After he left the palace, Miko headed straight to the lower Class district.

However, this time he didn’t bother to hide his presence.

He naturally drew the attention of everyone around him.

Yet, no one dared to look at him for longer than a second.

That was because they could sense the tension surrounding him.

No one wanted to accidentally piss off the king, and get slaughtered.

And so, Miko was able to reach the lower class district without any distractions.

He stopped in front of the Royal Underworld Association.

After looking at the building for a while, he slowly walked inside.

When he entered, he naturally drew everyone’s attention.

From criminals to the workers, everyone looked at him simultaneously.

“The RUA is closed for the rest of the day. Leave.”

He spoke slowly.

Everyone was confused and didn’t move an inch.

“I said leave!”

It was only after Miko roared that everyone started to scramble.

Employees to criminals, everyone ran out the building as if they they were running from a plague.

After they left, Miko switched the opened sign to closed.

He then walked towards Edward’s office.

When he opened the door, he saw Edward sitting behind his desk with a frown.

“What?”

Miko asked him.

“Why did you have to barrage in and scary everyone?”

Edward asked.

“You know that there’s going to be rumors that I pissed the king off, and was severely punished, right?”

“Why would there be such rumors?”

“Because you came in the place I work fuming and with a scary expression. The human mind is funny, they can turn the simplest things into a huge incident with their imaginations.”

Edward replied.

“So? What’s the problem, Don?”

Miko closed the door behind him and took a seat.

“Sola and Yota returned just now.”

Edward’s became serious when he heard that.

“Did they fail?”

He asked.

Miko nodded.

“If they only failed then I wouldn’t have been so upset.”

“Did something happen to them?”

Miko gritted his teeth before answering.

“Sola’s face was cut and poison was rubbed in her wounds. The flesh on her face is rotting as we speak.”

Edward was surprised to hear that, but he quickly calmed himself.

“What about Yota?”

“His tongue was cut out.”

Edward was once again surprised, but what he was truly surprised about was something different.

“Even after that, you’re still here and not ordering a march on their countries?”

“Oh, trust me. I really want to do that.”

“But you know that you need to stay calm or all your hard work will go down the drain.”

Miko nodded.

“If I lose myself in rage now, I’ll only bring about my own down fall.”

“Good. Patience and self control are signs of a great leader.”

Edward said with an approving tone.

However, he could see the anger brewing inside Miko.

Edward knew, Miko held Yota, Sola, and himself with sincere feelings and appreciation.

He determined this stemmed from them being his most trusted personnels during his times at Grim City, or it could be something else all together.

However, that didn’t mean that he appreciated them on the same level as his family and friends.

If that wasn’t the case, he would lost himself in rage a long time ago.

The perfect example was when he destroyed the Business District and “Killed” Sami when Bloom got hurt.

Back then, all logic left Miko the instant he saw Bloom.

There was no thoughts about consequences, he just simply wanted to lash out.

However, Edward thought Miko being composed was a good thing despite knowing that he didn’t matter as much as the others.

After all, he was a business man to the core.

“Edward.”

While he was thinking that Miko called out to him.

“Yes.”

“Be honest. Am I too soft?”

“…………”

Edward didn’t answer.

“Is that a trick question?”

He asked after a while.

Miko shook his head.

“I’m serious. We’ve worked together for a year, so you should know how I do things. I want to know if I come off as too soft?”

“Excuse my language.”

He then coughed.

“Fuck no. You’re as soft as a diamond encrusted bullet.”

Miko couldn’t help to laugh since this was one of the few times he heard Edward curse.

“I didn’t mean towards my enemies. I mean towards my allies.”

“Explain.”

“I only realized after I saw Sola and Yota in that state that I don't really take the wellbeing of my comrades on consideration when I’m planning something. I just automatically assume that they’ll be fine.”

Miko explained.

“I wouldn’t call that being soft though. It’s more like you’ve given everyone expectations and believe that they’ll automatically live up to them.”

Edward replied.

“Basically, you don’t realized how hard it is for others to keep up with you, and believe that they’ll always be by your side when you look around.”

“…….”

Miko thought about Edward’s words and quickly realized that he might be right.

“Look Don. You’re a special being. A monstrosity in away. No offense.”

“None taken.”

Edward nodded.

“It’s not easy keeping up with someone like you. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there comes a time when you find yourself all alone with no one to walk your path with you. That’s how special you are.”

“……..”

Miko didn’t answer because he acknowledged what Edward said as the truth.

The reason why Miko was drawn to special people was because he wanted people who could get him, and walk the same path as him.

But deep down he knew.

The path he walks is a lonely one, and no one can walk it with him.

Even so, he still searched for companionship, even if it was only temporarily.

“I’m basically too greedy. I want to accomplish everything without losing anything. This is why I don’t put my love ones wellbeing into consideration. Because if I plan for their deaths, I acknowledge that I can’t obtain everything without sacrificing somerhings. And if I start sacrificing things again, then I’ll just revert to my old self.”

Miko said with a sigh.

Edward looked at him strangely.

“You know…..You might not have what it takes to become an emperor.”

“What?”

Miko frowned when he heard that.

“Hear me out.”

Edward quickly tried to explain himself.

“While its true that you have the intelligence, skills, talents, and prestige, but you still lack one important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Resolve.”

“This again? Kirika said something similar earlier. Is my determination really that lacking?”

Miko asked.

“I don’t know what Kirika meant, but I don’t think we mean the same thing.”

“Tell me what you mean.”

Edward nodded.

“First of all, you want to be emperor right?”

Miko nodded.

“But you’re afraid to lose anything. That will be your downfall if you’re not careful.”

“……..”

Miko kept silent.

“You’re a smart person, Don. So I’m sure you know that the Higher you aim, the more ammo you must waste to hit the target.”

“Not if you use a high powered sniper.”

Miko chipped in.

“Don, I’m serious.”

Edward said with a frown.

“Sorry.”

Edward sighed.

“Like I was saying. The bigger the ambition, the more you must be willing to risk. If you don’t risk anything, you won’t accomplished anything.”

“What if I risk only myself?”

Miko asked.

Edward shook his head.

“That won’t work and you know it.”

He looked around.

“Let’s use the underworld for an example. Which crime lord you know that didn’t have to sacrifice some of his subordinates to rise to the top? Some even had to sacrifice their must trusted men just to gain their current title. It’s the same for an emperor. Especially a founding one."

He looked at Miko with a sharp gaze.

“There will be times when we’re ready to take the risk, but what we put at stake isn’t up to us to choose. In other words, you can’t make it just by sacrificing yourself.”

He pointed at himself.

“You must learn to sacrifice those around you as well.”

“……..”

Miko didn’t reply.

To be honest, he knew all of this already, but he just didn’t want to follow those rules.

He wanted to established his own where he can gain everything without sacrificing anything.

However, that naïve thought led to Yota and Sola getting hurt.

Miko had to admit that he messed up big time.

“Is there really no other choice?”

He asked himself.

‘There isn’t.’

And he answered himself in his mind.

‘Didn’t you already sacrifice the woman you love to continue down this path? So why are you acting so reluctant now?’

He asked himself.

‘You even ignore Regis suffering and played the fool.’

Miko naturally knew about Regis condition.

The same day it happened Ishma came to him and explained it.

His response at the time was indifference.

Because he didn’t want to feel that pain and let it slow him down, he pushed it all on Regis.

Miko held his head.

“This can’t do. If it continues on like this, instead of upgrading I’ll only be downgrading instead. I’ll become the most pathetic version of myself.”

He said to himself.

It was then that he repaired the link with him and Tia himself, without waiting on her to do so.

Endless sadness rushed into him, but he didn’t flinched and took it all on.

‘This should reduce the emotional stress Regis is feeling.”

He muttered.

He then looked Edward in eyes with clear resolve.

“Edward, remind me again. What do I need to do to become emperor?”

Edward smiled when he heard that.

“Used everything as a stepping stone to the throne. Whether it enemies or allies, discard them all and march with only your goal in mind.”

“The path to emperor sure seems like a lonely one.”

Miko said with a wry smile.

Edward nodded.

“The road to emperor is a lonely one filled with the blood of your enemies and the bones of your allies. But don’t hesitate. Step over them all and reach your goal. For you are the one true emperor!”

Miko nodded.

“I understand. Then Edward I order you as my ally, become my stepping stone!”

He spoke with a painful vigor.

Edward kneeled in front of him.

“With pleasure, My Emperor.”