Hearing Xin Haotian, Aldrian looked confused.
"What are you talking about? I suddenly got goosebumps when you said that."
Xin Haotian released a sigh. He ignored Aldrian’s teasing as he continued.
"I want to serve under you. You could appoint as one of your subordinates or whatever... you know... for example, as part of your troops or sothing like that," he said awkwardly.
Aldrian finally narrowed his eyes seriously.
"Are you sure? Do you realize what you’re talking about? Serving under ans that you must be loyal to and place above your family. You might even drag your entire family under in the future," he said seriously. "Do you understand what that ans? Wait, even before that, does Patriarch Xin know about your intent?"
To serve under him ant they had to leave their past affiliations behind. This was obvious. Their loyalty would belong to him alone, and their forr affiliations would have no say in it. Even if he gave them an order that might harm their forr group, they would still have to carry it out. In other words, they had to be prepared to face their own families if necessary.
In Xin Haotian’s case, this was even more serious. He was the young master of the Xin family—the successor to beco its next patriarch. By serving under Aldrian, he would have to set aside his status and his own family, sothing truly daring.
Hearing Aldrian’s question, Xin Haotian nodded.
"I know. I already told my father about my intent, and he just let be. He didn’t seem to see a problem with it. Instead, he supported my decision."
Aldrian raised his eyebrows. "Patriarch Xin supported your decision?"
Xin Haotian nodded in response. Aldrian sighed as he understood what that ant. By agreeing for his successor to beco Aldrian’s direct subordinate, Patriarch Xin was showing that he was ready to place the entire Xin family under Aldrian’s authority. The Xin family would be completely under his command and loyal to the Aster family. If he gave an order, they would have no say in it.
They could only say, "Yes, Your Majesty," with all their hearts.
This was different from the past. Until now, the Xin family had acted as a "helper" to Aldrian, the Emperor. They did it voluntarily, and their status had been the sa as other nobles within the empire.
Once they were fully under his authority, it would no longer be the sa as the other noble families that governed their own territories. Their status would change, they would beco the direct subjects of the Aster family. Although those noble families obeyed him in most cases, they were not his direct subordinates and could still maintain a certain degree of autonomy.
However, the Xin family in the future, once Xin Haotian took the position of patriarch, would have neither choice nor autonomy. Everything they did would have Aldrian’s or the Aster family’s interests in mind rather than their own.
Even if the Emperor of the Aster family was no longer Aldrian, the Xin family’s loyalty would remain with his bloodline.
This was not sothing that could be done rely out of loyalty to him. To place the entire Xin family directly under him ant allowing themselves to be under the direct control of the Aster imperial family. They could not simply withdraw from their position even if Aldrian soday stepped down from the emperor’s throne, that was not how it worked.
If soone tried to pull back just because Aldrian was no longer emperor, it would make the position of the imperial family’s direct subordinates look like a joke, a fragile position that could be manipulated at will, without integrity.
That was why, once soone pledged their loyalty and beca a direct subordinate of Aldrian, it was the sa as making a lifeti pledge to the Aster family. Unless sothing extraordinary happened to the Aster family, they would remain its subordinates forever.
Aldrian looked at Xin Haotian for a mont, and Xin Haotian looked back at him. There was a brief silence before Aldrian spoke.
"Why would you decide sothing like that? Isn’t it much better if you or the Xin family maintain your current status? Your family could still have so degree of freedom, but once all of you are under my direct authority—no offense, but your family would basically beco troops that I could command as I please, or even expendable ones."
Xin Haotian nodded, then shrugged.
"Well, call crazy, but I think serving under you would be much better for . To be honest, I decided this with only myself in mind, but I know that it naturally includes my family. I don’t think anyone in my family would oppose this kind of decision anyway. All of them already see you as a higher existence than the patriarch, after all."
"The point is, if I or my family serve under you, there will be no harm—only benefit."
Aldrian raised his eyebrows, then couldn’t help but smirk slightly.
"What if I brought misfortune instead? What if what I did was wrong and led you, or even your family to destruction? Wouldn’t you, at that ti, only be able to curse to death and regret this decision?" he said.
"Well, if that happened, then I could only bla my stupid decision to believe in you. At that ti, I would curse you even in death so you could hear . Even if I beca a ghost, I’d haunt you forever," Xin Haotian replied.
Aldrian sighed again and couldn’t help but smile warmly. This man’s mind was truly simple and firm. He didn’t hesitate to make such an important decision. Patriarch Xin was the sa, which made Aldrian think that the father and son truly shared the sa nature when it ca to making decisions.
They seed careless about the results of their choices, but in truth, they had already thought them through completely.
Aldrian then nodded. "Alright then. To be honest, I’m glad that you’ve decided to join . At this mont, I’m in the process of building my own imperial force. It’s still small, but it will grow in the future. I need soone I can trust and depend on as my sword and shield."
Aldrian looked directly into Xin Haotian’s eyes. His gaze was serious, carrying not even the slightest hint of jest.
"I’ll ask this only once. Are you sure you’re willing to beco part of my force? Are you ready to be loyal to and my family, to obey , and to beco my sword and shield?"
Xin Haotian did not avert his eyes. He held Aldrian’s gaze firmly before slightly lowering his head without hesitation.
"I’m sure, Your Majesty. I, Xin Haotian, the young master of the Xin family, will not take back my words. I sincerely wish to serve under you. If serving you ans becoming your sword and shield, or that of your family, then let it be so. I will beco the sharpest sword and the hardest shield for you," he said seriously, lifting his head to et Aldrian’s eyes once more, his determination clear.
Aldrian nodded and took out his sword from his storage ring—the Sword of the End. Xin Haotian’s eyes reflected the most beautiful blade he had ever seen, the very sword personally wielded by Aldrian in the battle where he saved the entire continent from the Devil Gods.
As he was still admiring its beauty, Aldrian’s voice reached him again.
"On your knee, Xin Haotian."
Xin Haotian instantly obeyed, taking one knee and lowering his head. Aldrian touched the tip of his sword to Xin Haotian’s right shoulder.
"With this, I confer upon you, Xin Haotian, a knighthood. You shall beco my knight—my sword and my shield."
He then moved the blade to Xin Haotian’s left shoulder.
"You will bear the honor and the symbol of strength of the Aster Empire."
Finally, Aldrian placed the sword’s tip gently upon Xin Haotian’s head.
"You will give your loyalty in thought and action. Your soul no longer belongs to you alone—it shall serve the interests of the Aster Empire."
Aldrian then withdrew his sword as Xin Haotian lifted his head.
"I, Xin Haotian, will do my duty as your knight, as your sword and shield, putting the interests of the empire first. I will not bring sha to the empire or the imperial family," he said in a solemn tone.
Aldrian finally smiled. "Now you are officially a mber of my family, and an integral part of my family’s force. Congratulations." He then stored his sword back inside his storage ring.
Xin Haotian smiled as he stood up.
"So I heard you plan to attack a place called the Fallen Star Cluster. I heard that place has a lot of devils, and everyone is talking about it. Mind if I join the attack?"
"Of course. Your strength is needed, more strength is better. With your presence, the emperor stage devils would stand no chance."
Xin Haotian couldn’t help but smirk.
"Is this praise? I’ve never heard you praise like this. Do you feel touched after making a knight of your family?"
"Do you have to break the mood?"
Xin Haotian did not answer and only smiled, but Aldrian did not care, he was smiling too.
"I’m looking forward to your actions as a knight of the Aster family," Aldrian said.
"You will see it soon."
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