Hero of Darkness

While Kahn had become an undisputed overlord of the Verlassen fiefdom in just the matter of two months by strategically taking out his opposition and people from the three factions who were bound to be his enemies sooner in one way or another, while giving them no time to react… the top three noble factions of the Rakos empire had nothing but a severe headache because of his actions.

When Kahn won the Emperor's Chosen competition, they all thought that… more likely knew that he'd only be ruler in just the name and won't actually hold any authority over it.

Because the government was theirs, the military was controlled by them and even the economic sector was ruled by the business organizations and corporations that were also part of their factions and clans.

Even the local clans and forces couldn't stand against them despite the fiefdom being their homeground so who was Kahn… a nameless nobody with zero support from any one of their factions to rule such a vast region by himself.

But the little snake actually turned out to be a dragon who not only overthrew their rule and authority of over a century but also got rid of everyone who belonged to and served their side.

To put the icing on the cake… he did it lawfully and proved their crimes not only to the citizens of the Verlassen but throughout the whole empire itself.

His actions had caused them so much trouble that all of them had to bow down their heads and for the first time in the millennium of this empire's existence… they actually had to watch their every step before they made a slight move.

And since no Saint could enter that region, there was nobody who could stop him either. The only one who tried to get in his way… was publicly executed by Kahn on a live broadcast.

Now Kahn was the true sovereign and they were more like the outsiders.

At this moment, inside the core region of the capital Rathna, a grand meeting between the top 3 factions of the empire was held in an estate so long and wide that even 50 thousand people could be housed at once like a small city.

This was none other than the previous residence of the fallen Imperial family.

And the main throne hall where all the top saints of the Rakos Empire belonging to the three noble factions had gathered was the very place where the previous emperor held his meetings.

At the end of this hall, the three faction leaders were seated on their respective thrones and all of the people present here were in a heated discussion.

Bang!

"With each passing day, he's becoming even a bigger nuisance. And now he had completely unified that whole place under his rule.

Our losses are simply too big, unlike that competition." spoke Stalin, the faction leader of the neutral faction.

"The government, the military, all the business corporations and even the local clans… all of them are under his control now.

Those who oppose him are taken down using that People's Court… the biggest headache of them all." spoke Allister, the faction leader of the pureblood faction.

"What are you so surprised about? Didn't he join your side during the competition?

The way he systematically took everyone out.. It feels like there's someone extremely experienced giving him the instructions.

Otherwise, how the hell would a guy without any expertise other than fighting knows to take down the entire infrastructure itself in just a couple of months?

To me, it feels like he's either working for your faction or maybe even the enemy empires at this point." snarled Jeremiah, the old elven leader of the Demi-Human faction.

"Are you accusing me of breaking the blood-oath, you old stick?! Then why am I not dead yet?!" retorted the old vampire leader.

"Stop it, you two! The more I see it.. All of us have greatly suffered because of him. And with the Verlassen mountain range gone from our hands… the monopoly and absolute dominance all three of our factions had is gone.

Now if he wants to… he can even stop the supply of monster cores and ores along with the resources from the monster harvesting. You do realize how greatly it affects the whole structure of our capital itself, right?" spoke Stalin, the white-bearded tigerkin.

After his words, the entire hall turned deathly silent.

Just then, Ismaetrazel stood up from his seat and asked for permission to speak.

"If I may… great faction leaders.

I have had some experience with that boy. And my biggest mistake was to underestimate him.

Surprisingly… he's someone who is already 3 steps ahead of everyone. If he can't make things work in his favor with force, then he finds a way to tackle using several schemes that even we can't predict.

Him choosing that region as fiefdom and now overtaking it so easily… It feels as if he planned it years ago.

Even the whole competition felt like he knew he was going to win regardless of how many tricks we pulled." spoke the Vandereich clan leader and the son of the pureblood faction leader.

Next, a man in silver armor stood up and spoke in a serious tone.

"Great faction leaders… I have had my share of encounters with him as well.

That Kahn Salvatore… he's extremely unpredictable." spoke Stronoff Mikealson, the number one swordsman of the empire.

"He's like a predator who knows whom he should hunt and whom he shouldn't fight against.

He picks his opponents wisely and avoids unnecessary risks as much as he can. And most importantly… he knows when to back down and when to endure the oppression from the enemy.

He's not a chess piece because he's weak… I'd rather say that he is someone who likes to control the whole game itself.

And if he's choosing to take these actions despite knowing that he'd earn the ire of all three top noble factions…

I think there's even a bigger picture that even we can't see." iterated Stronoff in a heavy tone.

The grim atmosphere turned even more dreary.

"Every sector has his people and even the semi-saints we have there can't do anything against him. Because people, law and government itself fully supports him.

And the semi-saints we have there already reported long ago that he has evidence against them too. Just that he chose to not reveal it for some reason yet." spoke Allister in a grim tone.

"Even if we were to send more semi-saints, we have no excuse or a reason. And if we're to send already established and renowned figures… he'd soon find some dirt on them one way or another.

So we need to send those who can rival him in talent and doesn't have any track record of crime or anything that can be held against them." spoke Jeremiah in a thoughtful tone.

Just then… Allister spoke again.

"What about the fresh blood?"

Gasp! Shock!

Everyone was bewildered as soon as they heard the proposition.

"What's there to be worried about?

That place won't get opened in the next 8 months anyway regardless of the region we send them from.

At least by then, we can do a lot of damage control and find a way to regain our fallen influence and image.

Otherwise, Verlassen would never be recoverable no matter what we do." he explained.

After this proposition, another heated discussion occurred for another hour and the three factions leaders declared the final verdict.

"Prepare everything necessary… and order them to depart by next week."