20demayo Chapter 3, First Draw
Chapter 3, First Draw
The revelry on the planet Troy continues, with bustling streets teeming with people, vendors hawking their wares and vying for customers.
Even though the Emperor's face was altered using psychic powers and his figure was concealed under his linen robes, his aura still caused the three of them to be unconsciously approached and loved by all the Trojans whenever they walked down a street.
At this moment, the emperor was holding a leg of lamb given to him by a merchant, with a few oranges and wheat cakes in his right hand. He was strolling through the market like an ordinary person, looking at the buildings of Troy and feeling the familiar yet different culture.
Sometimes he would praise Horus's smile, sometimes he would fall into deep thought, and sometimes he would smile knowingly and tell Makado a joke that Horus couldn't understand.
The jokes often amused Macardo, the youngest immortal known for his seriousness and wise old man persona, who also showed a relaxed and cheerful smile.
It felt like stepping back into humanity's most glorious era, before it was ravaged by the warp storms.
Seeing the emperor's smile, Horus felt both happy and a little sad.
Because he had never seen his father smile so relaxed, carefree, and without reservation.
"Hahaha……"
Suddenly, the emperor's smile became relaxed.
Even in the bustling city, the laughter attracted some people's attention.
It seemed that something had suddenly made the emperor genuinely happy.
At this moment, a hint of approval and joy appeared in Makado's aged eyes.
The emperor summoned Horus, and the three of them walked into the crowd.
……
……
Nine months after the coronation ceremony.
Under Hector's leadership, Troy grew increasingly powerful, and many groups known as the Merchant Ronin sailed their ships to the region of Ilios.
Hector was initially wary of these people of unknown origin, suspecting they might be spies or agents from some star system, or even a slave-trafficking fleet coming to the Ilios region to carry out terrorist attacks and human trafficking.
But to Hector's surprise...
All the traveling merchants were remarkably law-abiding. Almost everyone would voluntarily provide all details, hand over their weapons, check their crew, and fully cooperate with the Kingdom of Troy when entering the territory of Ilios.
Occasionally, a few men dressed in plain clothes would appear on these merchant ships. They looked extremely intimidating, were generally around 2.3 meters tall, had obvious genetic modifications, and were mostly bald, burly men.
What puzzled Hector was that, according to the reports, these giants' final journey was to Troy. They would travel to every corner of Troy, quietly observe the scenery, and engage in friendly and cordial exchanges with those around them.
Furthermore, everyone adhered to a thirteen-day cycle, and upon leaving, they insisted on purchasing Hector's sculptures and portraits with money.
They would stand before his statue in front of the palace, like a pilgrimage to the Church of Athena, crossing their arms in reverence, and finally leave reluctantly.
Troy Palace
"Brother, the lower classes, the lower classes! Some of them are proclaiming you are the Son of God, they!"
"Those damned charlatans!"
"I don't understand, brother, why don't we get rid of these useless charlatans from the Athena Cult?"
Hector lowered his eyes, looking down at the barely suppressed fear in his brother's indignant eyes, and sighed inwardly.
He didn't know how to comfort his fifteen-year-old brother.
Since that day, the prophecy seems to be gradually coming true.
His figure grew taller and taller, and the throne he sat on, made of ivory and gold, was changed time and time again.
His mind began to fill with all sorts of knowledge he had never encountered before, and this knowledge was subtly changing him, even in the smallest ways, Hector could still sense it.
Because he began to feel a growing loathing for the kingdom’s legitimate demi-humans, especially the lizardmen and catmen with their abnormal skulls, Hector swore he would never have had such thoughts before his body underwent extreme growth.
The only good news is that the hallucinations that initially tormented him have begun to fade, and now they haven't appeared for almost three months.
Hector, who was equally troubled and even somewhat fearful, gave a reassuring smile.
"Paris, they're still useful."
"There have never been gods in this world, and I will sweep these superstitions out of Troy sooner or later, Paris, but it will be a long process."
"The Church of Athena has existed in this land for perhaps longer than the history of Troy, and I also need them to comfort and give the most vulnerable people a reason to live."
"Only an idiot would use a one-size-fits-all approach..."
Just as Hector continued to explain and appease Paris, a servant quickly stepped forward to inform Hector that the Planetary General requested an audience.
After Hector granted permission, a Trojan royal guard clad in steel armor approached respectfully.
He stood behind Paris and knelt on one knee in front of the two men.
"explain."
"Your Majesty," the samurai said.
"All eligible Trojan citizens who wish to participate in the election for the First Warrior have gathered and are waiting for you to come and read them."
Hector nodded, then looked at the quiet Paris and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
Because he noticed that his good younger brother had suddenly developed an inappropriate fighting spirit in his eyes.
If a child is quiet, they must be up to no good.
Sure enough, the next second, Paris's voice rang in his ear as expected.
"Brother! I want to participate!"
"turn down!"
Hector refuted him with incredible speed and severity.
The samurai kept his head bowed, wishing he could cut off his own ears at that moment.
"I want to participate! I'm not over the age limit, and I'm a Trojan too!" Paris shrank back, not daring to look into Hector's fiery eyes.
But the title of the first warrior of Troy was like a cat toy, enticing Paris, the young man who sought glory and perfection.
"Who do you think you are! You're royalty! You're my brother! Your presence is undermining the fairness of this competition, and do you think this is some kind of child's game!" Hector spat as he spoke.
He unusually lost his composure.
Whether out of a sense of justice or personal motives, Hector would absolutely not allow his brother to participate.
In this competition, in addition to the most basic physical fitness and willpower, one must also face the challenges.
There are also the monster lairs that Troy has not yet cleared out, the strange maze where the Minotaur, a three-meter-tall minotaur alien, has been deployed, and the final contest of martial arts between the victors.
Hector believed that even with the protection he had arranged, at least 30% of the participants would still die in this selection, and he would never allow his brother to participate.
Just as Paris was being drenched in his rage, a servant brought another message: his Minister of the Interior wanted to see him.
Hector cast a "you better behave" look at Paris, who was bowing his head, silent, and as docile as a puppy, without daring to utter a word of rebuttal.
He received his Minister of the Interior, Narcissus.
"What is it, Narcissus?"
"You have become even more beautiful, Your Majesty." Narcissus did not kneel like a warrior, but instead bowed with his hands in front of his chest, his handsome face, so beautiful that it was hard to tell if he was male or female, beaming with a smile.
His gentle, clear blue eyes shimmered with a hint of infatuation, making Hector feel a little uneasy.
"Get to the point." Hector rubbed his temples in pain, temporarily forgetting even Paris.
Narcissus smiled: "Your Majesty, we have received a message that in about thirty minutes, an empire called the Human Empire will request a meeting with us."
"They admitted that they came with good intentions."
"Thirty minutes..."
Thirty minutes is enough.
Paris shuddered at the emotionless voice and instinctively asked, "What's enough?"
Hector glanced at his brother: "That's enough for me to slap all the military and political officials once and for all."
"Take your father and leave now."
Thirty minutes!
The flight time of the Kingdom's satellites to Troy's near-Earth defense orbit is more than that.
His generals were derelict in their duties, and his civil servants were deceiving and concealing the truth until they could no longer hide it and the enemy was at their doorstep before they confessed to him.
In an instant, Hector seemed to see a coal mountain, a crooked tree, and a rope hanging around his neck from the crooked tree.
The knight kneeling on the ground also felt a chill on his neck. He knew that if he didn't say something soon, he might become the first official in the palace to be executed.
The warrior glared furiously at Narcissus:
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"