In the imperial court of South Land, William looked at Robin with an ugly expression. “Robin, we’ve paid the compensation, can we leave now?”
This was outrageous. They had come to rob and intimidate, but now they were being forced to pay compensation instead. Some of the palace officials, especially those from Maplia, just wanted to cry. They knew that right now, they were blocking people from other countries from stepping into Kisia, and had even fought several battles.
They had paid a huge price. Not only was the price high, but now they had to pay compensation as well. What was going on here?
“You’re welcome to visit again,” Robin said, gesturing for them to leave, and added “Welcome back soon.” This immediately sent chills down their spines. There would be no ‘next time’.
They could feel the hairs on their necks stand up. They never imagined Robin would be so bold as to summon the armies of the entire nation here. If anything went wrong, Kisia would really be wiped out. He was a madman, a gambler who dared to take risks, yet was confident of success.
Such a person really made them break out in cold sweat.
After that, the forty thousand strong army slowly left, with each soldier’s face ashen. They had come excitedly but were now leaving crestfallen, and had lost so much money too. What was going on?
After they left, Robin walked into the imperial court. The decor was magnificent and glittering with gold, showing the grandeur of the South Land emperor Whiteford. It was breathtaking and revealed Whiteford’s ambition – he was not satisfied with just ruling this small South Land, but had his eyes set on the whole world.
Walking past the court and into the main hall, there were many guards, maids, and eunuchs hurrying to pack up valuables and flee. Unlike Kisia, South Land still practiced an ancient centralized imperial system where Lord Whiteford stood above millions.
Bang! When the maids and eunuchs saw Robin, they knelt down in panic, precious jewels falling all around them. But Robin had no interest in these. His men would handle them later. What he was interested in was Whiteford – this emperor of South Land who dared to gamble everything on Walton Myers. One could imagine how much resolve he had put into this, but unfortunately he had met Robin.
Soon, Robin arrived at the royal court. Sitting atop it was not the haggard and exhausted Whiteford from before, but one dressed in splendid new imperial robes, full of vigor and even emitting an aura of dragon might. His eyes burned with great ambition. This was the true emperor of South Land, Whiteford.
“Whiteford,” Robin looked at him.
“Robin,” Whiteford returned his gaze.
“So you are the real one. You didn’t escape through that secret tunnel? Not going to fight for that last chance?” Robin asked.
“The tunnel?” Whiteford smiled. “What tunnel. That was just a rumor spread to confuse enemies, to make them not dare to kill me before finding the so-called tunnel. There is no tunnel. And even if there was one, I, Whiteford, would not take it.”
As he spoke, Whiteford’s demeanor changed. He became more noble, more impressive – like a true legendary emperor.
“I was born poor, always dreaming of rising above others. Later, I met a blind old man who told me that to become superior, one must be ruthless. He said the first step was to kill the dog I had raised for years. I hesitated for a long time before giving up, but I was bullied for it. People came to beat me, smash my things, steal from me. Why was I always the one bullied? What right did they have?”
“One day I was pushed into the river by those people. They laughed at me and I nearly died that time. After that I swore to climb to the very top, to become the most powerful person in the world. So I went back and killed my dog, and from then on I was no longer a good person. I became despicable, evil, using any means necessary, doing all kinds of bad deeds.”
“Finally I climbed to this position, killed all those who had bullied me. But it was not enough. My ambition was great – I said I would become the most powerful person in the world.”
“So I spent a full ten years preparing for this day, for this one battle. I even handed all military power to Walton Myers just for the chance of victory. I did not guard against him, partly because I trusted him, and partly because I wanted to gamble – to see if by not defending against him, he could exert his maximal fighting strength.”
“But Walton Myers still lost. I don’t blame him though. Luck can’t always be on my side. My ambition was still capped in the end. Robin, I could have escaped, but suddenly I realized – I am not just Whiteford, but also the Emperor of South Land.”
“Would you accept my one life in exchange for ten years of peace for South Land?”
As Whiteford spoke, he descended the steps one by one, his aura growing stronger but his energy waning with each step. He was the Emperor of South Land. To achieve his goals he had used any means, but being born in South Land and ruling it for fifteen years, a part of his heart had melted. So he stayed behind.
One life for South Land’s peace – he knew South Land had planned to massacre Kisia, to kill every last person. He was not prepared to show mercy, so he would not blame Robin if Robin massacred South Land in return. They had started it after all. He was only asking this favor.
But Robin looked at him and said simply, “Not enough.”
Indeed, it was not enough. Kisia had lost so many soldiers, so many lives. The entire South Province was nearly broken through. Whiteford’s one life could not make up for all that, not nearly enough.
“You overvalue yourself,” Robin added.
In Whiteford’s eyes, as the emperor of South Land, an unmatched ruler, his one life was precious. But to Robin, he was not even worth a single commoner of Kisia.
Not even a single hair.
“Is that so? Maybe you’re right, I have overvalued myself,” Whiteford waved his hand and asked, “Then what do you want?”
“First, issue a notice telling the whole world that South Land surrenders and becomes a vassal state of Kisia for the next hundred years. Second, tell me about all your allies in the imperial line so I can settle scores with them. Third, redress Maclean Lyons and his daughter. Fourth, commit suicide on the city wall…”
One by one, Robin listed his demands.
Whiteford was silent.
South Land surrendering was a huge humiliation!
Revealing his allies meant killing them, massacring nine generations of their clan.
Redressing Maclean Lyons meant enthroning him, turning South Land into Robin’s domain.
The only thing slightly acceptable was the fourth article.
After a period of silence, Whiteford uttered a single word: “Fine.”