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Chapter 230

“I appreciate Your Majesty’s offer, but I do not believe that I am capable enough to be Your Majesty’s sword.”

“...!” The nobles were both stupefied and horrified upon hearing Joshua’s reply.

“What…?!” A noble gasped and gulped a mouthful of his own saliva without realizing it. Emperor Marcus’ order wasn’t really impossible. In fact, it was only natural for Joshua to become Emperor Marcus’ sword. After all, he was an Imperial Knight.

“Has he lost his mind?!”

Joshua simply had to nod his head and agree. Emperor Marcus would then resolve all of his problems. Money, fame, and power would be all for his taking.

To think that Joshua would actually kick that offer aside was astonishing to the nobles. Or rather, what was more astonishing to them was the fact that Joshua was so ignorant enough to dare to refuse Emperor Marcus’ offer.

“Are you refusing my offer?” Emperor Marcus looked devastated. “My words are law in this Empire. Look at those examples before you; you know what will happen to you if you refuse, yes? I will give you one more chance—but this time, it is an Imperial order, not a request.”

The atmosphere changed instantly. Some of the nobles acted busy, while others glanced furtively at Joshua and the Emperor. Of course, the Five Dukes, or four now, reacted the same. Duke Tremblin’s eyes landed on Duke Agnus.

‘I thought you’d at least be a little surprised.’ Duke Tremblin thought. Very soon, he was left disappointed when Duke Agnus hadn’t even raised a brow.

Duke Agnus maintained his usual tranquility, leaving Duke Tremblin to wonder about what thoughts were hidden behind his icy visage.

“If you refuse again, it goes beyond a simple rejection,” Emperor Marcus warned. “It will be treason. You see… if I can’t have something, then I’ll simply destroy it so that I won’t have to be jealous of anyone else if they were to obtain that thing.”

Emperor Marcus clasped his hands together and leaned forward. “And just so you know, it’s a serious crime to bring foreigners like the Wilhelm Knights into this country. It can even be considered treason. Do you understand what I mean?”

The carrot had failed, so it was time to use the stick.

Emperor Marcus was convinced that he would succeed using the stick, but unfortunately, he was destined to be disappointed.

“It seems I have no choice but to repeat my answer, Your Majesty.”

“What?” The central nobles were overjoyed at Joshua’s response. After all, Joshua was a young man, but he was a terrifying foe to stand against.

They would naturally be overjoyed at the fact that Joshua sabotaged himself because they wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore.

An icy glint appeared in Emperor Marcus’ eyes.

“Can you even afford to refuse?”

“Your Majesty has referred to me as a ‘thing,’ so I will have to refuse.”

Emperor Marcus revealed a look of unhappiness. “Did I upset you?”

Joshua shook his head and replied, “No, it’s the opposite.”

“...?” Emperor Marcus seemed confused.

Joshua saw that and continued. “I’m sure that Your Majesty knows that things are priced based on their intrinsic value, right?”

“So?”

“However, ‘premium’ products exist, and their value depends on how badly the customer wants the product, how many other customers want it, and the overall supply of the product, as well as the market conditions,” said Joshua.

Joshua made a sidelong glance at Emperor Marcus, and the latter nodded lightly as a signal for Joshua to continue speaking. Even the nobles were watching intently now, and their shining eyes were challenging Joshua to step further into a political battle with Emperor Marcus.

Of course, they were also curious: would he still be able to hold himself high afterward?

Joshua smiled lightly and said, “Your Majesty, now, there’s a sword before you. As a sword, it’s highly desirable, and also there’s only one of it. That’s where its premium value lies. As time passes, its value will increase, and the number of interested buyers too. So it’s inevitable for its price to skyrocket. But, it’s unique. I’m sure that the demand for me is going up as we speak, and the number of interested buyers is definitely skyrocketing as well… Your Majesty is asking me to sell this sword now.”

Joshua didn’t really have to elaborate any further. After all, Emperor Marcus was smart enough to extrapolate.

“So you’ve come to bargain…”

“Yes. I’m marketing the sword to Your Majesty now.?Also, I think this is not the best time to sell the sword. I’m sure the bargain won’t be an issue as long as the two of us wait a bit longer until I’m ready,” said Joshua.

“...” The tension in the throne room was palpable. The nobles couldn’t have imagined that someone would actually be brave enough to speak such words to the infamous iron-blooded and ruthless Emperor of Avalon.

“Pffft!” Emperor Marcus burst into laughter. His eyes shone in a strange light as he stared at Joshua. “I knew you were daring, but it seems that I still underestimated you…”

“...!” The nobles were stupefied to see Emperor Marcus laugh. They thought that the latter would scold and punish Joshua rather than laugh at the latter’s words.

“Firstly, comparing you to a thing isn’t as correct as you made it sound...”

Emperor Marcus arrogantly leaned into his throne. “I’m a buyer, yes, but not exactly. I don’t really need to buy anything anymore because I already have everything I want. And I would never allow someone else to take away what’s mine. But if you are talking about it as a business transaction, then I guess what you said makes sense.”

“But you see, I am not that patient.” Emperor Marcus stopped laughing.

“A knight will have to choose his lord when they turn eighteen. I should be ready by then,” said Joshua.

“You’re right. However, not only you’re famous throughout the continent, but I presume that you also have a relationship with a dragon. What a revelation! Hahaha!” Emperor Marcus started laughing once again.

Emperor Marcus looked like he was about to go mad anytime soon as he quivered violently on his throne at the surge of intense pleasure rising up his brain.

“Tell me what you need. Heh. Don’t overthink it, I just want to leverage my position against my future competitors. And don’t tell me that I’m not allowed to do that.”

“Are you sure, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. Go ahead and tell me what you want.”

Joshua smiled. Emperor Marcus’ response meant that half of his plan had succeeded.

‘I have to make sure that I get as much value out of this as I can…’

Unbeknownst to most people, Joshua was just as greedy as Emperor Marcus.

“Your Majesty,” Joshua eventually said, his eyes glistening, “I need my own knights.”

“What do you mean?”

“It is exactly as I said, Your Majesty I want to combine the 11th and 12th Battalions of the Imperial Knights Order into a single, independent order of knights.”

Joshua’s casual tone didn’t fool the nobles for a second, and they immediately retorted.

“Your Majesty, this is insane!”

“An independent knight order within the Imperial Palace? That is unprecedented, even throughout the continent!”

“Your Majesty, I think Baron Sanders has other ulterior motives!”

Unfortunately for the nobles, their words and actions didn’t really move Emperor Marcus’ heart. He casually waved their objections away and asked Joshua, “What level are you aiming for?”

“It will be a new order, but I want it to retain the same status. I want the transition to be smooth, so I want everything to remain as is.”

In other words, Joshua wanted the knights of the 11th and 12th Battalions to receive the same treatment as Imperial Knights, even after they had already become an independent order of knights.

“Your request is difficult. Can you see it?” Emperor Marcus glanced at the frantic nobles.

Joshua knew that the real fight had arrived, so he said, “Your Majesty, I’m proud to say that I understand the hearts of the 11th and 12th Battalions better than anyone else here.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’ve been disrespected my whole life.” Joshua glanced at Duke Agnus as he said, “My mother, my only family, was insulted and assaulted by a mere soldier. I have become a great individual, but I haven’t really changed in my eyes. I was denied the freedom to live my life simply because I am the son of a maid.”

“So that’s what you have in common with those knights,” Emperor Marcus said.

Joshua’s words made sense. He was truly still bound by the circumstances of his birth, and it was evidenced by the fact that he expelled himself from a ducal family, which was something that not even a bastard of that kind of family would do.

This meant that Joshua was true to his nature as a humble knight.

Babel was a great and powerful individual from a prestigious bloodline, but he couldn’t compare to Joshua in both skills and breadth of mind.

“They’re like me. They want to be the finest knights of Avalon. They want to become knights that no one would dare to underestimate or ignore.”

Anyone who looked at Joshua right now would be struck by his arrogance and unshakeable conviction, especially given his age. However, what really mattered was the fact that Emperor Marcus liked Joshua’s spunk.

“I’m lucky enough to grab the opportunity to become the most famous sword in the world and maybe even the strongest shield.”

“I approve. Is there anything else you need?”

“This is enough, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Marcus rose from his throne with a hearty laugh and announced. “Then I’ll leave the matter of the Wilhelm Knights alone. And Baron Sanders is hereby granted the peerage of a count.”

“In addition, the properties and assets of criminal Marquis Crombell shall be handed over to you, Count Sanders. You’ve become a part of the central nobility. I hope you consider your middle name properly,” said Emperor Marcus at the kneeling Joshua.

“I’m looking forward to our next meeting, Count Sanders.” With that, Emperor Marcus left. The dukes, aside from Duke Agnus, trailed behind Emperor Marcus. The Marquises of the Twelve Families barely managed to avoid tripping over their feet as they hastened to do the same.

“I hope that you won’t make me wait for too long until our reunion.” Duke Agnus muttered under his breath as he passed by Joshua.

With the departure of the dukes and the marquises, the nobles could finally breathe once again as they started muttering to themselves.

“Oh, how silly. The greetings are just a formality…” a knight muttered to Joshua.

“Now, I think he’s on the same level as Knight Commander Rod?”

“What are you talking about? He’s just a sixteen-year-old teenager!”

“...” Joshua slowly stood as their whispering washed over him.

Joshua was now the highest-ranking noble out of the nobles in the throne room. He felt a gaze on his back, and he turned around to find Ash behind him with a flushed face.

“That was pretty neat.”

“Do you really think that we’re done yet?” Joshua said.

The nobles stared at Joshua as the latter said, “I will give you lot a chance right now. This is the first time, so you lot will get special treatment over those who will join us later.”

“What on earth are you…” The nobles were clearly confused. Question marks could be seen all over their heads.

However, Ash became visibly excited as he hurriedly shouted. “Let me do it! Let me do it!”

Joshua chuckled and nodded.

“Those who wish to join our camp…” Ash swept his gaze across the nobles and trailed off before shouting out loud. “Stay here!”