Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill - Chapter 426:On Stage
Chapter 426:On Stage
Why did Ethan’s strength increase every time a child was born?
Once or twice could be a coincidence. But every single time?
They all had doubts, but none of them asked directly. Instead, they chose to keep those thoughts in their hearts. That was why they never hesitated to give more. In their eyes, Ethan was the tree that sheltered them from storms. The stronger that tree became, the safer they would be.
After a brief silence, Ethan turned toward Rina.
“How are things going with Global Symphony?” he asked.
Rina adjusted her posture and replied calmly, “We are growing steadily, but that is not enough to be content.”
She folded her arms lightly.
“Our forces are still weak. We need more people to hold the market. We need to release products that cannot be replaced.”
She paused for a moment before continuing.
“The food can be replicated easily. That is why I have been cautious and have not expanded the food chain too aggressively. I want firm support before extending the cuisine sector.”
Ethan nodded.
“It will not be easy with that goal of yours,” he said thoughtfully.
“We will be fighting families that have been established for centuries,” Rina replied.
Ethan smiled faintly.
“Yes, it will not be easy. But we also have centuries ahead. You have broken into the King’s realm, and now you can live almost four hundred years.”
Rina raised her brows and pouted slightly.
“I even used my artifact to hide it, yet you sensed it. How unfair. I wanted to surprise you during the fight.”
Ethan smirked knowingly, fully aware of what kind of fight she meant. Rina’s cheeks turned slightly red under his gaze.
“Is that so?” Ethan asked softly.
Rina nudged him lightly on the shoulder.
“Don’t act innocent,” she said.
The two shared a quiet laugh, reminiscing about their earlier days and the many battles and struggles they had faced together. The garden breeze moved gently through the trees, carrying with it the distant sounds of celebration from the city.
For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then Ethan’s expression changed.
He suddenly heard a call for Hall through the communication channel, and the tone carried urgency.
Rina noticed the shift immediately.
“What happened?” she asked, her smile fading.
“I don’t know,” Ethan replied slowly, standing up from the swing. “But something urgent has come up. I need to go.”
Before Rina could say more, Ethan’s figure disappeared in a blink, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.
Rina stood there quietly for a moment and sighed.
“Haaa,” she murmured softly while looking at the sky.
“The world is never peaceful.”
……
.
Ethan’s figure vanished from the garden and reappeared instantly inside the Black Thorns headquarters.
The underground command hall was dimly lit, filled with glowing communication crystals and large tactical maps spread across long tables. Several Black Thorns members stood alert the moment he appeared, immediately bowing their heads in respect.
Hall was already waiting near the central table, and unlike his usual calm demeanor, his expression carried visible urgency.
“What happened, Hall?” Ethan asked as he stepped forward.
“My Lord… look at this,” Hall said with a tense voice while handing over a sealed document.
Ethan took the paper and unfolded it carefully. His eyes moved across the contents slowly, reading every line without missing a detail.
As he continued reading, his expression gradually changed.
His brows furrowed.
His jaw tightened.
“For real?” Ethan finally muttered in disbelief.
According to the intelligence report, Arcadia and several allied Empires were preparing for direct confrontation with the Demon forces. The document described the recent Frontier incident in elaborate detail.
It stated that during Frontier’s crisis, when the kingdom called desperately for help, the Emperor of Arcadia, moved by the suffering of innocent civilians, had dispatched the daughter of Duke Lancelot and Count Ethan to resolve the situation.
It further claimed that Count Ethan and Amber Lancelot had fought bravely against demonic beasts before advancing toward the demon camp itself. According to the report, they had engaged in a bloody battle lasting several days and successfully eliminated a Legendary Rank Demon General.
The document also described how they discovered demons kidnapping humans, which had led to widespread condemnation from all Empires. An envoy had already been sent for negotiations, but at the same time, military forces across the continent were quietly preparing for full-scale war.
Ethan lowered the paper slightly.
“Bullshit!” he suddenly shouted.
The sound echoed across the command hall.
“Shameless…” he muttered angrily.
“You ordered us… you ordered us…” Ethan gritted his teeth, his voice filled with restrained fury.
“The fuck…You credit stealer..”
Of all the things Ethan hated, having someone else take credit for his actions ranked near the top. If his involvement had been omitted entirely, he might have ignored it. But now his name had been deliberately placed at the center of the narrative.
That meant only one thing.
He would be pushed into the forefront whether he liked it or not.
And what consequences that would bring… only heaven knew.
Ethan slammed the paper onto the table and cursed under his breath.
“Is there a requirement to be shameless to sit on the throne?” he growled. “How can there be people this shameless?”
“Eating all the credit…”
“Moved by the death of innocents… ptuu,” Ethan spat in disgust after rereading the line.
If nobles who truly knew the Emperor heard this justification, they might cough blood from irony alone.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair and took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down. Anger would not change the situation.
After a moment, he looked back at Hall.
“Hall… is everything correct?” he asked seriously.
Hall nodded.
“Yes, My Lord. A few minor details may differ, but this is the general situation.”
He hesitated slightly before continuing.
“From the momentum of troop movements and supply gathering, it is clear that preparations for war are already underway.”
Hall paused again and looked directly at Ethan.
“It seems this time, My Lord, you cannot avoid this war.”
Silence filled the hall.
Ethan stared at the map spread before him. Markers representing armies were slowly gathering along the borders like dark storm clouds.
He understood perfectly.
Once his name had been publicly tied to the Frontier incident, withdrawal was no longer an option. Politics, reputation, and power had already locked him into position.
He exhaled slowly.
“So they dragged me onto the stage,” Ethan said quietly.
His eyes hardened.
