Chapter 292 (2/2)
“How did it happen?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t remember that either, Your Majesty.”
“This is strange. If there was someone like you, then I’d have definitely known about it.”
The emperor settled further into the chair and crossed his legs and then, while making a puzzled expression, stared openly at Su-hyeun.
He studied Su-hyeun’s hair and eye colors, before asking another question. “Are you from another world?”
That prompted Su-hyeun’s eyes to narrow. This question…it sounded somewhat familiar.
“As I thought, he’s quite similar to the first brother.”
As implied, Emperor Wick Bradley was similar to the Bull Demon King.
However, that was about it. Being “similar” also meant “not the same.” The difference between Bradley and the Bull Demon King would be their “class.”
Su-hyeun read the suspicion contained in Bradley’s question. The latter suspected that the former had come from another world but did not feel confident about his guess.
Which was different from the Bull Demon King who was quite certain of Su-hyeun being a person from another world altogether.
From Su-hyeun’s observation, this man was well below the Bull Demon King. Well, his first brother was like a massive castle; you would have a tough time looking up to see how tall he was, figuratively speaking.
“I think you could be correct,” Su-hyeun replied.
“I could be?”
“Even I’m not sure where I came from, actually. However, there is only one reason why I came here. And that is to…”
The initial reason why Su-hyeun came up with the excuse of amnesia and acted accordingly was to find the necessary information about this world.
And now, the emperor holding the most information than any other person in this world was sitting right before his eyes.
“Defeat the one called the predator.”
And as such, Su-hyeun decided not to continue with his charade in front of Bradley. He chose to come clean and see what his reactions would be like.
“The predator, you say?”
Bradley’s expression became unreadable after hearing Su-hyeun say that. It was a confusing expression, where he might or might not have an idea.
Su-hyeun couldn’t quite read the emperor’s thoughts from his expression alone. His reaction was too vague, and it was hard to tell whether he knew about the existence called the predator or not.
“Do you have any idea, Your Majesty?”
“No, I don’t. Maybe it’s not what I’m thinking of.”
“Unfortunately, I only know that much as well. I have no clue what it looks like nor where it could even be right now.”
“Is that so?”
“Can you think of something?”
“There’s one…”
“Your Majesty, what can it be?”
“I wonder. Hmm…” Bradley seemed to ponder on something after Su-hyeun’s question and then smirked softly. “If you wish to know more, then you should join me.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m actually in the middle of gathering strong individuals. If it’s you, I can even bestow you with a spot right next to me as the continent’s second most important being. So, how about it?”
The continent’s second most important being?
This decision seemed rather grave for something that asked for a quick yes or no. Su-hyeun ended up taken aback greatly by the offer. “Isn’t this headhunting attempt way too sudden?”
“What about it? I’ll just keep you around me, and if I don’t like something about you, either I’ll just cast you out or simply get rid of you. Because I’m stronger than you, right?”
Those words could be deemed quite harsh when spoken in front of the person in question. However, Su-hyeun didn’t find it strange for Bradley to say such things. Instead, he thought it suited the emperor rather well.
An arrogance that went beyond pure confidence but backed up by real abilities that ensured it wasn’t simply his conceit speaking.
Bradley was the “transcender” who possessed all these qualities.
“May I ask why you’re gathering strong individuals in the first place?” Su-hyeun asked.
“What do you mean, why?”
“Aren’t you strong enough to not care about forming a group?”
Su-hyeun stopped calling Bradley “His Majesty.”
But the latter didn’t pick a fault with that. He genuinely thought that Su-hyeun had ample qualifications to do so.
At least at this moment, no one in this world understood Bradley better than Su-hyeun. This was the type of problem that only those standing in the same realm as he could understand.
Indeed, what Su-hyeun said was correct. Bradley didn’t need to form a group anymore.
Which was obvious because he was already so powerful. Too powerful, in fact, that he could singlehandedly defeat an opposing group without the backing of his own group.
If he wished to appease his loneliness, then it would be more understandable, but what Bradley wanted was powerful individuals—as if he wanted to create an even stronger organization.
To Su-hyeun’s eyes, such an action seemed like a meaningless endeavor.
“The answer to that is connected to your earlier question,” the emperor replied.
“My earlier question, is it?”
“That creature called the predator. It sounds like someone that I know of.”
Su-hyeun’s eyes shot wide open at Bradley’s reply.
As he thought, he made the right call to come here. Bradley did indeed know about the creature called the “predator,” the ultimate goal of the trial given to Su-hyeun.
“What kind of being is it?”
“Didn’t I say it? If you want to know more, join me.”
“But, that—”
“I won’t hold onto someone who’s not willing. However, my goal of finding strong individuals is related to it.”
Snap—
Bradley lightly snapped his fingers before continuing, “Take your time and think about it. I’ll give you one day. Treat this place like your home and take a good rest. I’m sure you’re feeling worn out from all that traveling.”
“This is a bit…”
Su-hyeun formed a troubled expression at this sudden and out-of-control development.
Did the emperor want Su-hyeun as his subject when he said “join me”? If this was any other occasion, that was fine, but as he couldn’t get back to his own homeworld right now, he certainly didn’t feel like getting tied down by the empire’s matters and wasting his time.
“Ah, and by the way, this is a secret, but that creature called the predator?” Bradley suddenly said something else as if he was being generous as he got up from his spot and headed for the door to leave. “It’s a monster that preys upon the world. Well, that’s all I can tell you. I’m not sure if that’s the one you’re looking for, but if it is, then come see me tomorrow.”
Creak, thud—
And with those parting words, Bradley left the reception room.
Su-hyeun remained sitting in a daze from what the emperor told him.
“A monster that preys upon the world…”
Ache—
Suddenly, he felt a rush of a migraine.
It felt as if a piece of memory buried deep in the recess of his brain was floating back up to the surface. And this memory was not from Su-hyeun’s current life.
It was from…
“I shall devour you, and then, I’ll finish preying upon this world.”
Fafnir.
From his final battle against that abominable monster.