They don't want me to try anymore.

"Ah, my companion is here to see me. I'm sorry, sir, I must leave for a moment..."

"Okay, let's talk again later."

"Okay! See you after the holiday, and remember to come to my fellow villager's restaurant! It's on me!"

Richard watched the chubby boy disappear around the corner, lost in thought.

As the only true Imperial being present, Catherine felt a little awkward.

However, after a moment's hesitation, she reminded him, "Richard, is your wish also related to your hometown?"

"To be honest, I haven't thought about it yet, maybe..."

"...If it concerns you, you need to be mindful of your words. His Majesty's wishes are not omnipotent, and they have never harmed the overall interests of the nation... These words may sound harsh, but I mean no harm..."

"I understand, thank you."

After all, it was just an extra treat to celebrate the holiday. Richard knew very well that it was unrealistic to expect to fundamentally change or fight anything with this wish.

He went back to his room to change his clothes and then went downstairs to the lobby with his teammates.

Several elegantly dressed imperial officials were waiting here.

Once everyone was almost present, the officials announced the following procedures, explained the benefits of attending the banquet at the palace, and provided a batch of formal attire, etc.

These will be omitted.

In the afternoon, the contestants, riding in several luxurious carriages pulled by unicorns (their authenticity is unknown), followed by a band and ceremonial guard, entered the palace amidst flower petals scattered by the crowds on both sides, to attend a banquet specially prepared for the outstanding contestants...

Despite having been to many places, Richard couldn't help but marvel at the luxury and magnificence before him.

Gold and silver, precious stones and coral, crystal domes and exquisite chandeliers—these things are so plentiful that they are commonplace and hardly worth mentioning.

There are also murals by famous artists, alchemical mechanisms, a magical galaxy slowly rotating overhead, and a legendary level of pressure faintly emanating from behind the walls...

He felt he couldn't stand it anymore.

Is this the heart of the empire?

Truly worthy of being the most important half of the world!

The difference between their own Connaught Palace and this place is as vast as the difference between Boruto and Shippuden, or between a weak Rome and a traditional Rome.

Of course, besides the environment, food, and tableware, what's truly remarkable here is the presence of the extremely wealthy and powerful guests—for example, Richard saw Catherine's grandfather Lauren again!

The latter was also waving at him.

Then... it was the same old aristocratic party, where everyone tried to build relationships. In essence, it wasn't much different from what Richard had seen at Connaught Palace.

It's just that the people they're talking to are more powerful, such as the Foreign Minister, the Governor-General of a foreign country, the Chief of Police, the Executive Secretary, and so on...

Although these people were very polite and appreciative of Richard because of Mr. Lauren, Richard could sense that they didn't truly accept him at all.

After all, he was a foreigner who couldn't offer any benefits.

Not to mention the progressives; Richard didn't see many military personnel come over to chat.

But it doesn't matter, just making a good first impression is enough.

As things develop in the future, there will be times when we can make further exchanges of benefits.

At that moment, Richard suddenly noticed that everyone turned around and bowed.

He turned his head and saw an elderly man in a marshal's uniform, adorned with medals, walking into the banquet hall under the protection of guards...

This was not some military bigwig, but the emperor of the empire, the most powerful human on the continent, Norton I!

That said, compared to the palace, the emperor himself seemed rather ordinary...

Why not get a portable golden toilet to sit on?

Despite his thoughts, Richard quickly followed the others in bowing.

But then he noticed that His Majesty the Emperor was excessively hunched over, and that his calves also seemed...

It was trembling slightly.

Chapter 102 The Female Sword Saint Launches a Night Raid!

Richard recalled that Norton I in the simulation was also destined to die young—and often didn't even outlive him.

Are there already signs of this in reality?

This is not a good thing...

It wasn't that Richard liked the emperor, but he knew that Norton I was the great balancer of the empire. With the old man around, the conservatives could fight against the progressives. Once the old man died, the second prince would most likely take the throne.

and so……

The imperial physicians need to work harder!

"Congratulations to all the talented young people..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Over there, Norton I had already chatted with many of the contestants, and it was Richard's turn as well.

He acted quite amiably, raising his wine glass and saying, "You and your father are just like two peas in a pod... You have left a very deep impression on me, no less than Luvia back then, and you even defeated the strong with the weak, which is even more remarkable than Luvia's back then."

"Your Majesty is so complimentary."

"Ha, no need for that, our champions should hold their heads high with pride..."

Although his health was visibly poor, Norton I still made a relatively perfect appearance at the banquet, receiving all the victorious contestants with the demeanor of a benevolent and noble emperor.

Everyone expressed their gratitude, especially those from impoverished or remote areas, who genuinely shed tears.

However, Norton I soon left the banquet hall, citing other state affairs. An hour later, a guard found Richard and said that the emperor wanted to see him.

Richard thought: This must be where I ask about my wish, right?

I originally thought it was going to be said in public... but upon closer reflection, it's actually quite normal.

After all, what if that wish is very private? Or what if it would put the emperor in a difficult position? If the emperor and the contestant were to haggle in public, that would be extremely undignified.

So, following his guards, Richard left the banquet hall, passed through an equally luxurious corridor, and arrived at a small garden.

Norton I was sitting in a chaise longue, watching the fountain. Besides his guards, he was accompanied by two noblemen whom Richard had just met. He remembered one of them as the Marquis of Mariddo, who seemed to be a friend of Laurent.

Upon Richard's arrival, Norton I asked with a smile, "Do you feel a distance between yourself and your peers at the banquet?"

Is this considered casual conversation?

There's a hidden meaning in his words...

The other party was theoretically the highest authority in humankind. No matter how much he resembled a friendly old man, Richard still answered quite cautiously: "There are indeed people who reject me, but most people are very friendly... It is my honor to be friends with these imperial talents."

"That's good. I look forward to your future development in the empire."

Whether it was Lauren who paved the way or not, Norton I seemed to think that Richard would join the Imperial system after graduation.

However, this was indeed the choice of many nobles from small states within vassal empires, especially after they graduated from Saint Goethe—Richard would not deny this.

"You must have been waiting for a long time, right? So tell me, young man, what is your wish?"

It feels like being asked about your dreams on The Voice of China...

Richard pursed his lips slightly, then said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I hope the Empire will return all the gold artifacts it took from Guamara."

Norton I raised an eyebrow, quite surprised, and clearly didn't remember what the goldware of Guamara was.

After the Marquis of Marido explained in a low voice, he suddenly realized what was going on and looked at Richard with a half-smile.

"This shouldn't be your wish, right?"

Have no idea.

I'm not interested in money or official positions. What I truly want is either something I can't tell you at all, or something you couldn't do even if I told you. It's more reliable to earn it myself.

Since that's the case, I might as well use this wish to do something good for my friends and for those in Guamara who suffer just like those in my hometown.

So Richard said seriously, "It wasn't at first, but it is now."

“Sure, no problem.” Norton I nodded readily, then asked, “Don’t you want to do anything for your homeland?”

"That……"

Seeing that Norton I was unexpectedly agreeable, Richard tentatively asked, "Would Your Majesty allow me to have a duel with Duke Robert Dulles?"

Norton I was taken aback, then chuckled.

"I really want to see the expression on Minister Dulles's face when he hears this wish... But I cannot grant it to you. Minister Dulles is a pillar of the country, and I cannot put personal matters before public ones."

Knew it.

"In that case..."

Richard was not discouraged, but instead put on a respectful face and said:

“Your Majesty, I have been in Idaril for more than half a year now. To be honest, the magnificent buildings and the mighty army here have not impressed me. On the contrary, what truly surprises me is the politics and laws here.”

"Oh?"

Norton I narrowed his eyes slightly, adopting a scrutinizing expression different from before, as he awaited Richard's next words.

"For example, patent and copyright protection laws, support for university expansion, and protection of the rights of military personnel during their service and after retirement... It is these that have enabled the empire to maintain fairness and progress even seven hundred years after its founding, preventing it from being corrupted and tempted by power, and from following the same path of fleeting rise and fall as previous dynasties..."