Emperor's Reckoning

Priscila had dressed quite neatly, simple but beautiful. Less is more was the embodiment of the dress that she wore. The elegance that of a high-class elite was adorned by the way she stood. No gaze could escape without at least checking her once. There was no hint of impurity, only hints of grace. She stood right below the stairs adjacent to the throne her thin lips puckered up a smile.

"Bernadetta.."

"Yes, mistress!" Bernadetta took a bow before opening the huge double door with a light pull from her end.

The storm paled in comparison to the cultivators from various regions gathering and chatting at the front. None of them dared to express their displeasure for making them wait, especially not with the status the host held. All their smiles were presented to Bernadetta's face who took a bow and welcomed them with all the courtesy a professional maid would have.

The high-end cultivators slowly came inside the throne room with their glamorous clothing. There was no need to hold back when Treas's family was the one hosting the banquet. Their might, their statuses, even their rides were noticeable from a distance. There was no lack of resources for the ladies to flare their finest jewelry as there was no lack of complimentary from the gents.

Everyone had their own style of communicating but all of them share the same respect toward the beautiful woman under the throne. However, they revered the one that was just coming out from the other side of the hall with his hands behind his back. His footsteps were loud and clear as a smirk adorned his face. They knew his name, they knew his achievements, the later generations had heard of his name but the former saw the events very clearly. The self-made emperor, the iconic story of a nobody marrying a goddess, the emperor that was born from a commoner, Jin Haga.

"He is here."

"Ah, I couldn't believe it."

"He is still as handsome as many years ago."

"Eh.. m-mother?"

"Hushh and let me indulge in my fantasy."

The nobles and the cultivators started to whisper among themselves as most women were captivated by the charisma that the man exuded. The handsome features, the achievements, and the deep cultivation that the man bore with him brought about a fierce allure to the table. However, the women could only whisper their flattery words since the woman that got a hold of that man was present.

"How do I look, my dear?" asked Jin as he smiled against the woman who broke his nose just one day before.

"You look... dashing," she was trying hard to not praised him since her mood was still bitter but the illuminating charm that the latter exuded overcome it. The ladies were surely eyeing him and as the wife of such a man, she locked his arm with hers to his surprise.

"Priscila..." Jin muttered her name but the latter blushingly looked away.

"Heh, we are already an old couple you know, what so embarrassing about locking each other's arms?" Jin chuckled before someone stole both of their glances.

The center of attention immediately averted toward the lady whose tapping heels silenced the atmosphere. She walked with grace and beauty as her dress revealed one of her knees. The glamor that she exuded as she approached the couple proved her maturity but the ones that stole their smiles were also the couple that walked behind her with smiles on their faces.

"Hey, that's..."

"The one that walked in the middle, Sophia Treas Alrude. The other two people behind her must be..!"

"The Alrude line."

Sophia gracefully took a slight bow before she smiled, "Hello Uncle and Aunty!"

"Oh my, you look stunning!" Priscila spared no time before unlocking her arms to Jin's disbelief. She then slightly grabbed both of her niece's hands as she savored the beautiful face in front of her with praises from her savory lips.

"Hahaha! Big Brother! How are you!" The man that was neatly dressed immediately hugged Jin Haga who was caught of guard.

"Ah you're breaking me, you're breaking me!"

"Hahaha!" both of them laughed as he let go of his embrace. These were the kind of connections that made women wandered.

"I'm fine! Even more so, actually, I'm GREAT! Hahaha! There will be exciting news after this one!"

"OH! Hahaha! Yes, yes, I eavesdrop on these two and I know exactly what you are talking about!"

"Hey, Luke! Don't set a bad example to our daughter!" the woman didn't hesitate to slap his upper arm from the back before she smiled against Jin Haga.

(Man, looks like we are in the same boat) thought Jin before the lady greeted his wife.

"Good evening sister-in-law you look as beautiful as always, I don't think time would do anything rude to you soon."

"Hah, such flattery, Feine, you look like Sophia's older sister from a distance."

"You really think so?" Feine held both of her cheeks as she succumbed in her single flattery.

"Meanwhile, Luke, how come you greeted him first and not me."

Luke smiled awkwardly before taking a bow, "Good evening older sister."

"Good," Priscila nodded as she showed her superiority.

Jin had his mouth slightly twitched before Sophia said.

"Aunty, I forgot to tell you but with the conclusion of the Throne, may this banquet be used to celebrate it as well?"

"It's too late to say no, now is it?" Priscila smiled before Sophia hugged her, "You're the best."

Priscila rubbed her head before Feine bowed, "I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry sister-in-law."

"No no, it's fine, c'mon enjoy the banquet."

"Then can I took over as the host for a while?"

"Heh, you sure do like a spotlight, huh? Haha!" Jin laughed before Luke followed suit.

"Speaking of which, I didn't see that favorite niece of mine," asked Luke before Feine looked around and turned her glance back at them both.

Priscila let out a sigh before she muttered, "She probably will join later, you know how she acts, pretty unladylike."

"But that's her charm though," Feine blurted out.

"I know, but still..." she let out a sigh.

Meanwhile, the Crown winners had come and conversed among their circles. Congratulating each other and some of the higher leaderboards surely showed their cockiness to the lesser.

"Hey, where is Lady Yunesia?"

"She is the winner so... of course she would have shown last. Damn, her career is more illuminating than a shooting star!"

"Well, she is a genius ever since she was born so, no need to compare ourselves. However, did you hear about what happened to... you know...."

"Kaiju Loh..."

"Shhh... keep it low."

"It's nuts, I know, but is there someone from the East City? They most likely lived the story."

"Oh, I was there... It was brutal. There I saw, the man that probably had the most immense talent from all of us, pummeled to dust. I kid you not, there was not even a limb left."

The group gasped before they suddenly noticed Tusak and his old master came out from the building.

"You can ask Tusak if I'm lying or not, he was there with his teacher when the whole things unfold."

Meanwhile, Tusak didn't seem to be interested in the group where the Crown winners crowded themselves.

"Hmm... he is not here. I expected as much," Tusak muttered. The Wind Fist wore formal clothing that would still represent him as a fighter. The others didn't think much of it since it was a norm for the clan he was in.

"We are in a banquet and you are looking for him? Are you alright?" asked the old master.

"W-Wha?! N-NO!"

"No? Want to go home?"

"Y... N.. I'm alright," answered Tusak to his master's chuckle.

However, the latter soon furrowed his eyebrows as he looked forward and took a glance at the man whom he called senior.

"No way, that was actually a disguise?" (You mean to tell me that his cultivation shot a new ground?! Or was it really that high?) the old master hummed in jealousy. He noticed with a single glance around the room that the other patriarchs that were in the gala, didn't stand behind Loh's Patriarch.

"I know you are not fully healed, but stay vigilant, Tusak," the master spoke before blending in with other folks his age.

*Neigh!

The neighing from eight different horses bound to lock their interest toward the entrance of the throne room. Some of the highly notable elites immediately took a peek before the driver jumped right in front of the carriage door elegantly. Under the weathering storm, she opened the door before the first leg was seen stepping out.

"Welcome to the banquet, please enjoy it to the fullest and create unforgettable memories!" said the maid with a bow.

"He is here..." Luna was the first one that stepped out of the carriage. Her eyes were sharp as she looked at the grand castle right in front of her.