The woman looked human, if not for the smooth blue scales on the back of her hand and sides of her feet.
She gave a light bow to the Emperor and nodded at others.
"They agreed to join us for a hundred years. If we treat them well, they'll continue to be the citizens of the Empire."
The mermaid woman took a seat beside the pale man. They were stark contrasts, be it their red and blue hairs, pale and bright eyes as well as the depressing and refreshing demeanors.
"Blinkers from Earth Ruins."
A middle-aged male stepped forward and placed a hand on his chest. But his eyes had no pupils and were completely gray. Bali could detect the change in space around the blinker and realized that this race was space-related.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." He spoke in an accented human tongue.
"Greetings, Diego." Varian smiled. "His people are very calm and welcoming. After thoroughly enquiring the situation and taking enough proof, they joined."
Diego smiled lightly and calmly took his seat. His demeanor impressed the ministers the most.
An attractive young woman stepped forward and greeted everyone with a charming smile.
The ministers subconsciously smiled back before their faces froze in confusion.
"Thalia, no tricks here." Varian's stern voice echoed in the hall.
"Apologies, your majesty." The young woman bowed with a regretful expression.
Only then did Bali and others notice that her ears were also pointed, but only slightly.
Varian narrowed his eyes at her and tapped his armrest as his voice dropped. "Thalia."
Thalia looked at Varian with a bit of resentment and sighed. Then under the surprised gazes of everyone except Varian, her beautiful face changed and turned into something far prettier.
"Nymphs from Mars," Varian said as Thalia took her seat with unmatched grace. "They like tricking others very much and are good at talking, they'll make excellent diplomats. And they have no problem joining the Empire."
"B-But aren't they—" Bali looked at the breathtakingly beautiful woman with apprehension.
In return, Thalia gave him a smile that almost caused Bali to stop breathing.
"She won't harm the interests of the Empire," Varian turned his gaze to the woman. "Or she won't be the only one dying."
Thalia's smile froze at those harsh words but she immediately recovered. "…Your Majesty, why would any ruler kill us? We are the ultimate dream of any male. You can have all of us to yourself. We never age, we maintain the peak of our beauty and we remain loyal."
The attractive woman looked into his eyes and spoke in a soft, sweet, and charming voice without using any powers. "I ask you to consider our proposal once more. We are willing to send our best to be your concubines, including me and my mother. The Emperor should have a harem befitting of his strength and you are strong, Your Majesty. Please agree."
Everyone, including the blood race man, mermaid, and blinker nodded their heads instinctively.
"If you and your mother are in that much heat, I'll ask someone to open a shop for you in the red-light district." Varian's words were colder than ice and sharper than a blade.
At the completely unexpected and condescending response, Thalia slumped into her seat like a fish out of water and stared at him with overwhelming confusion.
Why? Why would any man reject such an offer?
Varian continued looking right into her eyes with mockery. "Your mother has too much ambition for her own good. She really thinks she can control me by sending some women."
Thalia's stunningly beautiful face paled and she clenched her fists to the point they turned pale.
"I am really not in the mood for these little schemes. Just fulfill your duties, don't make trouble, then have fun however you want in the empire. Help the humans and other races in the empire to help yourself. If you still play stupid games, then you'll win stupid prizes. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes, I understand." Thalia's voice was now filled with contained honesty that was previously lacking.
"Good." Varian waved her to sit down.
Now the lineup was a depressing Sanguin, a refreshing mermaid, a calm blinker, and a quiet but still charming Nymph.
"Next is Elves from Jupiter Ruins."
"H-Hello?" Aquari, younger sister of celestial elf Aquanlia, stepped forward and waved at the court.
Everyone looked at her with weird expressions.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Alison finally asked.
"I asked for a formal dress to meet a royal family member. They said this is how it goes." Aquari rubbed her hands on the maid uniform she was wearing and said timidly.
Varian muttered something under his breath and gestured for her to take a seat.
"Solarians from the Saturn ruins."
A burly man with four arms stepped forward and clapped his hands in greetings. He's in intricate armor and carried a sword behind his back with hammers hanging on his waist.
"They're happy to join and have one request. Provide them with good materials for their blacksmithing."
The burly man nodded profusely.
"Crystal race from Uranus ruins."
A seemingly normal woman stepped forward but when the sunlight shone on her, her skin reflected it back and she glittered like a diamond.
She sighed in exasperation and a thin layer of crystal on her skin retracted back. Now, they could see her normally. She looked as normal as anyone on the street.
With a bow, she went to her seat without wasting time.
"Errr, don't mind her, her race…doesn't like exerting energy as much as possible. They're eco-friendly, I guess?" Varian explained.
The woman nodded just enough for everyone to understand she did that.
"This eco-friendly race won't be helpful if it doesn't follow orders. It'll be necessary to exert effort." Kevin shook his head in disapproval.
Varian laughed an evil laugh and the woman felt something ominous. "Just throw them on the battlefield. They'll be the most efficient killing machines."
The woman opened her mouth in shock and stared at the Emperor with wide eyes. "Y-You said you'd not ask us to do anything."
