What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?-Chapter 45 The Arrival Of Emperor Balka, A Figure Lurking In The Darkness.

"That's because-"

"Things are really quite crowded, huh?" Just as David was about to speak, a majestic voice reverberated throughout Rozen, interrupting his words.

As the voice resounded, everyone present felt shocked and trembled in fear, especially the ordinary people who lacked Elemental power. They could sense an extremely strong pressure, akin to the pressure Lord Duke Asvold released.

Lucas Weis, Roy Valha, and Brian Allen also felt a compulsion equal to Duke Asvold's emanating from the voice.

However, the three of them immediately went on alert and turned their attention to the sky above, where the sound originated.

Unlike the panicked onlookers, David remained composed and simply glanced in the direction of the voice.

"Isn't it rude to interrupt someone else's conversation, Emperor Balka?" David spoke lightly and mockingly.

Upon hearing this, everyone present held their breath in anticipation.

"What? Emperor Balka?!"

"Is the Emperor also coming to Rozen?!"

"Did the highest figure in the empire really come here?!"

The Luvic nobles and Rozen's inhabitants, who overheard David's statement about Emperor Balka, couldn't resist discussing it amongst themselves.

The three high-ranking Luvic nobles present realized that the situation was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

These three were not ordinary characters, as they were capable of occupying positions of leadership within their respective families.

Of course, the three of them knew that the relationship between Duke Asvold and Emperor Balka was not good, and they sometimes came into conflict with each other.

However, the conflict between the two of them was not big and was only a rubbing of each other's interests.

After all, the southern region remained within the Balka Empire, and there was an agreement between the ancestors of both families that although the region was independent, it was still under the empire's jurisdiction.

"Why did Emperor Balka come?" Brian Allen, an astute analyst, and natural genius, asked while raising his glasses

Brian Allen, a genius analyst from childhood, had won the leadership of the Allen family from his siblings.

The Allen family was known for being a family of scholars and geniuses, and it was not an easy task for him to emerge as the winner and take the seat of the leader of the high-ranking Luvic noble family.

"Even with family connections, it's impossible to learn the news as the Asvold family has covered it up completely!"

"That's really scary." He exclaimed in awe and fear, gazing at the majestic figure sitting on the throne.

A handsome man in a golden robe suddenly appeared in the sky. His face looked indifferent, with golden pupils and short blond hair fluttering slightly in the wind. A shining crown adorned his head, reflecting brightly in the sunlight and causing the space around him to tremble with his arrival.

As the crowd gazed up at him with a mixture of surprise and admiration, the man turned his gaze towards David, who sat on a throne floating in the sky with a slight smile on his face.

"You never change, David," the man said with a hint of mockery in his voice.

Despite this, David remained unperturbed and looked lazily at the man, replying, "You haven't changed either, Alex."

To the casual observer, the two figures seemed like old friends greeting each other warmly.

However, the more astute among the onlookers could sense that there was more to their relationship than met the eye.

Lucas Weis, who had witnessed the tense exchange between Duke Asvold and Emperor Alex, sensed that their respect for each other was merely a facade.

"It's no secret that Duke Asvold and Emperor Alex don't get along." Lucas said inwardly with conviction.

Anna, who had been watching with curiosity, took Lucas' hand and asked, "Father, are those Duke Asvold and Emperor Balka?"

Lucas nodded gravely. "Yes, you probably haven't met them before, Anna. But you should know that they are the top figures in our Balka Empire."

Anna nodded eagerly and listened intently to her father's explanation.

"The figure in the fire-red robe is Duke Asvold, the leader of the southern region as well as the most respected figure in the entire south."

"And the figure in the golden robe is Emperor Balka, Emperor Alex!"

"The 99th Emperor of the Balka Empire and the most powerful Emperor ever since the establishment of the Balka Empire!"

"His strength is rumored to be equal to or even stronger than Duke Asvold!"

After saying this, Lucas fell silent and stared at the two figures with a serious expression. He could sense the mana aura in the sky suddenly expanding, as if a fight were about to break out. The tension was palpable.

Anna, on the other hand, listened intently to her father's explanation but remained oblivious to the brewing tension in the air. Her face was full of wonder that refused to fade.

"Are they very strong?" she asked her father eagerly.

"I want to be like them so that I can protect my father and our family!" Anna thought, clenching her fists with excitement.

Today was the day of her awakening, and she couldn't wait to unlock the full potential of the core within her body.

Emperor Alex, who was 500 meters away from David, didn't become angry with David's indifferent behavior. He smiled a little and looked at David with a mocking gaze. 𝒃𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝒍．𝒏𝒆𝒕

"Isn't it a bit excessive to invite the entire Luvic nobility in the entire south, even including high-level Luvics from the other three regions, David?" he asked.

Hearing this, David only smiled faintly and replied, "Of course not. As the lord of the southern region, it's natural for me to gather the entire nobility in my region if I want to. Besides, the announcement I'm about to make will affect not just the southern region but perhaps the entire Balka Empire."

After David spoke, the expressions of the entire Luvic nobility changed, and their faces turned to shock, particularly the leaders of the three high-ranking Luvic nobles who were the pinnacle of the southern region's power under Duke Asvold's mansion.

Initially, they had only guessed that the news David would announce would alter the southern region's pattern.

However, after hearing David's statement in person, they were convinced that it was inevitable.

Alex's smile froze slightly after hearing this, and his expression turned indifferent.

"You really are very hidden, David." Emperor Alex said it coldly and looked at David, who was smiling faintly.

"Of course, Alex." David smiled mockingly and did not look at Emperor Alex seriously.

Emperor Alex did not answer and waved his hand lightly.

Soon, a gold-colored, dragon-patterned throne appeared in the sky and floated, and Emperor Alex sat on it and leaned back lazily.

David, who witnessed this, just smiled and did not continue.

Seeing this, everyone who witnessed it was immediately shocked.

"How horrible!"

"So powerful!"

Everyone discussed and couldn't help but admire the figure of Emperor Balka.

Unlike the others, Brian, Lucas, and Roy breathed a sigh of relief because their fear of the two figures fighting did not happen.

After Emperor Balka sat on his throne, David smiled slightly and said something lightly while looking forward.

"Shouldn't you show up too, Duke Wilhem?"