Chapter 62 Caesar! Caesar! Caesar! Onphalus today…

Onphalus is peaceful today, just as it always is.

On the surface, of course.

[Caesar]'s methods were swift and decisive—especially towards the nobility and the Senate. She was a dictator, ruthless in her political methods, and showed no mercy in punishing those who rebelled against the city-state. However, she was also a wise ruler, selecting virtuous and capable officials, loving her people like her own children, and being fair in rewards and punishments...

No wonder people linger by the fountain all day, gazing at the magnificent rainbow reflected in the sky by the water droplets, and chanting devoutly and gratefully—

Ah, praise be to Caesar!

However, one downside is that Crydella is just too much of a worker.

Her ambitions were far from being satisfied by Onphalus. What lay hidden in the wider world beyond the heavens? Were there numerous city-states or a prosperous empire? In any case, given the opportunity, she would eventually be conquered by [Caesar].

“But you’ve been working for two days straight, it’s time for you to take a break, Caesar.”

[Sword Banner] Heather stepped forward, and Krydela took a break from her heavy paperwork to glance at her. Sunlight shone through her strange, transparent abdomen, where the seawater swayed slightly.

Faced with the advice of her trusted subordinate, Kerudela pondered for a moment, then nodded:

“You’re right, Sword Banner Lord. Necessary rest is the foundation for maintaining efficiency. Although I am a demigod, rest is optional for me... but my subjects are still [human], and only by living like humans can I truly understand their feelings.”

Hathaway stepped forward and handed her a cloak. Krydela took it, wrapped it around her shoulders, and relaxed, leaning back on the soft recliner.

"Step down."

"Yes. I will wait outside the door to protect you, and be ready to obey your orders at any time."

...

After taking over the authority of the [law], Cerberus rarely dreamed anymore.

Dreams often reflect what we care about when we are awake. When the famous Caesar was a little girl, she also had a few dreams of adventure and cute, childlike fun.

But today's dream was clearly different.

Krydella stood in the very center of a vast white space, showing no sign of panic. Instead, she raised an eyebrow with interest.

She tried to touch the edge of the space and felt that familiar power that connected her to the Titans.

Who needs to see Caesar?

She raised her head, remaining calm despite being in the open while the other was in the shadows.

"State your name! Your power... I am very interested. If you are willing to submit to me, I will forgive your rudeness and bestow upon you glory!"

A flash of light appeared before their eyes, and a gray-haired girl walked in front, followed by a familiar red-haired child.

Crydella's gaze swept over your face with scrutiny, and when she saw Tian, ​​she was genuinely surprised.

"...Oh? Lord Destiny?"

“Little Caesar!” Tian waved at her. “*We* aren’t the *we* you know… No, Tian isn’t the Tian you know now… Ah, that doesn’t sound right either. Ugh, usually it’s Tian who speaks at this time…! Little Grey—”

You took over the conversation, "Your Highness Caesar, please forgive our rudeness. We were forced to resort to this tactic, but it concerns the future of Onphalus and the truth of the world..."

Krydella's expression turned serious. "...Tell me about it."

...

"That's it in a way."

You briefly described to her the current schemes of the Laugh Tale and the dangers of the Iron Tomb, and explained to her the truth that Onpharos was actually just a place to [destroy] this experimental breeding ground.

Krystal remained silent throughout. You could see her tightly pursed lips and furrowed brows. Although she didn't utter a single word, you could glimpse the tremor in her eyes.

"You mean to say that I am a fraud, my subjects are frauds, and even my achievements are all frauds?"

Her tone was calm and composed.

You nodded hesitantly, secretly wondering what to do next if she refused to accept the truth.

"...Although it sounds cruel, it is indeed the truth. We are discussing this with you first, and have not announced it to the public directly, in order to respect your status as a monarch, and your subjects will always be your subjects..."

Krydella knows you're not lying.

The power of this dream... she was all too familiar with it. The Tian before her possessed the same [Gateway] power as in reality, and she could also vaguely sense [Time] and [Earth] surrounding her... The connection with the Golden Blood was undeniable, and this was the best ironclad proof. The boiling golden blood within her body was constantly proclaiming your honesty.

“This Laigushi, [the audience of the gods]... I have seen him, but only briefly.”

You know that Lycus is impatient and wants to strike first to gain Caesar's trust, since she still holds a considerable amount of power, but she is overwhelmed by the constant trouble caused by the Black Tower and Ros Goum.

"...That girl named Ruan Mei among you, can she help Onpharos return to the trajectory of the stars?"

You said confidently, "Yes, as long as we defeat Lygus and restore peace to Onpharos—"

"I agree."

"Please give our plan careful consideration... eh?"

“I said, I agree,” Cerberus emphasized again, and said decisively, “Why the surprised look? Is it that hard to believe? Now that you have proven your loyalty and ability, and it is beneficial to your subjects, what reason do I have to refuse?”

“If this plan isn’t secure enough, then add the power of [the Law]. Four demigods are enough to support the vast dream that envelops the entire Onpharos and keep it hidden from the [divine audience] for a while…”

"If you worry that your words will have no effect on the citizens of the city-state and will not gain their trust, then let me proclaim this cruel and sobering truth—my soldiers never fear battle or resistance, indulging in false pleasures is not [Caesar's] style, and conquering a false world is not [Caesar's] end—"

"I will lead my people, in the true galaxy, to proclaim to the universe—[Caesar]'s arrival!"

*

Night falls, [Singing by the Sea] Stikosia.

Most citizens were already asleep, with only one or two ignorant drunkards occasionally passing by the courtyard, muttering to themselves, before collapsing into the flowerbeds and falling asleep amidst the fragrance of the blossoms.

...The streets were deserted. Even Caesar himself, unusually, ordered the lights to be turned off today, ignoring the mountains of official documents. Instead of going to bed, he sat upright on his throne, as if he were facing not an empty hall, but a debate arena where the gods were arguing.

Heather harbored doubts, but she could not disobey Caesar's orders, so she simply kept her questions to herself and waited by her throne as usual.

"What time is it now, Lord Sword Banner?"

“It’s almost time for the curtain to fall, Caesar.”

“Very good.” Krystal nodded.

In the silence, the clock quietly ticked around a few more times.

A muffled bell tolled in the distance.

"Thump—thump—thump—"

Heather suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

A powerful wave of drowsiness washed over her, one she could neither resist nor withstand, allowing her consciousness to sink into an endless abyss. She couldn't help but speak, her first concern being for the monarch's safety—

"Caesar...!"

But in the darkness, Cerberus's eyes shone with an astonishing light, and her entire body radiated a golden glow, making the night seem like daytime.

That is... the power of the law.

Hazel didn't understand why she did this, or why she used the power of the [Law] to its limit, even though it was also hurting her body. But the moment she saw the golden light, she closed her heavy eyelids.

That was an attitude of complete trust.

At the same moment, all the subjects of Onphalus, whether they were subjects of Caesar or not, whether they were of the Golden Clan or ordinary citizens, saw a huge phantom of Cerrudra in their dreams, which occupied the entire dream, and the crown on her head seemed to pierce the sky and reach beyond the heavens.

Caesar's soldiers cheered, "Caesar! That's Caesar! Our commander!"

The citizens of the city-state, protected by Caesar, exclaimed, "Caesar! That's Caesar! Our sovereign!"

In cities and villages where Caesar's cavalry had not yet set foot, villagers and citizens exclaimed in horror, "...Caesar! That's Caesar! That tyrant!"

"People of Onphalus! Farmers, craftsmen, oracles, debaters... and citizens!"

Crydella looked down upon the beings on the ground, her body shimmering with four different Titan powers, standing tall and majestic, like a divine miracle.

"Your Caesar has seen the truth of the world! We are not real life, but lies of the scepter; we are not free people of flesh and blood, but pawns to be manipulated! Everything we possess is false, and Caesar has received the revelation to pave the way and lead Onphalus on a new journey!"

"—People! Subjects! Rebel! Use the will to resist as your weapon to defend your rights as free people! The [Savior] from beyond the heavens has descended—[Savior], come forward!"

You slowly step forward.

Everyone gasped in surprise when they saw a serious-looking gray-haired girl appear beside Caesar, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

But her eyes were like two burning suns, her gray hair like a dark dawn, and her attire was strange, yet carried a fresh, peculiar air like fragments of the Milky Way.

"Together with [the Savior], Caesar will lead all of Onphalus to tear apart fate and conquer the vast starry sky! People, answer me, are you willing to rebel, willing to take up arms for Caesar, for yourselves—?"

"..."

Scattered cheers arose, mostly from Caesar's subjects:

"Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!"

A larger wave of sound joined in, mixing male and female timbres, aged and youthful voices:

"Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!"

The waves of sound surged one after another, seemingly threatening to overturn the entire dream, causing all of Onpharos's [memory] to tremble:

"Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!"

Heather lowered her head and smiled helplessly.

"This is really... reckless."