Ethan’s face twitched instantly as a look of disbelief appeared on his face, and for a brief moment he simply stared ahead while trying to process what he had just heard.

Are you fucking kidding me?

What the hell did Rathlos even do to end up being targeted by the Emperor himself?

The thought left Ethan completely speechless for a moment, but as he continued thinking about it another idea suddenly appeared inside his mind, causing his expression to become slightly strange.

Who would not want to ride such a magnificent beast?

After all, true dragons were nearly impossible to find in the modern age, and even throughout the entire continent there were only a handful of creatures that could be considered remotely similar to them, so it was only natural that people would seek alternatives whenever they had the opportunity.

And honestly...

What could be a better replacement than a wyvern carrying dragon blood?

The more Ethan thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.

Ethan silently rubbed his forehead while suppressing the urge to laugh, and although he tried to maintain a calm expression, the corners of his lips still twitched slightly as he imagined Rathlos somehow attracting the attention of the Emperor himself.

As Ethan slowly approached alongside the carriage convoy entering the city, the scenery around him gradually became more crowded and lively, and endless streams of people continuously moved along the massive roads leading toward the capital gates.

Merchants traveled with heavily loaded wagons filled with goods from every corner of the Empire while workers hurried beside them carrying supplies, and nobles moved with elegant carriages surrounded by escorts while soldiers marched in disciplined formations beside the roads.

Mercenaries.

Adventurers.

Travelers.

People from all walks of life constantly entered and exited the capital despite the ongoing war, creating an endless flow of movement that made the entire area feel alive.

However, unlike ordinary prosperous cities, the atmosphere here felt much heavier.

Even the civilians looked tense as they moved through the crowded roads, and although business continued as usual, there was a faint uneasiness visible on many faces.

Soldiers stood everywhere across the outer walls while patrol squads continuously moved through the streets, and the guards checking everyone entering the city carried serious expressions that showed they were taking their duties extremely seriously.

The war had clearly reached even the capital.

Soon, Ethan finally arrived at the main gate.

The gigantic black gates towered above everyone like a fortress by themselves while dozens of guards stood nearby with sharp gazes, and above the entrance several massive magic cannons were positioned toward the sky as if they were prepared to fire at any moment should danger approach the capital.

Ethan quietly observed everything while calmly handing over his identity token.

The guard initially looked indifferent as he accepted the token and performed a routine inspection, but the moment he noticed the identity written on it, his expression immediately changed.

"Marquise Ethan Blanks?" the guard asked quickly as his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Several nearby guards instantly turned toward Ethan with startled expressions after hearing the name.

After all, that name had become extremely famous throughout the Empire during the war, and there were very few people who had not heard about him by now.

Some people viewed him as a hero who had achieved remarkable accomplishments on the battlefield.

Others viewed him as a controversial noble whose actions constantly attracted attention.

But no one could deny that Ethan Blanks had become one of the most talked about figures in Arcadia.

Ethan simply nodded calmly without showing any particular reaction.

The guards immediately straightened their posture.

"Welcome to the Imperial Capital, Lord Marquise," the guard spoke respectfully before quickly allowing passage.

Ethan responded with a simple nod before moving forward without lingering any longer.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes quietly moved across the surroundings while carefully observing everything around him.

The streets were unbelievably vast while towering buildings stretched endlessly on both sides, and countless magical lamps illuminated the roads even during daytime despite the sunlight already providing enough visibility.

Large airships occasionally crossed the sky overhead while magical beasts pulled enormous merchant wagons through the crowded streets below, creating a unique blend of magic and civilization that could only be seen within the Imperial Capital.

The capital looked prosperous.

But beneath that prosperity... 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Ethan could clearly sense tension everywhere.

Many shops had soldiers stationed outside while large public boards continuously updated battle information from the frontlines, and groups of civilians frequently gathered around them to read the latest reports.

Even ordinary civilians quietly discussed the war while walking through the streets.

"Another prefecture was attacked yesterday."

"I heard thousands died again."

"They say the Beastmen pushed through the eastern front."

Those conversations continuously entered Ethan’s ears from every direction while he silently walked through the city, listening without interrupting anyone and quietly taking in the atmosphere around him.

At the center of the capital, towering above everything else and dominating the skyline, stood the Imperial Palace.

The structure was so massive that it almost looked like a city by itself while countless golden towers stretched toward the sky, and even from a great distance it radiated a presence that naturally drew everyone’s attention.

The pressure coming from that place alone was immense.

Even Ethan’s expression became slightly serious while looking toward it.

So this was the center of power ruling Arcadia.

As he continued moving deeper into the city, Ethan could not help but feel slightly surprised by the sheer scale of everything around him.

Although the Blanks Territory was already prosperous and powerful and could easily be considered one of the strongest territories within the Empire, compared to the Imperial Capital it still lacked foundation.

After all, Arcadia’s capital had stood for countless years while continuously gathering resources, talent, wealth, influence, and power from every corner of the Empire, and generation after generation had contributed to making it the center of everything.

Soon, Ethan finally arrived at the noble district where temporary residences for high-ranking nobles and officials were arranged.

The entire district was quiet, orderly, and heavily guarded, and every residence displayed a level of luxury that far exceeded ordinary standards.

The envoy guiding him respectfully bowed his head.

"Lord Marquise, His Majesty has already approved your audience request," he spoke carefully.

"The meeting will take place tomorrow morning."

Ethan nodded calmly.

"I understand," he replied.

The envoy respectfully bowed once again before quietly taking his leave.

After the envoy left, Ethan slowly walked toward the balcony of the residence prepared for him, and his gaze quietly swept across the vast Imperial Capital beneath the evening sky while countless lights gradually illuminated the city below.

The city lights flickered endlessly across the horizon while the noise of countless people echoed faintly through the distance, and from time to time carriages could still be seen moving along the roads as the capital continued operating without rest.

For a moment, Ethan remained silent while the cool evening wind brushed against his face and gently moved his hair, and he simply stood there overlooking the city without saying a single word.

His expression remained calm, yet his eyes carried a trace of seriousness as he continued staring toward the distant horizon.

Then his gaze slowly shifted toward the Imperial Palace standing far away in the distance.

The towering structure dominated the skyline even from here, and despite the distance separating them, it still radiated an imposing presence that made it impossible to ignore.

Tomorrow...

He would finally meet the ruler of Arcadia face to face.