Chapter 418: Rudra Joining the Immortal Order
That silenced Rudra for a moment. His smile dimmed, then returned, softer this time, more genuine. "...Fair enough. Then tell me—what exactly is this opportunity?"
Apollo nodded and said, "From what I have seen, you didn’t like doing things in great fanfare, but you had to know that the current Rion has changed, and your current strength might have been good a decade ago, but now it isn’t enough."
"So, to protect yourself... and those tied to you—friends, family, whatever you hold dear—you’ll need more than tricks and clever words. You’ll need a power behind you that can stand against the storms coming."
Apollo took one step closer, his gaze locking onto Rudra’s. "That’s why I’m offering you a place. Not beneath me as some servant or anything else, but beside me, within something greater joining the Immortal Order."
"Immortal order?" He looked at Apollo for a moment and started to think about it, as he had never heard of such a group or power on the eastern continent. He naturally at that moment didn’t want to join, but then he thought he should at least know more.
Then Rudra chuckled softly, rubbing his chin. "Immortal Order, is it? Hmph... bold name." He then proceeded to ask, "I have never heard of any Immortal order, and why should I join an Immortal order when I can join the crown prince’s faction?"
"The Crown Prince’s faction?" His lips curved faintly, though it wasn’t quite a smile. "Joining him would mean bending the knee. They might look quite polite to you, but you should know that they come from quite a powerful ancestry which has a hierarchy based on bloodline."
"For them, humans might not be that of their equals. You’d be used and discarded the moment you stop being useful. And with your outstanding talent, they’d never let you stand beside them as an equal."
He took another step forward, the lantern light catching the sharp edge in his eyes. "But the Immortal Order is different. I’m not building a court of flatterers or disposable blades. I’m building something that will remain true to their purpose."
"A power that belongs to those who shape it with their own strength. A place where talent isn’t chained but sharpened."
Rudra’s smile remained, but there was a flicker of seriousness beneath his eyes now. He crossed his arms, weighing Apollo’s words carefully.
"Hmph... You talk big, Mr. But bold words are cheap, and what can guarantee all you said is true?"
Apollo’s gaze didn’t waver. "Guarantee?" His voice was calm, unhurried, yet it carried weight. "The only guarantee in this world is strength. Promises break. Oaths crumble. Even ancient empires fall. But strength..." He let the word linger, his aura pressing down just enough to stir the space around them.
The faint pressure that radiated from him made Rudra’s breath catch for an instant. It wasn’t overwhelming; it was completely different, like it didn’t belong to this plane of existence.
For a moment he didn’t know what to do; whether it was his mind or soul, everything within him was trembling in fear, but there was also hidden excitement within him.
"I don’t ask you to believe in empty words," Apollo continued. "I ask you to judge by what you see, what you feel and what you believe in your instinct."
And for some reason, although he maintained an alert expression on his face, deep within him he kind of believed it for some reason. It was like mysterious luck hinting to him that this was his chance.
He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing with a thought. ’Joining him might mean stepping into storms I cannot imagine. But walking away... will I ever forgive myself for missing this?’
Finally, Rudra let out a low chuckle, though his eyes glinted with decision. "Very well. I’ll take this gamble. I’ll join your Immortal Order."
"But remember," His smile sharpened again, though there was respect in it now. "I’m no servant. If I stand with you, I stand as myself."
Apollo’s lips curved faintly, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "That’s exactly what I want."
"Okay then, you can now call me Apollo. I am the founder of Immortal Order, and take this small gift for joining me."
After that he gave him a bunch of resources and weapons for improving his strength and gathering other geniuses from all over the eastern continent.
Although his family’s merchant group wasn’t the best, he can still find useful people; not to mention, with the resources he gave, he should be able to gather quite a group.
Rudra, seeing the resources, couldn’t help but believe his instincts were right.
Now that he got Rudra, Apollo set his eyes on his next target, Arthur. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his aura rippling faintly. His next target had just departed with his family’s skyship—and Apollo had no intention of letting him slip away.
Arthur, now in the skyship with his clan elders, was having a meeting. Arthur was sitting along with a group of elders, and the atmosphere was heavy.
"I think we should agree and join the crown prince’s group." One elder said firmly, his fingers tapping against the table in emphasis.
"Yes, the Sacred Light Empire isn’t simple; even those ancient clans that suddenly awakened seem to be wary of them. Joining them is the best option. " Another elder said, looking at everyone.
Several others murmured their agreement, the sound like a tide rising against any dissent.
Arthur, seated at the head of the younger generation’s seats, kept his posture straight, his eyes calm.
"To bend the knee so easily..." he thought, his gaze flicking over the elders.
Still, he didn’t immediately object. He was young compared to these men and women, and even though he was the strongest genius since the beginning of their clan, still he cannot make all decisions on his own.
The elders, however, noticed. One of them turned toward him.
"Arthur," the man said, voice slow but probing, "you’ve been quiet. What do you think? Surely you understand the position we are in. Neutrality in times like this is weakness."
And just as he was about to say something, their skyship trembled.
Boom!