Just as they planned, the rumours that were roaming the streets of Saint Empire, quickly aroused the attention of the Palace. Kairos had underestimated the extent that the information network their Emperor, Galahad the twelve, had spun throughout the lands.

With the Silent Lambs Empire's keenness to invade their lands, Emperor Galahad had extensively created secret spying facilities camouflaged as inns, shops, even nurseries throughout their enemy's cities.

In the game of war, information is the strongest weapon a King could have, and Emperor Galahad spared no efforts to hone his blade.

Of course, Emperor Axtaius of the Silent Lambs Empire did not take it lying down, and he created the Colour-System, where every citizen is forced to wear assigned colours to depict their stations, to counter sensitive information from being leaked. It is a poor system at best, inciting elitism among her citizens, but it allows them greater control over their people.

Against Saint Empire which had stood since times of antiquity, the Silent Lambs Empire do not have as deep a root to prevent spies secretly sent into their borders, and they could only take more extreme measures to root out the moles.

But it is still far from enough, because the very day that the Phrixus Palace received the news that the Princess was slain, Emperor Galahad had also received the same news.

Even so, the rumours from the street were still surprising for the Emperor.

He had already confirmed the validity of the death of Princess Axtalia, but her passing meant little in their state affairs. It was the other part of the rumour, the destruction of the Phantoms, which received his attention.

No matter what, he had to confirm the truth of this information, for the collateral meaning is indeed too great.

Therefore, just as Kairos had hoped, he received his first summon to the Palace.

With the help of Grand Elder Feng, Kairos dressed properly for the audience with his Emperor. With a calmness unlike most people who are to meet a person so far above their station, Kairos began travelling to Saint City. As tradition requires, the attendants of a Viscount should number at least 5, but as a noble without a single servant, Kairos had no one to bring.

His friends, as well, are too young looking to pass off as his attendants. Therefore Grand Elder Feng offered some men from the Trade Federate.

"It's alright," Kairos refused the kind offer, "No matter what was the reason behind my summoning, I am only 13 years of age, and I need to play the part.

I shall enter the Palace with my friends and father."

If senior nobles that were summoned by the Emperor to act wilfully as Kairos did they would definitely meet with repercussions, but for him, this decision will instead be helpful. He has no doubt that his character would be judged by Emperor Galahad on their meeting, and to risk being seen as a pretentious boy who has a scheming heart would be inconvenient in the future.

Grand Elder Feng nodded in agreement when Kairos decided to do things true to his nature, and he gifted the young Viscount a carriage instead. The boys, together with Vouno, soon entered Saint City, and they headed straight towards the Palace.

They did not have to wait long, and Kairos was escorted to the audience hall while his friends and family stayed in the waiting room for him.

When he entered the Emperor's presence, he confidently stepped forward through the hall then knelt on a knee towards the throne.

The Emperor sat on a reddish-gold throne with plump cushions woven from frost spider's webs. The material of the throne is the Bloodgold, an immortal rank metal that is too dense to be forged into a blade.

It is fashioned from a slab of metal as large as a boulder, unlike the trivial amount of Cherry Iron immortal ore that Fritzgen had. The value of what the Emperor is sitting on could easily exchange for even a fortress, though the rarity of such an item makes it hard for anyone to purchase even if they have the money. It is only because the long history and great depth of wealth that Saint Empire has that the royal family could enjoy such luxury.

The Emperor with long flowing brown hair and golden leaves resting on his crown, wore a golden robe embroidered with crimson red dragons on it, as he sat rigidly upon his throne. Though he is a large man, he appeared gaunt, even slightly emaciated from the burden he constantly carries upon his shoulders, but his eyes still burned piercingly at all who looked at him.

Using his Soul Perception, Kairos noticed, without raising his head from his position, that this is a man who radiates an air of power. One that is developed from believing in power over anything else. His expression did not change, but internally he thought, "He seemed like an overly intense person."

"Arise," Galahad said without any emotion in his voice, but the presence of the man is something that only a person who has been at the peak of society could have.

"A triple S ranker as well," Kairos noticed a similar strength to the Guardian eludes from him, but different from Syriong, Emperor Galahad carried a strange form of power about him.

"I..it's mana. The rumours are true. He really could use magic!"

Except for Kairos, no one in the audience hall noticed the slight tinge of mana in the air dancing around the Emperor. Without Soul Perception, unless he casts a spell directly, it would be impossible to tell that the Emperor also practices magecraft.

Aisa had said before, that the device which checks for magic users can only detect magic circles therefore even if Kairos used mana to infuse into his body would be safe. Of course, the large increase in his strength would still raise questions.

As commanded, Kairos stood on his feet and patiently waited for the Emperor to address him. Though he was only a commoner, he knows not to speak unless spoken to in this place.

"Astroire... A unique name you have chosen, Kairos Astroire," the Emperor continues, "We have heard of you very often in recent times. Tell us. Had you been waiting for this summon for a long time?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As Kairos expected, the Emperor effortlessly saw through the reason of him spreading the rumours is because he would like to gain credit for his actions.

The royal guards stared stoically at Kairos, but in their hearts, they are eagerly awaiting what will unfold next. Quite a few of them pitied Kairos. A poor, frightened, village boy facing the Emperor by himself.

Of course, the 'poor' and 'frightened' are conceived in those guards' minds.

A larger group, however, smirked at Kairos, feeling that the boy's greed had warranted the Emperor's wrath.

The overbearing authority of the Emperor while revealing one's agenda this openly would petrify another individual. However, Kairos looked straight at the Emperor's chest calmly, knowing it is improper for a subject to bring his sight directly at his sovereign.

Then he replied, "By your grace, my Emperor, I have not awaited."

Kairos do not know the customary court etiquettes to reply Emperor Galahad. Instead, he simply followed how the subjects speak to their monarch as written in the stories.

It was an honest answer, but straightforward to the point where it borders rudeness. Yet, despite what others thought, the Emperor laughed heartily at his answer.

"You want something," The Emperor revealed Kairos' intentions straightforwardly. At his position, he does not need to mince his words against anyone. Even if he is facing another Emperor, he will have no qualms in speaking this way, much less towards a young boy.

Kairos nodded his head slightly and said, "Yes Sire, I do need something."

He had tactfully changed the Emperor's words from 'want' into 'need', then he quietly awaited the monarch to continue.

"How about Earldom?" Galahad said as if they are discussing a trade in the market.

"Your subject, Kairos, would greatly appreciate your graces," Kairos replied almost indifferently and completely without fear. In the first place, he didn't do anything wrong, so why should he be frightful in front of another?

"Young people these days are never satisfied," Galahad continued, assuming from Kairos' tone of voice that the Earldom he offered was merely 'satisfactory', "However, we have always valued our young talents highly. We have heard your attendants are all your friends and your father. We will grant them each a Barony and your father, a Viscount... If," He paused, emphasising on the last word he said, "you could give proof of the deaths of the Phantoms."

"Finally, the main subject is brought to the table," Kairos thought.

The news of the Phantoms' death has been kept so secretively that even Galahad with all his resources could not determine the truth behind these rumours that Kairos had started. If it turns out to be the truth, the implications are remarkable, and handing out a few noble ranks is nothing in comparison.

"Your Majesty, truthfully my team had not accomplished this ourselves. The Guardian of Silent Lambs Empire, Syriong, went mad on the Giant's Prairies and slain over 200 Phantoms while dying in the process.

The rest of the Phantoms met their ends in the poisonous marsh near the Silent Lambs Empire checkpoint, where their bodies now lie."

"The Guardian has died?!"

On hearing this, even the Emperor could not keep his composure. He leapt off his throne and swiftly walked down to where Kairos is, then grabbing the boy's arm he almost shouted, "Is it true. Is the guardian dead?"

"I speak the truth, Sire," Kairos said politely, "Though I do not intend to claim credit, for Syriong met his demise surrounded by the Phantoms."

In a way, he spoke the truth. Though technically Syriong perished in Kairos' hands, he chose not to reveal the entirety to the Emperor. The complications of doing so, is simply not worth the trouble.

"Details, boy! Tell me everything from the beginning, what caused the death of Syriong," Emperor Galahad asked most eagerly. The deaths of the Phantoms could only help them suppress their foes, the Silent Lambs Empire, for a while but there are none who could replace the Guardian.

Eventually, an Empire can reform a group like the Phantoms, but no one has the resources needed to create another Peak Grade Triple S ranker like Syriong who is one of the pillars of a nation.

Though cultivators are long-living, the Silent Lambs Empire only have three people at the level of Syriong. Now that one has fallen, who knows how many years will pass before another takes his place?

People generally agree that how many Peak Triple S rankers a country have, determines their level of strength. After all, even if a single top practitioner cannot defeat all the armies of an empire, he could deal a lot of damage and run away before he is caught. Especially when their speed is far quicker than mounts, and their Ki allows them to decimate the normal soldiers. Whenever that happens, only another practitioner of the same level could be the stoppage force.

It is not an understatement to say that if Saint Empire ever go into an all-out war with the Silent Lambs Empire, it would eventually fall to the life and death of the Triple S rankers to decide the winner.

For example, if an Empire won a great war but lost all their top practitioners, the sovereignty would quickly weaken and disappear into the annals of time or otherwise, it will be divided by the other powers that lust after the resources an Empire has.

The death of Syriong is indeed an important winning piece of news that Kairos has given him. In fact, the death of any top practitioner is news that would resonate throughout the world.

Kairos, on the other hand, felt the death of Syriong a delicate information to divulge. It's unwise for him to spread the news that they killed the Princess, destroyed the Phantoms and also slain a triple S ranker like Syriong. Even if he dared to claim it, none would even consider it plausible.

Of course, it would be safer for him if no one accepts such a possibility. Because if others actually believed this, their troubles would never end.

Every top level practitioner had taken years to reach where they stand, and when they reach the peak, all of them are widely known throughout the mortal realms. However, if Kairos' group are proven capable of killing an SSS Ranker, no one would know where their loyalty lies, and they would instead become an immediate threat in the eyes of the monarchs. Even to Galahad.

Every Peak Grade Triple S rankers must prove their allegiance to a faction, or the practitioner would be rejected and could only go into hiding or enter the Savage Lands.

Understanding this, Kairos did not reveal that he was the one that took down Syriong. Moreover, it was after the Guardian powered up by turning into a devil.

Though, it could be said that turning into a devil was his ultimate downfall because of Aisa, if the Guardian fought them directly, they might have lost their lives.

To satisfy the Emperor's curiosity, Kairos had prepared a story of the death of Syriong.

The Emperor listened attentively, still holding onto Kairos' arm, and when the boy told him that the Imperial Guards had turned the Guardian into a scapegoat for the Princess' death, he laughed heartily.

"Syriong, that old fool, he actually got riled up into fighting the Phantom? He deserved death for his folly!"

Because the story is made of incomplete truths, and convincing as a result of the confidence Kairos have, Galahad found every word believable.

Unfortunately, as Kairos recounted, there is no way to confirm the Syriong's death when his body disappeared with a bright flash of light.

Having heard the details, Emperor Galahad recovered his composure and once again took his place on his throne, then said, "You've done well young man. We will confirm Syriong's death, and we look forward to your future achievements. Direct my men to the bodies of the Phantoms resting within the poison mire, and you shall have your reward."

Kairos gave a bow and turned to leave. Internally, however, he couldn't help himself from feeling that Galahad is a wily old fox.

The Emperor heard how Kairos' group used the poison in the marsh to defeat the Phantoms, and of course, he wanted to wield that place as his own power. In fact, it wasn't the first time someone wanted to make use of that deadly mire, however, the poison in the area was incurable and impossible to ward for all, until Kairos' group had travelled through it unharmed.

By asking Kairos to direct his men to the swamp, Emperor Galahad will indirectly receive the method to render the toxins harmless, and thereafter able to master terrain as his weapon.

Of course, afterwards, not only Kairos but also the perfumer who created this ward would be ordered to keep their silence.