Chapter 679
The Temporarily Residing God, the Scales of the Time-Space Dragon
The ancient sage Elon Wise wore a gentle and kind smile. He first looked at Virekis, casting a reassuring and encouraging glance, before speaking softly to Cohen:
"When in Rome, do as the host does. His Majesty Corleone is very considerate."
Finally, Cohen's gaze fell upon the dragon god Bahamut, who possessed the imposing presence of an imperial minister. After a moment's thought, the latter uttered a single word:
"can."
Once a consensus is reached, no further words are needed.
With a slight movement, Aetherel gracefully landed beside Cohen, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, so close they could almost feel each other's breath.
Daphne also landed silently, her aloof figure standing a little further away, her gaze already locked on Adaline.
Cohen nodded to the imperial ministers, who stood not far away with complex expressions and seemed hesitant to speak, signaling them to handle the aftermath. Then he turned and strode towards the palace.
Aetherel walked alongside him naturally, as if it were the only way.
Daphne, Elon Wise, and Bahamut, the three saintly incarnations of gods, also stepped forward and followed behind.
The group left the plains above, which had just witnessed a divine war, the declaration of the gods, and the change of the fate of the entire continent, under the watchful eyes of countless complex gazes.
……
As the group stepped through the towering and magnificent gates of the Florence Palace, a unique scent, a mixture of stone, gunpowder smoke, faint blood, and lingering magical energy, wafted towards them, reminding them of the upheaval that had just taken place here.
However, Cohen did not pause at all. He straightened his back, passed through the bowing guards and attendants on both sides, and headed straight for the core area of the palace.
He could see the boundless awe and the relief of surviving a catastrophe in the expressions of these generals and their attendants.
Cohen's expression was calm, even somewhat too calm, quite unlike the ecstasy or exhaustion one might expect from a hero who has just accomplished the feat of "killing a god."
Four divine "guests," whose divine power had been concealed but were still impossible to ignore, followed behind, but Cohen did not greet them immediately.
He walked briskly along the long, deep red carpeted corridor without turning his head, and spoke as he went:
"I'm sorry, Your Excellencies."
Today's sudden and dramatic changes necessitate a thorough reorganization of the empire.
Please wait a moment while I attend to a few urgent matters.
As the emperor of Efein, after experiencing a series of earth-shattering events—the divine duel, the promulgation of the covenant of the gods, his own battle against the incarnation of a god, and the upheaval of the entire continent's格局 (geju, a concept encompassing the overall situation, the political landscape, and the social order)—he now has many things to deal with.
Whether it's stabilizing morale, reassuring the public, redeploying the massive military forces and resources mobilized for this major battle, communicating and coordinating with allies caught in the crossfire, or dealing with the numerous "backup plans" and "trump cards" prepared for today's war but not necessarily used...
Each and every one of these matters is of utmost urgency, as it relates to the empire's survival and future position in the "Hundred Kingdoms" elimination tournament.
Aetherel walked half a step behind him, showing no displeasure upon hearing this.
For her, being able to walk so close to him, to feel his real presence and breath, was more valuable than any empty formalities.
Daphne remained aloof, neither commenting nor denying, seemingly content as long as it didn't interfere with her meeting with Adele.
Elon Ruiz smiled gently with understanding and nodded slightly.
Bahamut, the dragon god, gave Cohen a deep look, whether he approved of his pragmatism or found his "negligence" somewhat amusing.
Seeing that the four gods had no objections, Cohen began to arrange for people to receive them.
First was Aetheril Dawn, the goddess of light, before he could even speak.
Adele met his gaze, a captivating smile appearing on her exquisite face. She took a light step forward and spoke first:
"I will personally arrange the reception of Her Majesty the Goddess of Light and Her Majesty the Goddess of Ice and Snow."
Cohen glanced at Adele unexpectedly, but he wasn't worried that Adele would be impolite.
His concern was whether something might happen if the Goddess of Light, who had been so deeply connected to him in his past life, were with Adel.
Cohen's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if he wanted to speak. Adele, seemingly reading his mind, deepened her gentle smile and softly shook her head.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will not make things difficult for her."
It goes without saying who this "she" refers to.
Cohen's expression instantly turned somewhat strange.
He pursed his lips, his gaze quickly sweeping over Adele's flawless face and Etherel standing quietly beside her.
Adele's words... sound like a guarantee, but something feels off about them?
The word "difficult" in particular was used very subtly.
He hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said to Adele:
"How about... having Isha go with you?"
Having more people around is always safer, and it can also help to balance out a certain indescribable atmosphere.
Adele shook her head again, tilted her head slightly, and glanced at Aetherel almost imperceptibly before looking back at Cohen. She spoke in the same gentle tone, yet one that made Cohen's heart skip a beat:
"I think this Ms. Chenxi probably wouldn't want too many people present."
Especially...and the other ladies you're close to, what do you think?
She paused slightly, noticing Cohen's momentarily speechless expression. Her flawless face softened with an even more gentle and captivating smile. She parted her red lips slightly and uttered the final words:
"My dear, Your Majesty the Amorous Emperor."
Cohen was completely speechless. Looking at Adael's gentle yet all-seeing eyes, and then glancing at Atheriel's eyelashes that seemed to tremble slightly, and Daphne's profile that seemed even colder, he felt a slight throbbing in his temples.
He wisely shut his mouth, swallowed back what he was about to say, and waved his hand, which was a tacit acceptance of Adele's arrangement.
Adele smiled and nodded, her posture elegant and composed, as she turned to Aetheril and Daphne:
"Your Majesty, Goddess of Light, Your Majesty, Goddess of Ice and Snow, please follow me."
Etheril's gaze finally shifted from Cohen to Adele's face.
Two stunningly beautiful women, one pure and serene like light, the other gentle and profound like night, briefly met each other's eyes in the air. There were no sparks, no words, yet it was as if they had completed a silent exchange.
Aetherel nodded slightly, without saying a word, and walked towards the direction Adelel indicated.
Daphne's icy blue eyes lingered on Adele for a moment, then glanced at Cohen, before finally giving a cold nod and following Aetheril's footsteps.
Adele gave Cohen a reassuring look, then gave Isabella, Windsordler, and Vireikis a slight nod before leading the two goddesses deeper into the palace.
Cohen watched the three of them leave, and only when their three distinct yet captivating figures disappeared around the corner of the corridor did he let out a barely audible sigh.
The palace corridor was dimly lit, with the magic crystals embedded in the wall lamps emitting a steady but not bright light that reflected the intricate carvings on the pillars and the varied expressions of the people present.
Cohen turned his gaze away from the direction where Yalder had led the two goddesses away, took a deep breath, and turned to the remaining two "distinguished guests".
Elon Wise, an ancient sage of wisdom, history, and knowledge among the elves, still wore that gentle, comforting smile, his kind gaze fixed on Virekis.
His eyes were like those of a true elder looking at their outstanding junior, full of the tolerance and expectations unique to wise elders.
Virekis stepped forward, gracefully performing a standard elven greeting. Her long, silvery-white hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall as she moved, and her exquisite face held just the right amount of respect.
“Your Majesty, I think we can talk now.”
Arranging for Virekis to receive Elon Ruiyu is indeed the most appropriate choice at present.
Moreover, Elon Ruiyu's main target is Vilekis.
Of course, Virekis also invited her student Windsordler, who was both the Queen of Cohen and the next Elf Queen.
The two of them receiving Elon Ruiyu together was a perfect arrangement in terms of their identities, backgrounds, and future political considerations.
Now, only Cohen and the dragon god Bahamut King, who had transformed into a dignified middle-aged official, remained in the same spot.
Cohen turned around to face the most ancient dragon god. He didn't yet have a perfect plan in mind for how to receive this uninvited dragon god with unclear motives.
Sending a senior official skilled in domestic or foreign affairs would seem to be a mismatch in terms of status and rank.
He was thinking quickly when Bahamut spoke first:
"Your Majesty Corleone, I heard some rumors before I came here."
I've heard that His Majesty has a very close relationship with a prince, and moreover, he is... a descendant of the dragon?
Cohen's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly as his eyes met Bahamut's dragon eyes, which seemed to see into one's soul. Countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
Cohen had a vague premonition that Bahamut had come for Asuna!
Cohen didn't show much surprise on his face; his eyebrows rose slightly, and he slowly spoke:
"Your Majesty Jin Hui is very well-informed. Indeed, I do have a prince, Princess Asuna Iliad, who is a pure-blooded dragon descendant and has a close relationship with me."
Unfortunately, Prince Iliad is not in the main plane at this moment.
She is handling some urgent matters in the Dragon Realm.
He didn't hide Asuna's whereabouts from Bahamut, but of course, he also used this information to observe Bahamut's reaction.
Bahamut's face remained unchanged, its features hardened like a rock carving, as if he had already anticipated the answer. He said nothing more, but instead made a move that surprised Cohen.
The majestic middle-aged man, who was actually a dragon god, raised his right hand, palm facing upward.
A faint silver light appeared in his palm, and after the light faded, a strange scale with a faint silver halo around its edges was revealed.
These scales look very thin, yet they give off an incredibly tough feeling. The patterns on them are complex and mysterious, and the aura they exude is ancient and obscure, completely different from Bahamut's own molten gold dragon might.
Bahamut's voice remained steady, but his words were enough to shock anyone familiar with the basics of dragons.
"This is the reverse scale of the Time-Space Dragon, and it has been tempered by special methods."
Time-Space Dragon!
The most mysterious and rarest branch of the dragon race, naturally attuned to the laws of space.
Their reverse scales are the core of their entire body's energy and spatial talent, and these reverse scales have been tempered, making their preciousness and rarity immeasurable.
Bahamut paused, then continued:
"The Reverse Scale of the Time-Space Dragon can be used to create a temporary spatial passage across dimensional barriers to summon the target dragon and dragonborn. Simply write the target dragonborn or dragon's true name in dragon language on this Reverse Scale, and use an item imbued with a sufficiently strong bloodline aura of the target as a coordinate guide."
Then I will preside over a simple ceremony, and the passage will be formed.
Of course, this is on the premise that the other party agrees to accept the summons and actively cooperates in establishing and stabilizing the channel.
Forcing a connection could cause the channel to collapse and even injure both parties.
After explaining, he gently handed the silver-glowing Time-Space Dragon's Reverse Scale in his palm towards Cohen.
Cohen took the dragon scale, examined it for a moment, and said:
"What Your Majesty the Golden Crown means is..."
Bahamut calmly said:
"Since His Majesty Corleone has a close relationship with the Iliad, he must have his own way of contacting her in an emergency."
Please inform Prince Iliad of my wishes and the purpose of this reverse scale.
If she agrees to meet, ask her to prepare a receiving channel and agree on a roughly convenient time for both of you.
"I can begin preparing for the ceremony immediately."
Cohen gave Bahamut a deep look, his gaze sharp, as if trying to pierce through the other’s imposing human exterior and see the true intentions of the ancient dragon god beneath.
The other party's determination was somewhat beyond his expectations.
Not only did he come in person, but he also brought the Time-Space Dragon's Reverse Scale, which is specially used for cross-dimensional summoning, and even took the initiative to suggest preparing the ritual immediately.
It seems that Bahamut is unusually focused on and eager to see Asuna.
why?
Was it because of the phantom of the progenitor dragon that appeared in his legendary realm, the Dragon Kingdom, or because of the war of conquest in the Demon Dragon Plane?
Cohen's mind raced with countless guesses, but his face remained expressionless.
Bahamut was direct; he didn't need to beat around the bush.
At least, what the other party is currently showing is a desire to communicate, rather than hostility.
After a brief moment of thought, Cohen agreed:
"Alright, I will inform Prince Iliad."
Your Majesty, how long will it take to prepare for this ceremony?
"About an hour. The best location would be somewhere with minimal magical interference. Are there any suitable plazas or underground chambers within the palace?"
“Yes.” Cohen nodded. There was indeed a reinforced underground hall deep within the palace. “I will have someone bring His Majesty there later.”
After speaking, Cohen paused for a moment, then took out a small, unremarkable box from the "Heart of Eternity".
The box was opened, and inside lay a necklace.
The chain is woven from some kind of flexible, dark metal wire, and the pendant is amber containing a drop of golden blood.
The necklace itself wasn't particularly exquisite in its craftsmanship, but it contained Asuna's fiery and pure life essence.
This was a gift from Asuna a long time ago; it serves as both a keepsake and a way to absorb dragon blood to recover in times of crisis.
Cohen handed the necklace, along with the box, to Bahamut:
"It contains the scent of her blood."
Bahamut's gaze fell on the pendant, and his eyes, which seemed to hold a hidden golden flame, seemed to brighten for a moment. He slowly said:
"can."
“Alright.” Cohen replied readily. “I will contact her immediately. Your Majesty can begin preparations for the ceremony. I will send someone to guide you to the appropriate location in an hour.”
The matter was settled without further ado.
Bahamut said no more, nodded slightly to Cohen, stood still, closed his eyes, and seemed to have begun to silently sketch the runes needed for the ritual in his mind.
Cohen glanced one last time at the Dragon God, who was engrossed in his preparations, then turned and walked toward the government hall, where officials and generals were waiting for him to handle various urgent matters.
We might see Asuna in an hour.
But now, he has matters concerning the fate of the entire empire that require his immediate attention.
……
The long corridor was deep, with tall arched windows on both sides letting in the dim light of dusk, casting long shadows of Adele, Etheril, and Daphne on the polished dark stone floor.
The air was filled with the unique scent of incense and candles characteristic of the royal palace.
Occasionally, attendants dressed in court attire or officials hurrying by would pass by the distant corridor. Upon seeing Queen Angelen personally leading two extraordinary and stunningly beautiful strangers, they would bow respectfully from a distance, not daring to look directly at them, much less approach them.
Of course, they were all secretly thinking to themselves that this must be another beautiful lady that their philandering emperor had seduced.
Leading the way, Yadel stood tall and walked with a composed gait. The hem of her pale purple palace dress swayed gently like ripples on water as she walked.
Her profile appeared serene and perfect in the light and shadow, like a meticulously sculpted jade statue.
Half a step behind her was Aetheril, the goddess of light, who had restrained her divine radiance.
Her beautiful face was expressionless, but her pale golden eyes remained fixed on Adel.
Finally, after turning another quiet corner, Aetherel stopped.
She didn't look ahead down the corridor, but instead turned her head slightly, her gaze landing directly on Adele's face, breaking the delicate silence that had lasted among the three of them:
"There's nothing between us that requires private discussion. When will Cohen arrive?"
Adele also stopped and slowly turned around to meet Aetherel's gaze.
Her face still maintained that impeccable, gentle smile, and her voice was soft:
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is indeed unable to leave at this moment."
He was the emperor of Efein, the monarch of this vast empire.
Today, you are witnessing firsthand what is happening in Florence.
The world is at odds with them, the gods wager a battle, a covenant of the gods is promulgated, and the continent's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or structure) is overturned overnight.
In response to the current situation, the empire has made countless preparations, mobilized countless resources, and carried out complex coordination with many allies.
Although many of the arrangements were ultimately not used, this is precisely why the subsequent sorting out, reassurance, explanation, and redeployment are even more complex and urgent.
Many of these matters require Your Majesty's personal decision-making and communication.
Until he finishes dealing with these pressing state affairs, I, Queen Effie, will temporarily receive you on His Majesty's behalf.
Aetherel pursed her lips slightly. She respected Cohen, and respected his identity and responsibilities in this world. This made it impossible for her to force an emperor to abandon his precarious state affairs and come to see her immediately.
She pursed her lips and didn't speak again, but her eyes, which were looking at Adele, seemed calmer and more... complicated.
The ice goddess Daphne stood quietly half a step behind the two, like a moving ice sculpture.
She saw the displeasure that Atheriel was forcibly suppressing on her face, and she also saw the unwavering determination beneath Adel's perfect mask.
His icy blue eyes twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something to ease the somewhat stiff atmosphere.
But before she could speak, Adele's gaze shifted to Daphne, her face still bearing that gentle, polite smile, her voice soft:
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I have some private matters I wish to discuss with Lady Dawn alone."
I'll come see you after we've finished talking.
Her words were polite, but her meaning was clear: it was my turn and the Goddess of Light's turn now, and it would be your turn later.
Daphne glanced at Adele, then at Aetherel beside her, who was clearly upset with her lips pursed, and said in a low voice:
"Aetheril, don't make things too difficult for her."
Cohen... was ultimately reincarnated.
He has a life that belongs to this world, with his own emotions and entanglements.
Daphne's meaning was clear: she was reminding Etheril that, regardless of his past life, Cohen was now Emperor Cohen Corleone of Efein.
He has his responsibilities, his people, and the partner he has chosen in this life.
Excessive pressure and obsession do no good to anyone.
Aetherel's face remained expressionless as she calmly replied:
"I know."
She knew that Cohen was a reincarnation, that he had this life, and that Adele was his queen, his "emotion and bond in this life."
She knew everything. But this "knowing" did not mean acceptance, much less... giving up.
These three simple words seemed to contain a thousand words, and also blocked Daphne from continuing her advice.
The atmosphere seemed to have returned to its initial subtlety, or even become more stagnant.
But Adele seemed oblivious to the subtle atmosphere, or perhaps she simply didn't care.
After receiving Aetherel's emotionless "I know," her smile seemed to soften slightly. She turned around, resumed her steps, and headed deeper into the palace area along the corridor.
"Please come this way, Your Majesty, Dawn."
The two continued on their way. After a while, Adele slightly turned her head and glanced at Aetherel, who had caught up with her again, out of the corner of her eye. She said softly:
"Speaking of which, Your Majesty, wouldn't you like to know how Cohen lived in this life?" (End of Chapter)