Antihero In the Hero Academy: I Can Connect the Past Heroes
Chapter 196: Vassals of the Duchy (5)

Chapter 196: Vassals of the Duchy (5)

"Rise, Emma Fort, never kneel to protect your lord."

With these words from Atlas, Emma stood up and waited proudly in a ready position.

Atlas reached into his inventory again and took out the family crest that had been discussed over the past few days, the one that would be given to Emma.

On the crest was a shield made by Atlas, with two swords behind it. Above the shield and swords was a star—the Shorekeeper’s star. The only star that would never fade, spreading hope across the world from the Epsilon Continent like a beacon of light.

When Atlas handed the emblem to Emma, she finally relaxed and calmly stepped back a few paces, saying, "My lord, I am at your service."

At that moment, everyone at the ball paused for a few seconds. It was as if they were hesitating. What was happening could even be seen as a challenge to the power of the Empire. After all, even those under Atlas’s control held power millions of times greater than that of the Empire.

Nevertheless, everything changed in an instant when Emperor Aether and Empress Aelia began to applaud. It became clear that Atlas and the Imperial Family had planned everything together.

It had been Atlas’s plan from the beginning to show the support of the Imperial Family in front of everyone. He wanted to show the nobles that they should keep their mouths shut, that he had already chosen his vassals.

However, the nobles of the Epsilon Empire also began to applaud, and so it was Iso’s turn.

When Atlas took a step aside, Iso stepped forward and then knelt down.

"Iso and his lineage are the only nobles who have served Cassandra Leonardi and the Leonardi family for a very long time and have also carried out many different tasks. Knowing this and personally trusting Iso, I wanted to make him my vassal," said Atlas. His face held a dear, pure smile against Iso.

He then chuckled and continued, "From this day forward, Iso and every member of his lineage will pledge themselves to the Shorkeeper lineage and only this lineage. Iso, a pure vampire, has given me his blood with his own hands, which shows that they will be loyal to the Shorkeeper lineage forever and will never even think of betraying it! On the creation and rules of Chaos."

With that, he said, ’Iso, I trust you, and I bestow upon you the surname Corbeau. Rise, Iso Corbeau, my dear eternal butler,’ and fell silent.

There was no need to touch Iso’s shoulders with a sword; after all, each person had a different purpose and rank. Knights were admitted to the ceremony according to their rank, while servants were admitted differently. Well, to be honest, nobody cared about it.

Still, there was no need to do such a thing for Iso. After all, these ceremonies were meant to demonstrate one’s loyalty to their lord. Iso had already settled everything by handing over the blood mark, the star of that blood, to Atlas.

Iso’s loyalty had already reached a sacred level in the eyes of the gods and goddesses.

"With that, I commend you for this armour and wish for you to live and die with the honour of this armour in the future," said Atlas, pulling out another piece of armour from his inventory.

This armour had a crow symbol on it, just like the surname given to Iso, with the crow itself chasing a star... the light of the Shorekeeper that would never fade.

Next in line was Lynx. When Iso moved into a comfortable position and took a few steps back, Lynx stepped forward and knelt down.

"They know a lot about you, at least within the empire. You saved dozens of women who had lost everything and were forced into prostitution. You gave homes to children left on the streets. You provided everyone with opportunities to work and hundreds of ways to save their lives. Perhaps you have the purest heart in the entire empire," Atlas had said.

With each of his words, the eyes around them began to fixate on Lynx. Lynx couldn’t help but smile. The fact that everything he had done so far, every hardship he had endured, had brought him to a position where he was being praised by perhaps the most powerful people in the world was a matter of pride.

"With the hope that you will continue everything you have done so far and even achieve greater things in the future, I appoint you as my third vassal and grant you the title of baron. Emma is my shield and sword, Iso is my service and kindness, and you will exist as my shadow and beyond," said Atlas.

Then, without hesitation, he added, "I bestow upon you the surname Ombre, Lynx. I give you this surname so that you and your descendants may live properly, never fall into darkness, but use that darkness perfectly for eternity."

Then he reached into his inventory one last time and pulled out another armour without hesitation.

This time, the armour was an eye... a pitch-black eye with a shining star inside. An eye that embraced the darkness but contained the light of the Shorekeepers, which would never fade.

"Rise, Lynx Ombre. Never fall before your enemies and always do what you have done all your life," Atlas said suddenly, handing the emblem to Lynx as he stood up.

Lynx assumed the same relaxed posture as the other two and took a few steps back.

Atlas suddenly looked at the nobles around him and, without pausing for a second, said, "I apologise for interrupting the ball. I couldn’t think of a better time to bestow ranks upon my vassals. Please let us continue with our current activity, the musical dance."

With that, the announcement of the vassals had come to an end.

Now, a musical dance would follow, and then the most important part of the day for Atlas would come: the presentations to the important nobles.