In the silent conference room, Philip kept his head lowered, hiding his expression from Cui Ciyou.
After a long while, Philip raised his head again. The disappointment and helplessness in his eyes had been swept away.
In their place burned an almost crazed intensity, like that of a drowning man clutching his last lifeline.
His gaze locked firmly onto Cui Ciyou and Ghislaine.
"If my father-Sauros-cannot change any of this..."
"If he cannot change this predetermined fate written out for me, this life as a household dog!"
"Then..." Philip's voice trembled slightly with overwhelming excitement.
"Ciyou, Ghislaine."
"Please... lend me your strength. Please become retainers of mine, Philip Boreas Greyrat!"
Here it comes at last... Cui Ciyou understood perfectly.
All that buildup and soul-baring was for this final request.
The strongest fighter Philip had ever had access to was a Saint-level swordsman who was already old and frail, long past his prime-his father, Sauros.
But during the kidnapping incident, Cui Ciyou and Ghislaine had displayed overwhelming Sword King-level strength.
It had reignited the raging flames in that long-dormant heart of his called ambition!
After all, in the timeline without Rudeus...
Even in the struggle for the throne, the strongest combatants at its center had only been King-level.
Among the practitioners of the present-day Sword God Style, those above King-level...
Numbered a mere three, including the legendary Sword God himself.
That alone showed what a terrifying deterrent the title "King-level" represented in this world.
After Philip finished voicing his desperate request...
He did not even wait for Cui Ciyou and Ghislaine to answer. Like a gambler driven mad by his losses, he eagerly began laying out his bargaining chips:
"Ciyou! If you are willing to swear allegiance to me personally, become my true retainers, and help me reclaim everything that belongs