Strongest Superhuman System - Chapter 626

Chapter 626: Preparing For Peace
[Two Weeks before the end of Freya’s Trial]

Mark was seated in the throne room, looking over a letter that had arrived that morning detailing the state of the demon continent and how they were doing in their war against the few angels left on their continent when the guards at the door announced the arrival of someone. Arit had been sitting on the armrest of Mark’s throne and looking through the letter with him, and she spoke up for the guard to let whoever it was in.

The door opened to reveal Hunn, James, and Rachel. James had a large bandage around his head and his sword hand was wrapped with some gauze, but other than that, he had made a full recovery from the beatdown that Mark gave him. Rachel was walking very close to her brother with her head down, and even though it was obvious that she still feared Mark, her brother’s presence gave her enough confidence to walk properly.

Hunn walked a small distance away from both of them and was constantly glancing at the both of them as if he was expecting some sort of attack at any moment.

The three of them walked up to Mark’s throne, and Hunn bowed his head towards Mark respectfully. Rachel also bowed, but James did not bow. Hunn glared and growled at him to get on his knees, but Mark just raised a hand. Mark really didn’t need another fight happening right now, and he didn’t give a fuck if James bowed to him or not. After all, he wasn’t James’ king. James was just a prisoner of war.

“I’m glad to see you’re making a full recovery. With how many hits you took, I thought you would take a few more days at least before you could walk again.”

James nodded to Mark’s words and thanked him for his hospitality. James knew that Mark could have simply thrown him in a dungeon and allowed him to heal on his own without any help, but instead, Mark put James in a clinic and brought in a healer who helped James heal faster. The healer was obviously surprised that they were treating an Angel of all things, but with one command from the demon lord, the healer didn’t bother arguing and they just did all they could for James.

This was more than James ever thought the demons would do for him, and he was grateful for it.

Mark nodded to James and then he spoke to all three of them.

“I called you here today because of a serious matter. I’m sure you’ve all felt the recent tension in the demon army after my announcement for peace. The army is split down the middle between those who want peace and those who do not. I just got a message back from the Duke saying that the King has granted me audience. I will be traveling to the central city of Grindlewald to meet with him—”

“Really!?”

James was immediately stunned; he couldn’t help but speak up once he heard that! It was just too shocking that the King actually bothered to grant the demon lord an audience at all! Unlike what people thought about the King of the Angels, that man was not a brave ruler who could stand before the army and motivate them with his words or actions. In fact, the king of the Angels was nothing but a child and he was currently seen as a coward.

He was someone who had inherited the throne from his father, the former king, and he had done nothing but listen to his elders and advisors all this while, without being able to bring up a single thought of his own regarding the way the kingdom should be run. It was just shocking that those advisors all agreed to this.

Mark frowned at the interruption from James, and James realized his rudeness and bowed his head with an apology. Once that was done with, Mark nodded and continued.

“Yes, they really sent an invite. According to this, I am allowed to bring a small fighting force with me, and there will be no conflict between us until the meeting is over. I sent out a counteroffer, telling the Angels that we should meet on neutral ground close to their capital city, and they have agreed to that too. That is why I called on you three. I have seen over the past few days that you three share the same vision that I do for this world. Hunn, you understand that I am not just trying to stop the war for personal gain. You’ve seen the damage done to our people, and you wish for us to grow away from this conflict. And you two siblings are wise enough to know that I am not someone who goes back on my word. I am not just saying things in order to gain your trust and stab you in the back; I truly want peace, and I will do anything to gain that peace. So, when the meeting begins, I would appreciate your help in convincing the King of the Angels about my cause.”

James narrowed his eyes in confusion as he spoke up.

“You want us to side with demons in front of our king?”

Mark folded up the letter that he had been readong and waved it from side to side.

“No, not with the demons. I want you to side with peace. It doesn’t matter if you agree with my words or if you counter them and bring up your own arguments or opinions. What I am saying is that at the end of this meeting, I hope to have achieved peace among our people. And I want you to aid in moving the meeting along toward that peace.”

James and Rachael turned to look at each other curiously as they digested Mark’s words. Mark was basically giving them the leeway to side with their people while still allowing them to achieve peace. The two siblings had spoken about this earlier before Mark summoned them to his throne room, and they both agreed that they were tired of the war.

For some reason, even though she was terrified of him, Rachael trusted the demon lord. Ever since she was taken as a prisoner, she hadn’t suffered a single act of violence, and none of the demons had dared to try and force themselves on her. It was completely different from what her father told her about the demons, and Racheael knew that this was because of the influence the new demon lord had on the army.

Rachael nodded to her brother. She didn’t want this war to continue anymore, and she would prefer it if they were about to sign the peace treaty.

James also agreed, and both of them turned as one to the demon lord and voiced their agreement to his words. Finally, Mark turned to Hunn.

Hunn was not smiling. His face was set in a hard mask that hid away all of his emotions as he stared at something far beyond the room. Hunn’s mind was racing as he ran scenarios after scenario in his head. There was no doubt that the demon lord’s plan to sign for peace was going to cause discord in the demon army.

There were already rumors about plans to usurp the throne from the demon lord for even trying to bring about peace, and if the demon lord goes to the capital and actually signs that treaty, there was a chance that the demons who weren’t in support would rebel.