After that, Kaiser and Doni didn't continue discussing any profound topics, instead just kept bickering with each other.
Mainly because Salvatore Doni really had something wrong in his head, as he actually intended to drag Kaiser along and imitate Eastern customs by forming a sworn brotherhood, wanting to become Kaiser's sworn brother of different parents.
Faced with this proposal that had countless points worth ridiculing, Kaiser naturally couldn't be bothered to respond. As a result, he ended up being entangled by Doni and nearly couldn't help but engage in another palace PK… no, more like a club PK.
Fortunately, just as Kaiser was about to reach his limit, that poor attendant who had been shoved out of the plane by Doni finally showed up, completely drenched.
"I'm going to kill you!"
This attendant, who bore the alias of "Butler of the King," truly lived up to being Doni's old friend and one of the few people who could scold him head-on. He pounced at Doni as soon as he arrived, looking like he was ready to fight to the death.
Unfortunately, even a dignified Great Knight, though perhaps renowned in the mystical world, was just a small fry in front of a Campione.
Andrea Rivera was subdued by Doni with a counter-grab and pinned beneath him. Doni kept laughing heartily as they rolled together on the massage chair. The sight of the two of them wrestling was truly an eyesore, making both Kaiser and Erica feel they couldn't bear to watch.
At that time, Andrea Rivera was cursing extremely foully, showing no knightly demeanor whatsoever—more like a vulgar delinquent—which only further demonstrated how much he had suffered, and how terribly he had been screwed over by Doni.
In order not to interrupt this touching reunion between master and servant, and also to avoid continuing to deal with that annoying guy Doni, Kaiser quietly slipped away, prompting Erica to quickly follow after him.
Kaiser had a meal in the restaurant, filled his stomach, and then returned to the top floor of the hotel, ready to go back to his room.
"King!"
At that moment, Erica finally knelt on one knee before him.
"Erica Blandelli pledges her allegiance to you. Please accept my loyalty and guide me forward!"
This proud noble lady had finally lowered her head before Kaiser.
"Allegiance?"
Looking at Erica, kneeling on one knee before him with her proud head deeply bowed, Kaiser was both surprised and puzzled.
"I am neither the King of Italy nor do I have any intention of expanding territory or establishing any achievements here. What benefit is there in pledging allegiance to me?"
Kaiser truly hadn't expected that this young lady who once drew her sword against him, who always acted with such confidence and elegance, would actually pledge allegiance to him—a new king—while the King of Italy still lived under the same roof.
And Erica's reason was very simple.
"I am a knight. Since I am a knight, I naturally wish to serve a great lord." Erica boldly declared, "Salvatore is a powerful warrior, but he is by no means a great king."
"Then how are you so sure that I will be a great king?" Kaiser said calmly, "We've only known each other for a short while, and I've never made any grand promises or said any noble truths in front of you. I haven't shown any kingly qualities, and even as someone attractive, I don't think I have much going for me."
"I've shown no ambition or lofty ideals in front of you. The only thing I've shown is power."
"In other words, I should be the same as Salvatore Doni, the man you just called a mere powerful warrior."
The implication of Kaiser's words was clear: aside from power, he hadn't demonstrated anything superior to Doni.
So why would Erica be attracted to him enough to swear loyalty?
"Better just tell me your real thoughts," Kaiser said as he crossed his arms calmly. "Why pledge allegiance to me? What benefit does it bring you?"
Faced with Kaiser's straightforward questioning, Erica actually relaxed.
"You really underestimate yourself." Erica lifted her head and smiled. "What you've shown isn't just immense power."
"Oh?" Kaiser asked with interest. "Such as?"
Erica answered without hesitation.
"For example, the mysterious origin that deceived the whole world."
"For example, the peculiarity of consecutively slaying gods within just a few days."
"Even if you really were just an ordinary person, the fact that you could, after successfully slaying a god, so quickly accept everything and head straight to Sardinia to achieve a second god-slaying feat, already shows your boldness, fearlessness, confidence, composure, and calm."
According to Erica, these were all the things that attracted her.
Of course, the most important reason was…
"I want to be a vassal of the King, like my uncle, and carve out a world of my own with my ability, instead of accepting a future that supposedly should be mine."
Erica sincerely confessed.
"As I said, I am a knight. Since I am a knight, I naturally wish to serve a great lord."
"And none of the current Campiones fit my choice."
"So in that case, why shouldn't I choose a king who suits me?"
Clearly, Kaiser was the king who suited Erica.
At the very least, they had spent some time together.
When she was with Kaiser, Erica didn't feel the constraint she experienced around other Campiones.
As the saying goes, serving a king is like accompanying a tiger. If the one you serve is a tyrannical king like Marquis Voban or a self-centered king like Luo Hao, then even a slight misstep could mean death—how could one talk about accomplishing great deeds in such a situation?
Even Doni, the King of Italy, seemed easygoing and not harsh toward his subordinates. But just look at Andrea's current state, and you'd know how exhausting and helpless it was to follow that king.
Moreover, the six existing kings all had their own territories and their own vassals. Even if Erica joined them, what could she do?
She was just a Great Knight. Those kings already had many powerful subordinates—even Paladin-level ones. Even if she swore loyalty, she'd just be another insignificant vase, let alone accomplishing anything.
The other kings' territories were essentially already set. They weren't likely to expand or undergo any major changes.
Only Kaiser, this newly born king, still had nothing—no power, no domain.
Joining him was the only way she could truly be useful and find meaningful things to do.
This was what it meant to be a big fish in a small pond, and with this mindset, Erica decided to pledge her loyalty to Kaiser.
"I think I understand what you mean now," Kaiser saw through part of Erica's thinking. "So this is your personal will, and it has nothing to do with the Copper Black Cross, right?"
"Yes." Erica pressed her lips together. "Although I do not represent the Copper Black Cross and cannot have it swear loyalty to you, both the Copper Black Cross and the Blandelli family are my connections in the Milan magical world."
"I've always been actively building up my network and reputation. Even if I can't match my uncle, I still have some influence."
"If the King is willing, I'm confident I can recruit a group of capable subordinates for you. I even have some confidence in persuading our leader of the Copper Black Cross—my uncle—to join you."
This was practically telling Kaiser outright: if you accept me, then the entire Copper Black Cross might come as part of my dowry.
"You really dare to dream." Kaiser said expressionlessly, "If that idiot Doni finds out I'm poaching people—possibly even his forces—who knows how he'll react?"
"He probably wouldn't care, right?" Erica laughed nonchalantly. "That's just the kind of person he is. He's never cared about his position as a king. Even though he's our Italian overlord, he probably doesn't even know what factions have pledged loyalty to him."
The magical societies of Southern Europe had mostly voluntarily joined Doni; they weren't forces he had actively assembled.
That man only cared about battle, about the sword in his hand—he didn't care about anything else at all.
The reason he agreed to be the King of Italy and take the position of leader of the Southern European magical society alliance was just to make it easier to find gods, find opponents, and fight people.
So, even if the entire Copper Black Cross publicly declared they were defecting and joining Kaiser's side, he probably wouldn't care.
However…
"Are you sure he won't use that as an excuse to fight me later?"
Kaiser strongly suspected that.
"Uh…"
Erica was momentarily stunned, then found herself speechless.
Thinking about that man's behavior… why did it feel like the chances of that happening were a full one hundred percent?
Kaiser and Erica both fell silent.
Seeing Erica looking so at a loss for words, Kaiser stroked his chin.
Actually, accepting Erica wasn't a bad idea.
Though he had no intention of expanding territory, he still needed eyes and ears of his own—someone to tell him where gods were.
That was why he wanted to bring in Mariya Yuri.
But Mariya Yuri's Spirit Vision wasn't omnipotent.
Sometimes, a flexible intelligence network, informants, and a force that could facilitate convenience and handle various matters was also indispensable.
Like this time—when he first arrived in Sardinia, Kaiser truly had nothing. He even had to perform to make money, just to have a place to stay and something to eat.
But with the Copper Black Cross backing him, all his daily needs had been perfectly arranged—he didn't have to worry about anything.
Even if he wouldn't run all over the world like Doni, since it was being offered to him willingly, why not accept it?
With that thought, Kaiser made his decision.
---
Sorry for the delay