Chapter 523: Rules Are Dead (2/2)
”If he hadn't realized this truth, he wouldn't have sacrificed himself. After all, if the Empress executed me, his sacrifice would become meaningless to the land beasts. You are not a leader, Inquisitor, so you can't see the world from the viewpoint of a leader,” Gravis explained.
”That is wrong!” the Inquisitor shouted. ”In the end, Commander Rime has sacrificed his life to uphold the rules. If he didn't accept the duel, you would be breaking the rules and would become a traitor.”
”Breaking the rules is not what makes a traitor, Inquisitor,” Gravis said. ”The intentions of the beast and its loyalty decide if someone is a traitor or not. I have no intention of betraying the land beasts, and I will continue to help them.”
”There is a famous saying, Inquisitor. Rules are dead, and beasts are alive. Even if Commander Rime hadn't accepted the duel, I would still not be branded as a traitor by the Empress. My reasoning is understandable, and she will be willing to accommodate it to keep me as an asset to the Empire. Of course, I will still receive some sort of punishment in the end, but it will not be anything like execution.”
”As for your claim that Commander Rime wanted to keep up the rules, that is also incorrect. Don't forget that Commander Rime has broken the rules first by interfering in my fight. He knew fully well that he broke the rules and would be punished, but for the greater good in his mind, he decided to do this regardless.”
”As a leader, he has seen that breaking the rules would do more good than bad for the land beasts if he managed to save my life by doing so. Sadly, in the end, his interference had been unnecessary, which made the gains void while making the consequences heavier. Yet, instead of backpedaling on his choice, he doubled down and gained something out of it regardless.”
Gravis looked evenly into the Inquisitor's eyes. ”He was willing to break the rules for the greater good, and that's what made him an outstanding leader.”
The Inquisitor was furious as he listened to Gravis. He saw sense in what Gravis was saying, but it was frustrating to acknowledge. Had his loyalty been incorrect? He had always followed the rules in the past and believed them to be the correct path.
Yet, when Gravis said that the Empress made the rules, his conviction was shaken. The Empress had made the rules, and if she decided to, she could also change them.
Surprisingly, after some seconds, the Inquisitor's mindset changed. Yes, he shouldn't follow the rules, but act like Commander Rime. Commander Rime had broken the rules for the greater good.
In the end, the rules only served the greater good, and this greater good was the survival of the Icy Pride Empire. Doing what is right for the Empire was more important than upholding the rules.
”You are correct,” the Inquisitor said with a cold voice. ”I shouldn't follow the rules but do what I think would be best for the greater good of the Empire.”
Gravis remained silent.
BANG! SHING! SHING! SHING!
An unreal amount of spikes came from behind Gravis and penetrated his entire body, making him spit out blood.
”With your mindset, you will be a danger to the Empire in the future. Because of that, I will break the rules today and kill you!” the Inquisitor shouted.
Gravis only looked evenly at the Inquisitor as over ten earth spears came out of his body. Instead of seeing the fear or shock that the Inquisitor had expected to see in Gravis' eyes, he only saw calm. This was not the look of someone that was about to die. This was the look of someone that was in control of the situation!
”So that is your choice,” Gravis transmitted calmly, ”but it doesn't matter. I don't leave things open to chance. Just stay here. In four hours, I will return and kill you.”
BANG!
Then, Gravis' body exploded into a bit of lightning. Yet, this wasn't nearly as much lightning as he should have had. This was only as much lightning as a level one King would have.