In the western continents, live the kings of a thousand lives. Every decision they make glorifies their country for generations to come, as their descendants sing their praises for the mercy and benevolence they have shown. They are made statues for citizens to worship and admire.

While the others are made statues of their likeness for different reasons. They slaughter a million lives for their amusements. Destroy lives as if they are infested with rats in their homes. They are feared by their enemies, even more so by their citizens. The kings live a life of evangelic worship, whose praise they receive as if they are gods themselves.

The man thought as he gazed over the horizons. He had a pondering expression, looking at the tall spires and buildings that dot the city. The city was glorious, magnificent buildings that stood erect in every corner of the city, a city of commerce and trade, a city of kindness and respect. And yet the heavy clouds hung over them. Blocking the natural light that the man thought they deserved.

With his enhanced sight, he peered closer at the citizens of the city. He saw them struggling to walk as they made their way closer to the shelter. They used items of various assortments to cover their heads from the pitter-patter of the rain. Some used their bags, a piece of clothing, or none at all as a small minority of them barely have thick enough clothes to shelter them from the shivering cold.

The man saw them quiver from the cold, clutching their body as they tried a chance to feel warmth. They stood at the far reaches of the city, a place where the slum minority lived. They sat shivering as they were helpless to do anything of the rain that befall them. But he can, the man thought.

The golden light that was as bright as the sun shone in his hands. He raised his fist and slammed it against the storm-covered sky. In a moment, the skies parted and the thick clouds that covered the sun were no more. The clear blue skies that stretched endlessly over the horizon were seen, as well as the bright sun that gave warmth to the ones who were cold. The man then looked back to the streets of the city and saw the expressions of the citizens. It was of joy and happiness, and when he looked back at the slums, it was of warmth. A smile crept up on the side of his face, turning his back from the sight and gazing at the attendant waiting for him.

The man looked at his attendant, his round-rimmed glasses as well as the stern expression he was making. The attendant's brown eyes looked back at him, opening his mouth as he said.

“Your Majesty, you still have a meeting to attend.”

“I see.”

“Your Majesty, may I be blunt?”

“You may. I never forbade it.”

The attendant looked at him directly in the eyes and said with a stern voice. “That meeting was half an hour ago.”

“Is that so? I didn't notice the time.”

“It's scheduled in your office table.”

“I wasn't at my office table.”

“I told you that you had a meeting half an hour ago.”

The man, instead of opening his mouth, said.

“Viktor… Can I not go?”

The attendant coldly looked at the man in front of him. Half an hour ago, he said the same thing and instead of going to an important meeting, he went god knows where and left his military advisors to talk between themselves. The attendant even had to apologize in his stead but his Military Advisors didn't seem to mind, saying that they would be even more surprised if he showed up.

Instead of replying, the attendant just sighed and went out of the room. Now his boss was back, going off somewhere for some reason he didn't tell me. The attendant started doubting why he even existed in the first place. He should have taken the job in the Golden Boat Merchant Association.

The attendant sighed, and instead of replying, he approached the man and grabbed into his cloak. He pulled and started dragging the man out of the room.

“No means no. You have already escaped half an hour ago, telling no one where you went. And now you come back without a proper explanation, and think you can ditch your responsibilities? I think not.”

Hearing his attendant scold him, he hurriedly said.

“Ay Viktor, of course, I have a good excuse. Here come look here.” The attendant stopped and looked at what excuse he might have. The man smiled, seemingly thinking that he had the upper hand, and showed him what it was. He fished something out of the bag he was carrying and pulled out an object. The moment Viktor saw, his eyes widened as if he couldn't believe what he was saying.

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“See, it's a good reward. That little child Cosmo will certainly be happy because of it.”

Instead of replying, Viktor held his with his hands, and started muttering things like ‘I should have listened to Mother,’ and ‘How did this idiot become emperor.’ Because of his enhanced hearing, the man heard of all of it and wasn't offended. He also wondered sometimes how he became emperor.

“Where did you get it?” Viktor asked.

“Don't worry about it.” the man replied, wearily smiling.

“Where. Did. _You. _Get. It.”

“From the west, destroying an evil cult that took hold of a small kingdom…”

The man smiled as if he was boasting about something great, seemingly asking for praise in the process. Viktor’s legs suddenly felt weak, as he stumbled in his steps and was barely caught by the man.

“Wha.. Viktor are you okay? See, I told you you should take a break when you overwork yourself so much.”

“Why do you think I'm so overworked!”

Viktor sharply gazed at the man, and the man looked away as if he had nothing to do with it. Viktor sighed, feeling that his dream of getting home by midnight was a pipe dream. A fleeting dream that was never meant to be caught. He balanced himself and thought about the situation. Guessing from the man's expression, he annihilated them. Not letting a single soul leave that land. The problem was it's not that simple.

The cult that he destroyed, from what he knew, was the cult that worshipped the [False Deus] Bakhra, The Evil God of Blood and Slaughter. Viktor knew that they were infamous for setting up religious sacrifices in mass. Slaughtering people like they were worse than animals. But what differed them from the rest was not just their viciousness and cruelty, but also their intellect. They were madmen, but they were madmen that knew how to use their brains.

From the information that Viktor gathered, they slowly kidnapped the citizens from the dark, while maintaining a bright and easygoing atmosphere on the surface. Little did the citizens know that when the time came, the kingdom would be sacrificed to the evil god, as a servant of the evil god would descend and wreak havoc on the continent.

On any normal occasion, they would be quickly cleansed by the {[Slane Theocracy]} Inquisitors. Or be defeated by the surrounding kingdoms once their plot has been discovered. Nobody, not even their empire wants a daemon descending on the continent. Especially if they are of high rank. But there was something wrong with the situation.

Viktor questioned the man more and found out that the cult was already in the final stages of preparation. And the moment the cult was about to start, they were stopped at just the right time by the man in front of them. Viktor sighed, but now it was a sigh of relief. He wanted to praise the man, but he knew better than to let his head grow bigger than it already was.

They should have been stopped long ago. Viktor knew from historical records that a sacrifice the size of a kingdom would take months or even more than a year to prepare for. All the while maintaining a high level of secrecy. In the Western continent, secrets were few between. Thus, Viktor guessed, no he knew, that something terrible was brewing in the shadow of the continent.

“What the matter? Something troubling you Viktor?”

The man asked his pearly white teeth, blue eyes, and golden hair almost blinding Viktor. He looked away, feeling that the world was unfair for letting a man that handsome exist.

“Something bad is happening. I don't know what.”

“Ay Viktor, don't worry too much. I can just blast it out into the sky. Just point me where it is and I'll deal with it.” The man smiled, oozing pure confidence as if he could do it. Viktor knew he could, but there were limits to what a man could do. Even if that man was The Emperor.

“Nevermind. Drop that off to Samuel, and let's go to the meeting.”

“What? No, I want to give it to Cosmo myself. I want to see the look on his face when he sees-”

“No means no. Now come on, your advisors are starting to gamble on whether you going to show up or not. I bet that you were.”

The man known as The Emperor smiled, as he strode out of the room, with Cosmos gift in hand.

…

“Do you mean it?”

I asked, bewildered that Mr Samuel said something insane. I couldn't hold my excitement but also nervousness, I held my hands together, almost jumping up and down if it weren't because of Mr. Samuel scolding me because I was being a kid. Well I was a kid, I was 15.

“Yeah yeah, I'll let you command a team of your own. But there are a few conditions.”

“Anything! What is it?”

“First, you have to beat them in combat. No person will follow a person weaker than them. But if someone stronger than you chooses to follow you, then it's also a measure of your character and will.”

Okay, understandable. I mean if someone followed me and it turned out I was weaker than them. Then I would just become embarrassed, I would be walking on eggshells in front of them if it persisted. I don't want to order them to do something, and if they don't like my order, there's a good chance they would just slim my throat and be done with me. I just hoped no one stronger than me followed me.

“Second: You will train them, not me. If they choose to follow you, then you are hereby responsible for them. Any mistake they commit is your mistake- No excuses.”

Thats harsh. If they kill a person and I end up becoming responsible for it, then that would suck. I didn't understand why Mr Samuel was saying that. I didn't know what the intention was behind it. I would of course come to find out later on.

“And for the Last condition, do not abandon them. Not a single one. Got it?”

Okay, that seemed understandable. It was obvious I guess, since it was common sense for anyone to not leave anyone behind. But the way Mr Samuel said it, the conviction in his voice, the seriousness behind it. It was like he was emphasizing that it was the most important part. He was somewhat casual with the first two and suddenly became super serious with the most common-sense one. I didn't understand. But I still said.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good, now go away and pick your members from the guild. it can be either from the guild or outside. I'll be responsible for their living standards since I don't believe a shmuck like you can pay for it. You can pick an outsider, but _you _will bear responsibility for their living arrangements. The max is four people.”

Mr Samuel said, before taking one last swig from his glass and leaving.

I was excited. I couldn't believe that I could head a team of my own. Though there was a big responsibility to bear, I believed that I could bear it. Now I just had one problem, who would those people be? I looked towards Amy and saw the cold look she was giving. ‘Don't,’ was what she seemed to be saying. Well, whatever, it's not like I could beat her in combat anyway.

Time to look for my future subordinates.