1158  Guest From Tanera

As their new lord looked down on them with disdain, the three family heads saw him claw at the rune. Then, the rune obeyed his will as it entered the weapon he just created out of thin air.

Arthur was no longer hiding his ident.i.ty. If there was someone who could threaten him on this realm, then he would love to meet them. This was not overconfidence but a realization he came to after awakening the second manifestation of wrath, Lightning.

As his allies and the runemasters of Runera witnessed his creation, they all trembled in awe. Arthur could feel the fear and excitement mixed in their gazes as the rune seeped into the weapon, and the engravings appeared.

"Is this what I need you for?" asked Arthur again as he threw the artifact on the ground before them. "I have an artifact in my Runic Dome that could create a hundred such artifacts every day. How many of you could achieve the same result?"

As the runemasters heard his proclamation, they were stunned. Most of them looked at him as if he was exaggerating, but Julia slammed a paper on the ground. In that paper was a count of every artifact his machine created ever since he installed it.

"Those who think that their value lies in their runic knowledge should pack and leave my city," said Arthur as he looked down at them. "I seek not arrogant masters but curious learners. If the three families still wish to retain their position, then my doors are wide open for them to leave."

His strong speech shocked the three families and the rest. Arthur did not give them a single shred of dignity in this negotiation. Although the three came believing that Arthur needed them, he proved to them in mere seconds that he did not.

The woman from the Femia Family took a few steps toward the weapon, crouched before it, and examined it with reverence. After a few moments of dead silence, she gasped so loud that everyone turned their heads toward her.

"A genuine artifact!"

The words made chairs screech as the various runemasters jumped from their seats and rushed toward the artifact. Arthur walked back to his seat without a care and sat to watch them surround his artifact.

"Answer me, runemasters of Runera. Are you arrogant masters or curious learners?" asked Arthur as he looked at them with his golden eyes, his deep voice drawing their attention toward him.

These runemasters used to be revered wherever they went, but now they were being tested for the first time in their lives. Before a new and mysterious king, they had to make a choice that would change their lives.

"I am willing to start as a nameless runemaster in your city, my lord," said the woman who first came forward with the proposal as she knelt on the ground. She seemed to be the most affected among them by his powers.

"I am the same," said another man, who was the head of the Ayala Family that created domestic artifacts. The last among the three was someone that Arthur knew very well, and Julia had an encounter with before.

Marcel Solis.

The man was about to kneel as well but found himself unable to do so. Sweat covered his forehead as he raised his eyes toward Arthur, who was glaring at him with wrath. As for the sudden change in his demeanor was because Arthur knew what Marcel did to Julia.

"You are not included in that offer, Marcel Solis," said Arthur as he raised his chin and glanced at Whisker. The feline turned into a blur before appearing behind the runemaster and kicking him to the ground and restraining him. "Even if the entire Solis Family comes to save you, I will not spare your life."

"Please wait, esteemed one!" shouted Marcel as he slammed to the floor without mercy. "I was controlled by the puppeteer, Yuvan Perli! I swear to G.o.d that I had no control over my body!"

"Which G.o.d do you swear to?" asked Arthur as he rose from his seat, black lightning crackling around his hands. His entire aura shifted from dignified to threatening. Marcel was confused by his question, so Arthur rephrased it. "Which G.o.d do you swear to so I could visit and ask them?"

The sentence sent chills down their spines. Marcel felt the impending doom of death loom over his head, making him paralyzed in fear. The one to save him were Julia and Aurora, the former grabbing his hand and the latter telling him the truth.

"He was indeed controlled by the puppeteer," said the Witch of Hearts from behind him. Arthur paused as he turned to Julia, who shook her head.

"If he must be punished for what he did while controlled, then so should I," said Julia with a pained expression. Arthur took a moment and nodded before sitting in his chair again.

Whisker released Marcel Solis, but the man was too scared to move. The shadow of death brushed past him, making him realize how close it has been for him to lose his head.

"Although I cannot forgive the things that you have done, I understand that you had no intentions of doing them," said Arthur as he looked at the runemaster in the eyes. "Are you a curious learner or an arrogant master?"

The rest made their decisions as Marcel Solis rose from the ground, disheveled. Some runemasters did not kneel to Arthur, choosing to remain standing. It might be that their honor or arrogance were bigger than a promise of knowledge, and Arthur did not mind.

"Make the right choice, Marcel," said the woman from Femia to the last runemaster standing, but he was frozen there like a statue. "Where would you go if you leave?"

"A place where I wouldn"t feel threatened," said Marcel while looking at the ground, refusing to raise his head and look at Arthur. "I already know that there is no more place for me here. Even if I work hard, I will forever be the man who committed those crimes."

"And would I be the woman who killed her father?" asked Julia as she advanced toward the center, glaring at Marcel. "We cannot take responsibility for the evil done to us, Marcel. I forgive you for the things that you were forced to do. Help us create a better world in Runera."

As he heard her words, the runemaster raised his eyes to look at Julia. His eyes darted around in hesitation and uncertainty, before a reverberating slap echoed in the chambers. Julia slapped him so hard that his head turned, but that was not the end of it.

A straight punch to his stomach.

"AGH!"

A knee-kick to his face.

As the meeting was almost dismissed, someone knocked on the door. Arthur allowed them inside, and it was no other than Lian, carrying a message that a guest has arrived.

10:58

"SPLUGH!"

A foot to his crotch.

"Ouch!" exclaimed the men among the crowd. As for Marcel himself, he was whimpering like a defeated dog. Julia then crouched beside him with a smile.

"We are even now," said Julia. "Stay in Runera."

"…yes…"

Marcel managed to utter his agreement, sparing his life. Julia nodded in satisfaction and returned to her seat with a smile. The entire crowd looked at her in more fear than they looked at Arthur, with the latter included this time.

"…you are merciless," muttered Arthur as he looked at her sit beside him. His right hand grinned at him as the runemasters raised Marcel from the ground. Arthur turned those who did not kneel and chose to leave Runera. "I wish you the best of luck."

Nothing else.

Arthur gave them a day to pack and leave, with a ticket to use the teleportation arrays to any destination they desire. He did not care that these runemasters might help his enemies because nothing they did could threaten him.

After the few runemasters left, Arthur felt more comfortable. He knew that those who remained did not have stone brains that refused changes. In the end, he obtained what he wanted: fresh minds that sought change.

"Given that you are more knowledgeable about certain aspects of the runic paths, I will grant you proper positions in the new departments we are going to establish. There will be no discrimination against commoners in this department, and you will teach them everything you know."

"As you command, my lord."

As the meeting was almost dismissed, someone knocked on the door. Arthur allowed them inside, and it was no other than Lian, carrying a message that a guest has arrived.

"What guest?" asked Arthur with confusion.

"Her name is Hazel Tanera, Princess of the Tanera Kingdom," said Lian with a frown. "She came alone and said that she knows you personally. Do you wish to meet her?"

The council was confused as Arthur wore a blank face in response. He remembered Hazel, of course, but he did not remember his memories with her in this timeline. In his previous timeline, the two had no interactions except the first trial of the Holy Crown.

"Send her to the main hall," said Arthur as he rose. "This meeting is over."