Chapter 115: Audience with the Monarch, Bestowal of Titles and Rewards

Seated within the opulent carriage, watching the landscape shift as the altitude climbed, Wang Yu felt a flicker of surprise: could a small fry like him truly be granted an audience with the King?

It was not a matter of low self-esteem, but rather the sheer velocity of events; he had arrived in this royal capital only a few months ago, and his strength was, at best, merely passable.

"It must be the influence of the Professor and Captain Shuggin. If the Professor’s identity as a dragon is anything to go by, his standing is certainly far more complex than it appears on the surface."

Wang Yu analyzed the reasons for his summons, ultimately attributing it to the weight carried by Zieg and Shuggin.

The carriage traversed the road winding up the mountain that bore the royal palace. This peak, known as the "Throne," was dizzyingly high; the spiraling path required at least half an hour of travel to reach the summit.

In a world where the pinnacle of public transport was little more than a train, such an extravagant road was a rarity.

Yet, this cumbersome route was designed primarily for envoys and guests. The wide thoroughfare and the mana-crystal lamps lining the entire mountainside served largely to showcase the formidable national strength of Alastair—a display of prestige, as anyone could see.

As for the palace inhabitants, while the cost was steep, the royal treasury could easily afford the use of large-scale teleportation arrays.

The carriage slowed as it neared the palace; there was no need to rush now. Outside the window, the mist of the clouds began to swirl, casting the world in a hazy veil.

Wang Yu’s keen vision pierced the vapor, revealing the blurred architecture of the royal city—a truly magnificent sight.

"Easy to defend, hard to attack. That much is true. But if the enemy has already reached the palace gates, the kingdom is likely on the brink of collapse anyway."

To Wang Yu, this palace atop the mountain felt somewhat ostentatious; its aesthetic value far outweighed its utility.

"Still, if its primary purpose is to maintain the authority of the royal family and their untouchable image in the eyes of the populace, it serves its function well. And I suppose I overlooked something: sometimes, being hard to attack isn't just about external threats, but internal ones as well."

Lost in thought, the carriage reached its destination and came to a gradual halt.

As it stopped, Shuggin, Zieg, and Sharl stepped out alongside Wang Yu, standing before the main gate of the palace.

Avia, not being a member of the Night’s Edge special operations team, had not accompanied them, choosing instead to wait at their home on Red Maple Street.

Three squads of fully armored imperial guards stood in formation before the gate, clad in heavy plate and wielding greatswords, while mages hovered nearby, sustained by permanent levitation spells—a truly extravagant display for mere gatekeepers.

A heavy-armored knight, seemingly the captain, approached Zieg and Shuggin. After a salute, he politely requested their credentials. It seemed that while many recognized the pair, the necessary protocols had to be observed.

Zieg produced the parchment. The captain handed it to a mage who descended from the air, and upon inspection, they were respectfully ushered through. The massive metal gates groaned open, revealing the grandeur of the inner hall.

"The King is a formidable powerhouse. If you feel overwhelmed, there is no need to resist; keep your heads bowed, and it will be easier to bear," Zieg warned, turning to Wang Yu and Sharl, who were visiting for the first time.

"Ah, I see," Sharl muttered, scratching his head with a look of awkwardness.

"Understood," Wang Yu replied simply. Privately, he was surprised; he had expected a body double or a projection, not a face-to-face meeting with the monarch himself.

Did they not fear assassination? Or were they so confident in their absolute strength and home-field advantage that such concerns were beneath them?

The interior of the palace was unexpectedly austere, lacking the nouveau-riche desire to flaunt wealth. "Grand" was the only word that truly captured the atmosphere of the Alastair palace.

The ceilings were soaring, adorned in a classical style. To someone like Wang Yu, who lacked an eye for art, this use of simple stone and sculpture felt far more genuine than a space cluttered with famous paintings intended to manufacture an aura of sophistication.

The palace, which looked as magnificent from the outside as any royal city in the dark-fantasy games of Earth, possessed a similar, breathtaking weight within.

It was vast and intricate, filled with soldiers and servants moving through the labyrinthine halls—some patrolling, others diligently scrubbing the endless floors.

Officials, marked by the distinctive medals of Alastair, hurried past with documents and ink-stained papers.

Upon seeing Zieg and Shuggin, they would pause, their expressions flickering with surprise before they bowed respectfully. It was clear the two held high status in Alastair, and the recent incident had undoubtedly burdened these officials with a mountain of work.

The palace hummed with activity; the ripples of the demon invasion were far from settled. The end of the event was merely the beginning; the aftermath of reckoning and recovery had only just commenced.

No guide was needed; Shuggin and Zieg led the way down the main corridor. The decor grew increasingly luxurious, and the presence of armed soldiers intensified.

The security was escalating, signaling their proximity to the destination. The soldiers did not stare, yet Wang Yu felt the distinct sensation of being watched.

This feeling came not only from the soldiers, whose raw power leaked through their armor, but from the architecture itself.

The arrays embedded in the walls were observing them every second. To attempt an act of violence here would surely result in a swift and gruesome end.

After presenting the parchment to two guards whose strength clearly reached the level of Great Knights, the heavy doors were pushed open. Beyond lay the chamber where the King awaited.

As he followed Shuggin and Zieg inside, Wang Yu caught a glimpse of the King seated upon the throne.

He was a man of imposing presence, his hair and beard a snowy white. He appeared to be in the twilight of middle age, his eyes closed as if in meditation. Only when the doors swung open did his eyelids slowly lift.

Wang Yu felt nothing particularly extraordinary about the man dubbed a "formidable powerhouse." To his eyes, the King looked like a handsome Western man in his middle years.

As for the aura of majesty, it reminded Wang Yu of his high school homeroom teacher—stern and imposing, but nothing more.

However, Wang Yu kept his perception—a three-meter ripple of void-free energy—active at all times, and he caught the shift in his companions.

As the doors opened, all three shuddered. For Shuggin and Zieg, it was a momentary pause, but for Sharl, the change was stark.

Usually carefree and unafraid before his superiors, Sharl was now unnaturally restrained.

It wasn't the nervous tension one might expect; if it were, Sharl would be trembling. Instead, he was simply "quiet," moving with a rigid, stifled caution.

He kept his head bowed, avoiding the King’s gaze. This uncharacteristic behavior made Wang Yu realize that the King did indeed possess a certain aura—one that Wang Yu, much like the Professor’s dragon-might, simply could not perceive.

To avoid standing out, Wang Yu followed suit, bowing his head and walking "quietly" into the throne room.

Inside, he could sense many others standing nearby—ministers, presumably—but royal etiquette forbade them from looking around.

Zieg and Shuggin were likely accustomed to this, and while Wang Yu didn't care, Sharl—who would usually be dying to look around—was clearly suppressed by the weight of the protocol and the King’s presence.

All four knelt on one knee, hands over their hearts, bowing their heads—a traditional Alastair greeting, not unlike those on Earth.

"Rise," the King’s majestic voice echoed. As they lifted their heads, Wang Yu noticed that the oppressive aura had lessened; Sharl’s rigid tension seemed to evaporate.

Observing through his peripheral vision, Wang Yu spotted a familiar face among the high-ranking figures near the throne: Garcia. The man caught Wang Yu’s eye, smiling and giving a slight nod.

"Your performance in this incident was exceptional. While the ordinary members of the Night’s Edge were undergoing anchoring at the 'Darkness of the Sky,' you swiftly identified the origin point. Though you failed to prevent it, your timely intervention minimized casualties and loss. I am satisfied."

"Wang Yu, Sharl Reid, and Edward Lyon—you three newcomers have distinguished yourselves remarkably."

"Your captain has submitted a report of your contributions. Your rewards will be delivered by the Minister of Finance shortly. Wang Yu, in particular, you may choose one non-strategic grade artifact; this is your reward for assisting in the recovery of a strategic-grade item."

Wang Yu was taken aback. He had recovered a strategic-grade artifact? He hadn't even realized it, but he wasn't about to complain about a reward.

"However, there is one matter that leaves me deeply dissatisfied. I, Doron Charlemagne, am displeased..." The King’s tone, previously majestic and calm, plummeted into a chilling, profound coldness.

A sudden pressure swept through the hall. Everyone except Wang Yu—the anomaly who felt nothing—turned pale.

Sharl, lacking the experience and mental fortitude of the ministers, felt his legs buckle, nearly collapsing on the spot.

Fortunately, the King’s outburst was brief; otherwise, it was hard to say how many would have been forced to their knees.

"According to the reports, this incident was not orchestrated by the Kingdom of Seovintan, nor by some creature from the Void. It was our own people—the nobility of this kingdom..."

"Ponia Reid, a member of the Reid family, began preparing the demon-summoning ritual months ago. She marked the residents of the Wall District as materials and completed the ritual in a single day! Is this the account your family gives me?"

The King narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on a man standing to the side: the current head of the Reid family, Hysen Reid.

"I am deeply sorry. This is a grave error on the part of the Reid family. Ponia was likely blinded or manipulated in her visions of the future, leading her to such actions. We believe... it may have been a devil."

"A devil...? Nevertheless, I have seen the loyalty of the Reid family. For now, it appears this was indeed Ponia’s personal act."

"Historically, the capabilities of the Reid family have spared the kingdom from many dangers. I shall pursue this no further, but you must ensure you do what is required of you. Do you understand?"

Doron Charlemagne pondered for a moment before responding, seemingly dismissing the Reid family’s transgression as easily as he had raised it.

"I thank His Majesty Doron for his mercy and trust," Hysen Reid replied, bowing respectfully before stepping back.

"As expected," Wang Yu thought. "So long as it isn't outright treason, the King cannot afford to abandon the Reid family’s unique abilities. A heavy blow dealt lightly—a simple but effective tactic. He’s let them off for now, but who knows what they’ll have to cough up behind the scenes."

Wang Yu had been watching Sharl’s conflicted expression as his father was interrogated, finding it somewhat amusing. He had anticipated this outcome.

"However, as for the other family, I shall not be so lenient. Colin Moriarty has been corrupted by the Void; he has become a blight that must be purged."

"His personal maid and housekeeper, Hela, is implicated in the theft of multiple artifacts. Many past disappearances are linked to her. With Wang Yu’s help, the 'Hourglass of Time'—a strategic-grade artifact of great weight—has been recovered. I trust there are no objections to Wang Yu’s reward?"

Wang Yu was somewhat taken aback; so, the creature he had slain was named Hela? To think she possessed a strategic-grade artifact—it seemed her condition had been wretched when he ambushed her, leaving her unable to unleash it, or else her demise would not have come so easily.

"Furthermore, during the extensive investigations and manhunts launched by the Imperial Guard following the death of Colin Moriarty, a wealth of evidence regarding clandestine exchanges and intelligence sharing with the Kingdom of Sevintan was uncovered. In short, the Moriarty family has committed treason..."

The King’s tone was glacial as he enumerated the crimes of the Moriartys, a noble house that once held a standing theoretically equal to the House of Lyde.

"Theresi, Maeuton, Hyde—you three houses have also grown far too intimate with the Moriartys. Consider this a warning; next time, you shall not be let off so lightly..."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Understood!"

"I swear, it shall never happen again!"

The heads of the named houses broke into a cold sweat, scrambling to offer their respectful assurances and gratitude for the King’s mercy.

"The credit for unearthing the Moriartys' treason still belongs to the Night’s Edge special operations team. The intensity of their battle against that void creature was witnessed by all, and thus, I hereby bestow the new Order of Dominion upon Zieg Wilsbach and Shugin Smoke."

"Charles Lyde, your status in the Lyde family succession is hereby elevated from primary heir to Royal Heir."

"Wang Yu, your status within this realm is elevated from commoner to the equivalent of a Viscount, though without the grant of a fief. As compensation, your rank within the Night’s Edge shall be further increased by one tier."

"Edward Leon... his father has stated that no reward is necessary for him, so I shall grant none."

"Minister of Finance!"

"Present!"

"Escort them to collect what is rightfully theirs."

"At once!"

After expressing their gratitude for the King’s generosity, the four members of the Night’s Edge followed the Minister of Finance out of the palace.

The great doors swung shut.

The King cast a sweeping gaze over those remaining.

"I have said my piece. I do not wish to see anyone of the Moriarty bloodline within the borders of Alestler ever again."

"Understood!"

"Yes."

A chorus of assent rippled through the palace.