Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 171: Buy you

"So, you are the one they call the Commander," Dienro, the Flagbearer of the CrimsonHood, said.

He had a warm smile on his face, but his black, beady eyes were like cold pebbles.

Vale gave him a smile of his own. "I am the Commander, Vale Athrimir. Nice to finally meet you, Dienro."

He maintained his smile as he gestured to one of the chairs arranged close to his throne-like seat. "Why don’t you have a seat, Commander?"

Vale walked closer to one of the chairs and used his essence senses to sweep it before he sat. "You sound as if you don’t like the title."

Dienro shook his head. "Maybe it’s pity. The last person to call himself by that title did not last long."

"And you hold pity for me? Now, that’s strange coming from someone who tried and failed to kill me."

The mood in the room quickly became tense and awkward. Not all of the Flagbearers knew what to do about Vale’s situation because they were wary of what the Athrimir Clan might do if they acted rashly.

Only Scuffed Bones would dare to take bold steps because he knew those backing him were strong.

Dienro shook his head, his flabby jaws trembling. His smile had turned into a show of teeth. "You should not have come here. No, I should have made sure you died in the second layer."

Vale snorted. "You’re not the only one thinking that, Flagbearer, but that’s in the past."

"The past? You killed my Knight, a very promising one." Anger finally filled his small eyes. "You think that’s in the past? To us, our rank alone isn’t our power—it’s how powerful those we command are. And Alyndra was worth more than you can imagine!"

"Maybe you should train your Knights well. Teach them not to fight those who can kill them, those stronger than them."

Dienro’s hand tightened on the arm of his chair, and he looked as if he would snap. But he took a slow breath as he spoke. "What do you want? I’ve been hearing that you’re going around, trying to convince Flagbearers to join you."

Vale smiled. "I want to buy you."

"What?" Dienro stared at him in shock, as if he couldn’t comprehend what Vale was trying to say.

Vale repeated it, a bit slower. "I want to buy you."

Dienro’s face cleared and pulled into a frown, but he didn’t seem that angry. A glint entered his eyes. "You want to buy me? Isn’t that too bold of you?"

Vale shrugged. "Is it? You tell me."

Before Vale left Takoda’s place, he had gathered as much information as he could about the Flagbearers. And what he knew was that Dienro was a man obsessed with resources. His control over his resources was the tightest, and he was probably owing the Clan a lot of money.

The CrimsonHood might have wanted to kill Vale before, but now that they truly knew who he was, they would naturally take a step back, unless they had a strong faction backing them, like the Scuffed Bones.

Vale did not think so, and someone like Dienro wouldn’t just stand still while others shared resources for clearing the Rift. Vale was trying to exploit the same greed he had used for the Ten back in the second layer.

Dienro smirked. "Can you afford to buy my loyalty, Commander? It’s not something that can be easily acquired."

Vale asked simply, "What do you want?"

Dienro’s eyes danced. "Give me the Commander’s castle."

Vale’s face remained impassive. "You can ask for something else. Better yet, let me make you an offer. I will give you two enchanted towers and a lot of gold. A whole lot."

Dienro’s eyes widened in surprise. It was a known fact that enchanted towers belonged to the Flagbearers. The Commander had none except for the Chained Artifact Tower.

So how could Vale promise to give him enchanted towers, artifacts so valuable that they couldn’t even be mass-produced? Once a Flagbearer lost one, they might never recover it.

Finally, the shock faded from Dienro’s face, replaced by intrigue. He looked at Vale as if he couldn’t believe what was happening.

After all, the only way to get two enchanted towers like that was by taking them from other Flagbearers! Dienro chuckled. "Oh...! I’ve never seen a Commander like you before! Make it three enchanted towers, and I will fully support you."

Vale shook his head. "Two. And gold... with some natural resources."

"Alright, I agree." Dienro shrugged, then his eyes narrowed. "But you better not try to play any tricks."

Vale stood. "That should be directed at yourself."

He turned to leave when Dienro’s voice rang out once again. "When? When will you do what you plan to do?"

Vale called back without turning. "Four days. There’s a lot to prepare, and I still have to get Paloma. I’ll inform you how it will go."

Dienro watched him leave and continued watching for a long time. Slowly, the small smile on his face faded. It was replaced by something sharp and slippery. "Our new Commander isn’t used to this, is he? I should teach him a life lesson.

"But he might not be alive to learn from it. Unfortunately, those two towers are too tempting, so I’m going to join him. But what I really want is the Commander’s Tower." Dienro muttered.

Then he stood from his place and went into his room. He stood before his mirror and stared at it for a while. "Why should I settle for something Infernal when something of more quality is staring right at me?"

His face lit with a dark light, and he pressed his hand against the mirror, injecting his essence as he waited for the cloudy surface to clear.

It did, revealing a gloomy darkness and a voice that snapped, "What is it?"

Dienro smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know how you’ll die? I find it interesting, really, that a pup might be the one deciding your death. Come to think of it, if I should add my aged wisdom to this pup’s ability..."

"What do you want?" the voice from the other side asked.

Dienro pretended to think about it. "I saw a black, gleaming tower once..."