With his deep golden eyes, exceptionally handsome face, and every gesture exuding an innate imperial aura, he also possessed an irresistible wild charm.

This very noble man was sitting in a magnificent palace, his brows furrowed, staring at the aged, illusory figure before him, remaining silent for a long time.

"Your Majesty, are you aware of what happened at the academy?" Given the old man's status, he wouldn't need to kneel even when facing an emperor, but respectful language was still necessary.

"My eyes are not blind, Dean Ted. As the oldest person in the empire, please explain what happened. How could the spatial blockade of the capital be breached so silently?" The emperor placed his hand on a scepter inlaid on the table.

A projection appeared in the center of the palace, a miniature of the Royal Magic Academy's arena. Watching the fat man swaggering around like a clown, the emperor showed no displeasure. To be precise, he never revealed his emotions to outsiders.

“Your Majesty, although I do not understand the principle, this is certainly not an application of the laws of space. Even the most knowledgeable mage in the world could not possibly breach the city's protective array silently. It would be meaningless. This is the power of a divine artifact. However, we do not yet know which faction they belong to,” Ted replied respectfully.

"Then tell me, what should we do now?" the emperor asked calmly, as if he didn't care about the matter.

"I have just tested the energy shield that this group has set up, and it is also the power of a divine artifact."

"Can we break through?" the emperor asked.

“It will take three minutes and nine seconds,” Ted calculated and gave a precise number.

"What if we add the Imperial Advisor as well?"

"Fifty seconds."

"Too slow. This amount of time is more than enough for those traitors to slaughter all my people." Ted's reply did not satisfy the emperor. The emperor glanced at him with disappointment and said coldly.

"Dean Ted, you should stay in your mage tower. You don't need to worry about this. I've decided to personally execute these scoundrels."

"Your Majesty, do you intend to activate the attack mechanism of the city's protective array?" Ted realized what the emperor was planning to do.

"What? Could it be that the city's protective formation's attack can also be blocked by that energy shield?" the emperor asked.

“Of course not. The city's protective array was built according to the terrain and with the help of the world's power. Artifacts that only retain a little bit of the power of the Outer Gods cannot contend with it. However, Your Majesty, the city's protective array can only kill creatures within a radius of one hundred meters at a time, and the thieves are not in one place.” Ted explained.

Ted pointed to the projection in the palace. In an inconspicuous corner, there was a small pavilion where Princess Philliss could be seen lying quietly on a chair.

"I know what you mean, but how can a mere princess compare to the future pillars of the empire? Phillis is dead, and only I will grieve." This is true ruthlessness; after weighing the pros and cons, he makes the most correct decision without hesitation.

“All those people are asking for is gold coins. Although the amount is considerable, Your Majesty, are you going to sacrifice Princess for this?” Ted tried to dissuade the emperor.

"Dean Ted, I think you're really getting senile." The emperor's tone was flat, but the warning in his words was clear.

"Do you think a gang that possesses such powerful artifacts would lack something as material as gold coins?"

"The timing of the semi-finals was deliberately chosen, and all the students in the school will go to watch the game. As the dean, you will only attend the finals, which means that no one will suppress those traitors when they first appear. This is the perfect opportunity to wipe out these future nobles in one fell swoop. This kind of plan must have been premeditated."

"I don't know their intentions. But whatever their true purpose is, I cannot allow them to obtain a single gold coin. If they succeed in this extortion, what will become of the empire's reputation? The only thing I need to do with such traitors is to suppress them with swift and decisive action, without any leniency. Do you understand what I mean?"

“But…” Ted didn’t seem to want to give up yet.

"Are you teaching me how to do things?" The emperor's gaze turned cold, and he rebuked him sternly.

The emperor's greatest aversion is to be contradicted, and even though he was facing a highly respected elder, he seemed to have no intention of changing his mind this time.

"Your Majesty, farewell." In the end, Ted gave in.

Ted's elemental avatar's lower body began to gradually turn into particles of light, while the Emperor added one more sentence.

"Dean Ted, do not do anything unnecessary. When the first ransom arrives, I will execute the traitor to demonstrate the power of the nation."

Ted stopped replying; his face was now filled with self-blame and helplessness.

Ted's avatar dissipated, leaving only the emperor in the palace. He did not look at the so-called successors of the empire, but instead focused his gaze on the sleeping girl. He remained in this position from then on, as if he wanted to remember his daughter's last appearance.

Even when you're at the pinnacle of power, sometimes you still have to give up some things.

······

"thump"

Waves splashed in the lake as a disheveled figure scrambled ashore.

"Huff—huff—" Jerry gasped for breath in the fresh air.

Jerry felt a slight pain in his lower back, but otherwise he was fine. His control over his strength during that sneak attack was impeccable.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!