Chapter 233: Bold Declaration

Eventually, the news spread throughout the Demon Hunters Guild.

A Demon Lord’s army would soon arrive to attack the Empire because their Guild Master had killed his Commander.

The news spread like wildfire even outside the Demon Hunters Guild.

As much as Danny wanted to suppress the reason behind the Demon Lord’s army attacking the Empire, the messenger of the Demon Lord had already announced the message in Greyfen Village, where many players had spread the news.

From there, the information spread throughout the other provinces.

Naturally, it caught the attention of the Imperial Family.

The next day, a very significant individual arrived at the Demon Hunters Guild, plunging its members into panic.

The Twelfth Emperor personally visited the Demon Hunters Guild.

Danny immediately called for the members to welcome the Twelfth Emperor in the grandest manner possible.

However, before they were able to do so, the Twelfth Emperor had already arrived at Max’s office.

Max forbade everyone from entering his personal room while he hastily accommodated the Emperor as his guest, brewing tea for him.

The Twelfth Emperor of the Empire bore an extremely similar resemblance to the current Emperor, albeit it was obvious that he was past middle age.

The former Emperor sipped his tea and complimented it, seemingly wanting to ease Max’s tension.

But Max was already at ease despite his presence.

He sat opposite the Emperor while taking a sip of his own tea.

"I heard that the messenger of a Demon Lord came to deliver a message demanding revenge for his Commander. Is that right?"

Max nodded and put down his teacup.

"That’s right."

"Are you aware of the reason?"

Max shook his head.

"I do not. I thought he was a rogue demon."

"That’s understandable. I heard about the reason behind you slaying him. That’s good and all, but..."

The Twelfth Emperor narrowed his gaze at Max.

"Do you know about the First Western Demon War?"

Max nodded.

"The Empire’s first large-scale military conflict against organized demonic forces following its unification."

"Do you know, then, that it was the Demon Lords of the Kingdom of Endless War who fought against us?"

Max turned silent.

He formed his own conjecture before replying.

"Since the Kingdom of Endless War’s territory is multiple times larger than ours, it seems to be the case."

"It seems to be the case..."

The Twelfth Emperor chuckled.

"It really is the case."

"The First Western Demon War doesn’t mean that only the Ironmarch Province bore the impact of the demons’ assault."

"The Verdantreach Province and the Mirefall Province naturally faced the same intensity of the demon attack."

"Eventually, we managed to drive off the demons, but the casualties were immense."

"If it had not been for the presence of the Authority of Salvation, the Empire would have long been swallowed by the demons."

The Twelfth Emperor leaned forward.

His long silver hair cascaded over his shoulders and down to his chest.

His sapphire-blue eyes, faintly encircled by golden rings, stared at Max as though attempting to peer through his soul.

"Are you ready to take responsibility?"

Max glanced at the Twelfth Emperor with profoundly deep eyes that stunned the latter.

Max’s eyes were as profound as those of a ruler.

No, perhaps even more terrifying than the rulers of the Empire of Valtherion themselves.

The Twelfth Emperor was astonished.

"The moment I established the Demon Hunters Guild, I’ve already anticipated that this would happen."

"Sting an elephant, and it will try its best to stomp you."

"But ants..."

"We are ants."

"We will sting the elephant, even if there is a horde of us, ceaselessly."

"I would rather see an ant being stomped than dying in the earth, exhausted from spending its entire life on repeated and useless work."

The Twelfth Emperor couldn’t stop his eyes from widening.

Max’s words were overbearing.

He wanted to argue against him.

Being a dictator had been proven throughout history to be the path of a failing ruler.

Yet the words stuck in his throat.

In the first place, Max was not a ruler.

He was a Guild Master.

Those who joined his Guild were naturally prepared to sacrifice themselves to uphold the mission and vision of his Guild.

In other words, Max was not forcing them at all.

It was their own willingness to participate in a campaign against the demons.

The Twelfth Emperor leaned back in his seat.

"I was asking you..."

"Are you prepared to fight against demons with such an insignificant number of demon hunters under your command?"

"It is a Demon Lord’s army."

"We can expect five Demon Lords to lead the assault."

"As Demon Lords from the Kingdom of Endless War, we can expect that they don’t play by their words."

"They would certainly attack the Ironmarch Province and the Verdantreach Province."

"The Ironmarch Province was born to fight against demons, as evident by the presence of the Vikings Guild."

"But what about the Verdantreach Province, which is accustomed to a peaceful life?"

Max shook his head.

"You worry too much."

"In fact, the Verdantreach Province can withstand a demon assault better than the Ironmarch Province."

"The reason is simple."

"The Guilds in the Verdantreach Province are far stronger than the Guilds in the Ironmarch Province."

"Also, we have our own demon hunters who can fight against Demon Lords."

"In a week’s time, we will mainly focus on the Mirefall Province."

"The Verdantreach Province and the Ironmarch Province can take care of themselves."

"Even the Verdantreach Province has its own secluded monster, am I wrong?"

The Twelfth Emperor was utterly surprised.

He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head.

"How did you know?"

Max shrugged.

"I have my own speculations."

"The Verdantreach Province can last longer than the Ironmarch Province."

"That’s all I can say."

The Twelfth Emperor shrugged.

"I came here to judge your reaction."

"But not only do you not fear the retaliation of the Demon Lord, you seem to have anticipated it and are ready to defend the Mirefall Province at all costs."

Max smiled.

He sipped his tea and placed the cup back on the table amid the awkward silence.

Max narrowed his eyes at the Twelfth Emperor and spoke in a somber tone.

"Not only am I planning to defend."

"I will be retaliating."

"In a few years’ time, I will conquer the territory of the first Demon Lord..."