"Mmm."
Aaron nodded at them, and thanked:
"Thanks for your gifts."
"Itâs just some health potions, and attributes increased potions."
Aaron nodded, while the five moved to the right, standing beside Heartily.
"Please welcome, King Mali!!" Enjoy new tales from empire
"King Mali!!"
This name instantly struck fear in the heart of everyone present... Mali was known for his ruthlessness, and was exceptional dangerous. His sea was filled with dangers, and located after the flesh eatersâ forest.
But seeing a handsome man walking inside with a smile, they were lost.
"Is this the monster thatâs sinking our boats? Or someone else?"
"I donât know, But he looks nothing like a monster."
"Well, I think he also had a change of heart, just like Queen Heartily."
"Yeah, you might be right."
Dylan who was among the crowd, was but sad and happy... At least some people werenât angry with her father.
"Emperor Aaron, Greetings!" Mali said with a smile, giving a small bow.
"King Mali, thank you for accepting my invitation."
"Thereâs no need to thank me about that, I just want to see the people who had been my food for years."
Hearing his words, the races were stunned... They quickly moved backward in fear.
"Hahaha!! Joking! Look at their faces!"
He moved his gaze around the hall, and was surprised seeing Heartily, and the Sirens.
"Oh? These guys are also here?" He turned to Aaron:
"The king Is really great!!" He said.
"Not like you, King Mali, what about your people?" He asked.
"Well, the sea is now in a pit... We are managing."
"Thereâs no need to manage anything... Iâll fix that problem... After I return from my journey."
"Journey?"
Everyone was surprised by the revelation.
"Yes, I need to get stronger for the main war... I might be the strongest in this world, but theyâre a lot of worlds out there that have creatures and beings a hundred times stronger than me... Thatâs why Iâll be leaving, I need to remove this gap... I might not be able to reach Michael, but at least, I can catch up with the others. I canât go and embarrass Elvis! Can I?"
"No!!!"
"The Emperor is so great!! Thinking about us!!"
"How long will you be gone?" Emily asked in a low voice.
"I donât know how long, But Iâll be leaving tomorrow, first sunrise."
"Huh?"
"..."
Not only Emily, Both Lilly and Aurora were stunned by this news.
"But---"
"--I know Emily, I didnât tell you because I want to announce it."
He turned his gaze from Emily to the guests, and continued:
"Everyone here is a powerful figure in their races, Kingdoms, or territories... So Iâm leaving Elvis in your care... Take care of this realm with justice. And Note: If Terra got hold of injustice, Corruption, or any other illegal actions... Youâll be executed on spot!!"
The kings, Queens, Lords, Dukes, Senators, and more all looked at one another in surprised. The silence lasted for a whole minute, before:
"Ok, Emperor!! Weâll look after Elvis!!"
"Yes!! You can trust us!!"
Aaron nodded In satisfaction: "I donât know how long Iâll be gone... So take care of yourselves... Now, enjoy the party! As we know it, Elvis is finally safe!"
"YES!!!"
Everyone yelled, and the party picked up, with dancers moving to the center of the hall... Music playing in the background.
_
Aaron turned his gaze to Emily, who grabbed his hand, and pulled him away from the hall... He followed her to the balcony, and Emily let go. She walked towards the edge, and looked at their Empire... The Moon high above the night sky.
"What happened, Emily?" Aaron asked in a low voice slowly walking towards her.
"Is that the right question to be asking?" She asked, rising her head to the Moon.
Aaron smiled, and hugged her from behind, and whispered in her ear:
"You know I got to do this."
Emily turned around, and held cupped both his cheeks with her hands.
"Why didnât you tell me?" She asked, staring at his blue eyes.
"I did."
"I didnât mean in the banquet, why didnât you tell me before then?"
Aaron smiled and hugged her, tightly: "You know I was busy, showing Michael the gates."
"But you could still send a Link message." She said, resting her head on his chest.
"Sorry."
Aaron smiled, caressing her back.
Emily raised her head to his face, and chuckled:
Aaron tilted his head in to the side, wasnât she just crying? Why laughing now?
âI should have known women are difficult to understand, I kept on forgetting this... Although I donât have anyone I love in my previous lives, I still understand some things, but you can never understand women.â He thought.
"Fufufu.... You said youâre how many years old, again? You know Iâm older than you?"
"I do... But will you rat me out?" Aaron asked with a mischievous smirk.
"What will you do to me if I do?" Emily provoked.
"Oh, Iâll kiss you still you ran out of breathe." He said with a smile.
"Why donât you try it?"
"Uh?" Aaron was surprised by the question.
"Kiss me, Aaron." Emily said, staring at Aaronâs lips.
Hearing her command, Aaron instantly complied, hungrily closing her lips in a deep french kiss.
{DING!!!}
Aaron heard the notification from the All Seeing Eyes, but he didnât stop his action, and only deepened the kiss, exploring every inch of Emilyâs mouth, and taste.
{DING!}
{A god acknowledge you.}
{A god acknowledge you.}
{A god acknowledge you.}
{A god acknowledge you.}
{A god acknowledge you.}
{A god acknowledge you.}
{A god acknowledge you.}
Emily tap him, already out of breathe... Aaron separated from the kiss, and Emily quickly took a deep breathe. Aaron smirked at her, and read the notification in front of him.
â7 gods acknowledge me? Is this because of Michael?â He thought in mild confusion.
"You always want to win." Emily grumbled, staring at him with a frown.
"I never go back on my words." Aaron smiled, grabbed her waist, and pulled her closer.
"Should we continue?" He asked with a smile.
"Ahem!!"
The two turned their heads to the side, seeing Lilly staring at them.
"Lilly?!"
Emily quickly removed from Aaronâs arms, her face flush red.
"Fufufu... Look at your face. You two lovebirds left everyone in the hall, and hid here." Lilly said walking towards them.
"You... No, thatâs not it... Yes... Yes, I just want to ask Aaron--"
"--Slow down, Girl... But sorry to interrupt your fun time." She turned to Aaron:
"Baby brother, Mum want to see you, her chamber, it seems important."
Aaron raised an eyebrow, but still nodded... He smiled at Emily, and walked away.
"So, how was it?" Lilly asked with a teasing smile.
"How--How was what?" Emily stammered.
"Stop acting innocent girl, Look at your lipstick, itâs all messed up, not only that, I saw the remaining ones on Aaronâs lips."
Emilyâs heated more, like a red potato.
"This..."
"Ok, ok. I wonât tease you anymore, come on, letâs get that fix." She smiled.
"Oh No!" Emily exclaimed in shock.
"What happened?!" Lilly looked at her with raised eyebrow.
"My lipstick, Aaron!"
Realization struck Lilly, and she burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!! I wonder how heâll look like when Mum ask. Come on, thatâs on him." She grabbed Emilyâs wrist, and pulled her away.
____
Knock! Knock! Knock!!
"Come in."
Hearing the familiar voice, Aaron slowly opened the door, and put his head first, moving his gaze on the huge and luxurious bedroom.
"Youâre entering your Motherâs room, not sneaking inside."
He stared at Aurora, who sat on a single-seater sofa, drinking tea.
"Yes."
Aaron entered the room, and close the door... He walked towards his Mother, and sat down opposite her.
"Why are you here, Mother? Shouldnât you be outside, enjoying the party?" He asked.
"Shouldnât the Emperor be with his guests?" She asked back, taking a sip of her tea.
"Then I took this personality from my mother." He took the teapot, and poured himself a glass of tea.
"So Mum, why did you summon me?" He asked, taking a drink.
"Youâll be leaving tomorrow, and the way you said it in the banquet, shows youâll be leaving this world."
Aaron slowly nodded his head:
"Yes, Mum. My destination is unknown, even to me... But I still have to go."
"Wait, Son. You donât know the route to your destination?" Aurora was surprised.
"Yes, I only know my destination, but not the route."
"And where is that?"
"The external Ice mountain."
Aurora froze in shock... She closed her eyes, and slowly placed down her cup.
"The External Ice Mountain is filled with all sort of dangers, even the route are extremely dangerous... Do you know why anyone who venture to that place didnât return?"
"You know the Mountain?" Aaron asked in mild surprised.
"I heard stories, and out of the thousands of people who had venture into that place, Zero return alive... Because, the moment you step inside the land, youâll lose 90% of your powers."
"....."
Aaron was speechless.