The knights clad in steel armor had a cocky air about them. It was unusual to see individuals fully clad in armor in the lands of other species.0

They looked down at the villagers from atop their horses as if the ground was too dirty to tread upon.0

“The emperor is merciful. We will give you one more chance.”0

The villagers trembled in fear, recalling what happened the last time the knights were in the village.0

When no one replied, one of the knights in the back came forward and drew his sword. His blade flashed brilliantly as it reflected the sunlight seeping in through the lush forest.0

“Is everyone mute here? Answer!”0

The villagers retreated with hesitance. Their eyes were fixated on the knight’s blade.0

That sword had trampled their homes and killed their families, and they had come again to demand that they follow the self-proclaimed emperor while holding the blade at their throats.1

It was obvious what obeying the emperor meant. They faced the grim fate of becoming enslaved with their lives dedicated to erecting the walls of the emperor’s fortress, ascending ever higher into the sky.0

Worse, they could be conscripted into war against their will because that’s what emperors did.0

Hans pushed Crockta and his friends away, signaling them to hide. He hesitantly placed the gold...0