Wei Yenwu, heed the decree: His Majesty asks a favor

Before Amiya could be deeply shaken by this scene, Kal'tsit immediately explained:

"Calm down, Amiya... There's no doubt that Theresia is dead. Her presence beside Theresis now is clearly just an empty shell."

"I've heard that the Confessors has a method to resurrect a body whose soul hasn't completely dissipated... Theresia once picked up the Black Crown, and now she moves freely, clearly because, as the Demon Lord, the Sarkaz consciousness is gathered in her mind."

"The present Theresia has no memories of the past; she is merely a Sarkaz in a shell. Amiya, do not let this shake your resolve."

But how could Kal'tsit not waver? This was the first time the Sarkaz siblings had appeared before the public in such a way, unlike the previous confrontation between Kal'tsit and Theresis outside the city of Londinium.

Although the Sarkaz army was also present at the time, with Theresis, the Bloodborne Archon, and the King of Scavengers all there, and they even presented Chen Qi with the [Royal Court Covenant], a sacred relic representing the Sarkaz race, in front of everyone, to be honest, apart from those present and the high-ranking officials of various countries, very few ordinary people knew about this.

But this time, Theresis and Theresia, the two kings, are appearing on such a grand occasion in such a manner. This live broadcast will now reach every region of the land, and what will the Sarkaz scattered across the land do upon hearing that the two kings have gathered in Londinium?

The Sarkaz are scattered throughout Terra, appearing in every dark corner, black market, and mercenary group. But none of them are unaware of the twin kings; many of them, in fact, grew up listening to their stories.

The reunion of the two kings after the Kazdel civil war was undoubtedly incredibly attractive to the Sarkaz, who had lost their homeland.

Although Theresis had been recruiting more Sarkaz when he was in Londinium, the effort was limited because they didn't dare to publicize it too openly at the time.

Now, with Theresis and Theresia making such an appearance during the live stream, it's practically sending a signal to all the Sarkaz on Terra —the two Sarkaz kings have returned! The Sarkaz are going to have a home again!

When the time comes, the Sarkaz from all over Terra will flock to Londinium upon hearing this news, swearing allegiance to their Twin Kings once again, simply because of the return of Theresia's body.

"... Theresis, he is now doing this with Victoria's permission, Sarkaz will now reunite, gathered in Londinium."

"But now, with such a grand ceremony, does Theresis intend to announce the reconstruction of Kazdel on this occasion? No, he's not that foolish. That tray in Theresia's hands is..."

Kal'tsit couldn't quite guess; in fact, she never imagined that the contents of the tray were for Chen Qi. She thought it might contain some kind of token from Theresis, who manipulated Theresia to entrust him with the Sarkaz throne.

Now, not only Rhodes Island, but also Wei Yenwu and Chen Huijie of Lungmen, as well as the eyes of various countries, are focused on these two kings. They all want to know what these Sarkaz are trying to do in this situation.

However, Theresis and Theresia walked together with extremely solemn and synchronized steps toward Chen Qi at the very top of the palace.

Beside these two kings, the Bloodborne Archon and the King of Scavengers were positioned slightly behind them, as a sign of their status as kings of the Royal Court and their respect for their king.

Finally, the two kings ascended to the highest point, with the Royal Court standing on either side. The ancient Teekaz ceremony was brought to the fore once again, but this scale was considerably simpler than that of Teekaz at its peak.

"--Chen Qi, please come forward."

The two stood in front of Chen Qi when Theresis suddenly spoke, but without saying a word, she reached out a hand, pulled Chen Qi along, and took a few steps forward.

This time, even Talulah didn't have a chance to stop it. She stared blankly at her man as he was pulled away by another man, clearly not understanding what was happening.

"All Sarkaz of this land! I am Theresis, Regent of Kazdel!"

"I am Theresia, the Queen of Kazdel." Theresia followed closely behind. Their voices weren't particularly loud, but they were surprisingly penetrating, ensuring that everyone and every device could hear them clearly.

"We stand here to speak to all the displaced Sarkaz of this land, and we now proclaim the ancient honor of our Sarkaz people."

Even though we have lost our homeland and are now living in constant displacement, we Sarkaz have never lost our respect for our friends and our reverence for our heroes. And now, we Sarkaz have gained a friend who is not of our own race, but who is a true hero of our Sarkaz clan.

"His contributions to the Sarkaz are no less than those of any hero. Without him, we would not be able to live in harmony with the people of Victoria as we do today, nor would we have been able to find a place to stay in Londinium, even for the time being."

Theresis dominated the conversation during the ceremony. This time, Theresia had no intention of overshadowing her brother; she simply stood quietly to the side, holding a tray and observing everything.

In reality, if this ceremony were to actually take place, only Theresia, the Sarkaz's acknowledged queen, could do it. In fact, Theresis had even discussed whether to have Theresia, now a "living dead," recite the lines, and the ceremony could still proceed.

Ultimately, Theresia, who pretended not to have been resurrected, still gave this power to her brother—she was planning for the future, increasing her brother's influence so that more Sarkaz would realize his transformation and achieve more convincing feats.

This would make it easier for her to escape in the future, and it would be a logical step for him to become the king of Sarkaz.

The ceremony continued, and Theresis turned her gaze to Chen Qi. The king once again faced the Sarkaz, placed his hand on his heart, and bowed deeply to Chen Qi.

"Thank you, friend of the Sarkaz. Your actions have proven the greatness of our friendship, and we, the Sarkaz, will repay each and every one of our friends with the highest gratitude."

"This is the honor of our Sarkaz race, a tradition that we Sarkaz have never lost, even after countless destructions of our homeland. It is the honor bestowed upon our heroes, the treatment they deserve."

Good heavens, this is reviving the honor of the Sarkaz race! It seems Theresis has already begun to slowly rebuild the Sarkaz culture?

Chen Qi could naturally understand the hidden meaning in Theresis's words. As for the Sarkaz having any honor... Chen Qi didn't really believe it. After all, most Sarkaz were struggling to survive, and the countries basically treated Sarkaz like walking rags, with no time to talk about honor.

But now, with plans to rebuild Kazdel, and in an effort to salvage some of the Sarkaz's image, Theresis deliberately uses these public occasions to continuously strive to let the people of Terra see the Sarkaz's "civilization" once again.

Although it may not have much impact, for the displaced Sarkaz, dignity is a luxury they crave. Theresis is using this method to attract more Sarkaz to return.

"Sister Wang, present the honor our clan bestows upon this hero."

Theresis slowly stepped aside, Theresia took her brother's place, coming to Chen Qi's side and slowly uncovering the red gauze on the tray.

The distant camera couldn't see what was inside, but the photographer high up in the palace immediately pointed his lens in that direction. At that moment, everyone could see through the screen that what was placed on the tray was a dark red medal and a small dagger.

"Bloodborne Archon."

"Exist."

No sooner had Theresia finished speaking than the Bloodborne Archon stepped forward, and the next moment, he made a move that shocked all the Sarkaz.

Then, the Bloodborne Archon, one of the Royal Court's leaders, slowly knelt on one knee at the bottom of the steps. He lowered his head, raised his hands high, and received the tray from Theresia's hands.

Theresia, however, picked up the knife on the tray and, without hesitation, made a cut on her palm.

Bright red blood dripped slowly, and Theresia placed her palm on the dark red medal. As her blood fell, the medal absorbed the blood and slowly began to change...

Before long, the medal, which had been dull, became crystal clear after absorbing the blood. Gradually, a mark was drawn on the medal with bright red blood—a mark bearing the names of all the kings of the Sarkaz Royal Court, with a crown at the top.

"The medal, outlined with the blood of the Sarkaz King, symbolizes the Sarkaz people's reverence and respect for heroes." Theresia's blood quickly dried as she held up the medal, turning to Chen Qi with a smile, and said:

"This is a medal jointly designed by the two kings of Sarkaz, representing the respect that Sarkaz owes to heroes, and symbolizing that our civilization has never lost its honor."

"This medal, awarded to every hero respected by the Sarkaz, is called the 'Teekaz Medal'."

"The holder of this medal is not of the Sarkaz race, yet remains a hero of the Sarkaz. In the name of the King of the Sarkaz, I bestow this medal upon you and confer upon you the Lord of Kazdel."

"From this day forward, in Kazdel, you shall not bow before the king, nor kneel before the emperor, and shall have the same right to sit as equals with the other kings of the Royal Court."

To be on equal footing with the princes of the Royal Court!

In an instant, Theresia's words reached the ears of all the Sarkaz in Londinium, and without a doubt, they would reach the ears of all the Sarkaz on the entire Terra in the future.

At this moment, the entire Rhodes Island fell silent, just like the live broadcast. Kal'tsit's mouth dropped open slightly when she heard Theresia personally bestow the same title of "Lord of Kazdel" upon Chen Qi. The power granted to Chen Qi afterward caused her to briefly freeze.

It seems... when Theresia granted her the authority, it wasn't with such solemnity or such high power, was it?

To be on equal footing with the princes of the Royal Court —what does that mean?

From that moment on, within the Sarkaz race, Chen Qi's status was second only to the two kings, and above all other Sarkaz! He possessed a supreme power that Kal'tsit and the Doctor could only achieve half of back then!

Without a doubt, this was the biggest bargaining chip Theresia had ever offered, unprecedented and unparalleled; no one else would ever be granted such power again.

Chapter 171: Wei Yenwu, Hear My Decree, His Majesty Asks for Your Favor

"Lord of Kazdel?! On par with the kings of the Royal Court?!"

However, when Theresia, in her capacity as the Sarkaz Queen, announced yet another change in Chen Qi's status after obtaining the [Royal Court Covenant], the high-ranking officials of almost all the nations of Terra were greatly shaken by this term.

Especially Rhodes Island and Lungmen. Wei Yenwu Wenyue from Lungmen, as well as Chen Huijie and a group of people who were quite familiar with Chen Qi, were all taken aback by Theresia's decision.

"Wei Yenwu, what does 'equal status' mean? What is the Sarkaz Royal Court Royal Court?"

Chen Huijie and the others didn't know what the Sarkaz Royal Court was, but just hearing the name, they knew that it held an extremely high position of power within the Sarkaz race. After all, the treatment Theresia mentioned—"not having to bow to the king or kneel before the emperor"—was something that almost no one in Yan enjoyed.

Even Wei Yenwu doesn't have that, so doesn't that mean... Chen Qi's status within the Sarkaz clan is, in some ways, higher than Wei Yenwu's?

However, when Chen Huijie and the other girls turned their gazes to Wei Yenwu, they noticed that Wei Yenwu Wenyue's expressions were both extremely serious. Wei Yenwu had even stopped smoking and said with extremely sharp eyes:

"... I've only heard of the Royal Court. It's an organization that brings together representatives from the ten races of the Sarkaz. Ten kings of each race lead the ten most ferocious races of the Sarkaz. They are the ten most brutal figures under the Demon Lord Kazdel."

"However, with the countless destructions of Kazdel, the ten kings of the Royal Court have changed beyond recognition, and it's unclear how many remain..."

"What is that Sarkaz queen trying to do? Giving that kid Chen Qi such preferential treatment, and in such a setting, is she trying to recruit him to the Sarkaz's side?"

"Then... wouldn't that be very disadvantageous for Chen Qi?" Chen Huijie immediately noticed the key point in Wei Yenwu's words. The Sarkaz clan had a terrible reputation on Terra. It could be said that, apart from the Sarkaz themselves, almost no one wanted to associate with the Sarkaz clan.

If Chen Qi were to collude with the Sarkaz... wouldn't he face constant setbacks in the future? Especially since Sarkaz clan isn't exactly powerful right now; everyone is just busy with their own affairs and doesn't have time to care about them.

"... That's unlikely." After careful analysis, Wei Yenwu also guessed:

"Victoria seems to be condoning all of the Sarkaz's actions, clearly with their permission. This declaration simply indicates the Sarkaz's stance: they're determined to have this kid."

"Moreover, this kid not only carries Kazdel's medals, he also has Victoria's medals, honorary knighthoods from both countries... Now, Victoria and the Sarkaz are united in their stance, clearly they've reached some kind of agreement."

"And Chen Qi also has the friendship with Laterano." Wenyue added, the couple now realizing that their niece's husband had truly accomplished something during the years he had been wandering outside, and had even gained great honor and status.

If two years ago, when Chen Qi first came to Lungmen, Wei Yenwu could only acquiesce to the fact that the boy had slept with his niece, even though they were not a good match, then now... his status as his niece's husband has risen a bit too quickly.

Especially considering Sarkaz's attitude... she's really willing to go to war for this kid. His status is equal to that of the other princes in the Royal Court; this is no joke.

Yan would go to war for Wei Yenwu, but only if Wei Yenwu was killed by people from other countries. Judging from the current situation, if this kid had that idea, he Sarkaz the Sarkaz team on the spot and might actually have some command authority.

"This kid, he went out for a stroll, how did he become so scary?"

Wei Yenwu was astonished to discover that his nephew-in-law was, in a sense, on par with him in terms of status and power. And the long time he had spent rising to the position of ruler of Lungmen... this kid Chen Qi had actually caught up with him in just two years?

While Wei Yenwu was still astonished by Chen Qi's rapid rise in status, suddenly, an exceptionally loud voice rang out from outside the Wei Manor:

"Lin Qingyan and Tai He, Supervising Inspectorate of the Court of Judicial Review, are hereby conveying His Majesty's imperial edict. Wei Yenwu, the Chief Administrator of Lungmen, shall heed the decree."

As soon as the voice fell, two people dressed in long red robes with gold trim slowly walked into front of Wei Yenwu and his group. Their attire also proved their identities: Court of Judicial Review.

The Dali Court of Judicial Review of Yan is actually a judicial institution, generally responsible for investigating and adjudicating cases. It can be said that the most feared people in Yan, those with ulterior motives, are those who come to the door by people from the Court of Judicial Review.

However, this time, the arrival of the people from the Court of Judicial Review was clearly just a special gesture by the emperor to intimidate Wei Yenwu. Wei Yenwu Wenyue, facing these two members of the Court of Judicial Review, bowed respectfully and said:

"Your Majesty, may you be well. Your subject, Wei Yenwu, obeys your decree!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Lin Qingyan, the leader with golden hair and of the Kirin, hesitated for a moment before speaking, looking at Wei Yenwu was still half-bowing and bowing.

"... Duke Wei, you have not yet performed the proper salutation."

However, just as Wei Yenwu was preparing to hear what message his younger brother would convey, he only heard Lin Qingyan's slightly embarrassed tone. Facing Wei Yenwu's questioning gaze, Lin Qingyan spoke:

"This is not my intention, but His Majesty's. His Majesty said that from now on, for any of his oral edicts or imperial decrees, Duke Wei must listen with utmost respect."

"Ah, Madam Wen Yue, there's no need for such formality, nor for the others. His Majesty only requests that Duke Wei listen respectfully."

Wei Yenwu: "..."

Helpless, Wei Yenwu had no choice but to kneel on the ground and receive the decree with the utmost respect due to a subject. Lin Qingyan and Tai He exchanged a glance, and then Tai He imitated their emperor's posture, conveying the imperial edict:

"I have already heard about the matter of Chen Qi, the nephew-in-law of Duke Wei. As for Talulah, who has blood of my Great Yan, having an affair with Chen Qi, I will let bygones be bygones."

"However, I greatly admire Chen Qi's talent. As the ruler of Lungmen, Duke Wei failed to recognize Chen Qi's abilities, resulting in Chen Qi and Talulah being stranded outside the Great Yan Nation. During their time in Lungmen, Duke Wei did not treat them well, which is truly disrespectful."

"Your subject is guilty." However, Wei Yenwu, upon hearing this, knew that his brother was merely bluffing. Otherwise, if he were truly meant to warn him, Edward would serve as a cautionary tale.

Of course, this wasn't a special trip to punish him, otherwise they wouldn't have used an oral decree... Clearly, his brother had some unspoken words he wanted to convey to him.

"Since Duke Wei knows he is guilty, I will give Duke Wei a chance to make amends."

"I admire Mr. Chen Qi's great talent and wish to invite Chen Qi to our Great Yan to demonstrate his abilities. I have already seen all his works, but only his filming in Lungmen is unworthy of being considered high art, which greatly disappoints me."

"Since Duke Wei is Chen Qi's maternal uncle, he must have a way to invite Chen Qi to Lungmen. I have already instructed the Imperial Calendar Bureau Department to send someone to Chen Qi to convey the goodwill of our Great Yan. However, I cannot summon Chen Qi in my capacity as a monarch, so I hope Duke Wei can do it on my behalf."

"If Duke Wei fails to do this, and I do not see any new works from him within a year, I will order Madam Wen Yue to carry out the punishment on his behalf, making Duke Wei kneel on that washboard for a few more days."

After Tai He finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment. Chen Huijie and the others, who were hearing the Emperor's edict for the first time, were all stunned, not understanding why the last sentence, which had been so solemn, had suddenly taken such a dramatic turn.

Even Wenyue was surprised that this involved her. Wei Yenwu had already prepared to risk severe punishment to accept the imperial decree, but he never expected his brother to pull this stunt.

Faced with Wei Yenwu's slightly bewildered gaze, Tai He closed her eyes and pretended not to see, saying:

"These are His Majesty's exact words; I dare not alter them in the slightest."

"As Duke Wei have heard, Your Majesty has already Imperial Calendar Bureau to Londinium. Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon. I only hope that Duke Wei, can write a letter and do your best to persuade Mr. Chen Qi to come to Lungmen."

"His Majesty has already said that this time, Lungmen needs to fully support Mr. Chen Qi's filming. If there are any needs, they can be reported to His Majesty for approval. If necessary, Duke Wei Madam Wen Yue will need to obey Mr. Chen Qi's arrangements."

Tai He's lips twitched slightly as he said this. In the past, he would never have imagined that a director could mobilize real power holders while making a film. However, now, with Theresis as a precedent, it seemed that nothing was impossible.

The Yan Emperor's decision to have Wei Yenwu Wenyue cooperate with Chen Qi in filming was partly motivated by revenge... However, Tai He's concern was that Chen Qi, with his outspoken and daring personality, might actually dare to mobilize these individuals to film if given the necessary authorization.

They even dared to request that His Majesty come to film a movie, Tai He had no doubt about it.

"Well then, His Majesty's decree has been conveyed, Duke Wei. For the next year, we will be stationed in Lungmen until Director Chen Qi arrives and filming is completed."

"We won't disturb you any longer, Duke Wei. Please make yourself at home."

After saying this, Lin Qingyan and Tai He, escorted by Wei Yenwu's bodyguards, slowly left the mansion. After a long while, Wei Yenwu stood up again and immediately turned his gaze to Chen Qi, who was still receiving medals on the television.

"... This kid has really gotten me into big trouble, and this time, I really have no choice but to give in."

Since his younger brother had already given the order for him to fully cooperate with Chen Qi's charade, Wei Yenwu had no choice but to swallow his pride, no matter how unwilling he was.

Otherwise, the scene of me kneeling on the washboard would probably be recorded and sent to my younger brother for him to watch. Compared to that, asking Chen Qi for this favor is really a small matter.

Surely that kid wouldn't disrespect his uncle? Wei Yenwu thought to himself, unaware of the strange, thoughtful look in Chen Huijie on the other side...