System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 781: Chapter 781: Shadow of the Dragon

The sun rose above the majestic spires of the imperial capital, bathing the marble avenues in a dazzling golden hue. While a warm, expectant calm reigned within the Soaring Dragon Kingdom’s residence, the atmosphere in the northern district was diametrically opposed.

Inside the palace of the Silver Dragon Kingdom delegation, the air felt so thick that servants struggled to draw breath.

BOOM!

An ancestral jade table shattered into pieces as the King of the Silver Dragon Kingdom slammed his palm down upon it. The monarch stood at the center of the grand hall, his eyes bloodshot and the veins on his neck bulging to the point of bursting.

”Insolent brat! Cursed, wretched peasant!” the monarch roared, his voice echoing like smothered thunder. ”Snatching the von Draconia heiress right in front of the entire continent! Humiliating our lineage under the gaze of both the Emperor and Vorian!”

Around him, ten elders in the late Spiritual Transcendence Realm remained on their knees, pressing their foreheads against the floor as they trembled before their sovereign’s incandescent rage.

”Your Majesty...”, the Grand Elder intervened, his voice shaking. ”The Emperor issued a direct decree. If we act outside the tournament or attempt an assassination within the capital, Vorian will slaughter every one of us before the day ends.”

”I know full well what that monster Vorian said!” the king snarled, clenching his fists until his knuckles popped. ”We will not strike inside the city... But that bastard Ethan just signed his own death warrant for the tournament.”

The monarch turned toward the shadows at the far end of the hall, where a silhouette crouched atop a ceiling beam. Emerging from the darkness came a pale youth with raven-black hair, clad in dark scaled armor that absorbed the surrounding light.

”Kaelen...”, the king whispered, dropping his voice to an icy frequency. ”You are our most ruthless warrior among the younger generation. In fifteen days, when you step into the arena of the Imperial Tournament, I don’t care what method you employ or what taboo you break...”

The youth in the shadows looked up, revealing slitted eyes with yellow vertical pupils resembling those of a predatory reptile. A cruel, sadistic smirk played across his face.

”Understood, Your Majesty,” Kaelen replied in a raspy, hissing voice. ”I will not only rip out his Dao Sword Heart... I will bring you his head on a silver platter before he even gets the chance to beg for mercy.”

Meanwhile, high within the imperial palace, the Emperor stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of his private chambers, gazing out over the vast expanse of the city. Beside him, Vorian kept his arms crossed, leaning casually against a marble pillar.

”That kid...”, the sovereign broke the silence, taking a sip from his goblet. ”He is truly remarkable. Not only because of the sharpness of his Dao Sword Heart, but because of the firmness in his gaze. I am seriously considering throwing the full support of the empire behind his shoulders.”

Vorian narrowed his eyes and let out a faint, warning huff.

”Don’t rush into it, Your Majesty,” warned Vorian the enforcer, briefly dropping his usual carefree tone. ”Ethan is a terrifying prodigy, I won’t deny that. But he is not loyal to this empire. His devotion lies with that tiny, forgotten kingdom and the woman he just claimed. Granting so much power to someone whose ties are not bound to this capital could become a colossal danger down the line.”

The Emperor lowered his golden goblet and let out a low laugh, dripping with an ancient, relentless wisdom.

”You say he has no loyalty to this throne?” asked the Emperor turning toward his enforcer with a calculating smirk. ”Loyalty is never absolute, Vorian. We don’t need him to swear blind fidelity to us... We simply need to ensure that he owes us everything.”

The Emperor continued gazing out at the city, swirling the wine in his goblet as the lines of his strategy took shape in the air. Vorian remained silent, analyzing the implications of such a move, when the firm clack of high heels echoed against the office’s marble floor.

The grand oak doors swung wide open, and a young woman clad in golden robes with a proud demeanor stepped forward with a decisive stride. She possessed the same commanding gaze as the sovereign and a breathtaking beauty, albeit clouded by a look of sheer whim.

”Father, I heard exactly what you are planning,” the imperial princess said, crossing her arms as she came to a halt before the throne.

The Emperor looked at her over his shoulder and flashed a paternal smirk laced with a touch of irony.

”Ah, the spoiled brat of the palace has decided to honor us with her presence,” commented the Emperor mockingly. ”And may I ask what troubles you so much about your father’s decisions?”

The princess frowned, clenching her fists at her waist.

”Obviously, I heard what you were saying about that Ethan guy!” the young woman demanded indignantly. ”I admit the kid is handsome and possesses a terrifying talent, but he has that bitch from the Soaring Kingdom clinging to him like a shadow. I will not share my man with a provincial peasant! If you intend to use me to bind him to this empire, I demand she disappears first!”

Vorian took a step forward, dropping his playful smirk and adopting a rigid expression that reflected the true gravity of the matter.

”Your Majesty, you must think this through carefully,” intervened Vorian the enforcer, looking directly into the sovereign’s eyes. ”The situation is extremely delicate. That kid just put his life on the line before the entire court for Lady von Draconia; the bond between them is no mere youthful whim. Forcing a political maneuver with the princess or trying to eliminate the girl will only cause Ethan to turn his blade against the empire instead of serving it.”

The imperial princess whipped around toward Vorian, tossing her head back with absolute disdain.

”Shut your mouth, enforcer!” exclaimed the princess the young woman, maintaining her firm stance with unbreakable arrogance. ”My word and my lineage stand far above the feelings of a provincial cultivator. If that kid wants this throne’s backing, he will have to accept my terms. I don’t care how strong his Dao Heart is—I will not yield to that woman nor take second place!”

The Emperor observed the clash between his enforcer and his daughter without uttering a word, cradling his golden goblet as a calculating shadow crossed his face.