After Miko made his declaration, the country became silent.

There was none who didn’t feel the power behind his words.

I am king.

Every time Miko spoke this sentence, there was no one who could refute him.

He was definitely king and there was no one who could change that.

Miko silently landed back on the wall.

Basmu and Gallu left his body and stood behind him.

“All those who came to talk come to the palace. All those who came to fight, scram; otherwise I’ll squish you under my feet.”

Miko said nothing more and left.

“………”

Even after Miko left for over a minute, silence covered the land.

It was like everyone was afraid to speak or they were simply speechless.

“Puh!”

The one who broke the silence was Nero, who burst out from underground, gasping for air.

“That bastard. He actually buried his own grandfather. And after everything I’ve done for him.”

He grumbled while dusting himself off.

“Ugh….My head hurts.”

Rouge got up and rubbed his swollen forehead.

“Alec you bastard, I'll get you for this later.”

Alexus said as he got up as well.

*Boom!*

Hell Blaze shook like crazy as it was lifted off the ground by Andreas, who held it up by one hand.

“That little bastard! I’ll kill him!”

He roared.

“I don’t think we can.”

The pink star that was shot into the distance by Miko suddenly returned with Echo standing on it. She had some burns on her kimono and her hair was a little messy. Even so she didn’t look upset at all.

She looked at Andreas.

“Didn’t you see it? He can fuse with the guardian beasts of the Primus and Secundus branches. What if he can do the same with ours?”

Andreas paused when he heard that.

If Miko really could do as Echo said, then it would be a problem.

“What Echo said is the truth.”

A new voice entered their ears.

They looked at the wall and saw someone standing there.

It was the the first elder of the Flameheart clan and Luka’s great grandfather, Joesph Flameheart.

“Old man, you’re still alive?”

Said Andreas.

“I can’t die leaving a wild brat like you in the world.”

Andreas clicked his tongue when he heard that.

“What do you want?”

“Before he died Augustus asked me to help his grandchildren out if they’re about to face a crisis. He said that it doesn’t need to be anything too tedious, just giving you some advice was enough. So here I am.”

“So what is this advice of yours?”

Alexus asked.

“Don’t provoke the sleeping beast.”

“What?”

“That’s all I’m saying. Interpret it as you wish.”

After saying that, Joesph turned his back on them and left.

“Hmph. Senile old man.”

Andreas snorted.

“Hahahaha!”

A laughed echoed out as Alec appeared from Drogon.

“As I expected, Miko really snapped on you guys.”

*Bam!*

Alexus appeared behind him and hit him up side the head.

“You brat, do you see the swelling on my forehead? You caused this.”

“Hey, no one told you to listen to me.”

Alec was hit again after saying that.

“Calm down, I didn’t lie right? You got to see something interesting. Although I never expected him to hit Nero too.”

Alec said with a laugh.

“Alec of the Bloodflame.”

Andreas saw Alec and glared at him.

“Long time no see, commander.”

“Yes, the last time we met was when you stole our winery.”

“Ah, I remember that. Sorry, it was such an impressive winery that I had to have it. Ah, but don’t worry, it’s being put to good use.”

‘So that’s where he got it.’

Alexus thought to himself.

“Forget that. What are you guys going to do? Are you gonna turn back or are you going to meet the king?”

Asked Alec.

“I’m going to meet him. He looks fun.”

Echo immediately answered.

“Go back all of you.”

Said Nero.

“Shoo, no one wants you here.”

Rouge added.

Alexus and Andreas immediately became irritated.

“We’re going!”

Andreas took a leap and entered the capital.

Alexus flipped off Rouge before following behind Andreas.

Rouge pointed a middle finger at his receding back until he disappeared.

“I can’t believe people who are thousands of years old are acting like children.”

Kimiko said with a sigh.

“Yo, Alec!”

Momo and Aeon jumped off the wall and approached Alec.

“Oh, Momo and Aeon. It’s been a while.”

Alec said with all smiles.

At that moment Kirika appeared behind him.

“Alec, how do you know these people?”

“When I was touring the Five Branches, I meet them when I went to the Primus Branch.”

“Ah, is that so?”

‘So he met them when he scouting out all the prodigies in the Five Branches. If he’s friendly with them then they must’ve been candidates for whatever he was searching for.’

Kirika thought to herself.

He explained.

Momo and Aeon walked up with smiles on their faces.

“You’ve two sure have grown. You’re SSS Classes just like me now.”

Said Alec.

“You say that but we still can’t compare to the great Millennium Genius.”

Aeon said with a sarcastic tone.

“Hey, Alec. Got any of the usual?”

Momo asked with a sly expression.

“Of course.”

A golden bottle appeared in Alec’s hand.

“Here beer from Nin-Kasi herself.”

Nin-Kasi was a Sumerian goddess who was responsible for making beer for the Babylon gods.

She was the oldest God to be associated with liquor. It is even speculated that she invented the craft of brewing and taught it to humans.

“Oh! Thanks, Alec! I don’t know how you do it, but you’re my idol!”

Momo said as she rubbed her face on the bottle.

“Beer from Nin-Kasi? I haven’t had that in a while.”

Nova and Nero appeared behind Momo while eyeing the bottle she was holding.

Momo hid the bottle behind her.

“This is mine! Touch it and I’ll cut off your fingers!”

Momo acted like a mother protecting her cub as she glared at Nero and Nova.

“Come on, share with us.”

Said Nero.

“Momo, I don’t remember raising you into someone who hogs all the liquor.”

Nova took out some tissues and started wiping “tears” from the corner of his eyes.

“Could you two please leave my niece alone?”

“Geh, Rihan!”

Said Nero, when Rihan appeared behind them.

“Uncle Rihan!”

In a manner fitting her childish appearance Momo hid behind Rihan.

Unlike Sasha who feared Rihan, Momo deeply loved her uncle. This was because Rihan had always treated her well.

He also shared the same mother with her mother, Sonia. Rihan and Sonia were always close, so he naturally treated her children well.

“If you don’t hurry, Miko might snap again and have your blood traits destroyed.”

He said

“Shit! Forgot about that!”

Nero suddenly shouted.

“We gotta stop those idiots from provoking him.”

After saying that Nero raced towards the palace.

Kirika looked at her brother’s face and saw a big grin on it.

‘He’s going to cause a lot of trouble. I just know it.’

She thought to herself.

At the royal palace Miko was sitting on his throne, clearly vexed.

In front of him were the leaders of the five branches.

“You know how much money it cost to renovate the entire country in little over a year?”

He asked with an angry tone.

“I would like to state that I did not damage the country in anyway.”

Said Echo.

“How much?”

Andreas asked.

“30 million gold coins.”

“Wha?!”

This amount shocked the branch leaders who had just returned to the country.

As the one who asked for the amount, Andreas was the most shocked.

He thought that it would be 10 million tops. He didn’t expect for it to be that much.

That was enough money to build a small empire.

He wondered just what did Miko spend that money on.

“You must be lying to scare us.”

Said Alexus.

“He isn’t.”

Said Gallu.

“He really spent that much on recreating this country.”

Said Bašmu.

“The country you destroyed.”

Miko added.

He stretched his hands out.

“Pay up.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t huh me. I said pay up. 6 million coins from all of you.”

Miko said with a serious tone.

“Like hell I will!”

Andreas shouted.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, grandson! Does that include me too?”

Nero asked.

“Who was the one deflecting mountain sized swords all over the place?”

Miko replied.

“I have no intention of paying so much money to you.”

Said Alexus.

“No, you’ll pay.”

A new voice resounded and a light flashed beside Miko.

From it Tiamat appeared.

“Grandma?!”

Andreas, Alexus and Echo were shocked to see Tiamat suddenly appear.

This was the first time they seen her in thousands of years after all.

“Miko worked hard to turn this country into what it is now, so it’s natural that he’s furious that you all destroyed it.”

Said Tiamat.

“As such, you’re all going to compensate.”

She ordered.

“Wait, grandma! I didn’t do anything!”

Echo complained.

“Hmm……that’s true but you also didn’t do anything to stop it so you’re equally as guilty.”

“Geh!”

Echo started pouting while glaring at her cousins. It was obvious that she was blaming them.

“Then, grandmother. Can I make a suggest?”

Asked Alexus.

“I’m sure you know this, but the current Tertitus Branch studies and practices alchemy. I myself is an Alchemy God as well as your my siblings Zwei and Ainz. Also my son Alexis is a Alchemic Legend. As such, I believe that our branch can repair the country to it previous form without the need to spend 30 million gold coins like before.”

“Oh? If you did that then the other branches don’t have to pay either. That’s quite generous of you.”

Said Tia.

“What’s the catch?”

Miko asked while squinting his eyes.

Alexus felt like he was staring into the very depths of his soul.

“There’s no catch. I just wanted to do this as an apology on behalf of all of us. Also I want to show that we didn’t come here with malicious intentions, and only wished to reform our family.”

“If your conditions are met, I presume.”

Miko added.

Alexus didn’t immediately answer, because he felt that Miko had a ready response to anything he could say.

‘Looks like he’s been preparing for our return for a very long time. I’m sure he already created countless of countermeasures for any action we could possible take once we return.’

Andreas thought to himself.

Echo and Alexus thought the same thing.

“Well, whatever.”

Miko suddenly stood up and looked down at them.

“As long as my country is repaired then I don’t care for any conditions you could offer.”

He started walking down the stairs leading to the throne.

“I’m sure you’ve all thought about using this opportunity to gain control of the entire clan, with your branch as the head.”

No one said anything as Miko spoke.

“To be honest, I don’t care about all that. In the end there’s one king and that’s me. This Branch rivalry thing is of no concern to me.”

He reached the end of the stairs and stood with Tiamat.

“As such, you decide it among yourselves. Which branch will be on top, or whether or not you should all come together as one. It’s your choice.

“What?”

Miko’s words threw them all off. None expected him to leave it to them. It was as if he didn’t care for power.

But that wasn’t the case. Miko was king, in other words he was the boss. The problems with the five branches were trivial to him and didn’t need much attention. As such he left it to the five of them. He also wanted to see how they deal with each other.

That way he could learn the hierarchy among them.

“Do as you all like, just don't destroy the country or harm the citizens. Do that and you can stay as long as you want.”

After saying that, Miko left with Tiamat, Gallu and Bašmu, leaving the five branch leaders confused.

“……What just happened?”

Asked Echo.