Galaxy's First Ruler

Nicholas squinted his eyes as Aldrich's incomprehensible words reached him.

At one glance, it felt as if Aldrich was mocking him. But Aldrich said nothing more about it, nor did he explain what he meant by those words. Instead of relieving Nicholas of his doubtful expression, Aldrich called out to him.

"Marquess Nicholas, you were a Commander in UGF. I don't know why you think I share the same past as you, but as of now, we share the same Kingdom. Marquess Harold had betrayed His Majesty, changing sides to the Hallowed Phantoms. Over there…"

Aldrich pointed at the blinding blue flash coming from hundreds of miles away and continued.

"… Duchess Boudicca, or should I say, Lt. General Boudicca Rhiannon, is fighting a Phantom of Marchioness Rank. Don't you think you should be there assisting her, rather than focusing on a Viscount like me?"

Aldrich's question was like a sword lunging at the heart of the issue. There was no way to deny what he had said. If Marquess Nicholas was on the planet, then as the Retd Commander of UGF, he should have assisted or attacked Harold upon finding out his betrayal. But despite figuring out these many things by himself, he stayed hidden to scout Aldrich.

It didn't need a smart brain to figure out that Nicholas was here only for Aldrich.

Nicholas gave Aldrich a serious glance and then slowly answered.

"You are right. But… A soldier must stick with his objective. When I first realized the power hidden in that staff of yours, I wanted to snatch the Ancient Relic. But now, I have changed my mind. I have an opportunity for you. An opportunity, bigger than Harold could have ever given you."

Aldrich silently stared at Nicholas. The Retd Commander didn't wait for Aldrich to ask what this opportunity was and explained.

"I think you have a little idea about the Ancient Relics. My guess is you accidentally found it lying somewhere, and it took a liking to your struggling past. That's the only reason I can think of for you to be able to use a hint of its capabilities…"

Nicholas took a step towards Aldrich and slowly came forward.

"… Come with me. I will train you and help you become an excellent Dreamer. Many Dreamers become Count but can't overcome the gap and die even when they can live for up to 500 years. I can help you bridge that gap. If we start today, then maybe you stand a chance of making it in the top hundred thousand Dreamers of the coming tournament."

Nicholas came to a stop some dozen meters away from Aldrich. If he wanted, he could kill Aldrich in less than a fraction of a second. But it seemed he really wanted to take Aldrich alive with him.

Nicholas gave out this proposal seriously, but by the end, a gentle expression came upon his face and he added, "Don't worry. Even if you can't get the teachings of a Duke, you saw the scroll, right? The Supreme Commander himself had given it to me. I can pull some strings and ask a Duke to give you some personal pointers. How about it?"

Not only Aldrich, but there were also many Dreamers, including a Duchess and Marchioness who had seen the Scroll. A King's Divine Sense couldn't be denied. It couldn't be imitated, and it couldn't be falsified. This wasn't just an opportunity. For many, this was almost equivalent to becoming a Blessed One.

Only a fool would deny such an opportunity, given by a Marquess, nonetheless.

Aldrich was at the top of these fools.

"It's tempting, Marquess. And I am honored that you would go to such lengths for me. But… May I know what would be the price I would need to pay?"

Nicholas nodded in approval.

"Good! A Dreamer from Barren Earth should have such prudence. I am not disappointed. You are right, when everything in this world has a price, how could this opportunity come free? The price is as you should have guessed…"

Nicholas gazed at the staff in Aldrich's hand and finished his sentence.

"… The Ancient Relic. But you must understand, I am not asking it for myself. It will go into the right hands, where it will be used to protect the Galaxy's innocent people and for the coming Galactic War."

Aldrich listened to the Marquess' words attentively. He stepped down from the rock and leaned on it. Bringing the staff in front of his eyes, Aldrich gently traced its surface and the Bull engraving on it. It seemed like Aldrich was saying a last goodbye to it.

Nicholas' entire face lit up, seeing this, but then Aldrich opened his mouth and his entire face crumpled in an ugly frown.

"Is that it? Are you sure there isn't anything else, My Lord?"

"What are you blubbering about? Have you not listened to what I have just said?"

Sigh!

Aldrich let out a sigh and straightened his posture.

"Marquess Nicholas, I didn't disappoint you. But you did… I am afraid I will have to reject this proposal."

"YOU…"

Nicholas took a step and the entire ground quaked, the space rippled, and all the rocks around the two Dreamers cracked. But then the Marquess took a deep breath and took a step back and asked.

"Why… Why would you not accept such an opportunity?"

Aldrich craned his neck up and gazed at the stars. Not bothering about Nicholas' losing control again, he spoke out.

"My Lord, I tested you two times. But.. Both times you tried to play tricks on me. Huh! I rejected your offer because… You are an insincere person."

This was the reason for Aldrich's rejection?

No.

Aldrich was just joking. There was no way he would have let a two-faced pig-like Nicholas leave. Especially after the Retd Commander had got to know about what Aldrich thought to be his mightiest trick.

Nicholas' face became red. But before he could act on this anger, Aldrich took a pure sky blue color fist-sized cube out of FIR. On the six faces of the cube, there were runic symbols, and in the middle of these faces were finger-sized holes. Blue Mana stream could be seen coming out of it and melting into the surroundings.

Nicholas' red face almost became pale, and in an instant, he lost his anger. In sheer disbelief, he called out the name of this cube.

"This… Grade 5 Mana Field Generator! Why would you have this? A Bastard can never get his hands…"

Nicholas' disbelief wasn't unjustified. The Mana Field Generator Cube was like the most guarded secret of the Planet. Sometimes, other than the most loyal living Ancestor of the House, even the Head didn't know of its correct location. Even if House Venomous Rose's main branch had three members left, Earl Drago would have never handed it to Aldrich, a bastard.

But how would Nicholas' have known that this was one thing Drago had given to Aldrich on the very first day of his coming here?

Aldrich didn't care for Nicholas' blubber and sent a trace of his Mana into the Cube. The entire Mana Field surrounding the Planet shook and suddenly collapsed towards Aldrich's position. In the next moment, it covered the fifty miles radius around Nicholas and Aldrich.

It was like a dome had appeared over them. This was the terror of Mana Fields. The smaller the area it occupied, the mightier its defensive capabilities. Even if it was a Marquess, it would take him more than a few punches to break it apart.

Aldrich put the Cube back in his FIR and unhurriedly said.

"Now, My Lord, I have a proposal for you. Become my Recordless… or die."