Imperial Conference; Three Calamity-class Beings

Rudra, the Emperor of the Empire, was the same.

The only ones who could stop Rudra were Ari and the others.

Although Mo Li had said that Rudra would not act because of his wager with Guy Crimson, Rimuru was still not entirely convinced!

It was always necessary to make extra preparations.

This war absolutely could not be lost. No matter who it was, anyone who dared invade Ari's and my home and disrupt our lives would never be forgiven!

That was Rimuru's inner voice at that moment.

Center of the Eastern Empire

Imperial Palace, Imperial Conference

At this time, nearly all of the single-digit-ranked members of the Imperial Guard Knights of the Eastern Empire had gathered within the imperial palace.

Aside from Ji Wu, ranked ninth and currently protecting Rudra's reincarnation, Masayuki Honjo, and Damrada, ranked second and hidden under Kagurazaka Yuuki's command, every other single-digit-ranked Imperial Guard Knight was present.

Even Tatsuya Kondo, director of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, the Imperial Guard Knight ranked first, and wielder of the Ultimate Skill King of Judgment, had appeared here.

Not only that, but the Legion Commanders of the Empire's various legions had also gathered one after another.

Great Magician Gadra, who had driven the Empire's technological development, was also present.

The atmosphere at the scene was extremely tense—perhaps heavy would have been a more fitting word.

Quite a few people turned their eyes toward the two figures in the center of the palace, hidden behind a curtain.

The owners of those two figures were Velgrend, the Burning Dragon currently serving as the Empire's Marshal, and Rudra, the First Hero who had founded the Eastern Empire and was currently its highest ruler, the Emperor.

Of course, the one controlling Rudra's body now should have been Michael, the Ultimate Skill King of