"Very well."
After finishing reading the intelligence provided by Damian, Cerydra nodded in satisfaction.
"It seems what you said is based on evidence."
Seeing this, an expectant look appeared on Damian's face.
"Then, Lady Imperator, regarding this matter..."
"I permit it."
Cerydra put down the documents and spoke flatly.
"Excellent!" Damian was extremely excited. "I will notify the others to come here right away."
With that, he turned and walked out.
For him, as long as Cerydra agreed to this, it was equivalent to them having the backing of an S rank powerhouse.
Not long after, Damian appeared at the doorway again. With an increasingly respectful posture, he said to Cerydra:
"Lady Imperator, I have already called over the representatives of the factions that wish to defect to you. You may now go to the church hall to meet them."
Hearing Damian's words, Cerydra nodded slightly.
Then, with a flash of blue light in her hand, a short scepter appeared in her grasp, and she walked out the door.
In the church hall, over a dozen figures had been waiting for a long time.
When that figure cloaked in invisible pressure appeared at the doorway, all eyes instantly focused on one spot.
These gazes were a mixture of reverence, curiosity, and expectation, but more than that, there was a trace of fear that comes from facing an unfamiliar powerhouse.
Facing these gazes, Cerydra's pace was neither rushed nor slow, her line of sight sweeping coldly over the crowd.
Without pausing in the slightest, she walked straight towards the throne that remained placed at the back of the hall.
As she turned and sat down, her gaze sweeping over the entire hall once more, an invisible silence enveloped the whole space.
Then, Cerydra slowly opened her mouth and spoke:
"The world has given me many titles, calling me the Flamebearer who ends wars, the Tyrant of Cloudcliff, the Empress of the Holy City, the Imperator who chases flames. But due to being from different worlds, I suppose you haven't heard of these titles either." Her tone was flat, making people unconsciously believe these words. "And my original name is: Cerydra."
Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an almost innate sense of dominance.
At this point, she paused slightly, her icy blue eyes sweeping over the tense faces below.
No one dared to make a sound at this moment to interrupt the words of a powerhouse.
Seeing this, Cerydra continued:
"However, in order to maintain proper order of superiority and inferiority, when you join my ranks, you shall address me as—"
"Imperator."
Immediately after, she lightly tapped the armrest of the throne with the bottom of her scepter.
An extremely strong oppressive feeling spread out in all directions, instantly sweeping over the crowd below, causing them to unconsciously lower their heads, not daring to look directly at Cerydra.
This oppressive feeling came and went quickly. After a short while, it vanished without a trace.
"Damian has already told me your intentions for coming." By this time, Cerydra was leaning back against the chair in a relaxed posture, the short scepter casually resting on the armrest. "Whether you submit or not is entirely up to your own choice. If you have any doubts, you may raise them now."
Having spoken, Cerydra said no more. She merely watched the crowd below calmly with her profound gaze, waiting for their response.
After hearing Cerydra's speech, the crowd below looked at each other. Almost everyone's face carried a trace of fear and hesitation.
Having experienced that extremely strong pressure just now, this domineering appearance made none of them dare to be the first to speak.
Time passed in silence for a minute before Damian's voice finally broke the quietude.
"May I ask, Lady Imperator," he took a deep breath and stepped out from the crowd, then looked at Cerydra, "exactly how powerful is your strength? If your strength far exceeds our expectations, we will be bolder in our deployment and accelerate your campaign against the AMA."
Listening to Damian's question, Cerydra gave him a light glance and then said:
"With my strength, I only need one strike to easily destroy more than half of this so-called District 3 of your Hive District."
"Thank you for clarifying, Lady Imperator."
After receiving the answer, Damian bowed respectfully and retreated back into the crowd.
With Damian having broken the ice, a burly man soon stepped out as well.
"Lady Imperator." He asked, "After we join your ranks, if we encounter an extremely urgent or even unsolvable crisis, will you... abandon us and leave?"
The instant this question was asked, everyone's gazes gathered on Cerydra once more.
After all, many of them were forced to break away from the AMA and seek Imperator's protection precisely because of this reason.
"No." Without a moment of hesitation, Cerydra spoke this single word.
After hearing this word, the burly man's face didn't show joy; instead, a trace of disappointment flitted across it.
Because this word wasn't the result they wanted.
He bowed slightly and said, "Thank you..."
"But," before he could finish, Cerydra's cold voice interrupted him, "I will use you."
The burly man was startled, his steps that were preparing to return halting.
"I will make you display your due value. Whether it's sacrifice or dying in battle, until this crisis is completely resolved... As for abandonment?" A cold curve hooked the corner of Cerydra's mouth. "That is the choice of fools. Apart from weakening one's own power, it solves no problems and has absolutely no value."
After listening to Cerydra's explanation, the burly man stood stunned in place for a long time.
A moment later, the gloom on his face dissipated, revealing a relieved smile. He solemnly bowed to Cerydra once again and said:
"Thank you for clarifying, Lady Imperator."
With that, he straightened his back and returned to the crowd.
Subsequently, the others also began stepping forward one after another to raise their respective doubts.
Cerydra sat on the throne, answering them one by one.
During this period, no one dared to court death by asking any stupid or provocative questions.
When the last person retreated into the crowd, the hall quieted down once again.
"Everyone, are there any further doubts?"
Cerydra's voice echoed in the empty church.
The crowd shook their heads in unison.
Seeing this, Cerydra slowly stood up, her short scepter glowing with a faint blue light in her hand.
Immediately after, she looked around below again, her gaze sweeping over every face.
"Since there are no questions, then, it's my turn."
At this moment, Cerydra's voice began to become more penetrating.
"Listen well. I promise that anyone who submits to me, as long as you display sufficient value, I will not treat any of you poorly!"
"But—" her tone abruptly turned harsh. "When the true storm arrives, you must be prepared to become the sharp blade and shield in my hands at any time, even if it means your bodies are smashed to pieces!"
"If at that time someone flinches and is unwilling to become my chess piece..."
Speaking of this, the crown atop Cerydra's head suddenly erupted with blazing blue flames, the light instantly swallowing the dimness of the entire hall!
"Then—they are a traitor!"
Boom—!
An invisible mental shock, accompanied by the illusion of flames, swept over the crowd.
In an instant, everyone's consciousness was forcefully dragged into an illusion burning with blue fire. Countless scenes of the mournful wails and despairing struggles of devoured living beings flashed frantically in their minds!
At this moment, extreme terror gripped their throats.
After the flames subsided slightly and the illusion faded.
The crowd felt as if they had awakened from a nightmare. Their bodies were drenched in cold sweat, soaking their clothes.
Residual terrifying fragments were still twitching at their nerve endings. In their eyes, the figure on the throne bathed in the eerie blue halo was no different from a demon at this moment.
Immediately after, Cerydra's cold voice rang in everyone's ears once more:
"Now, make your choice."
"Will you join my ranks, or—"
"Leave, now!"