System's POV
chapter-418-1

Two days after Aaron Ashford and Norman Stallard held their press conference, their naval fleets finally arrived at the Main Headquarters of the Dvalinn Federation.

They even brought their own news crew with them, perhaps to ensure that the people would see them in a good light.

The moment the Floating Island of the Dvalinn Federation came to view, they even started a live broadcast.

The "paid" reporter immediately used her expertise to cast a positive narrative, telling the viewers about how the forces from the two Monarch Clans rushed to their destination out of determination to help humanity repel the invaders.

Even Thirteen was impressed by her acting and reporting skills. Impressed enough that he took note of her name so that he could brainwash—errr, invite her to work for him instead.

When Seth Ashford and Allen Norman, along with some of their soldiers, stepped foot into the Man-Made Floating Fortress of the Dvalinn Federation, they were given a proper welcome by the members of the alliance.

Since the reporters who had broadcasted Thirteen's first expedition were still with them, they were invited to participate in this momentous event to cover the arrival of their "reinforcements."

"Welcome to the Dvalinn Federation," Benedict greeted Seth and Allen, who were the third-in-commands of the Ashford and Stallard Clans.

"It's nice to see you again, Benedict," Seth said as he shook hands with the old man. "But where are the rest? Are you the only one who has come to greet us?"

"Yes," Benedict replied. "Everyone is busy discussing the strategy for the next mission.

Seth sneered, knowing that since they had come unannounced, none of the big shots of the alliance wished to meet them.

But since they were already there, he believed that they would have no choice but to work with them.

As the entourage of the Ashford and Stallard Clan walked toward the base, they saw over a hundred soldiers marching in their direction, with Zion at the front.

Benedict and the members of the alliance saluted their Supreme Commander, while Seth and Allen merely nodded their heads in greeting.

"Uncle Benedict, who are these people?" Thirteen asked with a smile.

Benedict, who had been called Uncle in front of everyone, returned Zion's smile with a smile of his own.

"These are our reinforcements from the Ashford and Stallard Clans," Benedict replied. "Let me introduce to you these two gentlemen."

"No need for you to introduce us, Benedict," Seth interjected. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Seth Ashford. I am the third-in-command of the Ashford Clan."

"Allen Stallard," Allen stated. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Seth and Allan," Thirteen replied, treating the two adults as if they were of the same age as him. "I heard that you plan to join the alliance, is this true?"

Seth gave the cameraman who was following Thirteen a sidelong glance and saw that the words BBCee News were imbued on his uniform.

They were the biggest TV Station in Pangea, and they broadcasted to the entire world. They were not under the control of the Ashford and Stallard Clans because they belonged to the Central Government.

"Of course. We came here for the sake of humanity," Seth replied. "We will put our lives in your care… Zion Leventis."

Allen nodded in agreement with his comrade's words.

"Let me remind you that as the Supreme Commander of the Alliance, I expect that all of you will follow my orders without question," Thirteen said in a solemn tone. "Will you do that?"

"Sure," Seth chuckled. "We will follow your orders, Commander."

"Really?" Thirteen arched an eyebrow. "Then let's put you and your men to the test."

Thirteen then crossed his arms over his chest and raised his chin arrogantly.

"Kneel," Thirteen ordered.

At first, Seth thought that he had just misheard the boy's words, but after seeing that the other party wasn't smiling, he realized that it wasn't a joke.

"Zion, what kind of order is this?" Seth tried to pass it out like a joke. "You should be more respectful to your Elders, you know?"

"What's wrong?" Thirteen arched an eyebrow. "Was my order not clear enough? Then let me repeat it—kneel."

The staff from the BBCee News, who could smell a scoop from a mile away, focused their lenses on the scene, which was being broadcasted live. "Boy, are you messing with me?" Seth, who was doing his best to keep the smile on his face, asked.

"I'm ordering you as the Supreme Commander to kneel, and you can't even follow a simple order?" Thirteen chuckled. "Did you come here to play? If so, all of you can go back to where you came from. I don't need soldiers who can't follow my orders."

Allen, who was listening to the side, frowned. This wasn't the welcome they were expecting from the people in the Dvalinn Federation.

Benedict still had a calm expression on his face, but he was also surprised about the sudden shift in atmosphere.

"Listen here, you brat…" Seth pointed at Thirteen and unleashed a bit of his aura, intending to overwhelm the boy.

However, before he could do what he planned to do, the Aura of two Monarchs slammed down on Seth's body, making the latter's face turn pale.

"Seth Ashford, I think you're forgetting where you are," Thirteen said firmly. "I am the Supreme Commander of the Alliance. My orders are absolute. I am merely ordering you and your men to kneel, and you can't even do it.

"It's such a simple order, yet you already failed to comprehend it. When I order the members of the Alliance to go to the battlefield, I don't order them to kneel."

Thirteen took a step forward and stared at the Champion who was being suppressed by Lawrence's and Wendell's auras.

"When my soldiers go to the battlefield, I order them to die," Thirteen said icily. "Even so, they follow my orders without question. You and your people come here without permission and say that you are here to fight for humanity. But from what I can see, none of you came here with that intention.

"Also, when you're here, you will not call me Zion, Child, Boy, or Brat. You will call me Sir. If you can't even do that, then get out. If all it takes to reclaim the Dvalinn Federation is a kneel, everyone from the Dvalinn Federation would have done so gladly.

"Aren't you being too full of yourself?" Allen, who could no longer take it, asked. "If you command us on the battlefield, then we will listen. But you commanding us to kneel here is just to humiliate us."

"Humiliate?" Thirteen smirked before turning to look at Benedict, who was standing beside the two Champions.

"Benedict Riggs, kneel." Thirteen ordered.

"Yes, Sir," Benedict didn't hesitate and knelt down in front of Thirteen, making Seth and Allen look at him in shock.

They knew how proud Benedict was—he would even fight Arthur without fear, despite the difference in their Ranks.

However, seeing him kneel in obeyance to the boy's order made them feel as if they were looking at a different person.

"Benedict Riggs is not kneeling to me because I want to humiliate him," Thirteen stated. "He is kneeling because he has absolute faith that I am not ordering him for no reason at all. Like I told you earlier, I don't order my soldiers to kneel, I order them to die."

Thirteen then patted Benedict's shoulder.

"Rise," Thirteen ordered.

Benedict rose up and stood in attention like the soldier he was, waiting for orders.

Thirteen then shifted his attention back to Seth and Allen, who were now the focus of attention of not only the media but also the soldiers of the Dvalinn Federation, who were all glaring at them.

It was only now that they realized that if they did anything to the boy, they would not be able to leave the Dvalinn Federation alive.

Thirteen simply stared at the two, but his gaze contained so much pressure that the two Champions felt that they only had two choices.

One was to kneel, the other was to leave.

Leaving was not an option. If they did that, they had a feeling that they would no longer be welcome in the Dvalinn Federation.

Although unwilling, Seth was the first one to move and knelt in front of the Supreme Commander of the Alliance.