Ch.2828. An Irregular Named Female Officer

“Red Dragon, is it.”

I never knew a voice could carry such a chill.

It feels like yarn spun from ice paralyzing my brain through the semicircular canals.

Emperor Recter.

He’s no pushover.

I’m definitely tense here.

If things go wrong, my life could end in an instant.

But I don’t show it. I won’t leave even the slightest chance of ruining this negotiation.

“Are you the warrior who defeated Dark Arthur?”

“Yes. That’s me.”

I began moving toward the Emperor, slowly but with weighty steps.

“You’re in the imperial presence! Show proper respect, inferior species!”

The one pointing at me from his seat is an executive, High Bishop Cancer. I stopped walking and turned my head toward him.

“Let me correct one misunderstanding.”

“Hmm?”

The Emperor shows interest in my unintimidated attitude.

“Does the Emperor rule the borderlands? No, the Margrave does. If I’m an inferior species as you say, do you think such inferior frontier people would know the Emperor’s name rather than the Margrave’s? We’re busy farming just to survive each day.”

“W-what…!”

Cancer is furious but unable to refute.

“I’m saying don’t make unreasonable demands about etiquette in the borderlands. And let me correct another misconception of yours.”

I moved quickly and took Cancer’s chair. He tumbled down with a crash. Being a strategist-type with low physical stats, he couldn’t react to my movement.

“Y-you bastard!!”

“I came here to talk as warrior to warrior, not as an imperial subject serving the Emperor. So there’s no etiquette I need to observe.”

After declaring this, I continued walking while carrying the chair. The elite guards, his direct security detail, try to block my path, but they back off when the Emperor slightly raises his hand.

I climbed onto the platform. Standing at the same height as the Emperor, I placed the chair and sat down right in front of him.

“Am I wrong? Emperor, no. Warrior Recter.”

“…Hahaha, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”

The Emperor laughs so loudly it could shake the heavens.

“I! LIKE! YOU!! RED DRAGON!!!”

I’ve succeeded in winning his favor.

I know his personality well.

But whether the negotiations will go smoothly from here depends on what happens next.

I originally wanted to prepare more, but since the plan was moved up, I have to face this head-on.

Since Red Dragon defeated Pegasus, who knows when the Emperor might invade with his main force.

“I grant you permission to speak as a warrior. What business do you have with me?”

I leaned back comfortably against the chair and crossed my legs. I began the conversation casually.

“Emperor Recter. First, I pay my respects to your way of life.”

“Oh?”

“Your drive to travel the entire universe seeking true duels. That’s truly a lifestyle befitting a warrior.”

“Flattery?”

“If that’s how it sounded, I’m disappointed. I was extending goodwill by showing I understand you.”

“Understand?”

I could feel the Emperor’s mood twist at that word. An ominous aura was rising from his shoulders.

But this too is part of my plan.

“Yes. I understand. As a fellow warrior, I’ve yearned for it my entire life.”

I whispered to him.

“A true defeat.”

At those words, the Emperor’s aura subsided.

“Those who call themselves warriors are just cowards who are only strong against the weak. They bow their heads and submit to me. They never risk their lives to challenge me.”

“…Hmm.”

The Emperor listened carefully to my words.

“But I didn’t have the drive to travel the universe. That’s why I expressed my respect.”

“I see. You too.”

“Yes. I was too strong.”

I showed him my clenched fist.

“So when I defeated Dark Arthur, I felt empty again. Emperor, you understand well, don’t you? The frustration that comes with victory.”

“I know. I know it well. What a situation. Even after creating an empire, even with so many vassals, I couldn’t find a single person who understands my desire for true defeat. To think someone like you existed in such a remote place.”

The Emperor was getting excited.

“Red Dragon. Will you give it to me? A true defeat. The liberation of succumbing to overwhelming power and embracing death!”

I shook my head.

“Unfortunately, I cannot.”

“What! What do you mean! Are you trying to insult me!”

“It’s a long story, but to summarize, I’ve become someone who can no longer experience true defeat. Emperor, you who still have that possibility are blessed.”

“What?”

“Right after my battle with Dark Arthur, I was betrayed by my subordinates and harmed in a dishonorable, cowardly way—not in a duel. I barely survived, but I can no longer exert the power of my prime.”

“This can’t be. This can’t be…!”

The Emperor rages. He surrounds his fist with aura and strikes to the side. The impact completely destroys the audience chamber’s wall.

“So there’s no one left? No warrior on this remote planet who can duel me!”

I paused before answering.

“Rejoice, Emperor. There is someone.”

“Another warrior as good as you?”

“Yes. I’ve already transferred all my remaining power to him. But that warrior is still growing. Right now, he’s not even a match for me in my prime, let alone Dark Arthur. But in just a little while, he’ll surely become the strongest warrior in the universe.”

“Ohhh. What is this warrior’s name?”

“Gerogius.”

“Gerogius.”

The Emperor savored the name.

“Emperor. I was originally a keeper of peace, but after the betrayal, I no longer care about such things. Rather, I hate humans now. I came to give you this information solely out of kinship with you. If you don’t like it, destroy Earth right now. I’d like to watch from the best seat.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor strokes his chin, contemplating.

“How long will it take for this warrior Gerogius to grow?”

Got him.

“There’s a condition. Send your army to Earth gradually to invade. A warrior grows in war. I estimate the necessary period to be one year.”

“I’ll invest six months.”

The Emperor declared.

I was expecting three months, which is the original scenario’s progression period, but he gave six months.

Quite a profit.

“In six months, I will have a duel with this warrior called Gerogius. Red Dragon, return to Earth and nurture that warrior.”

“Understood. Seeing your dream come true—a dream shared by someone like me—might ease my resentment as well.”

“Hahaha! I really like you, man! Red Dragon!”

The Emperor laughs heartily. I stood up from my seat. I turned my back to the Emperor and began descending from the platform.

Emperor Recter rises from his seat.

“I proclaim in my name! From now on, the Galaxy Empire begins its invasion of Earth! Executives, prepare for war!”

The executives kneel and accept the command.

Oh my.

I must hold back my laughter.

At least until I return to Earth.

Now, scenario bonus experience-filled monsters will fall from the sky every day.

If we hunt them efficiently, Vengeance will grow rapidly.

The Emperor understands perfectly that this invasion isn’t meant to destroy or conquer Earth, but to help Gerogius grow.

So the intensity will be controlled.

Sweet deal.

Just then, the audience chamber door burst open. One executive walks in.

“I greet the great Emperor.”

Seeing that figure, I instantly stiffened.

I couldn’t help it. I hadn’t expected this person’s appearance at all.

It was too much of an irregular.

“Your Majesty, while Red Dragon is indeed an honorable warrior, I humbly petition to verify one of his statements.”

A seductive voice tickling my ears.

The executive holding a vicious whip was…

“…Morgan.”

It was Morgan, the female executive of the Dark Kingdom.

“Prison Warden Ursula, speak.”

The Emperor replied.

Ursula? Is that Morgan’s name now?

“Though I haven’t served Your Majesty long, my loyalty is more boundless than any executive’s. After all, you rescued me from the ruins of the annihilated Dark Kingdom.”

So she joined the Galaxy Empire after parting with me?

Then what was that attitude before?

Saying she was human, that she owed me a debt.

Is she really just repaying that debt and then continuing as a monster executive?

“I have such doubts. Is it true that Red Dragon has lost his power? Could it be that he plans to grow this warrior Gerogius, and then the two of them will attack Your Majesty together?”

“I have judged Red Dragon to be a great warrior, Ursula.”

“Yes, Your Majesty’s judgment is accurate. However, I too have opposed Red Dragon for quite some time. I pride myself on knowing his power and abilities precisely.”

“Hmm.”

“Please grant me the opportunity to spar with Red Dragon before Your Majesty. I can quickly confirm whether he has truly lost his power or is merely pretending. If he’s pretending, then all his petitions to Your Majesty are lies, and he should be quartered for the crime of contempt, and that impoverished planet should be erased from the map.”

“Your Majesty, I submit that this is a reasonable opinion.”

Cancer takes Morgan’s side.

“Please consider it.”

The other executives seem to agree as well. Emperor Recter nods.

“Very well. I too wish to see your combat, Red Dragon. I believe in you. Though I won’t be able to see everything since you’ve lost your power, I’ll be satisfied just seeing your spirit and fragments of your skill. Begin the sparring match between Red Dragon and Ursula!”

At the Emperor’s declaration, a battle arena is instantly prepared in the center of the audience chamber. Morgan ascends to the arena, gently swinging her whip.

“Come up, Red Dragon. Let’s see the end of our ill-fated relationship.”

Hmm.

This isn’t going well.

Well.

Let’s see what happens.