Chapter 1021: Ghost
"...Did you start the party without me?"
Step Step
A human emerged from the portal, dressed in a pristine white robe, devoid of a single piece of armor, with his hands clasped behind his back.
His piercing blue eyes and golden hair shimmered as he advanced confidently and calmly, his head held high as if he were strolling in the backyard of his own home.
"Robin Burton!!" Marshal Lacrosse stood abruptly, slamming the table with both hands.
Part of him hated Robin deeply. He had monitored every move the man made on Nihari and was keenly aware of Robin's dangerous unpredictability and unorthodox methods. Yet, another part of him was struck by disbelief was the planetary emperor himself the first to arrive? Wasn't it customary for his entourage to secure the venue and pave the way for his entry first? What was he plotting this time...
"Oh? It seems I have my own fan club here, huh~" Robin chuckled as he noticed Marshal Lacrosse's explosive reaction to his presence.
Pythor, however, was visibly displeased with the Marshal's outburst. His glare hardened as he gestured sternly for Lacrosse to sit back down.
Robin paid no further attention to the Marshal, nor did he acknowledge the table or those seated around it. Instead, his eyes swept over the figures standing behind Pythor and those stationed atop nearby buildings. "What an army you've prepared for today. Aren't these supposed to be peaceful negotiations or something?"
"I told you I wanted to meet you alone, but you insisted on bringing companions," Pythor said, spreading his arms. "These are my companions- Those at the table are my closest confidants, as for those behind, they are but my children and a few guards to secure the meeting."
"Your companions include four of your Marshals, your children are a hundred high-level marshal emperors seasoned in the middle planetary Belt wars, and the security guards are made up of 300 martial emperors ranging from mid to high levels? If my guess is correct, they are what's left of your Marshals' elite forces..." Robin nodded thoughtfully. "What an impressive show of force."
"Come, sit down. There's no need for fear. As long as you focus on me, no one will harm you," Pythor said with a pointed smile, gesturing to the seat at the opposite end of the table. The chair, identical in quality to those of the Marshals, bore no signs of tampering or disrespect. "No need for fear?" Robin laughed. "You know what? Perhaps I am afraid. Maybe I should summon a few Warlords to guard the meeting instead. Just ten of them would suffice. What do you think?"
"...." Pythor's brows furrowed momentarily. Robin was blatantly flaunting the fact that he possessed a weapon known as Warlords-something Pythor himself lacked entirely. The negotiations had already begun, it seemed. Although Pythor had never witnessed these entities firsthand since arriving on Nihari, he had heard enough to know that Warlords were incredibly formidable.
Seeing the reaction, Robin burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, ensuring that everyone present could hear him. "Haha, no need to worry. It never crossed my mind to summon them today, nor did I consider retreating either. I said I'd bring four companions, and that's exactly what I'll do. I, Robin Burton, am a man who keeps his word!" He finally raised his hands from behind his back, spreading them wide with a smile.
"...." The martial emperors stationed on the rooftops exchanged uneasy glances. Robin Burton's casual stance in the face of such a formidable assembly left them with an unsettling feeling. His gaze swept over them like a wolf surveying a den of rabbits, as though he were the one surrounding them, not the other way around!
Bzzzt-
At that moment, the active portal behind Robin emitted a low hum and rippled once again. This time, two more humans emerged, stepping forward until they stood to his right and left. The first was a young man with jet-black hair, clad in a full suit of black-and-gold armor, with a golden cape flowing from his shoulders to his heels. His sharp features and hawk-like eyes radiated a piercing intensity that seemed to penetrate anyone who dared meet his gaze. His unwavering confidence made it clear he was ready to challenge anyone present, while his commanding aura suggested he was an unrivaled military leader.
The second figure contrasted sharply with his companion. With silken white hair that fell over his ears and forehead, his lifeless eyes resembled those of a corpse, devoid of any light. Unlike the first, he wore no full armor; instead, he donned a tight green robe with fitted sleeves, secured tightly at the waist by a belt. The sole piece of armor he wore was a black gauntlet that extended from his fingertips to his elbow.
"...." Pythor narrowed his eyes as he observed the two figures. Though it was his first time seeing them in person, he had heard countless rumors.
Some came from Nihari's armies, who described the Supreme General, Caesar, in vivid detail. Others came from those who had witnessed the invasion of Planet Jura and spoke of the man with white hair. Each of them, without a doubt, could take on a Marshal in battle!
Bzzzt-
The portal didn't take long to hum again, and this time, a towering figure, nearly three meters tall, stepped out. His massive, spiraling horns extended from the sides of his head, and his cotton-white hair cascaded down his back, reaching behind his knees. Unlike usual, the demon was clad in a crimson and black suit of armor that enveloped his entire body. Its design was ferocious, as if it had been forged in the depths of hell, rather than manufactured in any conventional workshop.
The demon didn't exude any aura, but his mere presence was oppressive enough. Step Step- he approached until he stood beside Caesar. Everyone instantly recognized who he was.
"The Supreme General of the Demon Army, Sakaar." Marshal Serbal bared his teeth upon seeing the newcomer, but a grin crept onto his face as he recalled that Sakaar had sustained serious injuries at the hands of the Seventh Prince. Surely, the armor he wore now was merely to conceal those wounds!
"Please, this way, Your Excellency." Caesar took the initiative, respectfully gesturing toward the table before stepping forward. Robin followed behind him, with Sakaar and Richard following closely behind.
Without delay, Caesar reached the seat prepared for Robin. With a resounding BANG, he kicked it away as though it were a mere pebble. The chair disappeared into the horizon like a missile, and without missing a beat, Caesar retrieved a fitting throne from his spatial ring and adjusted it to occupy the former seat's position. Standing to the side, he waited until Robin approached and sat down, wearing a formal yet sly smile.
"...That wasn't necessary. It seems you care too much about appearances, which is not a mark of a good ruler," Pythor said, struggling to suppress his irritation. That throne was slightly more lavish than his own!
"Haha, what can I say? My men adore me a little too much. Isn't it the same for you? Surely, you didn't plan to adjust that hideous throne of yours in a way that made you appear superior to me. That would have been rude and a clear overestimation of oneself," Robin laughed mockingly before gesturing for the three men around him to take their seats.
"...." Pythor clenched his fists, holding back his anger. "Can we start now?"
"I believe we're still missing one person," Robin said with a grin.
Bzzzt-
At that moment, the portal activated once more, then dimmed. Step Step-
"Ah- Ladies and gentlemen, the main event has arrived."
The moment the newcomer stepped through, everyone's expressions soured. Emerging from
the portal was a member of Nihari's Giant race.
And not just any giant- it was someone they thought they would never see again.
"You?!"
"The King of the North, Hulak? You're alive?!"