Everyone's eyes landed on the faintly shining stone in Dan's palm.
And all of them, except the pair of mother and daughter, recognized the item that he presented.
a Profound Imagery Stone?
This thought rang inside Joseph's mind, inwardly frowning, there was no way that Dan could've sneaked past their perceptions when they were talking to each other earlier. After all, that man from the Flowing Cloud Sect was also there.
"Everyone must be curious about the contents of this Profound Imagery Stone, right?" Dan spoke in an ambiguous tone.
The middle-aged man's expression momentarily flickered before returning to its previous calm when he noticed that the young man from the Varkaant Clan remained unperturbed.
'If the young master doesn't care about it, why should I?' He inwardly thought.
The Emperor and Zaramias stared at the Stone before nodding their heads.
"Well, since his Majesty is asking for any evidence that I could use as my defense; let the images inside this stone, reveal itself as the ironclad proof that I am being framed!" Dan crushed the stone in his hand, as a mist wafted from the fragments of the stone.
The mist eventually coalesced into a dimly-lit room wherein three figures which shook everyone inside the hall, could be seen, standing before each other!
The middle-aged man's expression quickly turned pale, as the conversation about their plan of destroying Dan's reputation came to light. Eventually, when their meeting ended, the two of the jet-black robed men, left the room.
But for some reason, which made Dan frown in confusion. The figure of Joseph Varkaant couldn't clearly be seen from the images, as if a dark cloud was blocking his visage.
The Emperor's expression turned ugly. His chest heaved greatly as a powerful might surged around his body.
"To think that you actually used an Imperial Token to frame someone and even ask me to become your subordinate..." The Emperor spat in a cold tone, his expression indifferent and frosty. Staring at the shivering group of men, the Emperor said, "I'll give you a chance."
Dan's expression flickered along with the middle-aged man who became dumbfounded but soon became excited about the prospects of being pardoned.
"Confess whoever instructed you to do this kind of thing, and I shall let you live..." The Emperor's tone became amiable and gentle. But if one looked closely, one could see a seething wave of anger boiling within the Emperor's eyes.
The middle-aged man didn't notice it as his figure stiffened, glancing at the cold expression of the young man beside the Emperor, he took a deep breath, kneeled down and said, "I beg your Highness to spare me from punishment If I tell the truth..."
The Emperor replied: "Didn't I tell you that I would do that? All of my words are precious akin to gold. As long as you honestly speak up, I will forgive you..."
The middle-aged man's figure shivered, gritting his teeth, he wondered about why his employer didn't try and protect him? Was he really just a disposable pawn in his eyes? Clenching his fists, he inwardly thought, 'No matter what, If that bastard is not planning on helping me, then I'll bring him with me to the grave!'
He lifted his head and murmured two words which shook the entire Imperial Hall.
"Joseph Varkaant."
"What did you say?" The Emperor's eyes widened in shock, the middle-aged man glanced at Joseph who was already trembling in anger before saying, "Your Highness! It was the Young Master of th-"
Puchi!
Bang!
The sound of penetrated flesh accompanied by a sonic boom echoed in the area, Dan's eyes widened in shock when he realized that the young master from the Varkaant Clan attacked the middle-aged man, lodging a dagger deep within the latter's neck.
"How presumptuous!" The Emperor's expression changed along with Zaramias who floated in the air, both of them summoned the might of their cultivation base in an effort to subdue the young master who fell flat on the ground, completely unable to resist the pressure from the two experts.
"Young Brat from the Varkaant Clan," Zaramias mumbled, "Although our clans have been at odds ever since our settlement, we've been keeping everything under control. But today, because of your scheming, I hope your father doesn't blame me for erasing you in the face of this earth."
Joseph who laid on the ground, snickered, 'Fools! Do they really think that I would openly oppose them without a backing behind me?' He inwardly chuckled, not replying to Zaramias.
"On the account of the Varkaant's clan loyalty towards me, I will pardon you from the death sentence, but since you acted so arrogant and presumptuous before me, you shall be imprisoned for a decade!" The Emperor slammed his staff on the ground before flicking his wrist as he ordered, "Someone! Take this brat away! Place him inside the Great Abyssal Dungeon!"
Dan's expression flickered while Zaramias viciously smiled, the Great Abyssal Dungeon was the place where all kinds of serial killers and horrendous crime committers where imprisoned, the fate of Joseph who would be incarcerated inside such a place could be imagined.
A eunuch rushed to the scene, bringing with him two shackles with iron balls on the end. But before he could approach, an indiscernible pressure encompassed the entire hall. As everyone lifted their heads, they noticed a golden parchment shining in a brilliant light, showering everyone in its light.
"A-an Imperial Pardon?" Rodriguez Dragnil mumbled. Zaramias' expression turned stern while Dan stared at the skies with a blank expression on his face, the sudden turn of events made him astonished as a deafening voice echoed throughout the entire hall.
The golden parchment rolled out, displaying the domineering word, written in an impressive calligraphy, "Pardon" The word floated in the air, displaying the utmost extent of its imperial might before dissipating into nothingness. The brilliant light soon disappeared and the hall returned to its previous dimness.
However, the Emperor's expression looked flushed and he gritted his teeth as he slammed his staff on the ground before saying, "According to the Empire's written laws, anyone who uses an Imperial Pardon shall be forgiven of any crimes, no matter how grievous it is, for as long as it doesn't directly affect the Empire itself."
His eyes glanced at the person that hid in the shadows, along with Zaramias who stared coldly at the silhouette who soon disappeared from their sight.
Joseph stood up with a mocking smile on his face as he stared at Dan whose expression looked frosty. The latter didn't expect such a turn of events, and what's more, he also didn't think that the Varkaant Clan, would use such a precious Imperial Pardon that could only be obtained, once every generation.
'An Imperial Pardon is nothing since this Empire wouldn't last for long anyway, it would be better to just use it outright... He dusted his robe, not saying anything, he walked away from the scene as Zaramias handed something over to Dan.
The Emperor's expression looked ugly beyond doubt. But since rules were rules, he couldn't do anything other than watch the young brat, disappear from his sight.
"Wait..."
Dan's cold voice resonated. Joseph's figure froze, turning around, he lifted his eyebrow and said in a sarcastic tone, "What is it? Young master? Do you have any orders for me?"
The former shrugged, "Just because the Emperor has forgiven you, that doesn't mean that we, from the Longinus Clan, has pardoned your crimes." He took a golden parchment from his robe before throwing it up towards the skies.
"Remember that we, from the Longinus Clan, isn't so easily provoked!" Dan bellowed and the golden parchment rolled up, exuding the familiar imperial aura, it displayed its contents. Revealing two overbearing words which shook everyone to their cores.
[Imperial Decree!]