Hero of Darkness

Chapter 1293: Alternative Demand

Based on what Legolas told him, Kahn decided to use that information to his own advantage as he presented it as one of the key reasons why his condition would instead be beneficial to them.

“An empire with its own civil war and infighting among the royalty and nobles is going to partake in the great war where their unified forces fight on the battlefield?” he asked mockingly.

“I know a thing or two about warfare as well as politics… And I don’t see how this mere possibility of only one remaining heir has ever helped an imperial family maintain their rule.

Isn’t that why many emperors take multiple wives from nobility and have many children just so one of them could inherit their throne, but the descendants keep increasing to maintain their autonomy in that position?” asked Kahn while openly revealing the threat that was faced by the elven imperial family at the moment.

His gaze then shifted to Havi.

“While you have a son alive as well as your daughter… your eldest is already dead, but the other son is a well-known criminal for the whole empire.

He can never be the successor, and your daughter is still not in a position to inherit the throne, were something to happen to you during the Great War.” he spoke, now targeting the Vulcan Empire.

“The family member you have among the Inquisitors is said to be from the same era as my predecessor.

Firebornes don’t live for more than 200 years, but somehow… he is still alive.” revealed Kahn.

Due to their bloodline’s special ability that raised their saint rank much more quickly compared to other races… they also had a limited lifespan regardless of how strong they were.

Havi himself was 57 years old, but he was already an 8th-stage saint. He should be able to live more than 4 centuries if he were a human, but even now, he has no hope of surviving for more than a hundred years.

“Do you think having someone with a questionable background helps your image among the other fireborn noble clans?

Won’t they try to use it and stage a rebellion later?” he raised an important question.

“I bet the 6 Fireborne Clans are desperately trying to wed their scions to the princess as well.

Will having a troublesome family member like that when your only successor herself is not the strongest to suppress your vassals, help in maintaining your claim on the throne?” asked Kahn as his words now pierced like needles.

While unpleasant, it was also the dilemma faced by the fireborne emperor.

“One of you needs your family alive, while the other needs to discard it.

Both can be done if the Inquisitors are to be disbanded, and then you can use your means to retake control of the situation,” he reiterated while sticking to his demands.

“On the surface, it appears as if my conditions caused their disposal, but in reality, it will help fix your shaky control over your respective empires at the same time.” spoke Kahn as a confident smile appeared on his face.

“As for the other empires… I can later talk with them and present my own proposals. A lot of them are in similar situations to yours.

Some even want to have their own representatives removed for political reasons, thinking that these members hold way too much power than they should.

But most of them can’t openly do it as they don’t have the justification for it.” his words revealed the political atmosphere across many empires.

“So just present my terms to the council. Because I may be only a thorn in their sight now.” said Kahn with a smug smile.

“But I can also be their biggest helper.”

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Minutes passed by as both the Zivot Empire and the Vulkan Empire’s rulers had telepathic conversations with their powerful figures.

What Kahn said was also a good chance for them to help their situations. Just because they were the strongest in the nation didn’t mean they could control the whole empire just with their strength.

And openly oppressing their vassals or even purging them would only help in hurting their reign instead of solidifying their authority.

This was the reason why no sole ruler had been able to lord over a nation. They needed money, resources, people, and most importantly, loyal retainers who helped them maintain that control.

A monumental figurehead, despite its strength, could never be present everywhere. Without holding a strong control over those who served them, even the authority they held would turn futile.

This was also a problem with the monarchy. If there were no competent candidates among the descendants or enough heirs to choose from in the first place… their authority can be toppled easily; more often than their own vassals instead of the enemies.

What Kahn proposed to them was just as effective a method, while not having to share any blame or responsibility for it.

“Think about it… in the long term, we all benefit from it.” he said.

“I do not have to worry about a target on my back. Once the Inquisitors are dispersed, their strength will diminish in mere weeks.

Most will be forced to return to their empires, and their collective force won’t be able to suppress even an 8th-stage saint such as yourselves.

Those guys are just as much of a threat to you and the other rulers as they are to me.” elaborated Kahn.

This was also another fact that most emperors didn’t openly acknowledge.

Kahn had seen how Havi Hos Siegfreed had to act cautiously and couldn’t even help him hide in the Vulkan Empire because of how strong the Inquisitors were as a force.

With their strength in numbers and their saint ranks, they were enough to fight and even kill two 8th-stage saints if they decided to.

While the authority granted to them by the council had turned them into a dangerous force that could be used to wipe out any empire’s ruling forces for reasons such as heresy or treason.

This was also the reason the Vulkan Empire and the Erdve Empire had chosen to remain as their hidden ally in the council even now.

With Kahn as a cover, they could get rid of this guillotine hanging over their heads.

After a while, both Nievan and Havi had their own conversation telepathically and came to an understanding.

Both the emperors, after careful thought, spoke their minds.

“We will convey your proposition to the council.”