"Kid—"
"Shut up."
At another time, she may have been offended by the utter disregard she received, but the picture on the news got her laughing so much.
Velarin Glorias, acknowledged as the second best of the Golden Generation by the media, was clutching Urapus's arm while smiling excitedly. It was a heartwarming picture.
Like a tender love that blossomed when they were young. Roxy felt pity for Roxanna. She wondered how that kid was holding up with this news.
However, before the atmosphere could reach its peak, the tags below them ruined it all. Even Principal Orhelm was dumbfounded.
She also contributed by laughing as hard as she could. She was truly bewildered. Just what are the kids learning these days? How could Velarin Glorias, a little girl, know such 'interesting' and intriguing tags?
"Have you met Roxanna yet?"
Amid his grudge-driven training, Urapus paused for a moment, "I haven't yet. Can't disturb her while she's training."
"Excuses are for the weak, kid."
Urapus glanced at her in disdain, "Mistress, stop using that phrase when the situation is in your favor."
"I'm quite impressed, actually. Just a kid, yet already proficient in a two-timer relationship. I may have to take some advice from you."
Roxy held up her hand on her mouth, giving him an amused look. Despite being named after the First Hero, Urapus is not so honorable, huh?
After a few banters, Roxy waited for Urapus to finish his training before confronting him with a solemn look, "So how it is? You've already learned about them?"
"I did. It's quite simple, surprisingly. Compared to the 1st Era, the situation isn't that bad, in my opinion. Everything is quite balanced."
Roxy nodded in agreement. But she whispered something inaudibly, hinting at him to keep it a secret,
"But you don't have to be worried. The current Sovereign may lack authority and be in favor of ruling with a pair of violet gloves, but as long as those under him did not cross a certain line he established since the start of his regime, mankind would still be in peace."
"What is that 'line'?"
Roxy showed a wry look. She looked up, gesturing at the meridian line in the sky.
"As long as those at the frontline are not disturbed, then they could do as they please. After all, the origin of the seat of the Sovereign is to ensure that Mankind's Greatest Mistake won't happen ever again. And I'm sure the three families, no matter how greedy they are, wouldn't cross that line."
Urapus snorted, "Mistress, you talk as if you're not a part of them."
The Monarch brushed his hair, giving the heir a soft smile, "I'm on the Awakener's side. Those who fight to protect our lives. As for these skirmishes, they don't matter to me."
Urapus feels strange. The infamous Monarch usually wouldn't be as soft-spoken as this. He wonders what's going on. Roxy noticed his astonishment, but to not ruin her own moods, she reluctantly decided to brush it off.
The instructor and cadet duo talked about mundane things. They would occasionally stare at the meridian line, wondering what was happening up there.
And then, as they enjoyed their time, from afar, the figure of Principal Orhelm was rapidly approaching them, with a look of rage plastering his face.
"ROXY!"
Roxy felt a foreboding. Principal Orhelm is not so easy to anger. There are only 2 things that could make him storm out of his office. There's either a breach of the established line or an attack targeted at the cadets.
"The Outer Forces openly announced that as long as Urapus Ashford is not handed over to them, they would launch an all-out attack, whether it was at the frontline in space or the frontline on the sea!"
Roxy and Urapus jumped out of their seat. The former was enraged and in disbelief, while the latter pursed his lips. A flash of disappointment flashed through his eyes.
Wasn't this what exactly happened to the First Hero? Who was killed not by the enemies, but by his own people? The fury that has long been buried was threatened to burst again, ready to unleash its wrath on the world.
Urapus clenched his teeth, waiting for Principal Orhelm to continue. The man looked at him with sadness, but his fury eclipsed it.
"The Meykler jumped out first. Although their stance was ambiguous, it's clear that they were quite eager to prove something. The Hardens openly rejected the notion, acknowledging their relationship with Urapus. Now, only the Raven had yet to raise their voice. Fortunately, the Sovereign was hinting at them not to accept it. After all, the war is bound to happen anyway."
His peaking fury was relinquished immediately. Urapus sighed in relief. He's afraid that if it is true, he has to rearrange mankind's sovereignty.
So the Meykler, right? Urapus narrowed his eyes. It seemed like he truly had to pin them down in his mind.
"What the hell were they holding a conference for?! Our stance was obviously clear from the start!"
Roxy was ready to unleash her rage. Her iconic power, the telekinesis, showed its might. Her surroundings were shaking under her pressure, and even the ground was bent downwards slightly.
Orhelm sighed, "A conference was ordered to ensure that mankind is not divided by interest. The Sovereign was expecting the meeting to go smoothly. And while the Meykler did act suspiciously, they have yet to cross the promised line."
"I don't give a single damn about any of those! Just tell me where that blockhead, slippery piece of old junk is! I'll let that thing have a piece of my mind! To not answer definitely means that he has other thoughts!"
Her chest weaved heavily. Roxy was thoroughly furious. Those slippery pieces of shit have been poking on her nerves for a long time, taking advantage of the resources needed by the frontline to earn personal interests.
The only reason the descendants of those weaklings could catch up to the other two families was because of their personal connections, hoarding elixirs for their successors to use.
She stomped her feet. How hateful!
"The Sovereign is bound by interests. Without the Meyklers who are nigh-unbeatable in the sea, transportation, sailing, delivery, and development in rural places would be put on hold, and mankind would lose 30% of its resources and development efficiency should he abdicated them."
"Mistress, I think you should calm down first. Issues like these are not very wise to be handled by iron fists," The quiet Urapus chimed in also, although his face was still plastered with sadness.
Roxy glared at both of them, but they had no intention to back down. Orhem was still clear-headed despite being furious, while Urapus was familiar with this kind of ploy.
In the end, after thoroughly ruining the vast field, the fury on her face subsided. Her eyes were now icy-cold, showing her grace as the Monarch of Mankind. There had not been a single instance where anyone would dare to cross her path when she was like this.
"Let's go. I want to see just what sort of nonsense these old coats are pulling. Everyone would like to implement their plan until they get hit in their fucking throats, right?"
Orhelm and Urapus coughed in dismay. It didn't matter what they said. The woman was hell bend on treating them with her iron fists. Her title as the Monarch wasn't there for nothing.
Having no other choices, Principal Orhelm brought his confidants to alert the camp of his absence. After elevating the security to its highest level in secrecy, not wanting to make the cadets anxious, the three depart with a helicopter, having the core of the Capital as their destination.
Urapus looked ahead in a moment of respite. Even if he were to be abandoned in the end, it would be different. In his previous life, he had no one to turn to. The sole objective of his life had abandoned him, and even if he had lived, so what?
Maybe he'll join the plan Merlin had done in the past, reconstructing the whole hierarchy of mankind. And then he would spend the rest of his life defending the planet that used to abandon him. It'd be dull, for once perfect porcelain broke, no matter how firm an expert brought together the fragments, it would never be as great as the way it used to be.
But now, Urapus had no intention of anchoring himself to the mistakes he had made. He admitted that he had given up too quickly in the past, but when the thing you'd fought for your whole life turned out to be the one that hurt you the most, would you continue to go on?
For Urapus, he could not. He doesn't want to. His heart was no longer on them. Thankfully, he was fortunate, being able to meet a beautiful figure who wished for his happiness. Additionally, his comrades did not abandon him and succeeded in reconstructing the world into a place that loved who he used to be.
In a moment of serenity, a surge of inner energy entered his system. Mind and body are interconnected with each other, and when the mind is exceptionally pure, the body naturally follows the same suit.
Orhelm and Roxy, who were still tense as the helicopter arrived at the highest point of the circular megastructure, noticed the surge of inner energy around them. They looked at the source, Urapus, who was having a peaceful look on his face.
Orhelm was astonished, while Roxy was amazed. What a temperament!
He was threatened by the Outer Forces, and even some of his own were still conflicted about whether they'd hand him over or not, yet he actually achieved the state of purity, increasing his input of inner energy.
While the Principal was in awe, Roxy was immersed in the boy before her. This kind of boy, even if the whole world was in chaos, would probably be the one who would lead them out of their confusion. She clenched her fists.
No one would take this boy away from her. Not even the Sovereign himself! If necessary, she would bring him along with Roxanna and Roxenn to the frontline where she could take care of them without the influence of those selfish, greedy bastards!
With a determined look in her beautiful crimson eyes, Roxy stepped out of the helicopter and looked ahead. Orhelm followed along from behind, while Urapus had already awakened from his state and stood beside her visage.
"Urapus, no matter what, stay by my side. Even if they wanted to hand you over, with me here, I promise that you would not go anywhere!"
The Monarch's dignified face was icy cold. Urapus merely nodded with a small smile, with a hint of relief and realization.
It was just now he understood, that this cold Mistress actually cared about him so much. His heart jumped a little.
As he looked at her beautiful, yet graceful and determined figure, he realized.
He couldn't just leave this place.
There's still Roxanna, who wished to be with him as they fought the Outer Forces together. He also had to watch over Verlina, should she turn astray. There's also Tyr who he must extort to gain some great benefits.
And most important of all, there were his parents, who were still waiting for him at home.
Urapus looked at the megastructure complicatedly. As expected, it seems like living this life again was not as simple as he expected it'd be. But at least, some people would be by his side even if the world was against it.
Maybe other than receiving points to strengthen himself, this place was inherently still worth fighting for.
"Thank you Mistress. If I grow up, I will repay this favor. If it was within my power, I'm confident I could do it."
The former hero smiled at her. It was not a childish one he used to display, but a confident, calm smirk that he always showed when he was certain that he'd be able to do it.
Like when the people asked him whether he could fight against the entire fleet of the Outer Forces or not in his previous life.
The coldness on her face instantaneously subsided. She looked at him with creased eyebrows, as if contemplating something.
Inwardly, Roxy was conflicted.
It's impossible for a prideful woman like her, who even rejected the Patriarch of the Harden Family and the Sovereign, to truly adore a mere boy, right? It is also impossible for a boy to be this charismatic and entrancing, isn't it?
She inwardly panicked. She couldn't possibly develop some weird preferences because of this boy, could she?!
Impossible!
Suddenly, a phrase entered her head.
"It's impossible unless you were talking about the First Hero."
Shaking off her random thought, the Monarch turned her head to him, and with a disdainful smirk, she sneered, "Whatever. Just don't back down if I ask you to conquer a planet for me or something."
Orhelm blinked. What's going on? Why does the atmosphere seem odd?
Hearing her answer, Urapus grinned, "If you say so."
The place for the conference was at the top of the circular building. Although this megastructure had no definite name, many have agreed to name it Mankind's Tower, for it was the tower that represents the highest standing of mankind.
The structure was complex, with parts and materials intersected and connected through advanced means, creating a very strong foundation to uphold the massive structure. Soon, the trio arrived before the gate. It was relatively simple, but was comically huge.
It was grand, yet simple. Like modern art where simplicity is glorified.
The guards, two Mortal Realm Grade 11 experts, saluted to the Monarch and bowed their heads in respect, "Monarch Roxy Harde and Principal Orhelm have arrived!"
His name was not mentioned by the guards. Roxy was ready to reprimand the guard, but when Urapus remained still, seemingly not minding it at all, she backed down. They already wasted too much time handling her unstable emotions.
With a cold look from her, the two guards were trickled with cold sweats, realizing their mistakes just now. Thankfully, Principal Orhelm pats them on their shoulders, telling them to go. The bald man looked back and nudged his head, "Let's go. I'm also curious about what's this all about. To foolishly order a conference for an issue that has long been agreed upon."
With a mere wave of his hand, the massive gate was opened. As one of the core figures of the capital, Orhelm obviously held some authority over Mankind's Tower.
"As, you two finally have arrived. And you also brought our main concern here."
The conference room was made up of two sides, with each having several rows of seats provided for the attendants. At the top middle, an amicable figure of a young man welcomed them warmly, his amethyst eyes were brimming with wisdom not fitting his young appearance at all.
While Orhelm bowed down in respect, Roxy merely scoffed and stomped the ground, exuding her powerful force to disrupt the process of the conference.
"Now tell me, just what the fuck is this event being held for? Do you want to be the disgrace of mankind like those pigs back in the 1st Era and make the same mistake? If so, then I guess we could distinguish which bastard we could discard and use as a trade for some advantages to the Outer Forces."
Roxy's words were ruthless, not considering their feelings at all. With this, the grand room exploded.
"Watched over your mouth, Harden!"
"We are trying to formulate the best steps for mankind to develop! Do not misinterpret our bidding, you warmonger woman!"
Several aquatic-haired figures jumped out of their seats, as if anticipating the awaited opportunity for them to show their might. A few figures flatly looked at the spectacle, having no intention of intersecting their conversation.
At her side, Urapus watched this all with a languid expression.
At worst, he'll be sent to the frontline. Urapus's mind began to wander around, not minding the noise at all. He gotta make things clear to Roxanna. He also had to teach Verlina a worthy lesson.
That villainous little girl was too much. See if she could handle what I'll do to her...