Chapter 228: Secrets Unveiled
As the night thickened outside, Ryan sat in a room at the top of a tavern in the outer city, staring at piles of documents and letters that looked just as thrilling as watching paint dry.
He furrowed his brows sporadically and sighed as if he were composing an epic tragedy.
Although he had anticipated the current state of the empire, seeing the reports in person still made him look like he’d just bitten into a sour lemon.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
A faint sound broke Ryan’s reverie, causing him to tilt his head in confusion towards the window.
That noise definitely seemed to come from outside.
Ryan raised his brows, preparing to get up, but suddenly his eyes bulged like a cartoon character, and he plopped back down, instantly starting to drum on the table.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!”
“Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.”
Ryan shot to his feet like a spring board!
First, he dashed to the door and flung it open to peek outside, then proclaimed, “For the next little while, no matter what happens, do not disturb me! You lot, just scram!”
Two shadows slowly retreated into the abyss.
Ryan firmly shut the door, then made his way to the window and opened it, allowing a gentle breeze to waft in, revealing yet another figure outside against the deep night.
He closed the window promptly before turning to the newcomer with a deep bow, like he was greeting royalty, “Lord Edward!”
The figure clad in black was none other than Edward, Yuliya’s favorite neighbor and an ordinary shopkeeper specializing in enchanting items.
“Ryan! Long time no see!”
“Indeed! It’s been ages. How many years has it been?”
Ryan reminisced about the old days, a nostalgic yet comforting smile creeping across his face, “Lord Edward has returned; the empire’s troubles shall surely pass like a bad hair day.”
“I’m indeed here for that,” Edward replied, his tone more serious, as he gestured to Ryan’s chair, “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Sit down, we need to talk business.”
“Okay, just to clarify, what aspect should we start with?” Ryan asked, sounding more like a game show host than a serious strategist.
“The most crucial part. What are your thoughts on the royal succession?” Edward shot back.
Ryan pondered for a moment, scratching his chin like a philosopher at a coffee shop before answering, “Right now, it’s a fierce competition between Prince Isaac and Princess Elia. But now that you’re back—”
“I’m out. I have no interest in playing prince or princess,” Edward cut in. “Let’s talk about them first.”
“Fine.” Ryan sighed, realizing his hopes of a glittery reunion were dashed.
“You see, the contest between Prince Isaac and Princess Elia is more like a one-sided race. Isaac is older and, thanks to your past influence, nearly all the big wigs and knight orders are rallying behind him. It’s just a matter of time before the others jump on his bandwagon.”
Instead of firm support, most people opted for a lukewarm stance.
“I’m on your side, but I won’t bad-mouth anyone.”
I mean, let’s face it—it’s the same as being a card-carrying member of the ‘loyalty club’ with no one else left to impress.
“No point in offending anyone. Just nod along and go with the flow.”
“So, you believe Isaac will win?” Edward raised an eyebrow.
“I… didn’t say that. Until the final whistle blows, nothing is set in stone,” Ryan replied, sounding like he was hedging his bets.
Edward let out a heavy sigh, staring at Ryan as if he were a particularly slow-witted student, “You can just be honest with me, Ryan. Do we really need the sugar-coated rhetoric?”
Ah, the years have made him slicker than a greased pig at a county fair.
“Fine! I’ll be blunt. I think the empire is in the dumpster. Whether it’s military strength, economic power, or high-end fighting prowess, it’s declined way too much compared to thousands of years ago.”
“In this situation, Princess Elia is better suited for the empire than Prince Isaac.”
“Isaac’s policies are too rigid and sharp. He’s more suited for a powerful empire looking to expand.”
“Right now, the Jade Emperor Kingdom needs to recuperate, coordinate internally, and be all huggy-bear and welcoming.”
At this, Edward merely nodded, “So, that’s your honest opinion. Got it.”
“You don’t think so?” Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow like he’d just caught Edward with his hand in the cookie jar.
“I never cared about these things.”
“You…” Ryan looked at Edward’s unflappable face, sighing deeply, “Well, I guess I overthought it. I thought you’d lean towards Isaac, what with him being your student and all.”
“I simply trained a successor for Emperor Abis; I treat them equally. Back then, Elia was just a wee one. By the time she’s of age, I might be off on some grand adventure.”
“I don’t quite get how you can be so impartial in your thinking.”
“It’s not something royalty would grasp,” Edward chuckled. “Ryan, do you know what the royal succession ceremony represents?”
Ryan pondered for a moment before guessing, “It indicates that the victor has absolute succession rights while the loser just has to s*ck it up?”
“That’s only the surface.” Edward shook his head. “Let me tell you a little joke. The royal family truly believes in destiny.”
Destiny?
“Yep, destiny. In fact, they practically worship it! The royal succession ceremony is more like a coming-to-Jesus moment concerning fate. The Trial of the Emperor’s Secret Realm was originally called the Realm of All Things. It’s all about deducing and aligning with who the most suitable heir truly is—destiny at its finest.”
Ryan stared blankly, his brain processing these absurd yet oddly plausible words.
The more powerful a person is, the more they can sense this vague, ethereal force.
The rules of the secret trial boil down to just one thing: enter the realm and snag the crown.
Everything else? Totally chill! This gives a ton of leeway for mischief.
The heir chosen in such a mysterious manner can truly be considered a ‘destined one.’
“I get your point. How you go about it is entirely your choice; I won’t meddle. It’s all part of the ceremony.”
Ryan nodded gravely but then thought of something and asked, “What about that girl? She seems close to Princess Elia.”
“She?” Edward mused for a moment, laughing and shaking his head, “You’ll have to figure that out. Maybe she’s a part of destiny too?”
With that, Edward stood up, preparing to leave.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Suddenly, a knock at the door erupted.
Ryan frowned, hollering towards the door, “Didn’t I say not to disturb me?!”
“The lady says she has urgent business to discuss with you.”
“Which lady?”
Ryan exchanged glances with Edward and nodded, “Fine, let her wait a moment.”
