NOVPUB
Chapter 240: Meeting With the Emperor
Disguised as someone else, the first prince bowed to Aldrian.
"Welcome to the imperial palace, Sir. Please, this way. I will escort you to His Majesty," Hector said to Aldrian. "Please wear this, Sir. It will cover your face so no one sees your appearance." Hector then handed Aldrian a white robe that covered his head.
Aldrian nodded before putting it on and following Hector into the interior of the imperial palace.
"You don’t have to greet me personally or act so submissive," Aldrian said to Hector through a voice transmission.
"It can’t be helped. It’s better to stay on guard, right? I just don’t want anyone to notice anything strange or involve too many people in this, so I have to rely on only a few of my trusted people," Hector replied.
"Anyway, my father is already waiting for you in his room. It seems he’s eager to meet you after I told him about our conversation. I apologize for making you come to the palace."
"That is alright, Your Highness. I also wish to speak with His Majesty. After this meeting, the imperial family will have a better understanding of the current situation and the challenges ahead," Aldrian replied.
"By the way, I already heard from Lorenzo—thank you for catching the traitors within the information guild. You handled it beautifully, using the Rivas family’s own hands. We’ve been keeping the information guild under watch to detect anything suspicious, but in the end, you were the one who uncovered the traitors," Hector said.
"It’s just a coincidence," Aldrian said with a shrug, which made Hector smile. What Aldrian had accomplished was no small feat, as it significantly eased their burden.
"Regarding Wei Zhi, one of the Seven Devils of Annihilation, I can assign some of my men to search for his traces. Now that the traitors in the information guild have been dealt with, we can redirect some of our manpower to investigate him," Hector offered.
"If it’s not too much trouble, Your Highness. But even if you don’t find anything, I have my own methods to track that man," Aldrian replied.
Hector nodded. They walked through several hallways of the imperial palace, passing numerous imperial guards and maids. Some glanced curiously at Aldrian and Hector, seemingly wanting to question them. However, Hector simply displayed a badge—one belonging to the emperor’s steward. With that, their journey to the designated room went smoothly and without trouble.
After walking for nearly 15 minutes, they arrived in front of the room. The area was deserted—no one passed through here, not even imperial guards.
Knock, knock.
Hector knocked on the door before announcing, "Your Majesty, he is here."
After Hector’s announcement, the door opened, allowing Aldrian to look inside. The room was spacious and luxurious, lined with countless bookshelves filled with what must have been hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, of books. It was a treasure trove of knowledge, a paradise for someone like him who loved to learn new things.
As much as he wished to delve into the books, his attention didn’t linger on them for long. Seated at a reading table was someone deeply engrossed in a book.
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Durand Doria
Age: 89,670 years
Race: Human
Cultivation: High Emperor
Cultivation Technique: The Harmony of Heaven and Earth Scripture
Attack Techniques: 7 Sword Moves of Heaven Cleaving Technique, Earth Guardian Knight, Heaven Shattering Palm, Heaven Splitting the Reality, Decompression.
Defense Technique: Armor of Heaven and Earth
Movement Technique: 3 Phases of Illusion Step
Supporting Technique: Heavenly Knight Battle Form
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This man’s cultivation was the highest Aldrian had encountered in the empire, but he frowned as he sensed something unusual about the man’s body.
"Why does his body reek of the aura of death?" Aldrian wondered.
Though the man’s cultivation was at the high Emperor stage, his aura felt strangely weak. Aldrian also noticed that the man was using a disguise to conceal his true face.
There was also a steward nearby, his cultivation at the low Emperor stage. He stood motionless, like a statue, with a white cloth draped over one of his hands. Aldrian was surprised to realize that the white cloth was actually a divine-grade artifact.
Aldrian returned his focus to the man reading at the table. The man seemed engrossed in his book, completely detached from his surroundings. Only when Hector and Aldrian drew near did he finally stop reading and glance up at them. However, the moment his gaze landed on Aldrian, his eyebrows shot up, as if he had seen something astonishing.
"Father, this is Sir Aldrian, the one I told you about," Hector said, bowing his head slightly. Aldrian followed suit, though there were still some questions in his mind; he decided to keep them to himself for now.
"Truly incredible. Even I cannot sensed this young man’s cultivation after he’s come this close. He seems like a mortal with no cultivation at all. Is this what they call being one with nature?" Emperor Durand said, still standing as he walked toward Aldrian, his face filled with curiosity.
"I’m sorry, young Aldrian, but I’m truly surprised. Seeing is believing. I’m a person full of skepticism until proof is presented to me. When I first heard of your achievements and how young you are, it was hard to believe. But after seeing you in person, I must admit, you are truly extraordinary. This is the first time I’ve felt this way about someone," Emperor Durand said.
"It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I still have much to learn. My achievements are insignificant compared to what this empire has experienced over the years. I’ve merely added a little to the history of this empire," Aldrian replied.
"You don’t have to be so humble. This war is unlike any other, and the devils’ intentions remain unknown. Given how you breached their fortress in Sazim, we now have an entry point that can be used in the future if we decide to strike the devils and lighten the burden on the Rivas Grand Duchy," Emperor Durand said, offering a handshake, which Aldrian returned.
"Welcome. I apologize for receiving you in such a roundabout manner; it’s because there are certain factors that make it better for our meeting to remain unknown to others," Emperor Durand said apologetically.
"Is it about the spies, Your Majesty?" Aldrian asked.
"That is one of the reasons. Anyway, please have a seat; it’s not good to keep standing after walking so far," Emperor Durand said. They both took a seat on the comfortable sofa not far from the reading table. The steward, who had been standing like a statue, finally moved to prepare drinks and snacks.
"So, young Aldrian, may I ask you a few questions?" Emperor Durand asked.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Aldrian replied.
Emperor Durand nodded. "Then, I want to ask something that has been on my mind for a long time. Are you the same person as the mysterious swordsman? The one who created a sensation after the incident in Balin City, and most recently in the Forgeheart Kingdom? Are you the one who unleashed that slash technique?"
The steward had finished preparing the tea and snacks. As he placed everything on the table in front of them, Aldrian responded to Emperor Durand’s question.
"Yes, that’s me." His answer, given without hesitation, stunned everyone in the room for a moment. The emperor let out a sigh, while Hector and the steward felt their hearts tremble. Hector also had doubts about Aldrian being the same as the mysterious swordsman, but the technique he saw on the battlefield had a different aura—one imbued with a holy presence—that left him confused.
He had already seen all the traces of the mysterious swordsman and his technique, and the conclusion he reached was that the technique focused purely on destruction or the annihilation of the enemy, not purification. With the holy aura surrounding it, Hector had initially thought that the person who unleashed this technique must be someone else.
To think that the person who could unleash a technique with the intent of pure annihilation was the same person standing before him...
"You are truly amazing, young Aldrian. The first time I saw your technique was during the incident in Balin City. At that time, I wanted to invite you to learn from you, to gain one or two insights. To think that the one who unleashed that technique is a young man... truly, the young will surpass the old. If I could, I would bestow a status or title upon you in front of the masses."
"Thank you for your compliment and your offer, your majesty, but if you wish to bestow something upon me in front of many people, I must refuse for now. It is better for me to remain out of the public’s attention," Aldrian answered.
"I thought as much," Emperor Durand nodded. "Especially at this time, with the problem of spies and devil infiltrators. You would become one of their primary targets, and that would lead to a troublesome situation."
After that, Emperor Durand drank the tea served by the steward, followed by Aldrian.
"This is good tea," Aldrian said after drinking it.
"I’m glad you like it. This tea is specially cultivated by my family in the Southern Empire."
"As expected, this must not be ordinary tea, to think that it is actually cultivated by the imperial family."
After a few moments of enjoying the tea, Aldrian looked at Emperor Durand.
"Your majesty, may I ask a question?" Aldrian inquired.
"Please, ask, young Aldrian."
"Are you perhaps in poor health? My apologies if I sound presumptuous, but to me, it seems as though you are on the brink of death."
