The words of the King of the Utmost Pole left Song Zining speechless.
A moment of silence lingered in the room before the King sighed, “The higher one’s position, the heavier the weight of the nation and the family. You are now a pillar of the empire; you should understand this. There are times when we know something goes against our heart, but for the sake of the empire, for the sake of humanity, we have no choice but to do it.”
Song Zining finally spoke, “But I fear that some use the banner of the nation and the greater good as a cover, while secretly they indulge in vile and selfish acts.”
“Self-interest is inherent in everyone. If you were in a position of power, how would you act? Could you prevent everyone from doing so?”
Song Zining frowned deeply, pondering for a moment before shaking his head. No matter how he imagined it, there would always be those who found loopholes and engaged in actions that harmed the nation and people, or those who, without greed for money, did things that harmed others and themselves. The King of the Utmost Pole was right; prevention was impossible.
“So, what should be done?” This time, Song Zining sincerely sought guidance.
The King of the Utmost Pole replied slowly, “It boils down to two words: block and investigate. A well-structured system aims to nip problems in the bud, which is ‘block,’ preventing the source. But ‘investigate’ is more effective. This means holding people accountable after the fact. Punish all transgressions without exception. Over time, many will grow fearful and naturally refrain from such acts. If we only block, everyone will tend to mind their own business, and nothing will get done.”
Song Zining mulled over the words, finding them profound and insightful.
“Having explained the principles, let’s now discuss Qian Ye. If we don’t address this, it will likely leave a knot in your heart.”
“Please enlighten me, Your Highness.”
The King of the Utmost Pole continued, “Qian Ye has rendered great service to the nation and the people. His heart lies with humanity, and over the years, the empire has wronged him greatly.”
Song Zining’s nose suddenly stung, and he quickly suppressed his emotions.
“In the Black Sun Valley, if not for his efforts, the empire would have suffered a devastating defeat. In the final battle, I saw clearly that without the bond between him and Nighteye, no one could have controlled her.”
Song Zining’s anger surged, and he blurted out, “So, first, you tried to kill Nighteye, then used Qian Ye to deal with her, calculating that Qian Ye’s nature would lead to mutual destruction, right?!”
The King of the Utmost Pole remained silent for a moment before replying, “Zining, the weight of the nation and family is like Mount Tai. Before it, nothing else truly matters. If there is regret, of course, there is. But my actions were for the empire’s survival and the prosperity of humanity. In that regard, I am guiltless.”
Song Zining was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond. After a moment, he said bitterly, “Wei Qiyang, that fool, I won’t let him off easily!”
On that day, Pei Zijun had already messed things up. If not for Wei Po Tian’s arrival in Yolnggok, Qian Ye would most likely have refused to fight.
“If venting makes you feel better, go ahead.”
“I thought you’d advise me to exercise more restraint.”
The King of the Utmost Pole said, “When you feel better, you’ll handle things more appropriately. Now, you hold great power, and every move you make affects the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. How can you be careless? By comparison, sacrificing a few people is insignificant.”
Song Zining’s eyes gleamed, “With your blessing, I shall not hesitate.”
“Go ahead and do as you see fit.”
“Those matters are not about the nation and family; they are personal grievances. Perhaps I can also earn a little money on the side.”
The King of the Utmost Pole smiled, “Great leaders need not concern themselves with trivial matters. Handle this yourself; there’s no need to consult me.”
By this time, the banquet was coming to an end. Some things were left unsaid, but it was enough. After all, Qian Ye was half-vampire, and his identity was problematic. How could he be hailed as a hero who saved the empire? If such a thing were done, wouldn’t the empire’s standards of a thousand years crumble overnight?
The human heart is complex, easily stirred, and readily manipulated.
Thus, all of Qian Ye’s sacrifices and achievements were erased, and perhaps in a few decades, no one would remember such a person and such deeds. The Evernight Council would never admit that a human with mixed blood chose not to follow the noble path of dark blood, defying the millennia-old rule of mixed-blood descendants.
After leaving the palace, Song Zining looked up at the sky. Though he understood the reasoning, the frustration in his heart could not be quelled.
Why must the nation and brotherhood not coexist?
He kicked the car door fiercely, startling the officer who promptly asked, “Sir, is there anything you need? I will take care of it immediately!”
“Never mind, let’s go back.”
The officer dared not ask further and drove Song Zining to the inn.
In the Twilight Continent, within the Spenc family’s traditional territory, the clan castle was peaceful and quiet.
Preparations for the new world had long taken away many of the young and strong.
Fortunately, Prince Habsburg was among the first to enter the new world. Although the initial period was fraught with difficulties and casualties, it was not as severe as the later encounters with the empire.
In the vast hall, Habsburg sat quietly on the throne, his hand resting on the armrest, supporting his chin, as he dozed. The hall, which could accommodate a thousand people, was usually only used for clan meetings, but recently, he found himself increasingly fond of spending time alone in this large, somewhat desolate space.
The entire castle was silent, not even a breath could be heard. The prince had been restless for a long time, and out of consideration or fear, people tried to ensure he rested well.
After a while, Habsburg suddenly opened his eyes and said calmly, “Linna, let him in.”
Outside the castle, in the small square where a group of people were tussling, Marquis Linna listened intently before waving his hand, allowing a Demon marquis to enter, but not his retinue.
The Demon marquis, who had been protesting for not being announced, calmed down slightly, although still angry about the treatment, he did not want to cause more trouble and left his retinue outside.
In the hall, the Demon marquis met Habsburg, seated on the throne. He performed a proper bow and said, “Respected Prince Habsburg, I come on behalf of the council to extend our greetings.”
Habsburg remained motionless, saying coldly, “If the chancellor has nothing new to say, there’s no point. I’ve already answered that I don’t have what he wants. Tell him to stop sending people.”
The Demon marquis, who had not even seen Habsburg on his previous visits, was now being dismissed after a single sentence. He finally snapped, “Prince, the chancellor is giving you face, considering this a council matter. In truth, this is the Emperor’s will. There is no room for consideration!”
Habsburg’s expression remained unchanged, and he said coldly, “Then there’s even less need for consideration. I am a vampire, and the Demon Emperor is not my king.”
“You!” The Demon marquis leaped up, pointing at Habsburg, enraged.
A flash of bloodlight appeared in Habsburg’s deep blue eyes, and the Demon marquis was suddenly pressed to the ground by an invisible force.
His hands clawed at his throat, futilely, his face turning red, unable to make a sound. Soon, his struggles weakened, and blood seeped from his skin, turning him into a bloody figure.
Habsburg’s expression did not change, and his hand remained on his chin, watching the Demon marquis suffocate, like watching a speck of dust.
When the Demon marquis stopped moving, Habsburg said coldly, “Is he dead? Why aren’t you coming out?”
Pruttick, standing at the entrance of the hall, walked in slowly, pausing beside the Demon marquis before approaching Habsburg’s throne.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Congratulations on your perfect secondary awakening, the Unlit Nightmare’s fate-balance wheel has a new master.”
Pruttick looked at Habsburg for a moment, then spread his arms, “Dear old friend, no hug?”
Habsburg remained silent for a moment before rising from the throne and descending the steps.
After the embrace, they left the hall and went to Habsburg’s study, leaving the unfortunate Demon marquis behind.
Linna brought tea and pastries, then left, closing the door.
The bright red tea, paired with exquisite pastries and well-maintained antique porcelain, was a delightful sight and scent. If not for the earlier gruesome scene, it would have been a pleasant reunion of old friends.
For the long-lived, waking from a long slumber often meant seeing a world unrecognizable.
Pruttick immersed himself in the aroma of the tea, noticing Habsburg’s silence, and sighed, “Dear Habsburg, you’ve changed a lot.”
“Did the Demon Emperor send you as an envoy?”
Pruttick shrugged, “I don’t know much. That unfortunate soul was sent by the chancellor. Emperor Kain just wanted me to check things out.”
Habsburg twirled the cup in his hand, “There’s nothing to see. I don’t have what the Emperor wants.”
Pruttick’s eyes narrowed, “What exactly is it?”
Instead of answering, Habsburg asked, “When did you wake from your slumber?”
“After the ceasefire of the Holy War.” Pruttick thought for a moment and provided a more precise time, “During the Bloody Funeral.”
He suddenly realized something, his face paling, “Is… it about him?”
Habsburg stood, holding the tea cup, and gazed out the window at the land he returned to as an adult, bearing his clan and bloodline.
“Leave.”
Pruttick suddenly grew angry, slamming the cup on the table, “Habsburg! He was a human, the empire’s marshal, an enemy of Evernight. Even if he didn’t die then, he wouldn’t have lived much longer! And you and I have known each other for over a hundred years. Will our friendship end because of a human’s death?”
“Vampires and demons are enemies.”
Pruttick’s hand tightened.
After a while, Habsburg turned, his deep blue eyes like a clear, distant sky, warm but devoid of emotion, “Pru, you are now the strongest prophet in Evernight. Haven’t you seen the wheel of fate shifting?”
Pruttick did not refute.
“Pru, leave. The Emperor will come to me himself.”
Pruttick, about to speak, felt a familiar surge of power nearby, his face turning pale.
Habsburg showed no surprise, turning to see the Emperor’s figure materialize.
This was likely a clone of the Supreme, without any aura or pressure, yet the darkness energy in the environment bowed. The more powerful the Evernight beings present, the more they felt it.
The atmosphere froze.
Pruttick recovered, bowing deeply, “Your Majesty, the Supreme.”
The Emperor, his voice soft, said, “Lord Pruttick, take your leave. I have some words for Lord Habsburg.”
Pruttick, his face still pale, left without a word, bowing again as he departed.
The Emperor turned to Habsburg, “Lord Habsburg, have you seen the celestial trajectory of the human race?”
Habsburg was taken aback, silent.
The Emperor, unperturbed, said softly, “I have. The celestial trajectory he showed me was unparalleled in richness and beauty. Compared to the world’s apex with its asteroid belt, it was like a desert. The only thing comparable was the fate wheel of the dark folk, slowly turning through the millennia. It’s hard to imagine that short-lived beings, with lives averaging less than a century, could have such a beautiful trajectory.”
Habsburg spoke slowly, “Jumala Sky?”
“Yes, I was there. Not killing him then was my greatest mistake.”
“He is dead.”
“He could have gazed upon the cosmos, but he chose to burn to ashes in the mud. For those ugly, ant-like lives. I cannot fathom it.”
“We respect strength, but he only recognized his kin.”
The Emperor paused, thinking, then shook his head, looking into Habsburg’s eyes, “Give me his remains. We need information from him.”
“Those who die in the void leave no bones.”
“Short-lived beings have no soul reincarnation or consciousness. Their deaths are eternal.”
Habsburg remained silent.
The Emperor sighed, “Then give me his original crystal. Lord Habsburg, you know that the human plan against Evernight has been in place for centuries, yet no prophet, even with intelligence from the Longevity Kings, could predict the consequences accurately. Though he is gone, the situation has not improved. We need to trace the threads of fate from him.”
He looked at his hands, laughing bitterly, “If I had acted, no fate lines would have remained. But who could destroy such a beautiful trajectory?”
Habsburg spoke slowly, “Emperor Kain, there is only one way. Destroy me and this castle entirely. Then, whether I hide something or not, it will not matter.”
Habsburg felt a chill, his blood core sinking, as he saw the Emperor, despite the rude response, remained calm, his gaze still gentle.
Habsburg did not think the Supreme was threatened. Even if the Emperor was here only in a clone, it was unlikely he could destroy a vampire prince and his clan castle, but how long would it take for the Emperor’s true form to arrive?
“I hear the human emperor was his disciple and refuses to believe he has fallen. His position remains unfilled, and his salary is still paid as if he were alive. This can be seen as a tribute, as no one wants to anger the emperor over a small amount of money.”
The Emperor’s voice remained calm, “But if rumors spread that the supposed hero of the empire is not dead but a captive, what then?”
Habsburg spoke slowly, “The Demon Emperor indeed makes me feel inferior.”
Rumors always find fertile ground, driven by various interests. The Evernight Council would not want to create an image of a hero who single-handedly saved the empire, and the empire’s clowns would not want their rivals to be remembered. Slandering a hero is easy, as they cannot defend themselves.
Habsburg knew that, initially, due to the Emperor’s authority, no one dared to embellish that battle. Otherwise, a fight without witnesses could have been spun into anything. Without a report or proof of merit, his opponents in the council and among the vampires had grounds for impeachment.
“Lord Habsburg, I hope one day you will challenge me on the Holy Mountain, not here,” the Emperor’s face and voice calm, “I do not wish to have an unpleasant encounter with the Queen of Night on the Twilight Continent. The new world is our common interest, and Lilith is old.”
The last sentence, not fitting the Emperor’s usual polite demeanor, revealed the young Supreme’s hidden ambition and defiance.
The Emperor’s gaze drifted to the ancient blood pool, saying, “You can consider, but my patience is not infinite.”
Long after the Emperor left, Habsburg moved, extending his right index finger to draw a line in the air.
The spectrum of power emerged.
From the dark origin, endless dark energy pushed forward, gradually changing, showing shades of gray, until it reached the neutral zone, where dawn and light followed.
The extrapolation ended there, the current understanding of the power spectrum by the Evernight creatures.
If the dark origin is the source of this world, what is at the end of the dawn? Is there a dawn origin, or something else? If the dawn origin creates a world, what would it look like? Would it be like the celestial trajectory the Emperor once saw?
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