Immortal Kingdoms

Lexus's mind spun rapidly as he processed everything that was discussed to this point. For one, Leonardo didn't admit or deny Bloodthirsty's fall, leaving the answer to that mystery up in smoke. Although an unconscious Bloodthirsty was brought back into the palace, no one could pry past these golden walls from the outside.

If such a ruthless saint was to lead an army through the dozens of provinces within a vassal kingdom, just as Leonardo forewarned, that man would blaze a path of bloodshed and indiscriminate slaughter.

"Won't you stop until you make the Human Domain into another Forbidden Domain?" Lexus asked in a quiet yet eerily calm tone.

"For now, your only enemy is the Regalia Kingdom, and you can only act without a care because they're already caught up in a storm of war somewhere else. Furthermore, the storm was caused by no other than you, I might as well be bold to say that you've deliberately arranged for this chaos to erupt, satisfying your wicked ambition."

This time, Lexus was speaking of the unknown saints that descended upon the energy ore mines out of the blue. Of course, Leonardo had no way of knowing that, as he simply assumed that the domino effect he planned went well and above his expectations. Of course, there was no way in hell he would admit to such a thing, even if Leonardo and Lexus were debating over the same issue on differing wavelengths.

"They've made an enemy out of me, and not the other way around. If you, your house, and the so-called neutral factions behind you want to make the same mistake as them, I welcome you to try."

"No matter how many vassal kingdoms rile up in arms, you can't do anything to me, at least not openly. But so what? Do you think we're afraid of your schemes in the dark? I tell you what?"

"Pandora!" Leonardo shouted in a low voice. Pandora's figure blurred as she knelt in front of the throne, her expression dyed with reverence and devotion.

"I want you to assassinate every first-cycle saint in the Crouching Dragon Province, including the army before my city gates, by the end of this week."

Pandora immediately vanished from everyone's senses and perception as though she phased out of existence. Startled, Lexus quickly shouted with a dark face, "Your Highness!"

Leonard waved his hand, "Stop!"

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Suddenly, Pandora reappeared within everyone's sensory fields once more. However, the next moment, one of the two war generals sucked in a cold breath of air as Pandora's short sword was pressed against his throat.

It would take the slightest effort on her part to lock his head off and no one would be the wiser. Gulping, the war general didn't dare move a muscle, but he didn't need to be so apprehensive. Pandora silently withdrew to Leonardo's left side before sheathing her short sword into the case strapped on her back.

"How about it? I am magnanimous enough to play your little games of war when I could have simply dispatched two of my saints to silently assassinate every key figure in your pitiful territories. I don't need an army, I don't need the support of the people. In fact, your people, my people, their people, who cares?"

"Aren't we all humans? Your people and my people wouldn't care who leads them as long as they're well-fed and sheltered from the rain. No matter who suffers the most during the war, winners always write the books of history. You bring my territory to the last man alive? That's fine, I'll take your people and replace the dead of mine."

"If there was anything humans are exceptionally good at, that would be proliferation and destruction. Of course, you can put schemes into that, but you're a smart kid and I don't wish to waste my breath educating those two muscle heads behind you."

Leonardo sighed, having never talked so much before ever since he left Valdmor. Honestly, there was this unspeakable urge from his blood to simply kill his way through any and all oppositions. In his eyes, these people weren't worth it.

It had already been a year, and the only progress he made was establishing somewhat of a foothold in the Human Domain. To completely conquer this planet in a peaceful manner would be utterly ridiculous.

He already obtained a trump card for the Elven Domain in the form of his follower Juvia. As for the Beastkin Domain, it was yet to be seen whether or not they'd survive the chaos of the Forbidden Domain.

What Leonardo required now was attention. A lot of attention.

Since there was a first Miko, there ought to be a second, a third, a fourth, and perhaps even more. Under the guise of this so-called peaceful era lay histories of demolished nobilities, forsaken inheritances, and cohesive units fed up with the abuse of the strong.

Where there is law and order, there is always a tendency for chaos. That's inevitable.

"It seems like you're not interested in negotiations at all, Your Highness," Lexus spoke despite his anger inside. Even now, he maintained a semblance of respect toward Leonardo, addressing him as a Prince. Leonardo admired this man Lexus, and he made a mental note that he could become a threat in the future.

However, House Erudite is a neutral faction directly connected to the three ruling powers, and Leonardo didn't wish to make an enemy out of them. However, he wasn't afraid of it either.

"If you have nothing else to say, I have other guests to entertain. Go back and tell the army camping outside that a rain of blood will descend on this land, it simply remains a mystery as to whom will bleed to the last."

Leonardo waved his hand, dismissing the envoy and their gifts. He wasn't interested anymore, he already figured out that House Erudite was only neutral to the native forces and not him, an upstart Prince. Since that was the case, he had even less reason to act polite with Lexus.

Lexus grit his teeth and forcibly calmed down before bowing once again as a courtesy. Then, he turned around and left. Surprisingly, they left the heavy box of precious stones and materials in the hall, not bothering to take it along.

Leonardo smiled faintly at this display. Lexus seemed to be a proud person and would disdain to take back something he offered as a gift. As for Leonardo, he wasn't lacking in money so he didn't particularly care.

"Just use these materials to power up a few energy cannons and launch them at the army outside," Leonardo instructed while Lexus had yet to leave the throne room. Thus, the man almost lost his composure.

You don't want to take them back the nice way? Fine, I'll shove them down the throats of your soldiers. That was Leonardo's message.

Pandora nodded and went ahead to accomplish the task without a second of hesitation. Soon while Lexus and company are leaving the palace, they would enjoy a front-seat show of energy beams raining down on the densely packed soldiers outside.

For now, Leonardo instructed Misaka to escort the guest from Valdmor into the throne room. Following his communication transmission, Misaka accompanied a woman wrapped in black cloth, a cloak, and a low hoodie into the room.

After arriving in front of the high chair, she lowered her hoodie to reveal a pair of spiteful heterochromia eyes that glared daggers at Leonardo. She looked tired and haggard, eyes reddening.

Leonardo didn't know what could have happened to a headstrong woman like her to fall into such a miserable state within less than half a year.

Azalea had a lot of grievances on her mind as to what hell on earth she experienced after being used by Leonardo. It might have been a mere sentence on his part, using her like a chess piece to strike at those devils dripping with greed.

However, she never for once thought that she deserved what came her way.

She was tired, really tired. She wanted to yell, shout, and bash at Leonardo who caused it all, but she couldn't find the resolve to do so as she stood there under his lifeless eyes, let alone the two silver-haired beauties by his side that she knew could kill her in the blink of an eye.

For a moment, she didn't know what to say, but her eyes did the work for her as tears began to pour down.