The room was extremely cold, yet the figures within it were suddenly sweating buckets. None of them could believe Ares had the audacity to challenge the emperor—the man with the highest authority in the nation. This was unprecedented; since the creation of Carrington, no one had ever dared to challenge the emperor so openly. It had never been heard of, let alone seen.
Ares had gone too far!
"Preposterous!" Allan roared, a murderous aura emanating from him. He glared at Ares with eyes as dark as the night itself, his body trembling with rage. "His Imperial Highness is the ruler of this great nation! Its number one citizen! How dare a punk like you threaten and challenge him? This is treason! Treason of the highest order!"
The Gods and Goddesses of War swallowed large gulps of spittle, their eyes full of fear. Indeed, this was treason! Had it been anyone else, they would have apprehended the traitor without hesitation. But this was their Master and Lord; how could they possibly act against him?
Suddenly, Allan's gaze shifted to them, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes. "Are you twelve not the revered Gods and Goddesses of War?" he demanded. "Someone has just committed treason. Why are none of you taking any action? Have you forgotten your sacred duties to the nation and His Imperial Highness?!"
THUMP!
THUMP!
Beads of sweat as large as six-inch pearls dropped to the floor from the bodies of the Gods and Goddesses of War.
They glanced between Ares, who in the midst of everything still brazenly had his hand stretched toward the emperor, and the emperor, who was looking at him with an unreadable expression. Their eyes flickered to Allan, then to each other.
They seemed to communicate with their eyes. After which, one of them, a God of War shifted his attention to Ares.
"Master, please, can you lower your hand?" After hesitating for several minutes, he said, his voice barely above a whisper, and his back prickling. Instantly, he lowered his head, afraid to meet Ares's gaze.
Ares turned to regard him, then chuckled. He looked rather amused. "You punks were asked to apprehend me, is that all you could come up with? Where did your loyalty to the nation and His Imperial Highness go?"
The Gods and Goddesses of War staggered backward, their fearful eyes turning to shock. Ares was their Master and Lord, and they had gone against their sacred duties to the nation and His Imperial Highness, refraining from apprehending him solely because of their unwavering loyalty and love for him. How then could he say such a thing? They couldn't understand just what was going on in that mind of his.
Perhaps, was he saying they had done wrong and should have apprehended him?
"But, Master...," One of the Goddesses of War looked at him with conflicted expression and tried to say. However, Ares waved her off dismissively.
"I understand." He smiled. Turning to Allan, who looked like he was about to explode from anger, he sneered. "I made these punks who they are. Before their loyalty to the country comes their loyalty to me, their Lord. Did you really think they would go against me just because you made some silly remark?" He shook his head, regarding Allan as if he were the greatest clown he'd ever seen. "Anyway, since they can't apprehend me, would you do the honors? Do you have the guts?" He shifted his gaze to D'arken. "What about you, old man, do you have the guts to apprehend me?"
"Ares, don't think that because you are a national hero, you are untouchable! You are still a citizen of the nation and are bound by its laws," though boiling with anger, D'arken said coolly. His demeanor was a stark contrast to Allan's, who loved shouting.
Ares merely chuckled as he retorted, "This is why most of you fail exams. I asked if you have the guts to apprehend me, did I say you should remind me who I am and the law? Do you even think you know the law better than I do, someone who fought for the nation and won the war?"
"Your Imperial Majesty, this punk is becoming more arrogant and impudent by the second! Give the order, and I'll immediately have him arrested!" Allan bellowed, staring intently at the emperor.
The emperor, however, remained silent. If he heard Allan, he didn't show it with even the slightest flinch.
Seeing this, Allan became more agitated. "Your Imperial Majesty, why aren't you saying anything? Are you afraid that the citizens might riot if you order his arrest? I assure you, there's no need for such worries. The citizens respect the law. Once an official statement is made about his treason, they will have no choice but to accept it. Now, can you please give the order for this rogue to be apprehended?"
At this moment, the emperor finally reacted. He turned to look at Allan. After a moment of silence, he shook his head and said cryptically, "If only it were that easy." Then, he turned to Ares, a surprising smile spreading across his face.
"You are something. It's no wonder you managed to win the war the moment you stepped in." He remarked with a soft sigh. Then, he reached into his pocket, retrieved a shiny ATM card, and extended it towards Ares. "Take this. For your revenge, I believe you will not only need strength but money."
As the emperor held out the card, the figures in the room held their breath. It was the emperor's card, bearing the official seal. There was only one like it in the entire world, and one couldn't begin to imagine the sheer amount it held! But that was not all, not only had the emperor not gotten angry at Ares for threatening and challenging him, but he was now offering him his personal card. They couldn't believe what was going on. Had the emperor lost his mind?
Ares glanced at the card in the emperor's hand for a moment before bursting into laughter. "The man who stripped me of my authority and tried to stop me from seeking my revenge is now offering me his personal card? Your Imperial Majesty," he abruptly stopped laughing and met his gaze, "are you trying to make amends?"
The emperor's expression twitched. But he still maintained a smile as he replied, "I was wrong for trying to stop you from seeking your revenge. It's only fair that I make it up to you. Besides, you've done a meritorious deed for the nation, so it's only natural that I, as the emperor, reward you. After all, that is all I can do since you have no desire for any of the offers I proposed."
There was an underlying meaning to the emperor's last statement, one that a genius like Ares easily grasped. However, rather than acknowledging it outright, he simply smiled, keeping his thoughts to himself.
Accepting the card from the emperor, he remarked calmly, "Since you have offered, it would be rude of me to reject." He then turned and glanced at Allan. "Tonight, I entertained your nonsense out of respect for His Imperial Highness. You wouldn't be so lucky next time." With that declaration, he exited the room without looking back.