Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 243: We are here

Chief Eamon Rikon stood atop his wall and watched the air and the ground with his superhuman eyes. His army was still camped in front of the wall, dotting the ground with their pointed tents.

A shield extended from the wall in translucent blue and covered most of the tents, but not all. The rest of the ship extended far closer to the middle of the city.

It was mid-morning, and the sun was already high in the sky. Closer to the borderland here in the south, it was always dry.

But Eamon did not mind the sun. He was used to it. It was his home, after all.

"Father, are you really going to wait for him?" A man that looked like Eamon said. "We should not join forces with the likes of him."

"Shut up, Chen. He is now a Clan leader." Eamon was a chubby man with thick fingers and a smiling face, but his eyes were like two black stones, cold and hard.

Chen snorted. "He is a Clan leader? Then anyone can be the Athrimir Clan leader."

"He has gained the approval of half the army. And he has two Master Knights with him. As it is now, we cannot take him on, but he cannot afford to fight us either. Not when his brother is ready to hammer him from the rear." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"So you will actually work with him?" Chen asked curiously. He knew his father and what he was capable of.

His father shook his head, his jaw wobbling slightly. "Do not be foolish. I will work with him until I do not need to. I have been waiting for that old man to die, but to think he was killed by his own son. A shame. But this is an opportunity I cannot miss."

Chen opened his mouth to say something, but his attention, as well as that of his father, was caught by the tower that suddenly came out of the clouds in the distance.

Eamon frowned. "He did get that tower. All right, compose yourself. Do not forget that you are both in the same rank."

The tower was faster than it looked because, in a few minutes, it had already passed the army below and stood in front of the wall. Eamon had allowed the shield to let them pass.

He studied the tower—black with red running through it—and even as it stood there, the tower was radiating heat. At the top of the battlements stood two flags, one the classic Athrimir and the other a serpent wrapped around a tower.

Eamon smiled. "Here we go."

☆☆☆

The first impression that Vale had of Chief Eamon was that the man looked like a cruel toad and the type of man who was always planning something.

"...But then, everyone plans something..."

He offloaded everyone to the top of the wall to join the Chief and his son. Pomora had met them halfway to the place, and they all stood facing him.

Vale and the Master Knights greeted him as equals while the others bowed to him. He then turned to his son. "Young Master Chen."

At first, it looked like the man would not bow, but a glare from his father, and he bent his back. "Y... Clan leader Vale."

Vale’s lips twitched. "I hope you are doing well." Then he turned to the father and nodded firmly. As usual, Vale did not want to play their subtle politics, and he went straight to it. "It seems you are preparing for war. But my brother will crush you."

The look on Chief Eamon’s face was that of pure surprise. He was a seasoned Lord who knew the art of politics. He was not expecting Vale to just say something like that. It was supposed to be a subtle affair.

The statement threw him off, and it took a while to gather himself, but he was not a Lord for that long for nothing. He replied smoothly, "I do not know. What do you think? You are in the same situation as me, my Lord."

Vale smiled. "Indeed. Why do we not sit down and talk?"

"Of course, of course."

Vale could practically feel the irritation that rolled off the Chief.

Vale had basically taken charge of things.

The man led them down the wall, but instead of going to his castle, he led them into the city with his armored guards to keep the people away.

Chief Eamon was explaining the origin and the way of his city to them as they walked.

Vale did not interrupt him and let the man drone on. Instead, he focused on his people. Vale was ready to criticize him, but it turned out the man was actually doing well as a Lord.

"...That or he somehow found a way to make sure we passed through only the good parts of his city... but then again, this is not the whole city..."

"We are here!" Eamon said and pointed.

In front of them was a coliseum-shaped building made of grey stone. Just looking at it, there was nothing impressive about it except for its size.

Vale did not need to be told what went on inside. He could hear the shouting and smell the blood.

Eamon led them inside, and as expected, it was a fighting pit, but it was different. It was bigger, and the people inside were both a combination of high-class citizens and the low end.

All shouting and betting, calling for more blood.

They were led to a sealed-off platform made specifically for Eamon and his guests. The viewing glass at the front could zoom in on the fighting field from different angles.

As they sat on the plush chairs and the servants began to serve them different snacks, Vale turned and made eye contact with Slya and Tiber.

The meaning was clear. He was reminding them of what happened before in a fighting pit similar to the one they were in now. The difference was that the people now participating were more powerful.

A fight was going on between two Knight ranks.

Vale and the others sat down quietly to enjoy their snacks while they watched.