The elf King studied Kyle’s expression but to his surprise, except for the furrowed brows, there wasn’t any emotion on Kyle’s face.
He raised his brow with surprise and cleared his throat to snap the kid out of his thoughts.
Kyle looked up. His clear eyes shone under the light.
“What does Your Majesty want from me? I don’t think I can offer anything valuable because my background is ordinary.”
The King merely leaned back into his chair with a thoughtful look.
“Indeed you can’t offer anything valuable and I believe if I asked for your bonded pet you would reject me immediately. That’s why the only thing you can offer me is your future.”
Kyle blinked but after a second, a perplexed expression appeared on his face. The King asked for his future, more specifically he wanted the strength Kyle would attain in the future.
Kyle wanted to confirm his doubt but the King didn’t give him the chance and continue.
“You are already strong among the young generation and after knowing your talent I believe with enough resources your future is limitless. That’s why it would be a pity if I just chased you out. So, how about swearing alliance to me? If you are connected with my Kingdom you can easily enter the Secret Realm and I will have another future warrior protecting my Kingdom in dangerous times.”
“This deal is in your favor because even though you have potential I can never know if you will survive until the end to achieve that potential. On the other hand, you will be able to enter the Secret Realm through the Tersia Kingdom. Now the choice is on you.”
Kyle looked at him and sighed.
“The deal is not bad but I am a citizen of Kingdom Escalante. Also, my family is there. The Royal Academy….”
Kyle’s sentence was cut off abruptly.
“I never asked you to leave your home. I just asked you to swear alliance to Kingdom Tersia. That means you can stay connected with both Kingdoms. Anyway, even if I want to steal you I won’t dare because Cedric will straight up send assassinations to murder me hahaha. Not to mention you are one of Retric students. That bastard will directly blast my Castle!”
The King’s laugh echoed in the room and Kyle’s eyebrow couldn’t help but twiched at his remarks.
‘It’s seemed Principal Ratric is a terrifying individual.’
After laughing for a few seconds, the King’s eyes bore down at Kyle with a sharp gaze that accepted no refusals.
“So, what’s your decision?”
Kyle didn’t know whether to laugh or cry in this situation. He just nodded because he was sure if he refused he would be forced to agree.
A smile appeared on the King’s face and his expression relaxed.
“Good.”
The King talked some more and prepared an agreement that stated Kyle would help Kingdom Tersia whenever the Kingdom needed help.
After Kyle read and signed the agreement, the King nodded and put the agreement away. He fiddled with his storage ring and after a few seconds a round broach appeared in his hand.
He threw the borach at Kyle who grabbed it with a confused expression.
“It’s a special insigma. Consider this as a welcome gift because you joined my Kingdom. You can buy anything from the elven Capital city after showing this insignia to the shopkeepers. However, remember it will only work in the Capital city and you can only use it three times so be careful when you want to buy something.”
Kyle looked at the golden insignia. It was round and two wing-shaped leaves were carved in the middle with three straight lines at the bottom.
He nodded at the King with bright twinkling eyes.
“Thank you.”
The King waved his hand and an evil smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.
“No need to thank me. I wasn’t able to decide what reward I should give the participant who gained the first rank in the event. After careful consideration, I decided to give this insignia to you. This can be a welcome gift and a reward as well.”
Kyle’s smile stiffened and the twinkles in his eyes vanished in a second. He looked at the insignia with a complicated expression.
‘So, this is all I got as a reward?’
“Alright, Kid. You should leave, some guards are standing outside. One of them will take you to the main hall where the other participants who are selected for the Secret Realm are present.”
Kyle stood up with a nod. However, his face was sour because he was displeased with the reward!
He grumbled in his mind and left the room. The King gazed at his fading back. After Kyle was gone he burst into laughter.
“He is just like Ratric. Rigid in all kinds of situations but he gave me a strange look when he was displeased! Hahaha, at first I wanted to give him one more reward but this ungrateful prick. Tsk, now I don’t want to.”
….
Meanwhile, after Serena left Kyle with the King, she anxiously went to the Queen’s room.
However, the Queen didn’t give her any assurance by saying,
“Don’t worry. My husband is not a bad person. He would never harm a kid.”
Serena left the Queen alone and went out to contact Han. The communication crystal rang two times before Han picked up her call.
An old grumpy voice sounded from the crystal.
“What happened now? I am busy.”
Serena almost had the urge to punch the owner of the voice but she calmed her seething heart.
“You told me Kyle’s talent is (SS)-Rank didn’t you? Did you lie to me? I am regretting the moment when I believed your words!”
Han stayed quiet and listened to her grumbling. After she was done he cleared his throat.
“What did that brat do this time? Also, what about his talent? I am sure it’s (SS)-Rank because I checked it personally. I am still digesting the fact that not only did he win the event but he also gained the first spot with one million points… Sigh, I never knew my one and only disciple was such a big genius?”
Han’s voice sounded proud as he emphasized the word ‘disciple’ loudly.
A vein popped on Serena’s forehead. She was already dying with anxiety and now this old bastard was showing off how brilliant his ‘disciple’ was!
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Serena stopped and took a deep breath to calm down. Now was not the time to fight.
“No, his talent is not (SS)-Rank.”
A loud exclamation sounded from the communication Crystal.
“What? Impossible! It’s (SS)-Rank. I used an artifact to check his talent. Don’t tell me it’s… (B)-Rank?”
Han’s voice was dry as he waited for Serena to answer but her answer almost made him check if his ears were working correctly.
“Kyle’s talent is (SSS+)-Rank. Just like Alec and Jian.”
A loud bang sounded from the communication crystal and after five seconds Han’s deadpan voice sounded.
“Say again!?”
Serena scoffed.
“The fact will not change even if I repeat it hundreds of times. That’s why I was anxious. You talked with the King when he wanted to remove Kyle from the event and right now, Kyle is alone with the King. So, if something happened to the kid don’t blame me.”
Han sucked in a deep breath. It took him a whole minute to digest the information.
“That brat did he just increase his talent by walking and sleeping?”
No one answered his question. After a few seconds, Han’s voice sounded again but this time it was a little strained because his disciple was giving too many shocks.
“Don’t worry. The King won’t do anything with Kyle. He was the one who offered me a deal. You just need to stay with Kyle until he reaches the Secret Realm. Make sure the kid stays safe. Also… Thank you for everything Serena I will buy you something good after I am done in the Central Continent.”
Serena’s anger lessened when she heard his last sentence.
“Alright, I will stay with the kid. Don’t forget your words.”