Chương 399: Chapter : 399

"I have watched the tournament very closely," the Emperor accused directly. His tone was sharp and intimidating.

"I have observed the recent battles. I have seen impossible victories. I know you are secretly interfering with the Succession War." Lancelot did not move a single inch. He simply listened.

"You are unfairly tipping the scales," the Emperor continued harshly.

"You are manipulating the outcomes from the shadows. You have chosen to support one specific, underdog child. You are guaranteeing her survival in a war she was meant to lose." The Emperor referred to Princess Iris. The Emperor believed Lancelot was actively cheating the system to push the 13th Unit to the top of the leaderboard. Lancelot let out a soft, smooth chuckle. The sound was chilling. It did not hold any warmth.

"You overestimate your own game," Lancelot deflected smoothly. The masked entity took a slow step forward. The gold embroidery on his cloak caught a tiny sliver of light.

"It absolutely does not matter which child I theoretically support. It does not matter who wins your little contest." The Emperor frowned deeply.

"What do you mean?"

"The final, ultimate winner of your war will invariably just become another pawn in your grand design," Lancelot stated coldly.

"You do not want a successor. You want a puppet. You want the strongest survivor to enforce your strict, unyielding laws. The tournament is just a filter for your own ambition." The Emperor's eyes flashed with anger. Nobody ever spoke to him this way. Nobody ever dared to challenge his motives. But Lancelot was not a normal citizen. Lancelot was a shadow god. Ken completely abandoned any sense of royal decorum. He decided to drop truth bombs directly onto the most powerful man in the Empire.

"Your fundamental methodology is completely flawed," Lancelot boldly criticized. His glowing purple eye burned brighter in the dark.

"I have massive dissatisfaction with your Succession War. You force your own children to tear each other apart. You force them to use brutal, violent tactics." Lancelot paced slowly across the dark antechamber. His footsteps made absolutely no sound.

"A brutal, combat-driven tournament will only successfully identify one thing," Lancelot argued bluntly.

"It will identify the strongest, most ruthless military commander. It will find the person who is best at destroying their enemies. But a military commander is not a king." The Emperor watched the masked figure pace. He did not interrupt.

"A ruthless fighter only knows how to conquer," Lancelot continued. His deep voice filled the room.

"They do not know how to build. They do not know how to heal a broken city. Your war will never produce the compassionate, intelligent ruler the citizens actually deserve. You are building a tyrant, not a leader." The room went completely silent. The harsh, undeniable logic of Lancelot's words hung in the cold air. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The Emperor stared at the glowing purple mask. The anger in his eyes slowly faded away.

He let out a very long, tired breath. His broad shoulders slumped just a fraction of an inch. The Emperor surprisingly agreed with the bleak assessment.

"You speak the truth," the Emperor admitted quietly. His voice lost its intimidating edge. He sounded like a very old, very weary man.

"I have seen the cruelty in their hearts. I watch them bicker in the throne room. They only care about points and power. They do not care about the people." The Emperor looked directly at Lancelot.

"I created this war because I thought strength was the only way to protect the Empire from external threats. If strength is not the answer, what alternative would you suggest?" Lancelot stopped pacing. He stood in the center of the dark room. He faced the Emperor. Ken felt completely confident in his answer.

"I propose a radical shift in your system," Lancelot stated firmly.

"I propose a shift toward true democracy." The Emperor blinked in surprise.

"Democracy?"

"Yes," Lancelot nodded. The purple eye shined steadily.

"Stop the private, isolated battles. Allow the public to witness the Royals' true feats. The citizens watch the broadcasts. They see who fights with honor. They see who fights with cruelty. They know who cares about them." Lancelot raised his dark-gloved hand.

"Let the people choose the next leader," Ken confidently proposed.

"Implement a nationwide, democratic vote. The citizens will not vote for a tyrant who burns their homes. They will vote for the candidate who shows genuine compassion. They will choose the intelligent ruler they actually need." The pitch-black antechamber remained quiet for a long time. The Emperor processed the unprecedented advice. He thought about handing absolute power over to the common people. The Emperor let out a cynical, tired sigh. He rubbed his forehead with his hand.

"It is a beautiful thought," the Emperor expressed with deep doubt. He looked back at Lancelot.

"But the masses are easily manipulated. They are swayed by pretty words and false promises. You know the history of this world. Democratic systems have completely destroyed several great nations in the past. The crowds make foolish mistakes."

"The current system is already destroying your family," Lancelot countered smoothly.

"A democratic vote transfers the burden of choice. It gives the Empire a chance to heal." The Emperor stared into the darkness. He thought about the bickering Princes and Princesses waiting in the throne room. He thought about the future of his massive nation. He knew the masked entity offered a profound, world-altering idea. The Emperor stood up completely straight again. He offered a very small, respectful nod to the shadow god.

"I hear your words, Lancelot," the Emperor promised solemnly. His voice regained its regal authority.

"I cannot change the laws of the tournament today. But I will deeply, genuinely consider your unprecedented advice. I will watch the public broadcasts carefully. If a candidate proves they possess the compassion you speak of, I may alter the final judgment."

"That is all I ask," Lancelot replied coldly. The philosophical discussion was officially over. The meeting concluded. Lancelot took a single step backward into the deepest corner of the room. The dark shadows swallowed him completely. The glowing purple eye faded away into nothingness. The masked entity vanished entirely from the antechamber. The Emperor stood alone in the dark for one more minute. Then, he turned around and walked back through the hidden door to resume his place on the golden throne.

Lancelot walked down a quiet, empty corridor. He checked the corners. Nobody was watching him. The area was totally deserted. Lancelot stopped slouching. He stood up perfectly straight. His lazy smile vanished completely. His dark eyes turned sharp and cold. He felt a very familiar magical signature nearby. He knew exactly who was following him. The 1st Prince, Zeus Belmontia, had noticed his lingering magic. Lancelot had slipped up slightly during his previous meeting with the Emperor.

A tiny trace of the Sovereign's aura remained in the air. Zeus had tracked that tiny trace. Zeus was looking for Lancelot.

"This guy just does not quit," Lancelot thought to himself. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"He wants a shortcut. He wants to win the war the easy way. I need to teach him a lesson."