Kapitel 260: 256: A Plague of Phantoms: Privileges of a Demon V
"So that's the CEO of Sho'lajah Artifact Company?"
"I thought he'd be older?"
"He's a brat! I've got grandchildren older than him!"
"He's a weakling. Why else would he have those evos following him around?"
I pretended that I didn't hear the other CEO's as I walked into the large auditorium with Jane, Angie, Four, and Empress in tow. Hideyoshi walked a few steps in front of us, secure in his ruse. The auditorium was divided in half and had dozens of chairs arranged in multiple rows with the names of different companies attached to the backs of them on one side and the other had extravagant chairs set up on small platforms with the names of countries stuck to the backs on the other side.
I didn't need to look over at the CEO side to know where Thomas was. I could practically feel the disapproving gaze of the man I once called dad burrowing into the side of my head. Well it was either that or the hundred or so other stares I was receiving from the CEO's, nobles, royals, and military personnel in the room but it was more satisfying to think it was Thomas that I sensed.
"Why do I feel like everyone is staring at me?" Angie asked as she glanced around self-consciously.
"Don't worry, they don't even notice us right now. All eyes are in Chase and our special guards." Jane said softly.
"Well, it looks like we're the last ones here." I said as we walked down the middle aisle.
"Not surprising, considering the detour we just took." Jane said as she looked on the side of the room with all the rulers. "Oh look it's my father and mother."
I glanced to my left and saw Jane looking up at a set of chairs with Egypt marked on the backs of them. In the chairs I saw Jane's parents looking to be having a conversation with another ruler. The king of Antarctica, if the tag on the chair was to be believed. Viola saw us as we passed and waved comfortingly real quick then turned her attention back to her husband's conversation with the Artic king.
"Looks like Dad is talking to uncle Eurath." Jane said, Angie looked incredulously.
"The king of Antarctica is your uncle?" Angie asked.
"Yes, on my dad's side, his younger brother. Well half-brother…well…it's complicated." Jane said.
"Sounds like it." I said then looked back at Hideyoshi. "Where exactly are our seats?"
"Your seats should be up ahead, in the front…next to the seats for Justice Technologies." Hideyoshi said.
I inwardly groaned and looked to the very first row of seats on the CEO side of the Auditorium. Thomas was seated in the second chair in that row. Beside him in the first seat was Logan, dressed in his Lieutenant uniform that looked more like dress up on him. On the other side of Thomas was that young guy that was following Logan in his squad. He looked the same age as me but still had that youthful, childlike wonder look in his eyes.
"Great…" Jane grumbled. Hideyoshi looked back at us with an apologetic look.
"Sorry about that, I understand your relationship with your family is…strained at the moment Master Kingston. I had no control over the seating arrangements." He said.
"No need to apologize. Sitting near my sperm donor and shit head of a brother won't kill me." I said.
"But it might kill them…" Jane said, the edge of her voice obvious and threatening.
I just about said something to her when three men suddenly stepped in front of Hideyoshi, blocking his route. As Hideyoshi came to a stop a man dressed in opulent robes. Stepped out from the same row that the three men came from followed by four women dressed in traditional Chinese dresses and carrying the ends of his robe as he moved.
[Chase! That's the Divine Emperor of the Divine Chinese Empire!] Jane warned me through the manacite communication rings, broadcasting to Angie as well as me.
[Greeeeeaaaat…..] I drawled. The tallest of the men, who I now recognized as the royal guard, stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"The Divine Emperor of the Divine Chinese Empire hereby requests a parley with the individual: Chase Kingston of Sho'lajah Artifact Company. Be honored to be in presence of the Emperor blessed by the true gods! Emperor Ji Su-wong!" The royal guard announced. Hideyoshi looked back at me, silently asking what I wanted to do.
[Can I blow him off? I've kind of had enough of dealing with dignitaries and royals today.] I asked Jane through the manacite communication rings.
[NO! YOU CAN'T BLOW HIM OFF! AND THE DAY'S JUST STARTED HOW ARE YOU ALREADY TIRED!] Jane bellowed.
[Dealing with people is exhausting.] I replied.
"Chase Kingston, I give you permission to look upon my divine visage." The emperor announced suddenly.
Being talked to directly I looked the Emperor over. He was a older man, at least in his fifties. He was dressed in an expensive blue robe lined with gold threads and had precious stones sewn into it. There was an air of entitlement about him and an expectant look in his eyes, he was used to people listening to his every word and vying for his attention. Having to come up to me directly must have been a new experience to him.
"Riiiiight…so do you go by Ji or Su-wong?" I asked the emperor. The guards all gasped at my question and I could hear Jane mentally face palm herself. The emperor looked annoyed slightly but answered.
"One usually does not address me directly, chosen by the gods as I am. I will make an exception this time for one as accomplished as you, Kingston." Emperor Ji said. I shrugged and looked to the rulers that were seated already.
"Rulers chosen by the gods seem to be a dime a dozen lately. I met at least ten last night that made such a claim." I said dismissively. The royal guards gasped again as did the women attending him. The emperor looked visibly annoyed by that statement.
"What do you mean by that?!" He spat.
"Oh nothing! Just rambling." I replied then sighed exhaustively. "Was there a reason you wanted to speak to me Ji or did you just want to say hi?"
[Chase!] Jane and Angie both snapped at me.
"Such disrespect! How dare you speak to the emperor with such familiarity!" The tallest of the Royal guards exclaimed reaching for the sword on his hip.
"I would not recommend that…" Empress spoke up. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Empress had stepped to the left side where she had a straight shot at the Royal guard, Fours stepped to the right and inched ahead of Angie and Jane.
"Calm down Empress, we've already had Bone-lasher spill a bunch of blood here, I don't need you killing a guard as well." I said holding a hand out. Empress let out a huff but unruffled her feathers.
"You are very brazen, Kingston." Emperor Ji said, waving his hand exhaustively at the Royal guard.
"Thanks, I hear that a lot." I said, knowing full well it wasn't a compliment.
"So brazen as to steal that which is mine!" Emperor Ji exclaimed.
"Say what?!" I snapped.
"Yes! You dared to steal from me! Emperor chosen by the gods of China!" Emperor Ji all but yelled. Jane stepped in front of me and cleared her throat.
"Your Holiness, Chase hasn't stolen anything of yours." She said. The emperor narrowed his eyes at Jane then sneered.
"I will not deign to be addressed by an underling, woman!" The emperor snapped. This obviously passed Jane off as her voice dipped into her cold, icy tones.
"I am not some underling, your holiness. I am the crowned princess of Egypt. And my station in Chase's company does not have any baring on my words. Chase has not stolen anything from you." Jane said sternly, making the guards all turn their attention to her and glare.
"Oh really! And what do you call that! Brazenly flaunting a stolen Divine Gold Qolitz!" Emperor Ji exclaimed and pointed to Empress. Angie and Jane turned to look at Empress and I suddenly understood what the Emperor was angling towards.
"I see…" I said calmly then looked back at Empress. "…so you say my evo is yours?"
"I say that Divine Gold Qolitz is mine! I know not how you obtained such a remarkable specimen of the type but Divine Gold Qolitz are made by my royal guards to serve and protect me! Meaning all Divine Gold Qolitz are mine by right!" Emperor Ji announced. "A Divine Gold Qolitz that can talk is wasted in the hands of a lesser man! It should be wielded by the chosen! The talented! The Divine!"
"Lesser man…" Empress muttered, her voice low and dark.
[Empress...?] I called out through the mental connection. The tone of her voice worried me.
[I am in control my Lord. Do you trust me?] Empress asked.
[Yes. I trust all of you.] I replied, without hesitation. I felt a wave of gratitude come through the connection as Empress stepped around Angie, Jane, and Fours and then stood beside me.
"Divine emperor! I admit that I was created to serve and protect you. That my original master pledged his life in service to you…" Empress said only to be cut off by Emperor Ji.
"So eloquent! And an admission that it is mine by right!" Emperor Ji proclaimed loudly so everyone in the auditorium could hear. "Captain Yi, reclaim it for the empire!"
The tallest of the Royal guards stepped towards Empress and she snapped open one of her wings, sending a metal feather flying at the guard and embedding in the floor in front of the guard men's feet.
"You will reclaim nothing! My last master sold me for profit and dishonored himself. I saw forced to fight day in and day out for the amusement of others…until my wings were cut off. I was discarded and sentenced to die. Only my lord saw something in me. He rescued me, healed me, and grated me power beyond that of a mere Divine Gold Qolitz. I am no longer the creature that was made to serve you. I am Empress, Fifth named of Sho'lajah, the Divine Gold Regalia Qolitz!" Empress exclaimed confidently. The emperor glared at Empress, aghast and fuming.
"YOU DARE REFUSE YOUR EMPEROR!" Emperor Ji bellowed and then held put hos arm.
The farm crystal on his forearm glowed brightly and I felt a sharp tug coming from somewhere inside my own farm crystal. The tug didn't hurt but felt wrong and downright dirty, like a lasso of slime had wrapped around my crystal and tugging on it. I quickly realized that feeling was because the emperor was trying to use his mana to force Empress to comply. I could feel his anger, greed, narcissism, and lust for power. I could also gauge his mana capacity, which was less than Empress.
Through my connection I felt a surge of rage and power, coming not from the Emperor but from my Empress. Her eyes glowed a deep red as she overpowered the Emperor's attempt at control and she released a wave of mana that knocked emperor Ji, his royal guard, and his attendants back several feet. Empress body became enveloped in blue flames as she stepped in front of me and screeched angrily.
"HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO CONTROL ME! A CHOSEN OF SHO'LAJAH!" Empress bellowed and snapped all of her wings open. In an impressive display of control of her mana, small embers jumped from her wings and landed on either side of her. Walls of flames erupted and traveled down the both sides of the aisle and cut off any escape for the ruler as well as any reinforcements.
"Chase…!" Jane said, called to me in a concerned tone.
"She's fine…" I dismissed her with a half-hearted wave over the shoulder. Even so I kept an eye on the other people in the auditorium. Every security personnel had jumped to their feet to protect their leader or lords. Though none made any moves to try to eliminate Empress so I would let her deal with this as she saw fit.
"TO DARE TO TRY IN FRONT OF HIM AS WELL! YOU MIGHT CALL YOURSELF A CHOSEN RULER OF THE GODS BUT YOU ARE ONE OF MANY IN THIS ROOM THAT CLAIMS THAT TITLE! THERE IS ONLY ONE STAR CRYSTAL BEARER, ONLY ONE WITH HIS MIND, EXCELLENCE, AND COMPASSION. A TRUE CHOSEN OF THE GODS, MY ONE TRUE LORD AND MASTER!" Empress continued then stomped her foot on the ground as she flapped her wings. The walls of flames were instantly extinguished leaving only Empress ablaze. "I WILL NOT BE ORDERED AROUND BY AN INFERIOR SPLICER! DISREPECT MY LORD AGAIN AND I WILL BURN YOU FROM WHERE YOU STAND TILL THERE IS NOTHING, NOT EVEN ASH!"
"Y-y-you…" Captain Yi stuttered but I cut him off.
"If you value your head I'd suggest you shut your mouth. Of all of Chase's evos, Empress here is the most…devout. She won't need a order to end your life." Jane advised.
"I would advise you never try that again, Ji. Next time you try to take one of my evos by force I will step in…" I said then reached back and drew my mana-revolver: Dia Caos from it's holster hidden under my top then pointed it at the ruler and fired a void bullet. It struck just to the right of the Emperor and a orb of pure darkness around the size of a baseball formed and then shrunk and dissolved into nothing taking the ground with it. "…and don't think I will miss next time."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein