Faced with the rules that all the nobles had built up over hundreds of years, the Grand Duke made the right choice: to uphold this fine tradition.

If it were the Grand Duke, it would probably make Kang De hesitate, because it represents the will of Teldrassil, and both Princess Tina and the Sword Saint Cascading Snow are...

"--That's enough for your mother."

The venomous words, as if frozen in ice, echoed in the sacred hall.

The nobles looked on in astonishment.

Kang De stretched his neck, his expression grim, and gazed at the Grand Duke from afar.

"What are you looking at?" he said menacingly. "I'm cursing you, you old, stupid bastard."

The Grand Duke revealed a look of rage, anger and inner turmoil battling on his face. In that instant of fury, he realized the conflict of identities. The person before him was not merely a so-called junior, nor simply the person chosen by his daughter, but also a victorious purger wielding Sword of Deterrence.

He is now speaking to himself in the latter capacity.

He was about to speak when he saw Kang De raise a finger.

"Shut up."

Kang De said slowly, "I suggest you shut your mouth now."

The Fire Thief took a deep breath, shook his head, and remained silent for a moment before saying, "You are Tina's father, and I don't want to put her in a difficult position. I also respect you, Grand Duke Reknos. Without a doubt, you are a good man. In a peaceful and prosperous country, you would be supported and remembered by your subjects as a wise ruler. But you are not suitable to be Goth's current monarch; you were born in the wrong era."

"I know your position, I know your thoughts. We had an argument about this a few days ago. I know your position leans towards compromise and appeasement. You want to preserve the dignity and peace of a small country, and you have no intention of being the monarch of a powerful nation, nor do you want to pay the corresponding price."

"I know you made that decision from the bottom of your heart, without any selfish motives. You just wanted the suffering people to enjoy peaceful days and didn't want war and turmoil to come again."

"It's understandable that you don't believe in my abilities. If I said that I alone could not only intimidate all nations with Forbidden Spell, but also rapidly strengthen Goth under their blockade and suppression, ensuring no war, no shortage of resources, and no famine for the people, you certainly wouldn't believe me. That would be like a boastful joke. After all, no matter how powerful the Forbidden Spell are, they can't conjure soldiers and food out of thin air, right?"

Kang De sighed. "I understand, really. I understand your predicament and your choice. I won't even pursue your actions of confining Tina, since you're her father. But right now, I don't want to have a heart-to-heart talk with you; I just want you to shut up."

"Shut up."

He pointed to Grand Duke Reknos.

"Shut your mouth, don't interfere, don't offer opinions, and don't try to smooth things over. It's just you and me. If you're not on my side, you're on theirs."

"Now I demand that you shut up, just as the Empire and the Council coerced you into compromising by threatening Goth's peace and the safety of the people, I also demand that you shut up with the same threat."

Kang De pointed to the side door. "Either you sit here and listen, or you go back to your room, or you come and experience my Kang De."

The Grand Duke's eyes blazed with fury as he gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.

He felt an unprecedented sense of shame and indignation, but under Kang De's cold gaze, he remained silent, neither uttering a word nor turning away.

Still, no one spoke.

The room temperature is continuing to drop, with no sign of warming up.

This time it was real fear... the fear was truly spreading.

What is the most terrifying thing?

The most terrifying thing is not a powerful aggressor, nor a conquest by force.

Rather, it refers to those who do not follow the rules and have the power to break them.

Even when facing the Grand Duke, Kang De displayed even more rude and disrespectful words and actions. If he treated his father-in-law this way, how fiercely would he treat those who betrayed him with whom he had no connection?

Given Kang De's current status, there is absolutely no possibility that he would take back the bold statement he made on this occasion.

This threat loomed like a dark cloud.

The undisguised contempt in the threat was utterly humiliating.

Because it was stated very clearly.

It wasn't a matter of feigning compliance and then suddenly killing them; rather, he chose a public break, practically pointing his finger at everyone and saying, "I'm going to kill you all, so be prepared."

They don't care if you know, nor do they care about your resistance and struggle.

What utter arrogance!

He's gone mad, he must be mad.

Because the combined influence of those of us present almost entirely controls the country's tax revenue, food supplies, manpower, and public opinion! To be an enemy of the entire nation?

What exactly does he want to do?

Why won't they accept our apology? Why are they so determined to exterminate us? Don't they know that such behavior might even alarm and anger the nobles of other countries?

Are we going to incite public outrage worldwide?

Amidst resentment, indignation, shame, and fear, Kang De leaned back arrogantly in his chair, legs crossed, and casually surveyed the powerful figures present—the true ruling class and controllers of this country.

With such a selfish ruling class in power, how can they truly control this country?

"What," he said, "Are you finally starting to really understand me?"

The crowd remained silent.

"Actually, I'm very curious, really curious, why aren't you afraid of me? I don't know what I did wrong to make you so devoid of reverence. Is it because the Forbidden Spell and bombs haven't fallen on your heads that you always think I'm a sucker who's been bewitched by Tina's beauty, so I'm willing to serve you, Goth, like a slave without a second thought!"

As Kang De finished speaking, he suddenly stood up. The shield opposite him lit up, his Dou Qi Inspiration, and the taut string of fear finally snapped. However, none of the people who were on high alert and on defense launched an attack. They just retreated in fear, assumed defensive stances, and some even collapsed to the ground in weakness.

The Earthling scoffed.

"If I wipe you all out here today, and you're not happy, I'll find it boring too. This victory is a triumphant one, and the fruits of victory will be harvested slowly. Killing you all now would be too easy. I'll get my revenge for all the humiliation I've suffered these past few days. Let's play slowly."

"Valentan is mine now. Goth won't even get a sliver of the Paradox Element beneath the Azure Waves Province. You spread rumors that I hoarded the Paradox Element and ran away, leaving you to vent your anger on the other nations. If I didn't do this, wouldn't I be unjustly accused? You fear power, so I'll show you what power really is."

"Once we get back, we'll eat and drink well, and we'll get in touch with as many people as possible. I'll wipe them out all at once, which will save us a lot of trouble later."

"Gentlemen, this is goodbye."

Kang De turned around leisurely, Hong San went over and pushed open the door.

A shout came from behind, "Your Highness Kang De, are you going to make an enemy of this country?"

Kang De turned his head, thought for a moment, and said, "Yes, what's wrong?"

The voice, however, became reckless. "This isn't the solution..."

Kang De interrupted him, "It's like this, the Empire and the Council pressure you weaklings into being ungrateful and turning black into white. Now, I've slapped them all in the face, and they still have to shamelessly ask me if my hand hurts—so do you think I care about that?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Hong San pushed open the door. A frantic cry came from afar, and a weary messenger rushed in, shouting, "Urgent intelligence! Distant Harbor! The fleets of various nations have been attacked by strange creatures! His Highness Kang De has already..."

The other party saw the Cathayan at the end of the corridor, behind the door.

Kang De glanced at his phone. "Good run, Pheidippides."

Ah?

The messenger was about to say that his name wasn't that and that he hadn't come by chance when Kang De patted him on the shoulder and walked away into the distance, followed by a group of armed Valentan People.

The audience hall ahead was deathly silent.

As the guards watched him leave the official area along the corridor, Hong San said, "Your Highness, I had already arranged for men to intercept the envoys from various countries."

Kang De nodded and said, "A Saint Seiya wouldn't show off in front of the same group of people twice, at least not within a day. You go and tell them for me—you know what to say, right?"

"Understood," Hong San said. "The list."

"Go ahead and get busy. These things are yours to do. Be careful."

Kang De patted him on the shoulder. "I'm going to check on Tina. Come find me when you're done."

Hong San nodded and asked, "Your Highness, how long will it take?"

Kang De paused for a moment, then noticed the amusement in Hong San's eyes, kicked him, and arrogantly declared, "Five hours!"

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PS1: 5500 words... I'm outta here, time for bed!