When he heard the word "king" again, Balke, who had never been surprised, had a calm and a somewhat honest expression on his face, and there was also a moment of stiffness.

But he didn't question it. He paced forward with his hands behind his back, quietly listening to his subordinates describe to him the man who had suddenly appeared, with the face of a former King, but who looked as young as he was only in his twenties.

"That's true...... Ante Bofford. ”

Balk's subordinates weren't young. A middle-aged man in his forties still clearly remembers the high spirits of Ante's coronation...... He also vividly remembered the anger in his eyes and the twisted laugh lines on his lips as he grew mad.

Those two faces are now one, and they are even more arrogant...... More powerful.

"As you commanded, we did not have any conflict with him. The middle-aged warrior gave birth to a face that was sincere and faithful no matter how he looked at it, and when he talked about the king who had come back from the dead, his expression still brought a little depression and disgust.

Ante Bofford didn't like Balk and his men—they had little respect for him, on the other hand.

When Ante wasn't crazy, Balke's title wasn't any different than it is now. His fame forced His Majesty, who took his reputation too seriously, to "entrust him with a heavy responsibility", but in fact, he trusted Tabor Wendell, the former secretary who quietly left after Ante's death.

Balk's current power comes from Moira's trust.

The Queen Mother, who was rapidly aging under the weight of worry and stress, even frankly told Balk that the late King might still be hovering in the shadows of Rockburg, but that the living, young "former" King Majesty who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere was not the swollen face they had guessed might encounter, the undead who had the hatred of death.

- Not necessarily a bad thing.

Stepping through the door of the long-lost Pomegranate Hall, Balk thought silently.

In the throne room, which had not been entered for a long time, the brilliant lights were lit again. On the huge candlestick, the flickering flame of the jagged candles illuminates the red carpet in front of the throne, and also reflects the intense but ominous colors on the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. As Balk walked slowly, out of the corner of his eye, the reflections on the glass flowed, like a blood-colored river.

The young king sat on his throne, but he did not hide his growing waist with a solemn gown, as he had done before. He wore armor—the armor of his youth, brilliant gold, engraved with intricate patterns, and a long, dark red cloak that dragged to the ground, making his pale face a little more bloody.

- Although it is as white as a ghost, it is indeed alive.

Balk quickly made a judgment with a glance, and then lowered his gaze humbly.

The greatsword that Moira had mentioned leaned against the throne...... It wasn't a weapon that the king had wielded, even when he was younger.

The old man did not salute, but bowed slightly. He had been granted such a privilege...... In order to show the gentleness of the king. He didn't think it was time to show special respect for Ante's resurrection.

- Speaking of which, you are not the first king to come back from the dead...... It's really not even a fresh gimmick to catch up with a "first".

There are these more disrespectful thoughts hidden in his stomach, but his face is still that innocent. Balk opened his mouth to congratulate, sounding sincere: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. ”

It was a bit of a nonsense thing to say, but Ante just smiled.

"You don't seem surprised. He said.

"I'm not going to speculate on the power I don't understand. Balk replied calmly, "I will accept the facts that are before my eyes." ”

Ante burst out laughing. He sat there with a grin and looked more like a king than before...... The self-confidence born of his strength gave him a power that he had never felt before.

"Write a letter to my queen and crown prince. "Tell them what's going on – it's up to you how to write it." ”

Balk raised an eyebrow. Of course he will write...... But he had expected that the king would be more willing to give disobeyable orders of his own will, such as having Moira and Frederick roll back to Ston Butch with his army and crown.

"You're doing a good job. Ante leaned down slightly towards him, his brown eyes, which had always tried to appear deep and calm, so sharp that it was difficult to look at directly, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you...... I've always known you're pretty good, but I didn't need that kind of 'awesome' before. ”

Balk was genuinely surprised. He didn't expect Ante to admit it.

"You can keep doing what you want. Ante leaned back nonchalantly, "But with all due respect, the city can't be saved." ”

He looked left and right, patted the armrest of the throne, and sighed with some regret. But he was still laughing. The irrepressible curvature of the corners of his lips looked a little weird.

"But anyway," he said, "even if the castle were in ruins, I wouldn't like the stinking guys to be here." ”

Balk lowered his gaze, laughing at the glimmer of hope that welled up in his heart for a moment—this man may seem to have changed a lot, but his essence hasn't.

He allowed him to continue "doing what he wanted" because he didn't care what happened to the city and the people who remained there...... In fact, he still doesn't need his "power".

"Of course. The old man bowed and replied, "This is your castle." ”

"yes...... Of course. Ante chuckled, as if he had seen through the contempt he had hidden beneath his obedience, but he was no longer resentful of it.

Is...... An ant that he can crush with one finger.

"The only piece of advice for you, Balk. He said, "Don't get in my way." ”

He didn't ask him to obey his orders, he could see well enough in the darkness. He didn't use this old fellow before, perhaps out of fear, but now he knew very well that he wouldn't really use him at all, so he wouldn't force superficial obedience anymore—he would just make them obliged.

The "true awe" he had previously sought with all his might now seemed ridiculous. From life to death, from death to life, the only thing he can be sure of is that true awe will only be because of true, absolute power.

He got up and walked away, believing that the old man, who looked like a dog but was actually a fox, would understand his "advice." He didn't think that the mages or priests who were gathered in the city at this moment could really change anything...... He had seen far more power than theirs.

He already has power far superior to theirs.

So, now, when they know that he is coming, what will they do? Will they regard him as an awesome miracle or an evil to be destroyed?

He's looking forward to it.

Wonderful Book House