What's with this kid?

Darius couldn't understand why, but he felt an intense sense of danger radiating from the white-haired little girl standing right in front of the prison exit.

"Hm hm... This will be more fun this way... I'll play your little game," Ria murmured with a soft laugh. She gently stroked her stomach, a sign that she was now satisfied.

What is she talking about?

Suddenly, black smoke began to seep from Darius's body. He immediately pushed away the wave of instinctive fear rising within him.

It doesn't matter. If the Grand Masters are after her blood, then she's no ordinary child.

All of a sudden

"Oh, no need to get all worked up. Here, take this," Ria said with a bright, cheerful smile.

She brought her index finger to her lips, and when she pulled it away, a drop of blood trickled down. The vivid red liquid instantly solidified, forming a dark crimson—almost black—orb, which she tossed toward Darius.

Caught off guard, Darius grabbed the orb with both hands, stunned.

Even as a sixth-rank mage, I couldn't sense the slightest flow of mana... and yet, a supernatural phenomenon just happened right before my eyes.

The past few days had taught him a crucial lesson: never underestimate those who seem weak.

He instantly realized Ria was no ordinary child.

"Why are you—" he started to ask.

But Ria had already vanished.

---

Meanwhile, nearby:

— "The noise came from the special prison, didn't it?"

— "Yeah, it was brief, but I clearly heard a scream."

— "Let's go check it out!"

A dozen guards rushed toward the special prison.

A smirk curled on Darius's lips.

That was easier than expected.

With a precise motion, he pulled a purple stone from his left pocket, while discreetly slipping the red orb into his right pocket.

The purple stone had been given to him by Selphia: by breaking it, he would be instantly teleported elsewhere.

Darius clenched the stone in his hand and crushed it.

A black vortex opened, sucking him inside.

Lucian... wait for me a little longer, he whispered before vanishing.

---

At the same time, in the Red Domain

Angelos stared at the boy, trying to decipher the expression on his face.

Even among the most seasoned merchants, few could maintain such a composed demeanor under any circumstances.

And yet, this kid—who had barely ever set foot outside the Empire—was displaying an unsettling calm.

As for Livia, she struggled to hide her astonishment.

A product that would make other nations drool?

The Empire was already struggling to produce quality crops, and yet he was speaking of something that would make the great empires envious?

Had I overestimated him?

She had a thousand things she wanted to say, but she knew perfectly well she was forbidden from uttering even a single word.

"Your Majesty, this joke isn't funny," Angelos finally said, arms crossed and eyes closed.

Lucian, unbothered, replied:

"Don't play innocent. I know full well you have a spy inside the palace."

At those words, Livia turned her head sharply toward her father, stunned.

Angelos's eyes widened in shock.

What?! He knows?

But almost immediately, a strained smile formed on his face.

"Hmph," he merely grunted.

Lucian continued, in a soft, childish voice:

"So... you must already know what happened at the palace."

Angelos's smile grew even more forced, almost trembling.

What in the world happened at the palace? Livia thought, deeply unsettled.

But facing Lucian, she could read nothing.

His perfectly crafted fake smile betrayed no emotion whatsoever.

"S-So, it's true..." Angelos stammered.

Lucian, deliberately emphasizing his childish tone, went on:

"I don't need to convince you. Since you already know what happened, you'll understand that the goods I'm offering are directly tied to it."

A long silence fell over the room.

Finally, Angelos lowered his head, hesitant:

"Your Majesty, I..."

---

Meanwhile, in the capital

"Wait... you're kidding, right?!"

"Is it really true?!"

"No way… I can't believe it…"

At the heart of the capital — as in every territory of the Empire — a massive wooden board stood proudly in the central square.

Official announcements permitted for public knowledge were usually posted there.

Yet that day, a single notice covered the entire board:

---

[Official Notice from the Empire]

To all free citizens aged 18 or older, currently unemployed:

By decree of His Majesty Emperor Lucian, a grand recruitment campaign will commence as of July 1st.

Eligibility Requirements:

Minimum age: 18 years old

Status: Unemployed

Gender: No restrictions

Employment Terms: Guaranteed monthly salary: 4,000 velts (equivalent to the average salary in the United States)

Number of available positions: Unlimited

Special Rewards: Outstanding candidates may be granted a title of nobility.

Gathering Location: Red Domain

---

The announcement caused an absolute uproar.

Beggars, laborers, former soldiers, reformed thieves — without exception, all rushed toward the main square, eagerly reading and rereading the notice in a frenzy.

"This isn't some damned joke…"

"Shut it! Don't you know the rumors?"

"But wait… what's this about granting noble titles?!"

Panic quickly spread among the fallen nobles.

In a rush, they gathered around the dukes to whom they had sworn allegiance, desperately seeking advice and explanations.

And the phenomenon wasn't limited to the capital.

Across every domain of the Empire, the same scenes repeated, the news spreading like wildfire.

> Note: The Empire is divided into seven main domains, excluding one-tenth of its territory that has become unusable. Each domain is governed by a Duke.

Thanks to the ruthless efficiency of the butler Chris, the information had already reached even the most distant corners of the Empire.

---

Iris Voldrek Domain

Fhoufhou.

A majestic hawk swooped down from the sky, landing gracefully on the shoulder of a woman with fiery red hair.

Her gaze, both unreadable and piercing, left no doubt: despite her casual clothing, she clearly belonged to a higher class.

The extravagant quality of her fabric alone spoke volumes about her wealth.

This was Iris Voldrek, the fourth elder sister of Lucian.

Lounging comfortably behind her desk, legs crossed over the polished wood, an amused smile played at her lips.

"So?" she asked, idly twirling a stack of papers between her fingers.

Surprisingly, it was the hawk perched on her shoulder — John — who answered her in a calm voice:

"The message wasn't sent only to your domain, madam. It was also delivered to the Grand Duke Angelos's territory.

In fact... I witnessed him meeting directly with Emperor Lucian."

Curious whether she was the sole recipient of this "opportunity," Iris had sent her hawk on a spying mission.

A flash of excitement gleamed in her eyes.

"What's he plotting this time?" she murmured, her smile never fading.

Unfazed, John continued:

"On my way back, I also noticed that your faction is preparing to pay you a visit."

Iris's expression hardened slightly, her hand crumpling the papers she held.

Her smile remained sweet... but her eyes crackled with anger.

"Those rats dare come without permission, huh…"

A brief silence fell.

Then suddenly, Iris's eyes widened, as if struck by a brilliant idea.

"Oh, John! John!"

"Yes, Mistress?" the hawk replied obediently.

A mischievous spark lit up Iris's face.

"I just had a brilliant idea: we're going to join the recruitment drive! Hehehe... Let's see what surprises he has in store."

Truly, she was a woman of boundless eccentricity.

---

Two days later

At the Entrance to the Thirteenth Empire

"State your identities!"

Two sturdy imperial guards, clad in gleaming armor, stood watch before the massive gates of the Thirteenth Empire.

Normally a quiet post, today the entrance was overwhelmed by a staggering crowd.

Before them, dozens of carriages had gathered — some luxurious, others modest — and hundreds of people waited, carrying weapons, magical artifacts, or ordinary goods.

The scene was as chaotic as it was grand.

At the head of the procession, a particularly lavish carriage bore the proud symbol of the wolf — the emblem of the Tenth Empire.

Inside sat Boris Zand, personal advisor and official representative of Emperor Gaius Niketas.

The guards, visibly unnerved by the massive turnout, stiffened on the spot.

Boris stepped calmly out of his carriage and walked toward the soldiers with unhurried steps.

Wearing a polite smile, he declared in a loud, confident voice:

"Greetings, noble imperial guards. We come with the express authorization of His Majesty, Emperor Lucian."

As he spoke, he brandished a heavy official document, adorned with shining seals — those of the Tenth Empire, the Thirteenth Empire, and, most importantly, the sacred mark of a certified Druid Administrator, an absolute guarantee of the decree's legitimacy.

At the sight of these seals, the guards hastily bowed and signaled to the soldiers inside the walls to open the gates without delay.

A document bearing the signature of the Administrators held supreme authority, unquestionable even without Emperor Lucian's personal presence.

The convoy slowly began to move, entering the lands of the Thirteenth Empire under the stunned gaze of the onlookers.

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