Grand Marshal Anglius’ face was pale as the pain of the runic pen moving across his skin was immense, but he remained steady until the last line of the bloodline matrix was complete. Only then did the middle-aged man allow his body to tremble for several seconds as he shook away the pain.
Vlad glanced from a distance at the massive body of the middle-aged man, and after giving some time for Grand Marshal Anglius to rest, he spoke. "How have things been going with Overlord? Are you adapting well?"
Grand Marshal Anglius was a little surprised by the sudden question. As he was about to speak, he stopped for a moment and looked around, searching for the right words.
Vlad smiled as he saw that and shook his head. "Don’t worry, you can speak freely. Overlord doesn’t care about your opinion. You could slander him, and as long as you are useful, he would still help you with all his capabilities."
Grand Marshal Anglius couldn’t help but glance at Vlad for a few seconds before speaking. "He is odd. His capabilities are beyond terrific, and even I cannot help but feel awe at his military tactics and logistics, but how he acts makes me uncomfortable." The middle-aged man paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Overlord’s behavior is that of a sage, always with a kind smile, but I can feel he looks at me and everyone else as if we were mere numbers, and if our usefulness diminished, he would discard us without hesitation."
Vlad remained silent. He had given the A.I. Chip Clone a human demeanor, and it did a great job projecting it, but there were those experienced and wise enough to see beyond it.
"You are right. Overlord doesn’t really care about you. He will protect the Xaos Kingdom with all his power, but if you or anyone else fails to meet its needs, he will replace you with someone who can." Vlad paused, then sighed before coldness appeared in his eyes. "Even loyalty is only a qualitative measurement to Overlord. Feelings do not matter; the only thing that matters is the improvement of the Xaos Kingdom and the progress of those who live in it."
Grand Marshal Anglius felt the weight of Vlad’s words, the gravity of the situation settling heavily in the air. "And what are your thoughts, my King?" he asked in a solemn tone, wanting to understand what drove the young man whose will and goals he followed.
Vlad patted the giant’s shoulder and looked at him, staring into his eyes with unwavering resolve. "Loyalty is very important to me, which is why I am giving you the tools needed to prove your worth. However, if Overlord determines that there is someone better for the job, I will seriously consider his suggestion."
The exchange hung in the air, the implications clear. The balance of power and trust within the Xaos Kingdom was delicate, and both men understood the stakes.
Grand Marshal Anglius nodded, a mix of determination and acceptance in his eyes. The kingdom’s future depended on their ability to adapt and excel, guided by the relentless logic of the Overlord and the unwavering will of their King.
He was not a child and understood that meritocracy was important. The King was giving him the tools to prove his might, and if, even with all this, he failed to prove he was the best man for the job, then he would accept the rise of others without complaint.
After that small exchange, Grand Marshal Anglius left, and it didn’t take long for Chief Councilor Alonz to appear. The old man was tactful and efficient as always, going to the rune laboratory before undressing himself.
Vlad did not waste time either and put the bloodline in his runic pen before carving the bloodline matrix. The one he had chosen for the old man was not one of the two Champion Tier bloodlines left but a Mortal Tier.
That was because while the Champion Tier Bloodline would improve battle power, Chief Councilor Alonz did not need that. There was one Mortal Tier Devil Bloodline whose abilities were what the old man needed to keep himself at a higher stage than everyone else regarding strategic and scheming decisions.
"How do you feel about Overlord?"
Chief Councilor Alonz was just relaxing after the strenuous process of engraving the bloodline matrix when he heard that question and turned toward Vlad. His eyes were sharp and thoughtful as he answered. "He will guide us to massive growth, but I don’t know if we will still be able to call ourselves a human civilization once all his plans are over."
Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and a pensive expression appeared. Overlord promised a significant advance, but the way the civilization would progress might carry a loss, as the A.I. Chip Clone would not leave things to chance.
Overlord would consistently choose the best people for the best jobs, which would undoubtedly improve efficiency but diminish the chance of people discovering new things about themselves and finding new abilities that can only be achieved through chance. It might sound minor, but trial and error was the core of humanity and one of the things that led to the creation of the entire race.
"We are in an apocalyptic world, with devils, demons, angels, and even gods lurking, ready to pierce their fangs into our necks and devour us. Sacrifices are accepted if it means that we will be the ones rising beyond the flames of war that will spread through the world." There was a solemn expression on Vlad as he uttered those words. A human civilization guided by artificial intelligence might lose something, but it would survive without engaging in inhumane acts.
Chief Councilor Aloz stared at Vlad for a few seconds before performing a solemn nod. "There is no such thing as a flawless plan in the world. As long as our people can rise safely and the dangers are mitigated, I will do what must be done." After that, the old man performed a deep bow before leaving the underground level of the Xaos Tower.