"Praise to the Midas Emperor."


    The word echoed from the lips of Darius, Vice Leader of Division 15 of the Midas Inquisition.


    The Inquisition Department, just like any other Midas Construct, was extremely ordered in both its internal and external affairs.


    There were a total of 100 divisions, and the lower the number was, the more powerful the Division was.


    Division 1 was the most powerful, consisting of only the most elite of the Midas Empire who chose this line as their career path.


    However, when one considered how many divisions there were, Division 15 wasn''t too bad as well.


    And Darius was the Vice Leader of this Division.


    That made him one of the strongest in the Midas Empire, didn''t it?


    He took pride in that day after day, and the appraisal he recieved from those around him only further went to boost his ego.


    Despite all of that, though, there was only one thing that made him feel truly special.


    ''Subduing the Inferior Race.''


    That was why he joined the Midas Inquisition. That was why he loved his job so much.


    Even now, as he appeared in front of the kneeling audience, his grin was especially wide.


    He was so ted to see all of them kneeling before his mighty presence.


    ''They''re quick to bow, too. These ones know their ce.''


    That put him in such a good mood. Instead of simply ughtering everyone here like he originally intended, perhaps he would only kill a small portion—say, fifty percent.


    That would be benevolent, would it not?


    Darius couldn''t wait to begin the ughter and see the despair the people he subdued would show him.


    His body twitched just imagining it.


    "N-no one here has practiced any Magic. I swear to you!" An elderly man spoke, his voice creaking like that of old furniture.


    It really pissed Darius off.


    ''Alright, then. It''s decided! I''m definitely killing that old man first.''


    "Yeah, yeah. That''s what they always say. Am I right, guys?"


    The five-hundred troops he had behind him all joined him all chuckled in excitement.


    One could ask why the Midas would dispatch so many troops, almost all of the total force of the 15th Division, to such a slum.  The answer was something even Darius didn''t know.


    The Leader seemed a bit surprised and told us to go ahead of him.


    ''I don''t mind, though. It allows me to y boss for a little while longer. Hehe! It''s always ecstatic, being in charge!''


    Watching all these lumps of meat look at him with such fear and trepidation made him so aroused that he couldn''t help himself anymore.


    He had to take a life—right there and then!


    ''Let''s start with you, old man!''


    A Magical glow appeared all over his hand, and instantly, a golden de manifested.


    Darius already knew how he was going to use it. He was going to drive it through the old man''s skull, dividing his shrinking brain into two equal parts.


    It was going to be magnificent!


    ">WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<


    Faster than anyone could see or react to, Darius brandished his de, taking a step back as he prepared for his straight thrust.


    He could already imagine how his de would tear through the man''s skin like a hot knife through butter.


    ''Haaaa... haaa... I can''t wait! I cant wait! I can''t wai—''


    >WHOOOOOOOOOOMMM<


    This de shot through space, ready to pierce and take a life.


    "Stop..." A low, calm voice suddenly echoed, but Darius couldn''t stop.


    Not when he was in the zone.


    Not when he was so close to fulfilling his long-held craving.


    ''DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!''


    "I told you to stop."


    Suddenly, someone held the de he had thrust with so much power, causing the entire thing to shatter like ss.


    It was only at that moment that he realized that there was someone who stood in front of the old man.


    ''A-ah...?!''


    This person had golden hair and golden eyes—genuine ones that glowed as he disyed his dissatisfaction.


    Cold sweat instantly coursed through his body and he took a couple of steps back. He nearly forgot to breathe, shivering while moving further away from the man he was looking at.


    The nging sound made by the fallen shards of his de woke him from his daze, yet he found himself unable to properly speak.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Why?


    "F-forgive me for my insolence!" Darius, and the five hundred troops hemanded instantly knelt to greet the man in front of them.


    Why?


    Well, there was only one reason; and it was more than sufficient.


    The Midas society operated based on order—on hierarchy.


    And at the very apex of that hierarchy were the Royals


    Golden hair. Golden eyes. Clear skin. Graceful appearance. Immense power.


    These qualities unquestionably defined a Royal.


    "Haaa, you idiots..."


    And currently, they were currently in the presence of one.


    "... What do you think you''re doing?" The Royal whispered in his graceful voice.


    It caused everyone who knelt before him to bury their knees to the ground.


    "You were about to kill an innocent old man. You''ve not even confirmed if he was the one who Magic or not."


    Darius couldn''t understand why the Royal was hounding him because of that. He thought he would be more upset that he defied his order to stop.


    ''Inferior races are livestock. Why... do we need to be considerate towards them?''


    It didn''t make sense to him. Why was this Royal taking their side?


    "For your information, I was the one who used the Magic. I''m guessing you detected a powerful surge of energy. That was me."


    "B-but the System registered it as uwful. All Midas citizens have their Mana signature registered, so they can freely use it. But... "


    "Oh? Are you saying I''m lying?" The Royal asked, his eyes narrowed on Darius.


    ''H-huh? No way! How could I? No one would ever defy a Royal!''


    Even if it didn''t make any sense, he wouldn''t dare question the ims of the Royal.


    Darius suspected the Royal was protecting someone from this slum, but what could he say?


    He wasn''t a Royal. There was nothing he could do about it.


    ''Maybe it''s a whore he desires here. I have no idea why some Midas desire pigs like these, but...'' Darius knew he had to back off.


    If he didn''t want to be the one executed, he had to obey the status quo.


    "Ipletely understand, sir. You are right, sir." He nodded and bowed his head.


    Even though this felt very frustrating for him, Darius knew it was only natural.


    He had also made others inferior to him do the same. Now it was his turn.


    ''I am among the elite of the elite. I hardly have to do this to anyone. But, there are still people above me whom I have to obey.''


    It was only natural.


    "Now, then, you may return." The Royal said calmly.


    Now, that... that would be a problem.


    "W-we can''t do that, sir."


    "Oh? Are you defying me again?" Darius wondered why this Royal was acting so oblivious of the Midas System, but he decided to answer regardless.


    "Not at all sir. But we have orders from.oir superior... and we can''t disobey."


    A very essential element of the top 30 Inquisition Divisions was that their leaders were Royals.


    Division 1 was led by the crown prince himself, and going down that trail, less powerful Royals were ced in charge of lower-ranked Divisions.


    Their leader, being the head of Division 15, was by no means inferior even though he wasn''t at the very top of Royalty


    And that meant one thing.


    "We can not turn against the orders of the 9th Prince."


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


    What will happen now? Can''t wait...


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