Accepting the Surrender (Part 1)

Just as the two Terror Knights confessed and surrendered, a cry of surprise, filled with pride, joy, and delight, suddenly rang out from outside the camp gate.

"Your Majesty, King of Cushen has sent a letter of surrender, requesting to surrender!"

"Where is the person coming? (Old Suo)"

"Your Majesty, the messenger is waiting to be summoned outside the camp gate!"

"Heradi, take the messenger to the central command tent. We'll be waiting for you there. (Old Suo)"

"Got it, boss!"

Just as Heradi was about to leave with the messenger, His Majesty the King called them back.

"Heradi, wait!"

Hearing His Majesty the King's call, Heradi turned his head and asked, "Boss, is there anything else?"

"Take your time on the way here, give us enough time to tidy up the Main army tent. Also, chat with the newcomers. You should know what to talk about, right? (Old Suo)"

"Don't worry, boss, I'll handle it!"

"Okay! Go ahead!"

After receiving His Majesty the King's permission, Heradi left with the messenger and headed towards the gate.

"Let's go! It's time for our Main army tent!" (Old Suo)

"Understood!" (Everyone)

Camp gate

Looking at the deserted road ahead, the Prime Minister was filled with anxiety.

"Why haven't they returned yet? Could it be that King Erus has refused to accept our surrender?" (The Prime Minister's inner thoughts)

Just as the Prime Minister was grinding grain around the camp gate, a soft voice came from behind him.

"Prime Minister, someone's here!"

Upon hearing the notification, the Prime Minister hurriedly raised his head and looked into the camp. The next second, the person who had gone to report the news earlier, along with a middle-aged man in bright yellow armor, were slowly walking towards them.

A short while later, the two arrived near the camp gate, and the Prime Minister hurriedly went to greet them.

"I am Hail Laboletes, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cushen. May I ask who you are, General?"

"I am Heradi Xin'er Xietelie, Grand Commander of the Royal Knights of the Erus Kingdom!"

After exchanging identities, Hail put on a diplomatic smile and said, "Commander Heradi, may I ask His Majesty of your country..."

Before Hail could finish speaking, Heradi interrupted, "My Emperor is currently waiting for you in the Main army tent. If you have any questions, you should ask him yourself!"

"Oh? Then I'll trouble Commander Heradi to lead the way!"

"Hail. This way, please!"

Hail turned his head and exchanged a glance with the person behind him, and then stepped into the camp accompanied by Heradi.

"Your Excellency Hail, may I ask how old you are?"

Upon hearing Heradi's question, Hail paused for a few seconds before replying, "I have already wasted sixty-five years of my life and am now a useless old man!"

"Ha! I've lived for over four hundred years, so I'm practically a living fossil!" (Heradi's inner thoughts)

After finishing his internal monologue, Heradi laughed and said, "Hehe! If you are considered an old man, then there is probably no one else in the world besides me."

"Haha! Commander Heradi, you flatter me!"

"Oh, by the way, how is His Majesty's health?" (Heradi)

"Hmph! Little fox, your tail's finally showing! You're still too green to try and outsmart me! (Hail's inner thoughts)"

"Hey? Commander Heradi, have we gone to the wrong place? Why haven't we reached the Main army tent yet?"

"Trying to change the subject? No way!" (Heradi's inner thoughts)

"Oops, I was so busy chatting that I took the wrong turn! I'm so sorry!" (Heradi)

After saying this, Heradi changed direction and continued walking forward.

As a competent tour guide, Commander Heradi led Prime Minister Hail on a detailed tour of the entire military camp before finally arriving at the final destination— the Main army tent.

"Whoosh"

"Whoosh"

Looking at the final stop not far away, the panting Prime Minister felt that he might never be able to walk in. The reason was that the energy and physical strength he had stored up before setting out had been completely used up during the previous tour.

"Prime Minister Hail, the Main army tent is just ahead. Why have you stopped?"

Looking at the Knight Commander who was so caring towards him, Hail really wanted to throw his size 43 shoe at his face.

However, what you think in your heart is one thing, but what comes out of your mouth is another.

"Commander Heradi, I'm so tired. Shall we rest for a while before we go?"

"Heh heh! You old codger, you finally couldn't hold on any longer, could you? (Heradi's inner thoughts)"

After indulging in his inner turmoil, Commander Heradi said with a look of panic, "Your Excellency Hail, if His Majesty finds out that you actually rested during the audience, he will surely use it as an excuse to refuse to accept our surrender."

Upon hearing that the other side might accept his surrender because of his refusal, Hail was instantly motivated to move forward, since being a civilian was better than dying in the chaos of war.

"Heradi for the reminder, Commander Kradi. Let's get going!"

Seeing Hail sweating profusely as he embarked on his journey, Heradi gave a subtle, cold laugh before leading the way.

After receiving Heradi's biosignal, Old Suo nudged the sleeping Arhats around him and whispered, "Wake up! They're here, get ready!"

"Thump"

"Thump"

With several thuds as they hit the ground, the sleeping Arhats awoke one after another. Then, displaying their proper majesty and imposing presence, they successfully transformed into majestic Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings. (Sigh, I wonder which of these kings had their bottoms make intimate contact with the ground; do they still hurt?)

Just as everyone was getting into the zone, Heradi's powerful voice came from outside the tent.

"Your Majesty, the Royal Knights, Heradi, has been ordered to lead the ambassadors from the Kingdom of Cushen to pay homage!"

"Summon Heradi and request the ambassador to surrender and pay him an audience! (Old Suo)"

"Summon Heradi, and request the ambassador to come before us!" (Waiter)

After receiving permission, the tent flap slowly opened, and then Heradi and his companion bowed and stepped into the tent.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Greetings, King Erus!"

"Please, rise, gentlemen!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After the two men straightened up, His Majesty the King asked in a slightly angry tone, "Your Excellency, since His Majesty is prepared to surrender, why did he not come to surrender in person, but instead sent you?"

Before Hail could reply, a gray-haired man on the lower left said, "Your Majesty, King of Cushen is clearly not surrendering, but rather stalling for time, waiting for the Northern Alliance to come to our aid."

"Your Majesty, what King Kaldiz said is exactly what I have been thinking." (Belserion)

"Your Majesty, we should swiftly send troops to wipe out the Kingdom of Cushen, giving the enemy no chance whatsoever!" (Yesveta)

"Your Majesty, King Yesveta is absolutely right. We should send troops swiftly and not delay here." (Lindel)

After Lindel finished speaking, the Heavenly Kings sitting on both sides stood up and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty, please give the order to send troops to wipe out the Kingdom of Cushen!"

Faced with the requests of the crowd, His Majesty the King hesitated for a few seconds, then slammed his hand on the table and said, "Very well! Since all the Heavenly Kings..."

Upon hearing His Majesty the King say "good," the Prime Minister, who had not yet had a chance to speak, hurriedly interjected, "King Erus, His Majesty sincerely requests surrender, not to delay. We urge you to rescind your order!"

Looking at the sweat-drenched prime minister, His Majesty the King was about to speak when King Belserion, standing in the lower right position, preemptively said, "Hmph! If you are truly surrendering, why are your king, your ministers, and your nobles not here?"

After witnessing the belligerence of the Heavenly Kings, Hail instantly forgot all the diplomatic rhetoric he had prepared and directly revealed their plans.

"Your Majesty, the reason why our Emperor has not come in person is because he is sealing up the treasury and preparing for the imperial palace. And the reason why the ministers have not come is because..."

At this point, Hail suddenly stopped, then stole a glance at His Majesty Sordil was sitting in the main seat.

"Um?"

After noticing Hail's underhanded tactics, King Diphiya angrily said, "Hmph! You old man, instead of explaining yourself, why are you looking at my brother? Could it be that your ministers are not coming because they were threatened by my brother?"

"Although I wasn't threatened by him, I was terrified by his ruthless methods, which is why I didn't dare to come! (Hail's inner thoughts)"

"Gulp"

After moistening his throat with saliva and suppressing his fear, the miserable Prime Minister explained with difficulty, "Your Her Highness the Princess, our ministers dare not come... not because they have been threatened by anyone, but because... because their residences are scattered throughout the city, making it difficult to summon them all at once."

"Oh? So you've truly surrendered? (Diphiya)"

"Absolutely true! (Hail)"

The Prime Minister, who had just Divine Constable Di, hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath when another angry shout came from inside the tent.

"Hmph! You may fool my Princess, but you can't fool us! Even if it's difficult to gather all the personnel in a short time, can your country's crown, scepter, and military seal also be difficult to gather in a short time? (Mevajena)"

"Exactly! Not only did they fail to gather enough personnel, but they didn't even bring these supplies, only a letter of surrender. Are you treating us like fools? (Yesveta)"

Faced with the barrage of insults from the two, the Prime Minister, drenched in sweat, thought to himself, "Damn it! If you're going to surrender, of course you should first present a letter of surrender, and only after receiving confirmation of your approval should you prepare a grand ceremony to hand over the crown, seal, and other symbols of power, okay?"

Seeing that the Prime Minister remained silent for a long time (just kidding, the Prime Minister's daze was actually very short, it's just... hehe!), the experienced King Belserion immediately roared, "Hmph! It seems that the truth is indeed so, how despicable and shameless!"

"Well, so you were just feigning surrender! Your Majesty, why don't we kill this guy first as a sacrifice to our flag, and then raze the Kingdom of Cushen to the ground!" (Heradi)

"Yes! Crush the Kingdom of Cushen!" (Everyone)