Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 296 Laid Out Intentions

Akun's gaze pierced Leonheart's as he spoke, "I'm sure you already know why you were brought here." Leonheart hesitated for a moment before replying with a simple "Yes."

Without hesitation, Akun commanded, "Is that how you greet royalty? Get on your knees." The sheer force of Akun's aspect power compelled Leonheart to kneel, the ground beneath him cracking under the pressure.

Akun continued, "That's better. Now, let's make this quick clear and simple." He leaned forward, his voice commanding yet calm. "For the lives your knights claimed on the night they trespassed on my lands, I would have enslaved your entire nation, so now for your nation to avoid utter enslavement and brutality, you must find a way to make it valuable to mine.

Find something, some service, your nation can offer to secure its peace and freedom." His eyes gleamed with intensity as he added, "But if you fail to do so within the next seven days..." Akun's words trailed off, the threat hanging heavily in the air. "I will fly over there and enslave all of you. Are we clear?"

With a heavy heart, Leonheart bowed his head, his voice barely above a whisper as he replied, "Very."

Akun's voice echoed through the throne room as he declared, "Good. Now, to call an end to this momentous but short meeting, I command that you rise to your feet."

Internally, Leonheart couldn't help but ponder, "A meeting? Is that what he called this? It felt more like a summons, where he laid out his intentions." Despite his thoughts, he complied and rose to his feet.

As Akun extended his right hand, Leonheart watched warily. Suddenly, Akun uttered, "Activate Taming." In an instant, a purple chain shot out from his left hand and coiled around Leonheart's neck, tightening its grip. Panicked, Leonheart struggled against the chain, feeling the constriction around his throat.

Confusion clouded Leonheart's expression as he managed to gasp out, "I don't understand. What have I done wrong?"

With an unsettling calmness, Akun replied, "Oh, nothing really. This is just insurance. As I've learned today, it seems it's always needed." His calm yet serious expression sent chills down Leonheart's spine as he struggled to breath.

Suddenly, ths system's voice echoed in Akun's mind, [Ding!! Enslavement successful.]

Suddenly, as the purple chains disappeared, Leonheart gasped for air, relief flooding through him. Taking deep breaths, he steadied himself, feeling the lingering pressure dissipate from his neck. Akun's voice broke the tense silence, "Alright, we are done here." He gestured towards the door, continuing, "One of the guards by the door will escort you out to your coachman outside.

You will leave immediately."

Leonheart nodded in understanding. Slowly rising to his feet, he turned around and made his way towards the exit. The massive doors creaked open, allowing him to step out into the corridor, and they closed firmly behind him.

Meanwhile, Akun rose from his throne with a sense of finality. "Well, that's that," he declared. "We should start heading to the capital for the festival... or celebration... I don't even know what to call it anymore."he let out a sigh.

Leandor, who had remained beside the throne throughout the meeting, seized the opportunity to speak. "My liege, if I may be allowed to ask."

Akun turned to face him, saying, "You can continue." Leandor then began, "What was the point of sparing the human nation? Would they really be useful to us? Our lands are abundant in a variety of rare resources, and all sorts of amazing plants grow here as well. I doubt there is actually something the humans can offer us that would be of any real value."

Akun's voice echoed through the chamber, carrying a weight of solemnity. "While you may be right," he began, "but there is actually a problem with suddenly deciding to play god and wiping an entire nation off the map of the continent."

Leandor, acknowledging his liege's words, bowed his head respectfully. "Please enlighten me, my liege," he requested.

Akun's gaze shifted to the vastness beyond the chamber's walls as he continued to explain. "If I decided to suddenly eradicate all the humans of that nation for what they did, there is no way such a large event won't reach the ears of the other nations of this continent," he explained.

"They will all start to fear our power and will want to get rid of us, so they will most likely team up in order to achieve that."

Leandor's brow furrowed in contemplation as he asked, "Will that really be a problem?"

Akun let out a weary sigh, the weight of his responsibility could be seen in his expression. "It would be," he admitted. "Although they might not stand a chance against us, given my presence, I don't like the idea of suddenly waging a world war out of nowhere. Besides, it's not possible to always be able to protect everyone.

Even if I do resurrect those who fall in battle, what is to say they won't get killed again? Although I have not experienced it myself, I am very sure the feeling of dying and coming back to life over and over again would eventually brake one's mind."

Internally, Akun thought of the implications of his decisions. "Besides," he mused, "if the world is at war, I won't be able to enjoy it's marvels when I finally step out."

Resuming his explanation, Akun continued, "But sparing them, and allowing them to come under us as some sort of alliance, would prevent such a troublesome future."

Leandor's admiration for his liege shone through his words as he exclaimed, "Marvelous, my liege is truly brilliant and insightful. I am grateful for your words."

Akun acknowledged Leandor's praise with a nod. "No problem," he replied. "We should start heading to the capital now."

As Leonheart and Akun began to make their way out of the throne room, Akun's keen eyes caught sight of Hestria kneeling in the passageway. Confusion could be seen in his expression, he called out to her, "Hestria, what are you doing here?" Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

Startled, Hestria turned to face Akun and hastily rose to her feet. She moved towards him, but Leandor and the guards swiftly intervened, stepping in front of Akun as they warned her to halt. "Take another step and your life will be forfeit," one of the guards threatened.

Hestria held up her hands in a gesture of surrender, her voice urgent as she pleaded, "I have no evil intentions. I've only come to serve."