The Billionaire CEO Becomes the Youngest Emperor-Chapter 15 - : It won’t be Free!

"Why are you laughing all of a sudden, you damn bastard?"

Lucian calmly raised a hand to his mouth, trying to hide his amused smile.

"Oh, nothing... Anyway, it's a shame you won't be joining us."

"Hah! Yeah, right." Astrid narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "And may I ask how you plan on pulling that off?"

A sarcastic yet slightly nervous smile tugged at his lips.

Lucian shrugged with a disarming nonchalance.

"Isn't it bad form to reveal your hand to a rival?"

Astrid frowned, her gaze locked on Lucian — still sitting there, completely at ease.

"That's... true, but..."

She's taking the bait.

"But what?" Lucian asked, feigning innocence.

"You know damn well it's impossible for low-ranking nations like ours to enter the other empires — aside from those of the North. The 13th, the 12th, the 11th, and the 10th empire..."

"Oh, I know that perfectly well." He sighed dramatically, his face exaggeratedly mournful. "And sadly, there's nothing we can do about it."

Astrid glanced around at the wounded soldiers lying nearby.

"Sorry we're such a burden on you... Your Majesty..." one of them muttered, his voice heavy with pain and shame.

"Don't worry about it, Zik. None of us saw this coming."

She was only sixteen... yet the way she carried herself — her posture, her eyes, her words — radiated a maturity far beyond her years.

Sigh.

"If you want, I have a foolproof way to get to the 5th empire."

Astrid's voice cut through the air, sharp and impatient.

Bingo. So she really was heading to the 5th empire.

"Oh? A method like that exists?" Lucian asked, pretending to be intrigued.

"It does... And it wouldn't be a problem for me... at least, not right away."

Not right away?

"Don't tell me you're planning to sneak in..."

Astrid's silence was all the confirmation he needed.

"You haven't forgotten about the high-level mages there, have you? You will be detected as soon as you enter " Lucian added, raising an eyebrow.

Ugh. Playing dumb is exhausting when I already know her damn cheat code.

Astrid's eyes flickered with impatience. Her soldiers were at their limit, and the little girl clinging to her side could barely stay on her feet.

I want to speed things up, too... but if I make the wrong move, not only will our lives be on the line — our empires will suffer the consequences.

Politics really isn't my thing. Just let me "create" in peace.

"I know... But believe me, I can—" Astrid started, tension clear in her voice.

"Let's say I trust you and let you do me this favor... I doubt it's out of some sudden affection for me. What do you want in return?"

The 11th empire's guards glared daggers at Lucian.

"This bastard... How dare he talk about love to the empress ?" one of them growled.

But Astrid didn't react. Her mind was too occupied with far more pressing matters.

"I can't prove it right now... but I have the ability to teleport us inside the 5th empire's borders. However... I'd be unconscious for at least three days afterward."

Silence fell over the group like a heavy blanket.

Astrid's soldiers clicked their tongues, frustration evident.

"And as you've guessed... I'm indeed heading for the 5th empire — specifically to the Holy Clergy stationed there."

She paused briefly before adding:

"So, in exchange... I want you to escort my soldiers and this little girl to the Clergy and make sure they get treated."

Ah... Why didn't I think of that sooner?

This was the first event that brought this crazy swordmaster into the empire wars... In the novel, it was told through a flashback — but the actual events had never been revealed.

"Sigh..."

"Even if the 5th empire is full of trash, the Clergy is supposed to be different. They say they offer divine grace to anyone, without discrimination... They're known across the continent for their kindness."

Hah... If only you knew.

I wondered how she'd react when she saw the true face of those so-called saints... Nothing but businessmen wrapped in holy robes.

Greedy, capitalist bastards. (Said the most capitalist man of the earth)

And why did they only offer their services to the top five empires, huh?

Pfft.

The real problem? If I stuck to my plan, the hero would miss a crucial opportunity for his development...

But before anything else — I am Xavier Lancaster.

"Hmm..."

The way my lips curled into a twisted smirk was enough to make my own guards shudder.

Astrid's soldiers stiffened, their eyes widening in alarm.

Can I really trust this guy? Astrid wondered.

She hesitated. After all, the last memory she had of me was from when she was seven years old... People change, right?

"I think we'll do things differently." My voice broke the silence.

All eyes snapped to me.

"I can get us into the 5th empire legally. Without your ability. And I can guarantee the Clergy will treat everyone. That was my plan from the start, after all."

Her arm...

How did I end up getting mutilated? Astrid wondered, lost in thought.

Given the clean cut... it had to be from a sword.

No... That's impossible...

"That's impossible! The 5th empire—" Astrid's commander Zik started, his voice rising.

But the cold, wicked look I shot him shut him up immediately.

"Don't interrupt when sovereigns are speaking."

Even Astrid glared at her own commander for his outburst.

"My apologies... Your Majesties..." Zik murmured, his voice trembling.

Sovereign, huh... Yes. I am an empress.

Astrid's eyes drifted to the sword at her hip before returning to me. Her gaze clearly asked: How the hell can you pull this off?

Without a word, I slowly pulled a golden card from my pocket, spinning it lazily between my fingers.

The commander's face went deathly pale the moment he saw it. His mouth opened — then closed, fear strangling his words.

"What's that?" Astrid tilted her head, confused.

Ah... Of course she wouldn't recognize it. A girl who spent 365 days a year swinging a sword wouldn't know about something like this.

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I fixed my gaze on the commander, who flinched.

"You seem to know something, Commander. Care to enlighten us?"

"Ah... Y-yes... A little..."

It took him five minutes to explain — five long minutes before the truth finally clicked for Astrid.

"Oh..." Her eyes widened in shock.

I slowly raised my thumb... then flipped it downward with a wicked grin.

"BUT OF COURSE... IT WON'T BE FREE."

---

In the remote village of Fjordale, at the edge of Eldoria — the heart of the 13th empire — the steady sound of an axe striking wood echoed through the cold morning air.

A breathtakingly beautiful young girl wielded the tool with surprising ease. With every swing, the wood split as if the blade were slicing through butter.

Her long silver hair fluttered in the wind, a stark contrast to her dirt-stained, worn-out clothes. Yet somehow, the grime only enhanced the strange elegance she carried — as if no hardship could dull her brilliance.

Her face remained expressionless, stoic, despite the effort she poured into her work.

Just two days ago, she had been a respected aristocrat.

Adeline Clerc.

Or rather... Adeline, the fallen noble.

"Pathetic princess..." one of the lumbermen spat.

The words cut deep, sharp as daggers.

Pathetic... Yes.

Without a word, Adeline resumed her task. The axe fell again, splitting the wood with a sharp crack.

As if she were trying to break something inside herself.