Debuff Master

Chapter 404

Chwak!

Silence fell upon the entire venue the moment George the Third slapped Oscar, and Siegfried stopped halfway through his speech as well.

‘That son of a bitch!’ Siegfried was seriously enraged.

Being rude while he was making a speech was understandable. To be honest, he did not really care about that. He was forced to attend this conference, so he did not give a damn if someone like George the Third rudely disrupted his speech or not.

In fact, Siegfried just wanted to get over with this conference as soon as possible and return to the Proatine Kingdom.

But slapping Oscar’s cheek when she did not do anything rude aside from courteously asking for his understanding while Siegfried was making his speech?

That was more than enough to cause Siegfried to want to commit murder.

However, it was not only Siegfried who was enraged by it.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

“You are being rude!”

“That is despicable!”

The rulers that had relations with Siegfried, Lord Angele of Stone Island, King Arsha of the Macallan Kingdom, and even Saintess Janette of the Constantine Holy Empire shot up from their seats and vehemently accused George the Third.

But that was not the end of it...

“You have gone too far!”

“He's the king of a weak and tiny country, but this is outrageous!”

“Don’t you think slapping another kingdom’s knight just because you’re upset is far too ridiculous?”

A few of the other rulers chimed in as well and condemned George the Third for his actions.

However, George the Third was completely unfazed.

“What?! Ha! When did you become such hypocrites? Did I do something wrong? Are you criticizing me just because I taught this wench a lesson?”

In fact, George the Third was completely unfazed by the criticism and brazenly retorted to his critics. It was clear that he did not find anything wrong in his actions, and he sincerely believed that what he had done was right.

“Your Majesty.”

However, what surprised everyone was Oscar’s response to being slapped.

“May you find it in your graciousness to allow my lord to finish his speech now that you have slapped me?”

She completely ignored the fact that she was slapped just now and faithfully continued her duties as a knight assisting her liege.

Of course, her response only infuriated George the Third further.

“Ha! The standard of this World Peace Conference has hit rock bottom! Since when did we start letting such crude peasants in?” George the Third mockingly said with a scoff, and he lashed out at the rulers that stood up for Siegfried, “And why are you defending that greenhorn?!”

He continued with his tirade. “That greenhorn is not even a real king! He is just an Adventurer lucky enough to become a king! Are you people even using your head? He is a being from another world! He cannot be a ruler on this continent!”

George the Third did not stop there; he went as far as to accuse Lord Angele, King Arsha, and Saintess Janette. Ironically, he decided to use the fact that all three of them were women.

“Also! Lord Angele! King Arsha! Saintess Janette! Do you like that greenhorn? Do you have a thing for him? Why are you defending him so much? Oh, is he your pimp? Figures! I have heard the rumors that he is a sex demon with endless sexual stamina! Hoho!”

George the Third even went as far as to mention the rumors surrounding Siegfried.

“That is enough!”

“I will not tolerate this any further!”

“Your Majesty will regret saying that just now!”

The knights accompanying Lord Angele, King Arsha, and Saintess Janette took a step forward and threatened George the Third. Then, knights accompanying George the Third and the other rulers who were disgruntled by Siegfried’s participation in the conference took a step forward, too.

Siegfried was not aware of it, but George the Third’s reaction could be considered normal as there were quite a few rulers on the continent who found Siegfried’s rise as king to be against the traditions and customs of the continent.

While the knights were now in a stand-off...

‘That bastard needs to be taught a lesson. War? Fuck that! Let’s have a go at it right now!’

Siegfried was so enraged that he completely forgot about Michele’s desperate pleas not to cause problems at this conference.

War?

He was not scared of war.

It was not only the fact that George the Third slapped Oscar that enraged him. The fact that George the Third slapped her in an official event meant that he was looking down on both Siegfried and the Proatine Kingdom.

It was an offense a king couldn't overlook.

‘I’m not going to hold back even if this leads to war.’ Siegfried gnashed his teeth and clenched Horse Fly.

“His Imperial Majesty! The Emperor!”

A eunuch announced the arrival of the host of the World Peace Conference.

Emperor Stuttgart entered the venue.

***

The footsteps of the continent’s most powerful person carried a different weight compared to others. The knights immediately backed off the moment Emperor Stuttgart appeared, and nobody said a word, as if they never fought in the first place.

The deafening silence continued as nobody said a word during the emperor’s entrance.

“It looks quite peaceful today,” Emperor Stuttgart broke the silence.

However, nobody dared to respond to those words as they knew things were far from peaceful, and the emperor wasn't really serious when he said that.

“Siegfried van Proa.”

Siegfried immediately scrapped his plans to bash George the Third’s head and knelt.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,” he said.

There was nothing shameful or humiliating about kneeling to the emperor.

It was Emperor Stuttgart that crowned Siegfried as king.

In other words, the Proatine Kingdom was a vassal kingdom of the Marchioni Empire, and Siegfried was technically one of the emperor’s subjects.

In fact, Siegfried’s title within the empire was a Duke.

“Do you mind pausing your speech and giving the floor to me?” Emperor Stuttgart asked.

“Certainly, Your Majesty,” Siegfried replied without looking up. There was no way he could refuse when the emperor was personally making the request. To be honest, Siegfried was glad the emperor asked him first when he could simply cut him off without any repercussions. He was the emperor, after all.

“Thank you for your kind understanding, Siegfried van Proa.”

“It is my honor, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Emperor Stuttgart continued walking afterward.

Thud... Thud... Thud...

He soon arrived right in front of none other than...

“L-Long time no see, Emperor Stuttgart.”

“Yes, it has been a while. Have you fared well, George the Third?”

“Y-Yes, what about you?”

“I’m the same as ever.”

“T-That’s good...”

George the Third was overwhelmed and started sweating just from exchanging greetings with Emperor Stuttgart.

Emperor Stuttgart was able to intimidate anyone with a few words. The power he wielded as the leader of the strongest nation on the continent was akin to the power the United States of America held in the real world.

“I think it was a bit rowdy a while ago. What do you think?”

“T-That was...”

“Then, can I ask you another question?”

“As you wish...”

“Who crowned that king over there?” Emperor Stuttgart asked while pointing at Siegfried, and then he added, “Who granted him the territory to rule as king?”

George the Third replied, “That is... you... You crowned him as king...”

“Oh, you knew?”

“Of course I knew.”

“Then does that king have legitimacy to rule or not?”

“That is obviously... Ahem!”

George the Third could not answer Emperor Stuttgart’s question.

Why?

Because a few minutes ago...

“That greenhorn is not even a real king! He is just an Adventurer lucky enough to become a king! Are you people even using your head? He is a being from another world! He cannot be a ruler on this continent!”

George the Third refused to acknowledge Siegfried’s right to rule on the continent, and this could also be interpreted as refusing to acknowledge the decision of the one that crowned him, Emperor Stuttgart.

“Let me ask you again. Does that king have the legitimacy to rule or not?” Emperor Stuttgart asked.

“...”

“Are you going to make me ask for the third time?” Emperor Stuttgart asked as he flashed a spine-chilling smile.

“H-He does...”

In the end, George the Third was forced to acknowledge Siegfried’s legitimacy after slapping Oscar, ridiculing Siegfried, and saying things tantamount to sexual harassment to the rulers who stood up for Siegfried.

“Then what do you think about someone that openly ridiculed a legitimate king and slapped his knight?”

“That is...”

“No, before that...” Emperor Stuttgart shook his head and asked, “Who gave you the right to kick up a fuss here? Don’t tell me... Are you perhaps challenging my authority?”

“N-No! Not at all! I am not challenging your authority! I respect you and respect the authority you hold!” George the Third exclaimed in response.

The power difference between the two was clear.

George the Third was doing everything he wanted just a few minutes ago like a thug, but he turned into a meek obedient lamb after a few words from Emperor Stuttgart.

Why?

Because the emperor had the power to raze an entire kingdom at his whim, and anyone who got on the emperor’s bad side would indeed face that unfortunate ending.

“George the Third.”

“S-Speak, my lord...”

“I don’t care whether you respect or ridicule Siegfried van Proa, but I will not forgive you if you challenge my authority. Do you understand? I hope you’ll know your place if you do.”

“Yes... I do...”

“Good,” Emperor Stuttgart smirked after hearing the answer he wanted. Then, he turned and called, “Siegfried van Proa.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”

“You may continue your speech now, and thank you for giving the floor to me.”

“Thank you for your grace, sire.”

The ruckus George the Third stirred up was settled by Emperor Stuttgart.

‘Just wait and see...’

Of course, Siegfried had no plans to forgive George the Third so easily.

***

Five minutes later.

“Thank you very much,” Siegfried ended his speech and came down the podium.

“Lastly, the chairman of this conference, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Stuttgart von Posteriore, will address the dignified participants!”

It was now Emperor Stuttgart’s turn to make a speech.

Siegfried was on his way down from the stage when he walked past Emperor Stuttgart.

“Siegfried van Proa,” Emperor Stuttgart whispered so that only Siegfried could hear him.

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty?”

“The day for you to repay your debts will shortly come.”

“Pardon me, sire...?”

Siegfried could not understand what the emperor was saying.

‘The day for me to repay my debts will shortly come? What’s that? Is he asking me to have a go at George the Third?’ Siegfried wondered.

However, it did not take long for him to realize what the emperor meant.

“I hope you’ve safely kept the Essence of Decayed Blood?”

‘H-How does he know about that?!’ Siegfried felt goosebumps all over his body.

The Essence of Decayed Blood was the item he obtained after killing the boss monster of the Great Rift: City of the Dead.

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