Final Lord

Chapter 360 Recognition of Ruler and Subject
Fifteen seconds.

It took 15 seconds from when Pietro got up to say goodbye until he left the manor.

Those mere fifteen heartbeats felt like an entire era to Charles.

His clenched fingers had turned white, and his pupils were churning with turbulent emotions.

The dragging sound of Pietro's footsteps as he rose to take his leave sounded to him like the booming of a dragon's wings.

"Faster. Faster," Charles silently cried out in his heart.

He stared intently at Pietro's retreating figure, as if trying to burn a hole through his cloak with his gaze.

If circumstances allowed, he would have kicked the person in the way in the buttocks.

Get out of here!

click.

Charles shuddered as the oak door finally slammed shut. He slowly looked up and met the smiling eyes of the unconvinced king.

His gaze was like a cold pool under the moonlight, reflecting his violently heaving chest. A thousand words choked in his throat, turning into a violent bobbing of his Adam's apple.

"What's wrong, little Charles?" Wang Bufu's voice rose slightly, his slender fingers lightly tapping the ice crystal teacup. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He saw doting and concern in Wang Bufu's eyes, a look exactly like the one Wang had given him back then!
—Little Charles!
The affectionate address struck Charles like a thunderbolt, instantly straightening his back. His shoulder armor reflected the sunlight, illuminating his suddenly contracted pupils.

Since his rebirth, no one had ever called him that again. Those honorific titles like "Your Highness" and "Prince" were far less comfortable than calling him "Little Charles."

“You…” Charles’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly, as if he were holding a glass lamp about to tip over, cautiously making a final probe. “Do you know that beyond the Divine Continent, there exists a realm of gods?”

“Of course I know, that’s the abode of the gods, a sacred realm atop the clouds.” Wang Bufu casually swirled his teacup, the clinking of ice crystals like the gentle tinkling of wind chimes. “It’s breathtakingly beautiful.”

"Then, do you know the path to the realm of the gods...?"

Upon hearing this question, Wang Bufu suddenly stopped, and he looked at Charles with a look of inquiry and surprise.

"I happen to know. In the center of the elemental realm, there is a gate to the divine realm."

Wang Bufu suddenly leaned forward, a corner of the documents on the table being lifted by a gust of wind from his sleeve. "That's the only passage for mortals to reach the divine realm besides believing in the gods. It's also the final battlefield for some madman."

The final battlefield for some madman!

The final battle of the ultimate war god!
These words shattered Charles's last shred of restraint.

He braced himself against the table, the wrist guard striking the sandalwood with a dull thud.

Memories of past lives flooded back like a tidal wave—the endless allied forces, the betrayal of the legendary race, the king who sacrificed himself to pave the way for them in dire straits…

"Butler Ming, please step out for a moment."

"Yes... young master!"

Lost in his memories, Charles waited quietly, waiting for the sound of the door locking.

Click!

"Your Majesty! Is that you? Your Majesty!"

This cry, carrying the longing of two lifetimes, resonated clearly in the Lord's Hall.

Charles slammed one knee heavily onto the tiled floor, his hands clutching Wang Bufu's legs, just like the young general who had volunteered for duty in the military tent years ago. Crystalline tears fell to the floor, splashing up flowers of burning longing!

“It’s me, long time no see, little Charles! I didn’t expect you to come back too!” Wang Bufu bent down and hugged Charles.

The moment the emperor and his subject recognized each other, a series of notifications sounded.

[System Notification: Charles Charlie has secretly betrayed the Duchy of the Stag and joined your side.] [System Notification: Charles Charlie's favorability towards you has reached MAX.]

[System notification: Charles Charlie's loyalty to you has reached MAX]

Name: Charles Charlie

Race: Human (common)

Human inherent racial talent: Fast training - all experience gained increased by 15%
Occupation: Bucks Cavaliers

Rank: Extraordinary 1nd level

Professional skills:

Stag Pact: Allows you to ride the [War Stag] unit at the Extraordinary stage, and gains special abilities depending on the unit you ride. Greatly increases the Stag unit's affinity.
Cavalry Warrior: When serving as a cavalryman, all attributes are increased by 50%, speed is increased by an additional 5, and cavalry command ability is gained.

Additional Skills:

Stag's Lance: When attacking with a lance, attack power +12, defense power +6, speed +5, evasion +20%. Gain an additional 20% evasion while on a stag.
Unrivaled Warrior: Morale +5, immunity to instant death and mind control effects.
Melee Master: Attack speed +25%, evasion +10% in close combat.
Iron Cavalry Charge: When charging with cavalry, all units gain a knockback effect, and their speed will not decrease due to attacks.

Level: Extraordinary Level 1 Level 4

Attributes:
Life: 170/170
Attack: 28
Defense: 26
Speed: 8
Leadership: 3
Personal exclusive talents:

King of Cavalry (SSS-rank talent): This effect increases with rank.

Currently: When cavalry is present, all cavalry morale +2, charge speed +2, and charge damage +50%.
Description: Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Your iron cavalry will carry your will through enemy lines, crushing everything in your way!
One of the strongest cavalry talents, only the most talented among geniuses are qualified to possess it.

Special Identity: Prince of the Principality of the Bucks (who has secretly defected), possessing 4 territories.

"Good boy! You brought back the talent I nurtured for you too?" Wang Bufu hugged Charles, more excited than ever before.

"How did you get back? What happened after I entered the gate to the realm of gods? Did anyone else return besides you?"

Wang asked three questions in one go, and Charles only gave one answer.

“I don’t know either. I only remember that at the Gate of the Gods, you told us to go first. When I left the Gate of the Gods, I felt dizzy, and when I woke up, I was back to being 13 years old.”

Wang Bubu:...

"Wait a minute, thirteen years old... When did you come back?" Wang Bufu asked hurriedly.

"8878."

"At the same time as me! Tell me, what did you do after you were reborn?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I miss you so much, and my family in the Unyielding Kingdom... I always thought you were trapped at the Gate of the Gods, and that only I was reborn and returned."

So I've been training and planning, trying to strengthen my power so I can go to the gates of the gods to save you.

But my identity as a prince is both a protection and a shackle. There are too many eyes around me, and I dare not reveal my identity as a reborn person. I can only make arrangements secretly.

......"

Charles said a lot, and Wang Bufu summarized three key points.

First, he had no clue about time travel either.

Secondly, he tried to find other family members from their previous life, but has not yet received any news.

Third, he still possesses the talent and experience from his previous life, and has already trained himself into a terrifyingly powerful cavalry commander—a 13-year-old extraordinary level 1 individual with four additional powerful special skills.

(End of this chapter)