And so, just like that, the assassins were taken away.

But while things seemed calm on the surface, far away in an entirely different continent, trouble seemed to poke its budding head out of the ground yet again.

.

--The Dafaren Empire, The continent of Veinitta--

.

Within an overly grand hall, several people were gathered there impromptu.

The hall itself was something far grander than any royal hall within the Pyno continent... (Except Baymard, of course.)

The place screamed power, wealth and everything else partaking to the rich.

Its unique artistic outlines and gorgeous defines made the entire hall look like a moving painting.

And within the hall, on a majestic throne, sat a 48-year-old man whose aura completely engulfed the room, making it feel gloomy rather than bright, as its designs gave off.

There was no doubt about it.

The man was dangerous, and any reasonable person would stay clear from his path if they could.

Those kneeling trembled from the pressure they felt.

Their entire cores turned to icy, as they felt like they had been plunged into the belly of a deep-sea monster.

Many silently prayed to the heavens for mercy in hopes that it would miraculously save them from what was about to come.

What should they do now?

.

Alexander Lockhart, current Monarch of the glorious Dafaren, glanced at the trembling fools before him calmly.

But even though his face had no expressions on it, everyone could tell that he was pissed!

"2 years and a few months ago, I asked for your master, my 5th son, Prince Skye.

And you all handed me some letter that he wrote, saying he was going on a business errand.

Because he didn't specify what errand it was, I asked you all, and you said you didn't know.

Alright.

Maybe you didn't.

And so I allowed an entire year to pass by because I didn't know where exactly this business errand of his was located.

Now, even though I know he didn't... let's assume that he chose to take a journey between the furthest coastal cities, both at the extreme ends of the Dafaren empire.

That journey should take a minimum of 6 months on horseback... If they are moving on a straight path from one extreme end of the empire to another.

And if he was delayed by bad weather, enemies, using longer routes, etc... He might spend an additional 3 months on route, even though it should be less.

After all, if he needed help, all he had to do was go to any of the towns or cities, and the nobles wouldn't dare to turn him down.

But for the benefit of the doubt, let's just say this mystery trip of his was 9 months' worth of travel.

And maybe an additional, 3 months for him to do the business, making it a year.

So, with that said, why hasn't he written back to me?

This is Dafaren's Capital city, which is at the centre of the empire.

So shouldn't the time it took for a letter to reach me, be halved?

And because he could use expressive messengers from message guilds, then there should be no such delays.

In fact, 3 or 4 months after he finished his business, I should've received his letter.

So, where is it?"

Bam!

The kneeling men trembled in fear as sweat covered their backs.

Some almost peed themselves.

The pressure from his murderous aura was too choking.

.

Alexander got up from his throne, majestically walked down, and slowly made his way to the shivering men while squinted his eyes boldly at them.

"From your expressions, my son's so-called business errand wasn't within the Dafaren empire, right?"

The frightened men paused for a bit before shaking their heads slowly.

"Oh?

So it wasn't here.

hahahahhahaha. How daring!

Good, good, good boy.

You dare deceive your father this much?

Heh.

The continent of Veinitta has just 2 empires; Dafaren and Lingingburg.

So, was his errand in Lingingburg?"

Looking at the expressions of the men kneeling before him, Alexander's heart sank.

If he wasn't within the only 2 empires in Veinitta, didn't it mean that he left the continent without him knowing?

Scoundrel!!

Slash.

Blood sprayed onto his face as he started at the bow, headless body before him.

Bam.

The body dropped to its knees and then collapsed.

The other frightened men felt like they had fallen to a lesser demonic world from the previous one.

In short, some of them even felt that their necks started hurting after watching their comrade fall.

They had no tears but wanted to cry.

But Alexander didn't give a damn.

He was furious!

His son left the continent for 2 years and a few months, and he didn't know about it?

What annoyed him the most was that all this time, he had been going in a wild goose chase around the entire empire.

Alexander glanced at the shivering person standing close to him coldly: "Start talking."

"Y-y-y-yes, your majesty."

.

Alexander listened calmly with no expression on his face.

But inwardly, his anger had quenched, leaving him shocked, proud and even a little happy.

"So you're saying that he planned to surprise me with the news after he married her?"

"Y-y-yes, your majesty.

The plan was to marry her, rule Carona and expand Veinitta's influence.

His highness Skye said that for too long, we as Veitts have been suppressed by the Morgs when we are almost as powerful as them.

So he planned to slowly inch into the Pyno continent, creating history for Veinitta!"

Alexander listened deep in thought.

Skye's analysis was just right.

After all, if Morgany was a 10/10 as the standard for development, Veinitta could be graded as an 8/10, While the Pyno continent was a 5/10.

They were just so backward and barbaric.

Their building designs, technology, architecture, medicine, and so much more so just archaic.

So why not break into their world, and begin building forces for take-over?

As expected of his son.

The Apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.