Champion Of Lust: Gods Conquer's Harem Paradise!

Chapter 356 The Odds.

Inside Ivory Crest, the most prestigious tea house in the noble district, the air buzzed with hushed conversations. Nobles draped in elegant silks and enchanted jewelry sat around circular tables, sipping on imported spirit tea while discussing the latest political upheavals.

"The Dragon Emperor has made his stance clear, hasn't he?" Lady Estelle Marquess of Hollowbrook murmured, tapping her lacquered nails against her teacup. "He no longer stands with House Obsidian. But the question is—what is his next move?"

"War, obviously," scoffed Lord Vernon, a lesser noble who prided himself on knowing things he had no business knowing. "Though he hasn't officially declared it, pulling away from the Obsidians is as good as raising his sword against them. And let's not forget, every other faction is watching closely, waiting to sink their teeth in the first moment of weakness."

Across the tea house, another conversation carried a different weight.

"I heard Princess Lekiza is tied to Pyris Obsidian."

That statement alone made a few heads turn.

"If true, then does that not mean the Human Empire and House Obsidian are bound together?"

"Ha! If only things were that simple." A noblewoman in deep crimson chuckled, swirling her goblet of amber wine. "Politics don't work like our little romance novels, darling. Just because a princess warms a man's bed doesn't mean her father will hand over his throne."

"But if an engagement happens…"

That thought left them all silent. Because if that happened, it wouldn't just be a political alliance—it would be a merging of two great forces.

In the corner a noble raised an eyebrow, princess Lekiza too? What about Alexa?

Down in the bustling Silver Market, where merchants hawked everything from enchanted trinkets to rare beast hides, the common folk had their own version of the news.

A group of blacksmiths leaned against their anvils, wiping sweat from their brows as they exchanged rumors.

"I heard Dracula, the Vampire Emperor, has been seen meeting with the 'cursed' Demons of the Beginning."

"Tch, if that's true, it's bad news. Those demons are relics of an age best forgotten. What business does he have with them?"

"Probably preparing for war. If the Dragon Emperor steps out, that leaves a power vacuum, and you can bet every damned leader in existence wants a piece of it." Everyone had something to speculate about something.

Not far from them, a group of young mages debated loudly over Obsidian Tech's launch.

"You're all missing the real event today! Forget politics— ARGO Online is launching! I heard it's not just a game—it's practically another world. Some say it's enchanted with a realm fragment!"

"A fragment of a realm? That's nonsense!"

"Is it? House Obsidian is known for impossible feats. And Pyris Obsidian himself—well, no one knows the full extent of what he's capable of."

The mention of Pyris's name alone stirred an unspoken feeling among them. A man who defied fate. A man who attracted powerful women, won impossible battles, and held secrets even perhaps even the gods feared.

In the golden halls of the Human Emperor's suite, whispers of Pyris and Lekiza reached the ears of the most powerful figure. Seated upon his couch, Emperor Aldric listened as his advisors presented reports, but his mind was elsewhere.

His daughter's involvement with Pyris was dangerous. It wasn't just about romance—it was a symbol. A declaration. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

One of his advisors spoke hesitantly, "Your Majesty… should we acknowledge this connection? If House Obsidian and the Human Empire stand together, our strength would be unparalleled."

The Emperor exhaled slowly. That was the dilemma, wasn't it? Pyris Obsidian was a force unlike any before him. He could be the greatest ally—or the greatest threat.

And across all corners of the world, one thing was clear—

The age of stagnation was over. The game of power had begun.

The human emperor exhaled deeply, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his ornate chair. His advisor's question lingered in the air—should they publicly acknowledge the rumored connection between Lekiza and Pyris?

It was a valid question, one they had anticipated. The idea of linking Lekiza to Pyris had been devised as a contingency plan—a strategic fallback in case Pyris refused to cooperate with the Human Empire. If he rejected their direct overtures, then a personal connection, through Lekiza, might serve as a softer, more subtle means of influence. If Pyris cared for her beauty, then he might be swayed, even unknowingly, into favoring the empire's interests.

The emperor leaned back in thought.

He had never met Pyris, but he knew of him. More importantly, he knew Emberly, the mother of the Obsidian heir—a woman with a ruthless, calculating mind. After all they were of the same generation. Who of the princes back then didn't try their luck on her? Everyone did, princes, crown princes of all empires, high ranking nobles too but Emberly proved to be always beyond their league.

If Pyris was anything like her, manipulating him wouldn't be easy. And that's where things became complicated.

There was also Alexa. Alexa was a wildcard.

Her history with the empire was... strained, to say the least. She had never been treated as a true imperial daughter, always sidelined in favor of more politically advantageous heirs. Given that, would she even agree to play along with this arrangement? If she saw through their motives, she might outright reject their claim of a connection to Pyris, further weakening their position.

The emperor sighed.

He wasn't naïve. He understood politics, but he also knew that in a battle of strategy, Pyris had the advantage. Unlike him, Pyris wasn't bound by imperial bureaucracy. He was young, unpredictable, and wielded both influence and sheer power in ways the empire couldn't yet match. If this plan was to work, it had to be handled delicately.

"Arrange a meeting," he finally said.

The advisor blinked. "A meeting, Your Majesty?"

"Yes. Before the launch of the game. I need to meet Pyris in person."

The emperor's mind raced through possibilities. If he could establish a direct dialogue, he might be able to plant the seeds of alliance—before rumors and external forces decided the course for them.

Besides, there was another angle to consider.

Obsidian Tech.

The empire already had a small business partnership with them. Perhaps that connection could be leveraged. If Pyris already had financial ties to the empire, then forming a more personal connection wouldn't be too difficult... or so the emperor hoped.

This wasn't just about Lekiza or Alexa's plot alone anymore.

It was about securing the future of the Human Empire in a world where House Obsidian was becoming too powerful to ignore. If the plot of Lekiza didn't work or Alexa's, he will now take a third path. The three wouldn't surely fail, right?