Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord

Chapter 358: Matsumoto

Vale knew they’d reached Matsumoto when she said so and because he saw small villages here and there, scattered around. There are lots of ordinary people, as is the case in most places, living in Matsumoto. Their farms are also one of the indicators he saw.

Lots of the people looked up at his strange passing, but they are used to it. Who lives in the world and isn’t used to Knights and their strange ways?

They flew over all of that until the actual city came into view.

It’s a gigantic thing.

"This....is big." Vale shook his head. "And the economy is loaning men to fight?"

The actual main city was in the middle, walled off, but the population must have expanded long ago, so all around the wall, sprawling away from it like grass, are houses and buildings of all kinds. Stone towers are the markers and what he assumed to be the first line of defense and offense.

"It’s more profitable than you might think, and it’s a big chunk of the economy. The rest is powered by normal people."

"Eh?"

"If I had you guess, you’re from an elite family. You will have little to do with normal humans, although the resources they might contribute individually are small and can’t be compared to Knights, they make up for it in numbers. They are the real backbone of any economy."

Vale took that in and he must admit that he hadn’t really given it serious thought before, but it did make sense. In the world, normal people should outnumber Knights, one Knight to millions of ordinary humans.

Before they even got close to the first building in the city, one of the towers lit up and a voice rumbled. "Slow down and stop! Come to the front of this tower. This is a warning and force will be met with extreme force!"

Vale slowed down.

His eyes narrowed. "Matsumoto.....this Clan must be stronger than we expected."

Isolde smirked. "Who is we? And why did you think they are stronger than you think?"

Vale could not give an answer. He just knew instinctively and he couldn’t really tell how. Was it the size? Or what?

"Tell me about the Company Captains." He carefully angled the ’shield’, the Imprisonment, toward the tower.

"There are six of them. Vaelros, Duskryn, Morvane, Thalvyr, Veyrith, Kaelthorn. And together they rule as the Company Council."

"Is that the name of a house or what?" Vale frowned.

"No. Each Company is an organization in itself. The title of Captain cannot be inherited, it can only be taken, and that means each Captain is the strongest of that Company."

"And you? Which Company do you belong to?"

"Kaelthorn. They’re an old-fashioned bunch and they don’t want to be turned into a Clan. My Company is leaning to be accepted permanently as paid mercenaries of a High Clan! They want all of Matsumoto to become like this."

"Eh? Your tone sounded disapproving."

"Of course! Those High Clans will only use and throw us to the dogs! It’s better to become a new Clan!"

Vale shook his head. "But.. with the way the Council is structured, how can any of you become a Clan? You can’t inherit any title...unless the organizations are dissolved and then...."

She smirked. "So now you see where we stand."

There was no more chance to reply, they were already close to the stone tower. Vale watched as Isolde took a step back and covered herself in an illusion that made her invisible from both sensing and sight.

Impressive.

"Who are you?" The voice was booming now as a man covered in midnight shell flew out of the tower, his small wings rotating furiously.

’.....another insect man? Do they only train as insect Beastmasters in Matsumoto? Strange people....’

The man is a Master Knight, and his head, which wasn’t fully covered, showed that he’s also slightly old. Vale looked through the box and then he changed it, making the box a flat thing that still held their weight.

"Greetings, I’m here to visit Matsumoto."

The man grunted. "That itself isn’t an issue. The problem here is that you are an unknown Knight, and a strange one too. How are you flying? Is it your Aspect? An artifact?"

Just as Vale was feeling baffled and contemplating how to reply, Isolde’s voice whispered to him. "He’s stalling for time so the others in the tower will send information and confirm if they know you, or at least to know if you’re a guest."

"Different Companies change rotation to guard the towers."

Vale’s eyes narrowed. He quite liked the idea of tracking any Knight of note that enters one city. ’....I’ll have to set that up in my cities as well, I need to know when people of strange....ah...I’m getting distracted...’

He pulled his attention out of his thoughts and looked at the man again. He honestly didn’t know how to answer. If Tiber were here, he would have briefed him on how to react, damn it!

"Tell them you have a message for....Kaelthorn, Company Captain. As much as I hate it, he’s one of the most reasonable of them."

’....this lady must be scheming again....but....’

"I have a message for Company Captain Kaelthorn."

The man gave him a strange look, and then he frowned.

"See his expression, they’ve relayed back that they don’t know you. They have no information on you to draw on! Oh my! You must really be from a good Clan!"

Vale couldn’t fault them. He doubted even his own people would instantly recognize him. He had changed. His eyes were now crimson and his pupils like red moons. Even his hair now resembled actual darkness.

He didn’t look fully human.

"But they’ll also be cautious now, since you can be anybody! So, they’ll surely send you to Kaelthorn."

Just then, the Master Knight’s eyes brightened again. "Company Captain Kaelthorn? Very well, do you know the way? You can see him."

"No, I don’t. Is there someone who can lead me?"

The Master Knight volunteered, mostly to keep an eye on him as they quickly flew over the city.

As they neared the main city with the walls, Vale could see the workings of a city-wide formation set in place. And as they flew above it, he understood that the formation is cut into six places of different workings, only the middle was left alone.

They were led toward the middle where a palace stood.

Isolde’s voice sounded again, a bit surprised. "This can’t be good."

There was no way for Vale to inquire about what couldn’t be good as the flying Master Knight dived down, Vale following behind him. They landed a bit far from the palace and had to walk the rest of the way.

Six flags flew at the top of the grand palace. They were of the same color, black, but they bore different names written in blood red. Vaelros, Duskryn, Morvane, Thalvyr, Veyrith, and Kaelthorn.

As they got close to the palace, the warriors guarding it turned fully toward them.

Vale’s eyes widened. Guards?

Those are fucking Master Knights!

Twelve of them. And they were fully dressed for battle. They all wore black armor, but in bright red on their chests were different letters. Va, Du, Mo, Th, Ve, and Ka!

The Master Knights of the different Company Captains?

Swiftly, Vale looked properly at the man leading them, the Master Knight. Although he wore no armor, the Mo was bright for all to see, he had just never taken notice.

The air was heavy with tension and it stank of old bloodlust.

This....Vale suddenly understood something. These Master Knights are dangerous. Very dangerous. Not the type of danger that comes with their rank, but danger because of danger.

It reminded him of the Master Knights of the borderland.

Their eyes raked over him, and then turned flat as they realized that he is just an Errant Rank. He had no interest in their eyes.

The man leading them stopped, and then gestured. He smirked slightly. "You can go now, just inside in the Council room."

Vale now understood why Isolde said something couldn’t be good earlier. Well, fuck it.

Vale began to walk inside, dismissing the other Master Knights as well as he entered. He found the palace strangely silent.

"This is the administrative center of Matsumoto, but each time there’s a meeting, everyone except the Company Captains is left inside. And those who are needed."

"Why do they let me in?"

Although Isolde hadn’t shown herself, Vale could still see her and her expression was filled with dark joy. "Why, maybe they find you mildly familiar. Who can say?"

Vale sighed, and his eyes flattened. "Let me guess, you also sent a message as soon as we got here, right? That’s the whole reason I, a total stranger and an Errant Knight, was granted permission to enter this place."

He smiled. "You sneaky bastard. You know, you know. You’ve been very careful not to mention who’s missing in Akatsuki, haven’t you?"

Isolde blinked softly. "I can’t possibly comprehend what you’re saying....My Lord."