The next day, in the Castle’s hidden basement:
While his wives and children were busy traveling and experiencing the changes of the Moonlight Empire.
Maximus was at work.
“Let’s finish this quickly so I can join them…”
Maximus was here to replace the Tier 3 Aethercore Nexus.
“Now, let’s see what the Tier 5 Aethercore Nexus is capable of,” Maximus muttered.
This Tier 5 Aethercore Nexus had cost a trillion low-grade magic crystals at the Origin Arcana Institute.
With his discount, it cost him a billion low-grade magic crystals.
“Unfortunately, I still don’t have enough money.”
Originally, Maximus planned to revamp the entire empire to Tier 7.
But his current income plus the discount couldn’t make that happen.
“Let’s start…”
…
At the Teleportation Array, Moonshadow City:
While Maximus was changing the Aethercore Nexus, the main core of the empire’s array.
The guild members who took on the mission to develop the empire appeared in the teleportation array.
“Huh, it’s really a barren land…”
“The guild leader’s territory is already good, you know?”
“Yeah, this is the Curse Continent, most of the land here didn’t even have Tier 1 mana density.”
“Why do you think the leader still needs to develop this barren territory?”
“Yeah, why is that? The guild leader spent 10 trillion low magic crystals just to develop this place.”
“Yes, yes, even our territory in the Origin Domain only had a trillion low magic crystals budget.”
A bunch of guild members talked about Maximus’s lavish expenses.
“Hmph, that’s why you’re not the guild leader,” Cereb, who idolized Maximus, refuted.
“Oh?”
“Don’t you know that in the cursed continent, the era of imperial domination has begun?”
“What?! The era of imperial domination?!”
The guild members were shocked.
They had been busy with their tasks and hadn’t heard about events in other places.
However, they still know of the era of imperial domination.
It was the most brutal battle, where only one empire would survive and conquer.
“Does this mean that the guild leader has the chance to dominate the entire Curse Continent?!”
“It’s possible; with the guild leader’s capabilities, he still has a huge chance of success.”
“However, it’s also dangerous.”
“Don’t worry; with the teleportation array here, the guild leader can escape anytime.”
“Anyway, we will do our task; it’s up to the guild leader to worry about these things.”
“Let’s go; setting up a Tier 5 array this big will take us some time.”
The guild members began their work.
Their mission this time was to assist Maximus in setting up a Tier 5 array.
According to the framework that Maximus had given them.
This array occupied 100 million kilometers of land.
This was ten times the size of the previous Tier 3 array.
…
Outside Moonshadow City:
Maximus’ wives, children, and their extended family were on a private flying boat, waiting for someone.
This time, they were going on a vacation to visit all the attractions in the Moonlight Empire.
“Where is your brother Liam?” Erica asked Max.
“I don’t know where he is. He said he is nearby,” Max replied.
“I didn’t see your brother yesterday, and now he’s even late.”
“Did your brother’s wings harden? Going anywhere without telling us?” Erica asked, looking at her son Max.
“Don’t worry, Liam is already so grown up; he should have his own life,” Hazel said.
Although Liam was not Hazel’s biological son, she treated all of Maximus’s children without any bias.
“Hmph, that boy has been acting strange since we came here,” Erica sighed.
While they were talking with each other, the door suddenly opened, grabbing their attention.
“Hello, Aunties, Grandma, and Grandpa,” Amara said politely.
The group stared wide-eyed, looking at the two who were blushing.
“Is this your friend?” Erica asked.
“Hmm, it’s Amara…” Liam said seriously.
“Good, so it’s your friend!”
“Come here, Amara!” Erica said joyfully.
“You’re quite beautiful, like my girls!” Hazel added.
“Thank you, Auntie,” Amara smiled shyly and seated herself beside them.
Liam, who saw this, didn’t know what to do and found a spot to sit.
“Hey, grandson… Good job,” Francis patted Liam’s shoulders.
“Oh,” Liam just nodded.
“But you’re still too young… You should restrain yourself a little,” Francis advised.
“What are you saying, Grandpa? We’re only friends,” Liam blushed as he refuted.
“That’s good, it’s good to be friends first.”
“Brother, you’re really good,” Lily said, looking at Liam slyly.
“Mind your own business.”
“Oh, then I’ll tell sister Amara that you bullied me,” Lily smiled, going to Amara.
“This is really…” Liam sighed at Lily’s antics.
Soon, the flying boat started taking them around the Moonlight Empire.
A Few days later.
In the Castle’s hidden basement:
“Finally, it’s done.”
Replacing the Aethercore nexus was harder than simply setting it.
“Now that it’s done, should I join my family?” Maximus muttered.
The reason why he was in a hurry to replace the Aethercore nexus was that his guild members were already reinforcing the array.
The previous Tier 3 Aethercore nexus couldn’t handle these changes, so he needed to replace it quickly.
Now that it was done, he wasn’t in a hurry to do other things.
“Just post a mission for the other tasks,” Maximus decided.
“Tintin, add the task compiled earlier to the guild task list.”
“Alright, host.”
Originally, Maximus had planned to do this himself, but he thought otherwise.
He should prioritize his strength above anything else.
Now that he had enough money and status, he could slow down and train diligently.
However, for now, he should take his time and bond with his family.
…
Somewhere in the Moonlight Empire:
“It should be here,” Maximus muttered, looking for his family.
“There!”
Maximus flew towards his family, who were beside a beautiful lake.
“Daddy, you’re here!” Lyla’s eyes lit up.
“Husband, you’re finally here. I thought you would not join us,” Isabella said.
“Of course not. How could I leave my family alone?”
“Daddy, come look; I caught beautiful shells!” Lyla didn’t wait any longer and dragged him.
His family was at Chrome Lake. 𝑶𝑣xt.𝕔𝒪𝑚
A lake that had a thousand beautiful colors changing every moment.
“Alright, alright,” Maximus smiled wryly at Isabella.
“Go to your clingy daughter,” Isabella rolled her eyes.
His family was at Chrome Lake.
A lake that had a thousand beautiful colors changing every moment.
This was an artificial lake, connected through the empire’s array.
It was the breeding ground of aquaculture and also a famous tourist spot in the kingdom.
Now, it was reserved for his family, with only them being here.
“Here is the shell, Daddy! Is it beautiful?”
“Yes, but Lyla is more beautiful.”
“Really? I’m more beautiful?”
“Lyla is Daddy’s treasure, so of course she’s more beautiful.”
“Daddy is glib,” Lyla rolled her eyes but still smiled happily.
“Hmm, how about we swim with your mothers?” Maximus said.
Looking at his beautiful wives showing off their swimsuits, he felt a bit parched for a moment.
“Then let’s swim!”
Maximus came to his wives with Lily.
“How about we swim for a while?” Maximus asked his wives.
“Sure!”
“Here, wear these first,” Maximus said, handing them armbands.
“What are these?” Rose asked.
“Just put them on.”
His wives nodded and wore the armbands.
Soon, all the mana in their bodies was drained.
Even their physical strength lowered to that of a mortal human.
“This…” His wives looked at him with curiosity.
“This is to let loose and enjoy ourselves,” Maximus smiled.
With their strength, swimming would undoubtedly be boring.
“Come!” Maximus hugged Luna, who was closest to him and jumped into the lake.
Splash*
“Husband!” Luna clung to Maximus as she didn’t know how to swim.
“Relax; it’s all the same, but instead of using mana, you move your arms.”
Maximus began to teach Luna how to swim.
Splash*
“Husband, save us!” Erica shouted.
“Husband, save me first!” Hazel didn’t back down.
“Should we also jump?” Angeline nervously asked Rose.
“Of course, even though we don’t know how to swim, we won’t drown,” Rose said.
Although their strength was lowered, their bodies still functioned the same, allowing them to breathe underwater.
Splash*
Rose and the others also jumped and did their best to swim towards Maximus.
After a while, they learned how to swim proficiently, like they were fish.
Underwater, Maximus was mesmerized as he was surrounded by his beautiful wives, swimming circles around him.
…
On the lake shore:
“You have a wonderful family,” Amara commented.
“Hmm,” Liam just nodded.
But inwardly, he wanted to say,
“I really have a wonderful family. Why don’t you join us?”
Of course, Liam didn’t have the guts to say that.
Furthermore, they’re still relatively young.
“By the way, where is your brother?”
“Brother? He is training in the arcane continent,” Amara sighed, missing her brother.
“So you’re all alone here?” Liam asked.
“Yes, but I’m in the Moonlight Academy, so it doesn’t bother me much.”
“Is that so?” Liam asked, looking at Amara’s lonely figure.
After all, Amara was still a child, and there was no one beside her.
Without parents, even her brother had gone somewhere.
“Why don’t you come with us?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, come with us to the Origin Domain.”
“Is that possible?”
“Of course, with my father, everything is possible.”
“But-”
“No buts.’ I will talk to my father about this later,” Liam interrupted, putting his finger on her lips.
“Okay,” Amara blushed, looking away.
“Hmm, that’s good.”