Both Elders felt a slight pressure when they looked up at the Emperor, their families had resisted the rule of the Dragon Empire only to now be pushing their youth to gain power that would allow their entire Clans a place to have within the Dragon Empire.Looking at the bowing Elders I sense no fear from them, the one with fear is the Elder in the back just a few feet behind the two heads next to the child I took an interest in.
What was his name again? Ah!
"So Luke did I make a mistake in challenging the Three Suns army all those years ago?"
I made my voice loud enough for everyone present to hear me.
Looking at Elder Luke visibly sweat before me I look to see the child glare at me for trying to bully his Elder.
From our short chat I heard his name was Tes Twine, he seems very respectful and loving of his Elders even in the face of the "Great" Emperor.
"Tes do my words displease you? I was only speaking of facts, if the Twine Family stayed inside of Lime Leaf Village those years ago along with all the other Clans just image the power you would hold.
But here you are today nearly 50 years later, competing to gaining the ability to become a Major power here within "MY" Empire!"
Everyone watches as I ignore speaking to either Elder and instead speak to a young child.
Tes looks to Elder Luke who has his head down in a low bow clenching his fist, all the while tears could be seen dripping out from his eyes.
Both Elders in front can sense the guilt and shame Luke is experiencing as they too had to feel these emotions as they climbed their way out of h.e.l.l.
The h.e.l.l they were forced to enter because of my want and desire to rule this planet.
Bubbling emotion causes Elder Luke to raise his head as he speaks to me.
"If I could take it back I would, but at the time I chose what I thought would be best for my Clan.
We had just gained support and power within the Three Suns military, with their support I knew of information no one else had how was I supposed to know the might of the Draconian women?"
Still with a smile on my face I look around at the expecting gazes of those spectating, many of them are like the Evergraze and Twine Clan.
They too opposed and resisted the Dragon Empire these fellow compet.i.tors are all from the losing sides of all the wars that happened to Unify the planet.
Once more ignoring the two Elders I walk over and take hold of the Deed the Twine Clan Head was gripping in his aged hands.
Both shock and a bit of disappointment could be felt as I took away the Deed, I then turned over to the Dragon Clan member.
"What territory does this deed belong too? .... Oh"
Before the they could reply I get a closer look at the face of this Dragon Clan member, at first I was sure it was Doran but the person before me is far too young to be him.
Lifting him up by his chin with a slight touch of my fingers I get a better look at the Spirit Dragons offspring, a smile was seen on this youths face as he locked his draconic eyes with mine.
Releasing him I ask for his name before asking about the Deed again.
"I am Lham my parents had the pleasure of meeting the Emperor once before, as for the Deed it is to a vast Territory that can be develop into a high Tier power within a short 10-20 years of hard work.
Should I revoke the Twine Clans claim to the Deed Your Majesty?"
After a light bit of laughter from I see the eyes of the two Elders become softer, from my laugh they can tell I will do nothing to them.
The promise of rebuilding as long as they put in the work was not a lie, as both Clans had indeed worked harder than all the other Clans and Sects competing for territory.
The Territory they fought over was three times more ma.s.sive than some of the Empires that exist within the Dragon Empire.
This land was once home to the Blood Sun Royal Family, in recent years the land that was ruined beyond repair due to the ancient wars is now hospitable.
The Land was restored thanks to the technology from the Observers.
None of the current major powers thought the land would become a Deed to be given to those rising new powers within the Empire.
Finally after being ignored the Twine Clan Head heard my voice being directed at him.
"So what is your name Twine Clan Head?
Come here!
There is no need to bow this Deed is yours and the land that was once controlled by the Ancient Blood Sun Empire is now yours.
Let me ask you Elder Estra what happens to your Clan once you left Lime Leaf? What punishment did Elder Luke undergo?"
The terrified Elder was unsure of how he was supposed to answer these questions, let alone the fear that he could no longer suppress once the Emperor spoke his name. What did this mean?
Would he hinder their development even after they won over the Deed?
Did he wish for Elder Luke to be put to death? Estra was at a loss of words, he became the new Clan head after the Twine family decided to leave Lime Leaf.
If they had stayed those years ago their entire Family would be just as powerful as the Lime family but Elder Luke pushed the issue causing them to leave.
They quickly striped him of his power and authority nearly killing him, if not for his brother speaking up for him he would not even hold the position of Elder.
Many in the Clan despised him for causing their current rough life in the Dragon Empire.
Everyone knew of their origins and belittled them wherever they went, the only reason their Clan was not wiped out for their past actions was because of the laws the Dragon Empire had that prevented such behavior.
If it was any of the other powers they had fled away from thinking they were joining the winning side after the battles they would have been put to death along with all the other losers in that war.
The Dragon Emperor did not do such things he even recruited the former Emperor into his Empire making him a General, welding almost if not unparalleled power in the military.
Aside from the Empresses who could control the Military like that of Three Suns and Timothy?
Which former Emperor or King that submitted early on was not in control of a powerful Clan that held ma.s.sive power within the Dragon Empire today?
With those Emperors and Kings as examples who would not think of the Twine Clans blunder as a failure to grasp at an opportunity.
Within the Dragon Empire the legends from when the Empire was small and only unified the Blood Sun Continent were filled with ridicule of the Twine Families Elders for their lack of judgment.
And the rise of the Lime family, as well as the extremely benevolent nature of the Dragon Emperor for giving so much power to all the former rulers that were absorbed into the Empire without war.
Very few Elders and almost none of the Citizens of the Dragon Empire knew that Elder Lloyd was the one responsible for persuading the former rulers to step down and join the Dragon Empire without a need for war.
This was all possible for everyone knew and respected the man, even more so after knowing he tried rushing back to save the Thagia King.
...
"Dragon Emperor we..
We stripped him of his role as leader of the Clan all those years ago as we went into hiding thinking we would be hunted and killed"
Hearing this the crowd could be heard yelling curses at the Elder. I quickly hold up my hand silencing them allowing him to continue.
Wiping sweat from his head he keeps going.
"Once we learned that you would not target us and would allow us to continue living within the Dragon Empires borders we tried our best to lay low not knowing how we would be treated.
That was until we learned of the laws Empress Tia announced that would allow even those who once resisted you to gain power as long as we proved our worth.
As for everything else we managed to secure a small area to keep our Clan alive and well till this day, after we fought our way to this point we tried our best to become a powerful Clan so we would no longer be looked down upon."
His reply caused a bit of a surprise in me as I did not expect him to actually tell me everything so truthfully.
I can see many of the Twine Clan members are looking on knowing that a few words from me could cause them to fall back down, would they survive the fall if it is the Emperor who personally acted?
After I handed Elder Estra back the Deed his eyes glazed over with tears of joy as he just stood there holding the paper that would allow his Clan to redeem themselves.
As all witnessed me personally allowing a Clan that once publicly fought back against my rule the ability to grow into a Major Power they knew that so long as you never break certain laws that were set up you would always have a place within the Empire.
The Evergraze Clan leader felt the bitterness swelling within her as she looked up at the Deed in Estra"s trembling hands.
Once I dismissed everyone Tes stood before me ready to answer my past question.
"If joining under you would allow people to stop looking down on my Clan I will gladly join you Dragon Emperor if not I will join my Clan in being laughed at until we rise to power and force them to never laugh at us again!"
With a smile on my face I task Lahm with bringing Tes and a few elites of the Twine Clan to New Teress, as everyone heard the command they were envious of the Twine Clan especially of Tes Twine.
Before the Evergraze Clan leader left she headed over to register for another match, I then appeared behind her looking over her shoulder as the tears in her eyes dropped down onto the paper.
As she was wagering the last bit of her Clans saving on this final match a lot of pressure was place on the Evergraze Clan.
As the next failure would remove all hope of them ever becoming apart of the ruling cla.s.s Within the Empire, forever placing them as ones who could only serve under the already established powers.
"Evergraze Snowflower current leader of the Evergraze Clan the former Royal Family, I had my Shadow Unit look into your background."
A chill was felt by all those who stayed behind and after hearing that they quickly fled as they spotted more and more members of the Shadow Unit appearing near my location surrounding the Evergraze Clan members.
Even Elder Estra rushed to have everyone of his Clan members leave, he did not know what the Evergraze Clan did but he did not wish to witness their departure from this world.