The Imperial Court dispersed.
One by one, ministers, generals, and nobles left the Hall of Eternal Rule.
Only Lucien remained.
The massive doors closed with a deep rumble.
Now, only two people stood in the hall.
The Emperor.
And the Crown Prince.
Emperor Adrian Draven Noctis looked at his son quietly.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Finally...
The Emperor broke the silence.
"You've changed."
Lucien smiled faintly.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No."
The Emperor descended from the throne.
With every step, the pressure in the hall increased.
Yet Lucien remained calm.
When the Emperor stopped before him, he asked,
"Tell me."
"What did you gain inside the Forgotten Sovereign's Palace?"
Lucien answered without hesitation.
"A chance."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow.
"A chance?"
"A chance to rewrite my future."
The Emperor stared into Lucien's eyes.
There was no fear.
No hesitation.
Only confidence.
Then...
He laughed.
It was a deep, hearty laugh that echoed throughout the empty hall.
"Excellent."
"My son should speak like this."
The Emperor waved his sleeve.
A map of the Eternal Heaven Realm appeared between them.
Nine Supreme Empires.
Thirty-Six Sacred Lands.
Countless forbidden zones.
His finger stopped on the Noctis Eternal Empire.
"Our empire is the strongest."
"But strength invites envy."
He moved his finger.
"The Sacred Lands preach righteousness."
"The ancient clans seek power."
"The demonic races wait for weakness."
"Even our allies..."
"...would gladly stab us in the back if given the chance."
Lucien nodded.
"I understand."
The Emperor looked directly at him.
"No."
"You understand only half."
He tapped the map once more.
The image changed.
This time...
The greatest threat wasn't outside the empire.
It was inside.
Several noble families glowed with a faint crimson light.
One of them...
House Alton.
The family of Prime Minister Cedric Alton.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"So they truly have ambitions."
The Emperor smiled slightly.
"Good."
"You noticed."
"The Noctis Empire has ruled for over one hundred thousand years."
"Do you think every noble family remains loyal forever?"
Lucien answered calmly.
"No."
"Loyalty follows strength."
The Emperor nodded approvingly.
"Exactly."
"Some families have forgotten who placed them where they are."
"They believe the Imperial Throne has become weak."
"They're mistaken."
Suddenly—
Ding!
The Villain Investment System activated.
Emergency Mission
Hidden Traitor Detected
Investigate the Imperial Court.
Uncover the mastermind behind the recent political unrest.
Reward:
Villain Value +5,000
Random High-Tier Investment Opportunity
Increase Imperial Prestige
Time Limit: 30 Days.
Lucien dismissed the panel.
Interesting.
He had expected enemies from outside.
Instead...
His first real battlefield would be the Imperial Court itself.
The Emperor walked toward a balcony overlooking the endless Imperial City.
"Lucien."
"Do you know why I named you Crown Prince at the age of twelve?"
Lucien remained silent.
"Because among all my children..."
"You alone never relied on your status."
"You earned your victories."
He turned around.
"But a ruler's greatest enemy..."
"...isn't the man who challenges him openly."
"It's the man who kneels before him while sharpening a dagger."
Lucien followed his father's gaze toward the city.
Thousands of lights illuminated the night.
From above...
Everything appeared peaceful.
Yet beneath that calm surface...
Schemes were already taking shape.
At that very moment...
Within the Alton Manor...
Prime Minister Cedric sat in a dimly lit chamber.
Across from him stood a masked figure dressed entirely in gray.
"The Crown Prince has changed."
Cedric's voice was low.
"He is no longer predictable."
The masked figure chuckled.
"That makes things troublesome."
Cedric poured two cups of tea.
"Our original plan must change."
The masked figure nodded.
"What about the Hero?"
Cedric's eyes flashed.
"Leave Lin Tian alive."
"He and the Crown Prince are destined to oppose each other."
"The stronger they become..."
"...the easier it will be for us to harvest the chaos."
The masked figure smiled beneath the mask.
"Excellent."
"Then let the pieces continue moving."
Neither man noticed...
A tiny black raven perched outside the window.
Its crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Far away, within the Crown Prince's Palace...
Lucien slowly closed his eyes.
Through the Primordial Void Bloodline, he could see everything the raven had witnessed.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"So..."
"I've found my first snake."
The hunt had begun.