Chapter 297: Attendance Is Mandatory

Chapter 297: Attendance Is Mandatory

* **** [Edgar’s POV]

"It’s him. It’s true. You want me to come with?" I asked, barely able to keep the grin out of my voice.

Arkas didn’t share my enthusiasm. His flat tone buzzed through the phone.

"No need. Just inform the Emperor."

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. "On it."

The call ended with a soft click. I tossed the phone into my pocket and turned, only to find Steve still hanging in the air—completely wrapped in my shadows, arms spread wide like some dramatic portrait in an overpriced museum.

He raised an eyebrow.

I sighed.

"You could’ve said something."

Steve smiled.

"I figured I’d let you finish before I interrupted. Real professional of you, by the way."

With a casual wave of my hand, the shadows peeled off him and retreated into the floor like frightened cats. Steve landed on his feet with a soft thud and dusted himself off, completely unbothered.

"You know," he said, walking toward his desk, "when I sent that email, I expected a reply. Maybe a ’thanks, Steve’ or a ’good job’. Not a ninja-assassin breaking into my room and tossing me around like a ragdoll."

"You should know better than to write something that explosive over email," I muttered. "It gave Arkas a heart attack. I had to confirm."

Steve smirked and flopped onto his chair.

"He’s alive and well enough to yell at someone. I’d say my email did the trick."

I shook my head and turned toward the door.

"Tell the Emperor I said hi," Steve called after me.

"No," I replied, already vanishing into a blur of shadow.

*****

I reappeared outside the Emperor’s study. The halls were quiet, marble floors humming faintly under the Essence threads woven into them. The door was simple with barely any decoration but thrummed with power from the runes engraved on it.

Before I could raise a hand to knock, a soft breeze whipped past me. Someone else had arrived.

A man in sleek black stood in front of the study doors. Shoulder-length silver hair. Cloak swirling like it had a will of its own. Damian Rayleigh, the personal shadow of the Emperor.

He looked at me with his usual unreadable expression.

"Is His Majesty inside?" I asked.

He nodded once. "He is."

"I need an emergency audience. It’s urgent."

For a moment, Damian said nothing. Then, with the same silent grace he always carried, he stepped forward and disappeared inside the study like a shadow blending into ink.

The doors opened a second later with a gentle creak.

I stepped in and immediately dropped to one knee.

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Lucien Rayleigh looked up from the document in his hand, his eyes sharp despite the late hour.

He was still in formal robes, deep royal blue with gold trim, though his crown was set aside on the table. Beside him, Damian appeared once more and resumed his place at the Emperor’s right.

"Rise, Edgar," Lucien said. "What matter brings you here at this hour?"

I stood tall. "We have confirmation. Billion Ironhart has exited the realm."

Lucien’s eyes widened slightly, an expression that would qualify as a full-blown outburst from anyone else.

Damian blinked, his head turning subtly as he processed the information.

"Are you certain?" the Emperor asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The confirmation came from Steve. I personally verified it."

Lucien leaned back, eyes narrowing in thought. "So the boy survived after all..."

"Yes, Arkas is en route to bring him back." I said.

The room fell quiet.

Then, Lucien stood.

"Damian," he said. "Inform Arkas that he is to bring Billion directly to the capital. No detours."

Damian nodded once and vanished without a sound.

Lucien turned to me, his tone colder. "We’ll also need Dante."

I hesitated. "Do you wish for him to be summoned... formally?"

Lucien’s gaze was hard as stone.

"No. Just make sure he understands....this isn’t optional."

I bowed once more. "Understood."

"Go," he said simply, already turning back to his desk.

I gave a crisp nod and stepped out of the Emperor’s study. The moment the doors shut behind me, I took off down the hallway, shadows slipping beneath my feet to speed my movement. There was no time to waste.

I arrived at the palace library within seconds. I pushed the doors open and slipped inside, the scent of old paper and polished wood washing over me.

The main aisles were empty, dimly lit by floating lanterns. I navigated through them with practiced ease, weaving between towering shelves until I came to a secluded corner of the east wing.

There, nestled between a row of forgotten scrolls and an empty reading alcove, stood one of the oddest pieces in the entire palace, a statue of a rabbit.

It was nearly three feet tall, made of white marble that shimmered faintly under the lanternlight. Its long ears stood rigid, eyes carved with eerie precision. Completely out of place in the otherwise regal and formal library.

I knelt down in front of it and spoke calmly.

"The kid is back. Emperor has called for a meeting."

I paused, then added, "Mandatory."

The words hung in the air for a second. Then the statue’s eyes flickered faintly, as if acknowledging the message.

I stood up and exhaled, tension sliding off my shoulders like a discarded coat. Both tasks were done. The wheels were turning. Now, all I had to do was show up for the meeting and watch the storm unfold.

A grin tugged at my lips.

I waved a hand, pulling out a sleek, frosted bottle of dark liquor from my spatial ring. The top popped with a soft hiss. I took a sip—smooth and burning just right—and leaned against the nearest pillar.

I leisurely walked forward, whistled low and stepped out of the library, a quiet bounce in my step and a satisfied smile on my face.

"Let the chaos begin." I muttered.

***** [Dante’s PoV]

[In a secluded place]

I rolled my stiff shoulder and ran the whetstone along the edge of my dagger. Useless effort, really—the blade was awakened, already keener than logic allowed—but old habits were hard to kill.

Roars from Abominations echoed behind me, shaking the ground in pulses. I ignored them.

Patience? That I had in abundance. Dedication? Not really. But I did what I liked, so it balanced out.

Then it came. A ripple, sharp and subtle, passing through the threads of space. My hand froze.

A voice echoed in my mind.

"The kid is back. Emperor has called for a meeting."

A brief pause.

"Mandatory."

I set the dagger down and stood, stretching until my joints popped. I desummoned both blades, letting them dissolve into formless black motes.

I closed my eyes, reaching inward to a thread buried deep in my consciousness. A connection. A pulse. A signal tied to a small rune I had once handed over, meant as a support tool for Billion. It had also served as a beacon, letting me know he was alive and how far he’d come.

I felt nothing. The connection was gone.

I opened my eyes and exhaled slowly.

"So the rune was used. Or destroyed."

My mind drifted to our first meeting—in the Elemental Zone. The others had buzzed with excitement at his talent, all sparkles and possibilities. But I’d seen something else. Something far more dangerous. I’d only seen that kind of thing once before.

Back home.

In the Prime Galaxy.

I shook my head and pushed the thought away.

I turned around and looked at the battle going on in front of me.

A young girl. Grandchild of.....an acquaintance. Military uniform hugging her lean frame, twin daggers in hand, ponytail whipping behind her as she sprinted toward a towering Abomination alone.

Bold. Or stupid.

I didn’t intervene. This was her evaluation anyway.

Her boots slammed into the cracked earth, and with a flicker of movement she vanished, reappearing above the creature’s head. Her daggers pierced down, slamming through both of its eyes.

The beast roared, blinded, flailing as blood spurted upward. But she was already behind it, feet skimming the ground, motion skill activated just as I’d taught her.

Then she rushed forward again. One smooth stroke. Neck severed.

The head thudded to the ground a second before the rest of the body collapsed. She exhaled hard, hands steady.

I shimmered forward, stepping through the veil of space, silent and unseen. She couldn’t perceive me. No one here could. Only the Emperor knew what I really looked like. I intended to keep it that way.

With a smile, I clapped my hands and spoke, altering my voice to the rough, nameless tone the recruits were familiar with.

"Good job, kid. That was clean."

She flicked her daggers, blood arcing off the blades. "Thanks."

I chuckled, letting a bit of warmth seep into my fabricated tone.

"I’ve got news."

She tilted her head, not even breathing hard. "What kind of news?"

I paused.

"That kid.....is back."

Her eyes widened slightly, just enough to catch the change.

I shimmered out without another word, leaving her alone with the corpse of the Abomination and a flicker of realisation sparking in her gaze.