Emperor's Reckoning

"How many of them left!" asked the Treas lord.

His shout reverberated the entire room and sent the soldier to a slight jolt. The latter was palpitating. The angered old man in front of him could wipe out his family in a few words. He truly didn't want to offend him in the slightest but there was only so much that he could do.

"E-Eight sir!" answered the soldier. His stutter was understandable though it was unacceptable to show it to a person of such high status.

The Treas lord started to rub his finger to show his fidgeting. One of the highest statuses of a man was currently nervous. Having such grand resources that could become its own land was surely assuring him ever since he was young. There was no such thing as worry, he had it all ever since he learned how to breathe air. Peace of mind was a luxury for some people but for him it was abundance.

(Impossible, how can that young man have such powerful backing! Isn't he nothing but from a lesser world kingdom? I wanted to hold his loved ones hostage by the seventh day! I've been played!) thought the old man as he started to feel something foreign inside his mind. Clouded by the feeling that he would have never admitted, he almost lost his mind. (Me scared?! From a kid?! Impossible!).

He stood up with his glamorous armor on display. Just that armor alone brought the presence of a ruler.

"Call up all the cultivator experts! If those three and that wretched young rat decided to come here then we will welcome them! With swords and pike!" shouted the old man as he ordered his men.

"Don't hold back on the resources! Any weapon! Famous bounty hunter or even a criminal! Summon them all! He is making a mockery of my name and legacy! Then let's show him! What it truly means to go against Treas!"

"Y-Yes!" the soldier answered before he turned around. Running down the hall he felt as if the clenching choke on his heart slowly diminished. The aura was unbearable, however, it was nothing compared to his shaking legs. The rattle of his armor was clear to his ears and he made a harsh swallow. (Something big is coming!).

He ran forward before another soldier passed him by in a hurry. His eyes opened wide before he turned around and saw him rushing toward the door. (Don't tell me!)

"S-Sir! Emergency Report!"

The second soldier came into a face of disgust of his master. He shrieked inwardly but his trembling hands couldn't help but be stiffen as he said, "S-Seven!"

The lord of Treas furrowed his eyebrows as he heard the word Seven.

"Another one has fallen?!" asked Titania that was beside him. She couldn't believe the three of them acted so fast. The delay was within minutes and not even an hour. Even though it was clear that their auction houses were easily spotted, it would still take them absurdly long of a time to comb all of them. Especially the main branches, those were guarded with at least one Ascending God realm cultivator. (Impossible, even if they manage to destroy one, it must have drained their energy! How come they continue on the rampage without taking a breath?!) thought Titania.

"N-No miss."

"Hmm?" Lord Treas squinted his eyes as he looked at the soldier before he reprimand him, "Stop playing around or I will have your family erased from this history!"

"Ah! Please forgive me!" the soldier knelt with tears in his eyes.

"Enough! Speak!" shouted his master.

"Seven! Seven main branches have fallen!" shouted the soldier before he bang his head to the floor.

"Ah?!" Titania's mouth couldn't help but gasp in horror.

The lord of Treas had his jaw slacked open. His words and his thoughts were stuck inside his throat. Not a hoarse word came out of his weary lips but the jaw soon clenched as he gritted his teeth. He quickly descended down.

The second soldier had his eyes opened wide as he heard the clanking of his master's armors getting louder and louder. His head nervously looking up and saw the bitter and scornful face of his master. His shriek was now loud and open before he instinctively back away but sat on his butt instead.

A hand moved so fast that his neck was suddenly grabbed and his weight figure was easily lifted up.

"Seven of my main branches are destroyed?! Don't play games with me!" said the lord of Treas.

"N-No, sir! I won't dare! I won't dare! Please spare me! Please spare me!" the second soldier repeatedly begged but there was no mercy inside the lord's eyes, there was only rage.

His reputation was currently being ruined slowly and cripplingly by that youth. Now, the fact that his main branches couldn't stand a chance, not even an hour, it would be the hammer on the nail. Not to mention that not a single artifact made it out intact. The report only turned him more and more furious.

"Sir!"

"Huh?"

A third soldier came in. His eyes looked at his comrade that was strangled by his master. Pitiful was reflected for a flash but he didn't have much time before he said, "Reporting in sir! Another main branch had fallen! There are currently two Summoning Ruby Stone left!"

"What did you say?!" exclaimed Titania before she continued, "You're not lying are you?!"

"No ma'am I-I mean miss! I swore by Treas name that I speak the truth."

"GRRRR AAAH!" the lord of the Treas threw the second soldier toward the third who received it with his stomach. The two rolled outside but even they could hear the heavy heave of up and down from their master. Like a mad bull that was being cornered his breath almost gave out a mist of smoke.

"TOOOOORGAAAAA!!" shouted the lord of the Treas at the top of his lung. All of the soldiers and servants shrieked as his scream echoed.