Prince Chronos Strikes

Chronos's eyes scanned the area, taking note of each Royal Guard and the individuals under Ken's command.

His eye glowed a regal white for a moment and saw a slight glow exuding from only one of Ken's goons.

Ken stepped to the side of the stage, flanked by his goons, as a masked figure approached the podium.

The figure was a spitting image of Chronos's in-game character,[ Prince ].

"I'm [ Prince ] and truth be told, I owe my success to Ken and Yamamoto Media group, without their…"

*BAAAMMM!!*

Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted his speech as a model sword slammed into the fake Prince, knocking him to the back of the stage.

The crowd instantly fell silent.

Chronos shot a look at Sophia as TaoTie's dumbfounded stare fixated upon him.

The sibling pair levitated on the stage in an imperious manner.

"What's going on?"

Someone in the crowd murmured.

"OMG! Who are they?" said another.

" I think that's Princess Sophia? Am I hallucinating?"

A third voice chimed in.

"Did they just strike our hero down?? WTF??"

A murmur of muffled voices started spreading across the wave of fans while the reporter drones started flickering excitedly.

The fake Prince struggled to stand up but still let out a gut-wrenching roar,

"Who the fuck are the two of you?! Security! Take them down!"

*Vrooosh*

A blur of metallic black and neon purple pierced toward the fake prince and sliced off one of his arms.

"AHHH!!!"

A shower of crimson sprayed outward, the crowd once again falling into silence apart from the occasional gasps.

Ken Yamamoto clenched his fists, his face flushed red in anger. A crazed look started to manifest on his face and veins started appearing at the sides of his temple.

"KILL THEM!!!"

He commanded. This was supposed to be the day he shone.

His plan would finally gain the approval of his family and solidify his place as the one true heir.

*Cracksss* *Cracksss* *Crackss*

A volley of shots had erupted, threatening to take the lives of Ken and his group of goons if they dared to take another step.

Ken's eyes darted around wildly, his grip tightening on his weapon as he scanned the area for any possible escape routes.

As the smoke cleared, Chronos and Sophia emerged from the crowd, faces unmasked and determined.

The fake Prince was levitating by their side, his fate hanging by a thread as Chronos's Dimensium blade hovered menacingly at his throat.

"You were spared for not knowing who you're impersonating,"

Chronos declared overbearingly.

"The arm is payment for your insolence toward Astralian Royalty. You have but one more chance to keep your life."

With a flick of her wrist, Chronos levitated the microphone towards the fake prince's mouth.

Completely unmasked, the fake prince was now sweating bullets, visibly trying his best to avoid the dagger at his throat but to no avail.

"S..STOP… Ken Yamamoto paid me to act as [ Prince ] to increase his influence within the Empire of Astral! "

The imposter cried out.

"I'll tell you everything I know, I'm just a paid actor… please, I have a family…"

"He also mentioned that this is an important step in consuming all the media companies in Aion. By controlling public opinion, he hopes to take down the entire Empire one day,"

The imposter added.

*GASP*

A collective gasp echoed through the crowd, as they realized the scale of the conspiracy that had been uncovered.

Chronos shot Sophia a quick glance, signaling her to take control of the situation.

Sophia confidently took hold of the microphone and addressed the crowd, speaking in a condescending tone.

"The audacity of a good-for-nothing spoiled brat to concoct such a foolish plan. You're a disgrace to the Yamamoto family name,"

Sophia sneered.

"To all the citizens of the Kingdom of Onogoro, this boy claims to be better than you? With an IQ this low?"

Sophia continued, her words dripping with contempt.

Ken's face twisted with fury as he seethed with anger...

He had been publicly humiliated, and his reaction was one of intense, uncontrolled rage.

In a crazed roar he screamed,

"YOU FUCKING BITCH! What did you s…"

*Vroosh*

Before he could finish his maniacal outbreak, a blur of black and purple shot straight toward him. This time however, one of his goons, who was obviously a cultivator, jumped to his defense.

" Royal Vanguards … seize these terrorists!"

Chronos let out a resounding command, his voice echoed imperiously, an overbearing aura radiated across the parameter of the square.

Amidst the press conference, a group of hidden royal guards suddenly appeared, their movements swift and sure as they converged on Ken Yamamoto and his goons.

Clad in sleek, futuristic armor and wielding advanced weaponry, the guards moved with deadly precision, their faces impassive and their eyes locked on their targets.

Their actions were quick and efficient as they secured the area and swept it for any additional dangers.

The guards moved with a sense of calm professionalism, their armor glinting in the harsh light of the press conference, a striking contrast to the civilian clothing worn by the rest of the attendees.

Soon, Ken and his goons were rounded up on stage, the group on their knees with both hands on their necks.

"Contact the Head of the Yamamoto Group now!"

Sophia commanded.

Ken, now quivering, immediately established the connection on his Comms Watch.

As soon as the Head of the Yamamoto Group, Tokugawa Yamamoto, materialized on stage, Chronos wasted no time in announcing their crimes.

"The Yamamoto Group has been found guilty of sedition, lese-majeste, high treason and attempt to assassinate a member of the Astral Royal Family, what say you?"

His tone was cold and unyielding.

Tokugawa Yamamoto's face was etched with worry as he spoke,

"How may I address you?"

"You have no right to ask, plan your next words carefully, for it may be the nail on the coffin of the entire Yamamoto Group…"

Chronos replied, his expression remaining impassive.

After a brief moment of silence, he added,

"The Yamamoto Group will relinquish all businesses, property, and finances within the territory of the Empire of Astral and pay a compensation of 100 million Aeons."

Chronos's expression remained impassive,

"500 million and we will throw in the heir who planned the sedition and publicly threatened the life of Princess Sophia who is also the Head of the Astral Merchants Association, as a bonus…"

He spat with disdain, pointing toward Ken.

"If you can't call the shots or afford the penance, let me speak to someone who can."