The Lord Is Too Overbearing

Basil and company ended up staying for the night because of Kurdva's persuasion. Iliana and Ione got to sleep but Basil, Xander, and Cyrus had to walk around with Kurdva. The Emperor wanted to introduce them to his close aides, whom he had a lot. It didn't end until it was four in the morning. By that time, none of the three men wanted to sleep anymore.

The sunrise came a few hours later. The three men were the first to stand before the palace's gate. They waited for the two female Pacifers, accompanied by Kurdva. Many of Kurdva's close aides wanted to accompany them too, but Basil rejected them politely. He didn't want those rowdy people to surround him anymore.

"Everyone likes you. Ha-Ha-Ha!" Kurdva exclaimed as he patted Basil's back. "They say they had never seen such a powerful human in their life. They can't stop praising you, mate. You have captured their hearts!"

"Had you interacted more with humans, you would have seen one or two people who are just as capable as I am," Basil retorted. "I do agree, however, that I am still the brightest."

"Ku-Ku-Ku! That's it—the personality! We like that part about you. You don't sugarcoat things and say whatever you have in your mind. Your bluntness suits our personality well."

"I guess I also like that part about Demi-Humans." Kurdva grinned and Basil smiled faintly. Waving his hand lightly, he asked, "Do you think your troops will be able to get there before noon?"

Catching on to what Basil was talking about, Kurdva nodded lightly. "The latest they can be is half an hour into the noon. I know how much power a Ninth Circle Mage possesses, but I believe your army is strong enough to hold on for that long."

"Of course. They can even kill the Ninth Circle Mage."

Surprised, Kurdva remarked. "Then, why do you even ask for a backup?"

"To reduce the number of dead people."

"Fair enough."

The conversation stopped as they sensed people coming to them. They turned their heads in the direction where they could feel the presence. There, they found Iliana, Ione and Calliope in their hands. The scene made Basil quirk his eyebrow. He wondered why Calliope was with them.


Calliope beamed as she spotted Basil. She looked like she wanted to run at him but didn't do that because she didn't want to hurt Iliana and Ione's feelings. The two grown ladies knew what the lass was thinking and found it cute. They could smile at it but still found it slightly bitter that they ranked below Basil in terms of favourability.

"Master! I just found out the term that everyone uses to call people like me," she shouted. "Human! They call people like me humans!"

The innocence of a child is something one can smile at. However, it is undeniable that it is sometimes mortifying.

What Calliope had just shouted made Kurdva cringe. Oseya was the one who insisted to keep her away from the truth, but he was also an accomplice. He felt guilty for the lass. She should've known what she was from an early age. It was saddening to watch her realise that she was not alone.

"I heard you are going somewhere," Calliope said as soon as she stood before Basil. "Where are you going?"
"Home," Basil answered simply.

"Where is it?"

"Somewhere far."

"My mother told me that once a man says something like that, he will never come back."

"Tell your mother to find a better environment to look for a partner," Basil quipped with a smile, confusing Calliope.

Shaking her head, Calliope asked, "When will you train me?"

In response to that, Basil took out a scroll. He asked Calliope to give him her hand and she did. Tapping one of her fingers, he made it bleed. Calliope was shocked at first but instantly calmed down when Basil said she was not going to die. The blood dropped onto the scroll, causing it to light up. The Rune did its job and it was immediately sealed.

"This scroll contains the regime and the Carving Manual that I have prepared for you," Basil explained. "You are the only person who can open it and no one will be able to read it even if they take your blood or kill you. Without your consent, this scroll won't open."

"Oh, that is awesome! But I feel like I will be in danger," Calliope remarked innocently.

Iliana snorted in amusement as she found Calliope's remark sarcastic. This caused everyone to turn to her and she immediately cleared her throat before acting as if nothing had happened.

"Kurdva understands everything that I write on the scroll; so, if you are confused about something, you can ask him. I am sure he will be glad to help."

To assure Calliope, Basil turned his head to Kurdva. This prompted the said Emperor to nod with a light smile. Kurdva thought it would also be an opportunity for him. Basil's understanding of Magic was simply absurd. He was excited about the insight he would get from reading Basil's manual.

"Then, when will you train me?" Calliope asked, hugging the scroll.

Basil took a few seconds to think about his answer. He didn't want to give her an empty promise. He thought about it carefully, so he didn't disappoint her. Alas, he couldn't find the answer. He sighed lightly and then patted her head lightly.

"I can't tell. I will be busy, so I may be the worst mentor to ever exist in this world." Basil smiled. "You are, however, special, Calliope. I know you can be an awesome individual even without my help."

"But…what is the point?" Calliope muttered dejectedly.

"This," Basil said, holding her pendant and taking out his amulet. "I will come back to get this back and return your jewel. Therefore, don't be afraid of me leaving you forever."

Calliope looked up at Basil with her big, curious eyes before nodding with a smile. Basil also smiled lightly and then hugged her, which was surprising for those who knew him. After all, he never initiated a hug with anyone other than Iliana and his family. It made them even more curious about what made him take such a liking toward the lass.

Standing up from his kneeling position, Basil nodded his head at Kurdva. Kurdva nodded back and it prompted Deacon to assume his Tyrant Saberwolf form. Saying farewell to Calliope who was looking at Deacon in awe; Basil, Iliana and Ione got on Deacon. After the two senior Pacifer's Servants stood on Deacon's side, they took off.

Because of their speed, they disappeared from Calliope's view quickly.

"Calliope, what is wrong?" Kurdva said in confusion before kneeling in front of Calliope. "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know, Uncle Emperor. I had always wanted to cry ever since Master came here. It felt like I had finally met someone that I had been waiting for a long time. Seeing him leave makes me feel like I will never see him again. The scene is so familiar. It feels like I had experienced it before…. I don't know what happens."

Kurdva blinked his eyes in bafflement at the string of words that came out of Calliope's mouth. He knew the lass was talkative, but he didn't know the lass could talk that much in three seconds. He pondered to himself for a few seconds before concluding. It wasn't the right conclusion but it didn't stop him from turning to Calliope in shock.

"Have you found out that he is your father!?"

"Really?"

The unamused look from Calliope struck Kurdva's heart like an arrow. He was both embarrassed and hurt by the doubtful look she gave him that was asking, 'Is this guy an Emperor?'

"Kuhum! That was a joke," Kurdva stated awkwardly. Waving his hand, he continued, "Anyway, I think I have an idea what you are feeling. Love. Ku-Ku-Ku. What a corny story. You can't help but fall in love with your mentor, can you? I know that feeling well."

Calliope hummed before shaking her head faintly. She didn't understand what love was but she was sure what she felt was more than that. What she felt toward Basil was like how she would feel to be reunited with her long-lost friend. She didn't know how she could even think about that analogy but here she was.

She wanted to discover more about this weird feeling; therefore, she wanted Basil to stay longer. Alas, he couldn't, so she could only wait until the next time they met.

….

In one of the Commander's tents, Anthony listened intently to Mei Qi's story who sat across the table. His wife was talking about what Basil had requested her father to do: find an empty land that would be enough to host twenty thousand people.

Anthony wasn't interested in what Basil had done in Huaxia before, but he became curious the moment Mei Qi said that her father had offered Basil to help them. Yang Tian Long was a powerful Daoist. He would be a great help to them. It was bewildering that Basil refused his help because he wanted him to merely look for an empty land.

He wanted to know more about this empty land; what was so special about it and such. Much to his bewilderment, Basil didn't require Tian Long to look for an extraordinary land. He just wanted an empty and safe land. It was an extreme waste to tell someone like Tian Long to do such a trivial job.

"Is he planning to relocate the Pacifer as soon as he finds them?" Anthony mused. "Hmm…judging by the land's size, we can even live there with the Pacifer. After all, not many of them managed to survive."

"I have given up trying to understand that lad." Mei Qi shook her head faintly. "You may think you know what he is doing, but you don't. He is the only one who knows what he is doing and what he will achieve."

"Scratch that. What about Lady Yan? You said that she fancied Basil, didn't you? Why doesn't she come to help us?"

"Basil asked her to do something for him. I don't know the details but it has something to do with Alternate Dimension."

Anthony became even more intrigued. Alternate Dimension and an empty land gave him an idea but he wasn't sure if it was even possible. He wondered if Basil was having an experiment and he wanted to commend Basil for his dedication. He was a Mage himself but not as intelligent and diligent as Basil in something like this.

That was until he recalled what Basil said: "I want to create a world where everyone I care about can smile and live happily."

A dumbfounded laugh came out of his mouth soon after. Basil was making a new world.