Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

"You mean, there's nothing wrong with her, but those memories derived from her bloodline and ancestors might not be reliable?"

"I was just saying that it's a possibility." Ruklati shrugged, feigning indifference, but a hint of amusement lurked in her eyes. "After all, this involves the ancient tale of the cruel witch and the Kranar clan from a thousand years ago. I've already withdrawn from the scene. Now you're caught between two girls with opposing stances; ultimately, your choice is yours, my little master."

She adopted an air of detached indifference, as if enjoying watching from the sidelines, but her flippant tone suddenly shifted, pointing Liuxia in a new direction:

"They each have their own version of events and their own explanations. Why don't you try looking at it from a different angle and try to find out the truth from other people's perspectives..."

"Another angle?" Liu Xia frowned slightly, then immediately realized after a moment's thought, "You mean the Holy See and the Chosen Ones?"

"That's right. From my remaining memories, Carmela and her group know a lot about the world! Moreover, they seem quite ambitious and don't take sides, which actually makes their intelligence more credible. Of course, this is just my immature suggestion. Don't overthink it, I have no intention of going back to that woman!"

Ruklati emphasized this point, causing Ryuka to roll her eyes. When Ruklati said it, Ryuka couldn't help but wonder if the demonic sword had ulterior motives!

Although Ryuka himself felt that he was overthinking things, to the point of almost "murdering in his dreams," he firmly believed that if he weren't like this, he would probably have died on the road long ago, and his grave would be overgrown with weeds by now.

After carefully considering Ruklati's words, Ryusha also felt that it was indeed possible to approach the issue from both the Vatican and the Chosen Ones.

These two bastards, though causing themselves a lot of trouble, do indeed possess a wealth of ancient secrets. This trip south has inadvertently led them into their core territory, and both have intricate connections to the witch's power. Ruklati's words are indeed reasonable. Since a direct confrontation with them is inevitable, it's better to take this opportunity to broaden one's information sources and uncover more unknown truths.

Thinking this, Liu Xia reached into his robes and took out a purple-gold gem—the Tear of the Bauhinia Flower. Deep within the clear crystal, the golden patterns faintly sealed the aura of another demonic sword, but unfortunately, only Linor could unlock it. This was precisely why he had Kania secretly send Linor over; when necessary, the power of this demonic sword would also be at his disposal!

As for the agreement with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith? Forget it! They only sent back Luminova, who had lost her memory; that's not enough to make me trust them. Besides, all they want is to overthrow Carmela's Inquisition. If I were to hand over the Tears of the Bauhinia, I'd be being far too generous…

"I still have plenty of cards to play, there's no need to rush. This trip south will definitely not be easy, I even have a bad feeling that the whole world is about to change drastically..."

Rukla held the Bauhinia Tear in her hand. Rukla remained silent, unsure how Rukla would deal with the fact that she possessed a brother or sister weapon.

Whatever the Papacy and the Chosen Ones may be plotting, their goals ultimately revolve around the overall situation of the continent or their calculations against the Otus Empire. To them, Ryusha felt he was just an insignificant nobody. Only Princess Tipalotura of Otus was temporarily on his side, but this alliance was mostly mixed with the intention of winning her over and using her.

In Ryusha's view, if the events of the cruel witch's ordeal a thousand years ago are considered the beginning of everything, then the Papacy and the Otus Empire were actually vying for the "legitimate" title of exterminating the witch. Both sides claimed to be righteous and wanted to eradicate the witch's threat permanently as "saviors." The Chosen Ones were even more enigmatic; although they had been tainted by Bell's power, they did not seem to be followers of the cruel witch. They had broad interests and had studied various ancient and mysterious powers. They were not only obsessed with the power of the Demon Sword, but the "Dragonsteel Gate," a replica of dwarven technology, discovered in Raven Ridge, showed that they also had a deep understanding of the legacy of ancient alien races.

Moreover, when Bell appeared before him, she always acted as if she was merely fulfilling a summoning contract and going through the motions, showing none of the dignity of a superior. This made Ryuga even more puzzled. Was there really a superior-subordinate relationship between her and the Chosen One? She even took the initiative to give him new abilities, her attitude almost like flattery and investment. Such behavior was truly unfathomable to him.

"Sigh!" Liu Xia couldn't help but complain in frustration, "I'm just an ordinary person. At first, I just wanted to climb up the social ladder and not be someone who could be slaughtered at will. How come I've encountered so many extremely troublesome people and problems along the way!"

He suddenly felt an overwhelming longing for his days in Linhu Town. Back then, he could simply focus on developing his territory and making money, and in his spare time, he could find some amusement with Kania, Hetia, and the others. At most, he was afraid of being discovered by Tipalotura or being swallowed up by the Duke family. There weren't so many troubles like today.

These words made Ruklati giggle, her tone slightly teasing:

"What good thing in this world only brings gains and no losses? Now that you are the governor of a province, you control territory, a large army, and possess special abilities, you are naturally bound to be involved in the grand scheme of this world. What? You had a blast playing with women, but now you don't want to shoulder this responsibility? You're chickening out? Hmm?"

"Do you want to do a nude dance?"

Ignoring Ruklati's teasing, Ryusha turned the tables on her, causing Ruklati to immediately stop smiling and feign innocence. She paused, her tone becoming more serious:

"Ahem! I mean, even the highest gods are like this. As long as they hold a divine position, they must abide by their divine status and responsibilities. If you want to do whatever you want but are unwilling to bear any consequences, then perhaps the only way is to throw yourself into chaos. But that is a more terrifying power than the cruel witch, the opposite of order, and the all-consuming end of nothingness."

Ryuuya curled his lip indifferently. He had only heard snippets about "chaos" from Chloe and Ruklati. In their descriptions, it was an annihilating force capable of swallowing everything in the world; even the cruel witch Bell was merely a special individual born from chaos. Bell alone had caused the ancient gods and numerous races considerable trouble, let alone the very origin of chaos.

As for where Chaos is now, perhaps only Bell himself knows the answer.

Ryusha shook his head, banishing these unattainable thoughts from his mind. Ruklati was right; his power originated from his territory and those around him—that was the rule governing the operation of the power of order. He had to protect his territory, his people, and Kania and the others. Now, with the Otus Empire in this murky water, even if he didn't want to, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and jump in.

Moreover, given Sochi's current strength, he is simply unable to confront any side head-on. He has no choice but to temporarily align himself with the camp of Otus, and primarily Tipalotura, to observe the changing situation while seizing every opportunity to expand his territory and accumulate strength. Only by becoming powerful enough can he have more options.

“My little master, you shouldn’t be worrying about these trivial matters right now.” Ruklati’s voice rang out at the right moment. “What you should be doing is improving your spiritual power and absorbing the power of the Earth Dragon Beast. You have already mastered the authority of the ‘Earth Spirit’ level, it’s time to take it a step further. When you can communicate with the stars in the sky and communicate with the power of the stars, you will have many more choices before you…”

Ryuu nodded slightly, about to speak, when Olivia, who had separated from him, suddenly sent a message.

"Master, Mother has already sent people to dismember and transport the Earth Dragon Beast's body. As for the matter of the Earth Dragon Beast's extermination... the news has spread throughout the entire continent... Mother said that the Princess will discuss the extent of the Earth Dragon Beast's corruption with His Majesty. However, whether His Majesty can suppress the ambitions of various forces within the Empire is uncertain... The parts you requested earlier have all been placed in a cave northwest of Thunder Fortress. Mother's intention is that you deserve the greatest credit for this extermination of the Earth Dragon Beast, and this is all she should do..."

"Please thank Mrs. Sophie for me." Liu Xia nodded in response and immediately headed towards the location Olivia had indicated.

Olivia's tone just now betrayed an undeniable weariness and unease, which Ryūka could understand. He hadn't expected the footage Monica had secretly filmed to spread so quickly. Now that news of the appearance and successful defeat of a Heavenly-Rank magical beast in Thunder Fortress had likely already spread throughout the continent. Even if Olivia hadn't explicitly stated it, Ryūka could guess that congratulatory messages and well-wishes from all over were probably flooding into Thunder Fortress, and even into Lady Sophie's private communication crystal!

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Even though Lady Sophie is the governor of the south and one of the ten Heavenly Ranks of the empire, the body of a Heavenly Rank magical beast is a coveted treasure that would make everyone envious. Even if, apart from the most core magical core, the remaining parts only have a one in ten chance of helping someone break through to the Heavenly Rank, it would still be enough to drive the major families and vassal states of their territories mad.

Even without legitimacy, various factions will undoubtedly set their sights on Thunder Fortress. Especially the other Heavenly Rank Generals of the Empire; even if they are loyal to the royal family, they cannot stand idly by for the sake of their families' survival and their descendants' future. In recent years, the Autus Empire has suffered financial losses, and the rewards bestowed upon many lords and noble families have been delayed for years. Now, with the results of the Earth Dragon Beast's attack, they will certainly join forces to put pressure on the capital. At that time, it will be difficult to say how much say the emperor on the throne will still have.

Even more problematic was that this earth dragon beast had also been corrupted by Bell, and how His Majesty the Emperor would explain this to the outside world was a difficult question. Under such perilous circumstances, Lady Sophie did not hesitate at all, not only entrusting him with the magic core but also sending a large amount of flesh and blood. This courage and boldness earned Liu Xia's secret admiration.

Chapter 45 Mrs. Sophie's Instructions

Following the address provided by Olivia, Ryusha headed towards the mountains northwest of Thunder Fortress. There lay a huge cave, originally an abandoned mine of Thunder Fortress, which was later transformed into a military garrison. The interior had been excavated and expanded over several generations, making it more spacious than anyone could have imagined.

Inside the empty cave, the earth dragon's corpse, after being frozen by a mage, was cut into enormous chunks of flesh. Although they were cut into smaller pieces, each one was still incredibly large, densely packed throughout the cave like stacked giant cargo crates. The soldiers responsible for moving the meat had already left, leaving only Lady Sophie standing alone in the center of the cave, quietly awaiting his arrival.

When Mrs. Sophie saw Liu Xia arrive, a gentle smile appeared on her aged face, and she slowly spoke:

"Everything has been packed up. The skin and bones of the earth dragon beast have other uses and will inevitably attract unwanted attention. All I can decide is what to keep, Liu Xiaqing. I hope you won't find it undesirable."

Liu Xia nodded: "Mrs. Sophie, thank you."

While he deserves the greatest credit for the defeat of the Earth Dragon Beast, he also owes much to Lady Sophie for forcing it out of the ground. Otherwise, even with immense strength, Ryūka wouldn't have been able to use it against the Earth Dragon Beast. Furthermore, he knows that the Earth Dragon Beast's corpse is not something he can consume alone. This flesh and blood is already enough for him; absorbing too much would negatively impact the witch's corrupting power accumulated within him.

Ryuga glanced at the mountain of earth dragon flesh and blood, then closed her eyes, her mind sinking into the Temple of Consciousness. Inside, Ruklati stood before the massive gate behind the throne. Following Crowell's advice, Ryuga had established her own faith in Sochi. The spiritual power she had accumulated had already caused a faint glow to emanate from the cracks of this heavy gate; just one more step and it would be fully opened.

And the light behind this was like the stars in the sky. This made Liu Xia incredibly curious: what exactly was the use of this so-called "star" level authority?

Ruklati pointed to the ground beneath her feet and said softly:

"This is the earth. Behind the door lies the stairway to the stars and the moon. This is the path to godhood. Now that the gods are waning, you have the power of fragments of order, which is meant to build a new order. This path may not be difficult, but you cannot be careless."

Liu Xia looked at the demonic sword, and as she stared at her solemn expression, she suddenly curled her lips into a smile and asked:

"You analyzed everyone around me just now, but you didn't mention yourself. As a demonic sword, not only did you fail to control my consciousness, but I also forced you to call me master. Aren't you angry?"

“It’s the Holy Sword!” Ruklati rolled her eyes, immediately corrected her seriously, then helplessly spread her hands. “What’s the use of getting angry? My memories and my original form are incomplete; I have no ability to contend with you. Besides, you have a good temperament. If you can continue down this path, you might really be able to completely eliminate the Cruel Witch. For me, it saves a lot of trouble, since our mission is to do just that. What’s wrong with calling you ‘little master’ a couple of times?”

Her tone was frank and unreserved:

"If you succeed and establish your own divine position, perhaps you'll set me free because of my good performance. If you fail, I'll simply wait for the next host. After all, not everyone is like you and Carmela, a monster human I can't control. A few decades is nothing; I can wait."

Her frankness amused Liu Xia. His curiosity grew even stronger, and he continued to ask:

"If I collect all the fragments of your original body and help you slowly regain your power, will you turn around and try to seize my body?"

"That's hard to say," Ruklati said, crossing her arms with a hint of amusement in her eyes. "But watching someone else play for you seems like a very interesting thing, doesn't it?"

Judging from her words, as long as her goal was to eliminate the cruel witch, she was willing to serve him as her master. However, the thoughts of the demon sword were unpredictable, and Ryuka could not separate and abandon her from his power of order like Carmela had. He could only shrug helplessly and accept the fact that he was "parasitized" by her.

In this world, there are women like Megan, Olivia, and Adela, who can be completely conquered through their own strength and methods. There are also beings like Kania, Tipalotura, Chloe, and Ruklati, who have clear goals and never easily give up their individuality. For the latter, Ryuga has no choice but to cooperate. To completely conquer them, the power required would likely far exceed the reach of "Star-level" or "Moon-level" authority.

Liu Xia couldn't help but sigh, "It's always been difficult, from ancient times to the present, and everywhere, to get a group of women together without fighting!"

No longer dwelling on these distracting thoughts, Liu Xia raised his hand to touch the slightly trembling giant door, sensing that it still needed a little more power to open. Having roughly assessed the situation, he opened his eyes, looked at Madam Sophie, and pointed to the pile of flesh and blood beside him:

"Thank you, this should be enough for me. As for the rest, Mrs. Sophie, you can take it back as a reward for your subordinates, or give it away to shut some people up..."

While the spiritual energy contained within this flesh and blood wasn't particularly pure, it was also minimally corrupted by the witch. Distributing it among the ordinary soldiers would significantly boost their overall strength. After this battle, if Lady Sophie only rewarded her subordinates with ranks and money, she would certainly find it difficult to win their respect. Not to mention, Thunder Fortress desperately needed unity at this time, and couldn't afford to give outsiders any opportunity to exploit the situation.

As for the Earth Dragon Beast's core and heart, normally Lady Sophie could certainly take some, but she wouldn't have the right to dispose of them all. Now, however, they've been corrupted by Bell's magic; she dares not use them herself, nor can she give them away—they've become a hot potato. But as long as they're not used for advancement, the Earth Dragon Beast's hide and bones are valuable alchemical and forging materials, worth a fortune. Yet, Lady Sophie still dares not keep them all, otherwise she'll surely make enemies on all sides, and might even be branded a traitor to the Empire.

Therefore, as the mistress of Thunder Fortress, she already had extremely limited resources at her disposal. Yet, without even inquiring about Ryūxia's needs, she delivered all the flesh and blood he required—such generosity and boldness were truly rare. Moreover, she wasn't even sure if Ryūxia intended to use the magic core on Olivia, yet she had already satisfied his needs. While Tipalotura's influence played a part, Ryūxia was genuinely surprised by her agreeable manner.

Seeing Liu Xia raise her hand and slice off a large patch of flesh, a hint of surprise flashed in Madam Sophie's eyes, followed by a satisfied smile:

"It seems I was right about you. In that case, I won't refuse."

Liu Xia was taken aback and asked curiously, "You mean you didn't mistake me for someone else?"

“Indeed.” Lady Sophie nodded slowly, her tone becoming more serious. “Among the ten Heavenly Ranks of the Empire, only General Alvarez, the youngest and father of Hafulen, can be considered truly loyal to His Majesty. The two of them have known each other since childhood and can be considered childhood sweethearts… The others, while not all of them may have openly expressed their stance, have either already chosen sides among the imperial heirs like Traul, or have already harbored rebellious intentions. If it weren’t for the fear of the legendary ‘Three Saints,’ the Otus Empire would probably have already disintegrated.”

Lady Sophie's words carried significant weight, but Liu Xia had long anticipated this situation; Otus's decline wasn't a recent development. However, the fact that even the pillars of the empire, the Ten Heavenly Realm experts, were becoming disloyal made these words seem even more credible coming from Lady Sophie. This Earth Dragon Beast incident could very well be the fuse that ignites internal strife within the empire. After all, with each additional Heavenly Realm expert, the balance of power shifts.

When Ryūka and Gerberi broke through to the Heavenly Realm, the first person in the Empire to know was naturally Tipalotura. She did not publicize the matter, and even though it was inevitable that some people would investigate, she had already minimized the disturbance, which was also for this reason.

Just as Liu Xia had thought, the Chosen Ones' willingness to go to such lengths was nothing more than a repeat of the "two peaches kill three warriors" tactic. They were using the corpse of a single Heavenly-Rank magical beast to shake up the entire Otus Empire. And this "peach," the Earth Dragon Beast, was damn poisonous!

“If there were no ‘Three Saints’…” Liu Xia repeated in a low voice, then looked up at Madam Sophie with a searching look in her eyes.

Mrs. Sophie did not evade the question, but explained in a cryptic tone:

"Those were the three most powerful Heavenly Rank experts at the beginning of the founding of Otus, all from the Otus royal family. They later broke through to the legendary Saint Rank and chose to live in seclusion. But since then, no other high-ranking expert has emerged from the royal family. The reasons for this are intriguing... I can only tell you that they do exist, but there are rumors that even Saint Rank experts are nearing the end of their lifespan after more than three hundred years. Even so, their existence is enough to intimidate people and stabilize the empire's unstable situation."

After all, no one dared to be the first to try and test the truth with their own life...

Liu Xia remained silent for a moment. All three Saint-level experts were from the Autus royal family? Could there be beings in this world like "secluded patriarchs"? And Lady Sophie's statement that no more top-tier experts had emerged from the royal family since then only fueled his curiosity, causing him to conjure up countless scenarios in his mind…

He looked at Mrs. Sophie and couldn't help but ask:

"So, Mrs. Sophie, are you planning to bet on Prince Tipalotura this time?"

Mrs. Sophie blinked, then suddenly laughed:

"Silly boy, are you testing this old woman? You should know perfectly well that I'm betting more on you. I'm not like that fool Traul. He thinks that by choosing a prince to side with, he's still loyal to the empire and won't incur public wrath. But who doesn't know that he's after the Payne family's influence? As for me, although I'm responsible for protecting the empire, I'm not exactly a law-abiding citizen... Come to think of it, I'm more like those 'other-minded' Heavenly Rank cultivators."

After saying that, a knowing smile flashed in her eyes, and her tone carried a hint of world-weariness:

"You don't really think you can hide your affair with Olivia from me, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xia's cheeks involuntarily flushed slightly. Although he had expected it, he still hadn't anticipated that Madam Sophie would be so blunt in pointing it out. If she already knew everything, then she would probably have known about all the cruel methods he had used on Olivia long ago.

Thinking of this, Liu Xia couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. In any case, he felt somewhat guilty and flustered in the face of Madam Sophie's smile.

As if seeing through Ryūka's thoughts, Mrs. Sophie waved her hand nonchalantly:

“If I were you, I probably would have done something even more ‘evil.’ And I know Olivia isn’t exactly a good prospect, especially since she was raised by that dull-witted man, which only made her more unbearable…”

“However…” Lady Sophie sighed softly, a rare tenderness appearing in her aged eyes, “Ah, people! They all grow old eventually… I was once called a cold-hearted person, and I never cared that Olivia was my daughter, but having lived to this age, my mindset has changed. Over a hundred years is still too long for a human, even my temperament has been worn down. I really don’t know how those ancient races who lived for hundreds of years endured such long periods of time…”

She looked at Ryūka, her cloudy eyes revealing genuine appreciation:

"Though it may sound like boasting, you resemble me so much in your youth. Intelligent, proud, and a bit arrogant, yet you know how to restrain yourself and aren't annoying... Especially the look in your eyes when you first saw the Thunder Fortress soldiers—it wasn't simple envy, but a burning ambition to possess and replace them, exactly like mine. As for you and Olivia, I don't care how you treat her. In fact, it's much better for her to be your person than your enemy. For people like us, there are probably only three kinds of people in this world: enemies, people we control, and allies. But she, heh, she's not Princess Tipalotura, not the kind of person who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you. I'm quite clear about that..."

Liu Xia was slightly taken aback. The reason Mrs. Sophie approved of her was simply because she resembled her in her youth?

Compared to Earl Duke, who chose to protect himself and avoid getting his family involved in the conflict by betting on his own interests, Lady Sophie's reasons seemed exceptionally self-centered, even somewhat willful. Yet, for some reason, Ryusha felt a surge of admiration for her. He seemed to see in Lady Sophie's long life a life free from entanglement and internal strife, like a blazing flame, moving with the wind and following her heart, yet she possessed enough strength to support her in living such a carefree life.

"So, you can treat Olivia however you want." Mrs. Sophie smiled slyly, her tone teasing. "Although she has a somewhat unreliable personality, she is quite capable and talented. You're not a foolish man; you certainly wouldn't choose to use her and then discard her, but rather nurture her properly, would you?"

She paused, then added with a smile:

"If you don't mind, you could consider having her give me two big, healthy grandsons. If you're too lazy to take care of them, just leave them to me, I'll take care of them. As people age, knowing that life eventually comes to an end, they start to care about the bloodline they used to disdain. Of course, this is entirely up to you; it's just something this old woman said casually."

Having said that, she leaned on her newly replaced staff, which was far less comfortable than her old one, and slowly walked towards the cave entrance, waving to Liuxia as she went:

"You and your delegation can leave whenever you want. Leave the trivial matters here to me. Of course, if you have any good ideas, don't forget to discuss them with me. If you encounter any trouble in the south, feel free to contact me. From here to those small countries, Thunder Fortress's elite troops will be enough for a few days."

As Liu Xia watched the old woman's retreating figure, she asked, "What should we do with the excess flesh and blood of the earth dragon beast?"

“Leave it here,” Mrs. Sophie’s voice came from the cave entrance. “It will be useful in case you need more than you expect. If there is any left over, I will send someone to collect it later.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Sophie disappeared into the firelight at the cave entrance, leaving only Liu Xia alone in the vast cave.

"From a human perspective, she is quite an interesting one. If she had been born in an era before the collapse of the ancient order, even without the power of order, she might have been able to try to pursue a lower godhood." Ruklati's voice rang out in the Temple of Consciousness, her evaluation full of unreserved praise.

Ryuka exhaled a long breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and looked firmly at the mountain of frozen earth dragon meat in front of him.

"Alright, everything is ready, let's begin."

Volume 15

Chapter 1: The Turmoil in the Capital

Arenasca, a city rising like a solitary mountain from the fertile plains, was the capital of the Ottus Empire. This colossal metropolis, capable of housing half a million permanent residents, was a marvel of its time. Layer upon layer of off-white walls encircled the densely packed residential blocks, each wall higher and more imposing than the outer commoners' quarters, and each inner building more beautiful and luxurious.

The entire city resembles a giant pyramid, with the terrain rising higher and the buildings becoming more magnificent the further inward one goes. Three rivers of varying sizes flow from the mountains at the foot of the palace, meandering through the bustling city via meticulously constructed man-made channels, nourishing the countless citizens of the capital and bearing the responsibility of surrounding it.

Within the bounds of the law, mages leisurely used levitation spells, floating through the market as they read. Even in the small shops tucked away in the streets and alleys, one could often find all sorts of rare and exotic goods, even magical artifacts. Wide, crisscrossing roads were commonplace; even cobblestone streets wide enough for ten knights to ride abreast were not uncommon…

In the bustling capital of Otus, everyone is discussing one thing today: the sudden appearance of a Celestial-Rank magical beast! From royalty and their ladies to merchants and laborers in the market, even in the taverns of the commoners' alleys, everyone is engaged in a tireless discussion about a particular image!

A celestial-rank magical beast appeared out of nowhere! A mountain-sized monster attacked Thunder Fortress in the south! Was it an accident caused by the magic mine? Or a conspiracy orchestrated by the southern kingdoms?

Was the crimson lotus strike that fell from the sky the final blow from the Crimson Flame Sage, ending the terrifying demon?

What role did the imperial delegation, which happened to be staying in Thunder Fortress, play in all of this?

Monica's secretly filmed footage of the Earth Dragon's defeat, coupled with a pre-arranged operation and the communication crystal balls already widespread in the capital, spread like wildfire through the capital of the Otus Empire in a single day, like a spark dropped into a haystack! But unlike the heated discussions in the streets and alleys, the mansions and council halls of the noble families at the foot of the capital remained unusually quiet. Even those young masters and ladies who loudly proclaimed this exciting news were quickly silenced upon entering their homes…

This eerie silence cast a pall over the city, and beneath the walls weathered by over three centuries, an unseen shadow seemed to loom. Amidst the restlessness of the people, a current of greed quietly surged into the depths of the palace.

In the Hall of the Sacred Tree in the Imperial Palace, Haragoria de la Hindo Ottus, the thirteenth emperor of the Ottus Empire, sat on his throne. His weathered face appeared calm, but his slightly furrowed brow and the unconscious rubbing of his fingertips on the armrest betrayed his restless heart.

The once solemn hall of the sacred tree was now filled with an atmosphere of tension. The noble officials and vassal representatives below had long since abandoned their usual hierarchical order, whispering among themselves in twos and threes, their discussions like the buzzing of bees, making it hard to breathe.

Under the rule of several emperors of Autus, the capital had gradually established a relatively complete bureaucratic system, but it had not completely shaken off the shadow of the old 'vassal council'. This meant that regular court meetings were not only between the emperor and the officials he appointed, but also attended by nobles who did not hold official positions but were of illustrious birth and represented the interests of their vassal families.

These people served as both a link between the empire and the territories granted out to them, and a demonstration of certain families' 'loyalty' to the royal family. They were hostages, but also representatives of the forces behind them at the heart of the empire's political landscape.

In the past, long-distance communication was inconvenient, and most people only represented their families to network with other noble families or gather information for their own, often without much practical use. However, with the development of magical engineering technology, communication magic has transformed from a convenient ability monopolized by a few elite mages into a service that can be purchased. This has suddenly made the status of 'hostages' more important, with many noble families even changing their representatives in the capital, and some even replacing them with carefully cultivated direct descendants!

Previously, the magical projection, which had spread from an unknown source and reached every corner of the streets, had already caused a great uproar in the Sacred Tree Hall. The nobles and courtiers discussed it amongst themselves, but no one stepped forward to say anything. However, their expressions betrayed their thoughts, as they frequently glanced at the figures below the throne.

There stood a massive, circular table, with only a section missing from the side facing the emperor's throne. Seated there were some of the empire's most powerful and influential figures. The fourth prince, Elias, was prominently present, along with the second princess, Imogen, who remained aloof; the elderly Imperial Chancellor, Charles Carter; the serene Prince Hypnos; officials from several major departments of the empire; and even the Papacy's representative—the benevolent Archbishop Randall—was present at the council.

Only two chairs were missing in the middle: one for Princess Tipalottura, who was serving as the representative of the delegation, and the other for Prince Clovis, who had been 'exiled' to the North to 'atone' for his father's efforts to promote the provincialization of his fiefdom.