CHAPTER 61: OFFER

"So you don’t hate me, at least not anymore, right?" Alfred asked with great curiosity.

Luke smiled and said, "Like I said, I had to spend my energy elsewhere; I didn’t have much time. Anyway, when I found out that my mother, Emma and the other four had practically beaten you up, all my hatred disappeared. I know what five women from two duchies can do, Father."

Alfred had to hold back from laughing; at least the old fatigue seemed to have lifted from him. Perhaps the people would hate him until he died, after all, Alfred was the one who had banished Luke, but Luke had chosen to go into exile himself.

After all, he had a place to go into exile.

A place where he could continue to develop, even without his gift.

And of course, this somehow managed to bring everything to a more orderly point.

Luke had already forgiven Alfred, and as the old emperor was well aware, this was the greatest punishment Luke could give him.

After all, when someone cannot forgive themselves, if another person forgives them for it, it becomes even more ruthless than expected.

Both Luke and Alfred, and each of the seven princesses, were aware of this.

Would Luke set foot in the imperial capital again?

Yes.

Would he do it soon?

Definitely not.

There were things he wanted to do, and he needed to.

There were exactly seventeen regions and mountains he still needed to visit.

Regions where the seventeen Ancient Dragons were believed to still reside.

There were also regions with fiery passages, resembling a living hell, where the Ancient Phoenixes were said to exist and could indeed be seen alive.

After all, the Ancient Dragons and the Ancient Phoenixes were two distinct species of monsters with entirely different behaviours. One was deadly, vengeful, and authoritarian. Of course, these were the Ancient Dragons. The others were pure, helpful, and kind-hearted. These were the Phoenixes.

"So be it, then tell me your next request, Luke," said Alfred, his tired face suddenly filled with a big smile.

"I request that you not interfere with my foreign trade. I will supply materials like Mythril to any kingdom or empire that I believe will not cause us enmity. After all, I have been training in these matters for years, haven’t I?" Luke said, and then added:

"The land we are currently on does not belong to the empire, so it could even be considered a duchy. What I will do is prevent magical beasts from passing through this region, just as the Leader of the North, Wirgo, did. Despite all this, even though there is no need for me to establish a direct friendship with our empire, I have an offer for you."

Alfred’s curiosity had suddenly risen, and his curiosity had swelled the moment he saw the strange expression on Luke’s face.

"What kind of offer?" Alfred asked.

"I can obtain many metals and minerals, including Mythril, Ruby, Diamond, and Obsidian, at very low prices. I can even purchase special magical items like the Tear of the Sea and the Tear of the Goddess for hundreds of gold pieces. My gift doesn’t just allow me to build structures or purchase billions of litres of water, it practically creates something out of nothing, father," Luke said suddenly.

Although Alfred’s astonishment grew even more upon hearing these words, he could understand just by looking at Luke once. His child had grown up so much.

"My offer is this. Return my princely title to me. I don’t want to be the crown prince. After all, I can live properly in my own region. Secondly, I ask you to declare this city a city of the Hiera Empire," Luke added to his words.

These words surprised not only Alfred but also the other seven princes.

"I thought you wouldn’t want to bind this city to the empire," Penelope said with great curiosity.

"Yes, I wasn’t really planning to do that. That’s why I want you to know that this city has its own laws. That’s why I was able to use the empire’s laws and enforce other laws." Luke replied.

"Besides, to tell you the truth, this place is almost three thousand kilometres away from the Duchy of Wirgo, counting the distance beyond the mountains. This distance is so vast that it could accommodate a small country. If you grant my two requests and allow me to establish a commercial centre within the empire and in this city, I will offer you two things in return," he added.

"What are they?" asked Alfred.

"I will sell you the materials I would sell to other kingdoms or empires for a large sum at half price. Not only that, but I will fix the fact that the people living in Wirgo cannot expand their walls due to their low numbers," Luke replied.

"So... what you’re saying is!" Penelope said excitedly.

"Yes. I will make the nearly two thousand kilometre-long region between Wirgo and Hiera even longer and more secure than the walls of this city. Since Zoey will be my wife, and I am a Hiera, and unfortunately, my father, Kassadin, has angered Wirgo, it is necessary to mend their relationship. This will be a good opportunity for you. I will bring Wirgo closer to Hiera, strengthen the northern defences, and regain my rank." Luke replied.

Upon hearing Luke’s words, the smile on Alfred’s face grew even wider. The old man seemed to have relaxed a little.

"Come on, Dad, you know it too. Even if my gift doesn’t work that way, I have an Ancient Dragon at my command and ballistae carrying arrows made of mythril, which we calculate to be strong enough to pierce dragon wings on the walls of my city. What else could this be but a gift related to the war?" Luke said, watching his father’s face.

Alfred was very attached to the Andromeda’s Law book, but he was also aware of the changes in Luke’s behaviour. It was impossible for a father not to notice his child under so much stress.