David's lazy voice boomed, "Shouldn't you also join us, Duke Wilhem?"
His gaze remained fixed on a point 700 meters ahead, and his words caused everyone within earshot to catch their breath.
"What!"
"Is Duke Wilhem coming too?"
"Shit! Did the three of them really gather?
The sudden exclamation drew excited murmurs from the crowd.
They had never seen the three most powerful figures in the entire Balka Empire together in one place. Each of them was known to be elusive, with their subordinates handling most of their duties.
Emperor Alex, who had been quiet until now, wore a faint smile as if he had anticipated this moment.
He did not speak, curious to see how David would proceed.
Emperor Balka thought to himself, "This is getting interesting," and allowed himself a smile.
"It seems there is no hiding from your perception, David."
Suddenly, the space ahead fluctuated, and the originally sunny weather faintly showed signs of rain.
The clouds that had been white instantly turned black, and raindrops soon fell in torrents.
A strikingly handsome middle-aged man materialized in the sky, standing before David and Emperor Alex. His slightly long white hair fluttered in the wind, and his serene face, sporting a gentle smile, exuded an aura of peace that put people at ease.
Those who only caught a glimpse of him would assume he was a charming and good-natured uncle. However, those who knew him intimately and were privy to his true nature knew better.
Duke Noah Wilhem was a well-known ruler who was notorious for his ruthlessness.
He was the ruler of the North and also a skilled general who fought alongside David in the War of the Two Empires fifteen years ago, where they both earned the titles "God of Water" and "God of Fire," respectively.
This war resulted in a landslide victory for the Balka Empire, and it was said that even the four gods of war from the Savaran Empire suffered heavy losses against David and Duke Noah.
This caused a great uproar among the people at the time, especially among the people of the two empires.
Now, seeing the two legendary figures together again, along with Emperor Alex, made people believe that this was a day worth commemorating.
However, everyone was more concerned about what Duke Asvold wanted to say, so Emperor Alex and Duke Noah came in person.
David frowned as he saw the sudden, heavy rain. He snapped his fingers, and a massive sword-shaped fire magic appeared in the air, heading towards the black cloud.
*Boom!*
With a loud boom, the attack created a mist that covered the entire city of Rozen.
Emperor Alex, who had been leaning on his throne, waved his hand, and the mist immediately disappeared.
"Could you be more polite in front of your Emperor?"
"It would reflect poorly on our prestige, wouldn't it?" Emperor Alex's sharp gaze was fixed on both of them, particularly Noah, who was still smiling.
Noah, on the other hand, bowed his head slightly and spoke softly. "I apologize, Your Majesty the Emperor."
After his apology, Noah turned to David and offered a gentle smile.
"How are you, Duke David?" Noah asked jokingly, looking at David playfully.
"I'm fine, as you can see," David responded lightly, closing his eyes.
He was too lazy to engage with Noah because he knew that Noah's true nature was deeply concealed. Despite always appearing cheerful and carefree, Noah was a person whom even David himself was wary of.
Noah was known throughout the Empire for his power as a late-stage Elemental Saint as well as his powerful water core.
Together, he and David were often referred to as the embodiments of the gods of fire and water due to their respective elemental powers.
"Hehehe, you haven't changed at all, David."
Noah chuckled meaningfully as he looked at David, who was leaning lazily on his throne.
Suddenly, he flicked his hand, and a sparkling blue throne appeared next to Emperor Alex's throne.
The throne was formed from water elements that had been condensed to create the shape of a throne.
Everyone present was in awe, realizing that Duke Wilhem's power was truly as impressive as rumored.
The ability to create a throne from elemental water was not something that just anyone could do.
The creation of the water throne was a testament to the exceptional control over elemental power possessed not only by Duke Wilhem but also by Duke David and Emperor Alex, whose mastery of elemental power far exceeded what was achievable by most humans.
"Monster!"
This was the word that came to the minds of everyone present.
After all, the place and power of powerful people like these three were not something they could accept with their common sense.
Especially the three of them, who were figures that could be considered the pinnacle of power on this continent!
Figures with the power of a peak-elemental saint!
One more step towards the legendary Elemental Supreme!
"All right, David."
"You can continue."
Emperor Alex smiled faintly while leaning his head against his palms.
He was curious about the figure of this heir to Duke Asvold's mansion, especially because this boy was related to Lucia, his daughter.
He felt that this coincidence was very strange, and he suspected that this boy was deliberately approaching his daughter, who was kidnapped at the time.
When one is in his position, one will naturally be able to see something odd and suspicious.
However, Emperor Alex looked around and saw nothing of the boy, and he looked at David suspiciously.
"Is the boy yet to come, or is David hiding him until the announcement of the heir?" Emperor Alex thought to himself and waited patiently.
Duke Noah did not speak either, but his expression never changed.
He was also curious about the figure of this boy who became the heir to Duke Asvold's mansion.
After all, he knew David well and knew that the son who became the heir was definitely not a simple figure.
"Interesting," Noah thought to himself.
However, David remained unresponsive to Emperor Balka's words and continued to stare in a certain direction, as if waiting for something.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching horse hooves echoed through the area, drawing everyone's attention.
"Who dares to ride a horse-drawn carriage while the three great figures are in the discussion?" People whispered amongst themselves until they were all silenced by a shocking sight.
"Look!"
"The carriage is flying Duke Asvold's mansion flag!"
"It's a very luxurious carriage!"
"What in the world is going on?"
"Who could be inside?"
Onlookers were stunned to see the blazing fire flag of Duke Asvold's mansion on the carriage, a flag reserved only for exclusive use by certain individuals from the mansion of Duke Asvold.
The Luvic nobles, including the three high-ranking Luvic leaders, were also filled with shock and curiosity.
Being high-ranking Luvic families and having close connections with Duke Asvold's mansion, they were completely unfamiliar with the horse carriage and the figure inside it.
The three of them thought to themselves simultaneously, "Who could it be?"
------
Would you like me to write a bonus chapter about how Zayn's various love interests, including Mira, Chloe, Luna, and Zayn's parents, react to his death at Charlotte's hands?
Of course I'll write it from their point of view, how about it?
If you agree, I will write it later.
Thank you~
