Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 517 The Council

"Who are you? By what means did you enter this place?" The elderly man demanded, standing tall alongside his guards while his heart ached at the sight of his ruined residence.

He had poured a fortune into its construction, utilizing only the most premium and costly materials for every wall, yet now it was nothing but rubble.

"Wifey, it’s your turn to handle things," Vritra remarked as Yasmine finally shifted her gaze toward them.

"W-What? Y-You’re... Yasmine?!! How can you be alive? Wait, is this an impostor?" The old man’s face flickered through a whirlwind of emotions; it was clear he refused to accept that she had truly returned from the dead.

"Oh, so you believe I am a fake?" Yasmine’s aura began to radiate a brilliant glow, and a suffocating, lethal pressure crashed down upon everyone in the vicinity.

The guards were forced to their knees instantly, their foreheads slammed against the dirt, while the old man eventually collapsed as well after a futile attempt to resist.

This wasn't merely the weight of her raw power; it was the absolute authority of their Empress.

Yasmine had always been their legitimate sovereign. Although Dago had occupied the throne, he had never truly held the mandate.

'She’s the real deal! The Empress has actually returned!!' Any lingering skepticism vanished in that moment.

Vritra remained standing at her side, arms folded, quietly admiring her fierce and commanding demeanor.

For the time being, he was content acting as her personal bodyguard.

"Go now and summon the council members for an emergency session. Inform them they must be in the council hall within ten minutes. Anyone who fails to show will face a brutal punishment," Yasmine commanded as she withdrew her pressure.

"Y-Yes, Empress! I shall attend to it at once!" The old man stammered, nodding frantically before scurrying away.

The guards remained paralyzed by terror, not even daring to stand back up after the crushing weight had lifted.

"G-Greetings, Empress," they droned in unison.

"Dismissed." Yasmine looked toward Vritra, and the pair began walking toward the council hall.

"Well done, wifey." Once they were out of the public eye, Vritra gently patted her head, prompting the dragoness to lean affectionately into his embrace.

"Hehe, I have to instill a bit of fear in them, otherwise they’ll just try to push me around," Yasmine whispered as they reached the nearby council hall.

They chatted while waiting, and before the ten-minute mark hit, the sound of many hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Yasmine moved from his lap to a separate chair, clearing her throat and adopting a cold, expressionless mask.

Exactly thirty men piled into the hall. Their first instinct was to stare at Yasmine in disbelief.

It was obvious that her return was still a shock to their systems. After a moment of stunned silence, they took their designated seats.

Yasmine waited until the ten minutes had passed precisely, then scanned the room and demanded:

"Where are the remaining two members?"

"U-Uhm, Empress, I attempted to contact them, but they claimed to be occupied with other matters and couldn't spare the time to attend," the same bald elder from earlier explained.

"I see. So they have 'important' business to attend to, do they?" Yasmine nodded slowly, then cast a glance toward Vritra.

"Would you mind—"

Vritra cut her off before she could finish the request. "Certainly, my Queen. It would be my pleasure."

In a flash, right before the eyes of the thirty councilmen and the guards stationed at the entrance, Vritra vanished into thin air.

"Who is that man? I’ve never laid eyes on him before."

"Was that teleportation? His power level doesn't seem that impressive—has he even reached the General rank yet?"

"Ignore him! Is that woman really the Empress? Wasn't she erased by the divine punishment of the gods years ago? How is she standing here?"

"True, what if this is some demonic deception? Why don't you go and confront her?"

"H-Huh? Why me? Do it yourself!"

The councilors traded hushed whispers, eyeing Yasmine with deep suspicion.

Barely ten seconds had ticked by when a sickening crunching noise erupted near the doorway.

Every head turned to see Vritra standing there, with the two missing council members dumped on the floor in a mangled heap.

Both of them had their arms snapped.

"How dare you!! Who gave you the right to assault a member of this council? Guards, seize this criminal at once!" one of the men roared, leaping to his feet.

Despite the outburst, they were all secretly terrified by Vritra's efficiency. How had he managed to overpower two high-level dragons so quickly and drag them back here?

To break their bones was even more shocking, as their draconic physiques were supposed to be nearly indestructible.

"Ughhh... what just happened?"

"Ahhh! My arms! Wait, wasn't I just having my breakfast?"

The two victims were completely disoriented, having no idea how they had been moved.

"..." Without uttering a word, Vritra simply returned to his spot and sat down.

"Sit down this instant. The next person who interrupts me will be executed." Yasmine’s freezing tone sent a wave of dread through the room.

The council fell into a deathly silence, and even the two injured men scrambled to find their places.

Among the group, however, were a few sensible individuals who actually prioritized the welfare of their race and kingdom.

"I am Yasmine Firehart, your Empress. Your doubts do not concern me. If anyone takes issue with my return, you are welcome to challenge me to a duel to the death. Any questions?" She surveyed the room as she spoke.

"..." No one dared to utter a sound. This was unmistakably her; she had always ruled the council through sheer dominance.

"Excellent. Since we are all in agreement, I shall introduce someone very important. This is my husband, Vritra," she declared, sparking a collective gasp of shock.

They were already struggling to process her resurrection, and this news only added to the chaos.

However, that name rang a bell for some...

"Wait, wasn't there a demon by the name of Vritra? But that man died, so they can't be the same," someone whispered.

Yasmine offered no further clarification. She pressed on: "If you are concerned about Dago’s whereabouts, you can stop. He is already dead."

This revelation sent another shockwave through the hall. It felt as though Yasmine was trying to give them all heart failure.

"Empress, shouldn't we await the arrival of the Council Head?" one man asked, trying to remain composed.

The Council Head, the thirty-third member, was Dago’s father—the very reason Dago had been able to seize the throne in the first place.

"Indeed, he is currently traveling back. The Council Head should arrive shortly," another chimed in.

"That won't be necessary. You can brief him on the new status quo later. First, proclaim my return to the entire kingdom and the world. Second..." Yasmine began rattling off a series of mandates.

Most of her decrees were met with internal displeasure by the council.

Had they all banded together, they might have stood a chance at defeating her, but the presence of her husband kept them glued to their seats.

In the past, her power came from a specific treasure, but that had been consumed, which was the only reason her tattered soul had survived the gods' wrath.

As Yasmine continued her instructions, a distant rumble of thunder and a feral roar echoed through the air.

It appeared Dago’s father had arrived, and he seemed to already know of his son's demise.

Someone was likely transmitting the events of the hall to him in real-time.

Now, the council faced a grim crossroads. They could align with the Council Head and wage war against Yasmine...

Or they could bow to her and serve as high-ranking puppets until the end of their days.

In reality, the choice was obvious.

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