After escorting the delegations to the Foreign Guest Hotel, Hatake Sakumo and Might Duy took their leave.
From this point onward, the Konoha Security Bureau would assume responsibility for guarding the guests.
"Thank you for the hard work on the journey."
"Director Sarutobi, we'll leave the rest to you."
"Leave it to me."
After exchanging a few polite words with the two young shinobi favored by the Supreme Leader, Sarutobi Sasuke turned his attention to Jircniv, the Blood Emperor, and the elderly High Priest.
Unlike the shinobi world, where strength commanded respect, Sasuke did not feel much pressure from these two leaders.
Instead—
It was the boy and girl beside them who gave him an immense sense of danger.
"If it were the Supreme Leader…"
"He would probably have already raised a banner of rebellion and seized control of an entire nation."
Recalling Uchiha Soren's rise to power, Sarutobi Sasuke felt as though it had all happened in a dream.
Four years had already passed.
Yet he still could not forget the moment when the Sarutobi clan had nearly been wiped out.
His thoughts drifted for a moment.
But his aged face remained calm as he began arranging rooms for the delegations.
"Emperor Jircniv, High Priest…"
"The guest hotel does not restrict your movement."
"If you're interested, you may explore Konoha's night scenery."
"Tomorrow morning, someone will come to escort you to the Supreme Leader's Building."
"Please be prepared."
After giving the necessary instructions, Sarutobi Sasuke rose and left the reception hall.
As the deputy director of the Security Bureau, he naturally belonged to the Uchiha political faction.
If he appeared too close to the defeated leaders of foreign nations, misunderstandings might arise.
A cautious man by nature, Sarutobi Sasuke had always worked diligently.
He had no intention of abusing his position now.
The authority he already possessed was more than enough to ensure the Sarutobi clan's continued prosperity.
After he left, the reception hall fell silent for a moment.
Then the High Priest spoke in a low, aged voice.
"Blood Emperor…"
"What do you think?"
"Think?"
Jircniv chuckled softly.
"At least while we're in Konoha, you should stop calling me the Blood Emperor."
"After tomorrow…"
"The Baharuth Empire will cease to exist."
"Honestly, when I think about it…"
"It feels rather liberating."
"No mountains of paperwork."
"No endless political scheming."
"Living peacefully as a wealthy noble isn't such a bad life."
He leaned comfortably into his chair.
His relaxed posture resembled a salted fish that had given up struggling.
"A pleasant life?"
"You can truly abandon the legacy left by your ancestors?"
The High Priest lifted his teacup and took a gentle sip.
"A nation rises from nothing through the sacrifices of countless people."
"But for it to vanish…"
"Only a handful of people need to nod their heads."
"Isn't that ironic?"
"Perhaps."
Jircniv turned his gaze toward the High Priest.
His expression became serious.
"There's a saying in the shinobi world."
'Those who understand the times are the true heroes.'
"Our ancestors once struggled to survive under the claws of other races."
"Now submitting to another human civilization like the shinobi world…"
"Isn't something impossible to accept."
"The world changes."
"Even the dragons who once ruled the continent have fallen."
"As long as we do not abandon our principles…"
"The future can be left to the next generation."
"At least in our era…"
"We will follow the Supreme Leader of the Shinobi World."
"That is exactly what the Theocracy concluded as well."
The High Priest sighed quietly.
"As long as we remain alive…"
"There is hope."
His mind drifted back to the day their hundred-thousand-man army was annihilated.
The sacred capital had been covered in mourning cloth.
Grief filled every street.
The Seven Cardinals immediately activated their defeat contingency plan.
They sent elite seeds to the sacred relics left behind by the Six Great Gods.
At the same time—
They prepared to come to the shinobi world and pay homage.
Originally, Antilene, with her long lifespan, had been designated as the protector of those elite seeds.
But the girl had refused.
And no one could force her.
"A Black-Gold Dragon King capable of annihilating a hundred thousand troops in a single strike…"
"And a Supreme Leader who forced even that dragon to flee after losing a claw…"
"With shinobi scouts spreading across the continent…"
"How long could we hide?"
"Right now, the most important thing is to show the Theocracy's sincerity."
"And my presence is part of that sincerity too."
"Hehe."
When Antilene said those words in the temple, all the Cardinals had fallen silent.
Watching the smiling girl before them—
They suddenly realized they knew almost nothing about her.
Antilene had been born after the Elf King assaulted her mother.
Her childhood had been miserable.
Her mother trained her brutally.
Even death during training was acceptable.
After all—
There were resurrection spells.
The only warmth in her childhood had come from Aunt Nazarene's omelets.
Without that small kindness, Antilene felt she might have become nothing more than a walking corpse.
If someone asked her whether there was anyone she would die to repay—
Her feelings would be complicated.
Over the centuries she had met a few humans she liked.
But they had all died long ago.
Still—
For the country those people had loved…
She could risk her life.
So she stepped forward.
For the shinobi world, her existence might mean nothing.
But for a man—
A beautiful and powerful girl presenting herself willingly…
Few men would refuse.
Wasn't it said that Uchiha Soren was somewhat of a womanizer?
"Yes…"
"As long as we're alive, there is hope."
Jircniv rose from his chair and stretched lazily.
"Now it depends on how big the Supreme Leader's appetite is."
"I'm going to explore Konoha."
"Since we'll soon become citizens of the shinobi world, we should at least understand the place."
"Then this old man will accompany you."
The High Priest laughed and followed behind.
Fluder also went with them.
Inside a room in the guest hotel—
Antilene sat in the hall enjoying the meal provided by the hotel.
The God-kin Captain approached with a food tray.
"What you said in the temple…"
"Was it true?"
"Does it matter now whether it's true or not?"
Antilene finished chewing her food before answering calmly.
"Judging by my age…"
"It's about time I considered marriage."
"I simply want to marry a man who can defeat me in battle."
"Even if he's ugly…"
"Even if his personality is twisted…"
"Even if he isn't human…"
"It wouldn't matter."
Hearing this, the God-kin Captain silently swore upon his own chastity—
It was a lie.
A girl who had never been loved by her parents or relatives…
Who had grown up surrounded by coldness—
Would she truly have such ordinary desires?
More likely—
She would find them disgusting.
The captain still remembered when his own youthful arrogance had angered her.
She had beaten him senseless—
And even poured horse urine over his face.
Yet despite that humiliation—
He could not help but feel sorrow for her.
Because beneath everything—
Antilene was actually cheerful, easygoing, and kind to her comrades.
In truth—
She was a gentle and compassionate girl.
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