Legacy of the Dark Sage

The Inter-Clan Conference ended its second event on the eve of the fourth day. By this time, most of the attendees were basking in self-praise. The entertainment that the Solis Clan prepared inflated their egos, and most believed that they had gotten The Emperor's favor. Attending tribes and small clans were no different.

Nevertheless, certain sensible clans and tribes chose to remain quiet, whether because they were secretly delighted by their victories over the captured beasts in private or simply felt indifferent about it; only they understood their true sentiments.

There were a handful of clans that did not participate in the entertainment. Typically, they would have drawn much attention because they were in the minority. However, none of the others paid much attention to their non-participation because they more or less knew the reason.

These clans were somewhat related to the beasts for entertainment. Of course, these clans were far from being called uncultured beasts; they possessed similar qualities.

Dragons, in particular, were known to produce hybrid beasts during their 'dark history.' Their abandoned offspring eventually lost their ability to think, copulate with other species, and create hybrid creatures.

In any case, these beasts were incapable of becoming a

mage

. However, there were rare cases in which a few succeeded and eventually formed their tribes.

Regardless of their connection with those creatures, the clans with similar qualities to beasts viewed the Solis Clan's entertainment with disdain.

Still drunk with their victories against the captured beasts, some clans showed superior attitudes toward those who did not participate in the entertainment— without exception. They also showed this attitude before Ames, Attor, and Eissen.

Some attendees, even after basking in their self-praise, managed to retain their reasoning and still lowered their heads in front of Ames and her group. This was because, even if the latter did not participate in the entertainment, that did not mean they were any weaker than them. Their strength was proven for a long time, and they did not need any

show

to prove that point.

Thus, when the attendees saw those who snubbed Ames and her group, they feared that the atmosphere at the conference would turn sour.

Fortunately, Ames and her group showed no interest in the sudden treatment change. They did not even notice the change, which shows how disinterested they were in whatever the other clans thought of them.

With the end of the conference drawing near, the third event started on the fifth day.

The third event was a more confidential meeting with The Emperor. Since approximately a thousand clans attended the conference, he could not meet them separately by clan. Thus, the Solis executives separated the clans by area and scheduled them accordingly.

The purpose of this meeting was for them to open up more sensitive topics with The Emperor. Obviously, clans or tribes that wanted to curry favor would also sell themselves in this meeting.

The Solis executives posted the schedules on the available channel only in the Palace of the King before the second event. Thus, even before the third event started, many looked forward to it.

There was also a meeting that garnered the most interest— the Dragon Clan.

It could not be helped.

Whether the Solis executives did it on purpose, the Dragon Clan's meeting with The Emperor was scheduled on the last day, just before the closing. What caught everyone's attention was that the meeting would only be attended by the Dragon Clan and The Emperor.

Inside the Dragon Clan's residence, Ames, Attor, and Eissen were in the middle of a discussion.

"It is

obviously

a plot," Attor said with a frown.

"It is, yet it's not like we can avoid it," Ames replied with a sigh. "I just did not expect them to be this blatant when other leaders of the clans are present."

"They are trying to create a situation," Eissen voiced his thoughts.

Attor looked at him and repeated thoughtfully, "'Create a situation, huh?'"

From the start, they were aware that the reason The Emperor called for the Inter-Clan Conference was so he could reinforce his authority in the Higher Realm.

There was no official statement or recognition that The Emperor was the

ruler

of the Higher Realm. However, because he was the only mage closest to becoming a Higher Being, the legitimate ruler of the Higher Realm, most clans and tribes considered him such.

At least, that was the case until rumors of the Dragon Emperor's attempt for ascension started to circulate.

The tension between the Dragon Clan and the Solis Clan was palpable, with The Emperor's pseudo-rule over the Higher Realm at stake.

The rumor also caused several clans with a neutral or good relationship with The Emperor's faction to start favoring the Dragon Clan.

While it was confirmed that the Dragon Clan was part of The Emperor's faction, it was no secret that they were only a member in name. The Emperor had no real power over them. This was why most clans, who viewed The Emperor's authoritarian rule as toxic, wanted to support the Dragon Emperor if he succeeded in ascending.

However, instead of succeeding, news of the Dragon Emperor's failed ascension spread throughout just at the start of the Inter-Clan Conference.

This caused a dramatic change in the current state of affairs in the Higher Realm. It also allowed The Emperor to reinforce his authority. Nevertheless, doubts were still there, and to extinguish them altogether, the Solis executives decided to present a show of strength using the third event to boost The Emperor's rule.

That was how they came up with scheduling the meeting between The Emperor and the Dragon Clan on the last day of the conference and just before the closing.

Of course, their intention did not go unnoticed by the Dragon Clan.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"This is indeed a good situation to elevate The Emperor's authority," Attor continued, shaking his head. "I applaud their simple-mindedness."

Ames looked at him wryly, "Don't be like that. They have no idea of the real situation."

"True," Eissen agreed. "To be honest, setting us to meet The Emperor last is favorable to them. But that is the same with us."

"Do you have something in mind?" Attor asked, seemingly interested in what Eissen was trying to say.

Experience new tales on empire

"We can meet The Emperor alone."

Attor raised his brows at Eissen's curt response. At first, he did not understand what the latter meant, but as an Aide to the Dragon Emperor, the confusion did not take long to clear his mind.

"You...!" Attor looked at Eissen incredulously. "Even if there are three of us, he is still a Supreme Overlord."

Ames, who also realized what Eissen meant, chuckled and said, "You understand that pulling that off will be hard, especially since he has so many reinforcements on standby."

Though the Palace of the King's array formation prevented them from using their Divine Sense to

scout

the surroundings outside the plane, as dragons, Ames's, Attor's, and Eissen's instincts and senses were enough to notice The Emperor's reinforcements waiting at a distance.

Moreover, it appeared that The Emperor chose to awaken his priced

Sentinels

.

No matter how superior a being dragons were, Ames and her group consisted of only three peak High Sovereigns. Even if they were only a step away from becoming an Overlord, there was no guarantee that they could take on all the Solis Sentinels by themselves.

Furthermore, by then, The Emperor would have already brainwashed about 90% of the leaders and representatives from the third event. That meant Ames and her group could not exclude them as potential obstacles.

Even if Oceanus and Leif decided to reveal their relationship with the Dragon Clan and cooperate with them, having one Overlord and another High Sovereign was insufficient to even out the numbers.

"I know," Eissen replied with a nod. "This is why we must find a way to lure him away from here."

"That will be a tall order..." Attor said with furrowed brows. "So far, the array formations we've seen around the palace prevent us from exploiting any weakness in their security."

For the past few days, Ames, Attor, and Eissen observed the palace's layout and memorized array formations they discovered discreetly. Up to this point, they only succeeded in plotting 30-35% of the palace's floor plan and memorized 30% of the visible array formations. Even then, they realized how complex the formation and the floor plan were and that only the Higher Being was likely the only one who could fully understand everything.

"If we get Null's cooperation, our chances will be better," Eissen pointed.

Ames glanced at him strangely, "Why are you bringing up Null?"

"Is it that strange?"

"Rather than being strange... you know it's impossible for us to contact the outside while we're here. So why are you suddenly bringing him up?"

"I know his Array Knowledge is among the best, if not greater than Ducal. If he saw the formations we've collected so far, I know he can decipher them in no time."

"That is such a big contrast of attitude from when you want to detain him on the first day of your meeting."

Eissen coughed uneasily. He admitted being on guard around Kyran at first. But after witnessing the latter's effort in assisting the Dragon Clan and helping Aillos with his ascension, he already acknowledged him.

Ames chuckled inwardly at Eissen's flustered look. She wanted to tease him more, but now was not the time to do so.

"In any case, even if you bring him up, we don't even know how to contact him."

"That's not right."

"?"

"As I said, his Array Knowledge is among the best, if not greater than Ducal. That means his creations should not be assessed with our current standard."

"...?"

"His communication device. Is it really impossible to contact him using that?"

"!"