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Journey to Become the Zenith

Chapter 377: The Foundation of an Empire · Oct 23, 2026

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Chapter List (490)

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351 Chapter 351: The Flame Rekindled 2026-10-23
352 Chapter 352: A Promise Beyond Life 2026-10-23
353 Chapter 353: A Promise Beyond Life [Part -2] 2026-10-23
354 Chapter 354: The Soul’s Eternal Covenant 2026-10-23
355 Chapter 355: The Place Where Souls Rest 2026-10-23
356 Chapter 356: The Path to Saving Her Sisters 2026-10-23
357 Chapter 357: The First Thread of the Conspiracy 2026-10-23
358 Chapter 358: Echoes Buried Beneath Forgotten Memories 2026-10-23
359 Chapter 359: The Vanishing Fisherman 2026-10-23
360 Chapter 360: Shadows Beneath the Ruins 2026-10-23
361 Chapter 361: The Eyes Watching from the Dark (Part 3) 2026-10-23
362 Chapter 362: A Hero’s Heart in Turmoil (Part 1) 2026-10-23
363 Chapter 363: A Hero’s Heart in Turmoil (Part 2) 2026-10-23
364 Chapter 364: A Hero’s Heart in Turmoil (Part 3) 2026-10-23
365 Chapter 365: A Smile Before the Trap (Part 1) 2026-10-23
366 Chapter 366: A Smile Before the Trap (Part 2) 2026-10-23
367 Chapter 367: A Smile Before the Trap (Part 3) 2026-10-23
368 Chapter 368: The Cornered Rat’s Last Bluff (Part 1) 2026-10-23
369 Chapter 369: The Cornered Rat’s Last Bluff (Part 2) 2026-10-23
370 Chapter 370: The Cornered Rat’s Last Bluff (Part 3) 2026-10-23
371 Chapter 371: A Family Reunited, A New Enemy Revealed 2026-10-23
372 Chapter 372: The Curse That Bound Blood 2026-10-23
373 Chapter 373: A New Trail Toward the Elmhart Family 2026-10-23
374 Chapter 374: Seeds of a New Era 2026-10-23
375 Chapter 375: Seeds of a New Era [Part -2] 2026-10-23
376 Chapter 376: Seeds of a New Era [Part -3] 2026-10-23
377 Chapter 377: The Foundation of an Empire 2026-10-23
378 Chapter 378: The Foundation of an Empire [Part -2] 2026-10-23
379 Chapter 379: The Goddesses’ Invitation (Part 1) 2026-10-23
380 Chapter 380: The Goddesses’ Invitation (Part 2) 2026-10-23
381 Chapter 381: The Goddesses’ Invitation (Part 3) 2026-10-23
382 Chapter 382: The Goddesses’ Invitation (Part 4) 2026-10-23
383 Chapter 383: Echoes Within the Soul 2026-10-23
384 Chapter 384: The Gathering of Incarnations 2026-10-23
385 Chapter 385: Diana!!! 2026-10-23
386 Chapter 386: Echoes of Forgotten Bonds 2026-10-23
387 Chapter 387: Echoes of Forgotten Bonds [Part 2] 2026-10-23
388 Chapter 388: Echoes of Forgotten Bonds 2026-10-23
389 Chapter 389: The Contract Beneath the Eternal Moon 2026-10-23
390 Chapter 390: The Oath Beneath the Eternal Moon 2026-10-23
391 Chapter 391: The Oath Beneath the Eternal Moon [Part 2] 2026-10-23
392 Chapter 392: The Dragon’s Oath 2026-10-23
393 Chapter 393: A Promise Across Lifetimes 2026-10-23
394 Chapter 394: The One Waiting Beyond the South Gate 2026-10-23
395 Chapter 395: The Lioness’s Resolve 2026-10-23
396 Chapter 396: The Gathering of Spirit Rulers 2026-10-23
397 Chapter 397: A Dread Beyond the Soul 2026-10-23
398 Chapter 398: The Seventh Summoning 2026-10-23
399 Chapter 399: The Arrival of the Seventh Spirit 2026-10-23
400 Chapter 400: The Chaos Spirit Descends 2026-10-23

The Foundation of an Empire

For a few long minutes... The three of them stood together, silent. No need for any words. Morning breezes blew past, rustling the leaves around them.

Reminding of the numerous times the three had fought and shed blood together... numerous meals... many dangers they had braved.

Victor slowly broke away and looked at the two girls with soft eyes.

”You both worked hard.””Thanks.”

He brought a hand up and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Lane’s ear, before leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead.

Lane cheeks warmed with a faint blush.

A bright, happy smile naturally formed.

”I’ll be waiting for you.”

Victor then looked toward Videl.

She kept her usual cocky smile. ”Don’t think it’ll mean I’ll go easy when you come back.” Victor let out a quiet chuckle.

”I never do.”

He lightly tap her forehead with a finger, then lowered his head, placing his own soft, warm kiss there. Videl’s wide sapphire-blue eyes blinked in surprise, her face flushing deeply. ”...

You...”

She looked away, burying her scarlet cheeks.

”... Really don’t know how to ease into things, do you.” Victor smirked.

”I’ll take that as a compliment.” Lane let out a soft titter. Even Videl’s laughter eventually joined in, her shaking her head.

”...Just...”

”...be careful, okay?”

Victor nodded.

”I will be.”

He lingered his gaze on them for a moment.

”I’ll be leaving the both of you to take care of things ’till I’m back.” Lane and Videl exchanged a glance, then smiled at the same time. ”You have nothing to worry about leaving this in our care.”

Victor gave a final nod and turned toward the gate of the manor. The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes fixed on his diminishing back. Neither calling out to him.

Because they both knew that sometimes, loving someone also means trusting that they walk the path they’ve chosen and simply wait faithfully for their return.

...

After settling that matter...

Victor asked someone to gather Eon, Brinda, and Ramona Redcliffe.

Not long afterward...

The three entered one of the manor’s meeting rooms.

Eon respectfully bowed.

”You called for us, My Lord?”

Brinda gracefully sat nearby, her purple eyes never leaving Victor’s face.

Ramona stood silently with dignified posture, curious about what Victor intended to discuss.

Victor spread a large map of Fantom City across the table.

His golden eyes slowly swept over the three of them.

”Beginning today...”

”We’ll start rebuilding this city properly.”

The room immediately became serious.

Victor pointed toward the city center.

”Eon.”

”Your first task isn’t fighting.”

Eon blinked.

”I want you to learn.”

He looked surprised.

”...Learn?”

Victor nodded.

”You’ll study noble etiquette.”

Eon’s confusion became obvious.

Victor explained calmly.

”The former nobles may have lost their authority...”

”But many still possess knowledge accumulated over generations.”

”Administration.”

”Diplomacy.”

”Finance.”

”Law.”

”Leadership.”

”They understand things ordinary people never had the opportunity to learn.”

Victor looked directly into Eon’s eyes.

”If you want to govern people someday...”

”You must first understand how nations function.”

Eon slowly nodded.

”I understand.”

”I’ll learn everything I can.”

Victor smiled approvingly.

”Good.”

His finger then shifted toward Brinda and Ramona.

”You two will assist him.”

Both women answered simultaneously.

”Understood.”

Victor continued.

”While Eon studies...”

”You’ll also oversee Fantom City’s daily administration.”

Ramona looked thoughtful.

”You already have a plan, don’t you?”

Victor smiled.

”I do.”

He rested both hands upon the table.

”My vision begins with two foundations.”

”Education...”

”...and military strength.”

The three immediately focused their full attention on him.

Victor pointed toward a district containing several abandoned noble estates.

”The mansion belonging to one of the fallen noble families is large enough to house hundreds of students.”

”We’ll convert it into Fantom City’s first public academy.”

Eon’s eyes widened.

”A school?”

Victor nodded.

”Exactly.”

”No tuition.”

”No noble restrictions.”

”No discrimination.”

”If someone wishes to learn...”

”They’ll be welcomed.”

He continued pointing across the map.

”The academy will first teach reading.”

”Writing.”

”Basic arithmetic.”

”History.”

”Civic responsibility.”

”And practical skills needed to survive.”

”The children below the age of ten will attend as part of their upbringing.”

”They’ll receive a proper foundation instead of growing up illiterate.”

He paused before continuing.

”But the academy won’t belong only to children.”

”If an older child...”

”An adult...”

”A retired soldier...”

”Or even a former criminal sincerely wishes to learn...”

”They’ll also be accepted.”

Knowledge...

Should never belong exclusively to the wealthy.

Victor looked at each of them in turn.

”The only requirement...”

”...is the willingness to learn.”

The room fell silent.

None of them had ever heard of such an idea before.

Even Ramona, who had spent years among nobles, couldn’t hide her astonishment.

Victor continued calmly.

”As for teachers...”

”We already have them.”

”The fallen nobles who pledged loyalty.”

”They possess knowledge.”

”Instead of letting it disappear...”

”We’ll put it to use.”

He tapped the map again.

”And every coin needed to begin...”

”...will come from my own pocket.”

The wealth he had earned clearing the dungeon...

Combined with the fortune he received from selling valuable information...

Was more than enough to fund the beginning of his vision.

The academy...

Would become the first seed of the future he intended to build.

Silence lingered inside the meeting hall after Victor finished speaking.

Education...

None of the three standing before him had expected those words to come first.

Eon had assumed Victor would immediately speak about rebuilding walls, gathering soldiers, or hunting down the Elmhart Family.

Instead...

The first thing Victor wanted to build was a school.

Ramona Redcliffe finally broke the silence.

”My Lord...”

”I understand strengthening the military.”

”But why place education before everything else?”

Victor smiled faintly.

”Because kingdoms aren’t built by swords alone.”

He slowly walked toward the large window overlooking Fantom City.

Outside, workers carried lumber through the streets while children helped clear scattered rubble from the roadside.

He quietly watched them.

”Tell me...”

”What happens if every capable warrior dies?”

Eon answered first.

”The kingdom becomes weak.”

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