Emperor's Reckoning

The woman had a smile on her face as she nodded, "Are you alright?"

Lyon blinked a couple of times. He saw that she was wearing simple clothing but his eyes were caught by hers. Alluring dangerously the woman crossed her arm under her bosom as she raised her eyebrows.

"Oh," Lyon regained his composure. "I'm fine."

"Are you now," said the woman as she smiled. Her lips were thin with a vibrant cherry color smeared on them.

"Are you Cherie's sister?" asked Lyon once again. He could very well see the resemblance but the one in front of him brought mature bearing just by the way she stood. He could tell that she was an experienced woman by a glance. 

"I see that you have a way with words," said the woman before she introduced herself, "The name is Wanda, Wanda Sverine."

"Wanda," Lyon muttered as if he had heard the name.

"Do not need to pretend, I know you have no idea who I am," said Wanda before she revealed her position, "I'm the queen of the Sverine Kingdom, Wanda Sverine, Cherie's mother."

Lyon raised his eyebrows as he was surprised that the queen herself would bump into him. He immediately spread his divine sense before noticing that the woman in front of her was alone.

(Why is such a high-status woman like herself be alone in this lonely alley) thought Lyon as he contemplated.

"You are really high alert," said Wanda as she smiled. 

Lyon would have been elated seeing a beautiful woman such as herself smile but the smile in a lonely alley could mean something else. He had not pried into the four kingdoms at all. He didn't know what was wrong with the Sverine Kingdom, or rather, what was right.

"Might I ask your majesty, what is your purpose in meeting me here?" asked Lyon with a smile.

He knew that she purposely bumped into him, no less in a remote alley. There was no way a high-status queen such as herself came with no guard made a bump to a young man like him without a goal. She didn't seem to be the aloof type of person.

"You're sharp as well," Wanda smirked.

"The moon is high up in the sky and illuminates us, I'm sure that you are not here for a night of debauchery," Lyon crossed his arms.

"You have your way with words but what makes you think it's not about debauchery?" said Wanda as her sultry tone turned up.

Lyon opened his eyes wide as he caught Wanda giving him a lascivious look. (Damn... I guess I can see who holds the power in the Sverine Kingdom).

"What does your majesty mean by that?" said Lyon as he refrained to open his cross arms. "You know that if we were caught by someone, it would be unfavorable for Sverine as a whole."

"Heh," Wanda changed her tone, "You didn't even blush, how peculiar and vexing at the same time."

"It will take more than that to make me blush," said Lyon as he smirked.

"You're no fun," smiled Wanda before she continued, "I'm here regarding the request that my daughter has made."

"Ah, I see," nodded Lyon. "I will have to refuse."

"I know," Wanda nodded.

"Hm?" Lyon slightly furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"I'm here to ask why," said Wanda as she puckered up a smile before she turned around. She put her hand on her back as she watched the night sky while she uttered, "You are antagonizing Hezar, Pala Kingdom is practically after your head, however, due to the tournament, they could only do so much, but what if the tournament is over? They would surely come to the Mortal World and destroy your loved ones."

"The longevity of the Pala Kingdom will depend on their own decision."

"Hm?" Wanda turned around before she raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean by that?"

Lyon shrugged his shoulder, "I'm only here to kill Hezar since he wanted to kill me, and also because he holds the three leaders of the Mortal World hostage."

"I see."

"Hm? You don't seem to be surprised by that."

Wanda shook her head, "Why would I? It was obvious to the naked eyes that they were from the Mortal World, I just didn't know what their position was, at least coherently. However, you spilled the beans just know."

"I guess so," said Lyon. (I can see why she is a queen, such acute awareness).

"But what do you mean by Pala Kingdom's longevity?"

Lyon smirked as he looked at the bright full moon reigning the night. "If they decide to interfere, then they will come to an end."

Wanda was smitten by the charming face that was basked by the moonlight. The words might sound absurd if it was said by the common men, but the look, the gaze that the young man gave to the queen of the night was that of confidence.

"Fu~" Wanda chuckled under her arm as her eyes narrowed. "You and what army? I doubt the Mortal World would aid you in this heroic endeavor of yours."

"Aid?"

"Huh?"

Lyon smirked before he turned his glance toward the queen of the Sverine Kingdom, "There is no need to ask for aid, my forces are enough to overkill the Pala Kingdom."

Wanda was a bit surprised (Is this guy a fool or a brave one? Cherie, are you really sure you want to hire this man to be your subordinate? Is he worth offending the Pala Kingdom?). She furrowed her eyebrows. (I will pry further then).

"Lyon, why do you decide to join the tournament?" asked Wanda as she smiled. 

"Huh?" That sharp gaze of his immediately vanished before he scratched the back of his head, "Haha, well, my subordinate told me so."

Her eyebrows twitched in disbelief as she tightened her lips. Her mind immediately crashed as she didn't expect that kind of answer, no less from a mortal cultivator.