They returned to the capital with haste and Slya was dropped off at the palace before the ship continued its patrol. She entered into the palace and straight to the throne room that was already mostly filled.

Most of the destruction has already been cleared off and repairs are ongoing, although at the moment, only those that had the right were staying in the room.

After Vale finished off Herdmaster with Tong, the rest of the battle was quickly concluded as Tong, together with the Athrimir Master Knights, took care of those who remained.

Fortunately, those who remained were already weak from fighting each other. On the other hand, the Athrimir Master Knights just had their restrictions removed. Things went pretty smoothly after that.

But the biggest contributor was still Tong. He deployed a great enchantment formation that defeated a lot of their enemies. That was one of the reasons he used up his powers and couldn’t stay longer in the world.

At the head of the room sat a young man, his hair a thick blackness, his eyes a red moon. Half of his body was covered in bandages and his temple was beaded in sweat.

Vale saw Slya enter and he nodded quietly. Although he could move and even speak, his body was really not fully healed at all. After all, his body was totally broken and the healers had to expend great power to heal him. So much so that it seems his body had grown accustomed to it that they needed to stop and change techniques to continue.

The main reason for this was that Herdmaster had already begun the process of twisting his body.

Even now, he was still feeling the effects. But some things are just too important to put aside. He already wasted a week and a few days and even though no one dared to question him, he could feel the tension in the room.

The throne room was packed, of both prisoners and friends.

Vale looked slightly to his left and nodded.

Tiber, that was waiting just behind the throne, took a step forward and bowed. His voice slightly raised. "Vale Athrimir. All hail!"

Instantly the room stirred awake. People bowed and knelt, voices raised. "All hail!"

"All hail!"

"All hail!"

"Lord Athrimir!"

"Lord Athrimir!"

"Lord Athrimir!"

Tiber waited until the voices died down before he bowed toward the throne again.

"You can all stand." Vale pushed strength into his voice.

The room straightened again and all eyes focused on him. Vale took notice of all present, and those that were not, like Isolde. The lady had made her escape in all the chaos but he did not truly believe that she was gone, most likely she was lurking around somewhere.

Vale had made little effort to search for her through his men but nothing about her is known. Worse, most people can’t even accurately describe her face, only Vale could.

The previous week had been tough. The healing was painful and yet Vale not only had to heal, he had to work! Since his voice and head were doing well, he had been locked in serious conversation with Tiber since.

There simply was a lot to do.

Vale also learned about how Tiber and Slya thought he wasn’t going to come for them. The man told him everything, and how he thought it was affecting Slya.

Right then, his eyes found hers in the crowd and he said with a voice laced with amusement, "Slya, you’ve been hiding from me. But you don’t need to, after all, you are close to my heart. Just like Tiber."

Vale had no family left, and in a way, he was coming to accept them as his new family instead of just mere subordinates.

But the words seemed to stun everyone, even Slya appeared dazed by it. Tiber to the side only had his expressionless face, although his eyes did twitch.

The reason everyone was surprised was because they thought he would have started with those they considered important. But Vale had his reasons. His territories were now expanding and he wanted everyone to know their place.

In a way, it was also a warning. Although stating their importance also brought about some risk.

It took a while but Slya bowed.

Vale nodded and then his eyes studied the rest of the room and then finally rested on the prisoners kneeling.

Eirikr was there, one of his Master Knights too and several others. Officers and those who were closely related to him. The first thing Vale asked Tiber to do was lock down the Akatsuki, the second was to put together an intelligence squad.

It would be better if he could just kill all the ruling classes of the Akatsuki but that wouldn’t be wise, now or in his future conquests. So he only extended that sentence of death to Eirikr and those who were very loyal to him.

"Eirikr Akatsuki. You conspire against me and my land. You killed my men and defiled my women. You starve children and plunder my wealth. You will die for this." Vale let the words sink in.

Eirikr glared at him with black burning eyes. Just days ago he was the one sitting on that throne and the prisoners were before him!

Eirikr gritted his teeth. "You think you’ll survive this? They’ll come for you and they’ll hang your head. The power you think you have is useless!"

Vale ignored him. He remembered what Kaelthorn told him about the Hinterlands and the role his family played. Although he did not know the full story yet, it wouldn’t stop him from doing what he must do.

"You also use the Akatsuki throne to starve your own people and create division. For this, you and all that’s loyal to you will die."

Eirikr cursed in the room, saying that if he wasn’t cuffed with restrictions he could have brought down the room, and if he dared, he should uncuff him!

Vale turned away from him and then looked into the people again. They were divided into two. Those on the right were Vale’s people and those on the left were Akatsuki people.

The Akatsuki people were made up of lesser clan leaders, important people in business, craft, and such. All the bigger clan leaders, including the chiefs, were currently kneeling.

Now, Vale looked at those people. He asked with a slight smile, his red eyes like beams of laser to them. "I am still healing and have not the strength yet... who will kill Eirikr for me?"

"Eh? Eh?!"

Surprise ripped through the air and they flinched back as if they’d been struck, quickly avoiding looking at each other, let alone him!

Vale continued. "The chiefs too, who will kill them for me amongst you?"

They began fidgeting now, avoiding looking at each other, let alone him! The situation quickly became awkward, and tension filled the air as Vale said nothing but looked at them.

When it became apparent that Vale was content to sit there and not say anything, the tension only mounted. Until, finally, one person stepped out.

A short fat man, sweating but still managing to meet Vale’s eyes twice before he knelt. The man shuddered. "My Lord! I...I am Adara of the Astrum Clan!"

"Oh?" Vale raised his brow.

Tiber murmured, "Adara Astrum is the most powerful of the lesser clans, and if not for being suppressed he would have the right to be a chief. His family contains a ruin that is used for mining. A very profitable one."

Just what Vale was looking for. What he did was cut off the head of the Akatsuki Clan and now he needed to raise other heads, but he couldn’t just do that. He needed people that were ambitious, people that were willing to take opportunities.

At the same time, he was going to hang them with the crime of killing the Akatsuki Lord.

Of course Adara Astrum knew that. By killing the lord, he was going to get hatred and heat from those who were still secretly supportive of the previous Akatsuki Lord and at the same time, he was going to get a lot of opportunities if he followed the new lord.

Truly, nothing comes easy.

"Will you kill him for me, Adara Astrum?"

The man shuddered, his bulky frame shivering as he raised his head, his eyes burning. "I will, My Lord!"

"Good! Good! Give him a good sword!"

Adara was only a Knight rank even in his fifties. He doesn’t really have potential but he has money. But even then, a Knight is still a Knight.

They gave him the sword and he moved forward to Eirikr. Two guards helped him to hold the cuffed man and thrust his head out.

Defiance burned in the man’s eyes, ignoring everyone’s look. He raised his sword and brought it down with no hesitation. The sword was sharp and it cut flesh and bone with ease.

It also cut off Eirikr’s curse.

Blood splattered and the head rolled. Everyone seemed to suck in a deep breath, reacting for different reasons.

Vale was expressionless as he watched the head of the man that had tormented him for some time. "Good."