"..."
For a moment, the Proudstar lady did not know how to respond to that. Even so, her demeanour did not falter; she had that much control over her body.
When the question was posed to her, Irene had thought long and hard in the span of a second that stretched hundreds of units. In her understanding, Alexander was not searching for a generic reply like those in job interviews.
The question was meant for her to express who she was as a person and what she ultimately desired as a person and a leader. There was no room for superficial things.
As such, Lady Irene replied with what resonated with her deepest desires: to be strong. Who would have thought Lord Alexander would see it that way?
'No…' The Proudstar thought carefully, looking straight at Alexander, not daring to falter here. 'My role as a leader should not hinder my desire for growth. I wish to serve my people, but I cannot do that with my measly strength.' She cast a side glance at her co-leaders.
Irene knew those two were far stronger than most of the people on the Council. She knew a few among the people who were vassals to the Lord sitting across from her.
However, that blessing was not something anyone could ask for simply because they met Alexander and interacted with him for a minute or so.
'It has to be earned…' Irene thought.
As a member of the Proudstar family, she didn't want to see them fall behind because they failed to establish a connection with Lord Alexander.
The path to the peak of power was only through one being — Alexander — and only by accepting his teachings and blessings could one progress on the ladder to the peak.
Of course, one could argue that a person could get there on their own merits. However, they also had to consider the fact that no one in this universe had ever gone beyond the first stage of the Venerable Level.
There were no clues, ancient texts or relics to light the way ahead. Even with the trials Alexander created across the universe, a being had to make the journey there first.
How long would that take when an easier path was around? Looking at the smiling Alexander before her, the Proudstar lady resolved herself to speak her truth.
"Lord Alexander…" Irene said, her thoughts solidifying. "There is nothing selfish about desiring to be strong. I believe only the strong have the power to protect what is most important to them.
"As one of the chosen leaders of humanity, I must be strong to protect the people from the dangers of our universe and beyond."
The woman showed nothing but conviction in her words and demeanour. She wasn't backing down in her beliefs. This was the kind of person she was.
"Impressive…" Alex smiled. "However, from what you just said, am I to take it that you're willing to do anything for the strength you desire?" He emphasised the 'anything'.
Once again, Alexander was testing her resolve for the desire she had. After all, there was once someone willing to do anything for the power of the void.
'Lady Zara's fall…' Irene quickly caught on. 'This same desire and ambition for power led to her downfall.'
Naturally, she knew that before Alexander became the person he was, many leaders among humanity had done unspeakable things for power and resources. Heck, there was an attempted takeover not so long ago.
Although some powerful families and groups still undertook these actions, they were no longer as ruthless and unreasonable as they had been before — someone was watching.
'Even my own family were in on these acts.' Irene thought grimly, though her facial expression remained calm on the surface.
Naturally, most of those practices had been scrapped; they couldn't afford to become an enemy of the people if caught. The Proudstar Matriarch made sure of that.
'Although the coup takers were apparently left without punishment, their families have lost all trust and allies, and are barely holding on.'
They may be on the Council right now, but who knew when they would be kicked out?
'I want to be strong for my people and push my family forward.' Her line of thought drifted back to the main question. 'But am I willing to do anything for power?'
The answer she arrived at was a firm no. However, she also considered it from another perspective. Had Alex been out of the equation, would she still have given the same response? Especially when everyone was doing the same.
'No…' Irene realised the truth, her focus returning to the slightly smiling Alex. 'I wouldn't want to be left behind. And a part of me can tell…. He knows…'
Reaching this conclusion, Irene closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before reopening them. There was no point in hiding anything from this person; she recognised this fact.
"I recognise the kind of person I am, Lord Alexander." The Proudstar began, conviction in her eyes. "I'm a person who is willing to do whatever it takes to get what I want. However, I also acknowledge that times have changed, and I don't have to do what I would have some years back."
Alexander's smile widened slightly. "So what are you willing to do now?"
"I am willing to do what my colleagues have done," she looked at Basso and Jaseph, who smiled at her. "I am willing to follow your lead, Lord Alexander. I see how different those who follow you are, and I want the same."
"Are you willing to truly follow me?" Alex asked, this time narrowing his eyes. "Are you willing to do whatever I say? Are you willing to follow me into battle when the time comes?"
"Yes," Irene replied without hesitation, bringing a smile to her colleagues' faces. "I am willing."
"Rise…" Alexander said, getting to his feet.
Suddenly, the room expanded, transforming into a backdrop of the universe, the cosmic hues taking their breath away. Everything within the room disappeared — no, it felt like they were in an entirely different place.
Looking back at Alexander, Irene's heart almost leapt out of her chest.
Before her was a five-meter-tall being in a completely different outfit — a cosmic robe of indescribable brilliance and presence.
The majesty he exuded was the very definition of god; it was sensational. Alexander's eyes glimmered with a brilliant white unlike anything she had ever seen.
At that moment, the Proudstar Matriarch realised the truth. 'H-He's truly a god…!' Before him, she was truly nothing — she felt incredibly small.
The Council members had no clue about the Being they were interacting with. Alexander had always appeared carefree and reserved, but he was so much more.
Suddenly, Alexander's eyes flashed a brighter radiance, and instantly, Irene's world turned upside down. Through those eyes, she saw what the universe truly was, the secrets it held and how fickle she truly was.
The universe warped and twisted, time sped up, and the journey of the universe and her journey flashed before her eyes. The choices she had made, the truths she had learned and the decisions she took to arrive at this point.
They… they were all meaningless before the grand scheme of things. But… she was right — strength was the way forward, and she made the right choice.
When she came to, she realised she was still inside the resting area, kneeling on the ground with sweat dripping down her forehead. Her breathing was strained, as if she had done an extremely strenuous exercise.
'Was that real…?' she asked herself.
Lifting her head, she made eye contact with a smiling Alexander, who was sitting once more. The look in his eyes made her realise that what she experienced wasn't false.
"T-This servant greets the master of the universe!"
Irene quickly lowered her head once more. It all made sense now. When Alex said those words earlier, he wasn't spouting nonsense.
Her heart was still thumping in her chest, and sweat continued to pour down her face. However, a sudden surge of energy washed over her, restoring her mental clarity. Like a lie, her panicking heart, sweat and fear all disappeared.
'You're alright, Lady Irene.' The Proudstar heard Alexander's voice in her head. 'From now on, you're one of my vassals. You've been granted all the abilities I wield. But I will advise you to stick with your ability and the instructions on how to grow stronger.'
'Yes, Lord Alexander.' Irene replied inwardly, lifting her head to look at Alexander.
The Matriarch could sense the instructions in her head, organised like a grand library, from which she could access and learn.
'Laws… The stream of instructions that built our universe.' A glimpse at them brought a smile to her face. 'So this was why I wasn't advancing after reaching a certain point.'
The woman was aware of them, but she didn't know where to start. Since each ability covered different aspects of law, someone else's beginning would differ from hers.
"Excellent," Alexander muttered, getting back to his feet. "Let's get going, my proposal is still waiting to be heard."
The others nodded and got up as well, Irene following suit.
She looked at her colleagues, and they flashed a smile in her direction, bringing a smile to her face. However, the woman furrowed her brows a moment later. 'Does he really need our votes to make something?'
"Of course not," Alexander replied ahead of the three, taking the One-Horned by surprise. "But you guys are the rulers of humanity. An agreement must be in place for people to accept it. Also, learn to shield your surface thoughts."
"Yes, Lord Alexander." Irene nodded, understanding what he meant.