The cold morning wind blew across the open plains as Sir Carol’s royal escort slowly advanced toward the capital city of Wilhelm Kingdom.
Massive stone walls finally appeared on the horizon alongside towering black banners carrying the silver wolf emblem of Wilhelm.
Even from miles away, the capital radiated military strength.
Nick stared ahead quietly while riding beside John.
After what happened at the northern trading post, silence had settled between them.
John noticed it immediately.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Nick forced a small smile.
“Just tired.”
But that was not the truth.
Every time Nick remembered the cellar… Warren’s screams… and John’s emotionless eyes, a strange uneasiness filled him.
It felt like the man riding beside him was no longer the same friend he once knew.
Before the conversation could continue, one of Wilhelm’s border knights rode toward Sir Carol’s carriage.
“Sir Carol,” the knight said respectfully, “His Majesty has been informed of your arrival. Preparations are already complete inside the capital.”
Sir Carol slightly opened the carriage window.
“Good. We should arrive before sunset.”
The enormous gates of Wilhelm’s capital slowly opened as the royal convoy approached.
The moment they entered the city, John immediately understood why Wilhelm Kingdom was feared across the continent.
The streets were clean and organized.
Soldiers patrolled nearly every corner wearing dark silver armor marked with wolf insignias.
Black stone buildings stood tall across the city while military training grounds could be seen even from the main roads.
This was not a kingdom built on wealth.
It was built for war.
Citizens stopped what they were doing as the royal carriage passed through the capital streets.
Some bowed respectfully toward Sir Carol while others carefully observed the foreign knights accompanying him.
Nick leaned slightly toward John.
“They really don’t trust outsiders here.”
John quietly nodded.
The deeper they moved into the capital, the heavier the atmosphere became.
Eventually, the royal convoy arrived before the massive royal palace located at the center of the city.
Unlike elegant southern palaces decorated with gold and marble, Wilhelm’s palace looked more like a fortress.
Tall black towers overlooked the city while hundreds of elite guards stood stationed around the entrance.
As everyone dismounted, Sir Carol walked toward John and Nick.
“Remember,” he said calmly, “Wilhelm values strength above all else. One mistake here can easily become a political disaster.”
Nick nodded immediately.
John simply answered, “Understood.”
Soon after, palace servants guided them inside.
The interior was just as intimidating as the exterior.
Huge stone pillars lined the grand hall while banners of past Wilhelm kings hung from the walls.
Even the nobles walking through the palace carried swords openly at their waists.
As they continued forward, a group of young Wilhelm knights suddenly blocked their path.
The one leading them stepped forward arrogantly.
“So these are the knights from Aerith Kingdom?”
Nick frowned slightly.
The knight’s gaze moved toward John.
“You don’t look very impressive.”
Several nearby knights quietly laughed.
Sir Carol was about to intervene, but John calmly stepped forward first.
“And you talk too much for someone standing in a hallway.”
The laughter instantly stopped.
The Wilhelm knight’s expression darkened.
“You’ve got courage.”
John stared directly into his eyes.
“No. Just honesty.”
For a moment, tension filled the palace corridor.
Then suddenly—
A deep voice echoed behind them.
“That’s enough.”
Everyone immediately stepped aside.
A tall man wearing black military armor slowly approached them.
A long scar crossed one side of his face while a silver wolf cloak rested over his shoulders.
The atmosphere itself seemed to change the moment he appeared.
Even the arrogant knights lowered their heads instantly.
“General Viktor.”
The man’s sharp eyes moved toward John and Nick.
“So these are the guests from Aerith kingdom.”
John could immediately tell—
This man was dangerous.
General Viktor stopped directly before him.
“You handled those young knights calmly,” Viktor said.
John answered without fear.
“They started the conversation.”
For several seconds, Viktor silently observed him.
Then unexpectedly—
A faint smile appeared on the general’s face.
“Interesting.”
But before anyone could relax, Viktor’s expression turned serious again.
“There’s been troubling news from the northern border this morning.”
John and Nick exchanged brief glances.
“The northern trading post reported that a merchant named Warren disappeared during the night.”
Nick’s heartbeat instantly tightened.
Viktor slowly continued.
“Along with several illegal weapon shipments.”
The hallway suddenly became silent.
And for the first time since arriving in Wilhelm Kingdom—
John realized their actions at the trading post may have already started something far bigger than expected.
The hallway remained completely silent after General Viktor’s words.
Nick could feel cold sweat forming beneath his armor, but John’s expression did not change at all.
Sir Carol frowned slightly.
“A smuggling operation inside Wilhelm’s borders?” he asked calmly.
General Viktor nodded.
“According to the reports, several illegal weapon shipments vanished along with the man responsible for receiving them.”
One of the younger Wilhelm knights stepped forward.
“Some believe foreign spies may be involved.”
His eyes briefly moved toward John and Nick.
The accusation was obvious.
Nick immediately placed his hand near his sword, but John stopped him with a single glance.
General Viktor noticed the movement.
Then unexpectedly, he laughed quietly.
“If they were truly spies,” Viktor said, “they wouldn’t stand in the middle of the royal palace wearing kingdom colors.”
The tension eased slightly.
Still, the suspicious looks remained.
Viktor turned back toward Sir Carol.
“His Majesty is waiting. Follow me.”
The group continued deeper into the palace until they reached enormous black doors guarded by elite soldiers carrying silver spears.
The doors slowly opened.
Inside sat the ruler of Wilhelm Kingdom.
King Magnus Wilhelm.
The man looked to be in his late fifties, but his massive build and piercing eyes made him feel far more intimidating than most younger warriors.
Gray hair rested behind his shoulders while scars covered his hands like marks from countless battles.
Unlike most kings, he wore no crown.
Only a black military coat with the silver wolf emblem.
The atmosphere inside the throne room felt heavy enough to suffocate weaker men.
Sir Carol respectfully bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
Nick followed immediately.
John bowed as well, though his eyes quietly observed the king.
King Magnus studied all three of them silently before speaking.
“So these are Aerith’s knights.”
His voice was deep and commanding.
Sir Carol stepped forward.
“I bring greetings from King Alexander of Aerith Kingdom.”
A servant handed over the official royal letter while King Magnus continued staring toward John and Nick.
Then suddenly—
The unexpected question startled everyone.
Nick blinked in confusion.
John remained calm.
“That would be me.”
The king’s eyes narrowed with interest.
“Hm.”
One of Wilhelm’s nobles immediately spoke up.
“Your Majesty, surely those are just exaggerated rumors—”
“They are not,” General Viktor interrupted coldly.
The noble instantly fell silent.
King Magnus leaned slightly forward on his throne.
“Wilhelm respects strength. Weak men hide behind politics. Strong men survive.”
His gaze locked onto John.
“You have the eyes of someone who has already seen death.”
For the first time, even John slightly paused.
Nick quietly looked toward him.
The king continued.
“But strength without loyalty becomes dangerous.”
Silence filled the throne room once more.
Then Magnus suddenly stood from his throne.
The sheer pressure in the room changed instantly.
“I dislike long political meetings,” the king declared.
“So we will settle this the Wilhelm way.”
Several nobles looked confused.
General Viktor, however, already seemed to understand.
A faint smile appeared on his scarred face.
King Magnus pointed directly toward John.
“You.”
Then toward one of Wilhelm’s strongest young knights standing near the throne.
“Rudolf.”
The armored knight stepped forward confidently.
“You will spar tomorrow morning.”
Murmurs immediately spread across the throne room.
Nick frowned.
“A spar?”
King Magnus smiled faintly.
“I want to see whether Aerith truly sent warriors…”
His eyes sharpened.
“…or merely well-dressed guards.”
Rudolf smirked while staring at John.
“I’ll try not to embarrass your kingdom too badly.”
But John simply answered calmly.
“Do your best.”
That calm response somehow irritated Rudolf more than any insult could.
As the meeting finally came to an end, palace servants guided the Aerith delegation toward their guest chambers.
While walking through the palace corridors, Nick moved closer to John.
“You really plan to fight tomorrow?”
John answered casually.
“We can’t refuse now.”
Nick lowered his voice carefully.
“After everything that happened at the trading post… are you sure this is a good idea?”
John continued walki ng silently for several seconds.
Then he finally answered.
“No.”
Nick looked at him seriously.
“Then why accept?”
John’s gaze turned toward the dark palace windows overlooking Wilhelm’s capital.
“Because something bigger is happening inside this kingdom.”
His eyes slowly narrowed.
“And I think Warren was only a small part of it.”