The Billionaire CEO Becomes the Youngest Emperor-Chapter 18 - 17: Female version

"This is a joke, isn't it?"

Shit... I'm really in deep shit.

All eyes were on Lucian, who was frantically searching his pockets, sweat dripping down his face. He was looking for something. Desperately.

The Druids' Golden Card.

A rare artifact. Only five copies existed across the entire continent. A symbol of absolute authority.

And he had lost it.

"Selene is going to kill me..."

One of the guards, visibly annoyed, sighed before murmuring to his colleague:

— "Talking to these Northern scum is pointless... If it were up to me, his head would already be rolling for wasting our time."

The other replied calmly:

— "Maybe. But no need to draw Lady Selene's attention, right?"

Without another word, the two men resumed their post.

— "Lucian, what does this mean?"

Astrid's voice rang out in the silence. Her piercing gaze betrayed a hint of suspicion. The other soldiers awaited his response, their expressions tense.

Shit... Lucian thought.

And then—

[Calm down and don't turn around.]

What?!

[I'm speaking to you telepathically. I have no idea how this is even possible.]

Lucian's body stiffened. A voice echoed in his mind... But it wasn't his own.

[I can only use telepathy when I'm fully in control of myself. Right now, I'm half-unconscious, half-aware... but I wanted to try anyway. And when I connected to you, it was like...]

She hesitated.

This guy's mana was like a bottomless pit, so much so that telepathy activated on its own... But the mana didn't even seem to belong to him. This is absurd.

No matter. I get it. But... who are you? What do you want? And most importantly, do you have anything to do with my card's disappearance?

A cold sweat trickled down Lucian's neck.

He knew some mages could communicate telepathically under certain conditions. One of them being proximity.

So... she's close.

But who?

Then, a phrase came back to him.

"Half-conscious, half-unconscious..."

Wait... Don't tell me—

[Hmm... You're quite different from the rumors.]

A pause.

[My name is Julie Valessia. And I'm older than you, you bastard.]

Lucian's eyes widened.

Julie Valessia... The elder sister of the so-called Empress, the one who, from the shadows, truly pulled the strings of the 11th Empire.

Yet there was never any mention of her being so short.

The North really has a height shortage...

— "Alright, then—"

[Spare me the nonsense. I heard everything, including the moment my stupid sister accepted your terms in exchange for your services.]

— "Ah... But those terms will benefit you in the long run as well."

[Sorry, but I'm not patient. And you know it as well as I do: we don't have time.]

Lucian clenched his teeth.

The Empire Wars...

[So here's my offer: forget your agreement with my sister. If this authorization is truly essential, then we'll negotiate—but this time as equals.]

— ...

[Accept, and I'll return your card.]

Lucian understood instantly.

So she was the one who took it.

She must have swiped it while lying on the log next to him.

— "You do realize that if I don't use it, you and your soldiers will die, right?"

[And if you don't get it back... you'll die too. Just a little later. (Selene)]

Tsk...

[Listen. We're already the weakest. If we don't use everything at our disposal to survive, we'll fall.]

A silence.

Then, in a sharp tone:

[In other words...]

Lucian smirked.

Better to die than to lose money.

[Haha! Exactly!]

From the outside, this conversation lasted only an instant.

Lucian sighed, then displayed his usual tic—a smirk and a thumbs-down.

— "I've found a female version of myself... Hahaha."

Then, in a more serious tone:

— "Fine. I accept."

[A pleasure doing business with you. Check your pocket.]

Lucian slipped his hand into his right pocket.

Empty just moments ago.

The card was there.

Magic is terrifying.

He stepped toward the guards, looking completely at ease.

Every step he took was scrutinized by his companions, puzzled by his strange behavior.

Then, in the heavy silence, he held up the golden card.

"!!!"

"!!!"

Exclamation points in their eyes.

This is..." one of the guards murmured as he carefully took the card to examine it.

After a few seconds of close inspection, his expression suddenly changed.

"Yes, it's authentic. You may enter."

Lucian snatched the card back in a swift motion just as the massive gate began to open almost automatically.

The sudden shift in the guards' attitude was so abrupt that everyone froze for a moment. But rather than asking unnecessary questions, they simply followed Lucian inside the empire. One of the guards broke away from the group to escort them.

How the hell did an idiot like him get his hands on such a card...

Selene Voldreck...

Tsk.

Lucian narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You seem displeased."

The voice came from behind the guard. He turned sharply, only to see Lucian's smug smile, as if he was mocking him.

"Ah... No, no, I was just wondering which hotel would best suit guests of your stature..." he replied with a forced smile.

Hahaha, this card is amazing.

"We won't need one. Just make sure the Saint arrives as soon as possible."

We were deep in the southernmost part of the Fifth Empire, far from their capital at the center. Fortunately, the Holy Clergy had branches in every region. However, the true Clergy, led by the Saint and the Pope, resided at the heart of the empire.

Only the Emperor held a higher authority than them. Normally, securing an audience with the Saint was nearly impossible... unless you had this card.

My companions widened their eyes as they heard me giving orders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The guard, on the other hand, looked irritated.

"Very well... But in the meantime, where would you like to wait?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you stupid, or are you just pretending to be?"

"It's just that..."

"Take us to the southern branch."

The priests in this region could only treat minor injuries for the soldiers. To restore a lost organ or cure Julie's illness, only the Saint or the Pope had that power.

I had already wasted too much time on this journey. My original plan was to make a round trip in two days, but at this rate, it would take five days, maybe even a week.

And that wasn't the worst part.

A revolution was underway in the empire... and I wasn't there to lead it

Of course, Chris was capable of handling the situation. But some difficult decisions would have to be made... and his lack of imperial status might hold him back.

The empire must be in chaos right now.

And besides...

I had a bad feeling. A really bad feeling.

I didn't know why, but every fiber of my being was screaming at me to get back as soon as possible.

Ah... That's exactly why I always avoided politics back on Earth.

______

At the same time, in the 13th Empire...

A man knelt, his head lowered in submission.

"Grandmaster, do not worry. The heretic will be exterminated as soon as he returns."

Before him, a massive shadowy figure with piercing eyes observed in silence. The kneeling man, however, wore a crazed smile, his gaze burning with fanatical fervor.

"So be it... but..."

The black silhouette began to quiver. A grotesque growth slowly detached from its amorphous body, twisting and shaping itself.

With each passing second, the mass took on a human form. A naked, expressionless being had just been born.

"He will go with you."

The Grandmaster's voice echoed, carrying an unfathomable power.

"Under any circumstances, the little emperor must die. Only then will I grant you 'the power'."

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A shiver of exhilaration ran through the kneeling man's body. Then, he burst into maniacal laughter.

"Hahahaha... Glory be to you! Glory be to you!"