Manipulation

A duel in front of an Emperor would be a sight to see. Usually, young knights get to show off their talents and abilities hoping to catch the attention of their majesty. 

However, this time was different. 

The head of the Hearthe Family, one of the four royal houses, challenged an unknown young man himself. 

Emperor Alexander raised his eyebrow while the other three heads of the royal houses sucked air. 

In their eyes, the outcome was already decided. Ely Hearthe is a powerful knight who has been through many wars and dangerous missions. 

This duel would not only show off his powerful strength but also his superior battle IQ and combat experience. 

Hans rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. 

"A duel?" Hans swept his gaze around and continued, "Here?" 

Ely nodded, "Here."

In Ely's mind, to better prove that Hans is a liar, the throne room is the best. What's more, the humiliation Hans would receive would be awfully tremendous once his bluffs were busted. 

'Hehehe, I won't hold back on you, boy.' Ely secretly muttered. He'll make sure that Hans wouldn't leave this room without a severed limb. 

Gasp—

This time, the gasps came from the knights standing beside the long carpet. A duel inside the throne room is almost forbidden as it may cause damage to priceless properties or even precious materials here. 

What's even crazier is that the duel would commence in front of the Emperor himself. This is blatantly disrespectful behavior. 

As if their movements were in sync, all royal knights move their hands closer to their swords together. 

However, the final judgment would still be on the Emperor. 

Emperor Alexander raised his hand and ordered the knights to put their hands away. In his eyes, Ely seemed eager to punish this young man. 

He's no fool. Of course, he could sense Ely's murderous gaze but as a calculative ruler, he also has a deep curiosity about Hans's strength. 

After all, in the end, Hans was not under the jurisdiction of the Empire but a lone ranger who happened to pass by. 

He's neither an enemy nor an ally and that neutral alignment worries him the most. 

That's why this test of strength not only could gauge Hans' threat but also benefits the Empire itself. 

"Although this throne could stop this, I couldn't resolve their doubts, young man." Emperor Alexander glanced at Hans and continued, "Hence, you must prove yourself to them, with all of your power."

Even though there is no clear distinction, everyone understood that the Emperor has now allowed the duel to commence. 

The knights hurriedly took their hands away and stood straight. Since the Emperor allowed this duel, their job is to only stop it when the other side is deemed unworthy to continue. 

Only… 

"Sorry but I'm not interested." Hans said in a calm tone. He crossed his arms, looked at the Emperor, and continued, "I have completed the mission and I'm here to get my rewards. Now, if you don't want to give it… I could leave, your majesty."

"You!" Ely glared at Hans. 

Hans only glanced at him and swept his eyes to everyone else in the room. 

"But once I leave, I cannot guarantee that I'll be neutral. After all, I'm sure some other 'Empire' could appreciate my service." 

"Boy, know your place!!" 

Booom—

Numerous mana pressure exploded inside the room. The walls cracked while the golden chandelier attached to the ceiling shook intensely. Oxygen slowly vanished, making it harder to breathe. 

Whirl—, whirl—

The previous glamorous room has now become a dreadful face that could crush any regular human into pieces.

Shing—, shing—

The royal knights pulled their swords out and put on their tough faces. The assassination squad lurking in the shadows positioned themselves to where they could fatally strike Hans. 

The head of the houses stood from their seats and gripped their weapons tightly. Ely, who loathed Hans the most, was even more ready to attack him anytime. 

But, even with such commotion, Emperor Alexander remained calm. He never flinched when Hans threatened to ally with his enemies. His hand did not leave the cane nor did he get surprised by Hans' declaration. 

'What a terrifying young man.' Alexander thought. 

The fact that Hans declined means he has enough knowledge to know that he's being calculated. 

Usually, warriors of such a young age were prideful and they wouldn't decline such a battle where they could prove themselves in front of an Emperor. 

But… 

'This young man is different.' 

Firstly, he showed disrespectful behavior to increase the guards of everyone around the room. It's just a coincidence that Ely seemed to loathe this young man. 

His purpose is probably to increase his threat level in front of their eyes. With that, no one would be able to ignore his every word and action and instead would pay attention to it deeply. 

Next, when he asked Hans if there was any evidence that could prove he was telling the truth, Hans quickly took out the crown. 

However, instead of handing it to one of the Royal knights for inspection, it remained in Hans' hands. Hans seemed to know that he could identify the item if it was fake or not even from a few meters away. 

This action seemed normal. Since Emperor Alexander identified it as real, no one would really ask further. However, doubts would surface in everyone's mind other than the Emperor and Hans. 

This would cause uncertainty once he handed over the reward to Hans. Everyone would have thought that Hans might be bluffing as they had no idea if the evidence was even real or not. 

Of course, such actions could be mistaken as nothing out of the ordinary. But, for Emperor Alexander, Hans' purpose was clear here. 

'Plant a seed of doubt.' 

With that, Hans' third plan would be laid without a hurdle. 

His last plan could be executed perfectly.

Ely was surely manipulated. Hans took advantage of his small grudge and used it as an opportunity. Thus, with Hans' perfect manipulation, Ely's doubt cannot be suppressed. 

Ely challenged Hans into a duel of strength. Instead of Hans being provoked, it backfired on Ely instead. 

'A truly masterful deception.'

And by rejecting the duel, Hans could manipulate everyone to think that Ely's words are right and their doubts are right. Since he was rejected, everyone would think that he must be hiding something. 

Then, the final plan is to…

'Threaten the empire.' 

This immediately caused ripples around everyone and without thinking deeply, they unknowingly bared their fangs at Hans. 

Emperor Alexander didn't know what Hans's true intentions were but in his estimate, it was probably to increase the reward. 

If that's the case, even if he asked for a Grand Duke title, the Emperor won't have the chance to decline as it would be some part of 'compensation' in case someone attacks Hans. 

Of course, to execute this plan, Hans' calm demeanor, unknown identity, and unknown strength also has some factors in this. 

It just so happens that his people easily fell for this trick. 

In the end, it's all part of Hans' plan. 

'Hmm, I underestimated you, young man.'

Emperor Alexander maintained a poker face as he stared at Hans' deep cerulean eyes. In his life, he had never seen someone of such age think so brilliantly. 

It's as if Hans was a veteran in the art of deception and manipulation. 

If he's an old fogey, Emperor Alexander could have taken him as maybe a battle tactician. 

However, Hans has strength. 

'Call it a gut feeling…' 

He had never doubted Hans' words. However, he also wanted to know how powerful Hans is with his own eyes. Hence, he allowed the duel. 

However, who would have thought that they have been dancing in his palms all along? 

Who would have thought that such a simple asking for a reward has a deeper conspiracy? 

'This young man is not dangerous but rather, extremely dangerous.' 

The battle hasn't started yet but they have already lost. 

At that moment. 

"HAHAHAHAHA, Interesting!!" Alexander burst out in a loud chuckle. 

If not for his wise mind, he might have already ordered to execute Hans without fail. 

'If only I have a son like him.' Alexander thought. 

All of his sons ran away from the empire and embarked on their own different journeys. No one even wanted to succeed on the throne and that always made his head ache. 

However… 

'If I could nurture this young man, maybe I could let him be the next Emperor.' 

A powerful strength and a tactical mind. The only thing holding him back is Hans' personality. 

In the end, he still couldn't see through Hans' true color. 

Regardless, if Hans is evil or good, his service would still be a huge help to the Empire. 

Hence, he must rope it in at all costs. 

At that moment, Emperor Alexander raised his hand and signaled everyone to retreat. 

"Don't engage." Alexander ordered. 

"But your majesty, he has threatene—" 

"Are you questioning my judgment, Ely? Or is your Hearthe Family, have grown arrogant to this point?" As Alexander answered, a mana pressure that instantly destroyed all leaking mana in the surroundings descended. 

"!!!" 

Shrumm—

"I-I'm not questionin—!" Ely kneeled on the floor and stuttered but was interrupted once again. 

"Are you questioning me?" 

"It's n-not T-that—" 

"ARE YOU QUESTIONING ME!?" 

BOOOM—

Thud—

Ely's face planted on the ground as his body sprawled on the floor. The surrounding knight only felt that there was a blade hanging on their necks. 

The air around their body seemingly turned into razor-sharp blades that could slit their necks anytime. This bizarre sensation could even be felt by some knights patrolling near the Palace.

"N-no, your majesty. I wouldn't dare!" Ely screamed. 

At that moment. 

Shu—

The heavy pressure suddenly vanished. 

Pant—, pant—

Silence permeated around the room. The room was filled with ragged breaths which then turned into a competition on who can control their heavy breathing first. 

On the other hand, Hans remained cool and collected. Faced with the Emperor's mana pressure, he never flinched. 

He already understood that Emperor Alexander is another genuine SSS-Class caliber man. As someone who has met several of them, this was no surprise anymore. 

What's surprising to him is that he felt threatened by Isaac, the old man he met in the forest back then rather than Emperor Alexander. 

This made him wonder if Isaac is the former emperor of the Harisan Empire. 

'I wonder how he is.'

[Don't think about that guy anymore. It felt like he could see me.]

'Really? Well, if you say so.'

Ignoring Plundy's next words, Hans glanced at the emperor. It seemed like Emperor Alexander had already seen through his calculations. 

'Well, it doesn't really matter anymore, I already achieved my purpose.'

Even if it failed, he still has a trump card he could use. Fortunately, there's no need for that. 

After the commotion died down, the Emperor ordered Ely to be escorted out of the throne room. After a brief pause, he immediately went straight towards the point as he stared at Hans. 

In his mind, the only thing that could make Hans stay here is to give him what he wants. 

"Your name is Hans right?" Alexander asked. 

"Yes, your majesty."

"Well then, Hans. What do you want?" 

At that moment, Hans smirked. 

He looked around and after seeing no signs of someone wanting to interrupt, he answered. 

"Firstly, a royal knight position would do." 

Hans wanted to be a knight so he could get access to other skills for free. Additionally, he could use the training ground while he formulated plans for the following days. 

The emperor nodded, "Anything else?" 

"Lastly, the ring and the skill book earlier. I want that."

At that moment. 

The emperor frowned. Although those two items are useless to him, they're priceless to everyone. It's supposed to be a reward for anyone who completed a mission with insane difficulty but now… 

'Damn it.'

He couldn't even reject Hans' request. In the end, all he could do was grit his teeth and accept it. 

"Sigh—" 

Emperor Alexander took a deep breath and spoke, "Fine, you can have those two as well."

After Hans received all his rewards, he was asked to report to the training camp tomorrow. 

As the huge bronze door closed with a thud, Hans swiftly left the castle with a smile blooming on his face. 

....... 

Hearthe Family Mansion. 

Shatter—, shatter—! 

"Ahhhhhh!!!! Damn you!!! You bastard."

Ely swept the vases on his table with his hands as rage filled his eyes. Not only was he humiliated, but also his position as the head of the house was now being questioned. 

Some members of the family were urging him to step down because of the mess he made. 

"It's his fault!!! That maggot!! How dare he!!!" 

Break —, smash—! 

The glass shattered as it met the hard ground. The cold wind blew past the window but Ely's blood still boiled. 

In his head, all he could see was Hans smiling at him as he left there. 

It's as if… he was looking at him like an idiot. 

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!" 

At that moment, Ely slammed his fist on his office table. His eyes seething with rage. 

"Lance!!!"

Bam—!

A burly man barged through the door and knelt in front of Ely.

"Yes, head."

Ely controlled his unsteady breaths and asked, "You told me that the bastards of Beast Empire contacted you right?"

"Yes, head." Lance nodded.

"Tell them I'll will agree to a meeting if they could accept one request from me." Ely said as he clenched his fists.