Dragon Monarch System Chapter 1044:- Lies and Deception

Aditya's warm smile vanished in an instant. "The Celestial Dragon Empire requires its true Emperor."

"Your charade of deceiving everyone with a counterfeit Crown and occupying the False Throne of the Celestial Dragon Empire concludes now."

The entire hall fell into a stunned silence as these words left Aditya's lips. Every single person, irrespective of their allegiance, froze.

Only Boris, Athena, Laura, and Rin maintained their composure.

Even the Goddess of War regarded Ren with undisguised shock.

"You dispatched your operatives to the Dwarf Tribe residing within the Tunnel World, compelling their Tribe Leader to personally modify the runes, thereby enabling you to assume the throne and adorn the Crown."

"Aditya, what utter falsehoods are you spewing?" Ren, unable to stomach the revelation any longer, unleashed his full Aura, directing it at Aditya.

Before Ren's Aura could ensnare Aditya, the formidable Auras of Boris and Malakor Harrington surged forth, intercepting Ren's attack. The combined might of these two titans was so overwhelming that Ren found himself instantly suppressed.

A wave of suffocation washed over him, stealing his breath. His body suddenly felt as if it weighed fifty times its normal amount.

"Aditya, continue your address." Boris, acutely aware of the dire consequences of failing to secure the Crown and Throne, understood the gravity of the situation perhaps better than anyone.

"All this time, my dear cousin...!!!" Ren's gaze burned with murderous intent, yet he was restrained by the overwhelming power of Boris and Harrington. In that moment, regret for attending the funeral gnawed at him more intensely than ever before.

He had believed his preparations were thorough, his confidence absolute. However, what he mistook for confidence was merely hubris. He lamented his own overbearing self-assurance.

"My dear cousin has been presenting mere replicas to deceive the populace."

"Ren, is this allegation true?" Boris's demeanor shifted, resembling a furious Dragon on the precipice of losing control. The elder statesman cautiously advanced, positioning himself between Aditya and Ren.

Meanwhile, every noble present in the empire held their breath, a palpable tension filling the air. Standing before the ancient Emperor, who had governed the empire with an unyielding grip for over twenty millennia, induced a primal fear in all. Regardless of their power or influence, none could maintain complete equanimity in his presence.

Boris epitomized the image of a ruthless sovereign. Upon ascending the throne, he was green and lacked substantial backing. Yet, his reign witnessed a complete transformation. Through his decisive actions, formidable strength, and absolute authority, he elevated the Celestial Dragon Empire to unprecedented heights.

When he eventually abdicated, he bequeathed a powerful and stable empire, not a fragile or fractured one. He left it at the zenith of its prosperity, its Golden Age.

Ren offered no response. What words could he possibly utter in this predicament? Ren understood that admitting the truth or yielding even slightly would result in the defection of many of his supporters.

He had never anticipated Aditya's discovery of this secret. Despite the constant surveillance by his organization's scouts, who monitored his cousin relentlessly since his departure from the six continents, there were still periods where Aditya completely evaded detection. For instance, the organization possessed minimal to no intelligence regarding Aditya's clandestine meeting with the Dwarf Tribe Leader. Likewise, the existence of the secret tunnel, which he utilized for swift travel across the Sand Mirage Desert to rendezvous with his allies within hours, remained unknown.

Ren had not foreseen the Dwarf Tribe's allegiance to Aditya. Had he known that Aditya possessed such comprehensive knowledge, he would have opted for a direct assault rather than engaging in a confrontation at the funeral.

Observing Ren's continued silence, Boris's Aura intensified, now permeated with lethal intent and palpable anger.

Despite being a cultivator at the mid-7th order, Ren felt an overwhelming pressure. His lungs struggled to draw air, and he felt an almost irresistible urge to collapse onto his knees. Yet, he would not allow such a moment to transpire. Even facing the suppression of the former Emperor Boris, Ren refused to yield.

His innate pride and ego dictated that death was preferable to bending his knee or falling prostrate.

"As the Emperor, he invariably carries the Crown with him." Aditya's gaze shifted from Ren to Boris.

"Instruct him to produce the Crown. Grandpa, you have borne that sacred object for nearly twenty thousand years. Surely, you are the most qualified individual in this assembly to ascertain its authenticity."

"Ren, present the Crown," Boris commanded, his voice resonating with fury. Aditya had not divulged this particular detail to Boris when he introduced him to his parents. Boris already held a low opinion of Ren, recognizing him as one of the individuals who saw through Ren's facade.

Having absorbed all the information from Aditya and his son, Boris found it difficult to fathom such a disappointment stemming from his own lineage. His fury surged, compelling him to the brink of ending Ren’s life personally; he believed it preferable to extinguish his own kin before this disgrace could further tarnish the Royal Family’s name.

Ren was adrift, his meticulously crafted plans unraveling. His imagined funeral scenario, where Aditya would arrive with two goddesses only to be publicly humiliated by Ren and his loyalists, had taken a drastic turn.

The solemn arrival of the Goddess of War hadn't featured in his funeral fantasy. Seeing the old Emperor Boris accompanying Aditya was the absolute last twist he had anticipated.

"Esteemed Mister Boris, Ren currently holds the title of Emperor for the Celestial Dragon Empire. Though the throne and crown may not yet acknowledge him as the rightful sovereign, he is, nonetheless, the Emperor of this realm," stated Ren’s staunchest ally and the current Prime Minister of the Celestial Dragon Empire.

"I demand that you show him the respect due to an Emperor."

Boris directed a chilling gaze at Murphy. The Prime Minister felt a tremor of fear under the Old Emperor’s icy stare. However, revealing their apprehension at this juncture would only exacerbate their precarious position, leading to an even more unfavorable outcome.

The situation would inevitably worsen for them.

"Son of Barajas, as the Prime Minister, your understanding of imperial protocol should be unparalleled. Without the endorsement of the Royal Crown and the Empire's Throne, no individual possesses the legitimate right to don the crown or occupy the throne. Consequently, it is evident that Ren, at this very moment, is deemed unfit to reign as Emperor," Boris asserted.

Boris then addressed the assembled crowd. "This also implies that those who foolishly chose to align themselves with the Emperor are, in fact, supporting a ruler unworthy of governing this Empire."

Boris's strategy was transparent: to leverage this critical juncture to consolidate support. If the noble houses rallied behind Aditya, Ren's refusal to abdicate would become immaterial. With the collective might of all noble houses united, they could swiftly depose him and strip him of his authority within a mere twelve hours, thereby averting a protracted and devastating conflict.

For the former Emperor, this represented the most advantageous resolution to the civil strife. After all, he had dedicated over 20,000 years of his existence to the construction and preservation of the empire. The prospect of witnessing the noble houses turn on one another and invite internal destruction filled him with profound distress. The empire succumbing to the ravages of civil war was a vision that deeply pained his heart.

He had endured immense hardship, engaged in countless battles, and made significant sacrifices, only to see everything disintegrate so rapidly.

Positioned behind Ren, the four National Treasures acted as a bulwark, shielding him from the oppressive force of Boris’s aura.

A measure of resolve began to dawn within Ren. He surveyed the assembly before fixing his gaze upon his grandfather.

"Indeed, I cannot don the Royal Crown."

"Indeed, I cannot occupy the royal throne."

"However, the reasons extend far beyond mere unsuitability."

"My concise explanation is that my uncle, consumed by anger towards my cousin, opted to alter the mystical runes on the Crown and Throne, intending to preclude Aditya from ever assuming the emperorship. In his attempt, however, he inadvertently caused damage to these intricate runes."

"This unfortunate event necessitated my subsequent contact with the very same Dwarf Tribe upon ascending to the position of Emperor. The revered Ancestors of this tribe were the original artisans responsible for the creation of both the Royal Crown and the Royal Throne."

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