"This man is working for the slaving kingdom!" The Knight of Nobility stood up from his seat, gripping the handle of his sword. "He's nothing but a spy!"
"Are you sure that I'm the spy?" Arthur laughed as his aura exploded, threatening and overbearing. "Someone in this court betrayed me and told the Duke of Fire about my location. If things went differently, I would have died there."
His rage was suffocating to witness, and the words made the nobles glance at each other. They knew there was a leak of information, but no one dared to light the fuse.
"I understand your rage." A man, who was closing his eyes since earlier, stood up. His eyes were still closed as he walked toward Arthur and stood in front of him. "Yet, this behavior isn't how you're getting your answer."
The man was taller than Arthur. No, he was the tallest man in the hall. However, he wasn't lanky but had a body full of muscles. He was sitting under the sword symbol.
The man's aura exploded as well and collided with Arthur's aura and pushed it back. As Arthur looked at the man, he was sure of one thing: this man was an Astra-Ranker.
"Who are you?" Arthur looked up at the man, whose expression was stoic. Facing an Astra-ranker, Arthur showed no fear nor respect.
"I am the Duke of Battle." The man said with a grin as his eyelids parted open, revealing no pupils but only white. "The strongest man in the world."
Arthur looked at the man and knew he wasn't bluffing. However, he wasn't going to back away just because this man was stronger than him.
"Your strength doesn't change the fact that your people betrayed me," Arthur said, and the man nodded.
"Indeed so. However, His Majesty never denied your request. Restrain your aura until he does. At that time, I'll happily teach you something: strength doesn't care for right or wrong."
"Calm down, Alcher." King Solomon stood up from his seat and ordered. The Duke of Battle backed away, as did his aura. Arthur's aura also disappeared as King Solomon walked toward him.
"You're strong, Seika." King Solomon stood in front of Arthur. "However, capability and authority reign supreme in the royal court. Become my advisor, and you can point fingers at that time."
Arthur knew this as well. He knew that it was the Knight of Nobility that schemed to kill him but knew that revealing it would be pointless with his current position.
"Go and build Hidden City. At that time, no one will question your authority or capability. You have until then to succeed. At that time, I'll consider your suggestion about Alva."
Arthur nodded. This was his intention exactly. Solomon trying to defy the world was a rumor among the people, but he wanted to confirm it.
The only way for him to get close to Solomon and make sure that this King saves him in the past would be to benefit the kingdom. This way, even if Solomon knew of his intentions, he would still save his life.
"Where can I start?" Arthur asked Solomon, and the latter waved his hand, and a giant map appeared behind him.
"There's only one spot that you can use. It's the best spot for you to build a trading city." King Solomon pointed at the map. "But I must warn you... that place is filled with monsters. You'll have to clear them away before building anything."
"I volunteer to aid the Seika." The Knight of Courage stood up, even though the rest of the knights looked at her hatefully.
"I can take care of that. As for the ten Blessed Spirits, I'll be using them as well. We will sell the crops to the kingdom at half the price."
"The artifacts belong to the kingdom." The King's Hand said with a frown.
"And cultivating plants need money." Arthur rebuked. "Is that alright, your majesty?"
"Yes, that's ideal," Solomon said with a smile. "Let's meet again in three months." He waved his hands, and the four left the hall.
"Why didn't you accept my aid?" The Knight of Courage followed after them as they left the hall.
'I need to level up, that's why.'
"I've seen how the nobles look at me. They don't trust me. If you associate yourself with me, you'll end up being shunned as well."
"You were thinking of my well-being?"
"Sure." Arthur lied.
"Seika, are you enjoying yourself?" Gala said with a smile from the side. "No one knows your intentions from building a city. Is it money? Is it authority? Glory? The public good?"
"Fun, that's all," Arthur said and turned toward Dia. "I think you need to train before you rule over Alva."
"Are you inviting me to come with you?" Dia's mouth turned into a smile. "I'll follow you as long as you give me Alva in the end. I trust that you will."
"Many thanks," Arthur said as he went through the corridors. "Courage, can you find us a room to plan things in?"
"What kind of planning?" The Knight asked with curiosity.
"Building a city, of course." Arthur grinned. "Manager Gruen, we'll be needing your help. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all, Seika," Gruen said with a smile. "The runemaster instructed that I follow your commands anyway."
"Many thanks." Arthur smiled. "Let's show those nobles how wrong it is to look down on us."
***
It was late at night, and after finishing another meeting to redistribute the lands to the farmers, King Solomon retreated to his quarters.
"Don't bother me until morning."
He instructed the servants before entering his workshop. This was the place where the magic happened. King Solomon sat in front of his bench and took out a purified ore.
"Let's give the Knights of Flames a new gift." King Solomon smiled and spread his palms toward the ore.
Then, like liquid, the ore began changing shape until it became a blade. Solomon then took out another purified ore and created the handle.
"Now, the final touches." King Solomon leaned back in his chair and raised his right arm. An orb appeared in front of him, where a rune floated inside of it.
"Inscribe."
King Solomon muttered as he poured liquid mana into the sword. The liquid mana seeped in the blade in specific shapes as the rune he had fused with the sword.
Just like that, a genuine artifact was created. King Solomon returned his rune to his body and stood up. However, he felt the shadows move behind him.
"Who is there?" King Solomon frowned. The flames flickered as a shadow appeared on the ground. Turning hurriedly, King Solomon found a robed person in front of him. "You are..."
"I apologize for visiting you this way."
The man took off his hood to reveal the face of someone he must today, the Seika of Living Beings. His golden eyes studied Solomon with interest.
"How did you get here, Seika?" Solomon asked with suspicion. There were no traces of elemental mana like Courage traveled.
"That's a secret. I know that you'll understand that I can't share my secret, just like how you can't share yours."
"Your words suggest that there is more to tell me." Solomon squinted his eyes at the Seika.
"You've met Gruen. You must know that he's like us, a Seika."
"I do, but revealing that to the others will only hinder your progress." King Solomon nodded. "Is this why you're here?"
"No, but to tell you that he's the Seika of Metals. For some reason, people believe that you are the Seika of Metals, although I think you're not."
"Hm, then what do you think?"
Even though Solomon's tone was light, his mood was anything but that. If the fact that Gruen was the Seika of Metals became known, there would be a lot of problems."
"The Seika of States is a good name to call it." The Seika smiled at him. "You can change the shape of things, not just metals, but that's as far as you can do."
"Did you come here to tell me this?" Solomon found it odd, even though it was true. Since he was little, he could change the shape of things and create items from simple metals.
"No, but to give you something that I found."
The Seika took a crystal out of thin air and handed it toward Solomon. As he laid eyes on it, Solomon knew what it was.
"A memory fragments? Who does it belong to?" Solomon frowned, but the Seika walked over and handed it over to him.
"A man who I believe to be your father. I found it in Alva, and the man asked for it to be returned to you, Solomon Avera."
"You... know?" King Solomon's calm expression crumbled as he grabbed the crystal. The Seika of Living Beings nodded.
"I know that your father was a halfling." The Seika revealed.