Emperor's Reckoning

Sitting on the grandest chair of all, Yunesia basked in the glory that was given by the onlookers. Though she was smiling for the public, she didn't care for any of it at heart. It was nothing more than an act to not offend the hosts that effortlessly made the banquet in a single night.

She didn't need to uphold her brilliant career or her glistening reputation since her fame had been spread too far and vast even for herself to know. The power that she held in the masses was almost the same as a king to his subjects. Though they were not loyal by blood, their connection was made out of a simple business. The power of the public could disown their own king if it was used wrongly but business was something else. 

"A word from this generation's genius perhaps?" asked Borton before Sophia slightly took a glance at him before looking back toward Yunesia with a smile.

"Hmm... curious, curious, curious, I don't know how to give a speech. You know very well that I'm not the type to go public and win people's hearts."

"Hahaha, the winner of this generation is surely modest, but I'm sure you can give the young ones an inspiring speech, after all, everyone looked up to you, Lady Yunesia," asked Borton with a smile.

(Curious, curious, curious. This man, what is he thinking, what is he planning?) thought Yunesia as she let out a smile instead of worry. The man in front of him was currently in the neutral den. The flags of the World of Blue remained neutral until something in their disinterest happened. He could very well be using this moment to instigate something in his favor. Being the winner of the Throne, she courted all of the attention in the room without fail. This double-edged sword of a position must be used carefully, less, it would be dangerous to her reputation.

"I'm afraid not, I don't have a speech prepared," Yunesia stood up with a smile before giving a slight bow. "Please grant my apology your forgiveness everyone, but as you all know, I never the type to give a grandiose speech in front of the masses."

She slightly bows before walking down the stairs under the gobsmacked and surprised expression of the others. Her enigmatic smiles immediately sent down the signals of confusion against Borton and the others. There was nothing but speculations inside their minds. 

Luke raised his eyebrows before he smiled and let out a chuckle.

"Very good, very good!" Luke clapped his hands before the others looked at each other with their slightly creased eyebrows. Their hands slowly followed along and clapped though it was not in rhythm. 

"One must be true to oneself and not by being others," said Luke before he looked around and found himself an empty glass. He picked up the bottle before flicking the hard metal cap with a flick of his thumb and pour the red blood wine inside the glass under everyone's eyes before he slowly raised it up to the sky.

"Now then, it's time for the young and mature to feast! The variety of foods, the best of drinks, all presented by Treas family, please fulfill your heart, or your stomach hahaha, to the fullest extent! I assure you that your stomach wouldn't be able to horde what we have hahaha!"

His speech immediately ends with clatters of laughter and a round of applause. Sophia smiled as she knew where did she get the talent from, though she was still not on the same level as her father.

"Ehm... Cliff was it.. you can... let go now," asked Jin with a smile before the latter realized that he was still holding his hand like a queen. He immediately let go of Jin's hand before he stood up under the clattering of happiness surrounding the banquet. 

"Ah, Older brother, I'm sorry for my friend here, he seemed to be a little bit nervous," said Borton as he lightly patted cliff's shoulder. The latter slightly raised his eyebrows as he felt the slick of pressure that Borton applied on his grip.

"Hahaha, no problem, no problem, please do enjoy the banquet Borton and Titania, and of course my favorite nephew, Russel, *sigh, you are lucky to have a blonde bloodline, I always want some hahaha! Hey darling, can you imagine if I were blonde? Must be the most handsome knight you would have ever known right? Hahaha!" Jin laughed as he put his hands capaciously on his waist.

"You were never a knight Jin," said Priscila with a squinted eyes.

(Holy crap that stings) thought Jin as his laugh came to an abrupt stop before he lightly stroke his chest as if calming for the pain.

"Hahaha, you probably can't but if you married another one with blonde hair, your kid then might, anyway, I will go over there," said Luke with a smile as he left to grab a plate.

(Luke, you motherfucker!) thought Jin as he saw his brother-in-law calmly left the bomb in his hand to explode.

Meanwhile, Borton excused himself as Jin fell and becomes the victim of his own wife. His eyes were on the group of the Crown Winners instantly. Without further ado, he walked there with his hands opened to give a very warm outlook toward the aspiring juniors of the latter generation and of course the smile of a man with wisdom.

"Congratulations everyone, you have brought about an exemplary status for you and your family. There is no greater pride than participating in the Throne. I know..." he paused as he looked down the floor with a tinge of gloom and blue in his eyes before he slightly nods and looked into their curious eyes, "it's kind of sad to see someone like Kaiju Loh, ended like that. He was such a bright boy talent-wise. Though he might be cocky at times, nobody deserved to end like that."

The group of Crown winners looked at each other before they stood silent as they listened to the middle-aged man with blonde hair. Borton was amongst the men they couldn't afford to offend and be rude towards. Though they were the geniuses in the latter generation, the man in front of them could summon an army if he wished to.

"I won't say that it could happen to you, nor could I say that it could happen to any of you. I'm not saying it like you cannot be better than the deceased Kaiju, but if you were, would you be tyrannically killed off too? Just like him? What would the cultivations that you spend your entire life sitting and concentrating on, what of the techniques that you honed with every sweat in your life only to be cut off just like that be meaning anything?"

The group immediately fell into contemplation as they looked at the ground while the middle-aged man stayed still with his emotion before picking up a glass of wine then gulped the content in one stroke to show them his frustration.

"Sorry, this old man spoke too emotionally. One day you guys will be the stars that glistened the galaxies and the entire multi-worlds. I'm here to offer you a service, a cloak which you can safely hide from the scavenging vultures and surrounding spears until maximized your limit. I don't want another end for geniuses, some of you were already born with unfair traits yet you made it. Some don't believe in you, but here you are. I'm sure somebody had said this before, but I'm proud of you guys," said Borton with a nod and a smile before he slightly tapped one of their shoulders then turning around and left them with their own feelings.

Kyoko turned up a smile as she saw how Borton left them. (He spoke, he clearly hid the true intention behind his speech. However, looks like with the reputation he had and the power he yields he could bait their trust easily. The seed has been planted, now the question would be how much and how fast will it produce fruits).

"Here you go, a courtesy from Alrude," said Luke as he handed out a filled wine glass toward the man that kissed Jin's hand.

Cliff raised one of his eyebrows before he looked at the wine glass out of instinct before Luke chuckled, "Haha, you are acting quite wary, must have been tough to become an adventurer huh? Don't worry, I drank the wine before, it tasted better with a beautiful woman though haha."

"Hahaha, please do excuse me for the rude act, it was instinctive of mine," said Cliff with a laugh before he took the glass of wine and put his lips on the edge of the glass as his eyes locked on Luke's before the latter raised one of his eyebrows with a smile. Cliff drank the wine before he showed his satisfaction toward the taste.

The two snakes immediately slithered their way to work. There was not a single second wasted as Kyoko observed the two opposing sides with interest.. However, Luna had her eyebrows furrowed as Russel was coming at her with a condescending look on his face.