Chapter 1017 - 239: Emperor Meets Emperor (Part 2)

"Return my legion, you beast!"

"Your Majesty, such rage harms your health."

A slightly mocking voice appeared next to Bahram's ear. He suddenly turned his head, the murderous intent in his eyes almost spilling over: "You scoundrel, didn't I say for everyone to get out?"

The newcomer was a prince in splendid purple robes, wearing a crown adorned with eight lily branches and jewels, his appearance so handsome it seemed unreal. Bahram was certain he had never seen him before.

For such an extraordinary young man, anyone who had seen him once would never forget.

"Stranger, who are you?"

He clenched his sword, the fire of his anger quickly doused like ice water poured over it, retreating into his chest.

The young man smiled and gave a chest salute: "Bahram, Your Majesty, honored to meet you. Although it's our first meeting, I believe we have been friends in spirit for a long time and should not be strangers."

"Who exactly are you?"

Bahram regretted dismissing all the attendants, but he couldn't comprehend how the other had entered the inner court.

The Royal Palace of Tarsus had a sensing array and daily rotating casters on duty, making it impossible for outsiders to sneak in quietly. As for ordinary people—how could ordinary people escape the eyes of the casters on duty?

At this moment, he could only hope the casters on duty would soon sense something amiss and send someone to protect him.

He tried his best to put on a calm expression: "What is your intention in coming here? As long as it's not excessive, I can fulfill it."

"If you are waiting for the court's casters to arrive, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I know you certainly won't believe me, but that's okay. We have plenty of time; we can chat slowly."

The man waved his hand, and a translucent screen formed in the hall, reflecting a scene of a broken battlefield.

Groups of captive Sassan soldiers, disarmed, were squatting on the ground silently awaiting final judgment.

Blood had stained the entire battlefield red, with Sassan army corpses everywhere.

Magic elephants were piled into small mountains, the earth resembling a landscape ravaged by a meteor shower, filled with mottled scars.

A gigantic beheaded Demon Dragon lay in a "crater," and compared to it, the Frankish people were like ants, cutting up the corpse. Its head was to be hung as a trophy in Losa's Imperial Palace in Damascus.

Bahram gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain calm: "What are you showing me this for? Do you think I'll believe your Demon Art?"

The man chuckled: "Soon the news of your crushing defeat on the frontline will arrive, then you'll know the truth."

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself."

At this moment, the man seemed to remember something, slapped his forehead and said: "I'm called Losa, Losa of the Habsburg Family."

Bahram's pupils shrank: "Frankish Basileus? How dare you appear before me!"

Losa smiled and said: "I told you, no one will know I'm here, so there's naturally no need for worry."

The defenses of the Sassan Royal Palace were strict, even an assassin at Cherina's level would find it difficult to sneak in at this critical moment when Bahram placed unprecedented importance on his own safety.

He was able to appear in the blink of an eye, spanning thousands of miles from Hades City, because a member of the Shadow of Darkness had infiltrated the Royal Palace, enduring humiliation as a eunuch.

Losa's Holy Edict Resonance not only allowed him to descend through a retinue but also transfer soldiers.

Thus, appearing here was merely his projection, naturally causing no worry.

Bahram would not be easily persuaded by a few words, continuing to deliberately stall: "So, Your Majesty Losa, what is the real purpose of your impromptu visit? I suspect it's not as simple as an assassination attempt, is it?"

"Certainly not. To put it bluntly, 'taking your head' is not a difficult task for me. Not to mention, your annual tours to Tarsus, Baghdad, and Isfahan offer great opportunities."

Losa shook his head with a smile: "Bahram, Your Majesty, you have already lost. I feel ending things in a relatively dignified way is much better than fleeing to Azerbaijan, waiting for me to ride a Demon Dragon to annihilate you."

"You are different from Mustafa; he has no retreat, but you might have some options."

Bahram murmured: "I need time to consider."

Losa casually sat on Bahram's throne, gesturing: "Please, take your time. My soldiers are cleaning the battlefield, small tasks requiring no personal supervision. My time is plentiful."

The hall was silent, beads of sweat appeared on Bahram's brow. He neither wanted Losa's so-called "dignified ending" nor did he want the casters to come immediately and capture this chief culprit.

Time ticked by.

Bahram felt like he was sitting in front of a tiger, lethargic due to its full belly. No one knew when this tiger would shed its facade and rise to attack.

"You see, it's been quite a while, and where is the rescue you hoped for?"

Losa sighed lightly, rising from the throne: "You're always unwilling, always unwilling—Mustafa advised you to flee, you feel unsatisfied without fighting, now that you've lost, I personally come to advise surrender, yet you're still unwilling."

"If I want, I could level this palace in a minute. But I don't wish to do that; I just hope to take over Baghdad and Tarsus peacefully, not like the Tatars who destroy and suppress all disobedience."

Losa emphasized: "You should have experienced the Tatars' cruelty and violence. I am here to keep these demons out of Mesopotamia. Now I attack you only because you block my path. From beginning to end, I have never considered you my enemy."

"Compared to Saladin, you fall far short."

Bahram was infuriated by such blatant humiliation: "I am the Common Lord of the Fire Worship, the Guardian of all Fire Worshippers. How can Saladin be compared to me? What right do you have to look down on me?"

Losa sat back down, his interest waning: "I defeated Saladin, taking nearly a year; defeating you is as easy as a flick of my wrist."

Looking at the speechless Bahram, Losa chuckled: "Think about it carefully, Bahram, Your Majesty. Should you offer me the city or accept Mustafa's suggestion, taking what should have belonged to me, fleeing to Azerbaijan?"

"Are you threatening me?"

Bahram's eyes reddened, gritting his teeth.

"Not a threat, Bahram, Your Majesty, we're enemies; enemies should attack each other by any means, right? If you choose Mustafa's advice, it means you refuse my goodwill, and for those who refuse my goodwill, I always offer destruction."

Losa's face gradually lost its rich emotion, turning into the coldness that such a being should have.

He patted Bahram's shoulder, then transformed into countless streams of light, disappearing into the void.

Bahram stared blankly at everything, if it weren't for the footprints left on the carpet and the clear touch on his shoulder, he would almost believe it was an illusion.

"He truly despises me."

"That's why he didn't kill me."

At the moment, he felt both relieved and crestfallen.

Outside the hall, the eunuch cautiously inquired: "Your Majesty, the Grand Vizier is already waiting outside, would you like to meet him in the side hall?"

Bahram's voice was peculiar as he asked: "You just didn't hear any unusual noises inside the hall, did you?"

The eunuch quickly assured: "No, I guarantee no one dared to eavesdrop!"

"Ha."

Bahram suddenly laughed, his smile so sarcastic, tears sparkling at the corners of his eyes.

"No need to move to the side hall, right here, I'll meet Mustafa here."