Chapter 1617: An offer
Middle Sector 100—
"....." Sitting on a seat that resembled a throne, Caesar finally opened his eyes after hours of complete silence. Almost instantly, a faint yet confident smile stretched across his lips. "The little adventurer seems to be in far better condition now, heh~ Perhaps allowing him the freedom to act as he pleased was not such a terrible idea after all."
He then poured his soul sense into the ring on his hand and spoke calmly, "Leonid, come here!"
Five minutes later, the heavy door creaked open—krrrr—and a young man in black walked in. His hood was pulled low, covering most of his face and hiding nearly all of his features. "Do you have orders for me, Your Highness?"
"Congratulations," Caesar clapped his hands once with force, his voice sharp and commanding. "You are promoted, from being merely the second-in-command to now acting as the Lord of the Shadow Swords, though temporarily. Begin your preparations at once—you are to secure complete control over every branch in both Sectors 99 and 100 for at least the next half-century. In addition, you will receive the entire file concerning the Twilight Spectrum Empire."
"Hah?" Leonid’s tone carried raw surprise. "What about His Highness Theo? Has something happened to him?!"
"Indeed," Caesar replied with a tap of his fingers against the throne’s armrest. "He is already on his way to Middle Sector 101 for an urgent mission. Do not trouble yourself with the Shadow Swords stationed there—he will handle them personally. However, he may be gone for quite some time." His gaze turned sharp, and he rapped the throne twice more. "Take your time and seize the reins of power. This is your opportunity to prove your worth, young Burton... But if you wish to retreat from this position and instead delegate a representative on your behalf, I will not stop you."
Leonid was no stranger to pressure. He was the same youth Richard had chosen to warn Robin of the invasion upon Jura. That day, he fled from countless imperial guards, pursued endlessly for days, yet managed to cling to his life and keep his lips sealed until he finally reached Robin in the midst of a raging battle. From that very moment, both Robin and even Richard lent him their support, raising him step by step until, one day, he inherited the position once held by the late Charles.
"...I will do everything in my power," Leonid lowered his head slightly, his voice steady. "Thank you, Your Highness."
"You may leave now." Caesar rubbed his temples between his fingers. The weight of leading a Centennial Empire was no light burden, and fatigue pressed heavily against his spirit.
"By the way, Your Highness," Leonid straightened his back again, hesitant yet firm, "there is a woman who has requested an audience with you. She has been waiting for over two hours already."
"A woman?" Caesar’s lips curled with amusement. "I am in the midst of managing the expansion of a Centennial Empire, yet I must still spare time to meet with unknown visitors as well? Why not speak with her yourself? Where is Peon?"
"Your Highness Peon was the one who referred her directly to you. He claimed the matter was beyond him." Leonid answered quickly, "And truthfully, it is beyond me as well."
"...." Caesar exhaled deeply, then gestured with his hand, his fingers lazily brushing the air. He returned to massaging his temples. "Fine. Bring her in."
Leonid bowed slightly once more, then turned. As he left, a small victorious smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Today was a pivotal day for him—one that could reshape his destiny.
Several minutes passed—
StepStepStep
A young woman with her hair tied in a high ponytail strode into the grand hall where Caesar sat. She wore a striking suit of blue and white armor, and at her waist hung two finely-crafted swords. Her voice was bold, echoing against the chamber’s walls. "Meeting with you is no easy task, Marshal."
"...." Caesar’s eyes swept over her, taking in her figure from the boots on her feet to the swords at her side.
At first glance, it was undeniable—this girl was no ordinary wanderer or common calamity of the world. She was, without a doubt, a Nexus State, albeit of a low level.
And she made no attempt to conceal it. Instead, she deliberately released her aura, letting it swirl throughout the chamber so that Caesar would know exactly who stood before him the moment she entered.
"I was in the middle of an important council," Caesar gestured toward a nearby seat, his voice calm yet edged with curiosity. "Please, sit. Now... tell me, who are you, and in what way can I be of assistance?"
"Call me Serafina," the young woman said, her voice steady as she crossed one leg over the other with practiced elegance. The faint clink of her armor filled the chamber, echoing off the tall stone walls. "I seek an audience with the Silent Emperor himself. There is a matter that directly concerns him, and him alone. I do not understand why I was redirected—first to some youth before you, and now to you instead."
"Hmm." She allowed her gaze to drift slowly around the vast hall, her sharp senses probing every corner. Her eyes narrowed. "I can feel it... a Nexus State presence observing this place. No—two of them. They are not far at all." Her focus snapped back onto Caesar, her expression calm but unyielding. "As the Marshal of the Ground Forces, as a wielder of the fourth-rank Laws, you command considerable weight. It’s clear you are afforded a very special kind of treatment."
"Hmm?" Caesar chuckled, though his tone was edged with curiosity. "Is there truly someone in all of Middle Sector 100 who does not know who Marshal Caesar is? That, I must admit, astonishes me. Every single day, messages and envoys flood my halls—some seeking alliances, others issuing threats. All of them either beg for my favor or tremble at the thought of my retaliation. And yet here you are, standing before me, not for my sake, but to seek out the Silent Emperor? Fascinating... though I suppose he didn’t earn the title ’Silent’ for nothing." He tilted his head slightly, his expression sharpening with disapproval. "You should have known who awaited you before daring to appear here. Coming unprepared leaves me with a poor impression of your intent."
"Oh?" Serafina arched an eyebrow, her lips curling faintly. "My lady and I have been consumed with pressing matters of late. Our attention is stretched thin across several fronts. We have only a general grasp of what transpires in this region of the sector, not the complete picture." She paused deliberately, as if weighing her words. "May I then ask—who exactly are you within the Centennial Cradle Empire?"
"I AM the Centennial Cradle Empire," Caesar replied without hesitation, his voice carrying the weight of unshakable authority. His posture remained steady, his presence filling the room like a tide. "Now, how may I help you? Time is a luxury I cannot waste; I have many affairs awaiting me."
"..." Serafina’s brows furrowed deeply, her mind racing. To her eyes, he was nothing more than a fourth-stage Law user—someone she could extinguish in the span of a heartbeat. And yet, in this moment, his aura did not pale in comparison to planetary emperors she had once stood before. The realization unsettled her. "Very well," she said finally, her voice carrying more weight. "I bring you an offer from my lady—she is no ordinary figure. She is a high-level Nexus State."
"Oh?" Caesar leaned back slightly, one eyebrow lifting. The oppressive atmosphere that surrounded him seemed to ease instantly, like storm clouds parting at the mention of sunlight. The words "high-level Nexus State" had caught his attention. "You have my ear. What is this proposal?"
"We have been watching your conquests unfold, measuring your empire’s steps carefully," Serafina explained, her tone shifting into something sharper, more formal. "We believe we can aid in these campaigns. In return for an agreed-upon sum, my lady and I will strike any planet you designate. We will complete the mission with precision and then depart just as quietly as we arrived."
She lifted her hand gracefully, signaling him not to interrupt. "But understand—our cooperation will come with strict conditions. We will not march under your banners, nor will we embed ourselves formally into your forces. We will not exchange names or identities, and under no circumstance will my lady reveal anything about herself. Ours will be nothing more than a swift, transactional bond—give and take, nothing more."
"Oh..." Caesar tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "So you would call yourselves mercenaries, then?"
"...I would prefer the term unofficial partners," Serafina corrected quickly, her tone sharp, unwilling to let the word define her. "What do you say, Marshal? My lady and I are prepared to fulfill any task, so long as the price is fair. Whether it means breaching impenetrable fortifications or clashing head-on with your empire’s fiercest enemies, we will see it done." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze locking with his. "Think of us as another blade in your arsenal, one that strikes where you command—just as sharp and decisive as the new sword you’ve taken under your wing, Renara."