Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 226: I’m going to kill you

He watched their reaction, but they didn’t act surprised. They looked at the tower warily, though.

Lieutenant Patel cleared her throat and locked eyes with Vale. "I am not a spy, but I still don’t see the reason why we have to do this."

Vale shrugged. "You’ll see soon enough."

He gestured to Martin, who snorted. "You want to split the Clan by internal war. This will weaken us. Maybe this was why your father exiled you."

Vale didn’t reply. He only smiled faintly. ...You switch up so fast...

Martin continued, his words gaining strength. "You want an army to fight your brother, splitting the Clan for others to pick apart. Also, by right, isn’t he the first to take the seat?"

Vale nodded as if he agreed.

Lieutenant Hall jumped in. "Even if he is illegitimate, you cannot deny the blood that flows through him. And it is the same as yours!"

Vale was getting bored with them, so he turned to the remaining man—Lieutenant Gray. "And you? Are you a spy too? It’s no wonder Thrain was so relaxed. He had three of the Lieutenants in his hands. And you all knew he was going to kill your commander. I wonder which one of you is promised the post?"

They froze, but they didn’t immediately rush to deny it. Patel turned to them, her eyes going wide. She was the only one who was not a spy—at least, not Thrain’s spy.

She couldn’t believe it. "You guys knew? You knew Wrt was going to get betrayed? Well, shit. He did betray someone, but seriously? And we were shining teeth together all this while?"

Gray shifted, uncomfortable. "I’m not a spy...!!"

The moment he told the lie, something invisible grabbed hold of his throat. He stuttered as he was lifted up, his legs kicking wildly. Before the others could react to what was happening, he had been released, sent falling ungracefully to the ground.

Vale raised his wine cup. "No lies."

Their eyes turned dark and furious at that, and the silence was only broken by Gray’s coughing. Patel glanced from the three to Vale and then back again, her eyes shadowed.

They had been found out. The only thing they could do to change the situation was a simple thing, and something that would let them reap a lot of rewards in the Capital.

Martin grunted. "Patel, can you leave us? We have some work to do here."

And that thing was to kill him. Kill Young Master Vale Athrimir. They all knew it. The air shuddered as everyone prepared their essence.

Vale himself was looking forward to it. Since his advancement, he hadn’t really had a proper fight, but now three powerful Errant Knights were willing to fight him. It wasn’t something he could just let pass.

Patel opened her mouth and closed it. She shook her head and stood up. "I will make a bigger shield around this place."

Then she was gone.

Martin grinned. "Now we can kill you without distraction."

"Then you’re planning to kill her later," Vale said, pointing at the door where Patel had just left.

"It’s a necessary sacrifice," Hall said.

Vale nodded. "I understand, but I’d rather she live. She will be the one to directly command the army, after all. I don’t have the time to do such things."

Gray barked out a laugh. "You’re talking as if we will be the ones to die. Open your eyes, boy. We are three Errant Knights, and you are one."

Vale opened his mouth and blew a small lick of fire in their faces.

The air around Martin solidified and spread, snuffing out the fire before it reached them. Then his large hand came down on the solidified air, and he pulled it toward himself.

The air in the room twisted. The table in front of Vale, with all the papers and books, collapsed as if a great force had slammed into it, and then everything was sent flying toward the big man—including Vale.

He allowed the big man to catch him, his armored hand on his shoulder. "See? You shouldn’t have voluntarily walked to your death."

Then the man punched him in the gut... or at least, he tried to. Vale caught the fist with his hand and grinned at the surprised look on the man’s face. "Don’t you think you talk too much for an old man?"

The other two jumped him, but he was ready for that. With a thought, he sent the whole room on fire. The forceful explosion sent everything and everyone flying back.

Except for Martin, who caught himself in a torrent of wind. "What is that fire?"

He didn’t have time to wait for an answer. A fire spear exploded in front of the shield, but the attack couldn’t pass through. The fire roared, spreading like red ink, and out of it, a fist wrapped in a red glow emerged and slammed into the wind shield with shattering force.

The wind shield shattered, and Vale was within the man’s space, grinning. Suddenly, he jerked to a stop and stared at himself blankly. He frowned at the big man in front of him. "Who are you? Who am I?"

He didn’t even remember what he was doing here or how he got there.

It was the magic of Hall. He was a Mystic Order Knight with mind magic. The man smiled. "A few minutes now, and I’ll be the one controlling him."

Martin smiled. "Good. You should do that to Patel later as well. We still need her for the army, but she knows too much. This is why I like fighting together with you, Hall. So easy."

Then they saw the black tower float closer.

The last law that Vale passed was that of no lies, and it was still in effect. The closer the tower got, the more aware he became. Because what was happening to him was a lie. He knew who he was and what he was doing there.

They realized almost too late, he was already in front of Hall. He slapped the man so hard he was sent flying toward the wall.

Vale told them, "I am going to kill you."

And since the tower didn’t react, he was telling the truth.