Antihero In the Hero Academy: I Can Connect the Past Heroes
Chapter 193: Vassals of the Duchy (2)

Chapter 193: Vassals of the Duchy (2)

"When I make a formal announcement in the presence of Emperor Aether and Empress Aelia at the peak of the ballroom, I want you to abandon your surname, Crocs. You will pledge your loyalty to me with the surname I will give you."

When Atlas finished speaking, Emma suddenly paused, unable to hide her surprise. Of course, what Atlas had said was a huge risk. If it had been someone else, even a member of the imperial family, Emma would have refused.

After all, you never knew when a noble would lose interest and discard someone like a piece of trash.

But what about Atlas? He... wouldn’t do such a thing, would he?

"I realise this is difficult to accept, Emma. It’s a big risk. But don’t misunderstand me. I don’t want to sever your ties with your family, my dear friend. The trust I have shown you, Emma, believe me, is worth millions of times more than the trust I have shown you so far. I will simply give you a new surname, and through that, you will be able to fully own a region within the Duchy." Atlas said suddenly, and Emma’s astonishment worried him.

Emma, upon hearing these words, paused for a few seconds and then knelt down:

"Master Atlas," Emma said suddenly.

"If you deem me worthy of that position, if you want me, Emma Crocs, to leave my old identity behind and move forward, I will do my best. You have given not only me but everyone in the former First Imperial Family Knight Order a new hope. You have not only given me but also Lady Eva the opportunity to worship you as nobles. If what you desire is my surname, take it. A single glance from you, a moment where you show your trust, is enough for me to die in your name. I will grow stronger, so that the names, reputations, or existences of other vampires or members of other races will not come to mind, and I can live as your knight, your sword, and your sorcerer."

When Emma’s words ended, a smile had formed on everyone’s face. Of course, everyone except the Sages had wholeheartedly believed Emma’s words; after all, for the Sages, Atlas was more than just an individual or a noble.

Still, even they couldn’t help but smile. They couldn’t even remember the last time they had seen a normal human child with such great devotion... except for Atlas, of course.

"Then be ready. On the night of the balloon we’ve prepared, your surname will now be [Fort]," Atlas replied, clearly telling Emma to stand up.

At the same time, Atlas turned his gaze to Iso.

"As for you, Iso, the only thing I know for certain is that Cassandra trusted you with her life and that you are truly an incredible servant. For that very reason, I will grant you the same vassal rank as Emma, that is, the rank of Baron within the Imperial rules. Unlike the warrior family I wish Emma to establish, what I ask of you is to establish a family of servants who will be loyal to the Duchy throughout their lineage." Atlas had said.

When Iso heard these words, he was filled with pride. From the moment he was born, Iso had fulfilled his mother’s duty... or rather, he had helped his mother. Iso’s mother, Cassandra, was responsible for every noble family in the southeastern region of the empire.

In short, Iso’s mother was a servant in the truest sense of the word, but she performed her duties as if she were a Sage in Cassandra’s place.

And she did so to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

Iso’s mother was a true example of perfection.

Atlas, however, knew this matter. This was sufficient for Iso to become a vassal. After all, two individuals like Atlas, who was deeply engaged in warfare, and Cassandra, who had the ability but was overly lazy, could not constantly remain at the helm of the Duchy.

Even if someone like Iso, who was optimistic enough to trust Cassandra with her life, did not sit on the Duke’s throne, the mere existence of someone with sufficient rank, ability, and control over the Duke’s people would have been enough to bring the entire city under his control, even in times of war.

In other words, Iso would become Atlas’s right-hand man, the Duke’s right-hand man, and that was how it should be.

When Iso heard these words, he fell to his knees, just like Emma had done.

"I have dedicated my life to Lady Cassandra, just as my mother, her father, and the rest of my family did. If you deem me worthy, I will do everything in my power to serve you and Lady Cassandra. Please allow me to place my life in your hands." Iso said suddenly, and with that, a piece of blood flew out of Iso’s hand.

All the Sages understood what had happened.

"Have you lost your mind?" Cassandra asked.

The piece of blood in Iso’s hand was shaped like a star. It was an item that only pure-blooded vampires could create. It showed that they had dedicated their lives to the person to whom they voluntarily gave this item, and it ensured that the person to whom they gave it would become their direct slave.

In short, Iso had offered Atlas something that ensured his own loyalty and the loyalty of everyone who would carry his blood in the future by sharing his blood directly.

This was something even Iso’s ancestors had never done for Cassandra.

Such loyalty had developed far too quickly and had reached such a high level.

"I cannot accept this," Atlas said suddenly. Of course, he did not want to accept it; taking that item, that piece of blood, would make Iso and his descendants his slaves. Atlas was, of course, opposed to this.

How could he do that? Even though he had not known Iso for long, Atlas trusted Cassandra’s views and thoughts.