Josh shifted his gaze between his maid, Lola, and the man he had rescued—now identified by the system as one of his subordinates, Conrad Stan. Conrad had changed his clothing to a neat presentable simple shirt and trousers, and his once messy bloodied face had been cleaned and shaved.
A thousand thoughts swirled in Josh's mind as he watched the two before him, but one thought stood out: Why had the system led him here? It seemed as though the system was guiding him toward his loyal followers.
Without warning, a strange force surged through him, and Josh began to speak, his voice carrying a weight he hadn't intended.
—:—
"I have returned, and I will take this empire—not as an emperor, but as a king. My subordinates will rule this empire and every land we conquer, and I will be the ruler of emperors. They will answer to me as their king. Are you willing to follow me?"
—:—
As the words left his lips, Josh blinked in surprise, realizing what he had just spoken aloud. Yet, he couldn't deny the rush of power coursing through his veins, compelling him forward.
Conrad rose slowly, walked toward Josh, and dropped to one knee. Bowing his head, he declared, "I will follow you till my dying breath."
Josh nodded, and an icon materialized before him in the system interface:
——:——:——:——
Subordinate Confirmed: Conrad Stan
Loyalty Level: Death
——:——:——:——
Josh's gaze lingered on the interface. The system displayed six levels of loyalty:
——:——:——:——
1. Disloyal
2. Normal
3. Servant
4. Above Normal
5. Debt Loyalty
6. Death
——:——:——:——
To his astonishment, Conrad had pledged the highest level of loyalty—one rarely, if ever, chosen.
Another notification appeared:
——:——:——:——
Note: Since your subordinate has chosen Death Loyalty, his growth rate and training efficiency will be significantly enhanced.
System Mission: Train your subordinate to the level of a lieutenant. Empower him and grant him an army. A reward awaits upon mission completion.
——:——:——:——
Josh hid his reaction, unwilling to reveal the absent minded blank expression on his face to anyone else in the room. Just as he began to process this revelation, Lola stepped forward, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Is it really you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Ignoring the situation around her, Lola moved closer and hugged Josh tightly. He stiffened, unsure how to react. Then, to his shock, she knelt before him.
"Forgive me, my prince for my boldness," she said, her voice breaking. "However, My heart is already yours to command."
As Lola spoke, Josh felt an unfamiliar emotion rising within him. He silently pleaded for the system to clarify, and as if on cue, the interface responded:
——:——:——:——
Subordinate Confirmed: Lola
Loyalty Level: Death (Love)
Note: Your second subordinate has been confirmed, though her case is unique—she is in love with you. You may choose to confirm or reject her feelings. In the future, you will encounter similar situations with many other women, it would be in your best interest to not allow relationship entanglement to get in the way of a great empire, so choose wisely.
System Mission: Train your subordinate to the level of an assassin maid. Empower her with skill and power. A reward awaits upon mission completion.
——:——:——:——
Josh's eyes widened as the realization hit him. She loves me? That explained her unwavering devotion, her willingness to do anything for him. Suppressing his inner turmoil, Josh maintained a neutral expression and gently helped Lola to her feet.
In that moment, something profound shifted. Both Lola and Conrad felt an unbreakable bond with Josh, as if their very souls were now linked to his. Josh, in turn, could sense their thoughts, emotions, and intentions with startling clarity. The connection left him in awe.
"We'll begin by taking over Region 32," Josh announced, his tone decisive. "But first, we'll build our strength. Step by step, we'll claim what's ours."
He glanced between Lola and Conrad. "Rest well. Tomorrow marks the start of our conquest."
Without another word, Josh moved to a corner of the small hut, sat down, and closed his eyes.
As Conrad and Lola settled in for the night, a silent understanding passed between them. They were no longer mere followers—they were bound by something far greater.
And as the empire slept, a giant was awakening.
------------------------
In the grand palace of Aratat, Emperor Groa lounged on a luxuriously cushioned seat, feasting with unrestrained indulgence. He tossed a grapefruit into his mouth, savoring its tangy sweetness, and tore into a roasted chicken leg with relish, grease glistening on his fingers.
The maids flitted around him like moths to a flame, ensuring his every whim was met, while a sultry concubine comfortably placed between his thighs, catering to his more carnal desires. Amid this scene of opulence, a messenger sprinted into the hall, bowing deeply as he trembled with fear.
"My Lord Emperor, the Chief Priestess Sarzi Uno has come to see you," the messenger announced, his voice quivering. He was painfully aware that delivering news in the palace often led to a swift and brutal end.
Messengers, though enjoying lives of luxury and privilege, faced a grim reality—their mortality rate was alarmingly high. The current messenger was the fiftieth in just two weeks, most having fallen victim to the Emperor's infamous wrath. Bad news was a death sentence, and the Emperor's moods were as volatile as the storms outside the palace walls.
"Send her in," Emperor Groa commanded without so much as a glance at the messenger. His robes hung loosely around his exposed, glistening torso and below, and he made no effort to adjust them. Instead, he gestured for the concubine to pour him more wine and continue her pleasurable offering as he continued to eat his fill.
The messenger bowed low, muttering silent prayers of gratitude to his gods before retreating swiftly, his life spared—this time.
Moments later, Chief Priestess Sarzi Uno entered the hall, flanked by three attendants who moved with the grace and poise befitting their station. Sarzi, draped in sacred robes, exuded an air of authority and mysticism. She bowed deeply before the Emperor.
"My Lord Emperor…" Sarzi began, but as her gaze lifted, her composure faltered. The sight before her—a ruler indulging in hedonistic excesses—made her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She quickly averted her gaze, as did her priestesses. Such decadence threatened to defile their sanctity, if it hadn't already.
"Tell me, Chief Priestess," Emperor Groa's voice cut through the tension, sharp and dismissive. "Do you see now that your predictions were wrong?" He didn't bother masking his contempt, his tone as cutting as the blade of an executioner.
Sarzi swallowed her unease and replied, "Yes, my Lord Emperor. I have learned that Josh was reportedly beheaded in Region 32. I must apologize for my erroneous prophecy."
Her words were careful, yet doubt simmered beneath her surface. Though countless witnesses had confirmed Josh's execution, something about the situation felt off. Could it be that the prophesied Josh—the one destined to take the empire and dethrone the Emperor—was a different man?
Unbeknownst to her, her instincts were far closer to the truth than she realized.
Josh was very much alive. Not only had he survived, but he now wielded the power of a mysterious system—a force that would elevate him to unprecedented heights. Slowly, methodically, he would carve away at the empire's foundations, wresting power from his brothers, sisters, his father's wives, concubines, and ultimately, Emperor Groa himself.
The awakening had begun, though none in the palace could foresee the storm that was about to descend upon them.