After every one of the remaining Sages of the Flame Empire agreed to the terms, Robin wasted no more time, with a light smile and a wave of his hand the tablets began to lightly fly towards those Sages.
But the Sages of the Flame Empire weren't quite as excited...
Agreeing to swear an oath in order to save their lives was one thing, but holding the board and being ready to really say it out loud was another thing entirely.
Within a few months, the Flame Empire turned from prestige, power, and absolute authority and respect to a situation where they had to choose between humiliation and eternal slavery, or death...
Each one of them held the metal plate firmly in his hand as if he wanted to break it. They knew that there was no escape from saying the oath other than death, but not one of them dared to say a single word.
At that moment, Water Empress Victoria spoke out, "All of you, you are not forced to do this, we children of empires should not accept this treatment!"
"And is there another solution, Your Majesty?" One of the Sages spoke while shaking his head
"Wait until we finish the meeting and then decide whether you will stand up to fight or say those humiliating words, we are still here for you, just seek protection from me and let me see who approaches you!" Water Empress Victoria raised her head and shouted
Robin raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw this and started moving the fingers of his right hand that was placed on the table, it seemed as if he was preparing to give orders to attack at any moment, even Jabba and Amon, and the rest started to make light movements such as taking a step forward or passing their spiritual sense inside the Space Rings in their hands...
There was no way Robin would allow the Sages of the Flame Empire to take refuge behind one of the other Empires even for a second.
If this were to happen it would simply have been as if his words had no weight and that Victoria's protection was more important to them than Robin's judgment, if they started negotiating with that mentality, then what's the point of the negotiations at all?
If the Sages of the Flame Empire accepted this offer, they would be killed, and any emperor who agrees to protect them would be attacked immediately, it was as simple as that.
The eyes of the three emperors were not fixed for one moment, going back and forth between the Robin and Flame Empire Sages, trying to analyze the situation and predict what would happen shortly, Even Victoria started sweating a little bit...
No talks had started yet, but everyone was ready for another massacre that might start at any moment!
Wind Emperor Alexander had wanted with all his heart to slap that woman on the mouth, so what did they have to do with what happened to the Flame Empire? Aren't they the ones who put themselves and put them in this situation?
But during that terrible silence, Old Gu's voice was heard, "I swear to follow His Excellency Robin Burton's orders and to---- and------- and to do everything in my power to compel all who have actual power over the citizens of an empire to take A similar oath, and if I intentionally failed to implement any clause, then I deserve death."
"...I swear to follow the orders of His Excellency Robin Burton and to---"
"I swear to follow orders----"
Old Gu straightforwardly began to recite his oath, taking everyone by surprise, especially the Sages of Flame Empire who looked at the emperor who had ruled over them for thousands of years saying such insulting words as if they were nothing.
But this also brought them back to their senses, if the Flame Emperor could bear such an insult, then what would stop them? So they clenched their hands, passed their spirit sense into the metal plates, and then began reciting their allegiance as well.
"good, very good." Robin's light smile increased slightly and he clapped twice, then pointed towards one of the empty chairs on the table near him as he looked at Old Gu, "You are one of us now, come sit down."
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Old Gu nodded and then went to sit where Robin pointed out
"Hmph." Water Empress Victoria puffed and spoke disgustedly, "Even after I offered to protect you all you still chose to humiliate yourself, it seems you were looking for a way to be a slave, perhaps you should have considered enslaving yourself to me before the man who ripped your land apart."
"...Sigh~ you remind me of my son a lot, but we all know where he is now…" Old Gu spoke and shook his head as he sat on his chair.
"Humph, It is you that who let old age eat your head..!!" The Water Empress Victoria slammed on the table, "You think saying a few words will make this person trust you? Do you think you and the rest of your Sages won't be secretly assassinated one by one after getting out of here? What a joke! He just wants to satisfy his ego by humiliating you in front of him."
"Hehe, if you don't know what these tablets are then please stop talking, you are embarrassing yourself." Old Gu let out a mocking laugh and spoke
"YOU..!" Water Emperor Victoria shouted and was about to say something, but she felt a hand poke her from the side
When she looked next to her, she saw the Sacred Tree Emperor Elizabeth looking towards Old Gu, speaking in her musical voice, "Why don't you broaden our horizons and tell us what those metal tablets are then, Uncle Gu?"
"If the person concerned wants to tell you, let him tell you, and if he wants me to tell you, ask him to give me permission first, I'm nothing but a man carrying out orders to the best I can now, stop talkin' to me." Old Gu replied with hearable sadness in his voice, no matter what, his lifelong self-respect has been broken
But still, he looked up at Sacred Tree Empress Elizabeth and added, "But as an old man I advise you to don't think about those tablets for now and get to the point with the main guy, If the conversation goes well and you were smart enough, perhaps you will hold on to one of those metal tablets too and find out on your own."
Everyone knew who is the *main guy* that Old Gu spoke about, and once again, all eyes were focused on Robin, some of them confused looks, some of them held hatred, some of them held many questions, and some of them even reverence, but they all have one thing in common: respect.
Wind Emperor Alexander put both his hands on the table and spoke as he looked at Robin, "Yes, Uncle Gu is right, I think it's time for us to take the invitee's opinion on a few matters…"
"I'm all ears~" Robin smiled and gave a short reply