Emperor Galahad and Calculate Devilheart were among the first to hear that the Unknown Flame Sovereign had been cultivated. But soon, because of the rumours that started from the Seal Creation Class, the news quickly spread became known far and wide across the land.

The empire had been stirred when what was once deemed as a cul de sac has now turn into an avenue of endless possibilities. Masters of Alchemy and Pill Making came from all places seeking answers on the attributes of the purple flame that in turn they might also seal the flame and attempt to cultivate it into an Alchemic Flame.

In their fervour, a large crowd quickly gathered at the Devilheart’s manor, demanding the hidden knowledge to be made known.

“Bring out Differential! Let her tell us how to seal the flame!”

“Yes, this is for the good of the Empire. For the advancement of Alchemy, you must share the information!”

“Bring Her Out!” a man shouted, and immediately the crowd took it as their slogan.

“Bring Her Out! Bring Her Out!”

In truth, this is a strange behaviour to be found in Saint Empire, a warring state ruled by the brute force of cultivators and her people placed into caste systems by their contributions to the empire.

For them, generals, strategists, and practitioners are, of course, the top of the system, with Emperor Galahad as their most illustrious member at the peak.

Whereas, because of the Empire’s political situation, the common artisans are at the bottom of the list, amongst thieves, ladies of the night, and thugs from the undercities.

This might seem strange to those foreign to Saint Empire, as most domains of their size would place great importance on their own production to balance what was used.

However, the Empire could sustain itself using its powerful trade relations.

The Southern Countries are their main exporters, providing the vast resources needed by her people. Metals, food, fuel, and all other basic necessities, all of them produced exceedingly beyond what is normally possible with the aid of magic. While engineers, technology and architecture needs are supplied from the mysterious far-east beyond the Endless Plains in the pirate-infested Water God’s Basin.

The prior a landscape rife with monsters of all kinds stretching diagonally north-eastward into the Savage North, a place uninhabitable for settlements but a paradise for hunters; the latter a huge body of water trapped by land but connected by a strait to the vast seas, rumoured to contain a thousand islands with advanced civilisations.

Because of their technology, almost every known superpower wants to dip their fingers in this place, but the Saint Empire had been exchanging their protection for resources.

In this manner, the empire no longer requires to be completely self-sufficient and could direct its strength towards the most dominant determination in the world, military might.

To pay for all the commodities their nation is importing, it made sense that Saint Empire’s primary profits are actually made from contracting their military as mercenaries to the other nations. But soldiers are meant to fight for their own countries, and endeavouring in becoming a mercenary force, threatens to make them lose their sense of belonging.

Therefore, Emperor Galahad’s forefathers had raised the Empire upon one unforgiving rule: To exact war only on ‘evil’.

It was a notion that is perhaps an impossibility right from the outset.

In a world where good and evil is more often grey than white or black, choosing sides in any war is a difficult decision to justify for any monarch, but the people of Saint Empire quickly fell in love with the idea.

Their bosoms swell with pride, believing themselves as justice that is released on the world. It was this reason, among many others, that combatants become highly respected in Saint Empire.

Despite all these, Master and Grandmaster artisans that could advance the Empire's military might, are all given a different treatment.

Therefore, Kairos’ success in making the purple fire into his Alchemic Flame still moved the hearts of all the Pill Masters in the Empire and even stirred the only two Pill Grandmasters to rush over for answers.

Even those that have not yet reached have sent their disciples before the gates of the Devilheart’s manor.

Though they had expected a long wait, what happened next surprised everyone.

The person they had been waiting for, the instructor of Seal Creation Class, Differential Devilheart, suddenly to appear before the gates of the Devilheart mansion.

But, the announcement she made next was even more surprising: The Devilheart family would release the information that the crowd so desired, indeed for the advancement of Pills and Alchemy.

However, she professed that their sealing techniques for the flames are incomplete. Therefore, in return, any who had made substantial discoveries should share the information for the empire’s sake.

Suddenly a powerful voice infused with unbelievable Ki, shouted a response to her, “As expected of a great family at the top of the Hundred Nobles! We ought to take their example and promise to release any findings to the public.”

Those nearby, quickly realise that the voice belongs to a mountain of a man, a hulking figure that is an S ranked Adventurer famous for being especially bad-tempered and vicious.

The crowd held their tongue, even those that did not recognise the speaker, was advised by the others nearby to follow suit.

It is a ridiculous notion to expect people to freely give away the discoveries they uncover, especially when concerning a treasured object.

Surtr’s Flame that Kairos absorb is exceptionally famous, to the point that the crowd was prepared to insult the Devilheart family for giving such an idiotic suggestion.

It is not because of the flame’s scarcity that made it so lucrative but its unique ability, after all, there was a sea of it that could not be extinguished.

Unfortunately, few could afford to affront an S ranker that does not have any notable affiliations.

“Why are we keeping silent about this moronic proposal?” in the end, there was still a guy couldn’t help but ask.

Having been offered the information freely, most of those present did not wish to lose anything in return.

“Shh…! Don’t let that adventurer hear you.”

“What should I fear? My grandfather is a Double S Ranker himself!”

“Don’t you know how terrifying it is being hunted by an S ranker without a family or people precious to him to chain him down? How can you defend against him if he truly wants to cause trouble to your house?

So what if your grandfather is Double S ranked, even if he is Triple S ranked could he be always around?

And the moment one of you leave his shadow of protection, there is no doubt the adventurer will get to you. At that time, heh heh…”

His words caused everyone to pale in fear. Though most knew the implications beforehand, hearing it only serve to make them shudder.

The giant of a man stayed silent with no indication that he had heard them, then Diff laughed in mock delight before replying, “Indeed, it would be for everyone’s benefits to share information around.”

She paused, then added with a serious tone, “However, it is our duty as the citizens of the beautiful Saint Empire to protect her interest. Therefore, I propose that everyone who wants the knowledge come to our Devilheart family first, so that we can confirm your loyalty to the empire, and once we do we will release to you all the aspects of the ‘Unknown Flame Sovereign ’ that you so desire.”

The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, discussing their best course of action. Though they are Pill Makers and Alchemists, being citizens of Saint Empire means that most of them are also veteran practitioners. Most of them had plenty of experience living on the edge. What they heard instantly caused alarms to blare in their heads, as they instinctively felt a sense of danger and they could not come to a decision.

It sounded well and good for the Devilheart family to share precious information like this, even truly noble for them to ensure all who receives it are loyal to the empire, yet at the same time, there was something off-putting about all this.

However, before anyone could make a proper rejection, someone shouted loudly, “I have an easier solution to that! I am willing to offer my own Soul Jade with the condition to share my findings only with people of Saint Empire! Please tell me the properties of the Unknown Flame Sovereign first!”

The crowd turned silent and looked towards the Devilheart’s representative.

Diff appears to think for a moment, then she shook her head and said, “No, that wouldn’t work in the long run. What happens if the person you speak to happen to divulge the information to another empire? Can you ensure that all your friends and family will always keep Saint Empire’s interests first?”

No, it is not possible; the others knew this is the answer to her question without asking.

Then, another spoke up at this time, “How about we only release our findings with the Devilheart family? A powerful noble house like yours would be able to ensure the integrity of our discoveries while further the advancement of Pill Creation in our empire!”

It was a reasonable suggestion, and Diff nodded after a while, “The Devilheart family promises to act in the best interests of our empire.”

“I’ll go first!” The previous person immediately shouted, while taking out a Jade Slip to create a binding condition.

His neighbour immediately grabbed his hand that is holding the emerald jade.

“Wait, aren’t you rushing into things?” He said, voicing the concern of many in the crowd.

But the man only smiled and pulled his hand away.

“Are you not seeing the opportunity here?” He whispered in response urgently, “This is a chance for me to gain a useful Alchemic Flame, and at the same time create a good relationship with the Devilheart house. Aren’t you destroying my future by holding me back?

Without a second word, he strolled forward confidently and handed his Soul Slip to Diff.

“This is my act of sincerity. Please accept it.”

Soon, several people muttered how they could not lose out on this, and they joined the first man.

In return, Diff whispered the purple flame’s properties that she heard from Kairos to each person in their ears.

Seeing this, those who were hesitating quickly fell into line. With so many people before them, they believed that there is little to lose even if they accepted the proposal, but if they missed this chance, they would regret it forever.

A short while later, the crowd dispersed, satisfied with the information they came for.

Within the day, news came in waves after waves on the deaths of prominent Pill Masters, and it once again shook the empire to her core.

In the beginning, people believed it to be a new pandemic, but this unreasonable fear made the cause to be quickly revealed.

The Unknown Flame Sovereign has killed all who attempted to take it into their bodies. Many quickly concluded that mere mortals did not stand a chance to conquer the flames of the divine dragon, Surtr. But many still, believed that they might discover something that the others could not.

They did not know that the very first victims were in fact from the Devilheart House. The same thing had occurred after Diff sent back her report, and many old Pill Masters of her noble house tried sealing the purple flames, only to blown up into pieces.

Believing that there was some secret method that Kairos adopted, the Devilheart family planned the ruse of letting the public be their guinea pig.

No matter the ones who made suggestions, or people who tried to ‘kindly’ stop the others, they were all people planted by the Devilheart family to steer others to their cause. Only because they could not outrightly ask the people to take the risk for them.