Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

While the troops were resting, Alaric received the empress’s summons. He followed the messenger sent by the empress and he later found himself in front of a tent.

“Her Majesty is waiting for you inside.” The messenger gestured at him to enter the tent.

Alaric nodded without saying a word. Galanar and Caecus wanted to follow him inside, but the guards outside the tent didn’t allow them to enter.

“Only His Highness is permitted inside. The two you will have to remain here.”

Hearing this, Alaric signaled at them and said. “Wait here. I will be alright.”

Caecus and Galanar acknowledged his instructions. They saluted and stood outside the tent to wait for him.

Upon stepping inside, Alaric saw the empress and a few more people sitting before a round table with solemn faces

The Grand Commander, Bai Seol-hwa, Kangjeon Geum-hwa, and a 4-Ringed Beast Soul Grandmaster who he was unfamiliar with was there.

Alaric used his Appraisal on the unknown guy.

His name was Min Taehyun, an old man who looked to be in his sixties. He had a slender physique, like a fragile scholar with no combat prowess. However, this guy was no slouch.

In terms of overall combat abilities, he was on the same level as Ignatius Firecrest!

The level of Veronica’s upper echelons is on another scale. Alaric furrowed his eyebrows as he calmly assessed the difference between these people and the Venerables of Astania.

If it weren’t for the heretic cult, Veronica would have been the first one to attack Astania. He thought to himself.

He had seen the overwhelming strength of the experts in this nation. They also possessed a huge number of loyal warriors who were ready to die for their country.

Alaric could already imagine the amount of bloodshed that would be inflicted if Astania were to go into war against Veronica.

He took a deep breath to organize his thoughts.

I must make them feel indebted to Astania. That is the only way to end the decade long hatred between the two nations.

“Please sit down, Your Highness.” The empress nodded to him as she motioned for him to take the vacant seat in between Min Taehyun and Kangjeon Geum-hwa.

Alaric nodded and calmly took his seat.

Min Taehyun turned to him and sent him a friendly smile.

Alaric returned the gesture and also smiled at him. He found this guy more approachable than the two ladies from the Crimson Phoenix Knights Order.

“Before we begin, let me introduce you to my  most trusted confidants. The gentleman to your right is Min Taehyun. He is the Duke of Bulgasaran, a mighty 4-Ringed Beast Soul Grandmaster.”

The empress proudly introduced.

Min Taehyun used the greeting gesture of the Astanians by cupping his fists to Alaric. “It’s an honor to meet the renowned Alaric Silversword.”

“The honor is mine, Lord Taehyun.” Alaric exchanged pleasantries with the old man.

They wanted to speak some more, but the empress cut them off.

“To your left is the Deputy Commander of the Crimson Phoenix Knights Order, Kangjeon Geum-hwa. She is a Mythical Knight!”

Kangjeon Geum-hwa reluctantly cupped her fists to greet Alaric.

Looking her expression, Alaric chuckled in amusement. “It’s an honor, Deputy Commander Kangjeon.”

“Mn.” Kangjeon Geum-hwa hummed in response. She couldn’t be bothered to exchange pleasantries with him.

The empress introduced him to the last person.

“And this is the Commander of the Crimson Phoenix Knights Order, Bai Seol-hwa.”

Bai Seol-hwa was a silent woman, but she wasn’t as stubborn as her deputy. She looked at Alaric and nodded to him.

Alaric smiled at her. “It’s an honor to meet you, Commander Bai.”

“Let’s cut the introductions short. We can interact more after we resolve the pressing issues.” The empress clapped her hands to get their attention.

“We have received the reports from the remnants of the Duchess’s warriors. According to them, the heretic cult has a hundred and fifty thousand followers inside Ulmunsan.”

“They are armed and dangerous.” She emphasized with a stern look.

“Although they are not strictly trained in military tactics, they are fearless in the face of death and they have this sense of violence that makes them stronger than common soldiers.”

“So they are just a ragtag bunch of violent lunatics.” Kangjeon Geum-hwa sneered with her arms crossed.

“Your Majesty, please give me fifty thousand troops to command. That will be enough to destroy those vermins!” She confidently stated.

“Kangjeon Geum-hwa, you are being disrespectful to Her Majesty.” Bai Seol-hwa sent her deputy a look of reproach.

Kangjeon Geum-hwa realized her mistake and quickly apologized. “I apologize for my impertinence, Your Majesty.”

The empress didn’t seem to mind this. She treated these two ladies as her sisters so she wasn’t angered by Kangjeon Geum-hwa’s attitude.

She waved her hand and replied. “It’s fine, but we should proceed with more caution.”

“The heretic cult has sent Rin Aspen and two more Venerables to conquer Ulmunsan. To emerge victorious against them, we must fight as one!” The empress exclaimed.

When they heard her mention the name ‘Rin Aspen’, the faces of the three were drained of color. Only Alaric sat there with a confused expression.

Rin Aspen? Just who is that person that he could strike fear to these experts?

He was curious.

As if sensing his curiousity, the empress said. “Rin Aspen was once a general of Veronica. He served the late emperor of the nation, but after I killed that person, Rin Aspen vanished into thin air. He later reappeared as a member of the heretic cult.”

“He is not someone that we can take lightly.” She added.

I see. Alaric rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“The other two Venerables are not as famous as him. We also don’t have much information about them. We only know that they came to Veronica with the cult leader.”

The empress tapped her fingers on the table and said. “I will handle Rin Aspen. I want the four of you to deal with those two.”

“We obey Your Majesty’s commands!”

Seeing that Alaric wasn’t responding, the empress looked at him and asked. “What do you think, Your Highness?”

Alaric took a deep breath and replied. “I will follow your instructions.”

Yskaela smiled faintly. “Good!”

“Now listen carefully, this is how our armies should move…”