Strongest Kingdom: My Op Kingdom Got Transported Along With Me-Chapter 98: Other Three Races

"Surrender?" he repeats, shaking his head. "You think I came here to take your freedom? To make you servants?" His gaze sweeps across the gathered assassins, his voice firm but calm. "If that’s what you believe, then you don’t understand what I’m offering."

The murmurs die down as Alix continues.

"You’ve spent your lives in the dark, hunted, forced to kill just to survive. You’re feared, but only in whispers. Feared, but never respected. You skulk in caves while the world above didn’t know you exist." He gestures around the cavern. "You’re strong, but your strength is wasted on mere survival. Tell me—is that the future you want? A life of scraping by, hiding in the shadows until something stronger comes along and wipes you out?"

His words hit hard. Many of the Umbral lower their heads, their hands tightening into fists.

Alix steps closer, his presence almost suffocating.

"I don’t want your submission. I want your loyalty. And in return, I will give you something no leader before me ever has—a future." His voice grows sharper. "I will take you out of these caves and raise you to heights no assassin has ever reached. Under my banner, you won’t just be killers in the dark. You will be shadows of the empire, feared and respected by all who dare to stand in our way."

He lets the words sink in, then lifts his hand once more. More books materialize—Tier 4 and Tier 5 assassin techniques, the kind of power that could elevate even the weakest among them.

A collective breath is drawn in.

"I will make you stronger. I will give you power beyond your imagination. And when the world above speaks of you, they won’t whisper about nameless assassins lurking in caves. They will tremble at the name of the Umbral Race."

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Silence grips the cavern. Then, a single voice murmurs, almost in awe, "We will be feared…"

Zyra steps forward, her sharp gaze scanning the crowd. "You doubt him? Fine. Then I ask you—have I ever led you wrong?"

The one who spoke earlier exhales deeply. His fingers twitch at his sides before, slowly, he kneels. "If you trust him, Chief… then I will too."

One by one, more Umbral kneel, the weight of their decision settling in. And then, as if a dam has broken, the entire tribe follows.

Hundreds of voices speak as one.

"We pledge ourselves to His Majesty!"

Zyra smirks, glancing at Alix. "Well, Your Majesty," she murmurs, "I believe you’ve just gained an army of assassins."

Alix watches the kneeling Umbral with a satisfied expression. This is a good gain—loyal, disciplined, and deadly assassins. But a question lingers in his mind.

He turns to Zyra. "Tell me, why did your people choose to live here rather than on the surface?"

Zyra exhales, folding her arms. "Your Majesty, to tell you the truth, we don’t really know. Since the moment I was born, we were already here, deep underground. Our elders never spoke of a time when we lived on the surface. It’s as if our history before this place was erased."

Alix narrows his eyes. "And no one ever tried to leave?"

"We did, every three months the entrance to the surface will open." Zyra says, exchanging a glance with Grell and Tarven. "The three of us once attempted to reach the surface. We barely made it before we were attacked—without warning, without reason. Those called humans slaughtered those who tried to go to the surface." Her voice hardens. "We realized then that the surface was not a place that welcomed our kind."

Alix hums in thought. Typical. Anything unknown or different, and humans immediately react with violence. He shifts his gaze toward the vast cavern. "This place is massive. Are you the only ones living here?"

Zyra shakes her head. "No, there are at least three other races that call this place home, as far as I know."

Alix raises a brow. "And what are they?"

Zyra’s expression turns grim. "I wouldn’t recommend going after them, Your Majesty."

Alix smirks. "Oh? And why not?"

"Each of those races is led by a Tier 6 being," Zyra explains. "The only reason the Umbral have survived here for so long is because of the Tier 6 defensive spell guarding our home’s entrance. Without it, we would have been wiped out a long time ago."

Alix tilts his head, considering her words. He could easily subdue a Tier 6 entity if needed, but it would be unnecessary. The lowest consumable item he owns is Tier 8 and above—overkill for dealing with mere Tier 6 threats. After all, in his past life, he was max level in the game. He only kept low level skills, weapons, and armor to sell for real-world money.

Still, there’s no need to waste resources recklessly.

He chuckles. "I do want to swallow them all," he admits, "but you’re right. No need to cause unnecessary trouble."

Zyra watches him carefully, her expression unreadable. "I don’t doubt your strength, Your Majesty, but those three aren’t to be underestimated. If you plan to expand into this underground realm, you’ll need to be cautious."

Alix simply smiles. "Caution is a given. But tell me, Zyra… do you know anything about those Tier 6 beings?" Explore more stories at novelbuddy

Zyra’s expression darkens. "As far as I know, those Tier 6 powerhouses are trapped within their own domains. For some unknown reason, they can’t leave their territories."

Alix’s interest piques. "They can’t leave?" He strokes his chin. He thought. ’That is interesting. I’ll have to look into that when I unlock more of my levels.’

Alix smirks. "Noted." Then, he shifts his focus back to the gathered Umbral. "Enough talk for now. We need to move."

Alix continued. "The entrance to the surface is open now, isn’t it? We should go before it closes. Otherwise, we’ll be stuck here for another three months."

A flicker of realization crosses Zyra’s face, followed by urgency. "You’re right. The gateway doesn’t stay open for long. If we miss this chance, we’ll have no choice but to wait."