Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 232: My Lord

This made Vale pause.

’...Who was in control of the enchanted tools of the chasms? There is only one presence here that could hold such control...’

"There should be some form of control at the capital with the Clan leader, but we don’t have one now. The other person I could think of is Chief Rikon. He should have control over it. After all, he is the one in control here."

Vale looked from Slya to Tiber and the other Flagbearers as tension made them stiffen. "You don’t mean that Rikon will seek help from the nomadic warriors?"

Takoda frowned. "The only thing that could give him such confidence is that he has support. And that could only happen either from inside or outside. I say you should investigate him."

Vale made up his mind then. "Chief Takoda, you will hand over your matters to the elders. Let them look after the Tribes. It will be your job to investigate the chasms.

"Flagbearer Pomora, you will return to the borderland as well and begin the movement of the Knights—all of them combined with Takoda’s warriors. From today, you will be the Lieutenant in control of that part of the army.

"I want them flanking Chief Rikon’s town from behind, cutting him off in case he’s planning anything."

Flagbearer Pomora stood and bowed to him. "As you wish, Commander."

Takoda bowed as well. "I will return to the borderland to take care of my affairs. What are you going to do now?"

"I need to move the army. They are becoming restless. I’m moving them closer to Rikon. There’s a town there that I’m taking as my command post for now. Then, I will visit the chief myself and see what he needs—war or not.

"Tiber and Slya will be part of my personal guards. And your new orders now are to advance, or you will not set foot where I fight." He held their eyes. Dark and brown met his, and they nodded.

They understood more than he did. They knew his power, and they knew the gap between them even when they were in the same ranks. But now that he had advanced, it was like a mountain between them.

They did not intend for it to stay that way.

"Now, let’s share the spoils. Pomora, take one ship. Takoda, you take the other one, but since you won’t be needing it now, let Pomora make use of it in moving the army." Vale stood and drained the rest of his tea.

The rest of them followed his example. He said to his companions with a smile on his face, "How about we inform Thrain about what’s happening? Let’s send him the challenge flag."

Vale then made his tower appear above him, and he absorbed himself, Slya, and Tiber into it—shooting into the sky the next instant.

☆☆☆☆

"Congratulations, my lord," Chief Ryvlan Choxa said, facing the throne on the raised dais.

Thrain sat there, his eyes overlooking the great hall. It had been rebuilt after the battle; the workers worked quickly. He made them.

He was clad in his golden armor. It was an artifact that most people didn’t know about. They thought it was a decoration to stroke his own ego for his known name—Golden Knight. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Since he declared himself Clan leader, he had been wearing it everywhere. The only place he didn’t wear it was in his personal room, and that was because it was heavily covered with defensive enchanted symbols.

He was paranoid about assassination and betrayal. After all, if he could convince people to turn against his father, they could do the same to him as well.

And worse still, he was still walking on a knife’s edge. Any mistake, and he would cut himself in the worst possible way. The Clan was so unstable that anything could make it crash down. And that was why he needed to deal with his internal troubles before other Clans decided they wanted to take advantage.

He remembered that Chief Ryvlan Choxa had said something, and he snapped out of his thoughts. "Ah, are you talking about my brother’s death? It’s the saddest thing, really. My father and now my brother. I am most sad."

He wasn’t his usual gloating self. Unlike when he caused the death of his father, he had felt satisfaction as if he was closing a deal. But his brother’s death was different. There was no clash, no planning. It made him feel cheated.

’...He should have fought back somehow... How dare he just die like that!...’

Chief Ryvlan Choxa nodded solemnly, but there was a glint in his eyes. "Of course, my lord."

Thrain sighed inwardly. Now that he’d taken the seat, he realized just how troublesome it was. He opened his mouth to say something, but the door opened. He frowned as he saw a man dressed in a brown robe hurry inside.

It was one of the people who worked in the information center. They received information coming in, those directed to the palace.

The man bowed and went to his knees. "My lord."

"Speak."

"A message, down south."

That was enough to make Thrain sit up. South was where the borderland was and where his brother had left his mark. "Yes?"

"The messenger was unfamiliar and did not leave their name. They also sounded male. The message was that, ’Orin fell with his assassin, and your ships are now mine. My Flagbearers are not happy that you caused trouble for them. And the dead around your neck are a debt, and I will come to collect.’ That’s the message, my lord."

Thrain had stiffened from the beginning of the message to the end. The fact that the sender knew the correct palace essence connection to send the message—and the way they spoke...

’...My Flagbearers... The dead... Coming to collect... No... Impossible... It can’t be... He’s dead!...’

His heart was beating fast now, and he had to keep himself from leaping from his seat.

Chief Ryvlan Choxa had turned white, and he turned a shocked face to Thrain, who ignored him.

"Go. Bring my dead brother’s body here," Thrain ordered.