Villain Hiring: Help! Author Wants Me Dead-Chapter 67: The Heir

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The room was silent.

A suffocating, heavy silence that pressed against my chest, making every breath I took feel like a chore.

I sat at the head of the obsidian table, staring at the massive holographic screen in front of me.

Faces flickered across it—rulers, sovereigns, emperors—leaders of the greatest empires in this world.

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And yet, not a single one of us looked powerful.

Fear, frustration, and an unspoken sense of helplessness lingered in the air.

We all knew why we were here.

I locked my fingers against each other and rested my chin upon them, keeping my expression stoic.

"The signs are undeniable," I said, my voice cutting through the silence. "We no longer have the luxury of doubt."

The Sunfire Emperor scoffed. He leaned forward, his golden robes rustling with the movement. "So, it’s true." His dark eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—anger? Fear?

"The Gods are coming."

No one responded. Because we all knew the answer.

I could still hear the voice in my mind. The voice that had whispered the undeniable truth into my soul, the voice that forced this knowledge upon me.

The fact that the Gods were descending.

And with them, the System would arrive.

A force greater than any army, stronger than any ruler.

It would change the world as we knew it. There would be no more empires.

A shift back to the ancient ways would be taken place and countries would soon rule the world instead of vast empires.

And these borders would be rewritten by divine will.

Power was stripped from us kings and queens, redistributed to those deemed worthy.

I had ruled for decades, my hands shaping the fate of millions. But now?

Now, I was nothing more than a man waiting for judgment.

"The moment the System integrates," the Azure Empress murmured, her sharp eyes scanning the room, "our power becomes dependent on the gods."

A bitter truth.

I clenched my jaw. "Yes."

It wasn’t just about ruling anymore. The system would be granted to every individual, from the highest noble to the lowest beggar. Each person would receive their own path, their own trial.

And the gods would be watching.

Searching for those worthy of their blessings, their gifts… their control.

The Titan King, a massive man with stone-like skin, finally spoke. His voice was rough, tired. "Some of us have already made contracts."

A few rulers shifted uncomfortably, but no one denied it.

Of course, some had.

The gods were choosing their Champions—mortal vessels who would act as their hands in this world.

Those lucky enough to be selected would gain power beyond human comprehension.

It was an opportunity.

A curse.

A contract with forces beyond our control.

I exhaled slowly. "We need to prepare the public."

The Sunfire Emperor let out a harsh laugh. "Prepare them?" He shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "Nothing can prepare them for this. The gods’ arrival will shatter everything they know."

He wasn’t wrong.

The common people still believed their rulers were absolute, that their kings and queens held divine right.

But that was a lie. Always had been.

And soon, they would learn the truth.

But if we let them learn through chaos—if we did nothing while the System took root—the world would descend into madness.

"We will make an announcement," I said firmly. "Just before the descent. Enough time for them to process it—"

"But not enough time for them to resist."

The Azure Empress’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. She seemed to liked the idea.

This wasn’t just about guiding the people. It was about keeping order.

If fear took hold too soon, rebellions would break out. Kingdoms would collapse before the new world order could even begin.

The gods wouldn’t care about human politics—but we did.

"We cannot allow panic," the Titan King rumbled. "If the people revolt, we will not be able to contain them."

"The gods wouldn’t care about that," the Sunfire Emperor muttered, his expression dark. "If anything, they’d probably enjoy watching the chaos."

The thought sent a chill down my spine.

Yes, the gods were all-powerful. Yes, they were beyond human understanding.

But that didn’t mean they were kind.

"We control the narrative," I said, my voice brooking no argument. "We tell the people what they need to know—no more, no less. The moment the System activates, everything will change."

Silence fell again, but this time, it was thoughtful.

We had all been given the same knowledge. The moment the System arrived, every single person would gain an interface—a hub from which gods could connect and enjoy.

It was only a while left before the system would go public.

Some would receive strength. Some would receive skills and some… will be deemed unworthy and cast aside.

It was a purge.

A test to see who deserved to stand in this new world.

Already, there were rumors. Shadows moving in the corners of the empire.

People who had already been chosen. Individuals who had already received their gifts.

The gods were watching.

Judging.

Deciding.

I turned my gaze to the screen, taking in the faces of the rulers I had once seen as equals.

That time was over.

"Those of you who have already contracted with the gods," I said, keeping my voice steady, "you have already chosen a side."

A few rulers lowered their gazes.

Good.

I needed to know who could still be trusted.

Because when the descent happened, there would be no alliances. No treaties.

Only those who had the gods’ favor… and those who would be left behind.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

Then, the Azure Empress sighed, leaning back in her seat. "What about the heir of Romero?"

I froze.

A sharp chill ran down my spine.

Noah.

"He’s… weak, isn’t he?" the Sunfire Emperor mused, raising an eyebrow. "I’ve heard the boy was born powerless."

I schooled my features into indifference. "What of it?"

"Have you considered," the Azure Empress said, her voice smooth as silk, "that he may no longer stay powerless?"

My fingers curled into a fist under the table.

I didn’t respond.

Because I had already heard the rumours.

And if they were true—if he was truly changing—then perhaps…

Noah Romero would be the one thing The Gods never expected.

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