Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 60: I accept

"Maybe I am crazy, but that’s what I will do, become the Emperor," I said. I didn’t say the reason I wanted to be the Emperor was to have everyone under me. I wanted to be the sky so the rain wouldn’t fall on me.

I thought about it and looked at the three people in front of me. I need people I’ll be able to use... to work for me. People who are to be trusted to an extent. And they’ve been with me, however briefly, when I didn’t have power. Of course, they have their own motives, but that only makes it better

People who want are people that can be controlled

Now that I’m at the starting point, that’s when I should look for people who will walk with me... hmm... wait... when did I start thinking like some lord? I guess all the training they gave me in the Clan is still with me. And, I’m still some lord. Father didn’t officially remove me...’

I smiled ruefully. I shouldn’t be thinking of many things at once. One thing at a time, be an Emperor

I made my voice bleak and heavy as I said, "Taiwo, Tiber, Slya. You three owe me your lives. I won’t collect them. Serve me till your death."

The mood in the room cracked with tension at the unexpected words that came out of my mouth. They all had different reactions. For Tiber and Slya, it was a simple thing. They currently had no purpose except to look forward to the construct the Nyxori promised them.

But now that the Nyxori were out of the picture, they’d only go back to being wretched workers who looked forward to vomit food and dreamless sleep. It was simple, but there was a big problem, they had no power to serve.

But for Taiwo, this wasn’t so simple. She’d seen me kill to save myself, and she knew and accepted that I would only continue to do the same. But her problem was that she owed me her life, twice.

I more or less saw this play on their faces, but I kept my own thoughts hidden behind a smooth mask. Only my eyes burned.

I already knew what I was to do. "Taiwo, unfortunately, you are not suited to serve me."

Tiber and Slya whirled to face me in surprise, but I ignored them as I continued.

"But I will leave you be for now. I will come to collect my debt someday. Remember, the more powerful I become, the more dangerous the debt becomes."

She shuddered, pressed her hand to her face, and bowed. "I accept."

I nodded and then shooed her away so we could talk with more privacy. She was only too glad to leave us be.

I looked at the remaining two. "So I’m a Knight, and you two are normal humans. You’re ill-suited to serve me. How do we get over this problem?"

Tiber and Slya looked at each other before Tiber spoke. He cleared his throat. "Well, the fastest way is to find a construct that’s at Knight rank and bond with it."

I frowned. "Won’t that be too much for the body? A normal human jumping to a Knight rank just like that?"

Tiber nodded. "Yes, it will be, but it won’t be that big of a problem. Some normal people can still make a bond with an Errant Knight rank construct as their starting point, but that’s really pushing it, especially if it’s a powerful construct. It might tear the mind and body apart."

I nodded. "Tell me more about the construct. How does it function? The core... is the construct a core? Do you have to have the construct with you all the time?"

Slya answered, "From the information we gathered, once you bond with a construct, it’ll create a link between the two. The construct then will disappear into the spirit world. It’s where it’ll grow while you feed it with essence here, and it’ll feed you with power. Something like that."

I nodded. I’d gotten what I needed. "So for you to serve me, you need to be turned into construct Knights."

Tiber and Slya nodded. Then Slya hesitantly asked, "Do you... have a way to get us constructs?"

I didn’t reply to her. I weighed the pros and cons of taking them as my subordinates. First, it boiled down to the fact that I would need people in my inner circle with my ambition. It was better to choose them myself when I was still relatively unknown.

At best, we’ve known each other, and they’re less likely to have ulterior motives. And if they do, all I have to keep in mind is that everyone can betray me at any time

I raised my hand, and a black light gathered. It was the essence of my power, Pactbinding. What I wanted to do now wasn’t something I was sure would work, but I wanted to give it a chance.

The dark light spilled over onto the ground and formed a bowl that was darker than midnight. "Put a drop of your blood into that bowl, the two of you," I said. I was following the basic technique the power showed me.

They glanced at the bowl fearfully, but they bowed their heads and did as they were told, using their knives to cut their skin. Their blood mixed with the darkness in the bowl and disappeared within.

I felt it immediately. Their blood carried their essence, their will, and a small, very tiny part of their soul. I focused on it and poured my essence into the bowl, using almost all the essence in my core in one go. I spat out words that lingered in the air, a thing of weight that scratched the air.

The language of the demons tumbled from my mouth in harsh grunts that everyone strangely understood.

"I, Vale Athrimir, give Tiber and Slya powers in the Infernal Dominion. I bond them to me and share with them from my powers. If they betray me, let the power turn on them and reduce them to ashes!"