CHAPTER 853: CONFERRING

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 me as one of your subordinates or whatever... you know... for example, as part of your troops or something like that," he said awkwardly.

Aldrian finally narrowed his eyes seriously.

"Are you sure? Do you realize what you’re talking about? Serving under me means that you must be loyal to me and place me above your family. You might even drag your entire family under me in the future," he said seriously. "Do you understand what that means? Wait, even before that, does Patriarch Xin know about your intent?"

To serve under him meant they had to leave their past affiliations behind. This was obvious. Their loyalty would belong to him alone, and their former affiliations would have no say in it. Even if he gave them an order that might harm their former 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 become its next patriarch. By serving under Aldrian, he would have to set aside his status and his own family, something truly daring.

Hearing Aldrian’s question, Xin Haotian nodded.

"I know. I already told my father about my intent, and he just let me 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 meant. By agreeing for his successor to become 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 same as other nobles within the empire.

Once they were fully under his authority, it would no longer be the same as the other noble families that governed their own territories. Their status would change, they would become 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 something that could be done merely out of loyalty to him. To place the entire Xin family directly under him meant allowing themselves to be under the direct control of the Aster imperial family. They could not simply withdraw from their position even if Aldrian someday stepped down from the emperor’s throne, that was not how it worked.

If someone 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 someone pledged their loyalty and became a direct subordinate of Aldrian, it was the same as making a lifetime pledge to the Aster family. Unless something extraordinary happened to the Aster family, they would remain its subordinates forever.

Aldrian looked at Xin Haotian for a moment, and Xin Haotian looked back at him. There was a brief silence before Aldrian spoke.

"Why would you decide something like that? Isn’t it much better if you or the Xin family maintain your current status? Your family could still have some degree of freedom, but once all of you are under my direct authority—no offense, but your family would basically become troops that I could command as I please, or even expendable ones."

Xin Haotian nodded, then shrugged.

"Well, call me crazy, but I think serving under you would be much better for me. 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 time, only be able to curse me to death and regret this decision?" he said.

"Well, if that happened, then I could only blame my stupid decision to believe in you. At that time, I would curse you even in death so you could hear me. Even if I became 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 same, which made Aldrian think that the father and son truly shared the same nature when it came to making decisions.

They seemed 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 me. At this moment, I’m in the process of building my own imperial force. It’s still small, but it will grow in the future. I need someone 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 become part of my force? Are you ready to be loyal to me and my family, to obey me, and to become 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 means becoming your sword and shield, or that of your family, then let it be so. I will become the sharpest sword and the hardest shield for you," he said seriously, lifting his head to meet 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 become 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 shame to the empire or the imperial family," he said in a solemn tone.

Aldrian finally smiled. "Now you are officially a member 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 me like this. Do you feel touched after making me 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."