Rise of the Cosmic_Emperor

It was no wonder that Karon did not feel particularly enamored with Hal's presence.

He had of course been told of the events that had happened in the forest. 

While it was true that it was only thanks to Hal's knights (Despite their late intervention) that some Edgar scions survived, including the designated heir, Alexander Edgar, it did not change the fact that they had infiltrated a Great Family.

That alone was a grave disrespect.

What made Karon more upset was that Darryl was so ready to let things be when this was a mockery of him, since he (Darryl) had been taxed with rooting out spies.

Karon was only keeping calm so far because the Mayor had not been informed and he had not yet decided what action to take.

No matter his displeasure, he (Karon) would always await his lord's order.

That said, Hal's casual footsteps coupled with his jovial smile that made a mockery of the significant events of that day, still caused him to frown.

Two aspects of the Edgar Family had been attacked on that day: Their present (The cultivating forces) and their future (The scions).

"Are we the last ones out?" Hal asked with a smile that made it seem as though he had no idea whatsoever of the things that had happened in the forest.

It was all that was needed for Karon to let out a bit of his displeasure,

"Are you seriously asking about that? What do you think we are? Fools?"

Hal turned to Marla by his side, 

"Did I say something wrong?"

Marla smiled sweetly, 

"Of course not. Don't worry, he's just jealous"

Hal looked from her to Karon, 

"Yeah, I can see that. Maybe we shouldn't hold hands. It's tough for old single dudes to be happy for us young lovers"

Hal said in a considerate tone of voice and acted as though to remove his arm from Marla's but she grabbed on even tighter.

"Who cares about them?" She pouted and grabbed him closer to her for a hot smooch.

Darryl placed one hand over his face as though embarrassed by his Master's antics and at the same frustrated that he could not tell Karon not to take Hal's disregard seriously.

And even more frustrated that he could not warn him that taking the disregard seriously could result in Karon losing control over his soul.

Alas, he was forbidden from saying these things and the usually cool Karon was not feeling particularly patient today.

It was to be expected. The day's events had been taxing on them all.

Karon's eyes widened,

What the...? I'm talking about serious issues and you're rubbing your relationship in my face. So shameless!

"Such blatant disrespect! You are yet to face trial for your infiltration of the Mayor's forces and you still act to mock me and hence my Lord? I will not have it!"

Karon's voice was so loud that it scared away some winged beasts, causing them to take flight.

His loud voice was understandable,

Surely, they could not ignore him now.

But as Karon was about to realize...

*Smooch* *Smooch* *Smoooocccchhhh*

...a lot can be ignored during smooching.

When the two finally separated, with Marla looking flushed despite having initiated the kiss, Karon was fuming.

Hal looked confused, 

"Have I offended you in any way?" He asked in a would-be polite voice.

Seeing as Karon was close to exploding and his hand was shaking slightly as though to unleash his Cosmic Armament, Hal smirked secretly,

'It's so easy to rile this sort of people up. Can't he just chill out?' He shook his head mentally in false melancholy.

'Do you want to brand him?' Grimoire asked.

Hal mind shrugged, 

'I'm not interested in doing that. I'm just having a little fun'

At first, Grimoire froze and then it smirked,

'That's juvenile of you'

'Of course, it is. It's good to be juvenile once in a while. All work and no play is not the Hal way'

Karon glared at Hal for a while before he loosened his clenched fists and sneered, 

"Bastard, Act ignorant all you want. Once the Mayor is briefed on this matter, you can say goodbye to your immunity. Helpful or not. You crossed the line"

For the first time since he had faced Karon, Hal's jovial expression changed and he grinned with cold eyes, 

"Is that so? No problem then. The immunity has been useful but I think it's for the best if it's lifted now"

Hal's words were, from all appearances, polite, however, Karon could not shake the dangerous feeling he got from those cold eyes.

While the two stared at each other, Marla walked up to Darryl and poured all 100 Rune tiles into his hands. 

She poured it all with one hand and stretched the other to receive what they were worth, 

Karon looked at all those tiles and frowned. For them to possess all those tiles...

"You must have got them through dubious means" he growled.

Hal's eyes narrowed, 

"What are you insinuating? That my beautiful Marla stole these tiles?"

Karon faced Hal square-on, 

"That's exactly what I mean"

Hal's expression became jovial again, 

"Well, you're absolutely correct, we worked together and robbed the majority of these Tiles. I have to tell you, it was quite fulfilling"

Listening to Hal shamelessly admit it, Karon could not hold himself back, 

"What...?" He began but Hal was close to him in a second.

The speed was such that Karon could not even follow his progress, he was just suddenly... there.

Scary!

Hal smiled, 

"Don't tell me you want to complain. This morning, and you should remember since you were there, it was said that we were allowed to 'snatch' the tiles, there was nothing about snatching them only through combat."

Hal said and stepped away.

Karon turned to Darryl, who shrugged in a 'he has a point' kind of way.

The truth was that even Karon knew there was nothing wrong with stealing Rune tiles from other participants, it just so happens that whatever Hal did today would seem wrong to him, due to his grievances.

Darryl cleared his throat when he noticed Marla begin to exhibit impatience, 

"Normally we should have a small occasion where you would be presented with the Title of Champion and all those who possess tiles would also be able to exchange them for gold.

However, in light of recent events, we will not be able to do that. Since you possess all the Tiles, it makes things easier. You will be given your winnings now and your name will be announced throughout the City as Champion"

Marla looked bored, 

"My arm is aching"

Darryl smiled uncomfortably before he withdrew a pouch from his Spatial pouch, he placed it in Marla's hands and she turned away to return to Hal's side.

"Very well, by tomorrow, all will know Hal Payne and..." Darryl started but was interrupted when a carriage drew up a short distance away.

Without even glancing at Darryl or Karon, Hal and Marla walked towards it while Castor opened up the Carriage's door to admit them.

Once Marla was inside, Hal turned a fraction towards Darryl behind him, 

"Announce only Marla as the winner, my input was minute"

Karon went red with anger, 

"Who are you to make such...?" He started but Darryl interrupted, 

"If that is what you want"

Hal smirked and finally entered the carriage and it pulled away.

Once it had trudged a few distances away, Karon turned to Darryl but before he could vent, Darryl frowned, 

"You are usually cool-headed. Being so riled up is so not like you. What are you going to do? Attack him? Be realistic"

Karon sighed, 

"I'm sorry Master Darryl."

Darryl nodded, 

"Come on, let's go"

...

The Mansion.

The carriage stopped outside of it and Hal and Marla stepped out of it.

"That was an incredible experience" Marla said as they walked arm in arm into the compound.

Hal agreed that it had been an... experience and almost hard to imagine that it had all been in a span of one day.

Now that it was over, he knew there were events just waiting to happen. 

The Plebeians were bound to have received news that he was a powerful Runemaster, capable enough to have been involved in the Holger Decimation and they might even have caught whiff of his Blood Knights.

Things were bound to become slightly chaotic soon, but he welcomed the chaos. It would be perfect for things to fall in place.

That said, this was all for later. 

Right now, there was something prepared for him in the Time warped Chamber.

He and Marla walked to the Chamber and pulled open the door to find the inside completely renovated.

The ladies from Pleasure inn were on one side of the Chamber and a demarcation blocked away the part where Rita lay bound to the Large bed.

Melinda stood by the side of the bed, completely naked, with a demeanor of the mistress of the household and hands on her hips in a sultry pose.

Hal smiled at her quiet confidence and at Rita's nervousness. The rustling of clothes behind him caused him to turn and behold Marla taking off the last bit of her clothing and smiling wildly.

"You're quick, I like that" Melinda said with a wink while Marla took to taking off Hal's robes.

"You're not going to say anything?" Melinda asked him with a small pout.

She had gone to all this trouble and he was not even complimenting her.

Hal chuckled, 

"Okay then, Amaze me"