The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 45: The Imperial Proposal [2]

Maxwell, hearing this, sighed. And he leaned back into the couch, smiling.

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard something like this. And he reckoned it wouldn’t be the last.

People who held power often used every means they could to acquire more resources to fuel their power. And living beings were the greatest resources anyone could ever ask for.

And so, these powerful men always went out of their way to secure men with potential, all to fuel their power. To enhance their growth.

Gods were also like these powerful men. And Maxwell was no stranger to this. After all, he was one of them only a while ago.

He’d been on both sides of the fray. He’d been the one coveting resources to establish himself as a guardian. And he’d also been sought out by the old guardians when he was only a young god, yet to take on any cosmic responsibility.

Maxwell didn’t stop chuckling. How senseless it all felt to him now. Power and power and power. It never stopped. There was always a wall to jump over. Always another mountain to climb.

Even at his peak, Maxwell wasn’t near the strongest being in the Cacosphere.

Not when the High Celestial Elders were there, not when the Celestials and Immortals were there, not when the Celestial King himself was alive.

Gods were the lowest of the hierarchy. With livespans dwarfed by the immortals who defied the will of the heavens and the Cacosphere. Even Celestials could live forever if they made a pact with the mother tree.

This... all of this... they were the reasons why Maxwell felt hollow.

Born a mortal, the highest one could achieve was godhood. It was the natural ceiling. He could never break past it. But he’d seen power. He’d known how it felt.

And honestly, it was just endless misery, dreading the multiverse because one couldn’t climb higher.

Maxwell desired none of it anymore. He now knew his limits. And he was going to stick with it, live the life he always desired.

Hell—

Maxwell looked at Gelru, who’d been gazing at him like he was a madman due to his incessant chuckling.

—If Maxwell so wanted power, wealth or glory... If he so desired any of that, he wouldn’t be in this world. It was far too small compared to the vastness of the Cacosphere and the hundreds of universes it contained.

If Maxwell’s sole reason for regressing had been power, he would have hit the tenth circle the very moment he regressed, shaken the world, ascended to a higher world and conquered it, making his way to the upper hierarchies of the multiverse, then the multiversal cradle, then the caco—

Clank––!

Maxwell blinked.

Eithan was in front of the bunch. He’d dropped a wooden chair at the center of the living room. And the couches surrounded the wooden chair.

Eithan then proceeded to drop a tray on said wooden chair. And this tray contained cups, where lazy trails of smoke wafted from. A rather pleasant scent of jasmine accompanied the trailing smoke.

It was hot tea.

Eithan then offered the masked gentlemen some tea. Afterwards, without speaking a word, he left, heading toward the inner rooms to accompany Vin.

Maxwell breathed out, rubbing his forehead. He’d gone on a short trip down memory lane.

Finally, just as Gelru sipped his tea, Maxwell uttered:

"I see. So, in essence, the Emperor offers a proposal to recruit me?"

Gelru, with a smile under his mask, nodded, dropping the teacup back on the tray.

"Precisely. And naturally, it is not without a reward. My Lord will give you territory. He will give you riches. He promises to make you a decorated Mage Knight and a commander in the Jalozian army. You will have thousands of soldiers at your–"

Maxwell began to chuckle again.

’They always say the same thing.’

Raising a hand not to be rude, Maxwell forced out some words amid his laughter.

"Apologies, apologies. I can’t," he cleared his throat, "I can’t help myself."

Gelru went quiet. His subordinates calmly watched Maxwell.

After Maxwell calmed himself, Gelru spoke up with an annoyed tone:

"Do you insult His Highness, the Emperor?"

Maxwell straightened his back.

"What?" He raised a hand, waving it. "No. I just find what you say amusing."

"And what exactly do you find amusing about my words? Surely I haven’t cracked any jokes that I’m not aware of, have I?"

Maxwell shook his head.

"No, you haven’t."

"Then wha–"

"But I’m afraid I’ll have to reject your offer."

Maxwell stood up immediately.

"You see, I don’t plan on living that kind of life," Maxwell cleared his throat. "Even the guildmaster, Gislow, knows that I’m only a mercenary for the money. He knows that I will retire soon. I do not desire wealth, glory or war."

Gelru frowned.

"Is the offer not to your liking? Women. There are many beautiful women in the Empire, noble women, My Lord can–"

Maxwell’s heart surged, and he clenched his fists as his gaze turned cold instantly.

"I do not want to be disrespectful to an envoy of the Emperor. But you must heed my words; if you ever try using a woman in an attempt to sway me, best believe that you’ll drown."

Maxwell straightened his shirt and tucked his hands in his pockets. His smile returned, and he nodded at Gelru.

"My no is a no," He uttered. "I believe you’re done here?"

Gelru gnashed his teeth, glaring maniacally at Maxwell. There was no way he could return to the capital with a rejection. He had never been one to fail the Emperor.

He needed to secure this man. He had watched him, he had felt what he was capable of. The rumors didn’t do him justice. Maxwell was a diamond in the rough. The word ’potential’ couldn’t begin to describe what he felt from Maxwell.

It’d be a waste to just–

Gelru blinked, calming himself.

This was unlike him.

Slowly, he stood up, shaking his head as he sighed.

"It is a shame, Maxwell. The Emperor would’ve treated you better than anyone would."

Maxwell scoffed.

’No, he won’t.’

"Very well," Gelru raised a hand, and his subordinates stood up, dropping their teacups. Then, without glancing back at Maxwell, they walked to the door. "We’ll take our leave."

The masked leader paused. And he whispered:

"But don’t regret this."

Maxwell scoffed.

’I won’t.’

The water mage’s smile widened as he watched the gentlemen disappear completely the moment they stepped out of his door.

Maxwell breathed out.

They were gone.

He closed the door and locked it. And having done that, he turned.

There was no way he was going to regret it. He’d experienced the path of power in his past life. It wasn’t anything so desirable now.

He frowned.

All these memories, they reminded him of the calamity coming five years from now...

He would have to break past the tenth circle before then. Step into the realm of an ascender to be able to at least put up a fight against those seven beings.

But he shrugged, brows relaxing.

He still had time. Plus, he could ascend at any time at all.

Maxwell smiled, walking into the inner rooms as he yelled:

"They’re gone! Better get the drinks ready!"

Eithan whistled from inside.

"Finally!"

"Hell yeah!"