The Demon Emperor was Saint Emperor-Chapter 34: About the Bride Price...
Lynn was completely unconcerned about angering the nobility of the Celestial Destiny Empire, as he already had some ideas about breaking noble power.
After all, while reading the game’s backstory, Lynn was very disdainful of most of the noble class’s actions, but due to the game settings, he had no way to rid the people of evil.
Because friendly NPCs killed by players would refresh again, what they did was useless work, and the players themselves would become infamous for such attacks, having to slay thousands of demonized monsters or members of the Demon Race to clear the so-called "sin value" and return to their normal status.
But even with this punishment, and despite being futile work, incidents like assassination attempts on noble NPCs in the street or breaking into noble mansions to annihilate families were endless.
Truly, these players couldn’t be blamed for looking for trouble; the storytelling skills of the game’s writers were too good. They wrote too vividly, each scene depicted so clearly like broadcasting a documentary right before everyone’s eyes, making it too easy to sympathize.
Lynn himself actually did such things, for which he was branded infamous for two and a half months. The ones who caused him to keep a low profile for a month were none other than the current Emperor of the Celestial Destiny Empire and the neighboring War Divine Hall’s Pope.
Those two majesties... were really nothing decent. The bad things they did belonged to the kinds that, if written into novels, would be automatically screened by the system, completely unable to be shown to the public.
Bumbling and tyrants were insufficient to describe certain emperors, especially when there was such a large group of parasitic nobles under them gnawing at the nation.
The reason Lynn chose Celestial Destiny City as his first stop was not only because it was closest to the World Tree, nor just because there were many "acquaintances" here, but also due to his little intention to complete unfinished business.
If he were to reform the decaying Empire, step by step easing class conflicts and creating a beautiful home for the vast masses, to be honest, Lynn was entirely unsuited for that.
But if he were to "start from scratch" to solve the problem, then Lynn excelled at it. Begin with eliminating their leaders...
"Well, as you wish, but Vivian can’t go back with you... Don’t misunderstand, I’m not opposing your relationship, but in the end, we are part of the Empire’s nobility. Before His Majesty the Emperor makes a decision, we can’t stand on your side."
Only when Lynn changed from his previous peaceful tone to an almost commanding one, demanding to be sent home, did Marquis Jones realize that the man in the carriage wasn’t the kind of obedient son-in-law who needed to curry favor with him; at his core, he was still that terrifying powerhouse who could shake the entire Empire with a single stomp.
All that conversation he had earlier was probably all due to considering Vivian. If he really disputed with him, the man could crush him with one hand.
"Each is responsible for their actions; what I do is unrelated to you. I won’t force you to choose sides, and naturally, no one else can force you either. If someone brings trouble upon you because of this, let Vivian leave me a message. As for ability, I, Lynn, apart from other skills, do possess the capability to rescue whoever I want or kill whoever I want among millions in an army."
Lynn spoke while guiding Marquis Jones who was driving the carriage back home; his house wasn’t too far from the Noble District, at least they could arrive before the evening banquet’s events spread.
A million strong, rescuing or killing whomever he wished...
Marquis Jones reflected on Lynn’s imperious words, and much of his inner unease instantly dissipated.
No wonder he’s a demigod powerhouse, his words are so tough... Wait! How old are demigod powerhouses usually?
Suddenly realizing this issue, sweat instantly started to bead on Marquis Jones’ forehead.
Among the recorded demigod powerhouses, the youngest attained the demigod realm at around two hundred sixty something years old. So, the young man beside him giving directions was actually...
Goodness! He might be too young to be Vivian’s great-grandfather; this doesn’t merely count as an older one with a younger; it almost feels like an ancient being eating seedlings!
"By the way, I haven’t asked about your family situation... Ahem, considering you intend to date Vivian, we need to know what kind of person you are..." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Concerned with his beloved daughter’s lifelong happiness, although Marquis Jones felt somewhat cowardly, he nonetheless gathered courage and, in his capacity as a prospective father-in-law, inquired about Lynn’s particulars.
"Me? Oh, my surname is Lin, given name is En, gender male, twenty-six years old... No wait, they said another year has passed, so I should be twenty-seven now. I grew up in an orphanage, with no parents, profession is warrior, level 999. I have properties in the ten major cities on the Divine Protection Continent but no car, starting deposits in the ten-digit range..."
Facing his prospective father-in-law and the prospective mother-in-law quietly watching him, Lynn solemnly introduced himself.
Although he lacked experience in this matter, he’d seen plenty and knew it all boiled down to those few basics; age, profession, family background, income, vehicles, house, savings, and so on.
"About the bride-price..."
"Hold on; let me process all this first..."
After saying the above, Lynn remembered yet another critical point, but before he could provide a number to show his sincerity, Marquis Jones hurriedly gestured for him to stop.
Twenty-seven years old...
Eight years older than Vivian; it seems reasonably matched.
But he’s twenty-seven, at level 999...
What kind of concept is this? This is as preposterous as a deity from the heavens claiming they’re only a hundred years old...
"And another thing, I should mention I’m about to have an eight-year-old daughter, but she’s adopted, not my biological child. So far, Vivian is my only romantic partner."
Although Marquis Jones asked to let him digest first, as the carriage slowly approached his residence, Lynn caught sight of his property and that of the neighbor. Reminded of a family detail he’d neglected, he brought it up.
An eight-year-old daughter, you say? Coincidentally, that’s how many years older Lynn is than Vivian, implying he had a child at nineteen, Marquis Jones pondered.
As for him mentioning the daughter being adopted, only a fool would believe that. To possess such exceptional qualities that even "gifted son of the heavens" can’t completely describe, it’s highly improbable he’d be twenty-seven and only just started dating?
Besides, even among noblemen considered late to marry, by twenty-seven Vivian was running rampant around the yard.
He talks about "only Vivian as his partner so far," but what about before that? What about the future? Why not declare Vivian as his sole woman from now onwards?
Alright, that might be somewhat unreasonable; even the son of a Baron couldn’t possibly stick to one woman. With Lynn’s strength and wealth, having several partners would pose no problem, and as this father-in-law, it’s not just Vivian’s mother as his woman either, though Marquis and his wife are exclusive.
