I Have 10,000 SSS Rank Villains In My System Space

Chapter 509: Commander Lucian

The moment Lucian’s words fell into the silence of the Sovereign Hall, the atmosphere visibly changed. It wasn’t that anyone released their aura or stood up in anger. Rather, the entire hall seemed to tighten by itself. The air suddenly felt heavier, and the expressions on several World Regents subtly changed.

Some narrowed their eyes. Others quietly looked between Lucian and the sword hanging at Razeal’s waist. It was, objectively speaking, a very reasonable proposal. If the true value lay within the sword itself rather than its owner, then naturally someone would eventually wonder whether the weapon alone was enough. It wasn’t an outrageous question. In fact, for rulers who constantly made decisions based upon the survival of the world, it was perhaps one of the most practical questions that could be asked.

Yet... practicality didn’t necessarily mean wisdom. There were things that looked simple on the surface but carried consequences far greater than anyone expected.

But.. Before Lucian could say anything further, Nerrisa gently smiled, her platinum eyes calmly settling upon him.

"Trust me..." she said in the same soft, relaxed voice as before, almost sounding amused. "...I wouldn’t do that if I were you."

She even gave a small shrug afterward, as though speaking casually to an old acquaintance rather than addressing one of the strongest men in the world. There was no threat in her words. No warning spoken directly. She didn’t say, Don’t do it. She didn’t say, You’ll regret it.

Yet somehow... everyone inside the Sovereign Hall understood exactly what she meant. Hidden beneath that light tone was a warning so obvious that none of the World Regents failed to notice it.

Those seated around this table weren’t ordinary people. They had lived for centuries, ruled continents, commanded wars and negotiated with countless kings. Reading between the lines had become second nature to them.

Lucian himself though simply continued looking at Razeal without changing his expression, though several of the other Regents quietly exchanged brief glances.

A few of those who knew little about Razeal finally began realizing that perhaps the young man standing before them wasn’t nearly as simple as he appeared. It wasn’t entirely surprising.

Lucian came from the Wasteland Continent, a place where every day was spent holding back endless monsters and rebuilding civilization from ruins. Managing an entire continent like that demanded almost all of his attention. Compared to that, the affairs of distant continents rarely interested him unless they directly affected his people.

Razeal’s name, while famous elsewhere, simply hadn’t been important enough to reach the center of Lucian’s attention. To many ordinary people he had become a small dumb front news in a very short time. But to rulers who governed entire continents... he was still, until today, little more than an unfamiliar young man.

Just then, another voice echoed calmly throughout the hall, heavier than most yet carrying a strange dignity that naturally drew everyone’s attention.

"He is my son-in-law..." the voice said with a faint smile. "...and the son of Merisa Virelan. So I hope World Regent Lucian will go easy on him. He is still just a young child... after all."

Every eye immediately shifted toward the speaker. It was King Julius.

The King of Atlantis. The World Regent who represented the vast kingdoms beneath the seas and much of the world’s oceanic domains.

He leaned comfortably upon his magnificent throne while resting one hand upon the Sacred Trident of the Sea, the divine treasure that had accompanied Atlantis since ancient times. His long deep-ocean-colored hair flowed smoothly backward behind him like calm waves beneath moonlight, while his majestic beard carried the same rich blue hue. His deep ocean-colored eyes were gentle, calm and unfathomably deep, almost resembling the endless sea itself.

A faint smile rested upon his face as he spoke, making it seem as though he were merely making casual conversation. Yet everyone present immediately understood the true meaning hidden behind his words. He hadn’t spoken only for Lucian. He had spoken for everyone seated around the table.

By mentioning Merisa Virelan and openly declaring Razeal as his own son-in-law, he had quietly reminded every World Regent that this young man standing before them was not without backing. Behind him stood the Virelan family... and Atlantis itself. Whether intentionally or not, Julius had just made it very clear that anyone thinking about the mysterious sword would first have to consider far more than the weapon alone.

Lucian slowly turned his head toward Julius. Several other World Regents did the same. A few of those who hadn’t known this relationship before unconsciously raised their eyebrows.

One Regent quietly blinked in surprise. Another leaned back slightly upon his throne while silently piecing together this unexpected information.

Haaa?... the rumors were true? one silently wondered. Merisa’s exiled son... and Atlantis’ son-in-law... The young man before them suddenly seemed even more complicated than before.

"So..." a curious feminine voice suddenly sounded from another side of the council table.

"He’s the one you told me about?" The speaker was a beautiful slender woman with long elegant ears seated upon a throne woven entirely from the roots and living vines of an ancient tree. The throne itself seemed alive, its green branches slowly wrapping around one another while tiny leaves gently swayed despite the complete absence of wind.

"The one you fought against?" She leaned back gracefully against it before turning her head toward the young woman standing respectfully behind her. Genuine curiosity could be heard in her voice. The woman standing behind the throne possessed beautiful long emerald-green hair flowing down her back together with equally striking green eyes.

The moment the question reached her, she quietly nodded without saying a word. Yet the expression upon her face changed noticeably as her gaze returned to Razeal. Astonishment. Genuine astonishment.

She had never expected that one day he would appear inside the Sovereign Hall itself... standing before every World Regent in existence.

For a brief moment she simply stared at him, almost struggling to connect the memories in her mind with the person now standing at the center of the world’s highest council.

Their small exchange didn’t go unnoticed.

The World Regent seated beside the living tree throne quietly lifted one eyebrow before slowly turning his head toward the green-haired woman. His calm eyes carefully observed her expression, silently putting one piece together with another.

The man himself possessed a calm yet naturally intimidating presence despite remaining completely still. He was tall and lean, with skin so pale it almost appeared white beneath the hall’s light. Long silver-white hair flowed well past his shoulders, framing a sharp face marked by high cheekbones and a strong jawline.

Resting upon his head was one of the most unusual crowns among the World Regents. It had been forged entirely from ancient black metal, from which two large twisted antlers rose outward like the branches of an ancient tree that had witnessed countless ages. Thin black spikes and vine-like pieces stretched between the antlers, while several tiny glowing blue crystals rested within the crown itself, quietly shining like imprisoned spirit lights.

It was a crown that spoke nothing of wealth or royal luxury. Instead, it the crown looks ancient, wild, and connected to spirits.

His pale blue eyes quietly shifted from the green-haired woman... to Razeal... then back again. He said nothing. Yet the thoughtful look upon his face made it obvious that he had already begun connecting their reactions with everything that had he had knew and heard here and there.

If Razeal had happened to look in their direction, he would have recognized all three of them immediately.

The beautiful woman seated upon the living throne woven entirely from ancient vines and massive branches was none other than the Elven Queen, Elessa Vanyaloren herself. Even while sitting quietly, she carried the elegance that only an elf who had lived for centuries could possess.

The living vines of her throne gently shifted around her as though responding to her very existence, while countless tiny green leaves quietly swayed despite there being no wind inside the Sovereign Hall. Standing respectfully behind her was a familiar face.

Sylva... of the Faerelith Family. The same young women who had once stepped into the Duel of Honor in Areon’s place fighting with Razeal herself.

Beside the Elven Queen sat another extraordinary figure.

Upon the ancient Spirit Throne sat Aurelion, the Spirit King.

Whose pale blue eyes quietly shifted between Sylva, the Elven Queen and Razeal, silently putting together the reactions he had just witnessed. He didn’t interrupt. He simply watched with thoughtful curiosity, allowing the pieces to slowly connect inside his mind.

While everyone’s attention remained divided among one another, King Julius calmly continued speaking. The gentle smile upon his face never disappeared, and even his tone remained warm and polite, making it almost impossible to feel offended by his words. It was as though he genuinely wished to avoid creating conflict rather than adding to it.

"Not to mention..." Julius said while lightly resting one hand upon the Sacred Trident of the Sea, "...taking away another person’s possession would be quite an embarrassing thing to do for a knight of your caliber." His deep ocean-colored eyes calmly met Lucian’s.

"Someone like you... I simply don’t believe would ever choose such a path." He paused for a brief moment before his smile softened even further. "And other thing.. I believe everyone seated at this table possesses at least that much dignity as World Regents." His words were carefully chosen. He wasn’t accusing Lucian for his intent or words. He wasn’t mocking him either. Instead, he gently reminded everyone present of the honor that came with sitting upon the highest council in the world. It wasn’t merely a defense of Razeal. It was a reminder of who they themselves were supposed to be.

Lucian slowly turned his head toward Julius. The understanding in his eyes became slightly clearer after hearing Razeal’s connection with the Virelan Family and Atlantis, and Julius’ intervention certainly gave him more information than he had possessed a few moments ago.

Yet despite that, his expression barely changed. His face remained as calm and serious as ever. There was no embarrassment. No anger. No irritation. Only quiet thoughtfulness. After a few seconds, he slowly nodded once before speaking again.

"I understand that." His voice remained steady. "But that doesn’t change the core of my concern." His eyes gradually returned toward Razeal.

"The greatest reason he has been invited here..." he said slowly, carefully choosing every word, "...is because he possesses a weapon with extraordinary capabilities." His gaze naturally drifted toward the sword hanging quietly at Razeal’s waist.

"If that is truly the greatest reason... then its even more reason for us to be concerned about " He paused briefly.

"...because it can be taken away." His words weren’t spoken maliciously. They were spoken almost like a military commander explaining a battlefield reality.

"Anything that can simply be taken away..." Lucian continued while looking back into Razeal’s crimson eyes, "...can never be considered true personal strength. Every one of us sitting here understands that." The Sovereign Hall once again became completely silent.

"So my question is very simple." His eyes never left Razeal. "If we remove the sword..." Another brief pause followed. "...then what remains?" Nobody interrupted him. Every World Regent quietly listened. Lucian continued, his calm voice carrying surprising weight despite never becoming louder.

"Is that sword... truly all of his capability?" he asked.

"Because if it is..." His eyes slowly swept across the council table. "...then perhaps this would not be the Fifteenth Throne given to him..." He looked back toward the young man standing before him. "...but the first throne ever given to a sword." The final sentence settled heavily throughout the chamber.

"Not to mention... are personal relationships now being considered part of someone’s strength? Since when did that become a thing in this council?"

And this time even King Julius slowly became silent.

His smile faded just a little as he quietly thought over Lucian’s words.

Around the table, several World Regents unconsciously looked toward one another. None of them immediately answered. They couldn’t simply dismiss what Lucian had said because... it carried genuine weight.

A weapon, no matter how extraordinary, was still an external object. If the only qualification for becoming a World Regent was possessing something powerful, then the council itself would eventually become a competition over treasures rather than people.

Several Regents quietly nodded inside their minds, acknowledging that Lucian had raised an important point. Even those who already supported Razeal couldn’t deny the logic behind the question. The atmosphere inside the Sovereign Hall tightened once again. Not because anyone was angry, but because the discussion had now reached the true heart of the matter. Everyone waited to hear how the Empress would answer.

Then...

Nerrisa gently spoke once more.

Her calm voice naturally eased the tension filling the chamber.

"Yes..."

She softly nodded.

"Your reasoning is very reasonable Lucian."

Not a single hint of disagreement appeared on her face.

Instead, she openly acknowledged the point he had made.

"But..."

Her platinum eyes shifted toward Razeal for a brief moment before returning to Lucian.

"Even if that sword is the biggest reason... it is far from being my only reason for inviting him to this council."

She smiled faintly.

"There are many other reasons."

The expressions around the table quietly changed again.

Several World Regents narrowed their eyes with renewed curiosity.

Lucian himself remained completely silent, waiting for her to continue.

Nerrisa’s gentle smile widened ever so slightly.

"And..."

She looked directly at Lucian.

"When I told you earlier not to try taking that sword..."

"I wasn’t saying it because of his background."

"It wasn’t because he is Merisa Virelan’s son."

"It wasn’t because King Julius is his father-in-law."

"And it certainly wasn’t because he is my own nephew."

She calmly shook her head.

"It was because of him."

She looked toward Razeal once again.

"His own capabilities."

A faint smile appeared on her face, one that carried both admiration and amusement at the same time.

"He is... the most talented child I have ever seen."

She paused for only a heartbeat before adding with a quiet chuckle,

"...although that statement is made while completely ignoring his absolutely ridiculous personality... and all the stupid things that come along with it."

"And as for anyone here who still isn’t convinced..." Nerrisa suddenly said with the same relaxed smile resting upon her face, casually looking around the ancient table.

"...you are free to find out the answer yourselves i and no one here would stop them." She gave a light shrug before the smile on her lips widened just a little more.

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