The envoy, a middle-aged man in crimson robes with golden stripes on the edges, was brought in. He looked around with an indifferent look before glancing at the three Grand Elders.
"Greetings, Grand Elders." He slightly nodded his head instead of bowing to them, a clear sign of disrespect.
A few Elders grew furious at this. Even Schwartz narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything because it was not their place to 'discipline' him when the Grand Elders were present.
If previously, the Darvis family hated and opposed the royal Crimson family. Then now, after Schwartz told them it was the Crimson monarch's prime minister—and the person whose descendants were the ruling the crimson family—who killed their ancestor, the Darvis family wanted nothing more than to destroy them to their last member. This was also the reason the Darvis family didn't stop killing the Royal family's people, even after the demons' invasion. Of course, they knew it wasn't a good decision since their forces would be divided in two, making it difficult to deal with both sides, but none opposed the decision. They just hated the royal family that much.
The old woman and the male Grand Elder just frowned. Just when the old woman was about to say something, Boom!
"Hmph!" Schwartz's aunt snorted. Then her emperor's aura burst out of her and descended on the envoy in waves, immediately forcing him to his knees.
Thud!
"Doesn't your royal family teach you basic etiquette? If you meet someone of our stature, you bow down before you speak."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You—Cough!" The envoy's face turned red under the pressure and because of humiliated. He opened his mouth to speak when suddenly the pressure increased a few times, causing his internal organs to churn and made his cough out blood.
He wanted to release his aura to counter the pressure, but couldn't do it. His control over his body seemed to have vanished the moment her aura descended on him.
Seeing him on his knees and cough out blood, Schwartz and the other Elders smiled in satisfaction. This turn of events did not surprise them because everyone knew, despite having a beautiful, innocent face, this youngest Grand Elder—Viona—wasn't one to endure the disrespect, especially from the royal family. The old woman sighed, smiling wryly, and waved her hand, "Viona, it's enough. There is no benefit in killing a lowly envoy." Viona grunted and reluctantly withdrew her aura.
Ha!
The envoy heaved a sigh of relief and threw a healing pill in his mouth before stabilizing his breathing.
When he raised his head and looked at Viona, there was anger, hatred and an intense fear in his eyes. He immediately moved his gaze away from her, stood up and bowed properly toward the old woman and the other Grand Elder. "I apologize for my rude behavior, Grand Elders."
"Heng!" Viona snorted, seeing he was ignoring her.
The envoy shuddered and quickly bowed toward her, too.
"It's alright. I know your dog fam—ahem, I mean, your royal family doesn't teach you enough. So, it's not your fault. Now, don't waste time and tell us why are you here?" The male Grand Elder said.
The Elders chuckled when they heard him call the royal family, the dog family. Envoy's face darkened, but he said nothing about it. Taking a deep breath, he started, "Grand Elders, I'm sure you also agree demons are the most dangerous problem. If they aren't defeated quickly, our empire would suffer disastrous losses. So, the royal family wants the Darvis family to stop your attacks on our forces until we can get rid of the demons."
The Elders went silent and looked at the Grand Elders. They also knew they should prioritize fighting demons. Of course, there were some who thought it was an excellent opportunity to get rid of the royal family. However, none dared to voice out their thoughts and waited for the Grand Elders' decision.
The old woman glanced at Viona and Agenor—the male Grand Elder—and started communicating mentally.
After a while, she looked down at the envoy and nodded. "We agree to make a temporary truce. However, if we see anyone from the Royal family or anyone from your master's empire, the Black Dragon empire, in a 5,000-mile radius of the Hellfire city, we'll stop at nothing to destroy you."
The envoy gulped when he saw her scary expression and nodded, "Thank you for agreeing, Grand Elder. I'll relay your words to his majesty, the emperor."
Saying this, he didn't stay for a moment more and headed out of the hall and then the city.
After he went away, the old woman looked at Helen and said, "Helen, call our people back and tell our allied kingdoms to prepare for the war against the demons."
"Yes, Grand Elder." Helen nodded and started sending messages.
The old woman then glanced at Schwartz and asked, "What about the reinforcement from the central plains? Are they coming or not?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSchwartz took out his communication crystal and sent a message. After a while, he stored the crystal and with a heavy expression on his face, he said, "Grand Elder. They are delayed because a large number of demons have stopped them at the central plains' border. They are trying to force their way out, but it would take some time."
"Oh!? The demons really are going all out this time." The old woman muttered and closed her eyes.
Agenor stood up from his seat and said, "Everyone, without the reinforcements from the central plains, this will be a very tough battle. But no matter what, we won't let the demons run amok in our territory."
"Heed my order! Close the city gates and deploy more people to guard the city. If you see demons coming, ring the bells. Once our people gather, we'll start the war."
"Yes, Grand Elder!" Everyone nodded and rushed out of the hall.
The central plains' border was a vast forested and mountains region where countless magic beasts and a few other races that didn't want to involve themselves in the outside world's affairs lived.
Currently, a large part of the forest area was in ruins because a few hundred thousand demons ambushed the people who came over from the central plains' various factions to fight them. The demons' purpose was simple. They wanted to delay them so their demon armies could destroy and occupy the various kingdoms and empires.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A handsome young man in flaming red robes with golden trimmings rained down countless fire arrows on hundreds of demons in front of him. After the dust and fire settled, more than half of them had died and the remaining ones were seriously injured.
Seeing this, the man looked disappointed and clicked his tongue, "Tsk! Aren't the demons supposed to be stronger than humans? How come these are this weak?"
When the people behind him, who wore similar robes, heard this, they smiled wryly. One of them couldn't help but say, "Senior brother, Aaron, since these demons are too weak to give you a fight, why don't you join senior sister Margaret and help her fight those king ranked demons?"
"…"