Chapter 450 - A Debate Inside The Palace
Arthur went inside the palace while totally ignoring the harsh remarks of his two voices in his head.
The palace wasn't like the last time he visited it, where he had his intimate moments with Amelia. It was now completed with a grand looking three stories height, large garden, and big walls with three main gates.
The garden wasn't that much right now. He had the intention of bringing forth more to it from his own garden.
"Sit as you pleased," he said to everyone in front of him while the eyes of the three girls were fixed on each other like three cats about to have a fight over one feather.
The hall was grandiose with many golden seats in front of his throne. He sat higher than others, while following the advice of his golden dragon to the letter.
"What happened after you disappeared?" Mr. E asked before adding, "we searched long and wide for you, yet no traces can be found here."
"I was sent to a special place," he said honestly before lying, "and met a very strong foes there before finally managing to run away."
"Oh," Mr. E showed his concern, "are you alright then?"
"I'm fine," he smiled, "what happened to those traitors who sold me out?"
"I killed them," Cesile said in an impulsive tone.
"Not on your own," Amanda harrumphed in pride, "others also helped as well."
Mr. E was slightly amused by this little conflict between the two girls. "They were ten, we killed six and four managed to run away," he said.
"But it seems you lost four in return," Arthur remarked.
"They were strong indeed," Slone said, "and they had many dark clan supporters."
"It's strange how they could have such support in rapid time," Otman showed his doubts, "I believe they were already working with them from the start."
"We can't rush to such a conclusion yet," Mr. E said, trying to end this debate, "we already have enough problems back home."
"Speaking of home," Arthur finally found a way to start his grand plan, "I want to ask if the academy can use this city of mine as base in future expansion."
"This…" Mr. E hesitated and Arthur didn't give him time to object as he added:
"This isn't a mere city, it's a capital for my empire."
"Empire? Like those mentioned in old tales?" Cesile asked.
"Sure," Arthur nodded before making his offer, "if you preferred to use this as your base, I can make you all into the esteemed guardian of the empire."
Mr. E showed a troubled expression before honestly saying, "this world isn't that important to us. If we were a mighty academy we would have accepted this. But the recent treasons and the inner conflicts around the great clans and guilds make me hesitant about this offer of yours."
Arthur nodded in understanding. "That's not an issue," he said before asking in a serious tone, "how can the academy reputation be pumped up in our world?"
His question was answered by Amanda, cutting the path over Cesile from taking over every opportunity to speak by hurriedly saying:
"The easiest way is through the grand competition held annually in the greatest academy in our world."
"And the hardest way?" Arthur didn't hurriedly take a decision now.
"To crush every single academy out there and absorb more of us," Mr. E was the one to speak before curiously asking, "what's wrong? Interested in helping the academy now?"
"Well, to be honest the foes I met here made my plans in this world halt," he had to be slightly honest to gain their trust, "and many of the problems I got came from the current weakness of our academy. So, I plan to focus more on the academy in the next few months before coming here again and dominae this world."
His words echoed in the hall and everyone glanced at each other silently. It was known that new youths were eager to test themselves in the competitions.
Yet not many had the aspiration to help the academy grew; all cared either upon themselves or their clans and guilds.
"What about your clan?" Cesile asked.
"The Golden Lion clan?" Arthur asked before adding, "well I have no big plans for them now."
"Well, I don't want to say no to my future son-in-law, but I have to decline this."
Arthur didn't faze or be surprised that Mr. E responded, as he already anticipated it. "Reasons?" he calmly asked, acting again like what his golden dragon advised.
"Just told you, we can't divert our attention to anyplace outside the academy for now."
"I can promise to support the academy," Arthur said.
"With no offense," one of the masters sitting here said before adding, "your mere strength can't even qualify you to even propose suggestions to the academy. You can't help in the brutal wars between masters."
"Leave the youth competitions to me," Arthur wasn't offended by this master's harsh words, "I'll make sure the academy will reign supreme over all the competitions from now on."
His words were met with many whispers and side talks. He patiently waited, as this matter didn't carry low significance to him.
Yet from their whispers he could see half was supporting him, and the others weren't.
"May I propose something?" Mr. E suddenly said, trying to end this state of debate inside even his closest and most trusted masters, "I know you see him as a freshman with no accomplishments at all, yet don't forget his rank in the academy."
Mr. E pointed to Arthur as he added, "he is in the seventh grade now, making him one of the strongest disciples we currently have."
"Master is right, but he didn't even have his classes started. How can we trust the fate of the next competition on him like this?" one of the opposing masters said in a calm and respectful tone.
"Well," Arthur was the one to speak this time, "as you can see I was quite busy dealing with big dark clans here," he showed off some of his accomplishments here to remind them of who he really was.