Ranker's Return

Chapter 708

“So in the end, the duke was unable to relieve his burdens?” The emperor eventually showed his black heart first. He removed many modifiers that concealed his intentions and started to speak directly.

“I’ve devoted decades to the empire. Even now, my heart for the empire remains unchanged. Why do you need my labor when there is such a wonderful emperor and commander of the Knights of Keon?” John Blake quickly rejected the emperor’s words.

It wasn’t even worth reconsidering.

“So can I think of it as the duke will no longer care about the empire in the future?” the emperor asked with a strange smile.

“I will never appear in front of you unless there is a problem with the empire, Your Majesty.” John Blake nodded at the emperor’s words.

There was no problem anyway. He thought, ‘There are two monsters that the lizards can’t act against... Who will cause problems for the empire?’

If a problem were created, it would either be by the empire or Lebron.

“I also believe that you haven’t forgotten the promise you made in the past,” John Blake added.

Lebron’s expression slightly stiffened upon hearing that. ‘Is it necessary to bring that up?’ John Blake’s promise had been made in the past when the emperor took hold of the entire empire. The emperor not only attacked the festering wounds of the empire but also the nobles who opposed his will.

It was John Blake who stopped the emperor.

‘Will you become angry, Alexander?’ Lebron stared at the emperor with a firm expression. He was worried that the emperor would cause an accident.

“I keep my promises no matter what, Duke. I don’t intend to do the same thing as that time. Therefore, I hope you will also abide by the promise.”

Contrary to Lebron’s worries, the emperor was smiling. What was the reason behind him causing the war? It was to be just a little bit... more comfortable.

“By the way, where did the marquis go that you came alone?” The emperor was unable to erase his smile as he asked John Blake this question.

“The marquis? That kid, Hyeonu, is a marquis?” John Blake paused for a moment like he was surprised by Hyeonu’s title of marquis.

Then he soon thought it was convincing and answered, “There seemed to be something urgent, so I let him go. Am I not the one Your Majesty is looking for?”

The emperor nodded in agreement with John Blake’s words. “That’s right. I was only looking for you. The marquis wouldn’t have been here even if you had come together.”

The smile on the emperor’s face deepened.

“Duke, what do you think of the marquis?”

“The marquis will be the future of the empire. It is just like I taught Your Majesty and Lebron. Lebron should make the marquis like that.”

The emperor heard John Blake’s praise and nodded. “Yes, the marquis is the future of the empire. That’s why I’m making great efforts to grow the marquis. I’m using the power of the imperial family.”

It was true that the emperor had a profound influence on Hyeonu’s growth. The emperor gave more than one or two rewards to Hyeonu, be it directly or indirectly.

“The power of the imperial family… What is the reason for growing the marquis so far, Your Majesty?” It was only now that John Blake started to feel something strange.

The emperor’s words about imperial power often meant the emperor’s eyes and ears—people who were scattered all over the continent and did dirty work for the imperial family. They did anything. They assassinated people according to the emperor’s wishes and didn’t hesitate to look for treasures or dig up herbs.

‘What are you doing, Alexander?’ John Blake questioned inwardly. Such people were moving for Hyeonu. It was hard for John Blake to believe.

“The future of the empire. There should be no problem with this much investment? He is a talent to replace me.” The emperor’s eye curved in a smile.

“Replace yourself? What do you mean by that, Your Majesty? I’m asking for a detailed explanation.”

On the other hand, John Blake’s eyes widened. The emperor’s words were that shocking.

“I want to leave him as a proxy. If it’s for a short period, it’ll be for one year, and it’ll be for three years if it is long.” The emperor finally revealed his true plan to John Blake.

“The marquis is just a marquis. He isn’t the emperor. What do you mean by proxy? This is too inappropriate!” John Blake shouted with a flustered expression. It wasn’t an issue to take lightly.

“It has been six years now, Duke. I have to sit on the throne for at least 16 years. That is 10 years. I don’t have the confidence to endure all those years.” The emperor’s eyes curved even more.

“The backlash from the nobles will be considerable!” John Blake exclaimed again.

“The nobles will welcome it. I am stepping away from the throne for a while. That will allow them to breathe.”

At first, the nobles would welcome it, but that wouldn’t last long either. Behind Hyeonu were the emperor and Lebron. They would also rationalize it themselves. If the emperor temporarily left and put down the government affairs, they would regard Hyeonu as a scarecrow and think they could regain their former glory.

‘However, the marquis isn’t so easy,’ the emperor thought. As long as a few conditions were given to Hyeonu, he would take care of the nobles and keep them in check. Hyeonu had enough ability to do so.

“It is already late, Duke. The plan is already in progress. Didn’t you declare yourself that you won’t stand in front of me unless the empire is in a crisis?”

These subsequent words of the emperor prevented John Blake from refuting anything. Hyeonu was the recognized future of the empire. It wasn’t good enough for him to replace the role of the emperor and take care of political matters. Rather, it was a loss to let him remain in that position.

‘It is checkmate...’

John Blake moved his lips several times but eventually failed to say anything. The smile that appeared on the emperor’s face when he saw this was an ecstatic one.

***

Hyeonu received an unbelievable message and hurriedly left the officetel.

‘He’s picked three people?’

The sender of the message was Kang Ujong, the supervisor of Crescent Moon. Hyeonu moved in the cold winter weather because Kang Ujong had picked three reliable players and asked Hyeonu to check them out. He jumped on the couch and asked Kang Ujong, who was leisurely eating sweets, “Supervisor Kang-nim, is that true? Did you really pick three people?”

This was almost at the level of pressing a person for answers, not asking questions.

Kang Ujong glanced at Hyeonu and answered, “It is as I wrote in the message. Two magicians and one melee class—I picked three like that.”

Then he immediately concentrated on eating the sweets again.

“Are they kids who have been verified? Their level? Their class? Are they streamers?” Hyeonu urged Kang Ujong for answers without calming down his excitement.

“Sit down first. Calm your excitement. Let’s talk in a calm state.” Kang Ujong reached out leisurely and pointed to an empty sofa, regardless of whether he knew Hyeonu’s heart or not.

“Please explain in detail from beginning to end, Supervisor-nim.” Hyeonu lifted the water bottle in front of Kang Ujong and drank it.

Kang Ujong started to explain, “So... where did I get the three of them... They came to me. They want to be professional gamers.”

Hyeonu was insatiable. “Who are they? Do you know them?”

“It isn’t just me who knows them. You know them as well.”

Hyeonu heard Kang Ujong’s words and fell into thought. However, he couldn’t remember anyone even when he searched through his memories.

‘Who is it? Three people? None of the people I know go around in a party of three.’

“Are they really people I know?” Hyeonu asked back with wide eyes.

“Of course. Han Jaeyeol, Kim Jinhwan, and Lee Yeongjin—these three people. Don’t you know them?”

Hyeonu started to think about the names that Kang Ujong mentioned. ‘Kim Jinhwan, Lee Yeongjin, Han Jaeyeol... Han Jaeyeol?’

One name was particularly familiar—Han Jaeyeol.

“Isn’t Han Jaeyeol a professional gamer of Big Stars? Now he is a streamer with Crescent Moon...” Hyeonu recited information about Han Jaeyeol, only to stop talking.

After a while, Hyeonu opened his mouth again and asked Kang Ujong a question, “Do they want to challenge being pro gamers again? Three people? Oh, my...”

Hyeonu couldn’t speak any longer.

Kang Ujong smiled at such a Hyeonu. “Isn’t it good? You’re smiling, right? Isn’t this great luck?”

“Yes, I’m going to die from happiness. Why do they want to come now?” A smile appeared on Hyeonu’s face.

The streamers from Big Stars. There was no need to mention their skills. They were already verified since they had made their debut as professional gamers. Moreover, it wasn’t necessary to check the cleanliness of their streams. Moon Doyeong would’ve kicked them out first if there was a problem with their streams. He had a terribly harsh requirement for cleanliness when it came to Arena.

“Did you speak to the kids? It is time for them to get closer,” Hyeonu asked.

“What words do I need to say? They originally knew each other except for the new kids. They became even closer since I left, Coach Gang. They often eat together.”

“Really? Then I’m glad. I hope the next training will come quickly. They should be a bit better than before?”

Kang Ujong scoffed, “What nonsense about being better? Coach Gang will beat them with a wooden sword anyway. I will hit you with facts. Their mentality will collapse. There seems to be no answer even if you fight one against 12.”

Practicing with Hyeonu definitely improved their players’ skills. The problem was that it wasn’t reflected in their practice with Hyeonu. The wall of Hyeonu was so high and sturdy that it was hard to leave a small blemish on it despite their dizzying growth.

“By the way, there are already nine people. One or two people will be picked through New Moon. Supervisor-nim, please pick two more people,” Hyeonu said shamelessly while taking away Kang Ujong’s sweets.

“I am speechless. You only brought one priest as a player...”

“It isn’t just one priest. The three original players were brought by me. I also brought Supervisor-nim and Coach Jeong-nim. I am also still here. That’s seven.”

Now there was only a fake smile on Hyeonu’s face. There was a degree of shamelessness. At this level, it was almost...

‘A scammer.’

Hyeonu diligently picked up Kang Ujong’s sweets. In the end, the whole bag of snacks was poured into his mouth like he was drinking water.

“By the way, this isn’t a joke. I’m serious. There are six people remaining in New Moon. All of them aren’t much except for one. If I pick three people... they may have to play in the league with the mindset that they will always be lying down.” Hyeonu really thought so.

All of them except for Jeong Cheolmin were burdens. The more he watched the streaming videos, the greater he felt this.

“So you want me to find two more people?” Kang Ujong asked back with an outraged expression.

“Please take care of it, Supervisor-nim. Loyalty, loyalty!” Hyeonu playfully saluted Kang Ujong and passed over the situation.

Kang Ujong could only sigh deeply as he looked at Hyeonu. ‘Resting is nonsense...’