Winner take all (3)

everyone who attended the meeting.

They were the giants representing each country, but they bowed their heads toward Roman Dmitry without hesitation.

new empire.

and the king there.

When Dmitry declared that he had become an empire and was told to rule the continent, Roman Dmitry looked at the people with a calm expression.

In fact, I knew that one day a moment like this would come.

Dmitry went towards the goal of reaching the peak every time, and those who experienced prenatal battles along the way knew what to do at this point when the war was over.

yet.

The king of the kingdom of Dmitry was Romero Dmitry.

However, discussions about succession within Dmitry were all over, and he promised to take over the position as soon as the war was over.

So the representatives of each country could raise their voices without hesitation.

Knowing what was going on with Dmitry, I thought that now was the moment to declare the third empire.

All representatives of each country.

I waited for Roman Dmitry's reply.

Amid the heavy silence, Roman Dmitry finally spoke.

"There are people here who have already finished discussing the future with me. I'll tell you guys what I've said clearly to them, too.

Daniel Cairo.

Edwin Hector.

The two have already pledged their allegiance.

Since we promised the future, what we want to say from now on is a message to the three southern countries.

"A lot has happened in the Salamander Continent during that time. The existence of Alexander, the union of Valhalla and Kronos. In the process of bringing them down, each of you here has played their part, but I won't promise you anything blind just because you've shared this moment. If there is anyone who violates the laws I have set in the new world I will create, I will definitely punish them regardless of their relationship."

It was not a matter to be taken lightly.

Roman Dmitry has thoroughly followed the words spoken by the representatives of each country.

"If anyone here repeats the mistakes of the past. Like the Marquis of Memphis who withered to death on the execution table, they will punish them worthy of their crimes. No indulgences are allowed. These words I am now saying may sound cruel and harsh to you. Kronos and Valhalla took care of their own lives, but even if you destroy them, you will not be able to enjoy their power to the fullest. But if you accept what I said and say you will follow the laws of the new world, I can promise you one thing."

lang syne.

From the moment he first possessed it, Roman Dmitry has envisioned the future he is talking about.

"In the future, living in our own territory, without being invaded by anyone. That is the future I hope for."

* * *

past life.

When I was living as Baek Jung-hyuk, the monster who was one of the Four Heavenly Kings said this with an expression of incomprehension.

"No, if you are not going to enjoy the power you gained through hardship, then why did you have such a hard time subjugating Moorim? I can't quite understand it. The lord gained the power of omnipotence. Even if I have dozens of concubines like me and live a luxurious life every day, no one can say anything about it, but now the master is living a boring life like the old-fashioned scumbags of the faction."

monster.

After the conquest of Moorim, there was no one who enjoyed reality as much as I can tell.

To the extent that there is a saying that you should live like a ghost if you are too shy, the ghost lived a life of debauchery, squandering the wealth he had accumulated.

Even if he lived like that, his property would not dry up.

In the process of subjugating Moorim, he was paid through a performance-based system, and the accumulated wealth made him the most refusal of Moorim.

Baek Joong-hyuk drank tea.

It was his daily routine to get up, drink tea, go for a walk, and swing his sword to the point of sweating.

The monster's complaints were natural.

The absolute leader of the Celestial Protestantism.

For the life of a being who conquered Moorim, it was boring and not particularly special.

how much tea did you drink

Baek Jung-hyeok, who was looking at the scenery of the lake from the top of the pavilion, put down his teacup and faced the monster's face.

"Do you know when I decided to conquer Moorim?"

" Isn't that an innate instinct? The life of a heavenly demon cannot be lived under anyone."

"You are right. Because I was born as a heavenly demon, maybe my heavenly name was decided from the moment I was born. However, the moment I made up my mind to conquer Moorim on my own was when I was abandoned by my father and forced to live a weak and strong diet. At that time, I was afraid of losing my life. If I didn't do anything, as soon as I bowed my head like everyone else, my life was inevitably threatened. So I struggled every day. Without even resolving the fundamental question of why I had to live like this, if there was an existence that threatened me, I was sure to trample the other person by claiming that I exist."

An unusual life.

not what i wanted

Knowing that it is a fate that cannot be lived by ordinary people, Baek Jung-hyuk learned how to present himself from an early age.

a day or two.

Time has passed.

As he grew up, he took off as a powerful heir, and there were no people who treated him as rudely as he did when he was a child.

But the memories of the past always remain in my heart like a lump.

If he stood still and stopped growing, he was convinced that one day his peace would be torn to shreds.

"What I wanted was stability. A life in which my territory is not invaded even if I do nothing. For that purpose, the Moorim had to be conquered. I thought that only by accomplishing an achievement so powerful that no one could touch me would I be able to defy my destiny as a heavenly demon and find stability."

It was a contradiction.

In wishing for stability, Baek Jung-hyuk caused the most bloody affair in Moorim's history.

The stability of Baek Joong-hyuk.

It had a slightly different meaning.

This is not to say that you want to live a peaceful and stable life unconditionally.

If you lose something, at least you are responsible for that life.

It doesn't mean you don't want to compete, not to fight.

In the world of weak meat, everything was compulsory.

The future that Baek Joong-hyuk hopes for through his conquest of Moorim is a life in which each other respects each other's domains.

laughed

"I just wanted to live like a human."

to that laughter.

The monster turned his gaze.

Although he was always looking for real benefits, every time he saw Baek Joong-hyuk's side, his heart warmed without realizing it.

" Master, you are a very special person."

that day.

The monster looked back on his life.

And came to a conclusion.

What Baek Joong-hyuk says about stability is the right to live the life you want.

After all, thinking that he could not live in a frivolous way like Baek Jung-hyuk, the monster stopped by the giru again after just one day and raised a glass of wine.

* * *

Roman Dmitry's speech.

It was a matter of thought.

But as soon as he finished speaking, King Redford opened his mouth.

"When I was a nobleman. I've been thinking a lot about how unfair this world really is. Kronos and Valhalla levied unusual taxes on foreign merchants, and knowing that, we had no choice but to compromise with reality. So at the bottom of this floor is the concept of an 'imperial tax'. It means you can't do business without the bribes you pay them, along with the taxes you pay them."

Before he was king.

He was Redford's number one merchant.

Born as an aristocrat in a small country, he went through many difficulties, and whenever he drank his drink, he thought about what would happen.

"Every time I experienced something like that, what I wanted was at least a common sense thing to do. I don't even want wealthy movies. If we make a world that makes sense, even if the day comes when I will be executed, I will gladly embrace the new world. So, please accept my loyalty."

King Redford bowed his head.

His emotions spread like an epidemic.

Although it was not ordered or planned in advance, the leaders of each representative in turn spoke their thoughts.

This time it was King Umberto.

"People in this position must have faced the same difficulties. Umberto was bordered by Kronos and never slept comfortably for a moment. What I want is peace of mind. If we lived proudly under the sky, I hope we at least go to bed comfortably. If the future Dmitry speaks of is really a life that recognizes each other's territories, then I will gladly swear allegiance."

Following that.

King of the Franks.

Edwin Hector.

to Daniel Cairo.

Even those who have sworn allegiance said they would swear allegiance to Roman Dmitry in the new world.

meaning came together.

Roman Dmitry accepted the will of the people.

If they had been polite to each other until a while ago, from now on, they showed an attitude appropriate for a new relationship.

"I will not deny the oath of allegiance you speak of. In the not-too-distant future I will declare that Dmitry has become an empire. You will make my coronation ceremony shine on the spot, and from that day on, the Salamander Continent will create a new world under the rule of me, Roman Dmitry. But before that."

changed his expression.

Work has a precedent.

Before proclaiming a new world, Roman Dmitry will not allow any remnants of the past.

"We will do our best to carry out a major purge. keep in mind Thoroughly exclude personal feelings from the purge process. If there is a sin, it will surely be punished, which will lay the foundation for a new world."

* * *

that time.

Someone had a fire in their foot.

Golden Bank's bank president, Hoffman, yelled at the people with a desperate face.

"Move your luggage quickly. One o'clock is urgent!"

Continental Wars.

When the two empires and the kingdom union were fighting fiercely, Hoffman, of course, gave full support to the Kronos Empire.

After confirming the secret of the Golden Bank.

Realizing the reason for Golden Bank's existence, he did not dare to hide his intentions with a strong conviction that Alexander would win.

However.

I was defeated.

Still unbelievable in reality, Alexander died and even Kronos' supreme authority, the Marquis of Memphis, was executed in public.

As soon as he confirmed this, Hoffman hurriedly prepared to run away.

In order to survive, the only way was to avoid the wind and blood that would blow in the future.

'The Roman Dmitry I know is never a merciful man. The beings that were attached to the two empires, regardless of their status, would be slain. If it stays like this, I will die unconditionally. And now, Golden Bank cannot even afford to pay back the money borrowed to fight the war.'

right after the war ended.

Calls came in from all directions.

The people who had lent money and believed in the name of Golden Bank sent reminders as soon as they lost the war.

It was the price of not thinking back.

I didn't know that Kronos would be defeated by the end of the day.

Precisely, as a servant of Alexander, he risked his life to survive only by winning.

He collected all of the Golden Bank's capital and delivered the war supplies.

As a result, Golden Bank sat in debt.

If the war had been won, it would have been a problem that could all be solved, but for now, there was no way to repay it.

blast furnace.

There was no other way.

As soon as the capital of Kronos fell, Hoffman immediately found a way to escape with his hidden wealth.

Perhaps in the future, he will never be able to live as the president of Golden Bank.

I had to change my face with magic, change my name, give up my glamorous life and live a new life, but I still had the belief that it was a better option than dying.

That was then.

As soon as I thought that the interior was finished, I suddenly heard a loud noise from outside.

Clink!

to that sound.

Hoffman's face turned pale.

* * *

a fleeting moment.

Hoffman organized his thoughts in his head.

'No need to panic. The creditors cannot hold me accountable because the repayment period has not come yet, and Dmitry's relationship with Valhalla has not been settled. In a situation where Earl Snowdin is hostile to Roman Dmitry, he cannot directly attack Valhalla, the stronghold of the Golden Bank.'

even then

Count Snowdin's power was still alive.

He could not have imagined that he, who had left to attend an international conference, would have been taken away in the middle of the conference.

Hoffman was greedy.

I needed enough time to cash out my hidden wealth, so I thought I still had time.

Of course, it will come to an end in a few days.

However, I came to the conclusion that, at least, no matter who came by, I had to show as unshakable as possible to buy time.

moved a step

Exhibiting a dignified attitude as the bank president of Golden Bank, he uttered a dignified voice towards uninvited guests.

"I know where this is Huh?!"

Moment.

eyes widened

People who marched in with troops.

In front of them, a very familiar person showed a smirk.

"Long time no see, Mr. Hoffman."

he's right

It was Count Fabius.

And his presence reminded Hoffmann of nightmares from the past.